Chapter Twelve - A slip of the tongue

Eight months ago, 24 hours after the crash…

Elizabeth sat on the edge of her bed next to Henry's legs, her delicate hand slowly pressing onto his thigh as she lent over to run the fingertips of her free hand up and down his cheeks, a gentle caress in an attempt to wake him. His soft snores became grumbled words as he cleared his throat, flickering his eyes open, an instant smile as his Elizabeth was within his line of sight.

'Good Morning sleepy' she whispered softly

'Morning' he closed his eyes again for a moment before inhaling and sitting up. Elizabeth helped him reposition plumping pillows behind him as he settled back into the headboard of the bed. A few small groans escaped his mouth as the aches and pains sustained from the car crash woke him.

'Arhh' he grimaced as he tried to lean over, trying to reach her, crushing his ribs in the process.

'Shh, it's ok, it's ok' she soothed, her hands gripping him and sitting him up straight, she rubbed her thumb along his cheek and shuffled up the bed, a little closer to him. 'You need to rest Henry, let me do all the work' she reassured him. He placed a loving hand on her knee and rubbed it, his body desperately aching.

'Sorry, I…wait, what time is it?' He looked around and panicked for Elizabeth when he realised it had gone ten in the morning. 'Babe you need to be at work' he looked confused as she chuckled softly.

'I'm not going, I told you that'

'You were serious?'

'Yes, Henry I told you that you have your wife all weekend, unless there is a major incident or some threat to humanity then you might have to share me with the white house but otherwise I am here' she teased. Henry moved his hand from her leg to her hand and entwined his fingers with hers.

'I'm sorry about leaving after an argumen-'

'Henry it's done, I don't want to talk about it anymore' her voice was laced with sincerity, she really was just thankful he was ok and home in her arms.

'But I want to talk about it, Elizabeth I shouldn't have said what I did. You were right, I do have an inability to let go of what happened to Tommy, Ivan and now Dimitri, I just… I don't know, I guess a part of me will always feel responsible, but I shouldn't jeopardise your position as Secretary of State or my wife as a result of that'

'Henry' she paused, she looked down at their entwined hands and closed her eyes briefly before looking back up at him 'Are we ok?' She bit her lip nervously.

'What? Babe we're fine' he spoke but she shook her head running her bottom lip through her teeth.

'Are we? Really? Because if were not I will give up this job Henry, you mean more to me than all this and well I thought we were going through a rough patch but then Conrad said-'

'Conrad?'

'Yes, he came to make sure you were ok but you were having tests. He made a comment to me about taking the weekend off because it's what we needed, he said he knew we had been struggling, it's been playing on my mind I guess' she shook her head trying to dismiss his comment and focus more on her own thoughts about their relationship.

'Urm, Knock Knock' Stevie interrupted. Both their heads turned to greet their daughter and smiled beckoning her into the room.

'Hey dad, you ok?' she spoke nervously as she looked at him

'I'm fine Stevie, I'm in good hands' he winked at Elizabeth and Stevie laughed nervously.

'I think the whole Conrad thing is my fault' she fiddled with her fingers as she felt her mothers eyes narrow on her. 'Sorry I overheard. See I went around to Harrisons the other day and I was moaning about how all I'd heard was you two arguing lately and Conrad overheard me and asked me some questions. I don't know why you guys are fighting a lot recently but I just said I hoped you'd work it out. I think he got it from that. Especially as Harrison's been texting me a lot saying that his dad has been asking if I am ok'

'Stevie if you're concerned about your father and I you need to come to us, not the president of the united states' she replied sternly, her annoyance biting in the air. Henry slowly began to rub the back of her hand in an attempt to soothe her.

'I know and I'm sorry I was just really worried' she pouted a little but it didn't wash with Elizabeth who deep down was annoyed that her private affairs had been spilled to her boss.

'Like I said, next time Come to us, because we're fine Stevie'

'Sorry Mom, Dad' she paused and shifted awkwardly on the spot before walking over to Henry and giving him a gentle hug. 'I've got work, I'll see you later'

'Straight home after please' Elizabeth commanded

'Oh…Why? I was going to see Jareth'

'Because you're grounded'

'What? Grounded? Why? For telling the President that you guys argued a few times' she scoffed and Elizabeth stood up to be more on her daughter's level.

'No, for seeing Harrison after we've told you not too and for eavesdropping on our arguments and the conversation we had before you came in. You need to respect our privacy a little more Stevie'

'Mom I am grown woman, I am in a relationship I can't just say 'Oh sorry I can't come I have been grounded' she moaned and snapped

'Sure you can. I guess that's why many grown adults don't live with their parents. Work and straight home Stevie. It's not a suggestion.' Stevie huffed and stomped off, slamming the door shut behind her leaving Henry and Elizabeth alone once again. Henry watched the scene unfold before him, part of him wanting to ask Elizabeth if she felt she was being a little harsh but he decided against it, in fact he didn't need to ask…

'Was I a little too harsh?' She questioned walking back to his side. Henry's silence spoke volumes and she groaned 'Are you sure my job isn't getting in the way? We're arguing, Im snapping at the kids I-'

'Elizabeth calm, it's fine, everything is ok. It won't harm Stevie to be reminded who the adults are, and you and I are ok. Come and sit' he tapped the bed gesturing for her to resume her earlier position next to him, which she gladly accepted. 'I would never ask you to give up this job, not even if our relationship was in ruins, which it isn't, Elizabeth you do too much good and that is so important for the future of our kids, and their kids' she nodded slowly as he spoke, a part of her still unconvinced but she decided to leave it for now.

'You look tired, I probably shouldn't have woken you' she whispered her hands slipping through his hair.

'Hmm a little, I didn't sleep well, I couldn't seem to switch my brain off' he mumbled as he closed his eyes and rested his cheek into the palm of her hand, enjoying the closeness between them.

Elizabeth slowly moved her hand which caused Henry to Flicker his eyes and look at her, watching as she shifted on the bed and slowly leaned into him, her lips lingering inches from him. 'Would you like me to help?' She whispered seductively as Henry pulled her in, closing the gap between them. Her lips crashed onto his, her tongue immediately entering his mouth as her hands gripped at his chest, her fingers slowly running down his back and up again to his shoulders. Henry's hands wrapped around her waist and attempted to pull her even closer but she shook her head and pulled back 'It's about you, not me' she teased.

Elizabeth pulled the bed sheets back and climbed onto his lap, her legs straddling either side of his hips as she dipped her head down and resumed kissing him again, her core pulsing as it caused friction between herself and his hardening length. Elizabeth's hands entwined with his hair, her body pushing into his chest as if she couldn't get enough of him, the spark that she presumed wasn't there was well and truly burning once again. Henry's hands roamed her body and gripped onto her bum, a gentle squeeze and push down into his groin, confirming to her that she was all he ever needed.

Elizabeth pushed herself up onto her knees and slowly reached behind to lower his pyjama bottoms, being sure to not cause him too much pain in the process, she glanced behind to get a better look at the removal and gasped a loud when henrys hand slipped up inside of her t-shirt cupping her breast. 'Fuck' she panted her body springing forward as he ran her nipple through his fingers. He smirked at her motion,

'Oh I think this is as much about you as It is me, Mrs McCord' he purred as he slowly nibbled at her neck. It was true, Elizabeth was wound up tight like a coil, they had not been intimate for a few weeks and for them it was the longest they'd ever been in all their years together. Something Henry was certain was adding to Elizabeth's moods, he wasn't the only one who needed help switching off. Elizabeth's body rocked into his motions as her hand fell to his hard, naked member. Henry's eyes closed, at the contact, a wave of pleasure seducing him as her hand began to move up and down at a gradual increase pace.

Gravel moans slipped from Henry's mouth as the feel of his wife touching him sent his body into overdrive. His hands fumbled around and lifted her top up over her head, exposing the breasts he was just playing with. Elizabeth panted heavily, the anticipation of him touching her growing inside her but she was shocked when it didn't come.

'I want them off' he commanded, pointing to her trousers, she swallowed hard as her core dripped. She slowly moved her body pushing he bottoms down, along with her underwear exposing her naked form to him. Henry watched as she straddled him, her body elevated on her knees as she leant closer to his chest. His eyes distracted her, as he beckoned her closer. She leant down to kiss him and crashed onto his lips with a moan as he slipped his thumb inside her folds, instantly circling her swollen clit. Elizabeth's body rocked, desperate for more, to which Henry obliged. He gripped a hold of her hips with one hand as his fingers circled her entrance, slowly teasing it open.

'You're so wet' he whispered into her ear as he rendered her speechless, just lustrous moans cascading out of her lips as her desperation climbed higher and higher. Her nails drug into the back of his shoulders as she squeezed her core, willing her climax to not peak too soon. As she lowered her body back down she rubbed her burning furnace along his hardened length, her pulsing clit tingling at the contact with his manhood. She slowly reached down and lifted his erection, then she slid down his shaft and allowed him to enter inside her. Both Henry and Elizabeth moaned at the contact, their eyes closing and breath taken away as she began to rock into him.

'Harder' he whispered, Elizabeth looked up at him but he smiled 'I'm ok, Harder' he gritted and placed his hands on her hips, showing her exactly how he wanted It done. Her body rocked on his, her thrusts becoming faster and harder with the help of Henry pushing her down and allowing him to press deeper inside her.

'Henry' she panted knowing her climax was building rapidly. Henry drove through the pain and bent forward, capturing her bouncing breasts in his mouth and seriously sucking at her nipples as he too began to thrust up into her, their groins slamming into one another loudly as the bed beneath them rocked. Her hands gripped onto his shoulders and her head bowed as she allowed her body to convulse upon him, Henry pushed himself hard and deep inside her tipping her over the edge, his name screamed and echoing around the room as she reached her peak. Her lips found his as she pushed her body into him, her sweaty chest pressed on his as she continued to ride him, desperate to feel him fill her.

Henry knew what she wanted to feel, so he deemed the kiss and gripped her body tighter, his hips bucking involuntary into her sodden core as he himself reached the peak and spilled his hot seeds all into her. His hips shaking with pleasure beneath her as their bodies slowed down to a stop. Elizabeth rested her head on Henry's forehead chuckling softly at their acts whilst she attempted to catch her breath.

'Maybe I need to get injured more often' Henry joked and she playfully swatted him. She sat back onto his lap and looked lovingly into his eyes.

'Maybe I need to remember that my husband loves me'

'If you need me to do that everyday to remind me, just let me know' he teased her. He slowly lent into her and brushed his lips against hers softly. 'But in all seriousness Elizabeth, please don't ever think I don't love you.' He whispered and she nodded gently

'I thought we lost our spark' she admitted shyly.

'It's a good job we have all weekend together to find it then' Henry chuckled, pulling her in closer and firing her up for round two.