by Sahara Kelly
He moved, lifting his leg to lie between hers, and finding her breast with his hand, thumb teasing her already aroused nipple.
This sensual assault, this incredible sensation of all that warm hard man lying almost on top of her, his skin rubbing against hers…well she was at a loss to describe the magic of it. She couldn’t find a way to explain that the friction between their bodies was a caress in and of itself, or that an unusually strong tension was building deep between her thighs.
She was lost for words—there was only one that covered everything and even that came out in a long whisper…
“Mowbray…”
*~~*~~*
It was a moment like no other he’d ever had.
She shimmered beneath him, all white and silk and shadowed secrets, responding wildly to his every touch.
He fought to control himself, because he wanted so much, everything, all at once, and he knew that this time—her first time—he would have to rein in his lust for her, his overwhelming desire to claim her as his for all time.
He had to slow down; not an easy thing to do when his body was screaming at him to spread her thighs and thrust himself deeply into her.
Mowbray fought for rational thought. There. She had a little mark beneath her breast. He tore his mouth from hers and looked down, barely able to distinguish the tiny mole beneath his thumb.
In a moment of bizarre whimsy, he thought it was charmingly delightful and reminded himself to tell her so at some point. But not right now…
Instead, he rose and straddled her, moving himself into a position where he could conveniently suckle her breasts as he rubbed his chest against the rest of her.
As soon as his mouth encased her soft flesh, she half-cried out, a muted call that let him know she was with him on this erotic journey of theirs.
The unconscious lift of her hips thrust her soft curls into his belly, and once again only iron control stopped his teeth from nipping her. Instead, he groaned and lifted his head away, shifting down her body.
Since he was now settling in, he could keep one hand on her nipple, pinching it delicately, teasing it, while at the same time nipping his way down over her navel.
“Oh, oh…” the words were a breath, a soft sound of passion drifting around them as the sensual journey continued.
He released her breast, only to lick his way down from her navel to where her woman’s hair began to softly drift against his chin.
She gasped as he shifted positions once again, this time spreading her thighs wider and fitting his shoulders between them.
Then he tenderly touched her swollen folds and parted them with his thumbs.
After a moment or so, she tried to wriggle. “What are you doing?” she whispered, her thighs tightening against his arms.
“Learning you,” he whispered back. “Learning how beautiful you are.”
“I…I don’t understand…”
“You will,” he reassured her. Then he bent to her and softly ran his tongue all the way up through her flesh to the tiny pearl he could just see lurking at the top of her sex. She was wet, shining, and her scent was rich and full and reminded him of peonies.
His stroke produced a squirming squawk which delighted him, so he did it again, and again, wiggling his tongue sometimes, and at others making sure his breath dusted that same spot.
Her body tensed beneath him and around him as he licked and sucked his way around her, discovering what made her shiver and moan, until he could hear her fingertips scrabbling against the linens and could barely hold her down for his mouth.
“Mowbray, God, Mowbray, please…I can’t…”
“It’s all right. Let the feelings free, Lydia.”
“I don’t…I can’t…”
She was almost there, he realised. His hands, his mouth, soaking wet…he had deliberately aroused her as much as he dared.
If she was to experience this, her first time, with a minimum amount of pain, he knew he had to make sure she was fully and completely ready.
He hoped she was.
“I’m going to take you, Lydia.” He got himself into position. “I’ll try not to hurt you…”
“I’ll hurt you if you don’t,” she shot back. “Please, Mowbray. Do it now…”
They both wanted it and they were both ready. It had to be now, he knew, so he carefully shifted his body over hers, just touching her slick moisture and mixing it with the droplets already leaking from the head of his cock.
He wanted to cry out as her hot juices burned him in the most wonderful of ways, but he began to push forward, into the tight passage that was silken fire against his hardness.
She raised her knees, opening herself wide, urging him on with her body, inviting him inside with a soft sweet moan.
And there—a slight check—and he was through her maidenhead, deep inside the woman he knew was the only one for him from this moment on.
“Are you all right?” he murmured, holding himself still by the skin of his teeth.
She nodded, and he saw her eyes, open, staring at him, a new eagerness lighting their depths. “A little pain, but now? Oh this…this is…amazing…” She shifted experimentally, her hips lifting just enough to have him gritting his teeth.
“I can’t last if you do that again,” he groaned.
“I don’t want you to last. Just…move…”
She sighed and closed her eyes, every muscle in her body quivering around him, or so it seemed.
So he began to move, controlling himself to the best of his ability, going slowly and gently at first.
“More,” she encouraged, digging her nails into his arms. “More, Mowbray…give me…give me everything…”
So he carefully increased the pace, sweat dripping off his brow as he held back from doing what he wanted, which was to pound into her and never stop.
The more he moved, the more she responded, rising now to his thrusts, breath catching, moaning with pleasure.
She was there, with him, keeping pace with every single thing he did.
He went faster, faster now, their bodies slapping together and parting more rapidly. To his surprise, she lifted her legs and locked them around him, her heels and ankles pressing into his spine.
And that was enough to strip away his control. He thrust again and again, making sure to touch that sensitive pearl as he did so.
It took bare moments before she sucked in a gasp and everything exploded around him.
She shuddered, her inner muscles clamping down on his cock like nothing he’d ever felt. That sensation alone was more than enough to send him flying with her, and he let go with a groan, filling her, pumping himself into her, allowing her to milk him dry with each of her spasms.
It seemed endless, this whirling madness, this vortex of everything physical sending both of them off the edge of sanity.
He sighed as his release left him exhausted, and he lowered himself slowly down onto her softness as the echoes of hers rippled gently away.
For a minute or two they lay thus, tangled, sated, limbs limp and useless. Then he gathered enough strength to roll free, doing so with caution, and hoping he wasn’t hurting her.
“Are you all right, Lydia?” He gathered her close and let her head rest on his shoulder.
She tucked herself into him. “Better than I’ve ever been, thank you,” she mumbled.
To his surprise, he felt a soft kiss on his skin. At a loss as to how to respond, he simply lay there, almost unable to believe that the woman of his dreams was in his bed, sated from their sensual adventure.
“It was my pleasure,” he whispered on a grin. “I love you, Lydia.”
He waited.
A soft snore was the only response.
Chapter Twenty-One
Lydia stretched and turned over, then woke with a shock to feel the warmth of a body next to hers.
She froze and blinked, carefully turning her head to see Mowbray gazing at her with a lazy smile.
“Good morning.”
>
She couldn’t help it, she blushed, and then gave a soft laugh. “Hullo. This is…unexpected.”
He grinned sleepily. “But very nice, if I may say so.” Then he glanced at the window. “Damn. The sun is going to rise soon. And much as I hate to mention it, we must get you back to your room.”
She sighed and nodded. “Please know I’d rather stay.”
He smiled, dropped a light kiss on her lips and then unwrapped himself from the twisted covers. “I agree with that sentiment, but…”
“I understand.” She managed to slide from the linens with the barest of groans, even though her muscles were a little sore in odd places.
“Here.” He rounded the bed with her nightgown in his hand and gently dropped it over her head as she rose. Her robe was nearby and within moments she was ready to leave.
She looked at him. “Mowbray…”
“I know.” He met her look with a gentle smile as he led her to the door. “I know, my dear. I know.” He opened it a crack and listened. “Do you want me to walk you back to your room?” It was a whisper.
She shook her head. “No. Best I go alone. Easier to explain if I meet anyone.”
“All right.” He touched her face. “We must talk, Lydia.”
Something inside her stilled for an instant, then she simply nodded and eased out into the blessedly silent hallway.
Her bare feet made no sound on the carpet, and there was no noise from any of the doors she passed, so she guessed it was still a little before dawn. The servants were doubtless about their business downstairs, but up here, where the honoured guests were sleeping, all was quiet.
Something for which she gave silent thanks as she closed the door to her own room behind her.
Not exactly sure what one should do after being deflowered, she shook her head and decided the first thing was to be comfortable. She blushed at the smears of blood on her thigh as she used the chamber pot and made sure to clean any evidence away as best she could.
Feeling refreshed, but still confused and a tad achy, she allowed herself the luxury of going back to bed, although the cold sheets were no substitute for warm Mowbray.
Lying there, waiting for the dawn, Lydia accepted that her life had changed. She had surrendered her virginity, and all things considered, it mattered very little against the experience of making love for the first time.
How amazing it had been. How amazing he had been.
She could now imagine that such an act could be painful in the extreme. She understood more of what she had heard from other women over the years. If she had not been prepared, if Mowbray hadn’t cared enough about her to arouse her so effectively…well, yes. It would have hurt.
But he did, and she’d felt barely any pain at all.
In fact, it had been the most blissfully wonderful moment, one that defied description. Although such a matter was not foreign to her, she marvelled at how different it was to achieve a release with a man’s cock inside her. So much more…more everything.
Sighing, she turned on one side and closed her eyes, determined to recall every single second of the night.
And without a moment’s thought, she fell asleep.
As a result, she was the last into the breakfast room the following morning.
“You must have slept well,” smiled Ivy over her tea.
“I did,” answered Lydia, refusing to look at Mowbray. “It was one of those nights when I was perfectly comfortable all night long.”
“Oh, yes, I know what you mean.” Prudence attacked eggs with vigour. “As if you never moved once because you were so comfortable the moment your head hit the pillow.”
“So,” Lydia joined the table with a modest plate of two freshly baked rolls. “What’s afoot this morning?”
“I believe Ivy has something she’d like to discuss with the gentlemen,” said Prudence pointedly.
“Ah.” Ivy cleared her throat. “Well, yes.”
“I’m all ears,” announced Miles.
“We all are, my dear. Do feel free to go ahead…” Colly waved his fork in invitation.
“Very well.” Ivy touched her napkin to her lips. “We’d like to go bathing.”
Silence fell for a moment or two as this comment was digested.
“Um…” Colly struggled.
“In the ocean?” asked Miles.
“I think that would probably be the best place, yes,” answered his wife dryly.
“But…” Colly frowned.
Prudence sighed. “If I may, before we get to the ‘buts’ of this discussion, I would like to say that we girls—sorry, ladies—have thoroughly discussed this topic. We understand we do not have a bathing machine here.” She looked around. “That is not an obstruction to our plans.”
“But…” This time it was Miles who was looking puzzled.
“Do you remember our trip to that cove? The deserted one?”
“I do,” answered Colly, shooting a curious glance at his wife.
“We have decided that there could not be a better place for us to enjoy a swim.”
“Uh…” Ronan leaned back. “There might still be objections, you know.”
“With the lovely new bathing costumes we brought with us? There shouldn’t be,” countered Lydia. “Obviously privacy is a concern, so if he agrees, we thought we’d ask you, Ronan, if you would be kind enough to sail us over there, drop us off, and then head out far enough to give us that privacy. Lady Maud has volunteered to accompany us and stay aboard the ship while we swim. Thus ensuring our privacy.”
“Hmm.” Colly stared at Ivy. “It all sounds quite logical.”
Miles had the same sort of expression as he gazed at his wife. “Too logical. But I suppose they’ve been planning this for some time.”
“It’s a well thought out plan, I have to admit,” Mowbray contributed to the conversation, attracting all eyes, not just Lydia’s. “Providing the ladies are comfortable in the water, I think this might give them a chance to enjoy the ocean as we do. It’s always seemed a bit unfair to me that we gentlemen can be so much freer with our swimming.”
“Thank you, Mowbray,” Lydia put down her knife and applauded quietly.
He beamed.
“Ronan?” Prudence turned pleading eyes in his direction. “What do you think? Will you take us to that cove again?”
Ronan sighed, then spread his arms in a gesture of surrender. “Gentlemen, what am I to do in the face of that appeal?” He shrugged. “I can guarantee they’ll get there and back in safety. I suppose I should be in a bit of a snit since you’ve assigned a guard to me. Obviously you don’t trust me. But I’ll be happy to spend some time with the darlin’ Lady Maud…”
His comment was met with many protestations from the ladies.
“Hey…” interrupted Sir Sidney. “Careful, lad. I may have to call you out.”
“Hush, dear,” said Maud, who had been quietly observing the conversation.
“Miles?” Rose lifted her eyebrows. “Any objections?”
He frowned. “No, but if you give me an hour, I might find one.”
Colly sighed. “That goes for me as well. I have no objections. And although I feel like Miles, I also agree with Mowbray. When you think about the matter, it is unfair that the ladies should be so heavily burdened when wishing to take to the water.”
“Hear hear.” Ivy thumped a spoon on the table. “Well ladies. This afternoon? If the weather looks fine?”
There were rousing cheers from all the ladies present, endorsing the motion. And, as previously planned, the conversation then turned to a most enthusiastic discussion about bathing costumes, what to bring, how to wear one’s hair…everything designed to make the gentlemen remember they had something to do elsewhere.
And it worked like a charm.
Ten minutes after the voyage was approved, the ladies were alone.
“Big cloths, Ivy. Very big cloths.”
“I was thinking sheets,” laughed Rose in response to Prudence’s commen
t.
“I think we have some old thinning blankets that will serve the purpose,” mused Ivy. “I’ll talk to our housekeeper and see if I can relieve her of them.”
“An excellent idea,” agreed Lydia.
A time was settled, and Lady Maud offered to make sure everyone’s hair was pulled well out of the way. Since the maids were not to be involved in this, they all adjourned to Ivy’s chambers, and the next couple of hours passed rapidly.
Thus they eagerly arranged themselves on the small jetty awaiting Ronan and gave a rousing little cheer when the Maeve arrived.
They were on their way to swim. At last.
*~~*~~*
It surprised Lydia to discover that the prospect of nudity didn’t deter a single one of them. Without a second thought, they hurriedly undressed, each folding their garments carefully and placing their shoes on top lest anything blow away in the playful breeze.
The water, when she tested it with bare toes, seemed a bit chilly, and she made a comment to that effect.
Ivy, who was shimmying out of her gown, snorted. “Of course it’s going to be cold, my darling. It’s the ocean.”
“We’re strong girls,” grinned Rose, folding her chemise carefully. “Come on. Let’s see what it feels like.”
Her enthusiasm was catching, and so she and the Duchess of Maidenbrooke danced into the gentle surf, stark naked and grinning from ear to ear, accompanied by their eager friends.
Then she shrieked. “Damn, it’s cold.”
“Ha, told you so.” Lydia, having shed her last garment, ran in beside her, stifling a little cry of shock as the water climbed above her knees.
Rose tentatively took little steps forward, gasping as a wave splashed her delicate parts. “Oooh, yes, cold, but oh…” she leaned down and swished her hands around. “Very pleasant.”
“You’re all cowards,” yelled Prudence, running headlong into the water, splashing quite violently and then diving into a wave.
The other three held their breaths and let them out again when she reappeared. “Oh this is magnificent. Just wonderful.” She splashed happily, then swam one way and the other.
“She’s a fish, for God’s sake,” said Lydia. “I can swim, but nowhere near as good as that.” Demonstrating the truth behind her words, Lydia took a breath and plunged forward, ignoring the vicious embrace of the cold water. Or at least muffling the yelp that emerged as she sank up to her neck.
