Chapter 22
CHAPTER 22
“ A nd then the orange went crashing into the table and knocked over the plants.” Nora’s giggle bounced off the wall.
Charles, who was sitting across from Sarah looked at his sister with interest. How could he possibly sit there looking so comfortable while she sat in her chair practically on fire?
She had spent the day trying to focus on anything other than what was going to happen tonight, but she failed every single time. Even when William declared he could juggle anything and picked up three oranges which led him to tripping over a bucket sending oranges everywhere.
She still thought of Charles.
Even when her and Nora walked around smelling the exotic plants she had never heard of or seen before, her thoughts were on Charles.
And here he was, hanging on his sister’s every word like he’s not about to change Sarah’s life forever.
She grimaced. If he’s going to act like he hasn’t a care in the world, then so shall she. She’s in control of herself, right?
Sarah nodded to herself and sat up in her chair.
“It was quite the sight, poor William.” She chuckled. “I do wish you would have been able to join us Charles. William said you are well versed in the origins of the plants and flowers in there. Other than the orange trees and some other fruit trees there was a lot I have never seen before.”
She speared a potato on her fork and breathed out. See? She can hold a normal conversation just like him.
Charles dipped his head. “My apologies, my darling. As you know I have a busy night ahead of me and I wanted to make sure I was prepared.”
Sarah’s fork hovered in front of her open mouth. All sense left her body at the word “darling,” and by the smirk on his face, he knew it.
She slowly put the potato in her mouth and reminded herself how to chew.
And for the love of God, don’t choke.
Nora wrinkled her nose. “What business do you have late at night?”
The potato bobbed in Sarah’s throat causing her to cough.
Charles rose an eye brow at Sarah’s misfortune. “Are you all right?”
Sarah took a healthy sip of water. “Yes.” She cleared her throat. “I’m fine. Just swallowed it the wrong way.”
“Hmm. We may have to work on that.” Charles said with a devilish grin.
Sarah’s eyes widened. She didn’t know why, but the way he said that inferred something indecent and her mouth went dry. She took another pull of water.
Charles turned his attention back to his sister. “Just some business I had put off since the wedding. It’s time I get back to work and do my due diligence by the duchy.”
How was he able to say those coded words with such coolness? To his sister, he sounded like any Duke getting back to taking care of his duchy after focusing on his new marriage.
But to Sarah, he was talking about the last rule of their marriage. Consummation and an heir.
Her head swam with the innuendoes and casualness of his words. She shifted in her chair as she concentrated on putting a piece of meat onto her fork. She felt like a child moving ever so slowly with calculated movements to be able to poke the meat through with her fork.
After her second shaky attempt, she put the fork down and folded her hands in her lap.
“Are you sure you’re all right, Sarah? You haven’t touched your meat.” Once again, that cheeky grin appeared on his face. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to kiss it or slap it off of him.
How was he so collected when she was ready to jump up and run away? She bit her bottom lip. Or perhaps she wanted to jump up and run to him?
Sarah took a deep, cleansing breath and looked at her husband. He was sitting across from her, his dark hair fell to just above his collar while his emerald eyes danced with mischief. He sat comfortably in his chair, leaning back, his long legs stretched out that she knew if she were to extend her leg she most likely would hit one of his.
She leveled a look at her husband. “The meat is fine. I’m just worn out from the busy day we had. Perhaps I shall retire so you can get to your work.” She challenged.
He seemed to consider her words. “Perhaps you should.” He looked down at his plate then up to his sister. “I think I am done as well. I should get to work, there is lots to do.”
Nora sat, her eyes bouncing between the both of them. “You both barely touched your dinners. I thought we were celebrating your marriage?”
Charles smirked. “We will need to continue the celebration later.”
Sarah’s knees almost buckled as she stood.
Nora turned to her. “All right. If you say so. I hope you both have a good night’s rest.”
Sarah quickly turned to walk out the door. She needed to remove herself before she ended up embarrassing herself in front of Nora.
She heard Charles mumble something to his sister as she exited the room and made her way to the steps.
A large hand grabbed around her waist and halted her on the last step.
“Where do you think you’re going?” His lips grazing her ear.
She wanted to squeal in delight, but she tampered it down. She looked over her shoulder and faked a yawn. “I told you, Your Grace. I’m awfully tired.”
His eyes darkened. “Are you telling me you didn’t do what I told you to do?”
She turned in his arms, wrapping her own around his neck. On this step she was almost looking directly into his eyes. Almost.
“And what if I am?” She challenged.
A devilish grin spread across his face as he let out a little growl that caused Sarah to yelp and run down the hallway.
She could hear his heavy footsteps following behind her. Just as her hand landed on her room’s handle her body was snatched up and the world turned upside down.
“You’re fast, but I’m faster.” Charles said with a smack on her bottom.
He crossed the hall and opened the door to his room. He kicked the door close with his foot before tossing her onto the bed.
“Now. About that last rule of mine.”
Whatever he did in a past life time to get this woman to be his wife he was eternally grateful for. Never in a million years did he think he would find someone who saw past his size and particular tastes and stuck around.
He was sure after their first foray into the intimate side of their marriage she would have begged to run back to her family.
But not Sarah. She met him at every turn, wanting to learn more, needing to know more about what her body could do. It was not only refreshing to see a woman be curious about pleasure, but it was intoxicating. The more responsive her body was to his choices, the more he wanted to play.
Currently, she was looking up at him from his bed. Her legs spread wide, her hair falling out of the perfectly positioned pins, her face flush with excitement. Instinct was roaring inside of him to finally take her.
But his discipline had other plans.
He licked his lips. “As you know, we are at ten days.”
Sarah sat up onto her knees and leaned forward.
My God, she is crawling to me.
Charles had never seen a more beautiful sight. He tried to control his racing heart as he shook his head in disbelief. Where was this vixen his entire life? She had the etiquette and polite upbringing that was expected of her station but this salacious side of her called to his baser instincts.
He loosened his cravat with shaky hands. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment to clear his head. He was usually the one causing shaking hands, not the other way around.
“Charles?” Sarah purred.
He opened his eyes to see her kneeling in front of him, her delicate hands on his cravat. She rose up onto her knees as she pulled him down. Her mouth covered his and she pushed her tongue in between his lips.
Her body was fire in his arms. His large hands expanded her back, which is exactly what he wanted. He wanted to consume this woman, be the only one she feels. He wanted her to feel him everywhere. She did not exist without him.
Her moans made his hardening length painful. He needed to be inside of her and soon.
He pulled away from the kiss, leaving them both panting. “I see you’re ready for this.”
She shook her head as she looked up at him. She reached down to her belt and took it off. She turned around on the bed and her slender arms gathered her hair to hold it off of her neck. She looked over her shoulder at him and nodded.
His fingers pulled at each button down her back, his control unraveled with each undone button. His mouth ran dry as the falling material of her dress revealed more of her milky white skin. He let his finger trail down her spine and his body hummed at her quivering response.
Once the dress was completely unbuttoned he helped her out of it. He rolled down her stockings and removed her slippers, letting them hit the floor next to the bed.
She turned on the bed and sat, completely naked in front of him. She wasn’t trying to hide her body this time. She looked confident, ready and it couldn’t be more of a turn on for him.
He took off his shirt and watched her eyes drink him in. He reached down to his trousers and pulled them off, shucking his boots along with them.
Charles stood to his full height in front of her, gripping his painfully hard cock in his hand.
Her eyes widened as her tongue darted out to swipe her bottom lip.
“I’ve lost track of all the wrongs you’ve committed these past few days, darling.”
Sarah tilted her head, her blonde hair catching the moonlight. She stuck out her bottom lip. “Really? I don’t think I was anything less than the perfect, obedient wife.”
Charles hissed as his hand gripped his cock tighter. He clucked his tongue. “And now we’re lying? That does not sound like an obedient wife.”
Her giggle reached through his chest and grabbed a hold of his heart. What was this woman doing to him? If he wasn’t careful he would end up giving away more than he bargained for.
Sarah breathing shuttered as she looked up at her husband. Her eyes were focused on his hand that was slowly gliding up and down his length. The outside world seemed to disappear around her. There were no voices in her head, no worries consuming her mind, no mysteries to solve. Here, in this moment, it was only him and her.
A familiar feeling had settled deep within her. Her body relaxed against his bed as it dipped under his weight as he climbed over her.
“I won’t promise to go gentle, Sarah.” His voice rumbled.
“I’m not scared.” Her voice was steady and even. She didn’t know whether to be more proud of the fact that she sounded ready or that she truly was ready. She wanted this, she needed this. But more importantly, she needed him. She needed this one last connection to make her his, unequivocally. There would be no denying her now.
They would be one, forever, and ever, amen.
Her heart swelled at the thought. She belonged here, she could feel it deep in her bones. She looked up into his hungry eyes and knew that on some level he knew it, too. He would just take more convincing.
She smiled to herself.
“What are you smiling at?” He asked.
Sarah shook her head. “Nothing. Everything. You, me, us. I’m ready.”
Charles nodded. “Let me be the judge of that.”
He shifted his weight so his body laid next to hers. He reached below and cupped her sex. “Mmm, I love how responsive you are to me. So very wet.”
Charles licked his lips then began to leave hot open-mouthed kisses down her body. He ended his journey at the apex between her thighs.
She pushed her pelvis towards him. She knew what she wanted and where she wanted him.
He tsked. “Such a greedy girl, aren’t we?”
Sarah whimpered in distress. Her legs clenched around him, hoping to bring the friction she so desperately needed.
“Please, Charles. I need you. Please touch me.” She pleaded.
Charles’s mouth hummed against her causing her back to arch in pleasure. “I like it when you beg.”
His tongue darted out and licked her center pulling moan from her lips. He began to swirl, flick and lick until her legs were shaking against his head.
“It’s too much.” She tried scooting away but he clamped his arms down on her weak legs.
“I thought I told you before, I’m here to take care of you. Now relax and let me do my job.” His words came out in between little tugs and swirls of his tongue.
Her hips began to move in the rhythm of pleasure against his mouth.
“There’s my girl.” He whispered against her. “Let your body go. I want you ready for me.”
“Charles.” She panted. “Charles.” His name was the only conscious thought she had. It was her lifeline carrying her through the waves of euphoria her body was traveling on.
“Yes, Charles, more!”
His tongue began to move back and forth faster over her center. Her hips were rising and falling against him. She was almost there.
She reached down between her legs and positioned his head just so, and she felt the tension sky rocket within her. With one final flick he sent her over her edge with a scream of his name.
Her legs flopped to either side of him as he sat on his haunches and looked at his work.
“You look quite proud of yourself.” Even her voice sounded weak and spent.
Charles beamed. “I am. But I’m just getting started. Now for the really fun part.”
Sarah’s body tensed for a moment when she realized what was about to happen. But as soon as her eyes landed on his, her body relaxed.
She knew it would hurt, was told it would, but there was something about Charles that made her believe that no matter what, he truly meant it when he said he would take care of her.
He positioned himself in between her legs as he balanced on his forearms on either side of her head.
“Eyes on me, darling.” He demanded.
Her eyes locked in on his as he plunged into her.
She yelped and grabbed a hold of him.
“Relax, love. That was the hardest part.”
His arms began to shake around her.
“You can lay on top of me if your arms hurt.” She offered.
Charles looked confused, before he let a smile free. “I take offense to your insinuating I have weak arms. I’m shaking because I usually don’t go slow, but I have this need not to cause you too much pain.”
He looked confused at his own admission.
Sarah reached up and took his head in her hands. “I thought I told you I’m made of sturdier stuff. Don’t handle me with kid gloves, Charles. Make me yours the only way you know how.”
Charles’s eyes flashed with intensity that had Sarah second guessing her words. But as soon as his hips began to move the pain started to dissipate.
With each thrust she felt the energy begin to gather and build deep within her core.
His eyes were still focused on her as he raised himself up to a kneeling position, never once letting his thrusting stop. He placed her legs onto his shoulders as his hips pushed harder.
With this position he was hitting a spot Sarah never knew existed. She cried out, but not from pain, but in ecstasy.
“Yes, Sarah. Scream my name.”
“Charles!” His name tumbled from her lips as her hands gripped the duvet beneath them.
Sweat began to form across her brow. Her heart was racing, trying to keep up with the speed at which he was launching her towards her finale. She reached above her and placed one hand on the headboard, locking her in between it and her husband. The pushback caused both of them to moan in pleasure.
“You take me so well, darling.” He whispered between thrusts.
Sarah preened under his praise. She wanted to please him, no, she needed to please him.
He took a hold of her legs and held them out, spreading her wider.
Sarah cried out as her pleasure was nearing her peak. Once again her body and mind began moving in sync. The chanting of his name matching the movement of her hips against his.
Charles’s words turned into moans and grunts as his face tightened. “So… close… Sarah.”
“Yes, Charles!” She tightened around him. Her eyes fluttered shut just as stars burst behind her eye lids.
She heard one final grunt and felt one more thrust before a significant weight fell on top of her.
Her eyes popped open and her arms came up to encircle his back. She intended to tell him he was too much but as her body came back down from the inexplicable high she found she actually liked his weight on top of her.
She felt safe underneath him.
His body was slick with sweat and still, she didn’t ask him to move.
After a few moments, he rolled off of her and took her chin in his hand.
“Are you all right?”
Sarah shook her head. “Perfect.” She sighed.
He pulled a blanket that was at the foot of the bed and covered them with it. He gathered her into his arms, her head rested on chest.
They laid there as their breathing returned to normal. Sarah couldn’t remember a time when she felt more content in her life. She looked up and found Charles was already looking at her.
She made a face and hesitated.
“What?” He asked.
She rolled her lips. “It’s just, again, it didn’t feel like a punishment.”
His eyes widened as his arms went for her sides to tickle her. She yelped at the attack and their laughter filled the room.
Yes. She definitely felt like she finally found where she belonged and it was with him.