The typos, MOTHER OF GOD, please excuse the horrendous draft I posted this morning. I hope I've caught them all now.

Begin Chapter 14

Elsie's skirt had been abandoned near the chair, Charles' trousers were not far away, and now both he and Elsie were unbuttoning his shirt. Once Charles was undressed he reached behind Elsie to unclasp the last article of clothing still between them. Free of barriers, he pulled her body to his and kissed her again. *I could spend the rest of my life doing nothing but kissing this woman and never tire of it* He caressed her face and her neck, running his fingers down the length of her arms before taking a hold of her and pulling her onto the bed on top of him. They settled themselves in the center of the bed with Elsie's legs on either side of Charles' hips. They kissed like they hadn't seen each other for months, each moment of contact fueling their hunger for the next. She smoothed her hands over his chest while his took their time appreciating the curve of her bottom. Feeling rather bold, Elsie sat up on Charles' thighs and looked at her man. He was so very beautiful. He had the kind of body that she thought was ideal for a man; it showed that he was strong and healthy, but not vain.

She bit her lip to stop herself leaning over to kiss his chest; she wanted to have a really good look at him. She had waited so long to have him, and every time they'd made love they had both been too preoccupied with touch to take a step back and really look. Her fingertips moved with her eyes, slowly down his torso. She trailed through the patch of hair in the center of his chest, the softened outline of his ribcage, and over his belly. Her confidence began to falter when she reached patch of black hair below his navel. She felt like such a novice when it came to this; she wasn't sure how she should touch him. She began tentatively, her touch light and slow, she felt his heat against her fingertips, and the smoothness of his skin would never cease to amaze her. The backs of her fingers trailed down the underside of his length. He breathed out heavily, a low rumble coming from his throat. That sound alone would be enough to get her going.

She moved up his body, and with his help, situated herself so that they fit together perfectly. He felt delicious. She leaned down to kiss him once again. They moved together, slow and steady, finding their rhythm. They were still so new to each other. He let her take the reigns this time, allowing her to do exactly what she wanted, learning what that was. Her movements became gradually quicker, causing a slight sheen to appear on her forehead. Her face contorted with pleasure and her movements became quicker still. Charles' hands took root on Elsie's hips. Her hands steadied her by clasping to one of his arms, and the sheet next to his head. Her breath was coming quick and shallow, she's found the perfect rhythm and was careening toward another release. She had been a second away from crashing into it when the hands on her hips tightened their grasp and forced her to stop. "Charles!" her voice was between scolding and begging. He rolled them over, and whispered in her ear "Not yet, my love." Charles sat up on his knees, having his look at her body now. He drew a little circle around her belly button with one finger. Then, placing his palm against her skin, he smoothed his hand up her belly to cup her breast. The delicate curves in his hand made him feel as if he were handling a fragile and sacred treasure. And wasn't he? Sacred, she was, fragile, he almost laughed to himself for she certainly was not.

She relaxed under his touch, reveling in the warmth and strength of his hand. It was so strong, but so very gentle with her. His fingers caressed her throat, then curved around the back of her neck, pulling her just slightly upward as he came down to meet her mouth for a kiss. He gently fit their two bodies together again and balanced his weight over her. He moved much slower than she would have liked, but his strokes were long and deep, building the tension in her body into a new need. He put one arm under her head, holding her opposite shoulder, cradling her close. He never wanted to have to stop kissing her again. She smoothed her hands around his ribcage to his back, feeling his muscles move under his skin. The heat in her center was the most intense it had ever been. With each stroke he caused the heat to intensify and spread; it was grabbing ahold of every muscle in her body and overtaking her brain.

Charles' breath began to come in shorter burst accompanied by deep groans. With his free hand he cupped her face and neck, his head fell to the side of hers as his strokes became a little harder and just a bit quicker. The heat at her center had formed an electric connection with the base of her neck and soles of her feet, and it was now radiating to every part of her body as if it were traveling by lightning inside of her. She became acutely aware of his body; his muscular thighs pressing against her legs, the particular weight of his body on top of hers, the firmness of his grip on her shoulder, the heat of his breath on her neck and in her ear, and especially the girth of him inside of her. Within seconds her nails clamped down on his back as her every muscle was seized by pleasurable heat. He sent wave after wave of pleasure into her, eliciting a low, throaty moan and an inward breath that bordered on a scream. He held her head to his shoulder, somewhat muffling her sounds as his own release took him over, making his last few thrusts into her body hard and urgent.

They lay next to each other, bodies covered in a fine sheen of sweat, chest rising and falling dramatically, hearts pounding their ears. Charles looked over at Elsie while she recovered. Her hair a mess, her cheeks flushed, her whole body glowing pink , her beautiful chest rising with each breath, one graceful hand draped over her waist, and knew that no woman on earth could ever compare to her. She was his Helen of Troy, the woman he would fight and die for if the occasion ever called for it. He marveled at her beauty, and even more so at how countries hadn't fallen because of it. In his eyes there was none superior, he could not fathom any man being content with any woman who was not Elsie. She was only missing one thing, one tiny detail that would make her absolutely perfect. That elegant hand on her belly needed one very large diamond ring. He had wanted her to be his for as long as he had known her. Back when they first met he couldn't possibly have afforded a ring she deserved, even if he had been free to give it, and she free to receive it. Now, however, he found himself in a position to be able to choose a ring that just might do justice to the woman who wore it. He covered her hand with his, and pulled her into his arms. Her back against his chest and his leg between her legs felt exactly right.

This was what his whole life had been missing; the company and the touch of Elsie Hughes. But she wouldn't be Elsie Hughes very long. He would soon right the wrong done to them by years of timidity, and turn Elsie Hughes into Elsie Carson. He knew it would be hard, he knew their lives were both so busy, and often kept them on different continents, but these moments of shared peace, even the times, he knew would come, when they enraged each other, and screamed for less pleasurable reasons, would make everything worth it. If she didn't love him then she wouldn't bother being angry with him. But for now, she wasn't angry anymore; she was smiling peacefully in his arms. He kissed her shoulder, and his eyes inadvertently fell on the clock on the nightstand. He gave her neck one last nuzzle before he said "I believe we'll be late for dinner, my love, if we don't get up now."

End Chapter 14.