Forever in Love (Book One of the Armstrong Series)

by Rita Hestand

  "I've wanted this for a long time too…." she cooed. "I've thought about it endlessly, wondering how it would feel. Wondering if I would blush or heat up. I thought I'd be nervous being naked in front of you. Instead, I'm just weak and wanting more…I can't wait for the next thrill you send through me. I want to experience everything with you. You're such a gentle lover. I never knew it could be so beautiful."

  He pulled her drawers down and picked her up in his arms carrying her once more to the bed all the while, his eyes scanning where they had never been before.

  For a moment, he gasped, as his eyes feasted on her.

  "You're such a beautiful woman…Melanie…"

  He gently laid her on top of the bed, staring down at her, marveling at her womanly form.

  Thinking about it, he went to the door and fastened it until it locked, and then he returned to her side. She looked at him with a smile.

  "The last thing we need is an interruption…" He smiled back.

  "I agree. I so agree. Now…It's your turn, or would you like me to strip you of all your clothes?" She giggled not bothering to pull the sheet up over her.

  "In a moment…let me just look at you…" His hand went down the side of her, taking note of the tiny waist and ample hips. He felt a fever grip him, he wanted her so badly.

  "I just want to look at you like this for a moment, and hold it in my memory for later."

  "I should be embarrassed, but I'm not…It thrills me that you like looking at me."

  "I've never seen a more beautiful woman. You are perfect in every way. Rich lush golden globes to sink my lips around, a tiny waist, and flaring hips. Every curve entices me…The young girl I left behind became a woman while I was gone."

  She stretched out on the bed for a second, then wound herself in a curve. It was the way she moved, sinuous and primitive all the same. His groin tightened.

  She smiled when he glanced from her head of luxurious curls to her small feet.

  "Now," she rose toward him. "May I undress you?"

  "Not just yet my love..." He smiled as his knee came down on the bed and he lay beside her, his hands going over her entire body slowly. Like a blind man, he felt every inch of her, committing her to memory. She basked in his appreciation.

  His hand dipped between her legs and he held her there for a moment. His hand was hot and possessive; his eyes shining like brightly lit stars.

  She squirmed as he relentlessly touched, kissed and put his hand to her.

  "You are as beautiful as I imagined…maybe a little more so." He sighed, his hand softly stroking her now. He watched as her body responded to each touch, each caress.

  She began to pant and move against his hand. "I feel wet and hot and…like I want to rip your clothes off…Oh…" She flushed and moved against his hand so vigorously, and then a smile broke over her face.

  She'd climaxed. He smiled at her and kissed her tenderly.

  "Oh that was…so…nice…"

  "I'm glad you are wet and hot for me…it's as it should be."

  "I've never felt like this before. Never imagined it."

  "It's normal my darling, when two people love each other as we do."

  "It's my turn now…" she cooed, basking in his appraisal.

  She stood up, put her feet firmly on the floor, and pulled him up to her. He stared, his eyes sparkling with approval. She reached for his jacket and peeled it from him. It flew to the floor. Her arms went around him, cradling him against her naked body. She unbuttoned his vest and discarded it. Then she lifted his shirt and walked around him to unbutton it. All the while, he stood very still, even though his manhood was reacting to her every move. How could it not, she was naked before him. Her eyes darted to the obvious bulge in his pants and she gasped.

  She spread the shirt away, and gasped again. Almost hungrily, she touched and kissed him. Then she pressed her breasts against him, and he shook with desire.

  Her lips caressed his cheek, and then down his neck to sink her teeth into the lobe of his ear and blow warm air there as he had done to her. His body tensed and nearly exploded when her lips covered first one nipple then the other. He gasped.

  "Do you like what I'm doing?" She purred as her tongue shot out to lick him there.

  "I can't wait to show you how much." He whispered.

  His arms went around her and cupped her hips as their lips met in a frenzy. His hands kneaded her buttocks, and she moaned again. He pulled her ever closer, so she could feel his full arousal.

  "I'm so…"

  "I know, so am I." He smiled.

  Then she reached for his pants, tugging and pulling until they fell to the floor.

  Eager, because all the while, he touched and kissed her.

  Finally, she gently pushed him to the edge of the bed, and took his boots off, sliding his pants away.

  "Oh…" She gasped when she looked at him. "My husband," she stared, her mouth open, her heart thundering as her eyes took him in.

  He picked her up in his arms, and laid her on the bed. His eyes devoured every inch of her.

  She seemed to derive as much pleasure in looking at him and that thrilled him.

  "Come to me…" she whispered.

  "With pleasure my darling…" He smiled again.

  His knee bent and before she knew it, he was beside her. For long moments, he merely stroked her, looking, touching, and kissing. She squirmed beneath him, wanting him and yet too shy to ask him to take her.

  It was the first time they had seen each other naked and both seemed pleased by the sight. Joe lingered over her, kissing her everywhere, touching, nudging her with his nose.

  He buried his face against her breasts, "I've wanted to touch you here so many times…Your dresses tease me, you know that don't you?"

  "I know….and I wanted you to touch me there…many times." she admitted shyly. He looked at her and grinned.

  "If you'd only said something…" He gasped as he reached to kiss her.

  When she came up breathless, she sighed. "I couldn't say anything. We weren't married then. But it never stopped me from wanting to."

  "I can see where there are a lot of advantages to being married."

  His hands went from her shoulders, all the way down to the dark secrets of her womanhood, where his fingers slid between her thighs parting her legs gently. He could feel the tension there but also the moist heat and he stared into her beautiful starry eyes, and moved slowly toward her. She opened like a flower, eager for his touches, hungry for his kisses and inviting him inside her. Yet, he still felt the least of tension inside her.

  He wanted this to be good for her, and he didn't want to frighten her even if she was eager.

  He kissed her on the mouth, his tongue waltzing slowly with hers, as though tasting a fine wine.

  She strained toward him now.

  "I want you my darling…," he whispered.

  "So do I…" she threw back her head and offered herself to him. "I'm yours at last, do what you want with me."

  Instead of rushing the climatic moment, he found the core of her womanhood, his fingers circled it, and she trembled, but he was a gentle lover, and he teased and tantalized until she wreathed beneath him.

  "Oh Joe…I want you so…" she murmured when he came up to kiss her nipples once more. "Am I wicked, for wanting you this much? I'm so on fire."

  "My darling, you could never be wicked." He whispered.

  She opened her eyes and stared into his, "But I've dreamed of the moment you would make me yours."

  "No more than I…" He assured her.

  He continued to massage the delicate center of her, and watched her grow from a timid bride, to a wanton woman.

  "I'm so hot Joe, and so wet. Is this how it is supposed to be?"

  "Yes, sweetheart, it is exactly how it's supposed to be. Your wetness readies your body for me."

  He smiled gently at her when she heated naturally from his gentle urgings. He felt her grow ready, but still he was gentle with her, and care
ssed her as his lips found hers once more.

  His hand glided ever downward until he reached the hot moist core of her. She was ready, primed and eager to become his. "Your body readies for me…" he sighed." I know you are untouched, and I will be gentle with you."

  "My body has been ready for you for years." She cried out as his fingers found the arousing tip of her femininity once more. She moaned the pleasure it gave her. A ripple of pleasure spiraled through her, as she closed her eyes. She pulled him to her. "Oh, it feels so wonderful. Are you as ready as I?"

  Ready for you? If only she knew. At that moment, he wanted her to know…but he dare not speak it. Not yet!

  She threw back her head and smiled like a feline cat lapping her milk. She wiggled against his hand, manipulating him to just the right spots to send her over the edge. She moaned aloud and he kept touching her there until she reached a climax. She clawed his back and held on for life.

  "Oh…oh my God…" She cried aloud. "I knew it would be wonderful. I've so dreamed of this day…But I'm so unprepared for such pleasure. My heart is racing."

  "Am I hurting you, my love?" He asked.

  "No…you could never hurt me, I know that…" She sighed.

  He smiled. Then she curled around him and held him close for a moment. However, he wasn't through priming her. He bent his head and took her with his mouth, again arousing her to the tempest of a climax. She pulled his hair, and moved her body up toward him in joyful union. "Oh my darling, you give me so much pleasure…I think I might die from it."

  Collapsing yet again her eyes opened and she saw the look of total desire and love staring at her.

  "I'm so…so…" She didn't have a word for what she was feeling.

  "I know my love. I'm preparing you for us." He smiled. "This is your first time, and I want it to be perfect for you. Even though I've dreamed of this moment with you, I must help to prepare you for it. For your pleasure is mine."

  "I've never felt so wanton in my life. Even my dreams were not this fulfilling. Oh Joe…fill me with your love! I want you inside me."

  His shaft laid against her now, rock hard and eager. She looked shyly down at him. "Please…Make me yours, make us one…," she cried, welcoming him as he moved against her.

  She watched and when he slipped inside her slowly but smoothly, she groaned just a bit when he broke the barrier between them, but when he began to move against her, she caught up to him and moved herself even closer.

  She felt like a love goddess, hot, primed, and so in love. "Take me to heaven…," she moaned against him.

  "Oh God, Melanie…I love you so…" He murmured against her shoulder as he went deeper and deeper inside her, as she urged him onward in his quest.

  Her lips were everywhere, caressing him, pulling ever closer, ever deeper as the rhythm of life began between them.

  And when they began to climax, he kissed her nipples, urging her to find the highest peaks of their love. The room fell silent except for their panting and kissing.

  She brought herself up to him, offering herself as his sacrifice, as they finally climaxed together.

  "Oh my love….my love…" He cried out. So wrapped up in the ecstasy of the moment, the climax came fast and furious, he pulled out just a little, and she pulled him back, smothering him with her kisses... Her eyes opened, and he smiled, "We want to prolong it as long as we can, sweetheart."

  "Yes…yes…" she cried. "Yes…but I so want you to feel the pleasures I feel."

  Once again he thrust himself inside her, this time he felt her muscles working to pull him in, thrill after thrill came like a millions streams of lightning. They were sweating, panting, and seeking each other and finally they culminated their climax in one burst of energy.

  They collapsed into each other's arms. Satiated, happy, and well spent.

  Hours later, she went downstairs to get them a bite to eat, and brought them a tray of cheese's and wine. The house had finally grown quiet and everyone had gone home or went to sleep.

  However, their night was not over. He held her close, his hands skimming her body, like a blind man, he seemed to memorize every curve.

  She squirmed from his touches.

  He bent his head and supped at her breasts, playing with them, staring at them, kissing them until they were raw to the touch.

  "Oh Joe…I'm so happy. If this is a dream, don't wake me." She cried.

  "We are married, we are one. We belong to each other." He smiled at her.

  "Did I please you?" She asked.

  "You have to ask?" He laughed.

  "Are we going to spend the night here?" She asked, her hand drifting to his shaft, her fingers sliding around it with a shy kind of curiosity. Her eyes big and full of wonder.

  "Don't laugh, but when I used to see animals coming together I wondered if they were happy and smiling. I'd heard some women say it was a duty, not a pleasure, but always in my heart I dreamed it would be just like this, so…passionate and wonderful."

  "That feels so good." Joe said closing his eyes and letting her have her way with him.

  "Does it?" A smile curled her lips. "We could be here all night. I certainly don't mind. I love touching you. Knowing I have that right now."

  "Let's get dressed and go. I want you to myself. I don't want to share you with all those people. I want to have my wife. I want to be decadent and enjoy you to myself. Is that evil?"

  She smiled, kissing one pert nipple. "It can't be, as I want the same…"

  "Then let's go…" He moved to get up off the bed.

  She nodded. But she didn't move.

  "What are you doing?" He asked when he reached for his clothes but she didn't.

  "Watching my love get dressed. I want to remember these moments for the rest of my life." She smiled. "Every one of them. I don't want to rush. I don't want to miss a single moment. For years from now, I will remember it."

  "Wait until I get you on that ship." He cried and continued to dress. "You'll love it on the river. It's so peaceful, so beautiful."

  She tilted her head at him. "You have changed; you so sound like Sam…almost poetic."

  Joe glanced at her, a moment. His expression sobered just a tad. But he was determined to not to let anything deter their happiness.

  "Perhaps I have a little of Sam in me, after all."

  She smiled. "A little of Sam and a lot of Joe."

  When it was her turn, he helped her with the corset, and the pantaloons, but as he began, pulling them up, he touched his lips briefly against her pleasure points. "That's not fair…I want you again too."

  He reached for his own clothes and started to take them off.

  "No…we've agreed to go tonight. Let's get out of here."

  He nodded, and continued helping her dress. He kissed her breasts just before he covered them. Then he helped button the buttons. His fingers were shaking he wanted her so.

  When he was through, he looked at her and smiled, "I want you just as much with your clothes on."

  She giggled. "You're very primitive my husband, and you make me wild with wants…I never thought I could let go so easily."

  Henry, one of the older hired hands that worked for the Hamilton's brought their buggy around and offered to drive them to the boat.

  "That will be fine, but don't turn around unless you want to be embarrassed." Joe commanded him.

  "Yes sir," The old man laughed.

  As they drove away, Joe covered her with a blanket, but his hand snaked under it to find her. His slow hand had her gasping for his next kiss. Locked into a heated embrace, there were quiet moans of love; they found such an unleashed joy in their lovemaking.

  "You’re a better lover than I ever dreamed…," she whispered in his ear as he swiftly moved to kiss her lips once more.

  "We have all the time in the world to indulge in our fantasies now." He smiled and cradled her in his arms his finger finally finding the hot spot that made her nearly cry aloud at the joy she felt from his touching. Bringing her quick
ly to a point of climax, she couldn't stop the heated blush creeping up her cheeks. Sending her over the edge of passion, she sighed gently into his arms. She was weak and sleepy and curled into his waiting arms.

  The trip was long and she didn't awake until dawn.

  "We're here Mr. Joe." Henry called without looking back at them.

  "Thank you Henry…" He gave him a handsome tip and they departed.

  They stood staring at the boat that would be their cocoon.

  "It's beautiful, isn't it?" He asked as he held her close.

  "I've never been this close before. I don't know why I've never taken a boat or ship before, it's so romantic." She chuckled.

  "Let's enjoy our honeymoon…" He whispered just before he covered her lips with a hot kiss.

  She sighed into his arms.

  Chapter Eleven

  Joe knew from the moment they married that he should tell her the truth, but the words just wouldn't come. All his hopes and dreams were coming true, it was simply too soon to confess. Besides, he dreamed this moment of having Melanie all to himself. He couldn't mar it with the truth. He'd find a time to tell her, later.

  Melanie was his now and nothing could change that. They were madly in love with each other. Perhaps by the time he told her, she'd be better prepared to hear the truth. He knew she loved him, but the lie between them niggled. Something deep inside him wanted to tell her, but he wasn't sure of the timing.

  At least that's what he told himself. But for nothing would he ruin their honeymoon.

  The steamboat, The Sarah Belle, crept around the bend slowly as it eased from the dock. Joe took Melanie to the bridal suite he had purposely rented for their enjoyment. It was the fanciest suite on the boat, and he paid a steep price to get it. Champagne awaited them, along with caviar and oysters.

  "Do people really eat this?" She asked looking curiously at the caviar and oysters.

  "I think it is over rated, I think we might like the cheeses they brought better."

  Their suite opened up to a private part of the deck so they could see out along the water's edges. Joe opened the door so she could see the water and landscape.