“Gorgeous,” he said.
His praise was exactly the courage I’d needed. Together, I moved our hands, slowly at first, circling my clit, sending shock waves throughout my body. My heart accelerated with each touch, and soon, I was shaking in anticipation.
But it wasn’t enough. I wanted more. I wanted more of him.
“Take off your pants,” I instructed, rising up on my knees to allow him some room.
He didn’t hesitate, unbuckling his belt while still horizontal. His dress pants were now wrinkled and rumpled from our foreplay. I watched as he slid them down, pulling his boxer briefs along, in one fell swoop.
No clothing separated us any longer.
Skin-to-skin, body-to-body—now, we could truly become one.
I took my time exploring him. The pads of my fingers touched nearly every inch of him—from the swirly pattern of ink on his bicep to the outer edge of his ear and down to the defining lines of his stomach. I wanted to take my time loving him tonight.
There would only ever be one wedding night, only one first night as husband and wife.
I wanted it to feel endless.
He threaded his fingers into my long hair, and I instinctively bent toward him, needing the feel of his lips on mine. He grew harder beneath me as I rolled my hips, begging for his body to enter mine.
“Wait,” he said breathlessly against my forehead.
I nodded, knowing he’d never let it get past this point without protection. My doctor had given us the okay to go without condoms. I had an IUD. There was no need, but I would never convince Jude. He’d talked about getting a vasectomy, but I’d quickly shut down that idea, telling him it was crazy. What twenty-eight-year-old male does that?
So, condoms were still a part of our lives—even on our wedding night.
After everything was taken care of, he returned to the bed. He kissed me with wild abandon, an attempt to forget the minor mood killer.
It worked as I pushed him back, straddling him once more.
Our bodies meshed and moved. Limbs became entwined, and soon, I couldn’t tell where one of us started and the other ended. In a move that had my shy little temptress jumping up and down, I slid my hand between our bodies, molding my fingers over his rigid cock.
His breath stopped as his eyes met mine.
I stroked him once, twice, and then I eased my body on his. He let out a guttural moan as his hands clasped my waist. I could see it in his eyes. He wanted nothing more than to slam my body up and down onto his, but he held back.
“Do it,” I urged.
His eyebrows furrowed as I circled my hips, causing his eyes to roll back in his sockets. Lifting my body, I nearly came off of him, leaving just the tip, before slamming back down once again.
“Fuck!” he yelled.
“I know you’re holding back, Jude,” I whispered in his ear after bending down.
My nipples grazed his chest each time he took a breath.
“I want you to let go. I want to see you unleashed.”
When I pulled back, his eyes were full of indecision. He searched my features, trying to make sense of what I was asking him.
“I know you need to protect me and keep me safe, and you do. Every day, I’m still here because of you.”
I lost his focus as he tried to look away. I grabbed his chin and pulled him back.
“Listen to me. You are my hero—in every way. But here,” I said, motioning around the room, “I need you to be my husband and my lover. Stop trying to protect me here.” I pointed to the sheets where we lay together. “And love me without inhibition.”
He answered by kissing me. His kiss told me without words just how much passion he had chained behind that ironclad resolve of his. I responded immediately, grinding against his body in a way that had him meeting me halfway.
“Yes!” I cried out.
I pulled him closer, wrapping my legs around his body as he came to a sitting position. His hands molded my backside, bouncing me up until I was riding him relentlessly. Our mouths moved as his tongue found mine, never breaking the punishing rhythm of our lovemaking.
“Mine,” he growled between frantic kisses.
His possessiveness caused my stomach to tighten as he grabbed the back of my thighs and pushed me back on the mattress. His large body loomed above mine, his breath heavy.
“Yours,” I answered.
Braced by his massive arms, he moved, crashing into my body with such passionate force that I senselessly cried out. Adjusting his position, he knelt, pushing my thighs forward toward my head. Suddenly, he was deeper, and I gasped, as he held my knees and drove into me fast and hard.
My body was in overload, feeling everything at once.
His hot breath was against my neck, and his fingers caressed me as they held me. I felt the soft feel of our skin as we slid together, and the fire deep in my belly was begging to consume me. My muscles clenched tightly around him, and I heard his breath falter before he quickened, picking up the pace. My hands tightened around his forearms, feeling his bulging muscles move as he thrust.