Chapter 19

It was to this bed that they moved now, shy suddenly, even Henry, who was usually so self-assured. Tonight he was going to reap the rewards of his faithfullness, of his selfless devotion to Fanny's happiness, through her intitial indifference and the deepest despair.

Fanny sat on the bed, still in her wedding gown, a simple affair in impeccable white, she hadn't wanted anything more grand for 'just one day', she would wear one of the three London dresses tomorrow, not afraid to outshine Mary, who did have a stunning white gown made.

Despite the simplicity of her look, or maybe because of it, her innocence, her unaffectedness, Henry felt that same need to throw himself at her feet, to worship her, and this time, he did not check himself. With his dark-haired head in her lap, she felt an overwhelming memory of the months they had spent so close together, first in great need and near despair, later in ever growing familiarity and enjoyment, and only then in mutual love.

The proof of his consistent love and selfless devotion to her had recommended him to her heart, until she could no longer think of life without him. Stroking his dark locks, she felt close to crying with the memories and her current happiness. As if he felt her state he looked up, a gaze fraught with the same memories, boundless love and...passion. She felt her heart skip a beat as he slowly moved towards her, still looking his intense love and his growing desire.

There was no fear in her for this night of unknown happenings, she had felt the burning of lust, and she trusted Henry with her life. There was only excitement and anticipation of what was to come. He was sitting next to her now, and he lovingly and very gently removed all the pins and flowers and bows out of her beautifully arranged hair, and carefully put them away on the nightstand. Her hair fell down, for the first time in his presence, and he ran his hands through it with an almost worshipful touch.

His hands were so gentle and so tender, not at all like the capable hands that she had often seen holding the reins of a spirited stallion, or carefully guiding his team through the traffic choked middle of London, passing on his utter confidence to the horses, telling them to trust him unconditionally. And yet, the feeling was the same, his hands told her to give herself up to him, to trust him in everything, and she did. With his hands still in her hair, he kissed her, as passionately and as deeply as he had ever done.

Daring to allow the feeling now, her heat rose quickly, and she was soon gasping with need for him to touch her elsewhere, every part of her body that had been kept a secret from him for so long. He unbuttoned the front of her gown, and it fell open to reveal her corset underneath, and a glimpse of the bare skin of her breasts. He put his face in her bosom and kissed it, inhaling the scent of her newly uncovered skin.

She wanted him to remove the dress, remove the corset, but she also wanted to see his chest revealed, she had touched it intimately several times in London, but she had never seen it, or kissed it, or tasted it. She started on his buttons, and soon had the front of his shirt open, his muscular chest exposed, and she took hold of him and buried her face in the little hairs covering it, smelling his very private scent, and reveling in the memory of it, the ultimate cause of her falling in love with him in their time together, the feeling of safety and excitement it had given her from the first time he held her.

Thoroughly aroused now, Henry helped her out of the dress, and unhooked her corset expertly, a clear sign he was not as inexperienced at this as she was. As her unblemished white skin was revealed, Henry skipped a breath or two, too awed to touch her immediately. She took the opportunity to relieve him of his shirt as well, and soon they were in eachother's arms without a stitch between them, feeling the other's warmth, mingling their smells, forgetting all passion for a moment in this comforting embrace.

After what seemed a long time, Henry laid her down on the bed with reverence, and then finally touched her. He stroked her skin, over her breasts, her ribs, her stomach, and she shivered with feeling. He kissed her throat, and her breasts, then took hold of a nipple with his mouth, and sucked it gently. A shock flashed through her, bringing back the intense heat somewhere between her legs.

He stroked her until he had felt every part of her upper body, and she did not lie back without touching him in return, she found all the places she had felt before, and caressed and stroked them again, sucking his nipples as well, and feeling her passion mount.

They kissed again, and for a moment Henry was possessed by that violent passion again, holding her tightly, kissing her mouth greedily and groping for her breasts, and she was not afraid but thrilled, to finally see the part of him she knew he had but which he had never allowed to surface before her, and to get to know all of him.

But it was not yet to be, for Henry was back in control within seconds, and he excused himself and went back to extreme tenderness.

Checking a tiny feeling of disappointment, knowing she would have plenty of time to get to know this side of her beloved, she enjoyed the smaller caresses first, certain to get the bigger love later. As her body tingled with the unaccustomed caresses, and the feelings they evoked, she put her hand on his trousers. He froze instantly. Feeling it was her right now to explore some unknown territory, all the more so because she had never, ever seen what a man kept in his trousers, whilst Henry certainly knew what a woman's breasts looked like, she pulled him on the bed with her, and pushed herself up to kneel beside him.

This was a surprise to him, he clearly didn't expect to be bossed by his gentle little maiden, and he relished it. He laid back to see what was coming next, still a bit overwhelmed by her sudden touch on his trousers. She touched them again, unbuttoning them and slowly revealing what was underneath. Another pair of trousers, smaller, softer, underwear, of course, why would men not have underwear?

She knew how to remove underwear, and she guessed the trousers would come off as easily, so she took hold of both and slowly, tantilizingly moved them down, seriously curious now what would be revealed.

There was more short, curly hair, she felt his firm behind beneath her hands as she pulled the trousers further down, and then they revealed what must be his man-part. It was quite large to be hidden in his pants all the time, and it looked as hard as polished wood, with a smooth, round tip. Curious, she touched it gently and it was indeed very hard, but soft to the touch as well. It seemed to want her to hold it, so she took it in her full hand, and then a groan caught her attention.

Her dearly beloved was holding on to his self-control for dear life, fighting his ardor, his eyes mad with lust now. She looked at him mildly and said: 'Why not let it go, dear Henry, we're married now, remember? You're allowed to.'

Her sweetness and innocence just crushed him, she had no clue what her fearless, almost naive touch was doing to him. He sat up, took her in his arms and laid down again, with her slim shape on top of him, and tried to explain: 'I've not had release for my urges in months, love, if I let it go now it'll be over in seconds, and you'll be left with all your passion, wondering what happened. And I might even cause you pain in the process, your first time needs to be gentle, slow, not in the throes of my lust. You've seen it, you've touched it, will you trust me now so things will go right by you as well as by me?'

His voice was so incredibly sweet and husky, that Fanny nearly cried with the intensity of her feelings for him. 'I will always trust you, love,' she replied, 'you tell me when I can touch it, we'll have plenty of time to do anything that pleases us.' He crushed her against him, making her feel incredibly wanted and safe, and then he laid her on the bed again, and removed her underwear the same way she had removed his, gently but resolutely.

When they were both totally naked, he started to stroke her feet, her legs, slowly moving upward to where that heated spot was starting to throb with expectation, taking his time, kissing her knees, stroking her inner thighs, until he touched the small patch of hair between her legs. His man-part was standing out from his body, he was back in control of himself, and taking his time to do well by her, as he had called it.

His hand now touched the hair, fondling it, making her aware of another very sensitive spot beneath it, that gave her a flash of heat every time he touched it. The look in his eyes increased in intensity again, and he spead her legs resolutely. Then he kneeled over her, took hold of some part of her down there, spread it apart, and applied his tongue to the spot that had given her flashes when he touched it with his hand.

The flashes were a lot stronger this way, and she felt waves of delight coming over her. This was incredible, it was so intense and good, it kept getting better and better, until after some time she was out of her senses with bliss, and the heat reached a peak then ebbed away slowly, with little shocks running through her entire body.

She looked at Henry with amazement, how had he known to do that? And what was coming next, for he seemed still as heated as before, and very intent. He sat up, still watching her, and asked: 'How was that?' quite calmly. She answered, still a bit dazed: 'It was incredible, how did you do that? And what's next?' He was stroking her with heat now, clearly no longer able to control himself, and she applauded him for letting go at least a tiny bit. 'I'll show you, but be aware, it may hurt a little the first time. Tell me if it does, please do, I'll be more careful. I've never done this a woman's first time.' He now lowered himself, spread her legs again, and inserted his man-part right into the place that had felt so heated every time he had kissed her with strong passion.

The feeling was overwhelming. The bliss he had caused her to feel before had not died down entirely, and now it flashed right back up, really intensely, and as she looked at Henry's face it was clear he felt the same intense passion. As she felt him sliding inside her, there was a tiny hurt, but she could barely feel it through the excitement filling her. When his hard stomach touched hers, she knew he was totally within her, and then he started to move a little, gently, slowly, his body moving on top of her in a rhythm, his face in total abandonment now. This must be an incredibly good feeling to him as well, for she had never seen such ecstacy in him, such release of control.

She kept watching him whilst relishing the rising ecstacy inside her, feeling a flash of lust each time he touched her inside and also outside, where he had licked her so blissfully just before, and she wanted him to thrust faster and harder, kissing him heatedly to increase his fervor, increase his efforts. He looked at her, asked: 'Are you fine, no pain?' and she could barely speak as she replied: 'No pain, please let go now, I want you to, really badly.'

So he did, and he changed from the totally controlled, gentle man she knew so well into a frenzied, almost wild creature, that bit her thoat lightly, kissed her greedily again, arched his wiry, well-muscled body and speeded up his thrusting to an almost incredible pace and force. Her body exploded in titillation, every thrust building on the one before it, until the blissfull tension was released in another one of those shuddering climaxes.

He didn't last much longer after months of abstinence, he would need to build up his stamina again, they were married now and could do this as often as they both liked. But this time he had his own release before she could build up to another one, and he lowered himself on her carefully, taking most of his weight on his arms.

She embraced him lovingly, enjoying the feeling of being totally covered with the man she loved even better now she had finally seen his incredibly passionate nature totally unchained. He was out of breath, and the feel of his heaving chest gave her a feeling of intense satisfaction, his breathing audible, his mouth still kissing her gently, lovingly, the scent of his exertion all around her.

'Did I scare you?' he asked uncertainly. She sent him her most adoring, loving look, and spoke: 'You didn't, I loved it, I loved to finally see that part of you. I can't wait until we do this again, I still feel you inside me, feel the heat. How did you know how to do that, please a woman her first time?'

He laid next to her, still breathing a bit hard, and looked rather embarrassed. Then he told her: 'I was not planning to marry, ever, my uncle was never happy in his marriage, and I decided I'd rather do without wife. But I have always had strong urges, like most men, and I would not relieve them on some girl from the kitchen or a maid, that just didn't feel right.

So I became a regular with a certain lady whom I paid to be allowed to relieve my urges on. That is how it started, for she was not pleased with my excess of lust and lack of control and finesse. She taught me, first how to control my urges, instead of letting my them control me. You have seen the result of not doing that in your eldest cousin.

And then she taught me how to really please a woman, and not just use her to satisfy my own passion. I was a good student, and if I had not fallen hopelessly in love with you, I would still be visiting her. Does hearing this shock you, do you despise me for it?'

He awaited her verdict with his head bowed, his face averted in something like shame, or embarrassment. She took hold of his jaw and gently pulled his face back to hers, to give him a direct look, and she said: 'No, it doesn't shock me, for I expected something of the sort. Somehow I knew you had experience and I have to admit, I was a tiny bit afraid where you'd gotten it.

And no, I don't despise you for it, for you did it honorably, you didn't ravage some servant girl or other girl who could not refuse her superior, but you paid someone who clearly found some joy in teaching young men to be better lovers.

And last of all, your lady taught you admirably, for that was the best feeling I've ever had in my life, excepting only your loving acceptance of me when I was almost dying of grief. And I guess her lessons in controlling your urges made you a better person in all respects.'

'I'm relieved you don't think badly of me, beloved, I couldn't bear it if you did. But I'm afraid I wasn't a better person for all my control, for I used it to break hearts all around me and never be affected myself. Except when I tried to break yours, that disgrace turned on me quite rightfully and very, very thoroughly. I love you so much, my dearest Fanny.'

His still-husky voice sounded different now, Fanny guessed it was because the passion in it had been laid to rest for a while, though the emotion in it was overwhelming. He had been a very bad man, but he had done so much for Fanny that she could never hold it against him anymore, she could not see his old self anymore, though she clearly remembered the things he'd done right before her own eyes.

She snuggled against him with an overwhelming feeling of rightness, touching him wherever she wanted without any twinge of impropriety or guilt, knowing she would be allowed to lie beside him the whole night, and every night still to come. It was impossible to find sleep already, so they stayed awake in eachother's arms, exchanging sweet words, stroking one another constantly, until Henry's ardor awoke once more and they continued their loving where they had left off.