“Thank you,” Cole started and stopped when he saw Beth’s grinning face holding another bag for him. “Two things?” he asked, surprised. He took the other bag and made a moue.
“What is this?” he asked curiously. The bag gave a strange movement and was oddly flexible. Opening the top, he peered inside and gave a bark of laughter.
“Beth, between the two of us, we have a heckuva sweet tooth,” he said chuckling. “How about we split?” he offered generously.
Beth let out a large whoosh of air. “I was hoping you would say just that,” she confessed with a smile. “I do adore gumdrops and thought about keeping the bag for myself,” she teased. She liked seeing him lighthearted like this. It made her heart flutter and felt special knowing she could make him happy.
Cole liked that she felt she could be herself with him- he doubted she would have ever said anything before against her family, but he could be very wrong as well. She seemed to have opened up quite a bit since he had first laid eyes on her. Not wanting to push her too far, he thanked her again giving her a brief kiss and stepping back quickly.
“Let’s enjoy them later. It’s late,” he said gently and moved towards his room.
Beth stared at his retreating back bewildered. Why had he ended their evening so quickly? She wasn’t ready to say goodnight and was enjoying his company. Deep in thought, Beth gathered the lovely dress and placed it on a hook in her room.
Hesitating, she listened for any sounds coming from his room, hoping he was still awake and maybe would change his mind. It was eye opening to realize how alone she had been versus how much he filled her life. She didn’t want to be alone any longer.
Her mind racing, she donned her nightgown and plaited her hair. Gathering her courage, she stepped forward and gently rapped on his door. Part of her prayed he answered and part was scared he would. She wanted to be with him, but afraid as well.
Lying in bed, his body starving for her touch and listening to her move about the house, Cole waited for sleep to claim him. He knew it would be a long night. He could not quit thinking about her smile, the way she tucked her hair behind her ear or the way Beth’s eyes lit when he walked in a room. Cole would be patient and wait for her, it would be worth it.
Listening, he heard a knock split the silence and was stunned. Had she changed her mind finally or was something wrong? Cole flew out of the bed and pulled the door open with a whoosh.
“Are you okay?” he asked, surprised that she was standing there.
“Yes, she hesitated. “Can I join you?” Beth stammered, blushing fiercely. “I thought maybe we could just sleep together and take things one step at a time.” Seeing his shocked expression, she stepped back.
This may have been a horrible idea
, she thought, bracing herself for denial. Beth felt Cole grab her hand as she turned and looked at him surprised.
“Certainly. Most married people share beds. I told you we would never do anything you didn’t want,” he reassured her gently. There was no way in hell he was going to shoot down any suggestion for contact with her. His body craved it and, at first, he thought he was hallucinating. But seeing her standing there looking shy made him realize that he better act fast or she would bolt. Cole took her hands and pulled her gently inside the room to join him.
Beth swallowed hard seeing his bare chest, noticing that he had a loose pair of breeches slung low on his hips. She saw the contours of his stomach and swallowed once again.
This may have been my best idea ever
, she thought and shook her head. Ladies did not think like that!
But did most men look like that undressed?
she thought wildly. The room felt so small, suddenly, and Cole’s hand felt so very hot as he pulled her into the room.
Cole knew she was looking at him. He wished he hadn’t laid down in the breeches but was glad that he had for her sake. It was going to be a poor exercise in hiding the evidence of his desire for her.
“You want the inside or the outside of the bed? Lady’s choice, my Beth”. Cole was glad the darkness would cover some of the signs of desire, because he could feel himself swelling even further asking her the preferred position in his bed.
Clearing her throat mindlessly, Beth could not pull her eyes from him. “Doesn’t matter to me,” she said distractedly. It really didn’t. Looking at him, she realized that he would probably take most of the tiny bed. Her pulse was racing thinking about lying down with him.
“Just sleep, please, for tonight,” she reiterated nervously.
“Of course,” Cole agreed softly.
“You first,” he offered. He was sure his skittish woman would not be there in the morning if he let her sleep on the outside of the bed. If she was that scared of him, she would have to climb over him or wake him up to leave. He preferred the climbing.
Nodding and pulling her eyes from him, she silently moved across the floor.
There was something so personal and sexual about climbing into a man’s warm bed,
she thought and felt her heart lurch and a wave of desire flood her body.
Beth almost backed out of the bed when she suddenly had to restrain a groan of pleasure lying in the warmth his body had left there. His scent was on the pillows and it was devastating. She lay close to the wall, silently, with her back to him and felt the bed give as he joined her. Catching her breath, she waited for him to move and felt herself panicking.
Mistake!
She thought wildly.
Mistake! Mistake!
Cole could hear her practically panting and gasping in fear.
What was she so afraid of?
Him?
“Shhh, Beth, relax,” he crooned gently. “I promised I wouldn’t do anything you didn’t want – and I won’t. You don’t have to be afraid. It’s like the kissing. I’m just going to hold you while we both sleep.” Cole noticed that she did not respond but did not flee, either.
“Good night, Beth,” he said, moving towards her to spoon her.
Beth was glad he was talking her through it. His body seemed so very hard and so very large compared to hers. It was a bit terrifying to see him as well as to feel her response to him. She had read some women enjoyed their freedom and their sexuality, but those women were a pariah on polite society- or so her mother had told her. They were only to touch to procreate, according to mother and the church.
So why was her body craving to touch his as well as having him touch her? As she felt his arms wrap around her, enveloping her in his warmth, a contented sigh escaped her. This can’t be wrong when it feels so good. She felt protected and cherished. Wasn’t that the point of a successful marriage?
Cole expected to cuddle her taut frame and was pleasantly surprised to hear her sigh and melt in his arms. He felt her practically mold herself to him as he gathered her up against him. Her body fit his perfectly and felt so right.
Someday
, he thought, someday he will be able to enjoy her touch and fill his every desire.
If this keeps up, I’m going to be nominated for sainthood,
he thought as he heard her sigh in contentment one more time before nodding off himself.
Cole woke first in the morning and had to muffle a laugh. He didn’t want to wake her just yet as she slept contentedly draped across his body. He could feel her bare legs against his calves and was certain that if the sun didn’t wake her soon, that his erection certainly would. There was nothing like waking up with the woman you adore softly snoring against your chest. He lay there for some time, listening to her, hearing a hitch to her breathing. He knew the moment she awoke.
I feel amazing
, Beth thought sleepily. This was, by far, the best night of sleep…
wait!
She thought as she realized where she was and where she was located in the bed. At some point during the night, she ended up all over Cole’s warm body … but he hadn’t taken advantage of her or touched her.
“Whoops,” Beth muttered, embarrassed. He really would hold true to his word and wondered how far she could push him and still say no. Beth moved to climb off of him and felt his hands reach up and grasp her waist.
“You’re fine. You don’t have to move yet,” he said hoarsely, his own voice groggy from sleep. His hands quickly kept her from moving. As she started to protest, he shushed her again with a lazy smile.
“This is the best morning I’ve had in quite some time thanks to you… care to make it better?” he asked suggestively as she pushed a mop of hair from her face.
“You are a beautiful sight, my Beth,” he said and kissed her softly.
Beth knew that she should be scared, that she should run, but she could not move for the world. It was heaven having him hold her and he was downright sexy in the dawning light. His tanned skin was practically golden as she saw his smiling lips move to kiss her. And what a kiss it was!
Her body was pressed most deliciously against his. With just the barest fabric between them, it was most erotic. She could feel her nipples tighten as warmth blossomed in her belly. Beth whispered his name as he moved to kiss her, once again.
Ever so slowly, Cole deepened the kiss and gently ran his hands along her back, enjoying her taste and her response to him. He did not want to stop, but didn’t want to backtrack either, when they were making such progress. He heard Beth give a small moan as he released her lips and kissed her neck softly. He was arrogantly pleased to see her arch into him, giving him better access.
“Ah, Beth, you are so sweet. Is this what you want, love?” he said breathlessly against her throat, practically feeling her purr against his lips. “Or do you want me to keep going?” he said, sealing the suggestion with a soft nip against her collarbone.
Keep going!
She wanted to shriek but could only nod emphatically. Her world right now was centered in this very bed and she could not leave it just yet. She knew the proper thing to do would be to get up and return to her room to dress, but the woman inside of her blossoming with each hot touch of his mouth. She was going nowhere fast.
Beth felt her world roll as Cole moved her beneath him. She gave another soft sigh as she felt him press against her body. They just fit and it seemed perfect. She opened her eyes to see his tender gaze upon her, silently asking for permission.
“Let’s see where this goes,” she whispered and was abruptly cut off by his hot kiss.
This time, it was a bit more heated.
More aggressive.
More dominating… like she had felt him kiss her before-but now? Now, she was blooming under his tutelage.
Cole’s hands were everywhere and before she could protest or say otherwise, those same heated touches would completely wipe her senseless. Beth did not even realize that her gown had crept up, exposing her body, until she felt his warm lips envelope a taut nipple, drawing a gasp from her.
Beth’s body was a work of art that she hid beneath her outer shell. Ensconced in that dreaded corset, lay a siren just waiting to be unleashed. He felt like he was a composer playing the finest instrument he had ever held in his life and there would be no wrongdoings, only stunning creations as he plucked, stroked and touched her body.
“You are lovely,” he whispered as he captured one rosy peak upon her lovely exposed breast. He laved it reverently and worshiped the other breast fondly, thanking her courage silently for this gift. He looked up and saw her body arched and her eyes closed in delight. The sensation was most primal for him. He ran his hands possessively across the plane of her stomach and hesitated.
Cole wanted so much to taste the dampness he could feel against his body. Beth was so heated, so wet, and her body was ready for his but he wasn’t sure if now was the right time for her. Would she regret this?
“My love,” he hesitated, knowing it was the right thing to do for her. Give her the choice, he thought.
Beth was dazed in the waves of pleasure coming off of her body that she barely heard him speaking to her. When she heard Cole repeating himself, it dawned on her that he was asking a question.
“Beth, I want to love you so much. To make you mine… but I said I would let you decide and never force you,” he said quietly, trying to keep the desire from making his voice shake like a schoolboy. He could feel his hands trembling and itching to keep touching her.
“It’s your choice, again. Do you want me to please you and make you scream in ecstasy or shall I stop?”
Please don’t pick the latter,
he thought. He didn’t have to bury himself in her, he wanted to! – oh how he wanted to! But right now, the idea of just tasting her and making her come was pretty powerful and would satisfy some small part of his desires for now.
Beth could feel the sun on her face, the heat of his hands still touching her body and was nowhere ready to stop this exquisite torment he was creating. Not sure she could trust her voice, she raised a shaking hand and laid it on his bare lower back feeling his skin jump at her touch. His back was so very smooth and she gave in to the urge to touch him, stroking her shaking hands along his spine.
“Keep touching me, Cole. Don’t stop yet,” she whispered.
Cole obliged gratefully and gave in to his every whim. He teased, tasted and kept his promise to her. When he heard Elizabeth’s cry of passion, he knew he had pleased his woman. The temptation to take her and make her his forever was overwhelming. Seeing her head tossing back and forth upon the pillow at his ministrations, he decided this time he would make the decisions for her. He had to be kidding himself earlier if he thought he could have stopped at this point. Tasting Beth’s juices against his lips, once again, he shrugged the loose pants that had grown too tight. Freeing his body, he settled himself between her legs and eased himself into her hot core, taking care not to hurt his sweet bride.