“I don’t have words for how much I missed you.” Mark gave a tiny, experimental thrust.
She mewled, clutching at his shoulders. “Again.”
Mark took his sweet time, torturing them both with the slow, slick slide. He thrust long and deep, so deep she moaned and called him large and thick and manly. He closed his eyes, pressing his forehead and nose to hers. “Ellen, you feel too good. I can’t—I won’t—” He tried to pause, to regain his composure, but it was too late.
An explosion of pleasure burst over him, and he opened his eyes in the midst to see Ellen smiling at him, eager for his release. He quivered inside her, giving involuntary thrusts until the orgasm drifted away, leaving the remnants of pleasure to tingle down his spine and through his limbs. Eager to give her the same release, Mark pumped faster inside her, putting his hand on her, and rubbed and stroked until she was a sobbing, whimpering mess. With a sharp, muted cry Ellen came apart. As the euphoria faded, she sagged bonelessly in his arms. Mark eased the rest of the way out of her, kissing her neck and jaw.
Ellen sighed happily into his ear, giving him a loose embrace. “Again, Mark. Love me again.”
He chuckled. “Ravenous gaoler. I need a moment, but I can attend you while I recover.” He eased her down on the mattress alongside him and soothed her quivering, excited body with long, firm strokes of his hand, down her sides, back, legs, and arms. Emboldened by her soft sighs, he tickled the back of her knee and laughed when she jerked away with a gasp.
Grumbling under her breath, Ellen sank back against him,snuggling her cheek against his chest. “You’ll regret that when I have more energy for revenge,” she warned him, then ruined the threat by kissing his breastbone.
Mark’s cock gradually thickened again, until it nudged Ellen’s hip.
She widened her eyes in mock surprise. “Whatever could that be?” She glanced down, then back at his face with a teasing look. “Goodness gracious, quite impatient.”
Mark thought of the years and years of celibacy, primarily because of his own stupidity.You have no idea.He kissed her nose. “Missed you dreadfully.”
Ellen’s eyes glinted with mischief as her hand snaked down his abdomen and then took him firmly in hand. “Let’s see what we can do about that.”
Mark closed his eyes as she stroked him. And although passion built in his blood, he couldn’t remember ever feeling more content in both heart and mind.
In the morning,Mark woke first. They’d turned in the night, after their third lovemaking, which had been more dream than reality, conducted half-asleep. He opened his eyes and smiled as he looked at her sleeping face. She seemed so much better rested and calmer than the night before. He was just glad to give her what she needed.
He brought a finger to her cheek and stroked it, to revel in the silky feel of her skin.
Ellen’s eyes drifted open and she smiled at him. Her sleepy happiness made his stomach flutter. “Mmmm.” She closed her eyes again and snuggled closer.
Mark let her stick one bare leg between his and the other curled over his hip. He brought an arm around her and hugged her close. “Last night was everything I ever dreamed it would be,” he whispered.
She froze in his arms. Then she jerked back and stared at him, eyes wide with horror. “What have I done?” Her hand covered her open mouth.
Pain whipped Mark’s heart.I thought…“We joined in love.” He tried to keep his voice neutral. “You asked me to love you.”
Ellen scrambled away from him as if he had the plague. She got to her knees, shaking her head in a panic. “No, no no. What have I done? What have we done?”
Mark fought back a feeling of betrayal as he watched her destroy everything that had been beautiful and precious between them. “I don’t understand.” His voice came cold and hard, like a captain’s. “I only did as you requested.”
Ellen put her face in her hands. Her hair, which Mark had so ardently admired in the glow of the fire, bunched around her shoulders as she wailed.
Hurt, Mark slowly rose to a sitting position. “What did I do wrong?”
“I can’t believe I was so foolish.”
“Pardon me,” he said with great formality. He arranged the sheets to cover his naked lap. “I was under the impression you wanted what happened last night.”
She looked up at him, face wet with tears. “I can’t have another baby!”
A tendril of anger twisted through Mark. “That’s what this is all about? You regret having sex with me because you might’ve conceived?”
“We should’ve done it with a sheath!” Ellen’s harsh tone felt like a slap. “Or a sponge. Why didn’t you stop me? YouknowI don’t want to conceive again.”
“You are a grown woman, Ellen.” Mark’s frustration grew. “You asked me repeatedly. What am I supposed to do, protect you from yourself? That’s patronizing, isn’t it?” He shook his head, grabbing his hair with both hands. “What do you want from me, Ellen?” He raised an anguished face to her. “I don’t understand.”
“I want a contraceptive.” Ellen’s tone fell flat, but terror shone in her eyes.
“Isn’t it too late for that?” Mark thought of his mother’s last letter, all but begging for grandchildren. The obstacle to carrying out his family’s legacy suddenly looked surmountable. They could’ve made a child last night.