Free Hannah Howell by A Taste of Fire

dim slightly as her innocence was somewhat painfully ended. But she was soon surprised at how little it mattered, the feel of their bodies joined as one sending her passions soaring again.
    Royal was stunned into immobility, unable to believe that she was untouched, yet unable to deny it. “Antonie,” he rasped, uncertain about what to do, yet knowing it would be impossible to leave her now.
    "Ah, querido," she whispered, placing her hands on his hips and urging him to move. "Por favor, mi vida. Por favor."
    She cried out with pure delight when he began to move. She wrapped her arms and legs around him tightly as she caught his rhythm, her lithe body falling into perfect time with his.
    Their cries mingled as they crested passion's heights. Royal drove deeply inside her to find his release even as her inner shudders had barely begun. He held her close to him as they trembled and shook with pleasure. It was quite a while before he could make his sated body move and his desire-fogged mind recall what he had just discovered.
    “You were a virgin.” He glanced at himself and winced, for even the dim light could not hide the signs of her innocence staining his body.
    "Sí," she replied calmly as she sat up. “Do not all women start that way?"
    He frowned as he watched her go to the stream to wash herself, easing the slight discomfort he had caused her. After a moment, he, too, went to wash off. Then, taking her by the hand, he led her back to their rough bed and sat down, drawing her down beside him. He felt uncertain and did not like it.
    “Why didn't you tell me you'd never had a lover?"
    “Would it have mattered?” She moved so that she faced him and reached out to tangle her fingers in the light hair on his chest.
    Looking at her, his eyes and body delighting in the way her thick hair draped over her body in a futile attempt at modesty, he rasped, “No, I don't think so.” When she trailed her hand down the thin line of hair that led to his groin, he muttered, “I would have been more gentle."
    “I have no complaints, querido." She gently caressed him low on his belly, then moved her hands over his thighs.
    “Are you sore?” He reached out to push her hair back over her shoulders, exposing her lovely breasts to his eager gaze.
    "De nada," she purred and gently stroked his manhood, finding that not only his eyes were hungry for her.
    “I saw you kissing Oro,” he said thickly, clenching her shoulders as he fought to stay sane enough to speak coherently.
    “We were seeing if it was only that I wanted a man, any man.” She watched his eyelids droop and his breath grow uneven as she boldly continued her intimate play. “There was no fire. It could be made, but that was not what I hungered for."
    “And this is what you hungered for?” he groaned as he moved his hands over her breasts.
    "Sí. This is what I craved. I decided it was worth the cost. And now that you have had me?"
    “I will have you again,” he answered as he pushed her onto her back and slowly eased into her.
    “What a good idea. Ah, that feels so good. Magnifico," she sighed, smoothing her hands over his lean body with undisguised enjoyment.
    “Yes, it does feel good,” he murmured as he brushed his lips over hers. “Better than I could have ever imagined."
    When he kissed her, he began to move slowly. She was soon swept away again, lost deeply in her passion. There was no fighting such a fire, and she knew there would be few regrets. Something told her that this was destined and destiny could not be avoided.
    Afterwards they fell into a sated sleep, Antonie wrapped securely in his arms. She woke from that pleasant and much needed rest alert and tense, and wondered why. Then she heard the mutter of voices and the soft sound of horses approaching at a slow walk. Nudging Royal awake, she grabbed for her clothes. Although not as quickly as her, Royal was soon as alert and they made for the cover of the trees even as they dressed.
    “Raoul's