“Take me,” she whispered.
Ethan smiled. He watched her squeeze her eyes shut and bite her lip, and then he laughed.
“Easy, my little bride, I am not going to eat you,” he teased, stretching out beside her and turning her toward him. “Come, kiss me. I will let you practice,” he said, trying to be serious.
Martha looked at him warily. He could tell this was not what she expected.
“Look, I will place my hands here on the bed and let you touch me,” he offered, resting his hands on the quilt.
She moved closer, inching up until her face was next to his. Slowly, she lifted her hand and traced his eyebrows with a fingertip. She ran her fingers down the side of his cheek, brushing against the grain of his stubble.
“You’re rough,” she remarked.
“Yes, I too have had a long day.”
Carefully she touched his eyelids, causing his eyes to close.
“You have long lashes, maybe longer than mine,” she observed a bit piqued.
He laughed. “I have been told this before,” he admitted.
“By whom?” she demanded.
“By others,” seemed enough to him and he refused to say more.
She moved on to his lips, her index finger trailing along the upper edge. “This is called a Cupid’s Bow,” she whispered as she leaned closer.
“It is?”
“Yes,” she breathed before kissing the corner of his mouth with a little peck. “It’s very appealing.”
“I am happy you find me so.”
Her hand trailed down his chin, touched his neck and then settled on the top button of his shirt.
“May I?” she asked, fiddling with the button.
“Of course, I will be yours as much as you are mine.”
Ethan held his breath when she sat up and began to unbutton his shirt. His fingers tightened on the quilt lest he rip the shirt from his own body. When she had separated them all, she opened the front, exposing his chest. A slight gasp slipped from her mouth and she licked her lips. He swallowed a moan.
The flat of her hand stroked him down the middle, following the trail of golden hair to his belt. He was hard, oh so hard and knew she could see him pressing against his trousers, but she seemed unconcerned. He had to wonder just how much she knew about the mating process.
Her hand moved back up his chest, stroking every inch of him and lingering a little at his male nipples.
“Are yours like mine?” she asked. “I mean I know a man cannot nurse a child, but are they the same in all other ways?”
“No, I find your touch pleasant, but it is nothing compared to how you will enjoy my lips on yours,” he answered truthfully as he worked to control his breathing.
“Are you sure?” she teased as she leaned forward and scraped her tongue across him.
His sigh was audible and she smiled and began to nibble and suck on his nipple.
“Please, Martha,” he rasped out. “Is it not my turn yet?”
“Not yet,” she answered with a smile. “Can I undo your trousers?”
“No,” he insisted adamantly. “Not yet. When the time is right, you will see everything, but I do not want to frighten you.”
“All right,” she sighed, flopping back on the bed in disappointment. “Then I guess it’s your turn.”
“Thank God,” he mumbled, turning toward her. “Sit up.”
With a huff, Martha complied and Ethan peeled the robe from her shoulders and arms.
“Lie down and lift your bottom,” he ordered, pulling the robe from beneath her when she obeyed. “You are so lovely,” he whispered. The thin lawn gown did not hide much from his eyes. It was merely a sheer veil covering her charms.
Turning her to face him, he pulled her close, claiming her lips. His tongue nudged at the tight seam she maintained until she went to speak and slipped inside. She tasted sweet. Her mouth was very warm and it pleased him when she moaned softly and began to duel with him. Surely this woman was made expressly for him.
When she was pressing closer, he moved his mouth to her ear and nibbled for a bit as she arched her neck. Then he bit her lobe once, sharply.
“Ouch!”
“I wanted you to know what it feels like,” he informed her as he began to kiss along her neck. Stopping at the curve of her shoulder, he sucked. Martha gasped and pulled his head closer. His hand was busy untying the ribbon at the front of her gown, but she didn’t seem to notice. Instead she moved even closer and he delighted in the little sounds coming from her throat.
“Lie back now, Älskling,” he asked as he gently pressed her onto her back. “I want to see you as you have seen me.”
For a moment she seemed to freeze, her dark eyes staring into his. Then she nodded and did as he asked.
Carefully, he separated the front of her gown until most of her flesh was exposed. He nearly cried out when he saw how lovely and full her breasts were, the dusky nipples already standing proud. Slowly, he trailed his fingers from the hollow at the base of her throat to her navel, which was as far as the gown opened.
Martha began to giggle until he moved upward and cupped her breast. He tested the weight in his hand, first one breast and then the other. They were perfect, slightly heavy, but firm. His fingers toyed with each nipple, shaping and plucking the one closest to him until she arched into his hand and gasped. Then he lowered his head.
Oh so gently he tasted her, softly rasping his tongue across the tip until she cried out.
“Am I hurting you?” he asked.
“Oh no, Ethan,” she sighed, threading her fingers into his hair and urging him back to her.
He smiled before drawing her pouty nipple between his lips and sucking. Her response was everything he could have hoped for. Mewling sounds reminding him of a kitten escaped her mouth with each draw on her tasty nub. He trailed his hand down her tummy and she didn’t even tense, so caught up in the pleasure he was providing. Sucking a bit harder he let his hand stray between her splayed thighs. Martha arched into his touch there as well. He was in heaven, with a little bit of hell tossed in for good measure.
Why hadn’t he removed his trousers before taking her to this point? Now he would have to stop and undress at some juncture and he would lose his rhythm. The time it took to do that would give her enough of a break to regain control, and he much preferred her like she was now, panting and offering up her breasts for his undivided attention while his hand explored lower.
Well, it could not be helped. Then he had an idea.
“Close your eyes, Martha,” he ordered softly between sucks. “I want to move to the other side of the bed so I can attend to your other breast.”
“All right,” she sighed, happily raising her arms over her head in a glorious stretch that offered them both up and had him groaning.
Swiftly, he slipped from the bed, whipped off his belt and peeled down his trousers, underwear and socks in one fell swoop. A mad dive had him landing on her other side on his stomach and he covered his naked butt with her robe. His mouth was on her other breast in a flash, her hands pulling his head closer.
“Oh my,” she breathed out throatily. “That is truly lovely. If mating feels like this, I have been very foolish with my worrying.”
“There is more, Martha, much, much more,” he whispered against her breast. “Please try to relax and trust me while I show you.” His hand moved her gown up to her waist and settled between her thighs. The warmth of her was evident and she lifted her hips toward him. Slowly, his large fingers separated her lower lips and began to stroke the small but prominent button hidden there. Her surprised gasp let him know she had not been aware of its existence.
“What are you doing?” she panted as her legs closed around his hand.
“Spread your legs, Martha. I want to touch you here. Soon you will see why.”
He felt the trembling of her thighs as she complied and rewarded her with more rhythmic sucking on her enlarged nipple, tearing a wanton moan from her lips.
“Ethan,” she gasped. “Will it feel like this when I nurse our children?” she asked weakly. “I have seen women nurse with nary a moan. How is that possible when it is so heavenly?”
Raising his head, he smiled at her, before moving to kiss her.
“It will be pleasant, but nothing like this,” he assured her. “Although watching you nurse our child will no doubt make me hungry as well,” he said against her lips. “I may have to have a small taste of your sweet milk now and then.”
“Is that something men do? Would you take the food from our child’s mouth?” she demanded in shock.
Laughing, he shook his head.
“The more you are suckled, the more milk you will produce. It is nature’s way of ensuring there is enough for a healthy child. I will not mind doing my part,” he teased, grinning. “Our child will have more than enough to eat and I shall enjoy seeing your breasts become heavy with milk as your belly grows. In fact, it will give me great pleasure to make sure your nipples are accustomed to vigorous suckling well ahead of time.”
“I see,” she whispered as he once again returned to her breasts. “Yes, that will be fine. I’ll want to be ready,” she cried out in agreement as she offered him more by arching her back.
Feeling the heat and dampness between her legs, he ventured further, allowing his finger to capture the slippery dew escaping from her. It was wondrous and he glided easily along her slit, spreading the fluid. Her tummy clenched as he neared her opening and he breathed against her hot skin.
“Martha, I am going to do a little exploring now. I want you to be a good girl and hold still. Only if I hurt you may you stop me. There may be feelings you are not familiar with, but only true pain is reason enough. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Ethan,” she replied breathily.
“Good,” he praised. His finger found her opening and eased inside. Almost immediately he felt her barrier. It did not seem overly strong, but she quickly cried out.
“This is your maidenhead, Älskling,” he informed her softly as he continued to test its strength. “In order for us to continue, it must be breached. There will be pain, my darling. It cannot be avoided, but I believe it will be sharp and sweet and should fade quickly.”
Martha bit her lip and nodded.
“There are two ways I can do this and I will let you choose. I have large hands and can break through it right now with my finger, or I can climb between your legs and break it with my manhood.”
“Is your manhood very much larger than your finger?” she asked, blushing.
“Yes, it is,” he admitted feeling it swell even more.
“Which will be more painful?”
“I do not think it matters.”
“If you breach me with your finger, will I still be a virgin when you take me, in your eyes I mean?”
“Yes, I have felt the proof that you have never lain with a man before. I will be the first and only man to ever touch you in such a way,” he assured her.
“Then you decide,” she pleaded quietly. “I have no dowry. This may be the only gift I ever give you that is worth anything.”
“You are a silly woman,” he scolded, shaking his head as he crawled between her thighs. “I choose to take you with my manhood, but you have given me far greater gifts than your maidenhead. You have given me your heart and entrusted me with your future,” he continued in the same tone. “Have I your love, your devotion?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“And do these things have no value to you?”
“Of course they do,” she replied, tensing as he moved closer to her.
He watched her grimace when the tip of his member nudged her opening and began to move inside. Short breathy pants escaped her lips and she shivered. Pausing for but a moment, he kissed her lips and then plunged inside her with one sure thrust.
Martha cried out, her hands gripping his shoulders as though to push him away. He waited, feeling the warmth and wetness of her tight body struggling to accept him. Slowly she began to relax, the worst over.
“You have given me many gifts this night, Marta, but the greatest of all is love,” he told her passionately as he began to move carefully.
“I do love you,” she replied, tightening her arms around him and tentatively lifting her hips on a groan of pleasure. “It feels…”
“Yes?”
“It feels nice,” she stammered.
Ethan threw back his head and laughed.
“I believe I can do better than ‘nice,’” he said. “Are you well? I am in as far as I dare go. I feel your womb. Is there pain?”
“No, it is not pain, not really, but I need something I do not understand,” she nearly wailed. “You must do something, Ethan. I am burning.”
Pushing himself up with one strong arm, he reached between their bodies and rubbed her nub. It did not take long. Soon she was clutching him tighter, her hips rocking against his. He felt her body shaking, her core squeezing him and moments later she howled out her pleasure. The relief he felt was enormous.
She was his match, his true mate in every way. He spilled his seed deep inside her an embarrassingly short while later and rolled off her, pulling her back to his front.
“It will get better,” he promised, breathing heavily.
“Better? How can it get better?” she asked, turning to look at him over her shoulder.
“As with everything else, with practice,” he grinned with his hand on her tummy holding her in place.
“My goodness, I don’t know if I can stand better,” she sighed, collapsing back against him.
Ethan laughed long and hearty.
Chapter 18
Dalton and Suzanna boarded the Mystic Maiden before dawn in the thick swirling fog of San Francisco harbor.
“Do you expect fair weather for this voyage?” Dalton asked as he shook the captain’s hand.
“Aye, Mr. Vanderbilt,” the captain replied, “and we have light cargo on this run.”
“Are there any other passengers traveling with us?” Suzanna asked.
“A few, but mostly we’re rushing to get some crates of fabric and notions and such to Mrs. Jordon. Seems there’s a wedding this weekend and she wants them for a gift. Mighty strange gift if you ask me, but no one did,” he laughed.
“Yes, that would be Ethan and Martha’s wedding,” Suzanna said, tugging on Dalton’s sleeve. “Effie sent me a telegram. I don’t want to miss it. Will we make it in time, Captain?”
“Aye, Mrs. Vanderbilt, as long as nothing untoward occurs. I doubt we’ll be attacked by pirates this trip,” he teased. “Come along, it’s an hour or so before we sail. Charlie will show you to your cabin and I’d be pleased to have you both for dinner this evening in my quarters.”
“Thank you,” Dalton responded as he took Suzanna’s arm and began to guide her across the slippery deck. “Careful, sweetheart.”
“Once the sun rises and we have the wind at our backs, the deck will dry up and it won’t be so dangerous,” Charlie informed them as he led them below. “I always tell the ladies to be extra careful on deck and they should stay below until the sun is high.”
“I’ll remember that, Charlie,” Suzanna said nodding. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me, just doin’ my job,” he answered, opening the door to their cabin. “I was just tellin’ the other lady on board the same thing a while ago. She needs to be especially careful what with those two little children and all. This here’s a mighty fast ship when she’s not loaded down, skips along them waves fast as you please. If one of them little tykes was to fall overboard, we’d have no chance of rescuing them before the sea took ‘em.”
“Well, I’m sure she’ll be careful.”
“Let’s hope so,” he answered, shaking his head. “She seems a might strange to me, but then I don’t know much about womenfolk. Would you like anything before I go?”
“No, we had breakfast at the hotel,” Dalton replied. “As long as we have a fres
h pitcher of water, we’ll be fine.”
“Already took care of that,” Charlie said backing out the door. “Once we’re underway I’ll stop back and see if there’s anything your Mrs. needs.”
“I appreciate that,” Dalton said, closing and latching the door. “Darlin’ you might want to take a little nap,” he suggested, removing the coat from Suzanna’s shoulders.
Smothering a yawn, Suzanna crawled up on the bed smiling as her husband covered her up and tucked the throw around her.
“I’m going to have a few words with the captain.”
“Is something wrong?” she asked sleepily.
“No, I’d just like to know who’s making this voyage with us, who the other passengers are.”
“You’re worried about something, Dalton. I can tell,” she sighed. “I don’t know why you think you have to protect me from everything,” she snapped, tossing back the cover and moving to the edge of the bed.
“You get right back in bed,” he ordered, raising his eyebrow and staring her down. “You’re exhausted. Do you think I don’t know you’re up pacing the floors half the night? I hope you feel better once we get back to Seattle or I’ll be taking you to see Dr. Martin.”
“That’s nonsense,” she insisted. “I’m fine.”
“You are not fine, Suzanna. Ever since we learned about the circumstances of your grandmother’s death you’ve been on edge. I know you’re frightened and I hate seeing you like this. Now get in there and take a nap before I give you a good spanking and let you cry yourself to sleep. Maybe then you’ll get some decent rest.”
“You wouldn’t,” she hissed.
Dalton removed his coat and began to roll up his sleeves, watching her the entire time.
“Oh all right,” she snapped, lying back down and trying to get the cover straightened out. “Gracious, you’re a bully.”
“I’m a husband who happens to be concerned about the wife he loves very much,” he insisted as he tucked her back in. “Now behave yourself. I’ll lock the door and be back before you wake up.”
“Go on then,” she sniffed, her eyes drooping closed. “See if I care. I hope you wash overboard on those wet decks, just like Charlie said. Then I’ll be a beautiful, wealthy widow.”
Martha (The Marriage Market Book 5) Page 17
