Page 23 of Scarlett

Scarlett’s hearthammered inside her chest as she leaned on the back of the bedroom door. Was it possible that she could maintain a calm demeanor when Emmett joined her?

She’d followed Lady Price’s teachings every second of the day and now all she wanted to do was cry with not just exhaustion, but anxiety at what was about to happen.

Emmett was tall and muscular, how could he possibly come to be with her and not crush her? Was it even possible to be intimate with him and not be in so much pain she’d cry throughout the entire ordeal?

Her mother had warned her, the first time it could be painful and now she shivered at remembering it.

Once again she pictured the time in the woods. The couple she’d spied in the woods had been enjoying their time together seeming to block out the rest of the world while creating one with just them.

Having wasted time, she hurried to remove her dress and placed it carefully over the back of a sturdy chair, then after removing her shoes and stockings, she looked around the room trying to determine what she should wear.

Under her dress she wore a thin shift. Scarlett decided it made for a perfect nightgown and climbed hastily into the bed.

The only light in the room was a lantern and just as Scarlett wondered if she should blow it out, the door opened and Emmett entered.

His gaze went to her for a moment and then he walked to the wardrobe, opened the door and began to undress.

Unsure of how things were normally between a husband and wife, Scarlett racked her brain to think of anything Lady Price may have said on the subject.

“How are you feeling? I hope you are not too taxed. It hasn’t been too long since you’ve been mostly abed.” Scarlett stopped at realizing she was rambling and not allowing him to reply. She was glad for the bedding that soaked up the moisture from her palms.

“I feel well enough. Plan to return to work tomorrow.”

“Oh. That is good news, I’m sure.”

When he finally came to the bed, he was nude as the day he was born. Scarlett was sure her eyes were about to pop from their sockets. She’d not considered that men slept bereft of clothing.

She’d expected he’d at least remain in his underwear by form of modesty.

Without a word, he slid between the blankets and turned to her. “You should lie back. If you wish to remove your shift you can.”

“Remove it?” Now she felt stupid. “Is that what I should do?”

He shrugged. “I don’t want to tear it. It looks delicate.”

Once again, Scarlett’s eyes rounded and she held her breath. What exactly did he plan to do?

She ducked and removed the shift and then threw it toward a table where it hung off the edge. Now she too was utterly and totally nude.

When Emmett pulled her against him, his mouth took hers and he kissed her deeply. The longer they kissed and the more he caressed her, the faster her anxiety abated until she clung to him wanting whatever came next.

Finally when he climbed over her, Scarlett was too consumed with passion to care if it hurt or not. She needed more, needed the fire within her quelled so that she would not combust.

Her husband knew exactly what to do, how to move and encouraged her with his hands or softly spoken words. His deep voice in her ear affected her almost as much as his touch.

Finally, it happened, the moment of joining and Scarlett cried out as a piercing pain traveled down her legs. She clung to Emmett until finally relaxing enough to breathe.

When he took her mouth with his once again, and began to calm her, it wasn’t long before Scarlett became lost in him no longer caring about anything more than being consumed.