It was as if lightning struck her low in her belly and traveled down to where he licked and split her apart. Edmond cupped her buttocks in both his palms, tilting her hips to drag her more firmly onto his tormenting mouth. That deep, heated lick across her folds ripped a wild cry from Ester, and she arched against him. The pleasure was sharp and searing, flowering from her nub and throughout her entire body as ecstasy tore through Ester.
He rose above her, settling his weight between her open thighs. Edmond reached between them, and then there was a hard pressure at her entrance. He dropped his forehead to hers, and she held the brilliance of his gaze as he pressed forward.
She sunk her fingers into the muscles of his shoulders as a tight pressure inexorably invaded her sex until he was deeply buried inside her. Pain buffeted Ester’s senses, and he placed soft, soothing kisses along the tip of her nose and her mouth. Their gaze never broke apart, and he held still until the awful sensation eased.
“You’re so damn beautiful,” he whispered.
A shock of sensation went through her heart, and she touched the corner of his mouth with trembling fingers. He kissed that finger, and then he moved within her body. Despite the burn and stretch, the sensations were glorious indeed. Her breath hitched, and she held him to her as pleasure clawed up through her body and spun her senses. Ester kissed him, carnally tasting herself on his tongue, moaning as her arousal surged even deeper.
“Wrap your legs around my hips,” he said hotly against her mouth, kissing her hard after that command.
Ester complied, and the aching pressure in her sex increased, for he went impossibly deeper. The coil in her belly drew tighter and tighter, and the pleasure burned hotter. Distantly she became aware of her thighs trembling, that her face was buried against his throat, that sweat slicked their skins, and the pleasure climbed and climbed until she was desperate for something.
Ester bit his shoulder, a punishment for making her feel wild and uncontrolled. Edmond snapped his hips harder, and she sobbed her pleasure. He thrust inside her over and over, stoking the madness higher and hotter until that tight coil that had gathered low in her belly like a storm broke. She cried out in the curve of his throat as ecstasy tore her apart. Edmond groaned, his arms tightening on her hips as he plunged deep a few times before he pulled from her body with another harsher groan to release on her quivering belly.
They both breathed raggedly and stared at each other. Ester felt shocked and…wonderful. She laughed, and his eyes flared slightly before he smiled.
“Did I hurt you? I was more…” he raked a finger through his sweat-dampened hair. “I should have been more mindful of your sensibilities and been far more gentle than I was.”
Ester grinned. “I feel glorious and as if I am floating, Edmond. You did not hurt me.” She would assume the soreness throbbing between her legs was indeed normal. She recalled Ellie had said a long, hot bath would help after that very first time. Ester blushed, wondering if she would tell her sisters how naughty she had been.
After thoroughly searching her expression, Edmond seemed reassured by what he saw. He dipped and kissed her nose before reaching for his discarded clothes, fished a handkerchief from his pocket and tenderly cleaned her and the release from her body. He lay beside her, and she did not resist when he drew her into his arms and tucked her head beneath his chin.
“I am taking you home,” he said quietly.
Stifling a yawn, she murmured, “I am quite fine with slipping home by—”
“I am taking you home, and I will ensure that you discreetly return to your chambers without being seen.”
“Thank you.”
“If you wish to sleep for a few minutes, you could. I’ll wake you in an hour.”
“Where will you be?”
“Here,” he said, “Where else would I go?”
Ester smiled, yawned again, and succumbed to the satiated exhaustion that pulled her under.
CHAPTER11
“Oh, Ester and Emma, please say you will come with me to Chatham,” Ellie said tearfully, dabbing the corner of her eye with a lace handkerchief. She leaned back against the padded softa, and Emma took the teacup that wobbled in her hands. Ellie sniffed. “Forgive me for being such a waterpot. I seem to cry frequently of late.”
“I never knew pregnancy would be so wretched,” Ester said with soft sympathy.
“I am astonished mama did it so many times,” Emma said with frank candor.
Ellie had started experiencing morning sickness, where she cast up her account a lot and found the scents around her revolting. Lucien had decided to whisk her away to his family’s country house in Kent, which was thankfully only a short ride from London, given that the carriage ride should also prove unpleasant for her sister.
“Has the dizzy feeling passed?” Ester gently asked, truly worried about how pale her sister appeared.
“Let me ring for some iced lemonade,” Emma said, “Lizzy also experienced this in her early months, and she informed Hermina of it. Colin has been feeding her a lot of iced lemonade, which seemed to help.”
“Oh,” Ellie said with a shudder. “Mama says it will soon pass, and I should melt peppermint sweets in hot water and drink it. I daresay it has helped, but I am quite eager for the fresh country air. Please say at least you will come with me for a few days.”
“Might I come too?” Phoebe asked, lifting her gaze from the cards in her hands. “I have found the season to be dull. I am at a loss as to why I was ever eager to come out.”
“I would love to travel to Kent as well!” Penny cried, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. “As long as we can ensure the old dragon does not follow us there.”