He quirked an eyebrow. “Still nervous?”
A disbelieving laugh crossed her lips. “Hell, no!”
Chuckling, he pressed his lips to hers. “Only you could make me laugh while I am clinging to control by my fingertips.”
“You are?”
He pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “Can you not feel me trembling?”
He was, she realized, amazed that she could affect him so strongly. His whole body practically vibrated with restraint.
She cupped his face in her hands. “Then take me, Robert. Make me yours.”
A shudder rippled through him. His hands fisted in the covers on either side of her face. “I do not wish to hurt you.”
“It’s my first time. That’s unavoidable. Besides…” She trailed a series of kisses along his deliciously stubbled jaw, then nibbled his earlobe. “I want to feel you inside me.”
He surrendered with a groan, plundering her lips, then stimulating her anew with his talented hands and mouth.
She did feel pain when he entered her despite the care he took, but it faded quickly, eclipsed by the wonder of being joined with him so intimately. He moved inside her with long, slow strokes, rekindling the flames that had engulfed her earlier, then quickening his pace and fanning them higher until—clinging together, muscles straining—they reached the precipice.
Sheer ecstasy.
I’m so glad I waited, she thought as breath returned to her body and her pulse began to slow. No one else could’ve made me feel like this.
No one.
And she had had to travel back in time to find him.
When Robert shifted as though to move away, she hugged him tighter. “Not yet.” She loved the feel of him against her, inside her.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’m too heavy for you.” Locking his arms around her, he rolled them to their sides, bodies still joined.
Neither spoke.
Was he as stunned by what they had just shared as she was?
He combed his fingers through her damp hair and pressed another kiss to her forehead.
Beth didn’t think she had ever felt so relaxed in her life.
And Robert seemed content to lie quietly with her snuggled up against him, lightly stroking her back, her arm, her hip.
As their passion cooled, so did her skin.
When a light shiver rippled through her, Robert raised his head and glanced toward their feet.
Beth did the same and took stock of the bed. Almost all of her belongings had been knocked to the floor. Though the two of them lay atop the rumpled covers, a blanket adorned the foot of the bed.
Reaching down, Robert drew it up and cocooned them in its warmth.
Beth closed her eyes and snuggled closer.
How had he come to mean so much to her in such a short amount of time?
And how much time would they have together?
She frowned. No. She wouldn’t think about that. Not tonight.
Tonight she would just live in the moment and forget about tomorrow.
Sighing, she embraced the peace Robert inspired and let sleep claim her.
Beth awoke to Robert’s chuckle rumbling in her ear.
“I already did,” he murmured, his voice laced with amusement.
She smiled, eyes closed, head pillowed on his chest. “You already did what?”
“Showed you my sword.” Amusement warmed his voice.
She laughed. “Robert, what are you talking about?”
“You were speaking in your sleep again.”
She opened her eyes to near darkness. “I was?”
“Aye.”
Shifting, she folded her hands atop his chest, then rested her chin on them so she could see his handsome face and tousled hair. “What did I say?”
His lips twitched. “You were begging me to show you my sword.”
His sword?
When she realized where his thoughts lay, she grinned. “I did not!”
He laughed with obvious delight and drew her up until she covered him like a blanket. “I vow ’tis true.”
“I did not beg you to show me your sword.”
“You did.” He winked devilishly. “And I told you I already had.”
“No kidding,” she drawled.
He rolled, taking her with him, until she lay beneath him.
Beth looped her arms around his neck and offered him a teasing grin. “If I’d known how well you wielded it, I would’ve asked to see it sooner.”
He laughed again and pressed a quick, hard kiss to her lips before settling beside her once more and holding her close.
Beth decided there was nowhere else in the world she would rather be at that moment.
“I wish we could remain thus forever,” he said softly, mirroring her thoughts.
“That’s what your lips say, but the rest of your body is telling me you’re ready to make love again.” His arousal and the effect it had on her proved impossible to ignore.
“I believe now would be an appropriate time to tell you, sweetling—in order to avoid any confusion in the future, you understand—that I am always ready to make love to you.”