Emma flushed under his intense gaze, her skin tingling in anticipation. When his hand settled around her breast, she gasped, barely able to comprehend the sensations that shot down to her abdomen. And then he squeezed, and she knew she was lost. “Oh Alex,” she moaned, awash in pleasure. “Kiss me. Please kiss me.”

Alex’s chuckle came from deep in his throat. “As you wish, my darling.” He leaned down and captured her rosy nipple between lips, sucking gently as his hand continued to massage her other breast.

Emma nearly screamed. “Oh my God!” she burst out. “That wasn’t what I meant.”

“Mmm, I know, but it’s very nice, isn’t it?”

Emma couldn’t deny that it was, so she sank her hands into his thick hair, pulling him tightly against her. If she held him close enough, she decided wildly, he could never stop all these delicious things he was doing to her.

Alex smiled as his lips trailed a path down her stomach, pausing to run his tongue around the edge of her belly-button. “I think we need to do something about these damned breeches.” He undid the buttons and slowly lowered them down her legs. “Not that you don’t look darling in breeches, of course, but don’t think I’m going to let you out of the house dressed like that again.” With a quick tug, Emma’s breeches joined her shirt and chemise on the floor, and Alex slid up the length of her so that his nose was touching hers. “I don’t think anyone else needs to know just how sweetly rounded your bottom is.” As if to prove his point, he cupped her backside with his hands and gave it a squeeze, pulling her tightly against him.

“Oh my,” Emma breathed. She was now completely nude except for her unmentionables, and he felt so hot and hard against her. Timidly, she stroked the warm skin of his back, eager to explore him but unsure of what to do. “Do—do you like this?” she asked.

“Good Lord, Emma,” Alex said hoarsely. “The mere sight of you makes me want you. You have no idea what your touch does.”

Emma blushed but did not stop stroking his back, and when Alex moved to take off her last piece of clothing, she made no attempts to stop him. “You’re going to have to take off yours, too,” she said, unable to believe her own daring. “I may be new at this, but even I know it won’t work with your undergarments on.”

Alex laughed out loud at that and almost blurted out how much he loved her. But he held back, not quite ready to declare his feelings before she did. Instead, he quickly rectified the problem at hand, sliding his undergarments off and covering her body with his.

Emma’s heart started beating wildly as Alex’s lips descended on hers. His hands seemed to be everywhere, stroking, probing, and squeezing, yet still she wanted more. Finally, his hand settled over her womanhood, and she felt herself buck up off the bed at the pleasure of his touch. Though he had caressed her there once before, and she knew what to expect, somehow everything seemed much more intimate now that they were in bed, his bare skin pressed up against her own. Suddenly she felt his forefinger enter her, and every muscle in her body tensed.

“Shhh,” he murmured. “I just want to make sure that you are ready for me. I’m bigger than my finger, and I don’t want to hurt you.”

Emma relaxed slightly, and Alex continued his sensual movements, caressing her most private nub of flesh with his thumb. As pleasure shot through her, Emma could feel herself growing wet with desire and she groaned, her hips instinctively writhing beneath him.

Alex labored to keep his breathing even and steady. It was taking all of his control not to plunge into her right away and lose himself in her softness. But he was determined to make this first experience perfect for her. He knew that his would be an empty pleasure if Emma did not also find her climax. Somewhere along the way, her happiness had become vastly more important to him than his own.

Emma felt her body arch as hot sensations streaked through her. “Alex, please,” she begged. “Please. I need you.”

Emma’s stark declaration proved to be Alex’s undoing, and he quickly positioned himself to enter her. “Are you ready?” he asked hoarsely. At her feverish nod, he pressed forward. Lord, but she was tight. “Shh,” he said, more to soothe himself than her. “I’m going to take it slowly. I want to give you a chance to get used to me.” With a groan that was half pleasure and half frustration, he pulled out a tiny bit and then pushed forward again, ever so slowly.

Emma was convinced at that moment that she was going to die. There was simply no way her body could take any more of the pressure that was building up inside of her. “Please,” she moaned, tossing her head from side to side. “I want—I need—” She shuddered. “Oh God, I don’t know what I want!”

“Shh, darling, I do. But you’re not quite ready for it yet. You’re so small. I’m afraid I might hurt you.” Alex thought that there could be no greater aphrodisiac than the sight of Emma writhing in his bed, utterly consumed by passion. But still, he kept his own desire in check, forcing himself to take it slowly. And then, just when he was convinced he could restrain himself no longer, he reached her maidenhead.

“Emma?” he said, his voice rough with passion. But she was so lost in her own haze that she didn’t hear him. “Darling?” he asked, a bit more loudly. She looked up at him, her eyes barely able to focus on his face. “Darling, this may hurt you a little, but I promise you it will only be this one time.”

“What do you mean?”