The Unthinkable Read online

  Betrayed, her eyes shot daggers at him. She didn’t trust his promises right now.

  “Try to relax.”

  Was he a bedlamite? Her whole body clenched at his brutal invasion. She pushed against the wide shoulders that she’d admired only minutes ago. But like a wall of stone, he wouldn’t budge.

  Their eyes met. If it was any consolation (which it wasn’t), he looked to be in as much pain as she was. He kept himself perfectly still—apparently no small feat if the bulging veins in his neck were any indication—allowing her body to adjust to him. And surprisingly, it did. After a few minutes he asked cautiously, “Better?”

  She thought about it, wanting to disagree. Instead she answered honestly. “Yes.” Her body had seemed to soften around him, gently stretching to accommodate his substantial girth. And though unfamiliar, it no longer hurt. The painful throbbing had been replaced by a gentle tingling of awareness—a tingle that extended from low in her belly up to the sensitive tips of her breasts.

  With the realization that the pain had dulled, Genie began to grasp the beauty, the wonder of what they were doing. They were truly connected, joined together in a way she never could have imagined. Her heart soared with the knowledge that this was the man who was meant for her. Her one and only true love.

  “God you’re beautiful,” he whispered.

  He kissed her then with such depth of feeling that Genie ached, no longer from pain, but from the pure tenderness of his caress. He soothed her with his mouth. He worshiped her with his tongue. And Genie couldn’t get enough, returning his kiss with equal fervor. His hands caressed her body, cupping her breasts and gently teasing her nipples, enticing her passion until the heat of desire spread over her body once again. Until she yearned for more. She yearned to feel his mouth on her skin, to shed the clothes that separated them and feel the hot press of his skin on hers. His mouth drove her crazy with need and her body responded, growing damp with desire. The yearning became too much. Writhing with anticipation, she moved her hips against him.

  “Now?” he asked, his voice rough with pent up desire. “How do you feel now, my love?”

  Genie felt strange, confused by the wave of sensation crashing over her. She was reaching out in the darkness for something, though she didn’t know what it was. No longer did his entry feel like a brutal invasion. Now it felt right. Like he filled her. Completely. And Genie was amazed at how the sensation of his thick, long erection pressed deep inside her, aroused her to the point of frenzy. “I feel… I feel like I want more.”

  He groaned deeply, obviously relieved. As if the restraint he’d been demonstrating was more than he could bear. Eyes half-lidded, he threw his head back and thrust. Slowly at first, then increasing in speed and intensity. Instinctively, Genie sought more. She lifted her hips to meet his thrust, matching him stroke for stroke. The enthusiasm of her response seemed to drive him mad. He was perilously close to losing control.

  And she loved it.

  Her body cried out with pleasure as he pushed deeper inside her and she found the fulfillment that she’d unknowingly craved. Her heart raced as the frantic rhythm of their joining crested to its highest peak. It was quickly spinning out of control, but she didn’t care. She’d lost the ability to think. All she knew was the force of the exquisite pressure building inside of her. She wanted it harder, faster, deeper. She wanted as much as he could give.

  A deep guttural sound broke her from her trance. She glanced up just in time to watch the emotion traverse his face, a strange mix of agony and ecstasy. The magnitude of his passion overwhelmed her. And Genie felt something quicken inside her, a tightness that was building in intensity that she did not understand. The tingling was now throbbing, the elusive craving that something magical was just beyond the edge of her consciousness. She wanted to cry out.

  “I’m sorry, love,” he whispered. “I can’t hold back any longer. Next time, it will be longer.” His strange words made sense moments later when suddenly he jerked, crying out his release as he sank deep inside her. A warm rush surged through her and the sheer intimacy of the moment made her heart catch. Their eyes met and Genie felt as if she was looking into the depths of his soul. She would never be connected to anyone like she was to this man. He possessed her completely.

  He reached out to stroke her cheek, seemingly as moved as she. “That was not very well done of me.”

  Her brow furrowed, not understanding. “I thought it was wonderful.”

  He laughed softly, sending a strange tickle through her body where they were still joined. “Believe me, it gets even better.” He dropped a soft kiss on her lips. “I would show you right now, but this is already too dangerous. Fanny and Lizzie could return at any moment.”

  He kissed her again before reluctantly rolling off her, severing the connection. And with the loss Genie knew a pang of disappointment. The departure of his warm body chilled her, making her at once conscious of her exposed legs. Genie knew a long moment of gut-checking panic, as the enormity of her actions struck. As apparently it had him.

  “Bloody hell,” he muttered.

  That about summed it up, she thought. She turned her head to look at him. If anything, he appeared equally as astonished by what had just transpired between them.

  “That’s never happened to me before,” he said almost to himself, before turning to face her. “I’m sorry, Genie. I never meant for this to happen.”

  The blood drained from her face. Did he regret this? Did he not love her?

  Sensing her fears, he smiled—that roguish grin that belonged on the face of a far more experienced man. He bent over and tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “Don’t fret, goose. I meant that I’ve never been so clumsy. You made me lose control like an untried lad before I could bring you pleasure.” His obvious embarrassment charmed her. Inwardly she smiled, realizing that he probably was close to being an untried lad. He dropped a soft kiss on her lips. “Everything about you overwhelms me.”

  Her heart burst with happiness. Everything would be fine. True, it would be better to be married before making love, but the passion between them could not be denied. She loved him and he loved her. Still, she needed reassurance. “Did you mean what you said before?”

  His eyes twinkled with emotion, immediately sensing her need for reassurance. “Of course.” He brushed a kiss across her forehead. “I can’t wait for my parents to meet you.”

  Genie sighed with relief. Her dreams were coming true.

  Reluctantly, he got to his feet. “I would stay like this forever, but we better get you cleaned up.”

  Genie blushed, noticing the dampness tinged with streaks of blood between her thighs. The harsh reminder of what they’d done confronted her again. Ignoring the stab of fear, she moved to lower her skirts, but he stopped her.

  “Don’t. You’ll get blood on them.”

  Quickly adjusting his own clothing, Hastings picked up a napkin from their picnic and ran to the river. Returning, he knelt down next to her and tenderly washed between her legs with the cool, dampened cloth. Mortified to have his gaze on her in the stark daylight, Genie studied the trees.

  When he finished, he pulled her to a stand and helped smooth the wrinkles from her clothing as best he could. Folding up the blanket splotched with blood, he bent down and picked up a pale blue satin ribbon that had fallen loose from her hair.

  “Ah. A favor from my lady?” He knelt again and bowed his head like a knight at tournament.

  Genie smothered a smile behind her hand. The effortless ability to ease an awkward situation was one of the things she most admired about him. One of the many reasons she loved him. Taking the ribbon from his hand, in mock seriousness she tied it around his shirtsleeve. “And how will you prove your devotion, Sir Knight? There is no battlefield on which to demonstrate your prowess.”

  Hastings glanced meaningfully to the grass where the blanket had rested only moments ago, and lifted an arrogant brow. “Is there not?”

  Genie giggled; he