David pushed against her, discovering her body was closed to him. He rocked his hips, prepared to take things as slow as she needed to avoid injuring her more than necessary. Wet warmth claimed him as he inched further inside. He slowed his advance and kissed her lips. Abigail panted but her expression showed no pain.
He smoothed the hair from her cheek, and then lifted his weight from her body. The movement drove him deeper and a quick flicker of pain crossed her face. He stopped until she relaxed. Then moved again, claiming her as gently as he could.
When he reached her limit, he fell to one arm and kissed her mouth. “Are you all right, my love?”
Her breath came in little pants, drawing his attention to her untouched breasts. “Is there more?”
He slowly covered the perfect mound and stroked his thumb over the hard peak until she gasped. There were any number of sensual pleasures a devoted and thorough man could share with his wife. David would delight in each and every moment. “So much more, I promise you.”
He drew back and thrust in, watching Abigail for signs of pain. His slow approach had worked well, for after a time she clung to him, fingers digging into his back and moaning softly to each thrust. David had never felt so alive before. So connected to another person. Making love to Abigail was more fulfilling than he’d ever dreamed. He slowed his thrusts and deepened them, aiming to bring her greater pleasure.
Abigail’s eyes widened as he filled her. Her head tipped back and she pressed her lips together. He brought his mouth beside her ear and nibbled at her throat. “Tell me. Don’t hold back.”
She gasped and clutched at him. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Do you want me to stop?” Given the way she held onto him, he thought he knew the answer.
“Don’t stop. Don’t. Don’t. Never. Never. Never stop.” More words tumbled from her lips. Words pleading for something she couldn’t name. David held her tightly to him, giving up his own needs altogether in order to provide Abigail with sensations she required most. Her fingers bit deeper into his skin, her thighs tightened around his hips and a wail suddenly left her mouth.
He held himself still as she shuddered, drinking in the pleasure of her first release. However, he couldn’t remain so for long and he quickly succumbed to desire, whispering her name against her throat as he climaxed. When she relaxed, he withdrew, still hard, still desiring more but afraid he was crushing her.
He eased onto his side, drew Abigail against his chest, and plotted out their new future. In the morning he would write to his partner at the bank, explain why he wouldn’t return as planned and ask him to call in a few favors: namely the purchase of a special license to marry as quickly as possible and to organize the lease of a larger and far nicer apartment. Knight had excellent taste and good connections. He could have it all arranged, and David would move in, before Abigail even arrived in the capital. Once his letter was on its way, he would meet with Peter Watson and ask for Abigail’s hand in marriage.
Abigail pressed her lips to his chest. “David.”
“Yes, my love.”
“Hmm,” she murmured sleepily as she cuddled against him. “I like the way you say that.”
“Good, because I intend to use the endearment often.” He ran a hand down her spine, over her hip and along her leg as far as he could reach. Her skin was silky soft, and so very tempting. She snuggled closer to him, pressing against his erection that hadn’t softened very much.
She stroked her hands over his shoulders, fingers brushing over his skin possessively, and swept down his sides. “Are you all right?”
“That is the question I should be asking you.” David laughed softly. “But I’ve never felt better in my life, Abigail. I hope you feel the same. Thank you for seducing me.”
She sat up suddenly, hair tangled and free across her breasts. “Did I do that? Really?”
He smiled and lay back with an arm behind his head. “I believe you did.”
Her eyebrows rose as if she found the idea ridiculous and then she climbed on top of him, thighs holding him in place beneath her slight weight, soft hands pressed to his chest, hips perilously close to his lingering erection. “I would never have believed I could before tonight,” she murmured.
He pushed her hair aside to expand his splendid view of her body. “You seduce me with every breath you take.”
He brushed a thumb over a nipple until it hardened to a tight peak. When Abigail took her bottom lip between her teeth, he brushed over it again. Her lips curled into a broad smile and she leaned down to kiss him. Powerless to resist, David kissed her in return and then showed her there was more than one way to make love.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Abigail suffered Imogen’s embrace in a state of utter shock as her friend whispered in her ear, “Now we will be sisters. No matter what happens we will always have each other.”
She drew away slowly. She’d only caught a few hours rest last night and her mind was a little fuzzy still. “Excuse me, but did you just say you were to be married?”
Imogen’s smile dimmed. “Yes, that is exactly what I said.”
Abigail squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again. She sat in her brother’s parlor, taking tea with her best friend and for a change her brother appeared attentive. She must be dreaming this nightmare. “To each other?”
“Well, of course to each other,” her brother bit out.
So she had heard correctly. Her brother and best friend were to be married at the end of the month. Yet Abigail couldn’t fathom how a union between them could possibly work. They barely spoke, and Peter always left the house when Imogen came to pay a social call. They were not marrying for love.