Free Lonesome Bride by Megan Hart

had heated him to boiling, and she wasn't going to take the kettle off until they both were singing hallelujah.
    "Jed,” Caite began uncertainly.
    In response, Jed quickly unbuttoned his pants. That little bit of room was all his throbbing organ needed. Instantly, it sprang into Caite's hand. At first, she seemed to shrink away, so Jed clasped his fingers over her own and held them in place.
    "See what you've done to me?” he whispered hoarsely.
    She nodded, wide-eyed. She allowed her hand to close over him of her own accord. The pressure caused his rod to jump in her grip. Jed closed his eyes and buried his face in the lilac-scented lengths of her hair.
    His hands still cupped her buttocks. Now, he moved her closer to his body, so her roundly curved belly pressed against him. Between her hand still grasping him and the torturous delight of her body pressing against him, he thought he might very well lose control.
    "Move your hand,” he ordered. Caite did as he ordered, sliding her hand up and down the length of him hesitantly. When he bucked against her, she seemed to take confidence, and began to stroke him more firmly.
    Have mercy ... she was teasing him deliberately! Although he had not had time to sample all her sweet delights, Jed could hold back no longer. With a low growl, he rolled on top of her and managed to slide his trousers down to mid-thigh all in one smooth motion. He silenced her gasp of surprise with a searing, lip-bruising kiss that stifled any protests she may have been making. He pulled her fingers from between his thighs and pinned both her hands above her head.
    Bracing himself on his arms, Jed pushed apart Caite's legs with one knee. For a brief moment he hovered atop her, letting the tip of him slide against the moisture welling from her folds. She was ready for him, just as he had thought. With a sharp movement, he thrust himself into her hot opening to the hilt.
    The pleasure at being engulfed in her heat was so intense he almost did not notice the slight resistance as he entered her. What he could not ignore, however, was Caite's wrenching scream. Horrified, Jed pulled out of the woman beneath him and stared at her.
    "You're a virgin!"
    * * * *
    "Of course I'm a virgin,” Caite managed to say through kiss-swollen lips.
    "But I thought ... I mean..."
    "Is it your practice to go about deflowering maidens so brutally?” Caite sobbed. She had known first-time lovemaking could be uncomfortable for a woman, perhaps even painful. She had not imagined the sheer bolt of agony that had ripped through her most intimate of parts when Jed filled her.
    Now the initial shock was wearing off, however, and she was becoming angry. And embarrassed. And angry because she was embarrassed. She had screamed like a silly nilly!
    "Caitleen, I never would've touched you if I'd known you were a virgin,” Jed said miserably. He still was half-covering her, although he supported himself on his arms.
    "You truly thought I was a strumpet.” The knowledge hurt her more than his brutal entry had. “You believed I was a common whore, sent out west to gain a husband the only way I could."
    "Oh, Caite.” He seemed flabbergasted.
    Fat, hot tears filled her eyes and slid down her cheeks. This was not like she had imagined at all. His kisses had filled her with such longings, and touching him had made her lower belly jump. Her thighs still quivered, and she could feel a warm trickle that must be blood. Now everything was ruined. Jed would probably yell at her again, and she would not, could not bear it! She would scream again, she would...
    "Caite, I'm sorry."
    Caite looked at Jed, surprised. He seemed truly contrite. Perhaps he was not angry with her after all.
    "I'm sorry for taking away from you the one special thing a woman has to offer her husband,” Jed said. “Your first time should never have been like this."
    Caite glared at him. The one special thing, indeed! “I shall have you know I offer many special things to my