Matthew bit down on the inside of his lip and fought not to spend. Certainly not before she had found her pleasure.
A man was not a man who did not give joy to their bed partner, and tonight, it was imperative Heidi find release. He needed her to know that he could give her such ecstasy. That they could be friends, maybe even more than that, if she were willing to forgive all his sins and be with him.
She sat atop him, riding him, taunting him with moans and cries of his name.
How had he lived so long without her? How had he not stormed down to the village and demanded she be his friend again?
Hell, he had missed her.
"You're so beautiful," he exclaimed, reaching up to pull her gown down over one breast. He teased her ample bosom, pinching her nipple with his thumb and finger.
She closed her hand over his, watching him, her eyes burning with determination and desire. She was close. He knew to his very core she would come, and soon.
She rolled her hips with a siren's expertise, and he inwardly swore. "Do that again, and I cannot promise you I will not come long and hard into you," he warned.
Her hands pressed against his chest as she increased her pace, watching him. "You feel so good, Matthew. I feel as if I could do this always, but that there is something missing. My body wants …"
"It wants to come," he stated. "Keep doing what you are and you will find your release, and then there will be no stopping you from darkening my door. I should think you will often call for future relief," he teased.
She chuckled, biting her lip. He thrust into her, and she moaned. He held her hips and assisted her to fuck him until she gained what she wanted.
"Matthew," she panted, her eyes flaring wide with awareness. "Oh, Matthew."
Her orgasm ripped through her, and he watched, entranced as she threw back her head and rode him through her pleasure. Her fingers twisted into his shirt, holding him still as she came, over and over, pulling his release forward.
He came hard and long, pumping his seed into her quivering cunny.
Heidi slumped onto his chest, their breathing ragged. "That was unlike anything I have ever known. I did not know pleasure could be found in such a way. I had always thought it would be a painful, daunting process to be with a man."
He wrapped his arms around her back, holding her against him. "No, not if it's done correctly," he murmured, stroking her back as they returned to earth.
Her fingers idly played with his hair, before she sat back, staring at him. "What happens now?" she asked, meeting his eyes.
He could read the questions in her deep, blue gaze, and right at this moment, he was unsure what he ought to do. Would she even agree to marry him? She certainly wasn't too happy with him when she first arrived, and he did not want her to think he asked out of obligation, not after what they had just partaken in.
"I think," he said, kissing the tip of her nose. "That I should ring for a bath, and you should join me. The night grows chill, do you not think? And after what we have both done, I think I ought to clean you thoroughly to ensure a comfortable sleep."
"A bath?" she asked him, surprised. "With you and not on my own?"
"Yes, with me," he said, wiggling his brows. "My room is private, and we can enjoy each other's company some more. But only if you're willing, of course."
A mischievous glint entered her eye, and she nodded. "I shall wait in my room until you tell me to come." She kissed him back, lingering until he burned for her yet again. "Until later, my lord," she whispered, gaining her feet and fixing up her gown quickly before leaving him alone in the library.
He watched her leave, and already he missed her. A quandary he would need to correct.
Heidi made use of the shift and dressing gown the maid had left on her bed and changed as quickly as she could while waiting for Matthew.
She stood in front of her mirror, staring at her reflection, wondering if she appeared as different as she felt.
And she felt wonderful.
How marvelous to have lain with him the way they had and how pleasurable too. Already she wanted to do it again, to have his strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her down upon him, giving her so much exquisite delight that she thought she would die should she not experience such again soon.
A light knock on her door pulled her attention away from examining herself, and she opened it just a crack to see Matthew standing before her.
"Come, the bath is ready, and I have dismissed the servants for the evening."
Heidi could not refuse, nor did she want to. She wanted to be with him again, alone, and have him just as she used to dream about before they had become estranged.
He held her hand as they walked leisurely back to his room. She marveled at his handsomeness, his height, and his strength. That she had been with him intimately did not seem real. It was like a dream, but she had conquered the man before her, the man holding her hand and leading her further astray.
She entered the room and marveled at the sight. In the hour or so they had been apart he had done quite a lot, making use of their time alone. A bath sat before the well-lit fire. Drying cloths sat on a nearby chair, along with a cake of jasmine soap. Several candles burned about the room, and the thick, velvet curtains were drawn closed to keep the storm raging outside at bay.
The sound of the shutters rattling and of the crackling fire were the only sounds that shattered the quiet of the night.
"This looks very enticing, my lord. All of this for me?" she teased him, walking to the bath to run her fingers through the water. "Mmmm, it's lovely and hot," she said, boldly reaching for the bottom of her shift and lifting it off her body.
She stood before the bath as naked as a babe and saw the fire lick in Matthew's eyes. He came to her, reached out, and clasped her hips, wrenching her naked body against his.
He was all hard muscles and a harder still manhood that jutted against his breeches. Wanting him, wetness pooled at her core, and she rubbed against him, teasing him as much as the mere thought of him taunted her.
"You're too dressed," she said, reaching for his untied cravat and pulling it from his neck. She threw it aside, grinning at her mischievousness before untying the ribbon at the top of his shirt.
Matthew helped her with the rest of his clothing, stripping himself bare and hoisting her in his arms. She wrapped her legs about his hips, the feel of his jutting manhood making her eager to be with him again.
He stepped carefully into the tub, lowering them both. Water splashed over the sides, wetting the wood floor and a little of the Aubusson rug.
"We've made a mess already," she said, looking over the side of the tub.
He clasped her face, pulling her back to look at him. She inwardly sighed at how perfect this night had become. How lucky she was to be with the boy she once adored, and be alone with the man he had become.
Her friend …
The term did not sound as nice as it once used to. She did not want to be this man's friend. She wanted to be so much more. His lover, his confidante, his wife …
But she would not marry out of obligation. She had wanted a love match. Had thought for years prior to their falling out that he would make her the perfect partner in life until he did not. That he would one day declare his unfailing love and devotion.
Instead, he had traveled to London and become intoxicated by a meddlesome, unlikable lady of his ilk.
"You're so beautiful," he said, kissing her deeply. His hands ran over her body, and her skin prickled in awareness. She undulated against him, desiring him and the pleasure he could give her.
Somehow between the kisses and touches, he filled her again. She closed her eyes and reveled in the feel of him joining her, teasing her where she craved most.
"Matthew," she moaned, riding him. "So good." She wrapped her arms around his neck.
He grinned, pulling her arms away. "Move to the other side of the tub and hold on to the side. I'm about to make you feel a whole lot better than that," he taunted.
Without thought, Heidi did as he instructed. She braced herself as he came up firm against her, his hard, muscular chest kissing her back, his manhood pressing against her from behind.
She glanced over her shoulder and met his eye. "Is that even possible?" she asked, trepidation and expectation thrummed through her at the very idea of being taken by Matthew in such a way.
He wrapped his hands about her stomach, lifting her bottom a little before slipping between her wet folds. Heidi moaned as his cock filled her, deep and sweet.
"Matthew," she huffed, pushing against him, wanting more of him.
He thrust into her, one hand wrapped firmly about her waist, holding her captive as his other clasped the front of the tub, as she was.
"I'm going to make you come this way, Heidi," he taunted her. "I want to hear my name on your lips. I want to see you come apart in my arms. I want to make you feel so good, my darling."
She nodded, wanting to feel that sensation again as much as she needed to breathe.
His hand slipped over her stomach and between her legs. She gasped as his nimble fingers flicked her mons and teased between her folds, wrenching her further toward the bliss she knew was just out of her reach.
"You like that?" he asked her, thrusting hard and relentlessly, his pace frustratingly perfect.
"I do like this. I want to come again, as you say." She looked over her shoulder and met his eye.
His burned with desire, with determination, and her stomach clenched.
"I'm going to make you come so hard," he teased her. "Just as you like it, my darling."
His words pushed her over the precipice, and she moaned as her body convulsed about his manhood, her release running through her in delicious waves. "Matthew," she screamed, feeling him tense as his release poured out of him.
"Heidi," he whispered against her ear. "Marry me."