He grinned. “Now you feel the beginning,” he said. He began to pulse downward.
“Beginning?” she echoed, and then she trembled from what he was doing.
“That’s it,” he said. “Let yourself feel it.”
He pulsed downward twice more, then he smiled at her. “More?”
“Yes.”
“This may surprise you,” he warned. “It is a feeling like no other.”
He trailed his fingers into her wetness. He pushed between her folds and stroked her where her sex was most responsive. She gasped and tightened, her legs quivering, but not closing. And he stopped what he was doing.
“Different, yes?”
“Different.”
“Unpleasant?”
“No.”
“More?”
“Yes.”
And so he accustomed her to his touch with short touches, each a little deeper. He paused every time and waited for her to say yes, then he did it again until her breath was short and her body quivering like a taut bow. The next time she said yes, he pressed into her. He felt her warmth slick around his finger, and he dreamed of thrusting his cock there. He knew it was too soon, so he let his fingers explore in ways that his cock could not.
She lost the ability to speak, but she nodded to him every time. Her breath came in short bursts, and her eyes were luminous with arousal. He wanted her undressed so that he could feast upon her breasts. He wanted her beneath him when she burst around him.
Instead, he gloried in her every sound and drank the sight of a woman in her first coming. She was not there yet, but the quickening was close. Her eyes fluttered closed and she pressed into his hand, echoing the rhythm he built.
She was rocking against him, and he felt every pulse, every beat of her body through his own. He pulled her tight as she writhed.
He plunged his fingers inside her. She wriggled against him.
He rolled his thumb over her nub. She strained in his arms.
Harder. Faster.
Sweeter.
Yes.
She cried out and her eyes flew wide. Her body shook as she clenched around his fingers. And he was caught by her beauty. Ecstasy in her face. In her body.
And in his as well. He erupted against her. His pleasure caught him by surprise and overpowered him. While she still trembled, joy roared through him. He pulsed as she did. He danced in bliss as she did. And he held her through it all.
Heaven.
Chapter Nineteen
He left thevery next morning.
Li-Na had known he would leave soon. After all, he’d been planning a trip to London the day he fell ill. It made sense that he’d depart as soon as he felt well. But this morning? The morning after he’d touched her so intimately? After their impromptu afternoon together, they’d cleaned up and headed inside. His sister had appeared soon afterwards with both children in tow, and there’d been no time for private discussion. Li-Na had plenty of private thoughts—most of them filled with emotions, heated cheeks, and a wonderful excitement. After hearing for years about the mythical quickening, she’d experienced it for herself. And it had beenwonderful.
Unfortunately, except for a few apologetic looks over his sister-in-law’s shoulder, Lord Daniel said nothing to her. What could he say with the countess and her children there? So Li-Na had sat with the quiet child and stacked rocks with him while the other three had spoken in low tones together, presumably about Stefan’s guardianship. From what little she overheard, it appeared Lord Gordon was increasing his efforts to get control of Stefan and the estate. Daniel was grim-faced as he, Stefan, and his sister-in-law went for a stroll. Li-Na remained behind with Joseph as they shared Mrs. Hocking’s meat pies in the castle kitchen. She watched him closely, remembering his angry fit in the inn. Whenever his body tensed, she kept herself very still. The room was silent except for the wind, and she was absolutely still. If she did not talk or touch him, he seemed to quiet on his own. He calmed himself so long as she did not interfere. But she had to be very still and very patient.
When the other three returned, they were shocked to see that all was well as Joseph and she walked slowly around the castle gathering rocks to play with.