Jericho (A Redemption Novel) (18 page)

CHAPTER 18

“A
re you all right, Georgia?” Christian asked her as she stared out of the bedroom window of their new home.

She was a married lady now. Her wedding had been beautiful and intimate. It wasn’t what she’d dreamed of when she was a little girl. She hadn’t been married in her father’s church. There weren’t a hundred people there. But her sister had been there. And the general and his wife. And Tobias had given her away. Mrs. Sheppard had cried and gushed over her. Abby had been there. It was the perfect day, and she realized that somehow she and Christian had managed to cobble together a little family. That the people at her wedding were the people she could depend on if she needed something. She wasn’t alone anymore.

“Yes. I’m more than all right. I’m happy.”

“I’m glad to hear that, Mrs. Howard.” Christian wrapped his arms around her waist. He smelled good, like soap and shampoo. It wasn’t the same scent she was used to when they’d spent all those weeks together in the hospital. There was no medicated salve, no sterile hospital smells. No people around.

They were truly alone. For the first time. She was his wife. When she walked into his room that first night she never thought she would end up here. She never thought they would end up married.

“Did I ever thank you for calling my sister?”

“No.” He lifted the hair off her neck and kissed her. “But you don’t have to thank me. It was nice to have her and Miles there.”

“And the general, too. He’s a funny man. He used to terrify me, but he’s a big puppy dog, isn’t he?”

“Yeah.” His lips trailed slowly down from the base of her hair to the top on her back, and it was as though somebody had turned the heat up inside her. She felt warm everywhere. “He’s been very good to me.”

“I think he liked Tobias,” she said as his lips brushed her shoulder and his hands stroked down the bare skin of her arms. She broke out in gooseflesh. “I—I’ve never seen Tobias so happy. He told me his vision is a little better. He can make out shapes now.”

“I’m happy for him.” He turned her around and pressed her back against the window. “What you’re wearing is very beautiful.” He fingered the thin strap of her silk nightie.

“Thank you.” She darted a glance at him. His chest was bare. He only wore a pair of boxers. She had seen him like this every night since he had come for her, but it was still her favorite way to see him. “I like what you’re wearing, too. My sister said that I needed something pretty to wear on my wedding night. I didn’t know what you would like so I got this.”

“It’s perfect.”

He slid one strap off her shoulder, revealing her breast. She nearly gasped at the exposure. He had touched her before. He had been closer to her than any other man, but he had never seen her naked. He kissed her cheek as his hand slid down the exposed skin of her chest to cup her breast. She sucked in a breath and her knees went weak. She was glad her back was pressed against the window. She needed the support. The way he touched her made her want to slide right down to the floor.

“Wasn’t it nice of my sister to take Abby for the night?” He slid the other strap off, causing her nightie to fall to her waist. Her nipples grew even harder. She swallowed. “Carolina was trying really hard today with her. She held her all throughout dinner.”

“I noticed.” He stepped forward and tugged the nightgown all the way down, exposing her. She wasn’t wearing any panties. She figured she didn’t need to tonight. But now there was nothing to cover her and Christian took his time looking.

She felt self-conscious. She wasn’t thin like her sister. Her belly had never gone flat after she’d had her baby. Her thighs touched. She was far from perfect, and yet he looked and looked and looked. All without saying a word.

“She said she would take her whenever we wanted some time alone. Miles told me that he wanted to move here. That’ll be nice. You would have another friend in the area.”

Christian grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into a hug. Her nipples scraped his chest and the throb between her legs had grown painful. “Are you nervous?”

“My heart is about to burst from my chest and fly all around this room.”

He cupped her face in his large hands and gave her a slow kiss, his tongue sweeping inside her mouth. It was as if he was tasting her, savoring her. These were the kind of kisses she’d craved the past few days, the ones that made her mind melt and her legs turn to jelly, the ones that made her forget the world.

“I won’t hurt you,” he said into her mouth. “I would die before I did.”

“I know. This is my first time, Christian.” She pulled her mouth from his. “I’ve never given myself to a man. I want to do this right. I want to make you happy.”

“You will.” He scooped her off her feet and took her to their bed. He had gotten a large four-poster bed, just like she had teased him about the day she’d first seen the house. The room was lovely, the walls a light sage-green, the furniture picked out by them together. When they’d walked in tonight it was the first time she had seen everything all put together, but she barely noticed because she knew that this was coming. That they would truly join and become husband and wife tonight.

He set her down gently and knelt between her legs. She could see his erection straining in his boxers. He was ready to make love, and so was she. The wetness had formed between her legs as soon as he’d walked in the room But Christian liked to kiss. He liked to touch and take his time. She appreciated that, but right now the anticipation was killing her.

“Please come to me.” She reached out for him and he took her hand, but he did not close the distance between him.

“I’ve imagined this,” he said, his voice coming out choked. “When I was in the hospital and in pain I imagined you in bed like this. It kept me from going insane.” He leaned forward and kissed her heartbeat. “I don’t know if you know this, but you kept me alive in there.”

“I didn’t.”

“You gave me something to look forward to. I think I would have given up if you weren’t there.”

“Christian.” Her eyes filled with tears. She loved him. All along she had been feeling herself slip into love with him, but now she was all the way there. And it rocked her world. “Please come here. Please. I need to feel you.”

This time he came. He settled his heavy body on top of hers and she let out a ragged sigh of relief. She touched him. She ran her hands over his back, and down his arms. She ran her fingers through his thick hair and kissed his shoulders, his neck, every piece of him she could reach. She felt wicked and wanton and helpless, almost. She just wanted more of him.

“Oh, God,” he whispered. “You’re so sweet.” He cupped her breast, stroking her nipple with his thumb, and he kissed her. It wasn’t slow and sweet like the last one. It was harder and hotter and wilder. She didn’t know how to keep up with him. So she let herself be kissed. She closed her eyes and melted back in the pillows while his tongue invaded her mouth and his hand stroked her breast.

She felt more than she thought was possible. It was like little fireworks going off inside her. It felt too good. She felt guilty, as though she didn’t deserve this. And then he started to rub against her.

His cloth-covered erection stroked between her legs, and it was as if lightning streaked through her. She cried out into his mouth. He noticed. He lifted his mouth from hers and looked down at her. She felt her cheeks burn. She was embarrassed. Embarrassed that she had let herself get so out of control.

He said nothing. Just kissed her lips as he lifted his body from hers to take off his boxers. He settled back between her legs and this time she felt his flesh, so long and hot and hard against her. She hadn’t seen him yet. She had never seen her husband entirely nude and she wanted to, but he didn’t give her the opportunity. “I can’t wait anymore, Georgia. I need you.”

He sealed his mouth to hers as he guided himself slowly inside her. He was large, very large. His thickness stretched her, but it wasn’t painful or even uncomfortable. She was ready for him, so wet she felt it on her thighs.

He growled a little, pushing in deeper, his invasion not complete, and just when she thought it was enough, that she could take no more of him, he moved out and back into her. It took a few moments for her to grow accustomed to the motion, but it was a nice feeling. His slow stroking and soft kisses. His warm body. Their closeness.

She was married to him. His wife. She had never been happier.

“Georgia...” He sounded as though he was in pain. “You feel too good. I can’t hold on much longer.”

“Don’t hold on, love. I don’t want you to.”

He moved faster inside her and that place between her legs where she throbbed for him seemed to grow tighter.

“Georgia. Please,” he begged her. “Please.”

She wasn’t sure what he was asking for, so she kissed him, this time with everything she had. She swept her tongue into his mouth, causing him to groan, and she felt that power again. The power she’d felt the first time she’d given him pleasure. She wrapped her legs around him and squeezed tightly. He cursed and shook, and then she felt it, a hot wetness surging inside of her.

He collapsed on top of her, his entire weight pinning her to the bed. She’d never thought she would like to be held down, unable to move, but with Christian she felt safe. With Christian she felt cherished.

She’d once thought that sex was ugly. That it was used to hurt, but Christian made it beautiful. Tears slipped from her eyes. He noticed immediately and threw himself off her.

“Georgia, did I hurt you? I’m so sorry.” He touched her face. “I didn’t mean to.”

“No, you didn’t hurt me, you dumb man. You loved me.” She reached for him, not wanting their separation for even a minute. “Thank you.” She kissed him. “Thank you.”

* * *

He couldn’t make her orgasm. The thought pounded in Christian’s mind all night as his wife slept in his arms.

On their wedding night, and he hadn’t done the job. He had gone too fast. He didn’t kiss her all over like he’d wanted to, hadn’t touched her enough. He’d wanted to take her breasts in his mouth and suckle. He had wanted to lick her skin and taste between her legs. He’d wanted to give her pleasure tonight. But he’d failed. He had failed at the one thing he was supposed to do.

She didn’t seem to mind. She was happy, in fact, even smiling in her sleep. He blamed that smile of hers and those lips and the way her soft body had accepted him. She was no skilled seductress—her kisses and touches were almost innocent—but she turned him on to the point he shook with need.

She stirred in his arms, and then he felt her hand on his thigh and then wrap around his cock. “Can I touch you here?” she asked in a sleepy voice. He went rock hard instantly.

“You’re awake.”

“Yes.” She took her hand from him and turned on the light. “I’m awake because you’re awake. I know when you’re sleeping by the way your body feels around me. Can I touch you?”

“Of course you can. You don’t have to ask.”

She looked a little bashful. “Can I see you, too?”

“Yes.”

She pulled the blanket down to reveal his throbbing hard-on. “I have to ask. I’ve never been with a man before. I don’t want to do the wrong thing.” She straddled his legs and took him in her hand. “It’s very big.” She frowned down at him. “I’ve seen others in the hospital, but never one like this.” She cupped his sack in her hand and squeezed it gently. “You don’t mind that I’m doing this, do you?”

He swallowed hard. “No, ma’am. Not at all.”

“You would tell me if you didn’t like something I did, right?”

“I would.” He looked into her eyes. “Would you tell me if I did something you didn’t like?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “You haven’t done anything I don’t like yet, except not lie down with me.”

“I wanted to wait until we were married. I had a hard enough time controlling myself around you those five nights. You think I would have lasted during the day?”

She smiled happily at him as her warm, smooth hands continued to explore him. “I like touching you, especially like this. I can see all of you. I feel as if I’m all powerful.” She stroked up his length and rubbed the head of his cock with her thumb. He hissed out a breath. “This part is the most sensitive?”

“Yes.”

“What would happen if I kissed it?” He jumped in her hand and she looked up at him, surprised. “I heard men like it when women put it in their mouths.”

“They do.”

“I don’t know much about sex,” she said apologetically. “We were homeschooled. We weren’t allowed to watch television. I feel silly not knowing about it because I’m a nurse. I went to college, but I only know about sex in the most basic of terms, and from what I’ve pieced together these past few years.”

“I’ll teach you.”

She nodded as she stroked him a little harder, her hand developing a delicious rhythm that was driving him insane. “Would you like me to put my mouth on you?”

Oh. Hell. Yes.

He shook his head, knowing he wouldn’t be able to last two seconds if she wrapped that sweet mouth around him. He was already so close, so fast. “This feels good, sweetheart.”

“I like touching you here. I liked the way you feel inside me, too. It was nice.”

“Then put me back inside you. We’ll both feel good.”

She frowned at him. “We can do it like this? With me on top?”

“Yes. Just lift yourself up and slide down on me.”

She thought about it for a moment, her face scrunched adorably, all while she moved her soft hand up and down his shaft.

“Please, Georgia. I’m so close. I want to feel you around me again.”

Seeming unsure of herself, she lifted her body and guided him inside. He hissed. She was warm and wet and tight. And he was her first lover. Her only lover. He was her husband. He wanted to please her. He wanted to make her feel as good as she made him feel.

“Come here.” He sat up so that their chests were touching, so that he could wrap his arms around her and keep her as close as possible. He guided her hips, moving her on him. Her eyes shot to his.

“I want to close my eyes and just feel this, but I want to look at you, too. I don’t want to miss anything.”