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Removing his body-hugging tan breeches, he was tantalizing moments away from joining her in bed.

If this is but a dream, then fate is cruel indeed.

Elizabeth imagined herself reaching out and touching him. His hard nipples, the dark chest hair that looked silky soft to the touch, the shape of his manhood underneath his increasingly tight-fitting undergarment. His dark eyes fixed on her as he loosened the drawstring that held them fastened around his waist and allowed his final piece of clothing to fall to the floor.

Again, she fought hard not to gasp out loud at this beautiful man. Despite never having caught a glimpse of anything akin to him beyond pictures in books, she was quite persuaded she might never bear witness to such a pleasing sight again; certainly not in the flesh.

He slipped into bed beside her, and his long legs gently coaxed hers apart. Thrilled by his touch, desire rippled through her core. Her eyes remained fixed on his swelling erection. He eased his way between her thighs and found a comfortable place between them. Leaning forward, he whispered in her ear.

“Are you certain this is what you want?”

Hints of sandalwood and musk flooded her senses.

He smells wonderful.

Relishing in his masculine scent, she swallowed hard. His hands were gently caressing her waist and inching ever closer to her bosom.

She silently encouraged him to ease her nightgown higher. Long fingers splayed over her bosom. He brushed a kiss over one of her taut nipples and then the other.

Till that moment, she never realized how much she wanted what this man was offering her - a night of forbidden passion that she might forever hold in her memory.

Thrilling her with his kisses, he eased her nightgown higher, and when it was time, he ceased kissing her, pulled the gown over her head, and tossed it aside.

His erection pressed firmly against her, his broad chest warming her bosom, they both lay naked in each other’s arms. At length, their passions called for a more satisfying attitude on both of their parts.

The thought of what she had been missing, and no doubt would be missing when the morning came brought a soft wave of tears to her eyes—tears not shed out of remorse or guilt, but rather tears laced with elation and eagerness. Tears of utter bliss. The thought that she was merely a conquest for this man whom she knew nothing about and one to whom she gave herself a bit too easily crossed her mind in turn, but it did not matter.

At length, the touch of his lips against her most sensitive spot afforded sufficient ecstasy to end her silent recriminations.

This is no time for such thoughts, Elizabeth considered as the rhythmic thrust of his tongue made her body arch in impassioned repetition.

His wondrous wandering tongue, at times hard and at other times soft, and always, always precisely as it ought to be at the right time, encouraged Elizabeth to surrender her every inhibition. What she was feeling, she might never experience ever again. Far better to relish her newly discovered pleasure now than to regret what might have been later.

All this joy he bestowed onto her, and still, he had not pierced her body and taken his own pleasure. In time, he would. Of that, Elizabeth was certain.

As generous as he is, surely he has his own longing for satisfaction with which to contend. Elizabeth was not so selfish she would deny him that.

I must not concern myself with such notions of what losing the most sacred part of myself to a complete stranger portends, Elizabeth silently opined, pushing all thoughts that might impede her pleasure from her mind: guilt, uncertainty, even apprehension. Loosening her firm grip on the bedcovers, she began sweeping her fingers through his soft dark curls, encouraging him to have his fill.

At length, she cried out repeatedly in sheer unadulterated bliss. Her body trembling, her heartbeat racing—what an incredibly wonderful feeling. What a tormenting, sweet sensation.

What a lot to miss should I never feel this way again.

He trailed kisses along the length of her body, ceasing when his lips met hers. When she began calming, he whispered, “Shall I do more?”

Please, she thought but did not say.

“We can stop this at any time, you need only say the word.”

“I do not want to stop. If I stop now, I may lose the only chance I will ever have to know what it feels like to be a woman.”

His hardness was fashioned at her core. There was no turning back if she said yes. The last thing she wanted was to say no. Wanting all this man had to give, she could not even if she tried. His warm breath against her skin encouraged her to open her eyes. Their faces were only inches apart. They gazed into each other’s eyes.

Never in my life did I ever suppose I might meet someone so loving. I never thought I would have a night like this. I dare not let it end.

She trailed her fingers against his chiseled chin. “Whatever you did—whatever else you mean to do, pray do not stop now. Make me feel like a woman.”

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