Page 110 of The Knight’s Reward

And thrust, hard. Hard enough to break the barrier.

“Ahhh.”

Not pleasurable. Not yet.

Neill propped himself over her, motionless, and watched her face.

“That was the worst of it.”

“Aye?”

“Aye.”

His cock throbbed in protest, but still he did not move. He’d wanted so badly to be inside her, and now that he had what he so desperately needed, Neill had to attempt to ignore it. Because if he thought of them joined, of her tightness, of . . .

“Are you well?”

Nay.

“Aye, love. Tell me when it no longer pains you.”

“It no longer pains me.”

Groaning, Neill did not wait for further confirmation.

He pulled out slowly, just to be sure.

“That . . . feels . . . different.”

“This is just the beginning.”

Out, and in. Just slightly deeper this time.

“Ahhh.”

“By night’s end . . .” This time, he circled his hips as he moved. “You will come again, as you did beneath my fingers. And will know the pleasure of joining this way.”

Her hands fled from his back and grasped the blanket beneath them.

“I believe . . . I believe I know the pleasure already.”

He moved slightly faster now, one hand moving down her stomach.

“Nay, wife. I do not believe you do.”

She was tight, slick, and able to take him fully. So he did not hold back, and teased with his fingers too. Small, quick circles at odds with the deep, slow thrusts that claimed her as his wife each time.

“Neill . . .”

Ah, yes. That was better.

“Aye, love?”

Straining to hold himself back, Neill knew his voice must sound pained. And though he’d imagined this very moment over, and over, and over again, he was determined she would come first.

Now.

He thrust hard but rubbed his thumb softly. By the look on Kathryn’s face, he could tell she was overcome. Screaming into the night, she clenched against him. Neill removed his hand and let himself go completely.