A Season for Love (Completed)

Chapter 22. 1814

By midnight that same evening, the reception was finished, and everyone had retired to their carriages to take them home. The guests had enjoyed themselves immensely, laughing and eating, drinking and chatting. Dance after dance had been done by every couple in the room. The estate was now quiet, except for the servants cleaning up after the wedding.

James and Olivia had told William and Eliza they could stay for the night, but the Duchess of Norfolk's brother and his new fiancé declined, not wanting to intrude on the couples wedding night. They did state they would come in a week to visit. After tight hugs and kisses were exchanged, William and Eliza stepped out of Norfolk Manor and climbed into their carriage to depart for home.

Stepping through the threshold and into their chamber, Olivia suddenly felt nervous. Yes, she and James had made love, quite beautifully, the night before. But that had been before their nuptials. Now, it was the first evening as husband and wife, and she had no idea how different or how similar the experience would feel. She swallowed hard, fiddling with the skirts of her gown. She heard James close the door softly behind them, and turned her head to look at him.

James was beginning to remove his jacket, making short work of the buttons. Placing his jacket onto one of the chairs by the dressing table, he moved towards her, taking her hands gently. "I know how you're feeling my love, I am a bit nervous as well. I believe tonight, and every night there after, is going to be much different than the previous night."

Olivia. "In a good way?"

James smiled, brushing his fingertips across her cheek. "Oh yes, always in a good way."

Their lips came together, their tongues swirling as they kissed. Their fingers moved carefully over buttons and strings, and within minutes, their clothing was removed. But they didn't climb into bed right away as they had done the night before. Instead, they stepped back to admire each other, their silhouettes illuminated by the two dozen candles fire light and fairy lights sparkling around them in the room. There was also a trio of crystal vases filled with water and pale pink roses. Each vase was placed on a different surface of the room.

James felt his body respond instantly as his eyes moved across his wife's delicious body. He outlined each perfect curve, his eyes growing darker with each glimpse of her skin. He knew her body well enough from the night before to know what she liked and what she didn't like. He felt his length twitch, and then throb. Good God his wife was an angel. And she was all his.

Olivia was feeling the exact same emotions as her husband. Her eyes became dark with desire as they traveled down his delicious body, outlining each muscle as if she had seen it for the first time. She felt her most intimate place beginning to burn with need, felt her nipples turn into a pair of dusky pink peaks. Her husband was radiant. And he was all hers.

James. "You are absolutely beautiful my love."

Olivia. "You are just as beautiful my darling."

They moved towards each other then, their eyes dark with desperation and passion. Their arms intertwined around one another as their lips came crashing for a hungry kiss. Despite the fire that was blazing between them, their movements were slow, sensual and perfect. They moved to the bed, lying down on the dark red velvet  coverlet. Their lips and fingers cradled and stroked every inch of skin that was exposed.

Olivia opened herself eagerly for her husband, feeling the tip of his length tease her entrance. She gasped with pleasure, her eyes going wide as sensation exploded through her. This gentleman knew exactly how to please  her.

James smiled deviously, his lips coming down sweetly on hers. "I had a feeling my lovely little duchess  would enjoy that."

Olivia moved her fingertips through his chestnut curls. "Oh yes, I certainly did your grace."

James smiled, running his fingers through her blonde curls. "I'm glad."

No more words needed to be spoken as their lips and bodies came together. Their arms and legs intertwined as a frenzy of passion consumed them. Their hips moved slowly together, not once picking up speed. At least not in the beginning. As the fire continued, their  movements became faster, more erratic and desperate. They gave one another pleasure, each one giving and then taking. All through this exchange, their lips never left one another's skin, or one another's lips for that matter.

After what seemed like a glorious eternity, James collapsed on top of Olivia, then quickly moved so that he wasn't crushing her. Still nestled deep inside her, he brought his wife against his chest and held her tightly. His heart was pounding frantically in his chest, and he felt hers beating just as frantically. At last, he was a man possessed by love.

Olivia snuggled against him, her eyes closed as her arms intertwined around his waist. Her heart was pounding just as quickly as his was, and she felt at peace. Finally, she was a woman pleasured by love. She was never going to be hurt again.

James brought her lips to his for a sweet kiss. "How are you feeling? I don't mean just tonight.  I mean from this entire day, all of last night."

Olivia smiled, kissing him back. "I feel wonderful. And you?"

James. "I fail as you do, absolutely wonderful."

Smiling, their lips came together once again, and they became plunged into yet another session of sweet ecstasy.