Free Stephen’s Bride by Callie Hutton Page A

core exploded and waves of pleasure as she had never in her life known before washed over her, she could feel the ripples in her core, feel a flush rise from that spot over her entire body.
    “That’s it, baby, let go. Enjoy it.” His murmured words in her ear were almost lost in the sounds of her breathing, the moans that escaped her as she pressed hard against his hand, feeling the last of the ripples leave her body. She floated slowly down from wherever it was he’d brought her.
    Slowly dragging her eyes open, she meet his piercing blue ones, darker now, a slight smile on his lips as he smoothed the damp hair from her forehead. “Welcome back, love.”
    She licked her dry lips. “That was . . .”
    “Yes.” He leaned down and kissed her gently, at the same time, nudging her legs apart with his knee and shifting his body so her legs were spread and his hips nestled between them. “I’ll go as easy as I can.” He placed his hardened male flesh against her opening and moved his hips slightly.
    She felt him enter her, then slid back out to push in a bit further. She felt stretched, full, a not unpleasant sensation.
    “Are you all right?” He must have been holding himself back because all the muscles of his face were tightened, and he seemed to be gasping for breath. Once more he moved in a little bit further and then stopped. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart, but this can’t be helped.” He shoved his hips forward until he was fully seated.
    A blinding flash of light and sharp pain had her sucking in her breath. “Ouch.”
    Stephen rested his forehead on hers. “It will be better now. I promise. No more pain.” He moved his hips back and then forward. The full contact was quite nice, actually. Soon she felt nothing but enjoyment as he continued his movements. She found if she wrapped her legs around his waist she received a bit more contact with the part of her that felt very good.
    ***
    Stephen tried his best to hold back. He hadn’t been with a woman for months before Calliope came into his life. That he had lived with, but the constant scent, sight, and feel of his wife so close, and yet so far for the last few weeks had taken a toll on his ability to make this last. He’d never had that problem with another woman, but no other woman had affected him like Calliope. He didn’t care to dwell on why that was, only enjoy the feel of her warmth enveloping him.
    After only an embarrassing few minutes, he reached his climax and poured his seed into her. His body stilled and he felt a peace and a sense of belonging he hadn’t experienced in a long while. He gazed down at Calliope’s face and brushed back the damp curls from her forehead.
    His feelings scared him. He didn’t want to feel this connection to her. He wanted to uphold their initial commitment of partners, no emotional ties. He’d had sex before with many women and never felt this bond. Always before it was more of a release of tension, not this overwhelming need to hold her close and never let her go.
    He rolled off her, and laid on his back, his wrist over his forehead. He fought the need to pull her to him, to sleep with her nestled in his arms. But theirs wasn’t that type of marriage. So he leaned over and kissed her on the forehead and linked his fingers with hers. Despite the frightening feelings running through him, he fell fast asleep.
     
    Stephen blinked several times at the sun streaming through the bedroom window, bathing him and Calliope in a wash of sunlight. He lay on his side, with his arm around her waist. She was cuddled next to him, her bottom snug against his groin. His very awake and ready to go groin. As much as he’d like to awaken her with kisses and another round of love making, she was certainly sore from last night, and he still hadn’t come to terms with these new feelings.
    He eased his arm away and sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He glanced at her to see if he’d disturbed her, and met two green eyes