The invitation sent a thrill through her. Amelia let her hands explore the contours of his torso, tracing the definition of his muscles, learning the feel of his skin beneath her touch. When her fingers brushed across his nipple, he inhaled sharply, his own hands tightening on her waist.
Bolder now, she leaned forward to press her lips to his collarbone, tasting the salt of his skin. His response was immediate, a low groan as his head tilted back, giving her better access.
“Your turn,” he murmured after a moment, his hands finding the straps of her nightgown. He paused, seeking permission with his eyes.
Amelia nodded, and he slowly slid both straps down her arms. The nightgown slid down her body before it pooled at her feet, leaving her in nothing but simple lace panties.
Niko’s sharp intake of breath was gratifying. His eyes traveled over her body with unmistakable appreciation. “You are even more beautiful than I imagined,” he said hoarsely.
She should have felt exposed, vulnerable, but instead, she felt powerful under his heated gaze. “You’ve imagined this?” she asked.
“Of course,” he admitted. “Though reality far exceeds any fantasy.”
His honesty touched her deeply. “Show me,” she whispered.
His hands cradled her face as he kissed her again, slower this time, deeper. Then they were moving, his mouth tracing a path down her throat to the curve of her breast. When his lips closed around her nipple, Amelia gasped, her fingers threading through his hair to hold him closer.
Niko took his time, lavishing attention on her breasts until she was trembling, soft sounds escaping her throat. His hands skimmed down her sides, over her hips, drawing her against him so she could feel his arousal through the thin silk of his pajamas.
“Bed,” she managed, tugging him toward it.
He followed willingly, pausing only to shed his own remaining clothing before joining her on the mattress. Amelia’s eyes widened slightly at the sight of him fully naked, all lean muscle and evident desire… How?
“We’ll go slowly,” he promised, seeming to read her momentary hesitation.
He kept his word, taking his time as he explored her body with hands and mouth, building her pleasure gradually. When his fingers slipped beneath the lace of her panties, finding her already wet for him, he ran his fingers through her folds before removing his hand from her panties.
“May I?” he asked, hooking his fingers in the waistband.
At her nod, he drew them down her legs, leaving her completely bare before him. For a moment, he simply looked at her, reverence clear in his expression.
“So pretty,” he murmured, before lowering his head to press a kiss to the inside of her thigh.
Amelia’s breath caught as he moved higher, his intentions clear. When his mouth found her center, her back arched off the bed, a startled cry escaping her lips. Niko’s hands held her hips steady as he tasted her, his tongue working her until she clutched at the sheets.
The pleasure built rapidly, coiling tighter with each skilled stroke of his tongue. Just when she thought she couldn’t bear anymore, he slid a finger inside her, curling it to hit a spot that made her see stars.
“Niko,” she gasped, her release washing over her in waves as he continued his gentle ministrations, drawing out her pleasure until she collapsed back against the pillows, breathless and trembling.
He moved up her body, dropping kisses along the way until he reached her mouth. The taste of herself on his lips was oddly intimate, intensifying the connection she felt building between them.
“Is it always like that?” she asked.
“Not for everyone, but it’s just the beginning,” he promised, settling beside her. His hand traced lazy patterns on her stomach, gradually moving lower again. “If you’re ready for more.”
“I am,” she said, finding her courage again. “But first…”
Amelia surprised them both by pushing him onto his back, straddling his thighs. His hands came to rest on her hips, his eyes dark with desire as he looked up at her.
“Show me what you like,” she said, her hands resting uncertainly on his chest.
“Touch me,” he encouraged. “However feels right.”
She explored his body with curious fingers, learning what made his breath catch, what drew those deep groans from his throat. When her hand finally wrapped around his length, his reaction was instant, his head pressing back into the pillows, a curse escaping his lips.
“Like this?” she asked, stroking experimentally.
“Just like that,” he managed, his hands tightening on her hips. “But if you continue, this will be over far too quickly.”
Before she could respond, he had flipped their positions, caging her beneath him. His expression was intense, focused. “Are you sure about this, Amelia? We can stop here.”
“I don’t want to stop,” she said, reaching up to touch his face. “I want this. I want you.”
He leaned down to kiss her deeply, then reached for the nightstand drawer. “We could use protection,” he explained. “Unless you’d prefer not to?”
The question was loaded with meaning; protection meant no immediate chance for the heir everyone expected. But it also meant choice, freedom from that pressure for tonight at least.
“Yes,” she said. “Protection. For now.” Even if it was only for a month or so.
Something like relief flickered across his face as he retrieved a condom, quickly sheathing himself. Then he was positioning himself between her thighs, the blunt head of his length pressing against her entrance.
“Tell me if it’s too much,” he murmured, slowly pushing forward.
Amelia gasped at the stretch, the fullness unlike anything she’d experienced. Niko paused, giving her body time to adjust, his eyes never leaving her face.
“Okay?” he asked, tension evident in every line of his body.
He began to move, setting a gentle rhythm that gradually built in intensity as her body welcomed him more fully. The initial discomfort faded, replaced by waves of pleasure that built with each thrust.
Niko’s control was evident in the way he held back, his movements measured despite the fire in his eyes. One hand slipped between them, finding the sensitive bundle of nerves that sent sparks shooting through her veins.
she couldn’t place where she was then memory flooded back. The wedding. Their conversation. What had followed.

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