A/N: slight M-rating for this chapter

Chapter Sixty-Two

For the first time in months, Ruth had an evening free. Her last appointment was done well before dinner and she did not have any meetings until lunch the next day. And that meant that she did not need to spend her evening preparing for anything. And that also meant that Harry could finally have his wife all to himself.

Ever since he'd been forced to leave Foreign Intelligence, he had found himself bored out of his bloody mind. He knew he'd have to leave as soon as Ruth became queen, and indeed he had. Erin was more than ready to take the reins. And really, it hadn't been the same since Ruth had left in order to be a fulltime princess. In a lot of ways, he wasn't too broken up about leaving. But what it left him with was a gaping hole in his life. He had nowhere to go, nothing to do, no responsibilities whatsoever.

Of course, he had the girls. They were a joy, certainly. But it wasn't the same. He enjoyed spending time with his sweet little daughters, but they had their nanny for the difficult things that he didn't want any part of, and he wasn't really useful in a lot of ways. And Ruth was so busy that he knew he needed to be both parents to Emilia and Charlotte as much as possible. She had promised him that there would be things for him to help with once she had gotten the basics figured out and after the coronation where she was officially crowned. After that, she'd know better what he could do to help her. What sort of purpose he could have.

But all of that was a concern for another time. This one beautiful evening was all theirs and theirs alone. They had dinner all together as a family—Ruth and Harry and Emmy and Charlotte and Catherine, as Graham was still finishing up his onsite officer's training on an army base in the capital—and Catherine had very shrewdly known to take the girls' attention after dinner.

Ruth had known what he had in mind. And she was perhaps even more eager than he was for them to have a few hours all alone. She practically ran up the stairs, dragging him by the hand. He chuckled and tried to keep up. There were members of palace staff all over the place, and he could only imagine what they thought of their new queen when she was like this. Though she so rarely got to be like this. Harry certainly found it to be a nice change from the ordinary.

As soon as they reached the queen's bedroom, Ruth threw her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly. He barely had time to react when he felt her tongue slide along his lips. He opened his mouth to her and wrapped her tightly in his embrace as their kiss deepened.

She pulled away to gasp air. "God, Harry!" she exclaimed. "I can't remember the last time we didn't have to just get it over with before we were interrupted. And now I've got you all night and all morning."

He grinned, agreeing with her feelings. "I have to make some arrangements before we can be all alone, darling, but I'll be right back, alright."

Ruth frowned, her face falling into a rare-seen pout. Harry chuckled and kissed her cheek and gave her bum a pinch. She yelped and smacked his arm. They both laughed as Harry escaped out the door.

It was still strange, having separate bedrooms. It was an old-fashioned custom, a husband and wife having separate beds and only when the husband was in the mood for marital duties would he join his wife in her bed. When they were finished, he'd return to his own bed to sleep. Harry and Ruth would have absolutely none of that. Harry's clothes were kept in 'his' bedroom and Ruth's clothes were kept in 'hers' and they each had staff to assist them with whatever they needed.

Harry rang for his valet, and they discussed the plan for the next day, the clothes Harry would need for what he was going to do and what time he would be waking up. Harry left the valet to take care of things, and he returned to Ruth's bedroom. Well, their bedroom. They slept together in that bed every single night without fail. It would take something very unusual indeed for them to sleep apart.

When he returned, he found the most glorious sight. Ruth was lying on top of the bed on her stomach, resting her head on her arms atop a few pillows, and she was entirely naked. His eyes roved her bare body, focusing intently on the perfect roundness of her bum, proudly displayed to him. Her lean legs were stretched out behind her. The slope of her spine beneath her pale skin caught the dim light, making her glow. She moved her arms to reveal the curve of her breasts, pressed against the pillows beneath her.

Harry's mouth went dry. His jaw dropped, and he seemed to have lost the power of speech. He knew her body better than anything in the world, but it had been quite a long time since she had been out on display for him like this.

Ruth was watching him stare at her, blushing slightly under the intensity of his gaze. But boldly, she rolled herself over prop herself up on the pillows. Her nipples were pebbled in the cold air of the room, drawing his attention immediately. When she parted her legs slightly, he followed the line of her body from the slight swell of her stomach down her dark curls.

"Hello, Harry," she greeted quietly, once she was satisfied his eyes had gotten their fill.

"Ruth," he croaked. His trousers were getting too tight for coherent thought.

"Would you like to join me?"

He nodded dumbly.

"You're overdressed," Ruth pointed out.

As quick as he could, Harry rid himself of his clothes, kicking off his shoes and toeing out of his socks while he practically ripped off his shirt. For her part, Ruth was trying not to giggle at his overeagerness. But as soon as he removed his shirt, her eyes darkened as she stared at his bare chest, and she licked her lips hungrily when he finally removed his trousers and trunks, revealing his erection.

In an instant, he was on top of her, kissing her deeply. Ruth responded immediately and enthusiastically. All thoughts flew right out of Harry's head. All that existed was Ruth, the feel and smell and taste of her. Her fingers tangled into the hairs at the back of his neck, anchoring him to her. Those gorgeous soft thighs of hers parted, cradling him between them, pulling his body ever closer to hers.

But Harry wouldn't allow this to be over too quickly. He'd explore the delectable feast her body offered and savor every inch of it. He pushed himself up, breathing heavily as he looked down at her lovely face. Her eyes were hooded with desire, and she was smiling up at him.

"Make love to me, Harry," she murmured.

He gave her a tiny peck on the tip of her nose. "I will, my queen," he promised.

"Oh stop," she laughed lightly.

"Whatever Her Majesty desires. I am but a humble servant to my magnificent queen," he said in between gentle kisses all over her face.

She caught his face in her hands. "I don't just want to be your queen, and I don't want you to serve me. I am your wife, and I want you to love me."

"You are, and I do," he assured her. "I love you more than anything in the world. But you are still my queen, and it pleases me to bring you pleasure."

He kissed down her jaw and neck and chest until he reached her breasts, tracing the full curve of each one with his tongue. Ruth gave a breathy sigh at the sensation. His mouth gave attention to one hardened nipple as his fingers squeezed the other. By the time he switched his attentions, his free hand had traveled down between their bodies, softly exploring her wet folds. She was hot and ready for him, so he wasted no time plunging in two thick fingers. Ruth arched and bucked against him, groaning with pleasure. "Oh Christ, Harry!"

He grinned against her breast. Harry would never tire of hearing her call out his name like that. In response, he sped up and rubbed his thumb on her till she came, shuddering against him. He held her and kissed her softly as she recovered. "I need you, Ruth," he murmured against her mouth.

"Yes, please," she replied, her voice tired but still dripping with want.

Harry whispered in her ear, "Turn over."

He sat up so she could reposition herself, lifting her hips into this very familiar position for them. Harry spent a moment massaging her bum, reveling in soft flesh he loved so very much, more of it now than when they were younger. Ruth wiggled slightly, indicating she was ready for him. Harry covered her body with his own as he guided himself into her slowly. She was so wet, he glided in almost effortlessly. He groaned at the sensation of being fully sheathed inside her, enjoying it for half a second before he pulled out to thrust back into her. Ruth rocked against him as they found their rhythm, steady and passionate. He was so close, but he tried desperately to hold on until she finished. Her breath was coming in gasps, and he was seeing stars as he fell apart, thrusting wildly against her as long as he could. Ruth came just as he'd finished spilling into her. She gave a muffled scream into the pillow.

Harry slipped out of her and rolled over. Ruth rolled with him, ending up with her body draped over him, resting with the top of his thigh between her legs. He wrapped her in his arms as he tried to calm his thundering heart and catch his breath. They were both slick with sweat and panting against each other.

"I was going to have that take longer. I was going to make love to you all night long," Harry said, regaining the power of speech.

Ruth traced patterns into the skin of his chest and tilted her head up to kiss under his jaw. "Well that was a very good start, and we've got all night for more," she reasoned.

He gave a breathless sort of laugh. "I might have been able to do that when we were first married, but I'm fifty years old, darling. I don't know how much more I've got in me."

"Even for your queen?" she teased.

"Well, if Her Majesty commands…"

"Don't make that offer if you don't intend on following through, Sir Harry."

He took her chin in his hand and held her head for him to kiss her. "Anything for you, Ruth. My darling, my wife, my queen."

She smiled, her luminous eyes shining with love. "Let's have a bit of a rest and see what we can manage a little later," she reasoned.

Harry was happy to accept that. He kissed her once more and shifted to get more comfortable as he held her quietly in his arms.