The Marquis and I (The Worthingtons #4)(74)

Tears of joy pricked her eyes and she wanted to laugh at the last part. She had not expected a proposal at all, nevertheless such a lovely one. “I will marry you, Constantine Kenilworth, and spend the rest of my days loving you and our family. And I shall never stop telling you when you are wrong.” He took her mouth again, and her gown sagged. “What are you doing?”

“Helping you seduce me,” he mumbled against her lips.





Chapter Twenty-Five


“How thoughtful.” Charlotte’s gown made a whooshing sound as it dropped to the floor.

“I aim to please.” Constantine started on her petticoat and stays.

She untied his cravat, tossing it aside, then went to work on his collar, shirt, and waistcoat. Soon they were down to their shoes, which came off easily enough. He unfastened the clasp on her garter, and her stockings slipped to her feet. Constantine lifted her and placed her on the bed before climbing in beside her.

Spreading her hands over his chest, Charlotte twined her fingers in the soft hairs covering his taut skin. “You are so different from me.”

Cupping her breasts, he licked one nipple, making her moan with need. “I can’t but think that’s a good thing.”

She held his head against her. “A very good thing.”

He spread her arms out to the side, holding them there as he licked and kissed his way over her stomach and down. A strange sort of tension began between her legs and spread through her body. She’d never felt such heat and need. Part of her wanted him to stop, but the other part wanted him to keep on.

More. Oh, please more.

His tongue touched her mons, and she arched into him. “Oh, Heavens. Whatever you’re doing, don’t stop.”

“You taste like spiced honey.” Constantine chuckled, and licked again. “Come for me, my love.”

His finger filled her, and she thought she’d go out of her mind. How much more could she stand? The coiling tension burst and released. For a moment Charlotte thought she’d died as tremors of pleasure gripped her.

Con’s large, strong body covered hers, as he kissed her lips and held her. “Do you know what marital congress is?”

Her limbs were loose and Charlotte had never felt so relaxed in her life. He settled between her legs, his member nudging at her entrance. She rubbed against him, trying to encourage him to take her. “Dotty told me.”

“What did she tell you?” His voice was tight. With strain or something else, Charlotte didn’t know.

“That at first it would hurt, but then it was glorious.”

He pushed into her, slowly filling her. “Trust me and I’ll take you to Heaven.”

Again. She could not imagine anything could be better than what he’d just done. “I trust you.”

Good God, Charlotte was tight. Con had done all he could, all he knew to do to prepare her. He was relieved she knew at least a little of what to expect. This first time would be something she would remember for the rest of her life, and he must make her enjoy it. Especially after his boast. Heaven, indeed. He should have stuck with glorious.

He slipped in and out of her, keeping control over himself when all he wanted to do was plunge into her and bury himself in her body. He’d never had trouble before. He had always made sure his partners had their pleasure as well. But with her, everything was different somehow.

He loved her more than he had thought possible and prayed she wouldn’t feel much pain. “Wrap your legs around me.” Charlotte did as he asked, and Con surged forward. She cried out, tensed around him, and he stopped, allowing her pain to recede. “That was the worst of it, my love. Are you all right?”

She was quiet for a few moments, then she gave him a small smile. “I shall be fine.”

He moved again, slowly, waiting for a sign that her desire was building again. A soft sigh escaped her lips, swollen with his kisses. Her breathing hitched, and her legs gripped him harder. A moment later she cried his name, and he pumped into her, spilling his seed. Making her his in the most primitive and elemental way possible. She would never leave him now. She could never leave him.

Charlotte was his forever. Thank the Fates this had gone well.

The stress Con had been feeling flowed out of his body. He barely kept himself from collapsing on her instead of falling off to her side. He tugged her close to him, cradling her against his chest, and murmured into her hair, “Charlotte, I love you. I never knew how much love made a difference.”

“I love you too, Constantine.” She rolled, snuggling her cheek against his chest. “You were right. It was Heaven.”

He never wanted to move again, never wanted to leave this bed. Then he remembered she had been a virgin and if he didn’t do something soon, everyone in the blasted hotel would know what had occurred. “Stay there. Right where you are. I’ll be back.”

In three long steps he was at the wash stand. He took a piece of linen and wet it. The water had cooled, but perhaps that was better. He cleaned himself. Even in the relative darkness, he could see her blood. He rinsed the piece of linen and returned to Charlotte, gently wiping her and blotting the sheet.

“What are you doing?”

“Washing us up a bit.” He would take care of the water in the morning. “Your maid will have to see to the bedclothes in the morning.”