Henrick

All day, thoughts of Ria had filled Henrick's mind. If he was not wallowing in guilt over his past interactions with his wife, he was wondering about her and contemplating how he could best make up to her. There had been truth to Hana's words - Ria'd done nothing wrong, yet he'd cast her outward. And Henrick was a man of principle - he needed to wrong his doings and start fresh. Treat her properly as she deserved because if anyone deserved a good life, more than anything, it was her. Being gentle with her neither came as a chore for there was something about her, doe-eyed and innocent that brought out one's instinct to protect and Henrick found himself reverting to a natural state of gentleness around her that he'd never known existed in him. It was not his usual, natural state of being - anyone who knew him would say so, only it was natural with Ria.

Henrick's growing curiosity and interest in his wife had developed his desire to unravel the layers that shrouded Ria in mystery. She'd given him little during conversation, despite his prompts, the walls guarding her erected too high. Henrick'd thought a simple explanation of his past actions might help turn over a new leaf, but his reasons had only sounded like excuses, even to his own ears. Resigned, the only way he could think to bridge their gap, was to physically close the space between them, as if by forcing physical proximity, he could somehow force Ria to open up, to divulge all her secrets so she was no longer an unfathomable puzzle.

Henrick had neither been able to resist the temptation that was Ria. When she'd appeared before him all soft and demure for dinner, desire had ignited within him, warming him from the insides. He'd watched, enraptured by the sight of her demure presence, taking forkfuls of food, her petite lips caressing the fork with each bite. The rosy hue that adorned her cheeks had taunted him, beckoning his touch throughout the evening. Her allure was far too compelling and every fibre in his being had been urged to close the distance between them, to draw Ria close and touch her, hold her tiny, delicate form that pleaded for tenderness. Unable to resist, he'd kissed her and all thoughts had escaped him. Resisting no longer became an option - not that he wanted to resist. He'd wholly and completely succumbed to the temptation that was Ria.

Laying Ria on the bed, Henrick divested his shirt while Ria lay below, staring at him with wide, hooded eyes that only fuelled his desire. A gasp feathered past her lips as he climbed over, bracketing her with his arms. Mesmerised, Henrick trailed a thumb across an apple of her cheek. Across her brows that were a shade darker than her hair. Down the straight bridge of her nose, the cute little button on the tip, before finding himself, once more, drawn to the rosiness of her cheeks. He admired the beauty of the colour then captured her lips again, taking them between his teeth and nibbling.

"Nngh," Ria whimpered, placing a small hand to his shoulder.

A soft smile graced his lips as he withdrew slightly to steal a glance at her. Her gaze was timid yet captivating, delicate lashes fluttering across her eyes like the wings of a hesitant butterfly. As if realising she'd touched bare skin, her hand instinctively recoiled. The sudden longing for her touch compelled him to gently grasp her wrist and guide her hand to his chest.

"Touch me," he said, "Don't be afraid to touch me."

She swallowed, then averted her gaze. Henrick clenched his teeth, held still as her palm pressed against him, searing him with delicious warmth. Ria's hands were tiny, but by God they made him burn. Henrick buried his face in her neck and breathed. Damn, she smelt edible, like flowers and baking. He nibbled on her neck, receiving a surprised little gasp. He knew he'd leave marks and the thought only made him nibble more. Yes, he wanted to mark this woman his. She was his wife.

Henrick squeezed a hand behind Ria's back and began tugging at the ribbons.

"What... What are you doing?" she asked, hands finding purchase on his shoulders, a feeble attempt to brace herself. Indeed, she ought to brace herself, for he had a reserve of energy stored from the night, remnants of the night's restrained fervour.

He pulled back. "Helping you out of your dress."

Her eyes widened. "Wh - why?"

Henrick stilled. Surely she was not so clueless to be ignorant of his intentions? But the look in her wide, guileless eyes told him otherwise.

"It's been several months and we've yet to have a proper wedding night," he said.

Something flickered across Aesria's eyes. Understanding? Acceptance, Henrick couldn't tell.

"D - do you have to, um, take my clothes off? I mean, i – is there anyway to do it without doing that?"

Henrick gave a dark chuckle. There was. But he wasn't about to tell her that and take away from the experience of their first night together.

"I've already taken my shirt off, don't you think it's only fair you do the same?"

Ria's lips thinned and he reached for her again, helping her out of her dress. Her shoulders curled inwards, holding herself small, but he wouldn't allow her to hide from him. He took her arms, pinning them beside her head as he admired the pink flush of her skin exposed by her chemise.

"Don't," he said, "Let me admire you."

She blinked profusely and frowned. "Wh – what is there to admire?"

If only she knew. Releasing her arms, Henrick pulled off her chemise and the slow reveal of her naked body nearly undid him. Arms crossed over her chest, covering herself from his perusing eyes. She was still too skinny for his preference but there was something inviting about the way her legs spanned forever from the enticing peak of golden hair. Though she was slim, her waist so tiny he could nearly wrap two hands around them, her hips flared out with curves so sensual, Henrick could not help but stare.

"D - don't stare, please," Ria said.

Henrick's gaze lifted and he admired the delicate flush that'd spread across her face, cascading down her neck and shoulders in a rosy embrace. Ria's eyes scrunched and face turned to the side. Gripping her hands, Henrick gently placed them beside her head, opening her to his hungry gaze that were drawn immediately to her naked breasts. Dusty pink nipples topped perfectly rounded globes of creamy ivory that sent his blood rushing south. As if his cock wasn't already hard enough. Needing a taste, Henrick leaned down and licked the underside of one breast. Fuck.

"L – Lord Hartridge!"

She was delicious, so soft and supple, even better than she looked. A hungry fire surged within him, only satiable by the taste of her. He continued to lick, tasting and supping, teasing around her nipple until it hardened and peaked. Then he swallowed the tip, toying with the distended end against his tongue.

"Oh!" Ria moaned, gripping his shoulder with one hand and covering her mouth with the other, as if ashamed of her own reaction.

He moved to her other breast, enjoying the feel of it hardening beneath his mouth. Ria tossed, gripped the bed sheets beside her as soft, heady pants filled the air. When both her peaks were well lavished and wet with his saliva, he kissed down her torso, tongue dipping into her belly button.

"Wh – what are you doing?" Ria's voice was a breathy whisper.

"What married couples do," he said, unable to keep his voice level.

Henrick leaned down and stole her lips, his movements soft and gentle. He kissed her until the tension bled from her body and Henrick undid his trousers, pulling them off so they both lay bare. Ignoring the pull of her thatch of hair, Henrick pushed apart Ria's thighs and settled a leg between. She stilled. Clutched his shoulder. And he captured her lost gaze with his, trying to ground her, prepare her.

"This may hurt," he said. It would be the last thing she wanted to hear, but he wanted her to know the truth.

Her brows furrowed in worry. "H - how much will it hurt?"

"That depends," he said, palming a hand up the inside of her thigh and pushing it wide.

Ria inhaled and held her breath. "Wh - what're you doing?"

He cupped her mound. Watched Ria's eyes widen and her face burn a brighter shade of red while he rubbed her. "Checking how ready you are."

And when that first bead of moisture greeted his fingers, he slipped a finger between that fissure and pressed her folds apart.

"Oh!"

Henrick pressed deeper, massaging her, spreading her moisture 'til it coated his fingers. He took joy in watching the expression across Ria's face, the way her brows puckered, her eyes glazed and her lips parted on soft pants. Fuck, she was a siren, an angel waiting to be debauched. Gripping his shaft with slickened fingers, Henrick resisted the urge to squeeze. He brought his tip to her folds, rubbing against her a few times in slow succession and trying not to melt against her moist heat. Ria whimpered, gripped his arm as he leaned close, fisting the bed sheets on either side of her head.

Coated with her moisture, Henrick pushed himself into Ria's entrance. A sharp inhale pierced the air. Ria stilled. He studied her, watching carefully as he pushed a little deeper. Grit his teeth against the onslaught of pleasure and took a moment to settle. If he could do it without hurting her, he'd ram her entire sheath in an instant. But this was her first time. So he pulled out a little and made slow and shallow insertions at her entrance, getting her used to the feel of him inside her. Ria whimpered and shifted beneath him.

Henrick stilled. "Okay?"

"Nngh."

The expression on her face read discomfort, but that didn't stop him - he couldn't stop. Not now that he'd had a taste of her. Without taking his eyes off her, Henrick continued to move. Ria's eyes widened and her brows drew together as her body swallowed his shaft. Bit by bit, he pushed a little deeper, inhaled her soft, breathy whimpers. Then one last thrust, and he was fully seated inside her. Henrick saw stars. He couldn't help the deep groan as euphoric pleasure consumed him.

"Ah!" Ria gasped, grasping his shoulders and pushing with the wee strength she had. "I – it hurts."

Henrick glanced down, saw tears in his wife's eyes and bent down to kiss them away. "I'm sorry," he said, "but I can't stop now."

"Y - you said you'd never h - hurt me."

Her words nearly dampened his spirit, except he was so full of elation from being inside her, that nothing could take away from his joy. He kissed her again, rained kisses along her brows and cheeks.

"I'm sorry, that was inevitable, If I pull out now, you'll only hurt more. I promise you, it won't hurt next time."

She pushed him on the shoulder. "N - next time?!"

"You didn't think this was only going to happen once, did it? Besides, your father promised me three heirs."

"Wh - when will this finish?" she pouted and Henrick couldn't stop a chuckle.

"That depends. Does it still hurt?"

She frowned. Contemplated the question before shaking her head. Thank God because he didn't know how much longer he could keep, while buried between his wife's sweet walls. Kissing her cheek, Henrick pulled out slowly, then thrust back inside.

"Oh!"

Fuck that felt good. He did it again, harder and pleasure crippled him, bringing his body close atop hers.

"Ah! L - Lord Hartridge!" Ria moaned.

"Henrick," he groaned, breathing into her neck. "Call me Henrick."

He could barely make out the words as he continued to thrust inside her. Each time he withdrew from her channel, it shrank back to its original tightness, forcing him to push harder to wedge his way through. And then she'd wrap him like a wet glove, squeeze him tighter than anything he'd felt before. The pressure on his shaft was immense and so gratifying. He grit his teeth through the pleasure, trying to hold himself longer. To stop from imploding.

Henrick inhaled Ria's scent, kissing her jaw and neck to distract himself. But still, nothing could stop him, the pleasure too addictive, and his thrusts came harder, quicker. Ria's pants grew more frequent, more frenzied.

"Nnnh! Ahn, ah!" Ria whimpered, her voice a breathy whimper. Drawing back, he glanced at her turned face. The sight of tears leaking down the explosion of red across her face was nearly the end of him. All the blood flew to his groin. Yes, he wanted to make her cry for him.

Did she feel he'd grown bigger? That he'd swollen because of her? She'd made him this hot, this frenzied, and he could no longer help himself. No longer hold back. And just as the thought took place, Ria's body began to shake. Little trembles, tight squeezes. Her back arched. Head fell back. And then she was convulsing. A silent shriek. Then a wild, endless moan. She milked him, squeezing and contracting around the length of his shaft. Henrick's eyes fluttered closed as he forced himself through the contractions. Another push. Another thrust. Again. Then it was all too much and he was spilling himself inside her.