Joseph laughed. “Not even close.”
But there was something even sweeter and more exciting about finding the patience to carefully remove ballgowns and formal suits. It was like unwrapping a much-awaited parcel, and when they were both finally naked, Joseph had his first real look at Ellen in all her glory.
“You are breathtaking, my love,” he whispered as he swept his gaze over the pink of her skin and all her delicate curves.
“You’re not so bad to look at yourself,” she told him in return, adding a wink.
That simple gesture was too much for Joseph to resist. He swept her back into his arms, pressing their bodies together and kissed her soundly. He walked her back toward her bed as he did, brushing his hands over her body, unable to decide which of her curves he wanted to explore the most.
The answer was all of them, but as they climbed between the sheets and sprawled together, limbs tangling and mouths unable to leave each other, Joseph could feel the urgency of his desire rushing toward him.
He pulled back, balancing himself above her for a moment. “There are so many things I want to do, so many ways I want to love you, but I don’t even know where to begin. And sadly, I mean that quite literally.”
Ellen laughed, tracing her fingertips around his face. “I have no complaints about this,” she said. “You can touch me and kiss me however you like, now or later. I’m not going anywhere.”
Those words were music to Joseph’s ears. He sighed out his love for her and bent down to kiss her lips again, then to trail kisses over her neck and shoulders. He brought one hand up to caress one of her breasts, reveling in the new feeling of softness and warmth that met him. He kissed his way down to where his hand was so that he could lick and suckle her breast, letting instinct guide him.
Instinct seemed intent on guiding him at a faster pace than he was ready for. His body demanded completion with alarming speed, and try as he did to stave it off…he didn’t really want to.
“Ellen, I adore you,” he gasped as he hastily positioned himself between her legs, then drove himself inside her.
She gasped and hummed with what he hoped was delight as the urge to move within her became overpowering. “I adore you too, my darling,” she said, her voice strained with passion. “Ooh, yes, just like that. Harder.”
One word, and it was all over for Joseph. He did as he’d been commanded, thrusting into her with abandon. It felt so good, so far beyond anything he’d imagined making love would feel like, because he truly did love Ellen. He didn’t know how men could enjoy this union of souls quite so much with a woman they didn’t love with their whole heart.
That thought was the last he was capable of as his body hurled him toward orgasm with lightning speed. He felt everything in his body and soul coil into the tightness of need, then release with a rush of such pleasure that it left him momentarily senseless as he poured himself into her.
The moment was beautiful, priceless, and over all too soon. The glow of perfection and love stayed with him long after the bodily pleasure subsided, though. He collapsed to Ellen’s side, gasping for breath and reaching for her. He didn’t ever want to be without her now.
“I’m sorry if that was rubbish,” he panted as he folded her in his arms and laid his head against hers where they rested on the pillow. “I promise, I’ll do better in the future.”
Ellen laughed and snuggled against him. “I have no complaints,” she said, kissing his face several times. “This just means I get to train you to make love to me precisely the way I like.”
Joseph laughed along with her as sleep seeped in around his sated edges. He probably shouldn’t have liked that idea so much. It would have been more manly of him to take what he wanted. But his final thought before drifting off was that perhaps there were more ways to be a man than he’d been led to believe, and that the only sort of man he wanted to be was the man that Ellen loved.
Chapter Sixteen
It was not the night of magic that Ellen thought she would have, but it was most definitely a night of wonder. The ball was a dismal disappointment, and that disappointment was still with her in the morning when she awoke, but it was difficult to feel sadness and despair about her place in society after awaking to find Joseph still in bed with her. And still naked.
Ellen grinned from ear to ear and stretched decadently before rolling closer to Joseph and snuggling against his side. He was still asleep, but she could tell from the way he breathed and flinched that he would be awake soon.
She rested her head against his shoulder, closed her eyes, and breathed deep to take in the scent of him. The very same ladies whom she had tried in vain to impress for the past few weeks would likely expire on the spot if they knew what had happened between her and Joseph the night before. As far as Ellen was concerned, they could all suck an egg. Nothing at all was better than kissing Joseph and making love with him. He did still have a few things to learn where lovemaking was concerned, but she would gladly teach him.
That thought was still fresh in her mind and swirling with excited energy through her body when Joseph drew in a long breath and stretched awake. Ellen hummed with every movement of his body against hers, and when she felt his breath catch and his muscles tense for a moment, she opened her eyes to smile at him.
“Good morning, Mr. Rathborne-Paxton,” she said in a deep, teasing voice.
For the space of a heartbeat, Joseph looked as though he might panic. Then he settled into a lazy grin and adjusted to his side so that he could hold her and stroke his hand over her side and back.
“Good morning, Miss Garrett,” he said, then dipped in for a small kiss.
Morning was never the freshest time for anyone, but Ellen found that she didn’t mind all that much. She liked the heat and solidity of Joseph beside her, and she most definitely liked the feel of his skin against hers. His body had just enough hair to be masculine without being overwhelmingly hairy. She stroked her hand down his back, reveling in the strength of his muscles, particularly those of his backside. He had a delicious backside.
He had other parts that were delicious as well. Delicious and already awake, as she discovered while nestling one of her thighs between his legs. Her eyes went wide at the feel of his stiff manhood against her.
“Why, Mr. Rathborne-Paxton, you really are awake, aren’t you,” she said, pretending shock.
Joseph laughed and buried his face against her neck for a moment. “I can assure you,” he said from his hiding place, “it is an involuntary reaction and not meant to cause offense.”