Always Dakota - Debbie Macomber [40]
The wine helped relax him, but the tension returned as soon as Margaret mentioned bed. Matt had never experienced problems performing sexually, but with Margaret, his doubts were rampant. His biggest fear was that she’d guess his true feelings and hate him. He had other fears, too. The fact that she was a virgin intimidated him. Any pain he caused her would undoubtedly be followed by plenty of angst—and regret. The mere thought of what might happen was enough to drive away any hint of desire.
“Matt,” Margaret whispered, studying him.
He finished the last of his wine and looked up at her.
“I might not be beautiful—”
“It’s not that,” he said, wanting her to know she wasn’t the problem. “You’re an attractive woman. Your eyes are lovely. Your hair…” He let his words drift into silence. His hesitation was due to his own failings, which, at the moment, seemed too many to count.
He toyed with the idea of suggesting they put off the wedding night, but couldn’t come up with a plausible reason. If she didn’t love him so much, Matt thought he could have found a viable excuse, could have invented one. It was out of the question, though, and he firmed his resolve. He would make love to his wife. He was destined to be a disappointment to her in the future, but he was going to give her a wedding night she wouldn’t soon forget.
She steered him into the bedroom, then reached over and turned out the light. Matt drew her into his arms and kissed her fully, expecting—he wasn’t sure what, but certainly not this strong surge of passion. Her mouth was soft and moist and pliant, her eager response innocent and sweet. What had intimidated him earlier excited him now.
“Margaret,” he groaned, shocked at the quick passion she’d created within him. His fingers worked at unfastening the many buttons of her dress. That was a difficult enough task with only the light from a bedside lamp, but nervous as he was, Matt faltered, all thumbs.
“Here,” she breathed and whirled around, flipping her hair out of the way. “I told Maddy this dress would be impossible.”
Matt chuckled and patiently unbuttoned the dress. Driven by desire, he slipped his hands inside the bodice and cupped her breasts. He was pleasantly surprised to find her lush and full. A sigh escaped him, echoed by a soft groan from her.
“Margaret…Margaret.”
“Oh, Matt, this feels so good,” she whispered. “I didn’t know it would be like this.”
He closed his eyes, astonished by the intensity of what he was experiencing.
“You make me feel so beautiful.” She turned to face him, the dim light revealing the shape of her features, the perfection of her skin, the brilliance of her eyes.
“You are,” he whispered, and she was. It stunned him that he’d ever viewed her as plain, because it simply wasn’t so. Her eyes glowing with love, she brought her palms to his cheeks. Rather than trying to understand the curious mix of emotions that swirled inside him, Matt kissed her. Soon they were devoid of clothes. He pressed her down onto the bed, his engorged penis throbbing.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he whispered, his voice husky with need.
“That would be impossible.”
“But, Margaret…”
“Love me, Matt, just love me.”
He brought her satisfaction with his hands and his mouth, reveling in her shudders and cries. Then he poised himself above her, his arms and legs trembling at the knowledge of what he was about to do. Apparently unwilling to wait any longer, Margaret slid her arms around his neck. He murmured, “Not yet,” and reached for a condom in his wallet, which he’d tossed onto the bedside table.
As he slipped on the condom, she lifted her head just high enough for their mouths to meet. Urging him with soft sighs, she opened her body to him, giving herself