power over a man before. The first time, I’d been so overwhelmed by the demands of my own body and of his, I’d let him guide me to pleasure. I hadn’t questioned his control. Now he gave me this gift, the power to do what I wished.

I heard the sound like a mix between a chuckle and a low groan deep in his throat when I moved my body over him. The sound urged me to do more. I lifted up, using his shoulders as support and then sank down, opening my legs wide to take as much of him into me as I could.

He kissed me, moaned softly, murmured endearments, “Oh so beautiful, oh my dearest love.” He nuzzled my breasts and I lowered my head to kiss him. I tried moving on him, shifting my body from side to side and he cried out, took my nipple in his mouth and sucked hard. Everything stopped, only this existed. When I froze, unable to do any more he pressed me close, lifted me to sink back down, slid his fingers between us and touched me in a place which made me explode. I held on tight, crying his name, my body racked by convulsions of ecstasy.

He waited until I opened my eyes again. His slow, loving smile touched my soul, and I whispered to him, “God, how I needed this.”

“Sweet love. I need you as much as I need the air around us. Let me show you how much.” He slid his arms around me, and lowered me on to the bed, moving on top of me without leaving my body. His movements were slow, smooth, making me feel every nuance, every touch, every kiss, going on forever. Time disappeared, life went away until there was only this time, such was the intensity of physical pleasure, the expression of love. When his movements quickened and his thrusts deepened, I cried his name and lifted my legs to pull him close, hearing his gasp. I thought he might have found his release then, but he continued to move, slowing to a languorous loving that reached to the deepest part of me. I didn’t know how he held back his own climax. “I will not…” His teeth gritted and he pushed deeply. “You will come again, sweetheart, before I do. I want you trembling in my arms, helpless, as I’ve felt these past weeks.”

It went on forever. I smiled into his blazing blue eyes, hiding nothing, letting him see everything.

His rhythmic movements brought a dreamy awareness of slow growth, but he smiled into my eyes. “Are you tired, my love? Shall we stop now?”

“No, no. Never stop, never!”

He laughed, the sound free of anything but delight, and I laughed too to hear him. He obeyed me, and let his body tell him what to do. His movements became ever more urgent, more demanding until with a wordless cry he stiffened and he shut his eyes tight. I felt a slight movement, as though he would withdraw, so I pulled him closer, letting him push hard inside me. He crowned his ecstasy in a series of shivers.

He sank down beside me on the bed. Our legs entwined, we lay together for a long time, still and overwhelmed.

I would have drifted off to a contented sleep, but I was brought back to our version of reality when he sat up, reached for the quilt we’d kicked aside and pulled it over us. It was only just April, and the house wasn’t heated, though I couldn’t say I’d noticed before. His movements roused me, and when I opened my eyes, I saw him propped up on one elbow, watching me with such warmth in his face it took my breath away. “You’re an extraordinary woman.”

I smiled up at him. “I’ve never thought of myself like that before.”

“Few could have done some of the things you’ve just accomplished.” He rested his free hand on my stomach. “You’re supple, wanton, open and you have an inventive quality I can’t wait to explore at some—considerable length. If I didn’t love you already, I would still count myself lucky to have found you.”

It sounded as though he was describing someone else. “I’m so glad I make you happy.” I didn’t think I’d done anything special, but unlike him, I had nothing to compare it to.

He lowered his head and kissed me long and sweetly, but then returned to his previous pose, leaning on one elbow, looking down at me. “You’ve made me promise something I might find hard, but I mean to keep.” I quirked an eyebrow at him. “To keep no secrets.” Normally I wouldn’t need a reminder. “Will you promise me something in return?”

“Anything.”

He laughed at my instant response. “Truly? I might keep you to that. But for now, will you promise me you will never keep me from your bed? May we spend every possible night together?”

“That’s easy.” I reached up to touch his face. “I promise.” He turned his head to kiss my palm. When he moved back, I saw the small curls of his close-cropped fair hair brightened into gold by the sun streaming through the windows behind him.

I was struck by a thought, and I felt relaxed enough to share it with him. “But you won’t want me in a few months time, if I’m with child. I’ll be fat and ugly.”

It was one of my private fears, that while I grew large with his children he would revert to his previous ways, driven by his needs, and while I knew I had all his love, I couldn’t bear to think of him like this with anyone else. A provincial attitude I know, but that’s what I was at heart—a provincial. To share him