Ecstasy's Promise (Historical Romance) (39 page)

"Oh, Victoria, you are so beautiful," he whispered.

Victoria felt her face burn. She lowered her head, thankful that her long hair curtained her embarrassment from Edward. Edward, seeing her discomfort, picked her up and placed her on his bed. Then he pulled the bed sheet over her.

Victoria saw him unbuckle his belt. She quickly closed her eyes. She felt the bed shift, and he pulled her into his arms. "I have never seen a man undressed before, Edward."

He laughed. "You still have not, Victoria. You can open your eyes now."

Edward observed Victoria's apprehension and knew he must keep his emotions in check and proceed slowly, so he would not frighten her. He started to caress her back as he talked in a soothing voice. "Darling, do you remember the night of your grandmother's birthday party?"

Victoria tried to concentrate on what Edward was saying. Her body trembled, as his hands moved slowly and sensuously down her back and over her hips.

"Yes, I remember. ..."

His mouth tantalized her lips. "That night you accused me of being unfaithful, do you remember?"

"Yes."

"I have been very faithful—to you."

His hands glided slowly along her rib cage. Victoria gasped as he cupped her breast.

"Edward, Edward," she moaned.

His eyes burned into hers. "I have not been with a woman since I met you."

"I do not understand, Edward."

"Nor do I, my love. I have a need that only you can satisfy," he whispered against her lips.

Victoria felt a tingling sensation in the pit of her stomach, that spread throughout her body. She was vaguely aware that Edward had removed the bed sheet, and was relieved that there was no longer a barrier to separate his body from hers.

She felt the pressure of his hands as he drew her slowly toward him. Her body stiffened as naked flesh met naked flesh. The heat from Edward's body burned into her; she had the momentary feeling she was suffocating.

"Relax, darling, I only want to love you with my body as I do with my heart."

Edward lowered his head. His lips traveled down her neck until he reached the valley between her breasts. Then his mouth moved slowly over the satiny peaks. Victoria's body was no longer hers to command, but an instrument, pliable and soft, in the hands of a master.

Everywhere his hands touched ignited a fire, as his mouth assaulted her lips. She trembled in anticipation—for what she did not know. In her tortured condition she tried to draw him closer to her.

"Edward please, I feel so ... I want ... I do not know."

"I know, my love. I know what you want." His hands moved over her smooth, flat stomach, then slowly downward. His lips covered hers stifling a moan.

"Victoria, I need you; I have waited for so long, darling," he cried out in agony. His breathing was labored, and his eyes burned with fire in their brown depths.

Edward gently rolled Victoria over to her back; then he covered her body with his, taking great care to balance his weight, so he would not be too heavy for her.

"Darling, there will be momentary pain. It will not last long; trust me."

Victoria lay still, not knowing what to expect. She felt a searing pain as Edward stifled her cry with a burning kiss. "I am sorry, my love; there was no way to avoid the pain."

Victoria looked at Edward in confusion. Was that all there was to it? she wondered. She felt somehow unfulfilled.

"Is it over, Edward?"

He smiled, knowing what she was feeling. "No, my love, only the pain. I have waited for so long for this moment. You do not know how many times I have made love to you in my dreams." His voice deepened. "Now my dreams become a reality."

Wild sensations engulfed Victoria as Edward began to move slowly within her body. She cried out in ecstasy.

"My love, my wife," he whispered over and over,
as he carried them both skyward, on the wings of love and beauty.

Edward felt a stinging in his eyes. It was a feeling
foreign to him. He felt amazement as tears fell unchecked down his face. He had not known one could cry out of love.

Tears of love.

Victoria felt tears on her face and knew her tears mingled with Edward's.

So beautiful was their coming together, they both wept, unashamed.

The storm outside the tiny cottage had abated, but the storm felt by the two lovers raged out of control. So long had they hungered for each other, their love
transcended the physical and reached the spiritual.

In the aftermath of their love-making, Victoria lay in Edward's arms.

She searched her mind to find the words to tell him how she felt, but words seemed so inadequate.

Edward's hand moved gently over her stomach. "Did I hurt you, darling?"

Misty blue eyes looked into brown velvet ones.
"No, my love, you were very tender and loving. I felt
so ... It was so beautiful. It was as if I were no longer a separate person, but had become as one with you."

Edward swallowed a lump in his throat as he worshiped her with his eyes. "I will never love you more than I do at this moment."

"I love you so much, Edward. How is it possible to
love so deeply?"

His arm tightened around her and with gentle pressure, he pulled her tightly against him.

Victoria's hands moved over Edward's back. She felt the powerful muscles that rippled beneath her fingertips.

"Love me again, Edward," she whispered.

He took a ragged breath as his desire for her returned. He pushed her gently away from him. "Maybe it is too soon. I would not want to hurt you.

She moved closer to him and kissed his lips.

"Darling don't," he pleaded. "I have so little experience with a virgin."

Victoria smiled to herself. She was beginning to understand the power she had over Edward. She teased his lips with soft kisses, and moved her body against his.

Edward grabbed her and pulled her roughly to him. He groaned as his lips took command of hers. He was lost to everything except the feelings that ran feverishly through his body.

Edward was no longer the gentle lover. All the frustrations he had felt in the past few months— wanting Victoria, and being unable to have her— came rushing to the surface. His mouth bruised her tender lips with passionate kisses. His hands moved roughly over her body.

When he took her, it was with a punishing force. He was driven beyond control by the feel of her body. Somewhere deep inside, Edward felt the need to punish her for the long months of rejection.

Victoria felt wild desire coursing through her body, as she matched Edward's movements with her own. She felt driven to the brink of madness as her body throbbed in total surrender.

At last they lay in each other's arms, their passion spent.

Edward felt remorse. He had not meant to be so
brutal with her, but had been unable to stop himself.

He rested his face against her sweet-smelling hair,
speaking softly. He hoped he could make her understand. "Forgive me, darling. I am appalled at what I did to you. My only excuse is that I have wanted you for so long. Maybe I also wanted to punish you; I am just not sure."

Victoria looked into Edward's eyes—eyes that begged her to understand. Her body still tingled from his love-making.

“Oh, my love, I
do
understand, and there is no need to apologize." She pushed the lock of ebony-colored hair from his forehead, and ran her fingers through its silky strands. "Besides," she continued, "I think you were the innocent victim. It was I who was the instigator."

She arched her eyebrow. "Who knows? I may even do it again if it will produce the same results."

Edward threw back his head and laughed deeply.
"You little witch, you have me completely under your spell—a spell I am unable to break, nor do I want to."

Victoria snuggled closer to Edward, as he slid his
arm about her waist.

She cupped his face in her hands and looked into his eyes. "Give up, Yankee. You can never escape me; you are mine forever."

"I surrender without a struggle. I know when I have met my match," he said, kissing her deeply.

A night bird sang sweetly from its perch in the garden, as Victoria fell asleep, wrapped in the soft cocoon of love.

The long months of struggle were over; Edward and Victoria had found each other at last.

Throughout the night they lay in each other's arms, sometimes falling asleep, only to awake to love each other once more.

Victoria awoke just as the new day was dawning. The room was bathed in a soft light. Edward lay beside her. His dark head was nestled on her pillow; his arm was resting about her waist. She moved carefully, so she would not disturb his sleep.

Victoria studied every detail of his handsome face. Her heart swelled with love. Edward had shown her a world of love and beauty. He had been so tender and loving. Victoria could not resist the urge to kiss his sensitive mouth. The black silky lashes swept up slowly, revealing his deep brown eyes. For a moment there was a look of bewilderment on his face; then he gave her a heart-warming smile. His arm tightened about her waist.

"Was there something you wanted?" Edward said as his smile widened into a wicked grin.

"Not at the moment. I am content for now."

"You wouldn't care to reconsider, would you?" Edward asked, kissing her neck.

Victoria rolled over on her stomach and looked down at him. "Edward," she said, frowning slightly.

"Yes, my love," he answered, tracing a pattern across her face with his finger.

"I am so inexperienced—"

"What are you asking?"

"Do I please you, Edward? Will you be satisfied with just me?"

Edward rolled over on his side and propped his head on his hand. He opened his mouth to answer, then paused. How could he tell her how he felt? Even though she had been inexperienced, he had never been with a woman who had stirred his blood as she had. At times during their love-making it was as though she were the master and he her slave. How could he tell her that he would never have any need for another woman?

'To answer your first question, Victoria, if I told you how it felt making love to you, you would have me completely at your mercy. I knew it would be good between us, but I never suspected it would be so perfect. I never felt that way before. I will never need anyone but you. Does that answer your questions?"

Victoria nodded. He had put her fears to rest.

"I have a hunger for you that will never be satisfied, Victoria. You are as necessary to me as the air I breathe. Without you I would cease to exist."

Victoria smiled. "I am the luckiest of women that you chose me as your wife. I will be happy as long as I have your love, Edward."

"Be prepared to be happy for the rest of our lives then, Victoria, because I will never stop loving you . . . starting right now," he whispered.

Later, Edward awoke. He smiled down at his wife, who was sleeping beside him. There was a glow about her that had not been there before. He resisted the urge to take her in his arms. The sun was well up. He rose quietly so he would not disturb her, dressed, and made his way to the kitchen.

Lucy was seated on a stool peeling potatoes. "Good morning, Mr. Edward."

Edward flashed her a smile. "Would you mind making up a breakfast tray, Lucy?"

She grinned. "I wouldn't mind at all. I have a note for you from Mrs. Marshall," she said, standing up and reaching into the pocket of her white apron.

Edward took the note and read:

Edward,

Cullem wanted me to inform you he has ridden into town this morning to cancel your return trip to Texas.

It was signed simply:
Dorothea.

Edward smiled and sat down on the stool to wait for Lucy to prepare the tray.

Edward put the tray down on a nearby table and sat down on the bed. He bent over Victoria. "Wake up, sleepyhead. Would you sleep the day away?"

Victoria stretched her arms over her head. Sitting up and tucking the sheet about her, she smiled. "Is that food I smell? I am starved."

"I do not doubt it," Edward teased.

He placed the tray on her lap. "I have a note from Dorothea. She said Cullem canceled our return trip home."

"I am glad. I do not want to share you with anyone else just yet, Edward."

"We are in agreement on that, my love." After they had eaten, Edward removed the tray.

"What would you like to do today, Victoria?" Her eyes gleamed mischievously. Edward laughed. "I mean besides that." "Could we go to the beach, Edward?" "If that is your wish. I once told you I could deny you nothing. But, could we delay our walk for a short while?" "Whatever for?" Edward's eyes gleamed wickedly. "Need you ask?"  he said, lowering himself to the bed and drawing her into his arms.