Page 69 of The Rake’s Convenient Bride

Elizabeth widened her legs to cradle his body and arched toward him. “I want you, Jasper.”

He paused, his expression furrowed. “I don’t want to hurt you. I have heard from others that the first time can bring pain.”

“Then be done with it, so there is no pain the next time.” She smiled coquettishly up at him.

“You minx.” He grinned down at her and eased slightly lower so the head of his sex pressed at her entrance.

Need roared through Elizabeth’s body. She moaned and pushed up to meet him.

He eased in slowly and a slight discomfort pressed around her pleasure.

“I’m sorry, my love.” His hips jerked, thrusting into her.

Pain cut through the haze of her desire, stark and intrusive.

But she knew from what she’d been told by others that the hurt was fleeting.

He bent to kiss her, holding his body in place as her body adjusted to the foreign feel of him inside her. Slowly, carefully, he began to move. Almost imperceptibly at first and then a gentle glide.

As he did this, his mouth moved over her collarbone, her neck, to the place behind her ear that made her skin prickle with goosebumps. And then, the pain began to yield to pleasure.

He was moving in her with a rhythm now, one she easily caught and matched with the rocking of her own hips, her breath once more becoming quick, catching on eager moans.

His movements began to slow, but she gripped his hips with her legs, trying to pull him against her more swiftly.

Then his hand was between their bodies, finding that glorious spot that made every part of her sing. A swirl of pleasure paired with the undulation of their bodies as they met again and again and again until she could stand it no longer.

Her body tightened with the now familiar sensation that preceded a release.

“Yes,” Jasper growled, his hips moving faster now, their bodies joining with a frenzy that shoved her over the edge as her world splintered apart.

He bent his head to her neck, groaning against her skin as his hips flexed against her in a jerking rhythm that he likely could not control any more than she could stop the clenching of her sex around him.

They remained locked together thus for some time, as the slamming beat of their hearts calmed to a slow, steady thud and Elizabeth’s limbs slackened with a sensual, languid tranquility of utter fulfillment.

Jasper rested his forehead against hers. “Now, when shall we get married?”

“Already?” She laughed.

He rolled off her and quirked an eyebrow. “And here I thought you read numerous novels.”

She laughed again, feeling happier, and more satisfied than she ever knew possible. “Of course I have. What kind of question is that?”

“You know how it is with lovers.” He lifted a shoulder. “If we wait too long to wed, I will meet some untimely demise and you will be left a young woman who never married, yet in a delicate way with my child.”

Elizabeth appraised this man who had stolen her heart and loved her in the best ways. “Perhaps you read more novels than I do.”

“Perhaps we shall discuss them together when we are man and wife.”

She beamed up at him. “I should love nothing better.”

“Nothing?” He skimmed a palm over her shoulder. Her skin warmed in response, her blood heating once more.

“Perhaps there are many pleasures to be shared together,” she breathed.

“And we shall enjoy them all, dearest.”

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