pleasant place between the two states when she heard the creaking of the door. She wondered if she was dreaming it until the light from a candle seeped through her eyelids and the bed dipped with the weight of another.
She opened her eyes to see Nathaniel sitting beside her. She could see his face only vaguely in the candlelight but he looked grim and determined.
"I have been ordered to bed you," Nathaniel said. The words stung. Why did her husband need a father's command to make their marriage legal and binding? Surely, he could not find her so ugly that the prospect of mating her appalled him.
Sophronia sat up to look into his eyes. They were stony and cold. She gulped and tried to push the feeling of fear down her throat.
"Should I undress?" Sophronia asked. She remembered nothing of her first time. Had she and Eldon been naked or had their body parts joined around and under the clothing they wore.
"That seems fitting," Nathaniel said.
Feelings of shame and self consciousness made her fingers tremble but she dutifully pulled the night gown over her head and then discarded her shift, drawers, stockings, and garters onto the floor. She was glad that the candle was all the light there was in the room. It made her feel less self conscious. Surely, he could not see her well in the darkness. The light shimmered around him but it was difficult for her eyes to see the finer details of his body. She thought that was probably for the best. The idea of seeing a man fully naked filled her with nerves.
"Bloody hell," Nathaniel whispered and turned his face to the wall. She wanted to cover up her body with the blankets from the bed and block his sight of her. She turned from him and took a deep breath. It was one night. She had to get through this one night. If she did, he likely would leave her alone if his look of disgust was any indication.
Nathaniel's body was being traitorous. As soon as she had thrown her gown to the floor and his wolf eyes had caught sight of her bare flesh his cock had turned to a rock and his balls had tightened. He could feel the tension in his belly as his desire overrode his good sense.
He should mount her, fill her with seed, and be done with it. He knew that. He also knew he had absolutely no intention of such a bedding. He knew his brother. Likely his brother had bedded her as a stumbling drunk barely able to keep his cock stiff. Nathaniel intended to show her what a real mating was. He was going to put her memories of Eldon to shame and then he would not touch her again. She might long for him and even beg for him but he would ignore her pleas for pleasure.
He took a step towards her and grabbed her firmly around the waist and pulled her against his chest. He could smell the fear and anticipation oozing from her skin. It gave her a stink that made his wolf hungry.
He brought his lips to her neck in a movement that startled her enough to jerk in his arms. He held her firmly as he deepened the kiss on her neck until he was sure she would be bruised from it in the morning. As he had hoped, the chit was a fool for such a move and she began to moan softly and push her body against his. When he tasted blood from the depths of his kiss he finally pulled his mouth away and came around to her front. He sat down on the side of the bed and pulled her between his legs. He started a trail of gentle kisses from the bottom of her earlobe and moved his mouth slowly lower until he was on her nipple. He sucked it into his mouth making her gasp.
Her breasts were large and firm. Likely due to the babe she was carrying. He tried to ignore her round belly as he suckled her nipple. He alternated sucking and running his tongue in a circle around the hard nub as she arched her back against his arms which held her in place. He could sense the musty smell of desire from between her legs getting stronger as he continued his attentions.
He moved from the left breast to the right and noticed a sweetness when his lips