Page 61 of Second Chance Prince
And she liked that too. The thought that Niki, always so controlled, had now lost that control with her. Pleasure cramped in her belly again, spasmed between her legs, and her heart pounded.
“Yes, yes, yes!” she cried out loudly, not caring if the whole inn heard.
She seemed to be floating, riding a wave of ecstasy, and it took her a moment to realize he was laughing. Breathless laughter was making him shake as he released inside her and then groaned out his own pleasure. “Yes, indeed,” he said, his voice husky with amusement and effort.
She didn’t care. It had been far better than she could ever have imagined, and so she would tell anyone who asked. But then she remembered that she was a princess now, and she had to keep her own counsel. It gave her pause.
“You are quiet,” he said, drawing her into his arms and kissing the top of her head. “You are not hurt?”
“Not at all,” she answered him. “Or maybe a little achy. Although perhaps that is because I am a novice.”
He went still, as if her words had jogged some memory of his own, and then he murmured sleepily, “We need more practice.”
“Like the kissing,” she said, and yawned. “We are good at that.”
“Very good.”
Her eyes were closing, which was a shame because she wanted to ask him about his own experiences in the bedroom. Not because she was jealous but because she was interested and…yes,well, she wondered how tonight had matched up. She could wait, though. They had the rest of their lives to share their secrets.
Chapter Thirty
At the moment of climax, Niki had felt as if his heart was trying to beat its way out of his chest. He was no longer the ruler of his country but a man whose body was awash with deep satisfaction and delight. He had never felt such pleasure, and he didn’t know if this was what he would have felt with another woman. He would never know now, but he thought it impossible. He rejected the idea. Roberta was special, and he loved her. Already, he could not imagine experiencing the sexual act with anyone but her.
She was quiet at his side, her cheek warm against his chest, his arm wrapped around her soft curves. She was asleep, and he was glad he would not have to answer any questions he didn’t want to answer. He mused on what she had said about his planned wedding night making them feel the pressure to be perfect, and he wondered if she was right. It turned out he had spent very little time or effort or money tonight, and this had turned out to be wonderful. Who would have thought that in a little inn far from anywhere, in a bed that was barely big enough for the two of them, he would experience something he would remember for the rest of his life?
Because Niki had never experienced physical intimacy before, he had always been alone at night. Women had wanted to come to him, Karl had even offered to share, but he had never allowed it. He was shy and lacking the sort of confidence that Karl had toa huge degree. Niki wanted the moment to mean something. He wanted someone in his bed who cared about more than his position and his birthright, or the opportunity to boast about being his first.
He felt a great deal of pride in knowing a woman like Roberta wanted to be with him. He had achieved his dream of a happy marriage—or at least made a start. Now he must continue that journey with her. A journey where they told each other how they felt and what they wanted from their lives. They would support each other through good and bad times.
Just as Niki understood how Roberta felt she sometimes couldn’t be herself, she instinctively saw when he was feeling overwhelmed and needed to escape. That day at Grantham, when he took tea with her family, she had seen he was far, far beyond his emotional boundaries, and she had made sure he felt safe. They had walked down by the pond, and she had shared confidences with him, and they had kissed.
Then why couldn’t he tell her the truth about his virginity?
Didn’t he trust her with his secret when she already knew so much about him? He should be over the moon. Hewasover the moon. And yet, as usual with Niki, there were doubts. It was partially the result of his lonely, miserable childhood. It was also because he loved Roberta, and that made him vulnerable. If, for some reason—his breathing began to quicken and sweat beaded his brow—she was to turn away from him, find someone else as his mother did, what then? What if she never loved him as he loved her?
“I don’t know the answer to that,” he whispered. “How can I answer that?”
“Niki?” Roberta lifted her head to peer down at him. “You were talking in your sleep.”
“Was I?” His laugh sounded shaky.
“Yes. Do you always talk in your sleep?” She sounded concerned.
“I don’t know. I suppose we shall find out.”
“I suppose we shall.”
“Go to sleep,” he said gently. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“Hmm”—she snuggled in closer—“that sounds nice.”
He held her against him, and although he tried to sleep, his mind would not be still. No one could read the future, but he was not his father, and Roberta was certainly nothing like his mother. Their happiness was not preordained, but that did not mean they would be unhappy either. Life ahead may be full of rocks and ravines, but they would find a way around them if they had strength and determination. If they were open and honest with each other.
“I am a novice too,” he said aloud.
Again, Roberta lifted her head and looked at him. “A novice?”
“A virgin,” he said, and cleared his throat. “Tonight…our night…It was my first time.”
