Page 20 of Until I’m Safe in Your Arms

He pressed firmly and Emma moaned deep in her throat. What was he doing that made her feel as though she was spiraling upward, toward she knew not what but wanted so badly? Without knowing why, she twitched her hips, pressing toward his hand. One of his fingers touched something, she had no idea what, but—

“Alex! Alex!” Her back arched, her hips bucked, her core exploded with a throbbing ache that gave her so much pleasure she sobbed with the wonder of it all. Clutching his arms, Emma’s ragged breathing couldn’t calm because Alex kept stroking her, pulling every ounce of pleasure out of her. Panting as though she’d run a race, she gazed into his face. “What…what happened?’

He released a sigh and smiled tenderly down at her. “You just had your first taste of pleasure, love. Did you like it?”

“Oh, yes. I did.” She frowned. Indeed, there had been so much pleasure. But… “There wasn’t any pain.”

“No, there wasn’t, sweetheart. What I did just now wasn’t the ultimate intimacy between a man and a woman.” Alex shifted his weight until he held himself directly over the top of her. “I wanted you to have the pleasure first. That helps make you ready for me.” He pushed his knee between her legs. “Open wider for me, darling.”

Weary, and nervous again, Emma did as he asked.

“Try to relax, sweet.” He kissed her again, thrusting his tongue into her mouth.

Deep inside her core came alive again, that lovely spiraling feeling rising once more. Below, at the entrance to her sex, something thick and hard nudged against her tender flesh. Alex moved, adjusted something down there, and the hardness pressed toward her opening. “Are you ready, sweetheart?”

Emma didn’t think she was, but this was no time for cowardice. “Yes.”

With a low groan, Alex pushed forward. The pressure grew and grew, then a burning streak made her cry out. The burn spread all throughout her nether regions before it began to subside. Meanwhile, Alex surged forward, thrusting home until his member lay deep inside her.

Emma lay panting, trying to discern how much hurt there actually was. The initial pain had been sharp, but it hadn’t lasted long. Now there was only a dull ache all over. Was this all there was to it? Alex had said there would be more pleasure.

“Are you all right, Emma?” He peered into her face, his gaze darting here and there, concern in his eyes.

“I think so. Mostly, at least.” She looked back at him, unsure if she should ask him this question or not. “You said there would be more pleasure. Is this it?”

Her husband smiled and shook his head. “No, but if you give me a moment, I think I can give us both some more.” He leaned down and kissed her. As he did so, he pulled his member out of her then thrust back in.

“Ahhh.” The burning was back, but as Alex began to withdraw and thrust, again and again, the pain subsided as the pleasure began to take hold of her. In and out. The rhythm of the movement started her spiraling upward, taking her toward that pinnacle of pleasure that was so much more than she’d believed possible.

“Wrap your legs around me, darling.” Alex’s voice came out gravelly with need.

Immediately, Emma lifted her legs and crossed them over his slim hips and buttocks. The shift in position must have opened her even more, for on his next thrust, Alex slid deeper than before, filling her completely. He drew back and thrust again and again until they were pounding into one another, Emma spinning upward, higher and higher with each thrust until Alex gave a great cry and shoved himself into her just as her core exploded again, releasing wave after wave of the sharpest pleasure she’d ever known. A hot gush poured into her. Alex strained against her then withdrew, rolling onto his back next to her, gulping in air as though he couldn’t get enough.

Emma lay back, her mind whirling, trying to remember everything that had just happened. They were truly man and wife now. A wide grin spread over her face.

“Penny for your thoughts, Mrs. Bancroft.” Alex raised up on one elbow to gaze into her face.

“You can get them for free, my dear.” She rolled up on her side until they were face to face. “I was just thinking that now you’re well and truly mine. We are bound to one another. No one can ever take you from me.”

“Or you from me, my dear.” He pushed a strand of hair out of her sweaty face, then kissed her forehead. “They say you should begin as you mean to go forward and I think this is exactly the way we want to go on.” Alex pressed a long, passionate kiss onto her lips. “Don’t you agree?”

“Oh, I do, Captain Bancroft.” She snuggled into his chest. “But when can we go on this way again?”

Chapter Eight

“Do you think you’ll be home for dinner tonight, my dear?” Taking a last bite of toast slathered generously with marmalade, Emma tried again to engage her husband in conversation.

After enjoying her breakfast in bed the first few days of her marriage, she realized she rarely saw Alex. He’d reported to the regiment the Monday after their wedding, which she completely understood. Duty was duty whether one had just been married or not. Then he’d begun to miss dinner, however, and she saw him only late at night when he came to bed. Their intimate interludes were joyous moments spent together, after which Alex fell into a dead sleep. And even though passion was all well and good, Emma wanted more from her marriage. So, she decided to alter her routine.

By coming down to eat breakfast with Alex, Emma believed she’d have a better chance of conversing with him. They’d been married two weeks and Emma had learned no more about her husband than she’d known on her wedding day. Today, she was determined to learn more.

“Hmm?” Looking up from his newspaper, Alex met her eyes briefly and smiled. “What did you say, dear?”

“I asked if you would be home for dinner. I was hoping we might be able to spend some time together.” She put on her best smile. “I wanted to talk to you about a little notion I had that we might give a dinner party next month for some of the officers in your regiment. The married officers, I mean.” Emma had hit upon this scheme several days ago when she decided to pay calls on her friends. To her chagrin, the only people she could think of to call on were Augusta and Lady Tilbury. She’d met few other young ladies during her partial Season, so now she was at a severe loss for companionship. Coming up with the scheme to meet the other officers’ wives was a happy stroke of genius.

“I’m sorry, my dear, I had meant to tell you earlier.” He folded his paper and reached for his coffee. “There is a training exercise this week, field maneuvers outside the city, that will keep me away until Friday morning. But then I have an entire day I can devote to—Emma, what’s the matter, sweetheart?”

“You will be gone for three nights?” Oh, God. She’d be left alone. Instantly, tears began trickling down her cheeks.