Chapter 41
Charles
I nearly laugh at the confused look on her face but give her very little time to puzzle it out. She’s already sliding deeper into her heat, and I am soon to follow. While I am still coherent, I long to feel my knot swell inside her, locking us together.
Pulling her on top of me, I lie down in the nest and move her legs, positioning her over me until she sits right in front of my cock. It rests along the cleft of her arse, and I groan as it twitches against her skin. How I shall never tire of this.
With a firm grip on her waist, I move her up then lower her down onto my cock, watching with rapt attention as it slowly disappears into her body as she sinks down on me.
From this angle she’s even tighter than when I first took her maidenhead.
Gritting my teeth, I keep a hold of her, making sure I don’t harm her in our coupling.
Each little bit she slides down, she whimpers and reaches for me. Her pupils are fully blown and pitch black. There’s no stopping this now. Slick drips down, coating my shaft and balls until she finally seats herself on top of me.
Her hips move in a frantic, unpracticed way that has my eyes nearly crossing. “That’s it, my little hellion. Ride me. Ride your stallion.”
Her nails score my chest as she takes her pleasure. Watching her move like this, want me with this much ferocity, it’s like a dream come true. My balls clench with need as I let her ride me. Soon, I’ll have to take over.
Reaching between us, I curl my hand into a fist, giving her something to grind on. Her pleasured wails skitter down my spine as she cries out for the whole world to hear. I don’t have to hide it anymore. I don’t have to keep our love a secret.
Again, her release hits her, making her lock down onto my cock. She swivels her hips as a lurid groan drips from her lips. When she finally stills, I grab her by the waist and move her up and down, using her body to meet my need.
Already my knot tingles as it begins to swell.
Just a few more strokes and I’ll join her in bliss.
Drawing her body down on top of mine, I continue to piston in and out, fucking her as my lips trail along her shoulder.
She shudders and whimpers, angling her neck so that I have enough room to nuzzle the soft skin.
Holding her close, I surge in one more time as my knot swells and locks us together. I lap at her shoulder, marking the area I’m about to bite. As I clamp down, my teeth tear through her skin until blood coats my lips and teeth.
Cynthia wails above me as the pain drives through her, but her pussy spasms around me as another release races through, taking off the edge. I purr for her as those threads arc from her heart into mine.
They wrap around me, holding us together. I feel her pain, her pleasure, and her need as if they were my own. Disjointed memories fly through my mind at an alarming rate, and it takes a moment to realize they aren’t mine.
Through her eyes, I see our relationship as it has unfolded all these years. I feel the hurt every time I looked away, every time I touched her then left. They left marks on her soul like brands of cruelty. Brands that I put there.
Dragging myself away, I urge her lips down to my chest, desperate to have her complete the union. Though I don’t have the rut to dull the pain of her marking me, I take it as a small penance for all the agony I’ve put her through.
Her teeth are like daggers going into my skin, and I can’t help but hiss as the discomfort slams into me. I cup her head, keeping her there until she’s done.
The threads wind around each other, doubling until they’re like strong cords that cannot be pulled asunder. I feel her more keenly, as she pulls away and nuzzles against me, seeking comfort in my warmth.
As I hold her, our heartbeats match rhythm. Our breathing becomes one. Two shall become one flesh. Until this moment, I didn’t realize how much.
Holding my precious wife close, I purr until she falls asleep.
Since this is her first heat, I have no idea how long it will be.
She needs to rest while she can. I wrap my arms around her, holding vigil, keeping her safe as she lies there without a care in the world.
All the while, I pour my love into the bond, letting her feel it.
Letting her know exactly how much I care for her.
Sun drifts into the room as dust motes dance in the beams. Next to me, Cynthia snores. The soft sound tugs at my heart as I hold her close, feeling the beat of her heart against me.
With the heat broken, the need for her is not any less dire, but it is less frenetic. I can take my time as I kiss her gently and coax her to release with my expert touch. Her inner walls clench around me as I slide my fingers inside, smiling as she shifts a bit in her sleep.
By the time her release is upon her, she wakes up with a gasp, then a moan as her head falls back against the sheets. Laughing at her confused expression, I drop a kiss on her nose before I slip out of the nest.
“Wait here, my darling wife. I shall be back with food and a bath.” I throw my banyan on before opening the door and walking down the stairs. My butler and housekeeper speak in low tones, but stop when they see me.
“Your Grace,” the butler cries. “How good it is to see you again. Is the duchess well?”
“She is. We require food and a bath. Bring the large tub into the adjoining room and fill it with hot water. We require no servants. I shall attend Her Grace.”
“Very well. It shall be done as you ordered.”
“By the way, how long has it been?” I ask as I squint into the bright light.
“Six days, Your Grace.”
“Six days. And all has been well?”
“As can be, without your guiding hand, Your Grace,” he says with a bow. “The household is still maintained to your liking. All correspondence has been left in your study.”
“Good man.”
“Oh, and Your Grace?”
“Yes?”
“There seems to be a uniform missing from one of the maids. She claims she left it out to dry with the others, and that it’s now gone.”
“That’s odd. And she’s sure she can’t find it?”
“The housekeeper checked as well, Your Grace.”
“Could be something was amiss, and she disposed of it, not wishing to incur your wrath. I’m feeling rather generous. Replace it, but do not take it out of her pay.”
“Very good, Your Grace.”
Reaching out through the bond, I check in on Cynthia. Poor thing has fallen back asleep, but I don’t blame her in the slightest. Taking this bit of free time, I slip into my study and look at the stack. No doubt well-wishers and others wanting to see the duchess now that she’s officially my wife.
I skim through them, smiling at some and groaning at the others. Arlo Mathews, Duke of Dunton, of course, sends his regards. As well as a thank you for the coin he had won. The arse.
The others are mostly matters that I need to schedule. So many obligations. So many balls. I cannot wait until The Season is over and I can just take Cynthia home where it will be the two of us.
As I reach the end of the stack, another stands out in completely the wrong way. Anger clenches my gut as I pull it forward and open it.
Norhaven,
You have left me no choice. If only you were content to see your wife safely with another man. Now that she is with you, your happiness is complete.
The bells toll again, but now it’s for a different reason. Keep your wife close to your side, Norhaven. You never know when I will strike.
No signature. No quip. Nothing like the other letters. If the handwriting hadn’t been identical, I would have been concern that someone else had joined the game. Now, it’s serious. Now, I have no choice but to find and take out this threat.
But who can it be?
Grabbing a handful of sheets, I send out missives to all my friends, telling them to make haste tomorrow in the guise of a wedding breakfast. Their wives are allowed as well, but while they speak of womanly things, I need to show them the latest in the threats.
The bastard has gone too far now. A threat on my wife is a threat to me.