He grunted, clasping her to him and kissing her thoroughly. “As much as I would love to feel your mouth around my cock, not tonight. What I just did is one of many things people can do to give and receive pleasure.”
“That gave you pleasure?”
“Oh yes. I wanted you before, but after tasting you, after bringing you to release…” His eyes closed briefly, his golden lashes sweeping his cheeks as his lips spread into a lazy, seductive smile. His lids rose, revealing his gleaming blue-green gaze. “Now, I want to possess you completely. My body in yours, your body wrapped around mine.”
She shivered. “I want that too. You said it would hurt?”
“It might. I’ll be honest—I have no experience with virgins.”
“But you have plenty of experience. Or so it seems.”
Color tinged his cheeks, surprising her. “Plenty is a subjective word, but I am not a novice. I will go as slowly and gently as possible. You tell me when to move and when to stop.”
Nodding, she lay back down and pulled him along with her. He laughed softly. “I will treasure you—and this night—for the rest of my days.”
He kissed her, and she was rather shocked to find the same need kindling inside her. Only now she knew what was coming, what would set her free. His mouth found her breast again, and she arched up. “Ben,” she murmured, cradling his head against her as he settled between her legs.
He stroked her sex, teasing her clitoris. Then his…cock—she liked that word, she decided—was there. She bent her legs to better angle herself against him. Oh, yes, this was better. Lifting her hips from the mattress, she pressed into him.
“Pru,” he groaned, kissing her once more as he ground his hips over hers.
It wasn’t enough. She wanted more of him. She wanted him inside her. “Please, Ben. Now.”
She felt his hand around his cock.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Yes.” She arched up, seeking his entry.
He slid into her slowly, his thumb on her clitoris in insistent, swirling strokes. Pleasure flowed through her only to be abruptly quashed by discomfort. She sucked in a breath and held it.
He paused, freezing above her. “Do you want me to stop?”
She shook her head. “It won’t feel like this for long, will it?”
“I don’t know.”
Hearing the distress in his voice, she pulled his head down and kissed him. “Keep going,” she whispered. “I want you. I want this.”
He pushed forward, and she stretched. He straightened over her and used his fingers on her clitoris, reminding her of the pleasure that had been there just a moment ago. Her body began to tingle anew with anticipation. Seeming to understand this, as if he knew her body so well already, he lowered his head to her breast and suckled her. With lips and teeth and tongue, he sent her barreling into the frenzied state where she lost pieces of herself only to find others she didn’t know she had.
His hips twitched against hers, and she wrapped her legs around him.
“Yes, Pru. I need to move. May I move?”
She thought she understood. “Show me.”
Again, he went slowly, but she sensed it was difficult. His body shook, and his muscles were taut as she ran her hands down his shoulders and back. “You can go faster,” she said.
“I wasn’t sure I dared. Does it hurt?”
“Not really. It’s better than it was. When you come back inside, it feels good.”
His hips snapped as he drove into her. “Like that?”
Deep inside, there was a flash of pleasure. She tightened her legs around him. “Yes, just like that.”
He began to move faster, his body thrusting into hers at a steady pace. The discomfort faded entirely until she doubted she’d even felt it at all. There was just rapture and anticipation, her body clamoring for that sweet release.
His hand worked between them, drawing her closer to the finish. “Come again for me, Pru. Please.”
“You come,” she demanded, sensing it might not be so easy for her this time. “I already did.”
He laughed, and she pulled his head down to kiss him, her fingers digging into his nape. She dug her feet into his backside, and he moaned.
Then he let loose a torrent of nonsensical words before he cried out her name and drove deep into her. Apparently, she could come again, because the world broke apart once more, not quite as spectacularly as the first time, but just as wonderfully. Sharing it with him, being joined with him…she would remember this night always—just as he’d said.
But he was suddenly gone from her. She opened her eyes to see he’d pivoted away. On his knees, he held his cock as liquid spurted from the tip. She watched, entranced. “What are you doing?”
He didn’t answer for a long moment. “Finishing,” he rasped. Then it was another long moment before he climbed from the bed and went to the washbasin, where he found a cloth and cleaned himself off. He rinsed the cloth and returned to the bed to tidy her.
“Is this part of the act?” She found it hard to believe that most men would be so caring.
“Probably not.” He gave her a half smile as he finished and returned the cloth to the basin. “To fully answer your question, I finished outside your body to prevent a child.”
“Oh!” She hadn’t considered that, but then she’d been woefully unprepared for any of this. Because she’d never expected it. She resolved to read everything she could about the subject when she returned to London. Fiona had a book, if she remembered correctly.
Prudence yawned and brought her hand to her mouth. “Pardon me.”
He smiled at her. “Let’s sleep.” Sliding back into the bed, he gathered her in his arms.
She tucked her head beneath his chin, feeling safer and more content than perhaps ever before. “I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t that.”
“I hope that’s a good thing.” He pressed his lips to her forehead.
“It was wonderful.” She tipped her head back and looked up into his eyes. “Thank you.”
“It was entirely my pleasure.” He kissed her, his mouth lingering against hers.
For the first time in Prudence’s memory, she fell asleep smiling.
Chapter 8
When Bennet opened his eyes the next morning, he had two immediate thoughts. First, the woman with whom he was entwined was a singular gift. He’d always counted himself unlucky—there were usually bad surprises, rarely good. But this time, he’d found true good fortune, however fleeting.
Second, the sun was shining quite brilliantly, indicating it was indeed time for them to say goodbye.
She stirred in his arms, nuzzling his chest, then pressing her lips to his neck. That surprised him. She’d been wonderfully curious in her innocence, but not necessarily bold. At least not as bold as she was in other aspects.
“Do we have to get up?” she murmured against his skin, tickling him in the most marvelous way.
“Yes. Though I daresay we can delay it a bit.” He rolled to his back, and she pushed herself up to look down at him. Her blond hair fell in waves, caressing her face and his chest.
“And what shall we do with that delay?” She moved her leg over his, bringing her mound flush with his thigh. Her hips moved gently against him.