Elizabeth thought she was going to die from the pleasure he was giving her. It felt incredible. Better than she’d ever imagined, but something was missing. After a moment she realized what that something was. She needed to touch him, too. Deciding that she wasn’t going to wait for an invitation, she worked his shirt off, desperate for the contact.

              He was surprised when he felt her hands working the buttons of his coat, but immensely pleased nonetheless. Releasing her breasts, he pulled his cravat off and shrugged off his outer garments, leaving only his shirt until that too was gone.

              Elizabeth reached out with trembling hands and ran her fingers down his chest, enjoying the feel of his warm smooth skin over hard muscle. She ran her fingers tentatively over one flat nipple, making him groan. Her hands moved down to trace the muscles that made up his flat stomach. He groaned again, but didn’t say or do anything to stop her.

              She wanted to keep touching him, but her arms were effectively pinned to her sides by her dress, limiting her movements. She worried her bottom lip nervously as she pulled her arms out and pushed the dress and shift down around her waist. She watched as he ran hungry eyes over her. His response gave her the courage to continue. Pushing aside her nervousness, she leaned in and kissed him. Robert grabbed her waist and held her firmly as they kissed almost desperately.

              Never breaking the kiss, he helped her to her feet until they were both standing. He reached behind her and undid the buttons of her disheveled dress. He slowly pushed it down and waited patiently until she stepped out of her dress, leaving her naked except for her stockings and slippers. Only one person had seen her naked before and that had been her maid. She should be embarrassed, but oddly enough with him she didn’t feel shy or self-conscious. She felt beautiful, wanted and cherished.

              She watched as he kneeled down in front of her. He gently rolled her stockings down, taking her slippers off in the process. He pressed hot kisses to her skin as he made his way back to her mouth. She pulled him into her arms and kissed him hungrily, unable to get enough of him.

              His hands roamed over her body, touching her arms, breasts, stomach, back, bottom and legs. Every touch made her stomach tighten and the area between her legs ache. She wanted more, but didn’t know what.

              He seemed to know. He moved his mouth to her neck and suckled her skin on the way back to her breasts. Once he found her nipple, his hand worked its way between her legs. He cupped her and ran his fingers through slick curls. She moaned loudly, unable to help herself.

              When he slipped a finger inside her, he found her hot, wet, and ready. He groaned and moved his mouth back to hers while he worked a finger in and out of her. Soon she was moving against his finger, her body desperate for release. He couldn’t wait. He couldn’t even think of anything beyond getting inside her.

              His other hand worked frantically at his pants. With a groan, he broke off the kiss and removed his hand from the honeyed heaven he couldn't wait to explore. He reached down, pushed his pants down and pulled his boots off until he was naked as well.

              His lips quickly made their way back to hers. It was a desperate need that he couldn’t deny. He gasped and then moaned loudly into her mouth when he felt her fingers run curiously over his erection. Never in a million years had he thought that she would be this passionate, hadn’t known that it was possible.

              He reached between them and gently wrapped her hand around his length and moved it, showing her what he liked. She did it, making him pant and groan. He slid his hand back between her legs, sliding a second finger inside her until she was moaning and crying softly into his mouth. They stood there for several minutes as pleasure soared through their bodies.

              It was too much for any sane man to take. He pulled his hand away and pushed her gently onto the long cushioned bench with his body brushing her hand away. He kissed her deeply as he positioned himself. Part of him was aware that he was very likely about to take her virginity, but he didn’t care. She wasn’t saying anything and neither was he. They were too far-gone at the moment to care about rules, propriety or the consequences that were most likely going to tear their lives apart.

              Robert aimed himself and pushed in unable to wait any longer. He heard her gasp of pain and kissed her deeply, trying to distract her. The tip of his shaft came in contact with the proof of her innocence. When she didn't protest, scream, or demand that he get off her, he pulled back and thrust in until he was buried deep inside of her.

              Somehow he was able to hold back when everything in him demanded that he move. One look at her beautiful face and he was knocked on his ass. She was heartbreakingly beautiful as she tried to give him a reassuring smile even as tears trailed down her face. He pressed tender kisses to her cheeks, kissing away her tears, wanting to reassure her that he would take care of her.

              He moved his mouth back to hers and he kissed her slowly, trying to show her how much being with her meant to him. He’d never felt so much for another person in his entire life and for someone he didn’t know it surprised him. He never allowed anyone to get close to him, didn't trust anyone. He couldn't understand how she consumed his every wish and desire. He wanted to hold her all night and keep her safe from harm, something that he’d never wanted to do with another woman.

              Soon, she grew accustomed to the invasion and began to wiggle beneath him, testing his control. He slowly rolled his hips making sure that she was truly ready for him. He could feel her mouth curve into a smile beneath his and that’s when he realized that he was smiling as well, making him chuckle. For the first time in a long time, he felt carefree. He kissed her deeply as he slowly thrust inside her, enjoying the feel of wet silken walls caressing his cock.

              Elizabeth instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist, trying to hold him inside her. Robert cupped her breast, gently squeezing it as his thumb ran over her hard nipple. Moans, crackles of the fire, and the sounds of bodies gently slapping against each other echoed throughout the dimly lit orangery.

              Robert could feel her body tighten like a vice around him. He groaned as he moved harder and faster, making her cry out in pleasure. Her fingernails dug into his back, but he didn’t care. He opened his eyes and watched as her world exploded. He needed her to find her release before he could pull out. He was determined to make this good for her.

              Her body began squeezing ruthlessly around his. As good as it felt to have her grip his cock like this, it felt even better knowing that he’d been the one to give her this pleasure. Hell, he wanted to laugh and scream for joy that this beautiful minx found her moment with him. His minx.

              The reality of the moment hit him hard. She was still squeezing him and moaning. Her mouth found his neck and kissed it greedily, sucking and licking and driving him out of his goddamn mind. He couldn’t hold back. He desperately needed to pull out. It was getting too close. Just one more thrust he told himself, just one more.

              As his release rushed up on him, he gasped, trying to find the strength to pull out of her. Just as he somehow found the willpower to pull out she began squeezing him again, completely shattering his resistance. His head dropped back and he bit back a roar of pleasure as he found his own release. It was the most intense moment of his life. He continued to move until he was sure that she was done. When he felt her walls squeeze gently around him one last time, he fell on her, lazily kissing her neck, chin and mouth. Still neither spoke.

              Robert was too weak to speak. It was the oddest way to take a woman’s virginity, without any spoken words of promise or explanation. He’d always been a gentle lover, taking a woman slowly to prolong his release. He'd never even taxed himself before. Right now his body was exhausted and soaked. This was the most intense sexual experience of his life and he didn’t even know her name.

              Not that he ever made love to an innocent before, but surely something should have been said. Names should have been exchanged at the very least. It was without question the most passionate night of his life. He’d never been so moved by lust or need before to make him this desperate to make love to a woman.

              He pulled back to look at her, expecting her to cry, scream or hit him. He’d been a cad taking her innocence. But instead of doing what he’d expected, what he deserved, she smiled sweetly up at him and pressed a tender kiss to his mouth. Robert turned the kiss into a slow, deep display of appreciation, passion and need. He was still inside of her and surprised to discover that he was hardening again. He wanted her once more, desperately, but he couldn’t do that to her.

              He took a steadying breath and slowly began to pull out, however, her legs wrapped tightly around his waist and trapped him. He raised an eyebrow in question. Then she spoke for the first time since they’d started. “Can we do it again?” she asked shyly.

Chapter 8

              Robert could only chuckle. He leaned down and kissed her. “Yes, minx, we can do it again.” He punctuated every word with a slow thrust of his hardening shaft.