Many thanks to everyone who reviewed and boosted my morale on the last chapter. The numbers were showing that fewer are reading but I see that there is a solid core of Andiths who want me to continue. I was going to anyway but your kind remarks are motivating to say the least.

And now, as promised...Part II

"Perhaps we should freshen up after the train ride?" Anthony suggested, trying to turn his mind from the inevitable thoughts that were forming, thoughts of her in the rather large bed in the adjacent room, the feel of her bare skin beneath his fingers, and…

"Anthony?"

He snapped out of his vision and caught her grinning at him. "Hmmm? Yes, dearest?" He tried to look at her innocently but his mind's picture of her beneath him just wouldn't abate.

"Are you certain it is freshening up you have in mind? Because I have the impression that you would like things to be a bit more…messy."

Watching her eyes as they perused him from head to toe and back, lingering over his intimate area, Anthony felt the tension in his body growing, a tightness in his gut and groin that hadn't been there just moments ago. "I um…no…I mean yes…No, what I mean to say is…." He sighed, his mouth and his brain stymied. Her mischievous grin turned to outright laughter, confounding him even more. "I do wish to freshen up and take you for a walk," he finally managed. "But I must confess that I am having other thoughts as to ways to pass the afternoon as well."

She reached up and rested her hands on his shoulders. "Well, walking isn't the only way to exercise," she said throatily, sending vibrations through his entire body.

He was tempted, oh how he was tempted. But they were already more active in that way than most couples and certainly more so than he had been with Maud. He couldn't expect her to continue like this, could he? Yet here she was, inviting him to her again. A thought flittered through his brain and stopped him cold. "Edith, you aren't…this isn't because…" He hesitated to voice his worry, afraid of her answer. But she was looking at him expectantly, almost fearfully and he knew he had to finish his question. "I won't abandon you even if we don't…What I mean to say is that you aren't expected to well…lie with me at my every whim. I understand that these things have their ebbs and flows and you might not always feel … in the mood for my…attentions and I don't want you to feel as if you must always acquiesce."

The look she was giving him was avaricious. "Anthony Strallan, you are exasperating … again. I haven't felt that you would abandon me at all. You promised and…well, despite previous events, I trust your promise. I've never felt burdened by your 'whims' as you called them. Quite the contrary, your 'whims' are very welcome. You know more of these things than I but I've had the impression that over time things become somewhat routine between married couples. I hope that is never the case with us but that said, no matter how frequent they are I have no intention of missing any opportunity to follow your whims, or mine either for that matter."

As he looked into her sparkling eyes, Anthony marveled once again at the turn of events that had brought her back to him. He had to be the luckiest man on earth, he mused. "I appreciate all of that my darling, but I don't want to over tax you…and I certainly don't wish for you to tire of me. I can't imagine that I'll be able to keep up this pace and at some point fear I will be a disappointment. On the other hand, you do have a certain affect on me."

Her hands inched up his neck until her fingertips were in his hair, lightly massaging his scalp and sending all sorts of wonderful feelings through him. "I am a bit weary after the train," she spoke in a low voice. "Perhaps we should spend the afternoon here…in bed." Her eyes were twinkling with anticipation which made Anthony feel both very old and very young at the same time. When he didn't respond immediately, she stepped away and sighed. "Of course, if you'd rather see the town…"

She was teasing him, taunting even and Anthony delighted in it. "Sweetest, there are many things I'd like to see just now, but town isn't remotely on the list."

"Good," she replied as she reached for his hand and pulled him with her through to the bedroom. Turning, she began to work at his jacket, loosening buttons and pushing it off his shoulders once she had freed his arm from its sling. Anthony felt somewhat like a rag doll in her hands, incapable of moving on his own and basking in her attention. He felt the jacket slide down his arms and onto the floor and thought to reach for her, perhaps to do something about her garments but before he could, she was at his shirt. In no time she had him undressed. Leaning into him and reaching up, she kissed him hungrily and then pulled back. "Now go climb in the bed," she commanded.

Always agreeable, Anthony did as he was told, a protest forming in his mind but never reaching his lips. That was because as he settled on the bed and looked up, she was performing the most amazing show for him, slowly and tantalizingly undressing herself, one garment at a time until he was quite literally drooling with anticipation. "Oh my god…" he choked out as she approached the bed.

She hesitated looking unsure and he realized she must have misunderstood him and was upset. "You are so beautiful," he whispered reverently. Her face brightened and she made the last few steps quickly, almost bouncing into the bed on top of him. "Oh my sweet…" he muttered before he captured her lips with his own, wrapping his arm around her, and settling them both prone on the bed. "Oh my dearest darling…" He felt her tense and realizing what he had said began to pull away. "Don't you dare," she said warningly as her hand cupped the back of his head and she forced him back to her, kissing him once again.

They took their time that afternoon, exploring and discovering again the wonders that each had to offer the other. Anthony reveled in the feel of her skin beneath his fingertips, the softness of her, as well as the firmness of her pregnancy enhanced breasts. He noted the roundness that was growing at her belly and worshipfully rubbed the little mound that was forming. He glanced up to see her watching him apprehensively and turned his attention back to her dainty little navel, planting a lighthearted kiss there before moving on to her other attributes. His hand teased softly along the length of her legs, trailing down to her feet where he playfully counted her toes. His silliness elicited a soft giggle from her and his fingers began the trip back up her legs. She tensed as he came closer to her apex.

"Anthony," she whimpered when he touched her there. Maud would never have allowed the close examination he was giving Edith on that afternoon and he hadn't wanted to examine Celeste any more than necessary. Life with Edith was an entirely different kettle, he thought. Briefly he considered what an old fool he must seem to be, becoming so intrigued with his wife's hidden secrets. Glancing up at Edith's face he wondered if his curiosity revolted her. Her eyes were closed and but her face, awash with desire, gave her away. Feeling emboldened by her seeming acceptance, he slid his fingers along the lovely crevice of her most intimate parts. She squirmed at his touch releasing a soft moan. Feeling even more courageous, he delved deeper into her mystery. He knew superficially the workings of a woman's response…stimulation often resulted in delightful dampness that prepared the way for him. But possessing the information and actually watching as it happened were two entirely different sensations. As he stroked along her cleft, opening the divide and watching the results was thrilling. And then she surprised him by opening her legs wider to him, as if inviting him to do more. She reached for him, her fingers finding his head, entwining in his hair. "Please…" she whispered.

"What dearest? What do you want me to do?" His voice was throaty, even gravelly and sounded foreign to him.

"More…I need….more," she moaned. More? Anthony's mind was spinning, trying to decipher what she meant with that one little word. Did she want him to remain where he was and continue his explorations or did she mean she wanted him to resume their more customary activities? Perplexed, he hesitated, his hand hovering over her until she surprised him further by covering his hand with hers and pressing it into her so that he was cupping her. "More," she repeated.

"Tell me what you wish me to do," he whispered, half shocked and half beguiled.

"What you were doing, only more…deeper…"

Feeling very much like a schoolboy given leave for a special holiday, Anthony endeavored to follow her instructions, stoking her more confidently and even letting his finger slip into her. Thrilled beyond any ability to think, Anthony watched as she squirmed and undulated in response until finally both of her hands were on his shoulders, at his head, forcing him closer. "I need you…now….please Anthony…"

Giving her one last little tweak, he pulled away to reposition himself. She followed him, pushing him into the mattress and climbing over him. Anthony's eyes widened as he realized her intention. Giddy with delight, he watched as she hovered over his manhood and then impaled herself upon him. Her face was alight with a mixture of desire and satisfaction now that she finally had him where she wanted him. The knowledge that he could elicit such a response in her, a man of his age…why, it was almost as thrilling as the act itself. But he wasn't given much time for such thoughts as she began to move over him, sliding up and down him, taking him deeper and deeper into her as she did. One…two…three times and she had taken him in completely. He was in heaven!

She sat still momentarily, her face turned upwards, her eyes closed, and a most serene, happy expression on her face. If ever he were to doubt that she was meant to be with him, he knew all he needed was to recall her expression in that instant and all doubts would disappear. Her face was expressing what his heart felt and it brought tears to his eyes. She began to move again, stroking and undulating, teasing and testing his limits. Her breathing became heavy and was accompanied by soft moans of pleasure…or was that him; he wasn't certain of anything except the intense pleasure he was experiencing, so intense it was almost painful. And then he felt her go, her release coming in waves, one after another, sending him into a similar frenzy. Their explosions came almost one on top of the other and the aftershocks continued, hers more than his. Once he had control of himself again, he pulled her closer to him, holding her as she rode the last of her waves, trembling still uncontrollably until finally she settled quietly on top of him.

They lay like that for a few moments, neither wanting to lose the magic of what had just happened between them. Finally, a groan from her separated them as she slid off of him and padded off to the bathroom. Anthony was simply too spent to do anything but watch her walk away, feeling the sappy sated crooked smile that was plastered on his face.

When she returned, she slipped into the bed beside him, snuggling close with her head resting in the crook of his arm and they slept.

He awoke about an hour later, groggy from the unaccustomed afternoon nap. But as he looked down at his wife's head, still nestled into him, he thought that perhaps afternoon naps might become their practice, especially if the were preceded by certain other activities. As he watched her breathing and admired her peaceful face, he began to reflect on this happy circumstance he had stumbled into. Life with Edith was beyond anything he could have ever imagined, beyond any happiness he had ever felt before in his life. It wasn't simply the intimate deeds that made him think so either. No, he mused, it was so much more. It was as if she filled a part of him that had always been lacking, empty in some way. Anthony had always been an affable sort, wanting to please those around him. But with Edith…it was so much more, a noble endeavor almost…more than pleasure, more than duty…although those things were present as well; it felt as though this is what he was meant to do in life, take care of Edith. And finally being capable of that gave him a peace he had never felt before, never even had known it could exist. Nothing else in the world mattered, well not much anyway in light of his Edith. And she was happy; at least, she kept saying she was and if her behavior was any indication, she meant it. In that moment watching her sleep, a contended smile at the corners of her lips, Anthony vowed once again that he would do everything in his power to keep her that way. My god Edith," he whispered, "I didn't know it could be this way…that I could ever know such happiness." Her entire body reacted to the sound of his voice, keening and stretching in an almost salacious manner as it moved against him, making him wonder again how he could be so lucky.