Page 72 of Just a Little Daring

“Still sleepy?” he asked, all innocence.

“Certainly not.”

He grinned, and Vivien held her breath as he nudged the blunt head of his arousal inside her. She closed her eyes for a moment as he pushed and retreated, gaining a little more ground with each forward motion.

“Viv?” She heard the question behind her name, the concern, so she opened her eyes and smiled at him. He let out a shuddering breath and sank home, stealing her breath as the strange fullness of his invasion became absolute.

Viv waited a moment and let out a shaky exhalation, taking stock of the situation and finding there was no pain, just a slightly peculiar sensation that was not quite comfortable. August kept still, resting his forehead against hers and breathing with quiet deliberation. She suspected he was counting.

“I’m all right,” she whispered.

His eyes cracked open, and he stared down at her. “Thank God,” he muttered and withdrew, pushing back inside her with a sinuous motion that made the not quite comfortable sensation dissolve into something entirely different.

“Oh,” she gasped, clutching at his shoulders. “Oh, that’s….”

“That’s?” he asked, a rather smug look in his eyes.

Vivien bit her lip, for the urge to laugh was undeniable, and she was uncertain he’d appreciate it.

“Are you laughing at me, wife?” he demanded, nipping at her ear.

“N-No,” she managed, fighting to keep her composure. “Only you l-looked so very pleased with yourself.”

August snorted. “Good God, pleased with myself? I am the smuggest man in the entire world. Now be quiet. I’m trying to make love to my new wife.”

Vivien dissolved, and August made a choked sound. “Oh, Lord, stop, stop jiggling about. You’re killing me!”

Apparently deciding enough was enough, August took a firm hold of her hips, tilting her just so, and thrust forward. The laughter abruptly ceased as Vivien experienced a jolt of pleasure that made her catch her breath.

Her husband made a pleased, masculine sound and repeated the action, again and again until Vivien was mindless, head thrown back and incapable of ceasing the soft, incoherent murmurs he tore from her. Her hands glided over his lean flanks, stroked the damp, satiny skin of his back and grasped at his muscular shoulders.

“More?” he asked, his voice husky.

“Yes, yes,” was the most she could manage in reply, but it was enough.

He loved her tenderly, thoroughly, and with increasing vigour, his movements becoming urgent and less coordinated. Vivien held her breath, chasing the bright, gathering sensation that was building inside her until it exploded in a rapturous burst of white light. August made a harsh sound, his hold on her tightening, his powerful body surrendering as pleasure overtook him and he shuddered, spending inside her with a rush of heat. His breathing was ragged as he laid his head on the pillow beside hers, his eyes hazy as he looked at her.

“I was right,” he murmured, his voice unsteady. “I won’t survive the night.”

Vivien laughed, and he grinned at her, looking inordinately pleased with himself.

“I love you,” he said, reaching out to caress her cheek. “And I adore making love with you. It’s my new favourite thing.”

“I love you too,” she said, still laughing, turning her head to kiss his palm. “And making love with you is my favourite thing, too. It’s like flying, only without the cold and fear of plummeting to one’s death.”

“Better than a hot-air balloon?”

“Oh, certainly. That was my dare, you know, to reach great heights. I thought I’d achieved it accidentally, but now I think I flew far higher with you.”

August looked impressed and pleased by this observation. “I did not realise you had accomplished a dare with me. Bainbridge and Raphe told me about the hat. What scandalous creatures you Daring Daughters are. Whatever am I in for?”

“A wonderful time,” she said, her voice firm. “Life with you will be far more daring and exciting than that little jaunt in a hot-air balloon, I’m sure.”

“It had better be,” he murmured, rolling to the side of her and pulling her back into his arms. “I have prepared myself for nothing less than absolute mayhem.”

“Excellent. Absolute mayhem it is,” she said with a sigh.

He stroked her hair, a soothing touch that made her eyelids feel heavy. “Do you mind if we begin in the morning, though, love? It’s been a long day.”