Page 37 of The Dandy Lyon

A flicker of sharp pain made her gasp, then he filled her, flowing past that burning sensation until he was seated deep inside her. That hadn’t been nearly as bad as she’d feared, though it did feel strange. Joanna glanced up at Marcus, about to ask him what she should do now, but his eyes were closed, his face contorted in what looked like pain. Concerned, she grasped his arm. “Marcus? Are you alright?”

Several moments of silence alarmed her greatly, then at last he opened his eyes, his breath coming in ragged gasps. “Yes, I’m fine. I had to wait so I wouldn’t spill myself too soon.”

“I don’t understand.” Though relieved, Joanna was still bewildered by his actions.

“I’ll explain…later.” He peered down at her, a concerned frown marring his handsome face. “But I should be asking you…did it hurt very much?”

“No, I’m happy to say.”

“Excellent.” That look of concentration was back. “Then we can continue.” Slowly, he pulled himself backward until she was afraid he would leave her completely. Strange as this all felt, she didn’t want that in the least. Then he was thrusting back into her, and the sensation was extraordinary.

“Oh, Marcus.” The ebb and flow of his motions drove the ache in her belly to that upward spiral from before, although much more quickly, more intensely. The faster he went, the tighter she seemed to wind and wind until the tightness exploded again, more strongly than before as her body grasped his, over and over, the waves of pleasure so great she cried out, “Marcus! Oh, Marcus,” with each one.

Even as she called to him, he thrust deeply again and moaned, “Joanna” as liquid heat erupted within her. Joanna scarcely noticed, she was so preoccupied with wrapping her arms around her husband, clutching him to her as her body slowly released its grip on him.

He slumped on top of her, pressing her into the mattress for a moment. Then, with what seemed a great effort, he rolled to the side and lay on his back, one arm flung over his face, panting loudly.

Smiling broadly, she turned to watch him, amazed and awed by what they’d just done. She waited expectantly until at last his head rolled toward her, his eyes trying their best to focus on her. With a suddenness that startled her, he grabbed her and pulled her to him, burying his face in her neck. “Joanna, oh, God.” He raised his head, his body trembling. “Never have I experienced such joy, such pleasure as you have just given me.” His eyes searched hers insistently. “Please tell me that I have given you some of the same.”

“You have never given me anything but joy, my love.” She pulled his head to her and kissed him with all the strength and passion that he’d awakened in her. “And now you’ve gifted me with a world of pleasure I’d never have found with anyone else.” Joanna laid her head back on his chest, loathe to be parted from him for even a moment. “We were Fated to be together, Marcus. No matter what anyone else has said or done to keep us apart, we were simply meant to be with each other.”

“You’ll get no argument from me there, sweetheart.” He pulled the covers up over them and engulfed her in his arms, holding her possessively, which she quite delighted in. “I knew from the moment I saw you I would love no one else, in this world or any other to come.”

“I may not have loved you at first sight, but very soon after you rescued me from my unwanted suitors, I believe I was smitten.” Joanna skimmed her hand down his side, reveling in the feel of him. All the way down to his hip…and then a bit lower until she encountered that part of him that had been so hard not long ago. Now it was much softer. Her hand strayed onto it and it stirred agreeably.

“Joanna?”

She glanced up to find Marcus’s dark eyes trained on hers. “Yes?”

“Are you perhaps wanting to ask a question that you don’t know how to phrase?” He grasped her hand and wrapped it around his…member. She recalled that was what her sister-in-law had called it.

“What question might that be?” Slowly, he guided her fingers to stroke his miraculously stiffening flesh.

“Will you make love to me again, Marcus?” He released her hand, and she continued to fondle him, until his member was jutting out straight and proud.

Joanna gave it a gentle squeeze and suddenly she was on her back, Marcus over top of her, gazing into her eyes intently. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Will you make love to me again, please, Marcus?”

“All you ever need to do is ask, my love. I am yours to command.” He swept her legs open and plunged into her—now the feeling of coming home.

“Then I will command you to do this every night for as long as we both shall live.” She’d want every night with Marcus to last as long as the midwinter solstice.

“Don’t forget the days.” He nuzzled her breast.

They could do this during the daylight hours as well? “Then we will never get out of this bed.”

Marcus chuckled and kissed her lips. “And that suits me just fine.”

Epilogue

Longford Manor

Christmas Day

“I do think you’ll enjoy this.” Lord Longford led Marcus into his study, an invitation to be remarked upon as it was his first time there. His brother-in-law headed to a long table to the side, replete with decanter, glasses, and a host of books, papers, and other bric-a-brac that showed the room was one frequented by the earl quite often.

The walls were ceiling to floor bookcases, save for the one with the roaring fireplace, and the smell of the myriad old leather bindings gave Marcus an unexpected feeling of contentment. To be welcomed into the inner sanctum meant perhaps that Lord Longford now considered him an ally, a true part of the family and not merely the dandelion that had the audacity to take root in the manor house’s cultivated flower beds. “I’m certain I will, my lord.”

“This is the best vintage I’ve been able to find in years.” Longford poured the dark spirits into two glasses and handed one to Marcus. “A fitting way to celebrate the holiday, don’t you think.”