“Yes.”
“Oh, thank you.”
A multitude of raucous guests escorted Portia and Ken to the cottage. After opening the door, he scooped her up in his arms to carry her over the threshold and they roared their approval. Grinning, he turned to them and said, “Thank you and good night.”
He carried her inside and kicked the door closed. On their way to the bedroom, the cheering outside could still be heard, but as they entered it, only silence remained. She looked up into the eyes of her husband and said, “Finally we’re alone.”
“Finally.” And he gently set her on her feet.
“A few minutes ago my feet were hurting, I was hot and tired, and all I wanted was to take off this dress and crawl into bed.”
“And now?”
“I still want to take off this dress and crawl into bed, but with you.”
“Perfect answer—partially.”
She was confused. “What do you mean?”
“I get to take off your dress.”
She laughed. “Will you always be this outrageous?”
“As long as we’re both breathing.” He ran a slow thumb down her cheek. “Thank you for marrying me.”
Her heart swelled with all the love she had for her outrageous cowboy. “You’re welcome.”
Their wedding night began with a series of lazy lingering kisses that were as familiar as they were welcome. In spite of the day’s heat and the discomfort, they’d both been waiting for this moment for a long time. After tonight, she’d be a woman in every sense of the word.
He whispered, “Turn for me, love.”
She complied. He undid the line of small covered buttons that ran down her spine and when he finished, helped her ease her arms free of the delicate capped sleeves to expose the cream-colored silk shift that covered her corset. He brushed adoring lips over the flesh bared by the garments, the back of her neck, and the crowns of her shoulders while his hands moved up and over the breasts mounded by the veiled corset. “You have on too many clothes, Mrs.Randolph. How about you step out of your dress?”
She did and he placed it on the chair nearby.
Her shift was disposed of next, which left her dressed in her corset, gartered stockings, drawers, and fancy shoes. He liked the sensual vision she presented and ran a finger over the tops of her breasts. “I’m surprised you didn’t drop from the heat with all these things on, but I like this corset.”
“Do you?”
“Very much.”
Edged in lace and adorned with tiny seed pearls, it was made for a man’s adoring eyes, but it was soon rucked down so he could feast wantonly, and all she could do was moan and stand on legs that shook in response to each passionate circling of his enticing tongue and draw of his expert mouth. His hands found the dampness between her thighs and by the time he removed her drawers and they moved to the bed, she was rising and twisting on the edge of orgasm. “Let yourself go, darling,” he whispered encouragingly. “I have plenty more for you.”
He slid in one finger and then two and slowly used them to mimic the way he planned to love her later. The heat in the room climbed and her legs widened. He increased the pace and savored how wet she was and the sight of her nudity framed by the opened corset, as she rose and fell to the decadent rhythm. He captured her lips. “Come for me, Duchess. I know you’re ready.”
And a breath later she did, bucking wildly and calling his name.
Kent smiled the smile of a pleased male and eased his fingers free. He was on the verge of orgasm, too, but she was his and he was greedy, so he teased the stiff little bud at the apex of her thighs and dropped his head.
When his tongue found her she cried out. “What—”
“I just want a small taste, darlin.’”
He raised his head and, seeing the wonder in her eyes, he chuckled. “No?”
She fell back as if outdone and he laughed. “Oh, baby, we’re going to have so much fun, you and I.”
And Portia had to admit, it was fun until he slid himself inside and the size of him stretched her so painfully.