Chapter 21

Chapter 21 Alex woke to something soft and warm pressed up against him, and as he fought to awareness, his foggy brain reminded him he had wed Isobel last night and that the warm object pressed against him was his bride. Alex opened his eyes to see thin golden rays of light pouring through the opening in his curtains; he looked at the clock on the mantle to see it was just before six in the morning. Alex considered going back to sleep, but his banked desire was now flaring to life and he was as hard as a board, he looked to see Isobel rolled on her side away from him her bright copper fire hair spilling over the pillow next to him like a banner. It was amazingly lovely and he itched to run his fingers through it. Last night when he’d freed her of her pins, it had been as soft and smooth as silk, and he imagined wrapping his hands in it as he made love to her. Alex looked down to see the exposed column of her neck and that her nightgown and slipped low exposing one creamy shoulder, they both looked utterly delicious and temptation got the best of him and he leaned forward to place a soft kiss on her neck, Isobel made a soft mewing sound in response and emboldened Alex kissed her again inhaling the mixed scents or rose, lavender and the sunshine fresh scent that was all Isobel. Isobel was having the most wonderful naughty dream. She had married Alex in a beautiful gown, and then he had swept her into his arms and began kissing her all over, making her insides feel oddly tight and tingly at the same time. Isobel rolled over and bumped into something warm and hard and in an instant, she remembered it hadn’t been a dream she and Alex had wed the night before and she was in his bed. Isobel felt something warm and soft press against her neck and realized Alex was kissing her. She opened her eyes to see him smiling down at her. “Good morning, wife,” Alex murmured. “Good morning, husband,” Isobel replied, the words felt strange yet good to say, and Alex’s smile broadened. “What time is it?” “It’s early, it’s just six,” Alex replied. “Oh, that is late for me I am usually helping in the bakery by now. I was having the most wonderful dream, we were wed and you were kissing me,” Isobel confessed. “It sounds like a good dream but we are wed and I was kissing you,” Alex replied. Isobel made a contented sigh and held up her hand to look at her rings; she was still wearing the silver rose quartz promise ring Alex had given her along with her sapphire engagement ring. “I need to buy you a proper wedding ring and you can retire this poor thing.” Alex tapped the silver rose promise ring. “No, it’s mine and I wear it proudly, this was given to me by Alex the flower seller whom I fell in love with. And this was given to me by Alexander Magnus the Prince; I love both rings and shall proudly wear them both for they were given to me with love. If you wish you can give me another ring and I shall wear it on my other hand.” Isobel replied. “And both Alexe’s love you madly.” Alex leaned forward to capture Isobel’s lips with his, he’d meant to make it a light and playful kiss but when Isobel opened her mouth to twine her tongue with his all his good intentions fled. Alex slid his hand up to cup her breast as her fingers slid into his hair holding him in place as they deepened the kiss pouring all the newfound love and desire they had for each other into it. When Isobel felt she could no longer breathe she broke the kiss and Alex began kissing her neck just above the pulse point making her squirm as ripples of desire flooded her. Alex placed slow kisses down her neck and then along her exposed shoulder feeling Isobel buck and squirm beneath him, emboldened by her response he slowly began undoing the buttons on her night gown, and when she didn’t protest he opened it wide to allow him access to the delightful expanse of creamy skin, lightly dusted with freckles below her neck. When Isobel mewed happily in response and tightened her hands about his shoulders he continued kissing lower as he slowly uncovered Isobel’s breasts. Alex paused for a heartbeat to savior the sight, Isobel had utterly beautiful breasts they were round and plump, a good handful with delightful light pink nipples that begged for his attention. “You are beautiful,” Alex murmured before he placed slow kisses on the swell of her left breast a heartbeat before he took her nipple into his mouth. Isobel was about to reply when she felt Alex’s mouth closed over her nipple and all speech fled, her momentary embarrassment was replaced by a strange tightening sensation low between her legs and the odd feeling that she wanted him to continue, her objection came out as a soft mew instead. “Let us rid you of this shall we.” Alex tossed back the covers and then straddling Isobel grabbed the bottom of her modest nightgown and dragged it up and then off her before tossing it to the foot of the bed. Isobel gasped in shock and moved to cover herself but Alex caught her arms and held them above her head as he leisurely examined Isobel’s body. “Alex, let go.” Isobel hissed trying to free herself and earning only a wicked smile from Alex. “Why we are wed and you are magnificent, who would have thought that under all those plain gowns and ugly aprons was the body of a siren.” Alex released Isobel sitting back on his heels to savior Isobel’s beautiful body spread out before him, while short she was trim and curvy with high plump breasts and a tiny waist over flaring hips, there was a tiny patch of copper curls at her apex, her stomach was flat and taught with a small belly button that begged his attention, continuing his slow perusal Alex saw toned legs that spoke of lots of walking. Isobel covered her breasts for a moment then something in the way Alex was looking at her made her drop her arms and gave him a timid smile. “I please you then?” “More than pleased you are lovely as a forest nymph,” Alex replied feeling himself grow painfully hard. “I am cold will you warm me?” Isobel held out her arms and Alex covered her with his huge body as his mouth claimed hers in a searing kiss. Alex braced himself on his right arm so he could use his left hand to gently stroke Isobel’s soft skin delighting in the soft feel of her and the little mewing sounds she made as he caressed her. After a moment he broke the kiss to once again kiss his way down Isobel’s neck to her shoulder, feeling her buck and wiggle beneath him. “Do you like this?” Alex murmured pausing momentarily to look at Isobel who nodded. “If you do not tell me and I will stop.” “Oh no, it is good,” Isobel replied as heat seemed to spiral through her. Alex was stirring such feelings in her, heat and want and a hunger for something she didn’t understand. “I’m glad.” Alex committed what Isobel liked to memory before kissing and licking his way down her body making her gasp and squirm beneath him, he paused to lick her belly button making her gasp and squeal before moving lower to kiss her at the apex of her thigh. Isobel felt like she was on fire one moment and the next she was jittery and nervous and all the while there was a tight feeling of want between her legs. Alex slipped his hand lower coming to rest between her legs, he paused to allow her to get used to it while he kissed back up her body, then he slowly pressed the heel of his hand against her center, and pleasure shot through Isobel making her buck and press against his hand. Alex smiled at Isobel’s innocent response and gently teased her nether lips part before easing a finger inside her. Isobel cried out as pleasure crashed over her like a wave leaving her breathless and light-headed, after a moment she opened her eyes to see Alex smiling down at her. “I did not know making love could feel so wonderful, no wonder the Bakers have so many children,” Isobel murmured. “We have only just begun, we can stop now or I can make you mine the choice is yours, Isobel, I had wanted more time till we wed, more time to court you. Tell me what you want.” Alex said. “No I want to be yours; I have learned that life is often unfair and short I do not want to waste these precious moments. All I ask is that you do not get me with child yet.” “That promise I can easily keep, while I too want children I want time to be with you, are you sure, I understand that the first time can be painful?” Alex asked. “You forgot I am a healer and a midwife I know what to expect.” Isobel boldly replied though in truth she was nervous. Alex seemed to sense her fear and kissed her softly on the mouth. “Close your eyes I will make it good for you, if I do something I don’t like tell me all right.” “Yes, will you kiss me again?” Isobel asked closing her eyes and putting her trust in Alex. “Gladly.” Alex captured Isobel’s lips with his pouring all his desire into the kiss, when he could breathe no longer he broke the kiss and began kissing and nibbling down her body. Alex had never wanted a woman more than he wanted Isobel at this moment but he wanted her first time to be good, he wanted to bring her pleasure and not just pain. Alex worked his way down Isobel’s body kissing and stroking her till she was thrashing on the bed beneath him and making soft whimpering sounds. Alex slid his hand lower easing it between her legs and felt her buck and press against his palm in obvious want; she was as ready as she would ever be. Alex sat back on his heels again to quickly divest himself of his loose pants and throwing them covered Isobel’s body with his, he used his knee to nudge her legs wide apart and positioned himself at her entrance. Alex gave Isobel a heartbeat to register what was happening and then thrust forward hard burying himself in her tight wet body, he felt a moment’s resistance, and then he was fully seated inside her and causing Isobel to cry out in pain. What Alex had been doing had felt amazing and then he’d pushed inside her and the wonderful feelings had been replaced by a sharp pain that caused her to cry out. Alex stilled bracing himself above Isobel as he felt like a monster hearing her soft cry of pain and seeing the tears leak from her eyes. “Forgive me it couldn’t be helped, tell me when the pain is less.” Isobel shifted her hips beneath Alex and moved her legs and after a moment the pain eased from a sharp bite to a dull ache. “Tis better now.” “Good.” Alex began to thrust slowly watching Isobel’s face, when the pain seemed to ease he began to increase his pace. After a few heartbeats the pain changed to a dull burn and Isobel experimentally shifted position and the burn was replaced by a hint of pleasure, still experimenting Isobel wrapped her legs around Alex’s and the pleasure increased and soon the pain was forgotten replaced by a building sense of want and the desire for something more. The pleasure increased, and Isobel dug her fingers into Alex’s strong biceps as she felt like she was being lifted on a wave of want and pleasure then the wave broke over her and the most intense pleasure she’d ever felt filled her and she cried out. Alex felt Isobel’s small fingers dig into his arms a heartbeat before she cried out and tightened about him, with great effort he pulled from her body a moment before his own release and spilled across her stomach before rolling onto the bed beside her, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Alex pressed his head against Isobel’s as love filled him for his lovely new wife, wife what a pleasant and amazing thought. “I’m sorry I tried to be gentle,” Alex murmured brushing hair back from Isobel’s flushed face. “It’s all right it only hurt for a moment and then it felt wonderful, can we do that again?” Isobel hesitantly asked and saw Alex grin. “Aye as often as we like, now don’t move I will get something to clean you.” Alex kissed Isobel on the cheek then slipped from the bed; he paused for a moment to grab his discarded pants before dashing to the washroom hearing Isobel laugh as he went. Alex turned on the tap and a moment later water spilled into the porcelain basin, he grabbed a washcloth from the neat stack on the nearby shelf and wetted it in the cool water, and used it to cleanse himself wincing at the spots of blood he saw. Alex vowed to make Isobel’s next time better and dragged on his pants so he wouldn’t shock his new bride too much and then rinsed the cloth clean before shutting off the water. Isobel heard the sound of running water as she looked up at the sun-dappled ceiling and took stock of her body which was both sore and languid at the same time, she was now no longer a maiden but a woman and a wife. A moment later the bathing room door opened and Alex stepped out dressed in his pants again, making her both relieved and disappointed. Alex was the finest example of a naked man she had ever seen his body was all chiseled and hard like a statue and lightly covered with black hair but it was still an unexpected site that had shocked her sensibilities. “Hold still while I wash you, it might be a bit cold.” Alex knelt on the bed to clean Isobel’s thighs of specks of blood and then whipped her stomach clean before throwing it into the basket of dirty clothes in the corner of the room. Alex crawled back into the bed dragging the blankets over both of them before slipping his arm about Isobel. “I love you, now close your eyes and rest in a little bit we will wash up and go for breakfast but rest first.” “I love you too,” Isobel replied. “That is good for you are now mine from this day to eternity and I can be very angry at those that take what belongs to me or harms what is mine, I promise to love you and protect you always Isobel, now rest and after breakfast, we shall talk and make plans,” Alex murmured slipping an arm about Isobel. “I like that, but as long as I have you and a garden I shall be content,” Isobel replied as she closed her eyes and let Alex’s warmth and presence ease her back to sleep.