Epilogue #3
He took his hand and found the soft spot between her legs and began to caress her, slow and steady.
She instantly bucked her hips up without meaning to, wrapping her arms around his neck.
He removed his hand from inside of her and set them back down on either side of the tub.
She nodded her head, and he resumed touching her, slipping a finger inside of her as he began kissing her neck once more.
His other hand cupped her backside and pulled her close.
“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this,” he growled as he increased his pace. “I had to wait for you to recover, and then as we got close to our wedding night, I knew I had to make this perfect for my perfect bride.”
“Oh, Frederick,” she cried out as her eyes grew teary from the pressure and the love and the want and the need. “I cannot wait a moment longer. I need to feel you. I want you to fill me.”
“Your wish is my command,” he said as he lifted her out of the tub. He quickly grabbed a warm towel and wrapped it around her. “To bed then.”
He set her down reverently and lowered himself on top of her. He paused for a moment, then grabbed himself and rubbed his hardness up and down the tender part of her. She bucked her hips once more, and he growled loudly.
“You tempt me, my sweet. Have it your way,” he said as he gently guided himself into her. “Relax, I’ve got you,” he continued, and she did.
He was still guiding himself into her, and Anna wondered if she would be able to take all of him when suddenly she felt his body against her.
It was perfect.
She had never felt so full, so content, so ready for what lay ahead. He began to thrust at a slow, steady rhythm, hitting her deep in a place she did not know resided in her own body.
“This. Is. Everything.” He growled as he picked up the pace. “I am trying not to rush this, but you are exquisite.”
“This is more than I could have dreamed of,” she moaned as she wrapped her legs around him and pulled him tighter into her.
He lifted his head and began to suckle her breasts, alternating between them as he continued to thrust into her. He took his right hand and began to massage the needy nub that sent her over the edge.
“How do you know just what to do to me?” She cried out as she began to see stars behind her eyes.
“Because I have spent every night dreaming of this. Dreaming of you. I think of nothing else. Don’t you know that?” He cried out as he continued thrusting inside of her. “Are you ready, my sweet?”
“Yes,” she cried out.
“I can feel how ready you are,” he said into her ear, and she felt his hot release inside of her. “This is just the beginning.”
The bed was wide, and the linen was cool against their bodies, and Anna lay with her head on Frederick’s shoulder.
He was overcome with the thought of a woman of his dreams, whose body had been thoroughly and attentively attended to. He decided then that this was his true life’s purpose. He had one hand twirling in her hair and was staring at the ceiling, still trying to catch his breath.
“Well,” Anna said.
“Indeed,” Frederick said.
A pause.
“I have been,” Frederick said, carefully, “considerably mistaken about a number of things.”
“Which things in particular?”
“The things I thought I did not want.” He looked down at her. “I was so very wrong about those.”
“I know,” Anna said, with the serenity of a woman who had always known. “You were very stubborn about it.”
“I was,” he agreed, without defensiveness. He was quiet for a moment. “I intend to make up for lost time. At considerable length. Beginning, I think, in the morning.”
“I think,” Anna said, “that can be arranged.”
She looked like she was about to say something more when they both heard it. A small, precise scratch at the door, repeated at intervals, patient and determined. Frederick looked at the door. Then at Anna. Then at the door again.
“I latched it,” he said.
“You did,” Anna agreed.
The scratching continued, unhurried, with the confidence of a creature who has never once in his life been denied entry anywhere. At least not for very long. Frederick got up and opened the door.
Percy walked in as though he had allowed them some time, which was a considerable courtesy. He crossed the room with his tail held high, examined the bed, and leapt up onto the coverlet at their feet. He circled once, twice, and then curled into himself and began to purr. Loud, steady, unhurried.
“It seems we are all happy,” Anna said as Frederick climbed back into bed.
She was already smiling. He looked at the cat at their feet, and at his wife beside him, and at the room full of contentment. He settled back against the pillow. Anna curled against his side. Percy purred on.
“He is a good cat,” Anna said quietly.
“Mm,” Frederick said as his eyes grew heavy.
Outside, London carried on with its oblivious noise. Inside, the candles burned low one by one, and Percy purred.
And so, the Duke of Rathbourne lay in the dark with his wife and thought of nothing… and wanted for nothing.
The End?