play.

“And now, let's see if you're really better.” Christopher slid a finger deep into his wife's body. Her back arched as he penetrated her. Very nice. She likes that, but can she handle a little stretching? He pulled out and returned, with two fingers this time, and he could see from the faint clenching of her teeth that it did sting a bit; after all, he'd breeched her maidenhead earlier that day. But then she relaxed, arching into it, liking the pleasure more than she feared the discomfort. Satisfied

she would be able to take him in when the time came, he returned his attention to

loving her, working his fingers in and out to prepare her while he licked and suckled.

“Christopher?” she called out in a voice that had a hint of a wail to it.

“Love?”

“It's happening again.” She squirmed, shifting her hips, and he understood what she meant.

“It will be good again. Let it happen,” he urged, glad her moment of panic had passed.

Katerina tossed her head on the pillow, seemingly aching for release, and he

worked diligently to get her there. She hovered on the edge, so he spread his fingers and sucked hard, and she orgasmed with a sweet cry. She arched her back, completely undone and unashamed at her response. And then he slid his fingers out.

She lay panting as he bent her knees, positioning them widely apart. He

aligned himself, feeding the tip inside her again. He didn't want to risk reopening

the wounds on her back by rubbing her body on the sheets, so he slid one arm

under her shoulder blade to keep her stationary as he pressed slowly into her. If I do this correctly, there should be no pain.

Katerina closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She still felt very tight, and

his entry must have stung a bit, but she accepted it. He paused for a moment to

let her catch her breath and then slid to the hilt inside her. She made a soft sound.

“Is that all right, love?” he asked, stilling his motion again.

“Yes. What an odd sensation.” Katerina rocked her hips to one side and then

the other.

“You'll adjust.” He worked his other arm under her, pinning her completely

so she lay captive to his passion. She shifted, instinctively wrapping her legs around his thighs.

He met her eyes, startled. Then he lowered his mouth to hers for a long kiss

while he began to thrust inside her. The friction of his movement seemed to please her. She whimpered and sighed each time he surged deep. She met each

inward glide with a sideways shiver. The movements added spice to her enticing

heat and wetness. Her flesh fluttered around him, ratcheting his pleasure to greater heights until at last he moaned and emptied himself inside her.

“Was that good?” she asked him as his climax faded.

He had to take a moment to catch his breath. “I think… I'm going to like being married. What about you?”

“I'm starting to think there might be reason to hope.”

“Good. I'm so very glad you like to be touched.” He slid out of her, rolling to

his side and pulling her into his arms. “Let's sleep, love. It's been a long day, and we have much to do tomorrow too.”

“Yes,” she agreed, snuggling into his embrace. “Our wedding day is over.

Our marriage is beginning.”

“It is.” He kissed her lips.

A few blocks away, Adrian Bennett stretched out in bed beside his wife and took

her in his arms, stroking the fiery silk of her hair. “Julia?”

“Yes, my darling?”

“Why did you do this?” he asked, his face wreathed with concern.

“Do what?” she replied, feigning innocence.

Her attempt did not fool her husband. “You know what. You orchestrated the

whole thing. Why was Christopher supposed to marry that woman?”

“She needed it,” Julia replied simply.

He raised one eyebrow. “And what about him? She's a ruin. How is this

going to be good for him?”

Julia thought about her words carefully. “She's not a ruin, at least I don't think so. She's hurt, to be sure, but I think there's hope. I mean, I've been her friend for the last year. I know she was very shy tonight, but it was probably because you were there. When she's comfortable, she's quite charming and

sweet. There's a real woman there, under the pain. Once she heals a bit, they'll be

quite good together. If I didn't think so, I wouldn't have done this. Besides, Christopher has always been a little… self-centered. He knows how handsome he is, how easily women fall into his arms. It will be good for him to focus on

someone else's needs.”

“What?” he asked, concern hardening to a pointed, narrow-eyed stare.