Chapter Twenty-Four

Dermott thought he would burst from the need to plunge into his bride, but he was not a beast. He had never taken a woman that had not been willing, ready, and nigh unto begging him. But the lass was innocent and needed to be treated with care, lest he injure her and have her dread the prospect of making love to him a second time.

Digging deep for patience, he found it and moved to lie on his side. He trailed the tips of his fingers from her shoulder along her arm to the gentle dip at her waist and curve of her hip. "Lass, ye're a feast for me eyes, with curves enough to drive me mad."

Her eyes revealed her innermost thoughts. She didn't believe him. Actions always spoke louder than words. He pressed his lips to her shoulder as he began his first lesson in lovemaking. Her quiet moan when he pressed his lips to her waist encouraged him. Still he asked, "Should I stop?"

Her breathy "no" was music to his ears. Dermott forged ahead to the curve of her hip, nipping it, drawing a louder moan from her this time. He moved to cover her with his body again, unable to hold back from pressing forward until he was at the entrance to her tight sheath. She coated him in her essence. The heat of her, the scent of her, drove him wild. He rasped, "Shall I stop now, lass?"

Her forceful reply would have had him chuckling, if not for the stranglehold he had on his desire.

"If I'm to fit inside ye without causing ye too much pain, I need to stretch ye."

"I have no idea what you mean. How will you do that?"

In answer, he trailed his fingers over her belly, before brushing against her womanhood.

Her eyes rounded, and she bit her lip, nodding before he could ask permission.

He gently used one finger and then two to stretch her, kissing her lips, her neck, and her breasts while his hands worked their magic. She was writhing when he settled once more between her thighs. "Should I stop now, lass?"

Her eyes were dark with passion, lips swollen from his kisses, and nipples rosy from his suckling. "Don't you dare stop!"

The need to plunge into her warmth had him by the throat, and still he dug deep to temper the need. He took her breast in his mouth as he entered her, his lips and mouth teasing and suckling as he slowly pushed forward. He paused when he heard her whimper, kissed her deeply before switching to her other breast.

"Dermott?"

He stopped at the barrier between maiden and woman and dropped his forehead to hers. "I hate causing ye pain, lass, but—"

Georgiana cupped his cheek as she lifted her hips and urged him deeper. "We cannot make any babes if you stop now."

"Babes?"

"I'd like to start with a boy and a girl."

"God, I love ye, lass." He plunged deep and kissed her tears as she pulsed around him. "Let me know when the worst of it passes."

"You mean there's more?"

"Aye, lass, much more. The pain will recede, and pleasure such as ye cannot imagine will replace it."

He was on the verge of asking her if the pain had lessened when she lifted her hips again.

*

"Ah, lass don'tmove like that until the pain is gone."

She lifted them again and pressed her mouth to his throat. "It's gone. I'm ready for more."

Her husband's thrusts were powerful, but she reveled in his strength. Matching her rhythm to his, she sensed something was just out of reach. Feeling as if she would fly apart if she continued, she rasped his name. "Dermott? I can't."

"Ye can, lass, if ye trust me to take ye to the stars."

He plunged into her over and over until she felt herself soaring on a wave of feelings she did not understand. She cried out his name as he plunged into her one last time, pouring his seed into her.

Exhausted, they lay, legs tangled, hearts pounding, bodies slick with sweat. She'd never expected to enjoy lovemaking, thinking there wasn't much more to him entering her, tearing her maidenhead, and then pulling out.

Her loving husband took the time to ensure he would not cause her more pain than was necessary. She'd thought she understood what happened in the marriage bed, but she could not have been more wrong.

As sleep claimed her, her last thought was of her husband. Had she given him as much pleasure as he had given her? Yawning, she tensed her thighs and crossed her ankles behind his back, keeping him snug inside of her. Would he think her wanton and beyond redemption?

*

The lass didn'tknow how she tempted him to ease her onto her back and plunge into her tight sheath all over again. Gritting his teeth, he did not draw in a proper breath until she finally loosened her grip around his waist. She squirmed in his arms until he shifted her around so that her back was against his chest. Bracing himself while she settled in his lap, she finally sighed and relaxed against him.

His wife had surprised him with her passion. He looked forward to more lessons in lovemaking. His gentle wife had taught him something too—that her trust, once given, was all encompassing.

Now that the wicked edge of his desire had been satisfied, his mind would not settle down. The worry that his wife would be snatched from his arms plagued his thoughts. Would Trenchert cease his attempts to claim Georgiana? Would the viscount disregard the fact that she was well and truly wed to him? Should he confront the viscount with the news of their marriage and demand he cease and desist, or let Trenchert attempt to steal her away?

No. His retaliation had to ensure that the viscount—and not Dermott—would end up in irons.

He did not trust the viscount. Neither did Lippincott or Chattsworth. He would need to speak to them in the morning to come up with a plan… After he and the lass shared another lesson in lovemaking.

His worry resolved for the moment, he tightened his hold on Georgiana, loving the feel of her satin-smooth belly and breasts beneath his arm. He sighed and drifted off to sleep to the sound of her quiet breathing.