Chapter XIII

Warning: There be smut

The King offered Marie a house for her and her children on the condition that she return to court. She was given money to run her household and raise her children comfortably. Everyone noticed the difference in Athos since they returned to Paris. He was happier. They knew it was because he was with Marie but also because he was being a musketeer again. He would leave Marie's home, go to the garrison, do what he loved to do and returned to Marie at night.

The King and Queen knew of their relationship and knew about Raoul. Marie explained that he was a foundling and she was taking him in as her ward. The Queen knew the truth but the King believed Marie's excuse. Marie had returned to the side of the Queen as her trusted confidante. "Thank you for not telling the King about Raoul. He would dismiss Athos in a heartbeat." Marie and the Queen were sitting alone in the Queen's salon.

"You will have to bring him one day. I would love to meet him." She smiled as she stirred her tea. "Who is he like?"

"He is starting to look like his father." Marie smiled and sipped her own tea. "But he has my eyes." Smiling proudly as she placed her cup on the table. "Monsieur Athos insists that he will be a musketeer."

"Who will be one of my musketeers?" The King's voice came from the door.

Both the Queen and Marie stood to the feet and curtseyed to the King. "My ward, your Majesty." Marie explained. Lying expertly. "While I was away, I stayed with a young couple. The young lady died birthing the boy. The father could not raised him alone and I offered to take him as my ward. I hope you don't mind. The boy could learn to read and write and possibly join the musketeers. He is a fighter."

The King smiled and nodded. "I don't see why not." He walked forward and stood next to Anne. "Have you told Madame de Chevreuse our news?" Grasping Anne's hand in excitement.

"I was about to." Anne smiled at him. "You tell her." Giving his hand a little squeeze.

He turned to face Marie, who was a little confused. "The Queen is with child."

Marie let out a laugh of disbelief. "Truly?"

Anne nodded and smiled a little. "A little over three months." Her hand on her flat abdomen.

"I will leave you ladies to converse over the news. I suppose Marie could give Anne some advice on raising children." He chuckled. The two women curtseyed as he left the room with his men.

Marie waited until the door was firmly shut and they could not hear anybody behind the door. "Anne..." She hissed. "Please tell me."

"It is." She said sadly but there was a hint of a smile on her lips. "I have kept your secret. Will you keep mine?"

"I will." Marie nodded. "I promise." She reached over and held her friend's hand. "I promise you with all my heart."

-XIII-

The children were asleep and she had a moment's peace. The fire in the fireplace in her salon was burning brightly as she lounged in a chair with her shoes off. She had sent her maid to bed as Marie was late returning home and did not need her maid for the night. Her eyes began to drift shut as the warmth of the fire caressing her skin. When she opened her eyes again, she found Athos sitting in the chair opposite her. "Good evening." She smiled and sat up straight. "When did you arrive?"

"Five minutes ago. I did not want to wake you. You looked so peaceful." He smiled as he pulled off his first boot.

She chuckled and stood up, kneeling in front of him and pulled his other boot off for him. "And you look like you have had a long day." She stood up and he pulled her into his lap. She smiled broadly as he wrapped his strong arms around her, pulling her close. Her arm slipped around him and her other hand caressed his stubble cheek. "Have you heard the Queen's news?"

He let out a breath through his nose. Marie could tell he knew the truth. "Yes," he said, "I am very happy for the King and Queen."

"It is not the King's child." She moved her hand from his cheek to his shoulder.

He sighed heavily and pulled her closer. "I know. Do you remember when I was at that nunnery a few months ago?"

She shifted slightly to face him properly. "Yes."

"Aramis and the Queen spent the night together." He smiled when she just stared at him in disbelief. "Yes. In the same building as a load of nuns."

Marie laughed and shook her head. "I cannot believe them." She attempted to stand but he pulled her back onto his lap. She laughed when he snaked his arms around her and pulled her close as she could be. "You are tired. Let's retire to bed."

"Stay here. It's warmer." Nuzzling his nose into her neck.

She laughed again. He loved her laugh. "It will be warmer in bed." But he ignored her and pressed his lips on her neck. "Athos," she sighed as his lips continued to pleasure her. Goosebumps erupted on her skin. He set her on fire with just a mere kiss. Her eyes closed and she tipped her head back as his lips moved across her neck. "Athos," she breathed.

He smirked against her skin as he bunched her skirts up until his fingers came into contact with her bare knees. "Do you still want to move from here?"

"No," she whispered and bit her lower lip. Marie stood up quickly and straddled him.

Athos looked up at her with hooded eyes. They had been lovers for over a year and still he made her want him and he wanted her. They kissed. He moved his hands to her hips and pulled her close. Their movements were slow and torturous for each other. Her fingers deftly undo the buttons of his leather jacket. Neither of them breaking away from the other person's lips. He held her tight and shifted to the edge of the chair. Slowly but surely, he knelt to the floor and lay them both in front of the roaring fire. Her slim arms wrapped around him as he pushed her skirts up. Once able, she parted her legs to allow him to settle between them. They began to move quicker. Her hands frantically pushing his leather jacket from his shoulders. His hands pulling at the ties of her dress. It was finally apart and her corset was exposed. "Marie," he breathed.

Marie pushed him onto his back and straddled him. "We should really take this to the bedroom." She pushed the dress off and throwing it aside.

"We really should." He sat up and pulled her closer, allowing her to feel him hard.

She let out a breath as he held her tight and lay them on the ground, shifting in front of the fire. "Athos." She moaned as she lifted a leg around him.

His rough, calloused hand ran up her leg, pushing the skirt of her shift to her hip. He pushed himself against her, causing her to moan against his lips. He repeated the action and she pulled away from his lips to cry out. "Shhhhh," he smiled down at her. "You'll wake the house."

"And I blame you." She pushed him onto his back and straddled him.

His hands gripped her hips as she rubbed against him. "Tease." He smirked as he sat up, pulling her closer. Their eyes rolled back as a jolt of pleasure ran through them both. His hands ran up her corset and pulled the front clasps apart quickly. His hands cupped her breasts once she was free of the restricting piece of clothing. She moaned out loud once again. "Now, my love. You are getting too loud." His fingers delved into her hair and kissed her hard.

Again she ground herself into him. Her teeth grazing against his lower lip as he pushed the skirt of her shift to her hips. He pulled her stockings to her knees and he urged her onto her back. Marie's legs wrapped high around him. "Please Athos," she begged him as he rubbed against her rhythmically. This made her grasp his shoulders tighter.

"Patience." His lips a breath away from her own. Swiftly kissing her. Next he moved his lips down her long neck. His rugged hands moved down her sides and pushed her skirt further to her hips. Exposing her lower half to him. His hands pushed her thighs apart.

She raised herself onto her elbows and watched him. Her heart hammered in her chest as he brushed his lips along her hipbone. "Athos!" She cried when his lips pressed onto her slit. Her head thrown back as he continued to pleasure her with his lips and tongue. Marie could not keep herself up. She lay flat on her back and gasped with every jolt of pleasure that ran through her from each sweep of his tongue. "Oh Athos!" Her right hand moved to his hair, holding him in place as he brought her to that height of pure pleasure. Her body shaking and her mouth open as she got to the height.

Athos moved back up her body, his lips dragging up her body. He stopped at her breasts, taking his time with them. Suckling her hard and erect nipple as his hand caressed the other. Swapping after a while. He listened to her coos and moans as he continued to touch her in the most intimate way. She rolled her hips upward. She wanted more. He smiled against her skin and moved up her body, kissing her hotly. Marie pushed him off her and onto his back. "Marie?" He questioned her when she did not move to lie on top of him, like she usually did.

Marie smirked as she sat up and pulled off her last piece of clothing. "Just undressing. But my love, you are wearing too much." She moved to straddle his knees. She pulled her his shirt from his breeches and began to untie them. He lifted his hips as she pulled them down to his knees. Her hand reached up and stroked his hard member. She chuckled when he let out a groan. She would torture him even more. Lowering her mouth onto the tip of his member.

"Shit!" He swore as she flicked her tongue on the underside of his member just as she lowered her mouth further onto him. "Marie!" He moaned when she moved her mouth quicker on him. His eyes rolled as he pushed his hips upwards. Placing his arm behind his head to watch her. He smirked when he met with the sight her eyes looking up at him and her mouth bobbing up and down on him. He bit his lower lip as she slowly dragged her mouth up his member and removing her mouth from him.

She crawled up his body and remained above his lips. "Did you enjoy that?"

His fingers tangled into her hair and kissed her hard. He flipped them over and quickly sank himself into her. They both moaned as he begun to thrust into her. Her hands grabbed fistfuls of his shirt and wrapped her legs around him. "Oh Marie!" He groaned, resting his forehead against her own. The heat of the fire and their movements caused them to be covered in sweat quickly. He sat up a little, holding himself inside her and pulled off his shirt. Athos remained upright and grasped her hips. He watched her. Her eyes wide open, her hands above her head and her bare chest heaving. "You're beautiful." The grip on her hips tightened as he pushed forward.

"Athos!" She cried when he pushed deeper into her.

Taking his hands away and he lowered himself onto her once more. Burying his face against her neck. His thrusts moving faster. He was close to the end. Her gasps in his ear and her fingers digging into his back was making him lose control. His movements erratic and his groans muffled by her neck. Her legs wrapped high around his body. They tightened with each movement by him. "Marie!" He cried as he held himself deep in her and releasing inside her. "Oh Marie..." Groaning.

"Athos." Her voice whispering in his ear. Her legs falling from around him and her hands gently stroking his back. He raised himself up and kissed her hotly. Both of them too exhausted to move. She loved being like this with him. At court, she put on a mask. But in her home with Athos, she could be herself. This was the life she wanted to have.

-XIII-

A/N: Wow! A three page smut scene. That was intense to write. :D Hope you enjoy!

Response from chapter 12:

Guest: Thank you very much. Sorry that I broke your heart when Athos suggested that he was going to leave Marie. :) You'll have to wait and see if it works out for them both.