Hello all, so glad you are here. Thank you for reading and if you are inclined, please leave a comment or two. I love reading your thoughts on what I write. Now, on with the show...


The days leading up to Christmas were pure bliss for Anthony. He did manage to accomplish some tasks around Locksley, a few meetings with the estate manager, and even a trip into the village in search of sweets for his wife. While in the village, he spoke with Dr. Clarkson just outside the pub, who commented on how much healthier the baronet was looking. All in all, he was feeling much better about his own prospects for being the husband his wife deserved. And if none of that had convinced him, her responses to him behind closed doors in almost every room of the house did. Often, he wasn't even the one instigating their activities. In her morning room, she'd taken him firmly in hand, surprising him so much that he'd nearly finished before being able to address her obvious desire. Thankfully, he'd managed to take her hand away from his manhood and quickly divested her of her knickers. The throbbing he felt in his own member was soon matched by the throbbing of her own sex as he used his tongue and fingers to create in her the same condition that she had brought to him. The resulting conflagration of their joining was entirely predictable.

But her morning room was not the only scene of their couplings. It seemed that anytime they were left alone for more than a moment or two and didn't feel the presence of servants nearby, one or the other of them would start something that often finished in messy satisfaction. His little wife had become quite wanton, actually; at least, when they were alone. Otherwise, she was a model of a proper lady wife. Who knew that such pride in one's wife could stir such feelings of sexual desire?

The servants had learned to give the master and mistress their privacy when they were in a room together. Consequently, more opportunities presented themselves for the couple as the days passed. And the maid made a point of changing their bed sheets daily. Laundering the soiled sheets so frequently insured constant activity in the washroom. The cook had learned to prepare foods that could sit on a warm stove or rest in the warm oven, in case dinner might be delayed. In short, the staff was pleased to see Sir Anthony happy after so many years of sadness and worked together to support his new found state of pleasure. Of course, Anthony was only marginally aware of the efforts since he was wholly focused on his charming new wife.

Christmas Eve dawned beautifully, as far as Anthony was concerned. There was a light snow on the lawn at Locksley but the sun was bright coming through their window casting a glow over the form of his still very eager bride. The covers were across her back just below her shoulders as she slept, her reddish hair cast in a golden glow in the morning light. The was a slight beard burn on her neck near her ear, a leftover of last night's lovemaking. And she wore an angelic smile in her sleep that was incongruent with the licentious expression she had worn just hours before. His little wife was a minx, a vixen of the most delightful kind, he'd discovered upon their marriage. She proved it continuously, much to his pleasure. But in these moments when she was asleep and he was safe from her wandering hands and perusing lips, Anthony was enjoying the simple exercise of gazing at his wife.

He pondered what little memory he had, remembering the months of torture at the hands of the Germans and torture of a different sort at the hands of the doctors. Much of the pain had faded but he knew, had been told by the doctors, that there would be spasms and lingering pain in the shoulder and arm for a very long time to come. Some days would be alright, almost bother free except for the uselessness of the blasted thing, but other days would be miserable, he'd been told. Yet with Edith, even the worst days were manageable, less dismal, aided by her care or even just her presence near him. Was Edith his reward, or compensation at least, for what he had endured in the war? It was unsettling to think of her like that, but on the other hand, having her to balance the ugliness and evil he'd experienced did seem like justice in a way. Whatever reason God had for putting her in his life, he was most grateful and prayers of thanks went up to the heavens every day. Not every man returning from the war had been blessed as he had.

He watched as Edith stretched ever so slightly and her eyes fluttered just a bit, a sure sign she was waking. He had watched her wake almost every morning since their wedding and reveled in learning the most minuscule details of her as she drifted into consciousness. Leaning over, he began planting soft little kisses, little whisps of tenderness, along her jaw, onto her neck, behind her ear, and ending with a journey along her shoulder. She let out a long but soft moan and then rolled from her side to her back. Lifting her eyelids, a languid smile broke out on her face as she regarded him with sleep laden eyes. "Mmmmm…. She hummed. "There are so many things I love about being married to you, Anthony Strallan; but waking up to you like this has to be among my favorites. "

"Oh yes, my beautiful girl; most definitely near the top of my list," he cooed back.

"And what, might I ask, is at the top of your list?" Her eyes shimmered in the morning light but it was her mischief that gave them their glow.

"Oh well, I'm not sure that I can decide. Certainly, your intelligence and humor are at the top. Or perhaps, it is your kindness and caring for an old codger. Or maybe, it is the way you moan my name in the throes of passion. Or, well… there's the constant stroking of my manhood with your attention, both literally and figuratively. Or maybe, it is the pleasure you give me almost every night in this very bed as you test my virility. I could go on…."

Edith was snickering. "Honestly Anthony. It seems all you think of is getting in my knickers."

Diving in for a nuzzle at her ear, he chuckled. "Honestly my dear, I could say the same about you. And my knickers are always very delighted when you disturb them; so you see, it works out quite well for both of us."

Edith laughed. The tracing his jaw with her finger, she sighed. "Well, I'm not wearing any knickers at the moment for you to disturb, unfortunately."

"On the contrary, your current state of affairs is quite fortunate. Makes it all that much easier, in fact," he whispered as his hand slid down to where her knickers weren't. "And if you were wearing any right now, it would only make more work for the laundry, my sweet, as they would be absolutely soaking." With that, he rolled onto his back, shifted her on top of him settling her over his morning staff. Understanding his unspoken request, Edith raised herself and then impaled herself on him, letting a guttural moan escape her chest as she closed her eyes and let the pleasure of him fill her.

Awhile later, as she lay curled against him and his hand made soothing strokes along her arm, Anthony smirked. "My dear, contemplating how busy we've been here at Locksley, I think we might consider saving the laundry so much effort by not wearing any knickers at all; you especially, since yours are perpetually damp."

Edith laughed as she lifted her head just enough to kiss him. "I would, except that if you knew I wasn't wearing anything underneath, you'd be under my skirts all the time."

"And why would that be so terrible?" Anthony asked as he fought to maintain a straight face. Using her inner muscles to squeeze him, Edith giggled. Anthony's left hand squeezed her hip where it rested as the sensation of her rolled through him forcing a moan from his chest and leaving him voiceless. "Besides, you'd be helping a crippled old codger," he said when he could find his voice again.

"I am getting very tired of hearing you refer to yourself like that, Anthony," she said softly and she clenched those muscles again, "since you are behaving in a manner that is certainly not old and as for crippled; well, you seem to be quite well." As she finished speaking, she began to ride him in earnest, leaving him unable to argue.

A few minutes later, as they lay entwined in in post coital bliss, Edith whined. "I don't know how I shall do without you when you are away."

"I've been thinking much the same, my sweet. You make everything so much better for me."

"MMmmm, my thoughts exactly. When I look back at my life before you came back to me, it all seems like I was living under a cloud. Now, everything seems to just have a glow."

"Yes, like perpetual sunshine. I was just thinking earlier how even my most miserable days are made better by your presence. I don't know how I will manage on those days."

"I'll just have to come to visit often," Edith said happily.

"Yes, I believe you will."

After a few more quiet moments, Anthony suggested they should get up and dress for the day. "I don't know what your plans for the day are, sweet one, but I have some Christmas planning to do."

Edith grinned at him. "You mean, like how to avoid my family?"

"Well, that wasn't my first thought, but I wouldn't object," he said and then gave her a little kiss to her nose. "Stay a little longer, darling; but I really must get up and move around. Those muscles that haven't already been stretched this morning need some activity."

As he moved to get up, Edith stroked along his back. "Well, I'll just have to find a new way to exercise those muscles."

"And now who is being the lecherous one, mmmm?" Anthony's blue eyes twinkled at her as he grabbed his robe and slipped into it. Edith gazed back at him with sparkling eyes as she watched his movements with contemplative interest. "Only with you, my darling." His laughter could be heard in the hall by the maid.