The last morning of the Carsons' holiday. Will they run into anyone else? Batwings79 has again written the parallel Richobel activity for this entitled "Behind Closed Doors" so be sure to check that out as well.
Disclaimer: I still don't own them and am earning nothing from them.
Elsie awoke feeling soft breaths brush against the back of her neck. She let her hand trail over his where it lay at her waist and paused to trace the wide scar at his wrist. His hand had crashed through a ladder rung in the stables when he was only eight, throwing him to the ground, and it frightened her to think how easily he could have lost that hand or even his life. Her life without Charles Carson was not one she wanted to contemplate for long. Stretching her legs she pushed her feet down where they rested on top of his, pressing her bottom snuggly into his groin. She felt him hardening against her backside, and his arm tightened on her waist drawing her closer. As much as she liked to lay surrounded by Charles, as she always thought of it, she turned in his arms to study the man she'd chosen to share her life with.
His face was relaxed, with the hint of a smile on his lips. She wondered briefly if he was dreaming of her and traced those lips with the tip of her index finger. They twitched, but he didn't open his eyes. His lips were soft, and she could feel the memory of their warmth on her neck, her breasts, and her thighs, whispering his pleasure against them. Tracing her finger along the rough stubble on his chin, she noticed that it was considerably greyer now than it had been years ago. She didn't mind. It was a reminder that they would grow old together, loving each other until the end.
Letting her eyes trail down his neck, she noticed the mark over his pulse on the right side of his neck and another just below the angle where his neck met his shoulder. Letting her hand rest on his chest over his heart, she saw that there was a faint bruise around his right nipple as well. She would have felt slightly embarrassed, but after two full days and fuller nights, she knew she had matching marks as well. Although he was always careful to avoid marking her neck so that she could wear her usual dresses, she had places on her collarbone and chest and was fairly sure there was a small purple area on her inner left thigh. The center of his chest was matted thickly with curly white hair, darkening as it spread around his nipples and down his abdomen. She smoothed her hand through the hair on his chest as she pulled back to let her eyes travel lower.
Smiling at the rising mound of his abdomen, she let her hand trail over his side and watched the muscles beneath his ribs twitch in response. Then she saw his abdomen rise with a deep, sighing breath and glanced up again to assure herself that his eyes were still closed. She felt his hand flex on her back and thought of how quick his hands were, gently probing and stroking all of her secret places finding new ways to excite her even after all these years.
She brought her attention back to her perusal and noticed the narrow V of hair trailing below the sheet. Lifting it gently away from his hip, she pushed the sheet lower. Running her hand over his hip, she traced the pale, white scar on the outside of his upper thigh. He always avoided talking about that scar. 'Something that had happened in the halls' was all he'd ever say. Pushing gently on his hip to get him on his back, she was surprised when his hand clutched her bottom drawing her on top of him as he rolled to his back. He nudged her forehead up with his chin and smiled as he captured her lips. She gasped into his mouth and smacked his hip lightly.
"Have you been awake the whole time?"
"Not the whole time," he whispered as his lips worked their way to her ear, "When you turned around I missed something warm and round against me, then my lips were tickled a bit, but I didn't actually wake up until you pulled the hair on my chest. What were you planning on doing with me?"
"I just wanted to look," she said, turning her head to find his lips, "you had your chance."
"Then finish your evaluation, dear wife, so we can enjoy the rest of our stay," he said as he lay back against the pillow, leaving his hand on her hip.
She rose on her elbow over him and finished lifting the sheet away from him, pushing it down his legs. Remembering an earlier time in their relationship, she had been shy of seeing him so exposed. Now she gloried in it. It made her almost exultant to know that she had the power to arouse him to this point. Letting her hand trail down his abdomen through the wiry hair below his navel, she smiled when he twitched at her approach. Running just the pads of her fingers over him, she encircled the tip and traced the vein on the underside to the base. "So soft," she whispered against his chest.
"Soft?" he growled hoarsely, "I believe you should check again."
"Just the skin, Charles," she answered with an amused glint in her eyes, "I've always thought it was like velvet stretched over stone."
He almost whimpered in disappointment when she pulled her hand away, but gasped in delight as she rose over him and eased herself down his length. She rose and fell slowly setting a tantalizingly slow pace, enjoying the feeling of his length stretching her. She shifted her angle slightly, and her eyes fluttered shut as she felt the pressure at just the right spot. He grasped her hips to encourage her to increase her pace, but she batted his hands away. Accepting her rebuke gracefully, he rose on his elbows to capture her nipple with his lips. She wrapped her arms around his head supporting him and holding his lips tight against her. Her release built slowly at first, then quickened, and she increased her pace accordingly. Falling back against the bed, he pulled her with him, but she continued to focus on the movements of her hips. Finally, gasping against his cheek, she felt the warmth exploding from her center in increasing waves. Her hips stilled, and he took over, grabbing her bottom and thrusting upward with short, quick, frantic movements. With a roar, he pressed tight against her and sucked the skin just over her collarbone into his mouth.
He collapsed back onto the bed and held her tight against his chest. They both panted, trying to catch their breaths. Hands stroked backs and sides, soothing trembling muscles as they drifted slowly back to reality. He groaned at the knock on the door and started to rise. She grabbed his arm and pulled him back, "I'll get it this time. You stay here, and I'll bring you your breakfast in bed."
He smiled at her and let his hand trail over her hip when she rose, "Good, because I'm not really sure that my legs would hold me up right now. Put your nightdress and robe on, though. I don't want anyone else to see my wife."
Pulling her nightdress over her head and wrapping her robe tightly around her, she plaited her hair loosely as she made her way quickly to the door. Glancing back over her shoulder, she smiled to see him sitting up with the sheet gathered at his waist. He certainly looked used and happy she thought. She glowed proudly at the thought that she was responsible for both of those states.
She peeked out into the hall and didn't see anyone at the door, but the cart with toast, fruit, and teapot was right outside. She stepped out into the hall and heard some noise down the corridor. Looking in the direction of Isobel's room, she saw that she was retrieving their breakfast as well. The older woman was glowing as well but looked toward the floor with faintly pink cheeks and a small purple mark on her neck. Elsie thought back to how she had felt after her first stay here with Charles. She truly felt that they had done nothing wrong, but she had been embarrassed nonetheless. She paused remembering how he had awakened her at three a. m. to tell her they were going to the registrar's office to be married, and then he wisely remembered that he should ask and spent the next two hours convincing her. She had no idea what she would have done if they'd seen someone they knew on that trip. Smiling kindly at Isobel, she said, "It does get easier, you know."
Re-entering her room, she crossed to her lover, her husband, and her friend, bending to kiss him thoroughly. He returned her kiss with enthusiasm before pulling back and asking, "What was that for, dear wife?"
"For convincing me to marry you ten years ago and stay two days ago."
"I assure you it was completely selfless on my part," he said with a broad grin.
"Of course," she rolled her eyes at him, "Now eat your toast, maybe we'll be able to squeeze in just a little more fun before we leave."
He picked up a piece of toast and began to munch eagerly.
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