This chapter is rated M for nudity and dirty talk.

Chapter 16: Flirting

Arthur walked down the hall only to realize most of his clothes were in her closet. Shit. He walked back to the bedroom and poked his head in. She was on her knees with her back to the door, sniffling. God dammit, he made her cry again. He hated making her cry.

"I uh...my clothes are in here, I noticed..." he said. "Most of them, at least, from before. Uh..." he stammered.

Lilly didn't even look at him as she stood and went back to packing. "If you want to move them to your bedroom, I won't stop you," she uttered meekly.

"No, I only meant I should get packin' for our trip."

"...You're still comin' with?"

"Of course I'm still comin' with, woman."

"Alright. There's a chest for you to put your stuff in." She pointed but still kept her back to him.

Perhaps he had been a little harsh with her. He wanted to apologize, but then he thought better of it. He had every right to be mad about Lilly breaking her vows. He was furious, in fact. Why, though? He hardly even knew her, yet his body kept reacting to her in the strangest ways. How could he want Lilly that bad when he barely knew her? His eyes trailed down to her rump and his groin responded as blood started pumping to his member. He immediately turned his back and started loading stuff into a chest. He caught a glimpse of a blue winter jacket hanging up and a memory came into his head.

"So," a nonchalant tone was in her voice. "This 'particular conversation'...care to elaborate on it, Mr. Morgan?" She turned to face him with her hands behind her back and a grin. She walked backwards.

Arthur walked right in front of her and held her close while stroking her hair. Their eyes locked and his gaze was soft.. His gaze was soft. He needed to do this. He couldn't take it anymore. He had to have her. Arthur pressed his lips to hers and he felt Lilly freeze for a moment before she wrapped her arms around him and deepened the kiss. It immediately went from kissing to snogging. Lilly grabbed Arthur's coat collar and forced him closer. Arthur was estactic, and with enthusiasm, Arthur pushed her against a tree and tightened his grip in her hair. Lilly whimpered into his mouth. God, hearing her whimper made hom even harder than he already was. The passionate kiss ended and their lungs sounded heavy and ragged.

A breathless laugh belted from her throat. "Well...that explains a lot."

Arthur gave her a fervent nod. "Uh huh," his voice was also breathless.

"Why didn't ya tell me?" When he didn't respond, she rolled her eyes. "As ucht Dé, never fuckin' mind!" Lilly assaulted his mouth with a satisfied moan. "Just...don't stop," she whispered into his mouth.

Arthur shook his head and turned around to look at Lilly. That was when Lilly gave him her virginity. It felt so good fucking her that day. Just remembering how good it felt had him go full mast and he quickly turned around again to adjust himself. He rolled his eyes and looked up, trying to think of something to make his cock go down. It was quite difficult when she was right there behind him. He caught a whiff of apples and he groaned.

"Something wrong?" Lilly asked him.

"No, uh...nothin'." He cleared his throat and went back to filling up his chest.

She apparently finished packing her clothes and picked up the chest. Arthur watched her walk out of the closet and his eyes went directly to her ass. His dick still hadn't gone down. Son of a bitch. He almost lost it when she lowered the chest to the ground. Arthur's eyes stayed on her as she went to the vanity table and grabbed her brush. Lilly grabbed a few other items, went to the chest, and bent over to put them in. Arthur bit his knuckles to keep himself from going over there and ripping her clothes off. He was still mad at her, but she was making it very difficult for him to stay mad at her. When she bent over again, he marched over to the door and walked out. "I'll pack later!" he barked.

Lilly went back out to train her men. Eventually Patrick returned with Sadie and Charles in tow and she hugged them both happily. After realizing she'd never sent that letter to the Marston farm, Lilly informed Sadie and Charles of Arthur's return. They both ran into the house to see him and Lilly chuckled. She looked at Patrick and sighed. "I'm gonna bring their horses to the stables.".

Patrick nodded. "Try to he at the castle by 8 am. That's when I plan on going."

Lilly clicked her tongue. "You got it."

Patrick left and Lilly led Taima and Bob to the back of the manor and to the stables. Afterwards, she informed her trainees that they had two new teachers and that she was going to go out hunting for the rest of the day. After saddling up Liath, Lilly whistled for Brian and James. Shortly after, the two giant white wolves bounded out from the local forest to her. Lilly mounted up with her bow and arrows and the hunting party took off. Lilly decided to head for the coast, so she rode south through the bogs of Moycullen to the fishing village of Silverstrand. She heard seals were plentiful there. It was only a two hour ride as it was quite close to Galway. She made it to the beach and found plenty of seals on the rocks.

She managed to shoot two while the boys took down three. Lilly skinned them all and took their meat into her saddlebag. She rested the pelts on the back of Liath, then she sat down on the beach to enjoy the view of the ocean. She stayed there for quite some time, watching her brothers chase each other on the shore. Some people came by on occasion to gawk and point at the animals but Lilly didn't pay them much mind. As the sun was setting low on the sky, Lilly decided to take her leave and left with Brian and James. After two hours of riding, Lilly got back just in time to start cooking dinner. She brought in the meat and pelts and Breena was more than delighted to cook the seal meat. Lilly announced to Breena that she was going to have a bath so Lilly went to the bathing room and started running hot water into the tub.

Once the tub was full, she undressed and got in. Lilly relaxed in it, feeling all the stresses from the last few weeks melt away. The werewolf problem, the shortage of rents, training sixty men, Arthur's anger towards her, running a household, trying to take care of her children...God, she hadn't realized just how pissy and stressed out she'd been until now, although Arthur's attitude had been the straw that broke the camel's back, and Arthur was really the one she had taken it all out on. As she started scrubbing herself with soap, there was a knock on the door. "Lilly? It's Arthur. Um...can I come in, please?"

Lilly sighed and made sure all the bubbles covered her. When she was satisfied, she started unbraiding her hair. "Yes, come in."

Arthur opened the door and quickly shut it. He looked at her and his eyes went wide. "Um, I uh..." he cleared his throat and tugged on his shirt collar. "I...probably should've waited until you were done."

Lilly started brushing her hair. "Well, you're here now. What is it?"

Arthur laughed nervously. "I forgot what I wanted to say. You bein' naked is uh...quite distractin'."

Lilly chuckled at him, continuing to brush her hair. "I'm sorry."

Arthur pulled up a chair and sat down behind her. "Allow me?" he asked, holding out his hand for the brush. Lilly handed him the brush and Arthur went to work on her long, wet auburn hair. "Where'd you run off to today?"

"I went to the southern coast to hunt seal."

"Oh. Is seal any good?"

"I've heard it is. Guess we'll find out at dinner." Arthur chortled. He brushed her hair to one side but then he stopped brushing. Lilly looked up at him. "Somethin' wrong?" she asked Arthur.

"No," he said, looking down at her. He leaned down and kissed her temple. "Your hair is so pretty."

Lilly giggled. "Thank you."

Arthur moved the chair to the side of the tub and gazed at her, lazily running his hand through the bubbles. "Lilly, I...I'm sorry for callin' you a liar."

Lilly nodded. "And I'm sorry for slappin' you."

Arthur leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers. "Forgiven."

"Forgiven."

It was like a ritual with them after they fought, something they did since Lilly's childhood. Lilly was glad he remembered. She became so lost in thought, though, that when her eyes opened, she was shocked to find Arthur's hand deep in the water and resting on her thigh. He smirked at her.

"I could pleasure you right now if I wanted to, Lillian," he said gruffly.

Lilly smiled and spread her legs open. "What's stoppin' you?"

"Ooh hoo hoo," he laughed, squeezing her thigh a bit. "All in due time, darlin'. For right now, though? I'm just gonna..." he scratched her thigh and Lilly moaned out. "Tease you."

Lilly growled in playful frustration. "You're such a naughty boy. And one day," she sat up and leaned toward him, "I'll have to teach you a lesson."

Arthur leaned in and pressed his fingertip to her nose gently. "But not today," he cooed quietly.

Lilly smiled at him with an evil look in her eyes. "Oh really?" She raised herself from the tub and stood naked in front of him. "Are you sure about that?"

Arthur's jaw dropped at the sight of her. He looked her up and down slowly before resting his vision on her face. He looked surprised and lustful. "Y-yes," he stuttered.

Lilly shrugged and started going down. "Suit yourself..."

Arthur stood up and grabbed her, preventing Lilly from sitting back down. "Wait."

Lilly giggled. "Yes?"

Arthur stared down at her body. "God damn, you're beautiful."

Lilly felt her cheeks redden a little. "Thank you, Mo Fear Álainn." [My Beautiful Man.]

Arthur chuckled as he locked onto her eyes. "I love it when you talk Irish."

"Is breá liom é nuair atá tú ag focáil mé." [I love it when you fuck me.]

Arthur gulped. "More, please."

"Tá a fhios agam nach dtuigeann tú mé. Beidh tú lá amháin." [I know you don't understand me. You will one day.]

Arthur pulled her out of the tub and held her close. "Lillian, you devil..."

She laughed. "Dúirt mé go mbeadh mé comhoiriúnach duit. Shroich mé an sprioc sin." [I said I would match you. I reached that goal.]

Arthur hissed into her ear. "I should have taken a bath with you."

"There's still time."

Arthur shook his head. "No, there isn't. We need a loooong time in the bath, but it's almost dinner time." He let go of her and handed her a towel. "You better get dried off, darlin'."

Lilly rolled her eyes playfully and grabbed the towel. She wrapped it around her and reached for her robe, but then she stopped. If she went to it, Arthur would see her back. She opted to just wear the towel until he left. "You should go change. You're all wet," Lilly said with a giggle.

Arthur looked down at himself and cackled. "Ha! I am."

Lilly kissed his cheek. "Go on, I'll be at dinner soon."

Arthur left the room and Lilly let out a relieved sigh. She grabbed her robe and put it on before leaving.

After she went upstairs and got dressed in a light blue buttoned down shirt and black pants, she made her way back down to the table in the dining room. The seal meat was actually pretty damn good, Lilly thought, as she bit into it.

"So Lilly," Dutch said. "You and Arthur are goin' to London, huh?"

"Yes, Da," Lilly said.

"Well, make sure you get us souvenirs," Hosea said cheerfully.

Everyone at the table chuckled. "I will."

After dinner was over, Lilly and Arthur changed Aoífe and Junior's cloth diapers, put them into their night clothes, and Arthur read them a bed time story about Hansel Gretel. The twins fell asleep before the story was finish, so their mother and father put them in their cribs and left. Arthur walked with Lilly down the hall.

"I still have a hard time. believin' that I'm a father," he said with a smile.

Lilly chuckled at him. "Well, I hope you like it."

"I do."

"Did you ever finish packing?"

"Yep, and I brought both our chests to the foyer."

"Oh. Well, thank you."

Arthur stopped and grasped her hands. "Lilly, I hate fightin' with you. Can we try to stop fightin' and just...work on us, please?"

Lilly nodded. "I hate fightin' with you, too."

Arthur took a breath and nuzzled her nose with his nose. "I'm still just for the flirtin', though. I really like it."

"Well, so long as we don't wait four years to progress to the next level."

"Ooooh, I promise we won't."

Lilly and Arthur both chuckled happily. "So, you want to flirt now?"

Arthur directed her to the bedroom. "I thought you'd never ask."

Lilly, without breaking eye contact, opened the door and pulled Arthur in gently as she walked in backwards. Arthur shut the door behind them. He turned on a light in the room so they could both see.

Arthur pulled Lilly to him and embraced her. "Oh, the things I will do to you when we finally get to that point," he whispered into her ear. "Would you like to know?"

"Yes," Lilly moaned out as she licked his earlobe. This made Arthur trembled for a moment.

"Well, first...I'm going to undress you," he said, starting to unbutton her shirt. "Then I'm goin' to spread your legs and eat out of your...coinín."

Lilly drew in a heavy breath. "Oooh, you pronounced that very well."

"Thank you." Arthur kissed her neck. "And I'm goin' to make you come over and over and over..."

This was definitely the Arthur she knew. Him talking like this made her whole body shudder. "You naughty man..."

"I'm your naughty man," he whispered into her ear. "Any ideas what you'll do to me?"

Lilly grazed his thigh with her fingers and he arched his head back. "A few."

"Tell me, Lilly."

Lilly started unbuttoning his shirt. "I'll pull your pants down...get on my knees...and worship your cock with my mouth."

Arthur guffawed a little. "Oh my God, Lillian..."

"And I'll keep doin' it, until you come inside my mouth. And the thing about me is," she opened his shirt, "I swallow. Would you like that?"

"Yeah," Arthur groaned out.

Lilly looked down at his chest and stomach. He was more built than she remembered. He even had abs showing. "Good God, Arthur...you've changed a bit."

Arthur laughed. "Yeah, workin' as a miner will do that." He took off his shirt completely and Lilly gazed at his whole upper body.

"Jesus, Mary and Joseph."

He was a lot more toned and muscular now. Lilly wondered how she hadn't noticed this before. Arthur grinned and started taking off her shirt, but she stopped him. "What's wrong?" he asked her.

"I've...changed too. I um..." she looked down. "I got some stretch marks on my belly."

Arthur looked down and opened her shirt. He traced the lines with his fingertips. "Well, you're still very slim." He looked into her eyes. "They're just scars, Lilly."

Lilly nodded. "I know, but...well..."

Arthur kissed her nose. "Show me your back. I promise that I won't-"

"No," she said, backing up from him. "I said before, you can see it when we start fuckin'."

Arthur approached her. "Lilly...come on. I want to see all of you."

Lilly raised a brow. "Oh, we're doin' that right now?"

"If you want to."

"You didn't get a good enough look earlier?" she teased.

"No, I most certainly did not." Lilly chuckled and removed her shirt. Arthur gazed down at her breasts and sighed deeply. "Oh man..."

Arthur yanked her close by her pants and started unbuckling her bely. Lilly did the same and soon they both pulled down their pants. Lilly noticed his cock was fully erect and she smiled at him. "Someone's happy..."

Arthur looked down at himself. "Uh huh."

Arthur gazed at her body while Lilly recorded his to memory. God, working as a miner really did wonders to his body. Arthur grabbed her butt and pulled her closer. She could feel his erection press into her and they both started breathing heavily. Arthur went to touch her back but she grabbed his wrist. "Don't do that."

"Just...let me feel you, at least..."

Lilly shook her head. "I said no, Arthur. Why are you so insistent on seein' my scars?"

"To prove that it won't bother me. They're just scars. Why won't you let me see them?"

It wasn't so much that Lilly was ashamed or worried he would be turned off by it. Well, she was, but she didn't want Arthur to pity her. "I don't want you to feel sorry for me."

Arthur blinked a few times at her. "Oh."

"See, the first time you saw them, you were so sad..."

Arthur kissed her cheek. "I won't pity you, I promise."

Lilly sighed. "Okay." Lilly slowly turned around and listened for any reaction Arthur would have. She heard nothing. "Well?"

She felt hands on her back, then his mouth was on her. He left butterfly kisses all over her back. He went to his knees and grasped her hips, pressing his lips to her lower back. "How did you survive this?"

"I didn't the first time."

"Oh. Wait, the first time? This happened to you more than once?"

"I did tell you I was tortured several times."

Arthur stood up and turned her around. "By Brutus."

"You remember."

"Yes. I remember Dutch, Micah and I taking him from Levi and I remember me beatin' the piss out of him." Arthur's eyes went wide. "He didn't just flog you. He raped you, too."

"Yes."

Arthur wrapped his arms around her. "I have the strongest wife in the world. But...why did all this happen in the first place?"

Lilly sighed. "I think we need to sit down for this. It is a long story."

They both decided to get dressed, then they went to the bed and sat down. Lilly explained everything to him about Adair, the famines, the Freemasons, her three deaths, and Carman. When she was done, Arthur gaped at her in stunned silence before turning his head and looking as if he was deep in thought. Lilly frowned at him.

"This is..." he looked at her. "I believe you, but...so many bad things happened to you."

Lilly chuckled. "You don't even know the half of it."

"What do you mean?"

Lilly sighed. "It's another long story."

Arthur clutched her hands and kissed them gently. "Lay down and tell me."

They both got comfortable in the bed and Arthur watched her intensely as she explained her whole life, from the night of the Emerald Star sinking to Arthur's death. And when that was done, Arthur once again looked deep in thought.

"We was really outlaws?" he asked her.

"Yes."

"And we had all those fun adventures together?"

Lilly giggled. "Yes. Do you remember any of it?"

"I remember watchin' you die. I was...oh, I was heart broken. But then you came back and I acted like a love sick idiot."

Lilly snorted. "Well, you were happy that I was alive."

Arthur scooted closer to her as they stared at each other. "I remember that damn alligator attack."

"Which one?"

"There was more than one?!"

Lilly nodded with a laugh. "Yes."

Arthur buried his head into the pillow. "I remember watchin' you take down a grizzly bear with your brothers. I remember Jack bein' kidnapped. I remember rescuin' you from Bronte. And...I remember your carriage accident. God, that was a horrible business. But that's all I remember right now."

Lilly tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. "That's okay. It all came back to me eventually. Same will happen to you one day." Arthur wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. "Will you sleep in here tonight?"

Arthur nodded. "Yes."

After Arthur turned the light off, they got under the covers and Arthur held Lilly once more, then they both drifted off to sleep.