Chapter 14

Written by Tita Calderón

Translated by Fay

Candy looked carefully at herself in the mirror for several minutes. Her lips were swollen and redder than usual. There were faint circles under her eyes, but the brightness of her gaze overshadowed any discomfort of last night.

But discomfort was not exactly the right word. It had been the best night of her life...

For goodness sake! She had never thought she would kiss like that or that she would be kissed for so long...She still felt Albert's kisses all over her face and on her mouth.

She looked at herself in the mirror again, unable to restrain a smile, both mischievous and embarrassed, especially as she felt pulsations throughout her body, recalling all the kisses they had exchanged.

She hadn't even slept! Maybe a couple of hours at most, because they had spent the rest of the time kissing...exploring each other with their lips, and little by little with their tongues...insatiably, increasing their desire to keep kissing.

Silently, without any misgivings, they had started a game with their lips, breaking all the rules of kissing of that time, exchanging smiles and gasps...Their bodies had melded, but they hadn't reached a deeper approach, or even more daring caresses...Albert knew very well that although he wanted everything, Candy was still a child and he would initiate her slowly...

Candy had begun to experience the soft throbbing of desire growing slowly through their lips...Albert's hands were burning her face, her shoulders, and had traveled to her waist. He had pressed her against him several times, but he had gently pushed her away, trying not to completely lose his sanity.

But Candy had lost her mind and her bashfulness. How could she help it with such kisses?

Albert simply kissed like an angel or like a god, or rather like a combination of both...What lips! What kisses!

She shook her head trying to concentrate on what she had to do. She combed her damp hair with some difficulty, and before leaving she felt embarrassed.

How could she look him in the face after so much kissing?

She took a deep breath; surely Albert would want to take a bath and she had to go out.

But when she did it was completely silent.

-"Albert?" she called him.

Silence was the only reply. She walked to the window to look for him outside of the lodge but he was not there.

Somewhat distressed at not finding him, she went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. She was greatly surprised when she found milk, eggs and hot bread. She turned everywhere looking for the oven in which the bread had surely been baked, but nothing was there.

How strange, she thought.

She decided to warm the milk and prepare the eggs. After a while the door opened and Albert came in with his hair wet. Candy blinked a couple of times before she could find her voice. Seeing him with wet hair and in those tight jeans made her legs tremble.

-"Where are you coming from?" asked Candy in a voice that sounded different even to herself.

-"I went for a swim in the river," he answered as he was approaching.

Seeing him walk towards her made her nervous. She tried to avoid him by pretending to look for something in the kitchen.

-"I'm sorry I've been so long in the bathroom," she apologized, feeling some embarrassment.

Surely he had got tired of waiting for her to come out and that's why he had gone to the river.

-"Don't worry; I like swimming in the river."

-"You do? But isn't the water freezing cold?"

-"Yes, a little," he admitted.

Albert hid a mischievous smile. Cold water was what he needed most in those moments. Kissing her all night was the sweetest torture he could have undergone...He needed something more than kisses...and only cold water soothed the painful parts of his anatomy.

-"And when did you bake the bread?" asked Candy, when she realized that if he had been in the river he hadn't had the time to do that.

Albert laughed amused.

-"This was brought to us from Lakewood. They were not sure if we had arrived or not."

-"Oh..." replied Candy, somewhat embarrassed. "How silly of me to think you had baked it," she added laughing.

Albert looked at her carefully. He couldn't help feeling love grow in his heart with each of her movements, her laughter, her hair. A love that burned his hands, his mouth, his skin. A love that drove him crazy. He smiled slowly, tilting his head, confirming to himself that just looking at her made him want to drown her with kisses.

Candy turned towards the kitchen when she felt his eyes upon her. She dropped a few things, unable to avoid clumsy movements before that look. In a few seconds Albert's arms surprised her when they gently encircled her waist from behind. Both nervous and pleased, she remained still for a few moments, not knowing what to do.

But he did know what to do. He slowly turned her until their lips met again.

The more he kissed her, the more of that he wanted.

In response, Candy put her hands around his neck with some inhibition. It was different to kiss him in broad daylight. But her body didn't understand the difference between day and night, and still wanted more of him...

They eagerly explored each other with every kiss.

-"Is something burning?" said Candy under Albert's lips.

-"I am," he answered, placing his mouth over hers and slightly adjusting his body to hers in search of more...

And then the smell came to them more intense. They stopped for a moment while the odor of burning put out their inner fire.

-"The eggs!" cried Candy, turning around.

No more eggs, no frying pan; they had burned and what's more, the milk had been spilled.

After they had evaluated their loss, they exchanged a look and both burst out laughing.

-"You kiss like a goddess of Olympus," confessed Albert. "And if we don't get out of here right now to find something to eat, I'll start kissing you again."

Candy smiled, blushing.

-"You would?" she asked mischievously.

-"Don't try me," he declared, as he took her hand and they left the cabin.

-"Where are we going?"

-"Fishing in the river."

-"Are we going to have fish for breakfast?"

-"Candy," Albert stopped for a moment, "if you keep kissing me like that I won't survive only on milk and eggs..." And he started walking again.

Candy laughed.

-"Am I the one kissing you?" she asked incredulously.

-"Aren't you? I'll prove it to you."

He stopped again and pulled her into his arms. He leaned slightly while Candy stood on tiptoe searching for his lips.

-"See...? I told you...You are the one kissing me," he said after a long French kiss.

-"Albert!" she protested, embarrassed.

-"All right, I provoked you," he answered, laughing.

-"Silly." She left his arms, ready to go alone to the river.

Before she took two steps she was already imprisoned in his arms again.

-"You kiss like a mermaid," he confessed.

-"Have you kissed many mermaids?" she asked jealously, avoiding his lips.

-"Only one...with big green eyes, blond curls and pretty freckles on her nose. And let me tell you that I can't part from her lips even though my stomach screams at me with hunger."

She laughed.

-"Let me tell you that your mermaid is starving too, so we'd better go for that fishing, or you'll end up turned into mermaid food," she declared, trying to get away from him.

Albert didn't let her go, and looked deep into her eyes.

-"What?" she asked, seeing that he didn't move.

-"I'm thinking seriously of turning into your breakfast."

Both laughed.

This time it was Albert who ended up preparing breakfast, and he certainly made Candy lick her plate clean.

-"Your cooking is delicious; I hadn't realized how much I had missed your seasoning," she confessed, licking her thumb in an innocent gesture which seemed too erotic to Albert.

He turned his eyes away so that she wouldn't become his dessert.

-"On the other hand, what I had missed was being alone with you."

He looked deeply into her eyes.

-"Me too," she admitted. "We couldn't be like this in a long time." She looked around. "And with Aunt Elroy always close by lately it was almost impossible."

-"Sure," he answered laughing.

Candy sighed frequently as she dried the dishes, inwardly regretting the fact that she hadn't let Albert buy that apartment...so that both could live there...

-"Would you like to go for a walk?" asked Albert when they finished cleaning up the kitchen.

-"I'd love to."

-"But we'd better bring something for a picnic."

Holding hands, they walked through the vegetation. Albert told her the different names of the plants and talked to her about the usefulness of some of them. Candy listened to him ecstatically. From time to time they stopped among the trees and exchanged deep kisses...

They were living a different courtship from those of the time...Without inhibitions of any kind, enjoying every moment of each other's company with no restrictions or curious glances around them.

At noon they sat on the bank of the river to eat, and Albert taught her how to make a bonfire and roast the fish without much effort.

In the late afternoon they ended up climbing on a tree to watch the sunset.

They had watched several sunsets since the time they had lived together, but that was the first one they saw as an official couple. She

was in his arms without fear...

Night enveloped them before they returned to the cabin, but Albert knew very well every corner of the forest and they went back without any problem.

They dined by candlelight, not exactly because they wanted a romantic dinner, but because Candy had forgotten where she had put the lamp with which they illuminated the cabin at night.

They sat in front of the fireplace, talking about everything. Albert sheltered her in his arms. After a while Candy fell sound asleep.

Albert smiled slowly when he realized that, thinking it was for the best...because at this rate, he would end up making her a woman in every sense of the word before the first bird sang in the morning.

That's why he had taken her for a walk around the place...She was a danger to his own integrity.

He had never desired a woman as much as he desired his wife, and although he had every right to take her at any time, he couldn't do it... so fast.

It was so gratifying to see that last night her kisses had been so shy and self-conscious at first and as the night went on she had lost her fear and embarrassment...Just remembering that made that special part of his anatomy so rigid that he ached with desire.

He lifted her in his arms when he saw she was fast asleep, but as soon as he put her on the bed, she caught his hand.

-"Don't go," she begged him. "Stay with me."

Albert looked at her in the darkness, having an internal struggle. Of course he wanted to stay, but in a more intense way.

Candy knelt on the bed and surprised him with gentle kisses...Slow, deliberate, intoxicating kisses...

Albert's hands began to run up and down her back anxiously, while in his mind he was torn between desire and love. Before he completely made her his wife, he had to confess her that he loved her.

Almost imperceptibly, they lay down, as they kept kissing more passionately.

He had to tell her that he loved her right at that moment; he couldn't bear it any longer. He took her face in his hands and began to caress her hair, trying to put his thoughts in order.

-"I love you, Candy," he whispered.

He expected some answer from her, but there was nothing.

-"Candy?"

She had fallen asleep in his arms. He smiled with resignation. For the record, he had tried. Sleep overcame him within seconds of his failed attempt.

The sound of a horn brought them out of the deepest sleep...

-"Was that a horn?" asked Candy, half-awakened.

-"I think so..." Albert sat up in bed to make sure they had really heard it.

But he didn't get up until a knock on the door warned them that someone was looking for them.

-"George?" Albert was surprised to see him at the door with a grieved expression.

-"Good morning, William," he greeted him. "I'm terribly sorry for disturbing you."

He wished he could disappear. But to his relief William was completely dressed...well, even though without his shoes...and a little unkempt...

He prayed he hadn't interrupted them...in anything...

-"What brings you here so early?"

George looked at his watch.

-"Well, it's not so early; it's ten in the morning."

-"Ten?" he repeated incredulously.

He had never slept so late...but of course he had never stayed up late kissing anyone before.

-"Is anything wrong?" he asked apprehensively, letting George enter.

-"Actually, there is..."

-"Good morning, George," greeted Candy who had just come out of the bedroom, somewhat awkwardly.

George noticed the unusual fluffiness of Candy's hair. He was absolutely sure he had interrupted something. He would have wanted to go away right at that moment.

Nobody had wished to interrupt them in the middle of their honeymoon. Archie had taken some examinations that could not be postponed. Aunt Elroy had some very important meeting. The chauffeurs had brought hundreds of parcels. Nobody wanted to go to Lakewood...They said they had come very early to bring the things for breakfast and nobody had answered them...and they didn't want to disturb Mr. and Mrs. Ardlay.

So, except from bringing the bad news from Chicago, he had also been commissioned to bring the breakfast basket from Lakewood.

-"Good morning, miss. Pardon, Mrs. Candice."

Candy laughed.

-"That makes me feel old."

-"That was not my intention."

-"Don't worry, George."

Albert was watching her, forgetting about George. She looked so pretty with her fluffy hair.

-"This has been sent from Lakewood." George gave the basket to Candy.

-"Thank you," replied Candy. "Are you coming from there?" she asked, putting the basket near the kitchen and looking with curiosity

underneath the white tablecloth.

-"Yes...I wanted to see if you were here..." he lied.

The truth was that he had intended to send someone for William, so as not to cause inconvenience to William and Candice himself.

-"You two talk in peace; I'll go out for a moment."

-"You don't have to leave," Albert reassured her.

-"I'll just go out for a little fresh air and then prepare breakfast."

-"Be careful."

Candy walked around anxiously, sensing that George's coming must be due to something urgent.

She was about to go to the river when she heard a car's engine. She headed again to the house and saw George's car moving away in the narrow road.

-"Has George already left?"

-"Yes."

Albert was preparing breakfast.

-"And what did he want?" she asked with interest.

Albert stopped what he was doing and looked at her in dismay.

-"There was a problem with one of our partners and they don't want to deal with anyone other than me." He took a deep breath in resignation.

-"We have to go back?" asked Candy.

-"I'm so sorry..." he answered sadly.

-"Don't worry...If they need you, you'd better go." Candy spoke with conviction, hiding her disappointment. "And when do we have to go?"

-"Today."

-"Today?"

-"Yes...I have to attend a meeting as soon as we get to Chicago."

-"Then let's not waste any time."

Candy set the table while Albert served breakfast. He looked at her somewhat worried. He had seen the shadow of disappointment in Candy's eyes for a couple of seconds...but she would be handsomely rewarded...

It was five in the afternoon when they reached Chicago. Outside the mansion all the servants were waiting to receive them.

Albert shook his head in resignation. His aunt and her customs...She would never change.

-"Good afternoon, sir, madam," was the butler's greeting.

Candy, somehow surprised by that new treatment of her, felt embarrassed.

The servants took the luggage out of the car and surprisingly carried

them to another part of the mansion.

-"William, Candice...welcome home," Elroy Ardlay greeted them.

-"Good afternoon, aunt," they replied in unison.

All the servants addressed Candy as madam and treated her as if she were made of glass. They were much more attentive to her than before.

-"You must be tired after your trip. You'd better have some rest," said the old lady politely.

-"Has George come?" asked William, ignoring his aunt's suggestion.

-"Yes, but he said that as soon as he arranged the meeting with Rockefeller's lawyer he would come."

-"I'll take a bath before he comes back," he said seriously.

Candy was watching Albert's subtle change; he looked more serious now...

-"Shall we go?" Albert asked Candy, extending his hand to her.

-"Of...of course," she answered, perplexed.

Her eyes quickly turned towards Aunt Elroy, expecting some comment from her, but she just nodded. At times she forgot they were married.

As they headed to the stairs, she sighed in relief, sensing that with her he was still as warm and tender as he had been at the lodge.

They hurried up the steps, while Candy still felt butterflies in her stomach, thinking that only recently Aunt Elroy would have had a heart attack if she had seen them like this, and what's more, going together to the bedroom...It was different now...

When he opened the door, both admired what would be from now on "their room". Large, spacious, full of light, and above all away from prying eyes...

-"I'll take a quick bath...George must be coming back any minute."

-"Sure..."

Albert sat on the bed and began to loosen his belt. Candy, completely bewildered, headed to the balcony. She opened the door wide and went out to take some fresh air and pull herself together...They had had such a wonderful time at the lodge...but she knew everything would be different in the mansion.

When she turned around, Albert was not there. Surely he had gone to take a bath. Candy opened the big closets of the dressing room, and she was surprised to see that all her clothes were already there...She opened another door and found Albert's clothes...All his suits and shirts in impeccable order...Her strong heartbeat didn't let her think for a few moments.

She approached a little to breathe in his scent. It was everywhere... She let out a deep sigh. That was more than she had imagined. They had shared a home before, it was true, but she had never rummaged through his things...

She opened a drawer and found all of Albert's underwear. Blushing

violently, she closed it immediately, while thousands of butterflies fluttered in her stomach.

She heard the bathroom door open. She took a shy glance from the threshold of the dressing room, not wishing to make him uncomfortable.

He was standing in front of the large mirror of the dresser, putting on his tie. She had never seen him like that, getting ready to go to the office, and certainly he looked terribly handsome, more than he already was...Her heart started beating hard.

Albert looked at her through the reflection of the mirror, and leaned over a little to smile at her. He turned slowly and walked to her.

-"I promise I'll make it up to you," he whispered, hugging her.

-"I've already told you not to worry about it..."

-"Just the same, I'll make it up to you..."

He leaned down slightly and kissed her fervently. Good God! The butterflies turned into hawks as she felt the imminent need to suck up everything through his lips.

The knock on the door interrupted them.

Candy almost fell off when Albert walked away to open the door. She had to sit down to hide that her legs were trembling.

-"Excuse me, sir," said the maid, looking embarrassed. "Mr. Villers has just arrived and is waiting for you in the library."

-"Thank you, Rita; tell him I'm coming down."

-"As you wish, sir."

Albert turned. Candy was still fanning herself with her hand so that she would catch her breath again.

-"I have to go," he said, visibly sorrowful.

Candy got up and handed him his jacket.

-"Go ahead. Don't worry about me."

-"I'll try to come back as soon as possible."

Candy stood on tiptoe to kiss him goodbye.

-"I'll take a long bath," she said.

Albert stood at the door for a few seconds, looking at her with inscrutable eyes, internally struggling at the tempting idea of seeing her in the bathtub. The stiffness in his crotch was the answer to his thoughts again.

-"You know you are the most important person to me, don't you?"

-"I didn't know," stammered Candy, almost on the verge of fainting at the unusual confession.

-"Then now you do. See you later, Princess."

Candy remained for hours looking at the door through which he had

left...She loved it when he called her "Princess" and felt that her heart was going to explode with so much accumulated love. She had to find the way to tell him. She could no longer be silent about that love growing forcefully and at a devastating speed in her soul and her whole being...

If it hadn't been for Dorothy who helped her take a bath, she would have stood there until he returned.

When she got out of the bathroom, Dorothy helped her get dressed.

-"Madam, I'll help you with the corset."

-"Don't call me 'madam', Dorothy," complained Candy. "You make me feel old."

"You'll have to get used to that," she said with a faint smile.

"I feel strange when you call me that. Just call me Candy as you did before," she requested.

"Thank you for your trust, madam, but I couldn't. Now you are the mistress of the house," she declared. She was grateful but now she couldn't talk to her in the old familiar way. As much as she wanted to, she knew her place.

-"Dorothy?" Candy looked at her with pleading eyes.

-"I'd better help you put on your corset."

-"Thank you," said Candy sadly. Things were changing so quickly that she was frightened.

Rita asked for permission to leave a jar of water, and after a while the butler knocked on the door.

-"Madam, dinner has already been arranged by Madam Elroy, but if you wish to change anything, there will be no inconvenience," he announced solemnly.

Candy blinked incredulously. They had never asked for her opinion on what was served for dinner.

-"Is there chocolate cake?" she asked mischievously.

-"No, madam, but I will order for one to be made immediately."

-"Thank you, Peter."

Candy smiled hilariously...Surely Aunt Elroy would get fat with all that confectionery she would eat in the mansion from now on.

When she got down, she made a tour around the house. She went to her old bedroom. Everything seemed to be as before, except that the closet was empty. She sighed in nostalgia.

She decided to go to the bedroom that used to be Albert's. She had always wanted to go in there, and as Aunt Elroy didn't seem to be around, she decided to enter. It was larger than her room, but just like hers, the closet was empty too. Yet it still had his scent. A scent so familiar, masculine and erotic that it made the butterflies in her stomach flutter uncontrollably.

She opened the drawers of the nightstand, and saw nothing there. Surely everything was in the new bedroom. She would go there and poke around right at that moment.

When she opened the door to get out she came across Aunt Elroy.

-"I...I...I was just..." she stammered, not knowing how to justify herself.

-"Candice," said the old lady, "you don't have to explain anything to me. Now this house is more yours than it is mine. You are Mrs. Ardlay, never forget that," she declared as she walked away.

Candy watched her as she was moving away. It was true; now she was Mrs. Ardlay. Her heart was beating wildly.

She decided to visit all the forbidden places. She entered the library and saw that several bookshelves were empty. That moment, one of the maids came in.

-"Do you know what happened to the books on those bookshelves?"

-"The folders with which Sir Ardlay usually worked were there, and he asked for them to be taken to your room, madam."

-"Thank you."

Candy left the library and headed to the main parlor. She was tired of walking around the house. It was so big. Shortly afterwards, Aunt Elroy joined her. Candy thought she would ask her what they had done on their honeymoon, but to her astonishment the old lady just remarked on the business that had brought Albert so urgently back home.

-"Madam, as soon as you give the orders, dinner will be served," the butler announced solemnly.

Candy was startled when she realized that the question was addressed to her and not to Aunt Elroy as it usually happened.

-"We'll wait for half an hour, just in case Albert comes back," she replied somewhat awkwardly.

She looked at Aunt Elroy, expecting her to object to her suggestion, but she only nodded.

Candy was going up to her room after dinner when Albert arrived. Her eyes were brightened when she saw him. For a moment she forgot whether she was going upstairs or downstairs. Feeling lost, she suddenly stumbled. But Albert was already there, as agile as a leopard, so as not to let her fall...

-"Are you all right?"

-"Yes...I think...I think I got tangled up in my skirt." Dazed, she looked at her feet, trying to separate herself from him before anyone saw them in such a distressing situation. "I haven't got used to so many flights yet," she added.

Albert gave her his arm to help her go down the three steps and reach the ground floor.

-"Would you like something to eat?" she asked, trying to compose herself.

-"Have you eaten?"

-"Yes, but I'll join you for a slice of cake," she suggested.

-"Cake?" he asked incredulously.

-"Chocolate cake...Peter told me he could put in it anything I wanted. And since I know you like it...I made a little change in the strict menu..." she confessed in a low voice.

Albert laughed.

-"Of course...I had forgotten it was me who liked chocolate cake," he joked.

Candy laughed too.

-"And what about Aunt Elroy?" asked Albert.

-"She's gone to bed."

-"It's already very late...I think I'll just have the cake, otherwise I won't be able to sleep."

-"You're right."

They both headed to the dining room.

-"How did it go?" asked Candy while Albert was eating.

-"It could be said it went well...although we have to go on a trip to close the deal."

-"Really?" she asked sadly.

It was not possible that they had just been married and they already would have to separate.

-"Yes, that business is very important, and we have made a fairly large commercial alliance."

-"I understand," said Candy, trying to hide the desolation of her soul.

-"Excuse me, madam," said the butler. "At what time do you wish breakfast to be served tomorrow?"

-"The same as usual...although later would be more convenient for me...around nine o'clock," she smiled mischievously.

Albert laughed amused.

-"As you wish, madam."

-"You're going to make me be late for work if you delay breakfast," he warned her tenderly.

-"Sure..." She pondered. "It would be better served at the same hour," she said in a resigned air.

-"Candy, you are the most beautiful thing that could have happened to me in this life," confessed Albert cheerfully, raising his hand to caress her gently.

Elroy was about to enter when she heard them talking. The butler was ready to let her pass, but she just gestured him to be silent as she moved away stealthily, leaving them alone. She had given her word not to disturb them and she would keep it.

When they went up to their room, Albert loosened his tie and took off his jacket with ease. Candy was watching him absorbed, not knowing what to expect that night.

Shyly and nervously, she changed in the bathroom, taking longer than

necessary. It was all because of that damned corset. Maybe she should have asked Dorothy to help her. But when Albert was around, maids almost never showed up...Were they afraid of him?

Coming out, she noticed that Albert was in the anteroom, sitting in front of the small desk and reading some documents in the light of the lamp.

Then she understood why he had made a small office there. She recalled that several times, after saying good night to her, he returned to the library to continue working.

Candy quietly withdrew so as not to disturb him.

-"Candy," he called her.

-"Yes?"

-"Are you going to sleep now?"

-"No...I'm not sleepy yet..."

-"Then why are you going to bed?"

-"Because I don't want to disturb you."

Candy peeked out while Albert stood up.

-"You never disturb me," he whispered, approaching her.

-"That's good to know," she smiled.

They hugged each other.

-"When are you going on that trip?" asked Candy, remaining in his arms.

-"We have to leave tomorrow," Albert assured her with a faint smile.

-"Tomorrow? So soon?" Candy's despair was difficult to hide.

-"You don't want to leave tomorrow?" asked Albert, separating a little from her so as to look into her eyes.

-"I?"

-"Yes."

-"Aren't you supposed to go with George?"

-"No," he answered vehemently. "We'll go together. Of course, if you want to."

-"Really?" Candy couldn't believe it.

-"Yes."

-"Albert!" She hugged him tight.

-"Is that a yes?"

-"Yeees!" she cried joyfully.

They laughed.

-"For a moment I thought you didn't want to go."

-"It's because I thought you meant going with George and not me," she confessed, relieved and content.

-"Do you think you could get rid of me so easily? Besides, I don't want to spend my honeymoon with George," he joked.

Candy laughed, happy he would take her with him.

-"But I warn you it's going to be a business trip."

-"I understand." Candy saluted like a soldier. "And where will we go?"

Albert kept silent for a moment.

-"To New York," he said.

-"New York?"

Candy opened her eyes wide, incredulously...That city brought bad memories to her and she had never thought of stepping foot there again...

Albert was looking at her intensely, watching every movement of her face...

To be continued...