Chapter Twenty-Three

"What were you gonna say before? When I asked if you found my behavior shameful." Emma asked.

"Married." Horatio sighed. His body tightening with impending release. "Good...Lord." He gasped, his head digging back into the pillow. "Not...shameful."

"Really?" Emma asked, pleased. Her fingers established a rhythm of squeeze, stroke and release that was making him tremble with delicious tremors. "So we can honestly do anything because we are married?" The eagerness in her voice was his undoing. Any second now he'd erupt all over her hand.

"Get...get...something...ah God...mess..." He panted, his legs twitching with the rigidness of one about to blissfully lose himself.

"Oh, of course." Emma didn't relinquish her grip but reached down for a dry strip of linen next to the bowl. "Can I see it when it happens?" Horatio looked at her face. Her cheeks were flushed in the light of the candle and her blue eyes blazed with excitement.

He growled, "Now." and arched his back, ignoring the sharp pain for the overpowering explosion rocking his body. Emma moved the blanket aside and lifted his night shirt. He heard her gasp but nothing after that, surging up into her hand. She caught the first spurt of his seed with a small start closing the linen under him just in time. Emma watched in utter awe as Horatio released three streams of his milky essence. Even through the linen the liquid felt almost hot. She stared at the swollen shaft with a mixture of appreciation and apprehension. Mercy. They'd never consummate the marriage for there was no earthly way that could possibly fit inside of her. It glistened against her hand, heavy and warm. She ran her fingers along the length and stroked it again and heard Horatio's hiss. The shaft jerked in her hand.

"Too soon. Not again." He said sagging against the pillow with an expression of contentment on his face that softened his angular features and made him look like a boy. Emma smiled and kissed his stomach, naughtily dipping her tongue in his navel which caused a lazy giggle. She looked back down and noticed that he was no longer as swollen. Indeed, he seemed to be shrinking before her eyes. Amazing. Discarding the scrap of linen, she crawled back beneath the covers until she was comfortably lying next to him again. She drew the blankets over them. Her body felt strange. Warm and heavy with an odd tingle between her thighs as if she needed to use the privy. Her husband's snore disappointed her. She wanted to wake Horatio. To have him touch her. She squeezed her thighs together, feeling moist there. Emma took a deep breath and remembered the sensation of the few thrusts Horatio had made in her hand. It had made the center of her body throb. Lifting the blanket she peered beneath Horatio's nightshirt to have another look at him...it. Less intimidating now, just resting there. She softly closed her hand around it and heard her husband's breath hitch.

"Nghuh, Emmagood." He mumbled and Emma stifled a burst of laughter when he easily went back to snoring. Poor darling. She couldn't really be mad that he's left her with a dull ache. The man was sore and exhausted. Well, at least she'd put him to bed with a smile on his face which Emma supposed was the basic purpose of marital relations besides procreation. So the night wasn't a total waste. Take that, Jack Simpson. You horse's behind.

Having her thoughts stray to Simpson made worry for Archie follow. She'd been able to startle Simpson off the night before but what of tonight? Clayton was probably dead to the world at this hour. Would she find Archie in the same condition as Horatio come morning? A mixture of worry and irrational guilt made Emma slide from under Horatio's arm around her waist and out of bed. She'd sleep better if she knew all men were asleep in the cabin. Putting on her robe she took one of the lamps out into the hallway. When she reached the cabin she pressed her ear against the door, hoping to hear the three different snores. Thankfully, she did. Emma pressed her hand against the door and closed her eyes. "Let him sleep in peace, Lord." She whispered, then turned and walked back to her bed.

It was a lovely thing to wake up in the arms of one's beloved, Emma decided. She sighed and lifted her head to find Horatio already awake, staring down at her.

"How do you feel?" She asked. The bruises on his face were darker which instead of alarming her, made her feel better. He'd heal quickly.

"Like I've been beaten within an inch-Oh wait." Horatio said with a bitter smile. Emma buried her face in his chest to stifle a giggle.

"Don't joke about that. It isn't the least bit funny." She insisted, composing herself.

"It's alright, love. I've received the most excellent care."

"Oh have you now?" She asked smiling at him.

"Indeed."

"And is the patient hungry this morning?" Emma asked gingerly kissing his jaw. She touched her finger to the cut on his lip. Horatio winced. "I don't have any ointment but we'll try some honey." Horatio raised an eyebrow.

"Are you healing me or feeding me? If it's feeding I was hoping for something a little more substantial than honey."

"You're not going to eat the honey. It'll seal the cut on your lip and your cheek. What are you going to tell the captain?" Emma asked.

"Tell him I'm ill and you've ordered complete bed rest." He replied seriously.

"Oh you expect me to lie for you, do you?" Emma asked, raising herself up onto one elbow.

"It's not a lie. I feel terrible. Can you not see that?" Horatio insisted.

"Oh and who do we have to blame for that?" Emma asked with growing annoyance.

"Simpson!" Horatio reminded her.

"No...well, yes, certainly. But also your damnable pride." Emma said getting out of the bed. She was worried that if she didn't she'd do him more injury. "Not to mention your cohort Mr. Kennedy. The two of you are so bound by your ridiculous sense of honor that you'd both rather be beaten into oblivion than dare to ask for help. Well fine! But don't expect me to waste my bandages and medicine patching the two of you-"

"Wait, why on earth are you shouting at me?" Horatio asked, genuinely confused.

"Because...because..." Emma sputtered. "Because you snore!" She snapped turning her back to him and grabbing her clothes.

"I beg your pardon?"

Emma wiped at the tears that slid down her cheeks as she got dressed. She sniffled, but didn't answer him.

"Emma." He called to her, his voice soft. "Come now, what's the matter?"

"What if it's worse next time, Horatio?" She asked softly turning to him. "What if he seriously hurts you? Why is your pride more important than your well being?"

"Emma, come back and sit by me."

"I don't want to." Emma snapped, sniffling and crossing her arms childishly.

"Please?" Horatio coaxed with a small smile. Emma sighed and walked back to the bed. Horatio took her hand when she sat on the bed.

"It is not only my pride at stake, nor only my life as well." He explained.

"I know. Archie told me." Emma said. Horatio looked at her in surprise.

"He did?"

"He told me that Simpson knew things about you, all of you. But surely Captain Pellew when he sees what manner of man Jack Simpson is." Emma pressed.

"There are things Simpson could turn around. Things which you don't understand and I hope you never do. Things which it is not my place to divulge. But Emma, you must trust me when I say that keeping silent is the best course of action."

"Even if he beats you to death?" Emma shot back.

"It won't get that far." Horatio assured her.

"And what's to stop him?" Emma pointed out. She looked down at his hand, wrapped securely around hers and felt a lump swell in her throat. "Horatio, if anything happened to-"

"Shh..." He said, catching a tear with his thumb. "Nothing is going to happen to me. Certainly not until we've bedded good and proper." He said smiling when he was rewarded with a small laugh. He leaned back against the pillow. "You look quite beautiful with your hair down like that." Emma startled and blushed under his warm gaze. Her hands went to her hair.

"Not very practical and I do have to see the cook about getting that honey. She grabbed her barrette and pins and began pulling back her hair.

"Perhaps not practical but quite pretty." Horatio wrapped a lock of the red fire around his finger and drew her down for a soft kiss. "Now go get me my breakfast." He said sending her off with a smile.

Keelin: Thanks for your feedback. Slowly but surely I am updating this story so keep checking back. Let me know what you think.

Sweet A.K: I just figured out your 'A.K' more than likely stands for Archie Kennedy,no? (laughs) Forgive my slow brain. Thanks for you kind words. And rest assured that Archie will play a VERY signifcant part in Emma and Horatio's story. He isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

An-Cat-Gaelige: I'm glad you're enjoying the story. Hope you enjoy the new chapters!