Careful to remain perfectly still and not push farther inside her, he stroked a hand through her hair and then caressed her cheek.
“Ah hell, honey, why didn’t you tell me?” he asked gently.
“I w-wasn’t t-thinking,” she stammered out. “I swear, Donovan. I was so caught up in the moment that it didn’t even occur to me to tell you. I mean, I thought of it earlier, but I was nervous and didn’t know how to tell you. I was afraid you wouldn’t want me if you knew, but I swear I was going to tell you. And then I got so caught up. I wanted you so much. I wanted you to make love to me. I wasn’t trying to deceive you. I promise! You have to believe me.”
Her anxiety made Donovan go soft in every part of his body except the part of him that was still penetrating her, though he was extremely careful not to cause her more discomfort. He rushed to reassure her, not wanting her to take any blame for what had happened, for the way it had happened. He’d been just as caught up as her. And the fear in her eyes was undoing him. He couldn’t let her think for another second that he was in any way angry with her. God, angry? How could he be when she’d just given him something immeasurably precious?
He gently hushed her with his lips, tenderly kissing her, absorbing the moment, the knowledge that he was her first lover. He was overwhelmed. Never had he placed a huge importance on virginity. He wasn’t that much of a caveman, and he’d never been with a virgin. Never considered how humbling an experience it was for a woman to trust her first time to him. That he was Eve’s first staggered him. He felt many things, indescribable, but anger? Never that.
“I’m not angry with you, Eve. Quite the opposite. I’m overwhelmed by the gift you’ve given me. First your trust and now your virginity. I only wish I’d known so I could have made it better for you. I would die before causing you an ounce of pain. I would have gone slower. I would have been more gentle. I would have kissed and touched and held you all night. I would have made it perfect for you.”
She reached for him, framing his face in her small hands, her touch like velvet against his skin. He nuzzled into her palm, regret seeping to his very soul.
“Don’t you know, Donovan? It is perfect. You made it perfect. Are making it perfect,” she corrected with a gentle smile. “It will never be more perfect than with you. The first time is supposed to hurt. But it wasn’t bad. It surprised me more than it hurt. Like I said, I was so caught up and you made me feel so good that when it happened, it startled me because I wasn’t expecting it. I wasn’t thinking that I’m a virgin and this will hurt. All I was thinking was that if I didn’t have you inside me I was going to die.”
“Darling Eve. So very generous and sweet.”
He kissed her again, unable to resist the temptation of her passion-swollen lips. He drew away, his breaths coming in ragged spurts. He was throbbing inside her. It was taking all of the control he possessed not to thrust into her again, to lose himself in her satin heat.
“I could have made it better,” he gently corrected. “It might have hurt, but I could have made it hurt less by not taking you so hard with that first thrust. I was overwhelmed and I wanted you so desperately. But I can make it better from here on out. And I will, Eve. Trust me to make it right.”
“I do trust you,” she whispered. “Please don’t stop. Don’t let this ruin tonight for us. I want you. Need you. It doesn’t hurt anymore, Donovan. Please don’t stop.”
He let out a tortured groan. “I’m not stopping, honey. I don’t think that’s possible. But I’m going to take it nice and slow and work you back up again. Okay?”
She stirred restlessly underneath him and he clenched his teeth together, his jaw going achingly tight as he fought his release.
“I’m with you, Donovan,” she said softly. “I’m okay. Really.”