She needed him so much, needed to know that she meant something to him, even if for only this night. The lonely months fell away, and she ached to join with him.

He lowered his mouth to her breast, his tongue swirling upon her tight nipple. Another rush of wetness dampened between her thighs.

With trembling hands, she unbuttoned his trousers, freeing his erection. Unable to resist, she took him in her fist, stroking the smoothness of the length, the rounded head.

The expression on his face was of a man caught unaware. His eyes were closed, and he sucked in a breath when she dragged her hand in a gentle friction along his length.

“I touched you like this, before. Do you remember?”

He shook his head, groaning when her thumb caressed the wetness coating the tip of him. His mouth crashed down upon hers, a wicked kiss that made her body shiver.

He trapped her wrists, guiding her backwards on to the bed. She laid down upon the soft sheets, needing him. He dipped his fingers into her depths, caressing her in a rhythm that made her grip the sheets.

“You are my wife,” he whispered. “And you’re mine.”

A hot fist of desire caught up inside her, and when he stroked her velvet depths, her breath shattered. Blowing a light wisp of air against her body, his mouth moved lower, lower still, while his hands invaded and withdrew.

His kiss edged up the inside of her thighs, tantalizingly close to her center. “I want to taste you.”

Before she could protest, his tongue licked her intimately, sliding partway inside her. She arched her back, shaking with unfulfilled need. “Stephen—”

But she could no longer speak when his tongue worked against her, pushing her closer to the edge. Her hands gripped his hair, her legs wide open until the madness swept over her, rocking her hips with waves of pleasure.

She felt the tip of his length hovering at her entrance. Then he slid partway into her folds, using his body to tease her. Her breath spasmed as he entered and withdrew, letting her moisture coat his length.

The look of fierce concentration on his face made her aware of his own aching needs.

“Come to me,” she pleaded.

There was a moment’s hesitation, before he sank inside her completely. He held her bottom, easing himself back and then filling her again. The rhythm of his penetration caught hold until her body moved against his.

She had been so innocent, so unknowing on their wedding night, and yet he’d made love to her until her body was sore the next morning. Sweet heaven above, how she’d missed him.

Stephen forced her legs to wrap around his waist, deepening the strokes. He kissed her breasts, sucking her nipples hard as he buried himself inside her.