“I don’t know what to do.You’re going to have to show me.”
He swooped down for a short kiss.Much as he wanted to ask her to strip down to her bare skin, he knew she wasn’t ready for that.Perhaps next time… He had to push that thought away if he hoped to go slowly.
“Get onto the bed.I’ll join you in a moment.”
With a nod, she did as he asked.He sat on the bed next to her and gazed down, searching for any hint of doubt.When he saw none, he dropped a kiss onto her forehead.“I’m going to remove the rest of my clothing now.It’s fine if you watch me.”
He half expected her to look away, but of course, this was Mary and she was never one to shy away from a challenge.Her curiosity must have overtaken her trepidation because she raised herself onto her elbows to do just that.
He removed his boots first before standing.Heat colored her cheeks as she watched him undo the buttons of his trousers.He turned away before peeling them down his legs and stepping out of them.
He left them on the floor and turned to face her.He was already hard, and he watched as Mary’s gaze traveled down to that part of him.Heat colored her cheeks, and she met his gaze again.He lowered himself to sit beside her again.
“You know what is going to happen now?”
Mary nodded.“Amelia felt the need to educate me on the matter.”
He cupped her chin, using his thumb to rub against her lower lip.“I need to ask you one more question before we proceed.”
“I’m sure about this.”
He let out a small bark of laughter and gave her another quick kiss.“I wouldn’t have disrobed if I thought you had any doubts.No, I need to ask you about your monthly courses.”
She closed her eyes.“Why?”
He knew this wasn’t a subject women liked to discuss with men.“Look at me.”
She opened one eye, then the other, with a sigh.When she didn’t speak, he continued.“We need to be careful that you don’t fall with child before we’re wed.I’ve… learned a few things about how a woman’s courses might affect the likelihood of that happening.Are you regular?Do you know when you’re likely to bleed again?”
She swallowed and he waited.Finally she said, “I’ve only ever spoken about this with my maid.I can’t believe I’m having this conversation with you.”
He waited.He had no intention of stopping unless she asked him to, but her answer would tell him whether he’d be able to finish inside her as he very much wanted to.
“They’re due to arrive in a few days’ time.What does that mean?”
He traced his thumb along her jaw, then moved to cup the back of her head.“It means there won’t be enough time for my seed to take root within you.”
She gave her head a small shake.“I don’t even want to know how you’ve come about this knowledge.”
Instead of answering, he kissed her again.When she wound her arms around his neck, he was lost.He shifted until he was lying on the bed next to her and drew her against him.He wanted nothing more than to rip her chemise from her body, but it served as a reminder that he needed to go slowly.
He flipped them around so she was over him, and she let out a small yelp at the unexpected movement.
She drew back, a small vee between her brows.“I thought the man—”
He stopped her question with a finger to her lips.“In time, my sweet.”
Her brow smoothed and she kissed him again.
He took advantage of their positions to begin tugging the chemise down, baring first her shoulders, then her breasts.Then he started the agonizingly slow journey of kissing down her jaw, her throat, her shoulder, and finally took one breast into his mouth.
Mary let out a small sound of contentment and placed her hands on his cheeks.She liked this, and he was content to draw out her pleasure, suckling on one breast and then the other.
She made a soft sound of frustration, and he stopped to look up at her.“My arms are caught.”
He laughed softly at seeing how her chemise was working to constrict her movements.“Let’s free you then.”
She grinned down at him, and together they freed her arms from the fine linen undergarment.He rolled her onto her back then and dragged the fabric down the rest of her, his eyes tracing over every inch of her body along the way.