*Author's Note*

Thank you for the reviews, faves, and follows.

This picks up where the last chapter left off. Oh and warning LEMONS THIS HAS LEMONS!

Love's Comfort & Aftermath

Novella POV:

I'm not sure how long we were laying together on the bed for, his strong arms wrapped around me in a gentle and soothin' hold as his chin rested on my coppery tangles of hair. I could feel the beat of his heart 'gainst my back, groundin' me and levelin' off my emotions. I felt a bit calmer with him holdin' me, his presence chasin' 'way the sad thoughts an' feelin's.

A realization hit me as I laid in Tolbert's arms. I had fallen for him. I felt love for him. I was in love with Tolbert. No, it wasn't as strong as the love he felt for me, but it was love never the less.

I turned 'round in Tolbert's arms so that I know faced him. His brow scrunched as he looked at me with a puzzled look. "I love you, Tolbert." I revealed my revelation to him, my flowin' voice soft and whisper-like.

"Truly?" Tolbert asked, his velvet timbre shakin' softly as his storm filled eyes shined with hope as he looked into my cornflower blues.

"Truly." I answered, confirmin' the fact that my love for him was real, Small and newly formed, but real.

Tolbert lifted his hand up and placed it on my cheek. "I love ya, Ella. I'm happy ya feel the same way now." Tolbert smiled before givin' me a gentle kiss on the lips.

I pressed my lips back into his, responding to his kiss, as one of my hands slipped onto his shoulder. Tolbert deepened the kiss, his lips pressing harder and moving quicker over mine. Hiz hand tangled in my hair as our kiss grew more passionate. His mouth pulled away from mine. While I heaved, catchin' my breath, Tolbert started to pepper kisses along my jaw and right behind my ear, where my jaw and neck met.

Tolbert pulled away from kissing my neck and looked at me wit' an unreadable look whenever I let out a small whimper. He swallowed, makin' his Adam's apple bob in his throat, before askin' me, "Ya wanna go on? I won't touch ya less ya want me to, even tho I gotta need for ya real bad."

Goin' on and have him touchin' me meant that we'd be layin' together the way man and wife do. I knew that I was supposed to save myself for my husband, that's what God says to do, but I felt this strange ach for Tolbert. I had the urge to feel his skin, his kisses, his touch.

Lookin' him straight in the eye my flowin' voice softly, but quickly, blurted out, "I wanna go on."

"Yea? Ya sure?"

"I'm sure."

Tolbert smirked before descendin' on my lips once more. This time as he kissed me feverishly I felt his fingers unhooking the buttons in the back of my dress. Never breaking the kiss he placed his arms on my shoulders and pushed the top of my dress off of me, exposin' the top part of my shift. He broke the kiss only to kiss a trail along my jaw and down my neck to where the top of my breasts where covered by my shift. I felt goosebumps appear on my flesh as he peppered a few kisses along my chest and shoulders.

Stopping he stood up and extended his hand out for me to talke. Silently, givin' him a curious look, I took his hand. He just smirked before pullin' my dress down the rest of the way. I felt my heart hammerin' in my chest as I stepped out of the dress pooled 'round my feet. Out of pure instinct I placed my hands on Tolbert's suspenders and pushed them off his shoulders. As I began to unbutton his shirt my hands began to shake.

Tolbert stopped my shaky hands by placing his calloused ones on them. I looked at his storm-filled eyes with my cornflower blues, silently questionin' him. "Just take off yer stockin's an' bloomers. I'll undress myself, darlin'." He told me with his velvety toned voice as he dropped his hold on my hands.

I just nodded my head and did what he told me to do. Once my stockin's and bloomers were off I just sat on the bed, watchin' Tolbert finish strippin' down to his long-johns. Whenever I saw him pull his red long-john shirt over his head, exposin' his lightly auburn hair spattered chest, I felt a sudden urge of want course thru me. I wanted to run my hands over his chest, which was muscular. I always knew that Tolbert was well built, due to farm chores and liftin' heavy crates full of shine bottles, but knowin' and seein' are two different things. Seein' him shirtless for the first time made me realize that he was a handsome and strong man.

Without warnin' Tolbert yanked the quilt off the bed and out from under me, nearly makin' me fall off the bed too. "Why'd you do that for?" I asked as he tossed the quilt onto the floor.

"So it won't get messed up." Messed up, but why would it get messed up? "First time's a bloody mess for a woman. Hurt's a lil too." Tolbert answered me, as if he knew what I was thinkin', as he joined me on the bed. "Don't worry, I'll be gentle." He assured me before plantin' a kiss on my lips, then kissin' his way across my jaw and down my neck to my shoulders.

As he peppered kisses across my shoulders and chest, occasionally trailin' up and down my neck as well, my hands roamed his chest. His muscles were like solid steel under my fingertips. I could feel them ripple slightly with every breath that he took.

His kisses stopped and he looked up at me with a slight grin before untying the ribbon on the top of my shift, openin' it and pullin' it down to expose my breasts. Before I could utter a word Tolbert had my breasts in his hands, touchin' and squeazin' them, as he kissed the valley between them. I felt a sensation I never felt before, a warmness low in my belly and a growin' wetness between my legs. The new feelin's grew as Tolbert suckled one of my breasts while rollin' and pinchin' the peak of the other between his calloused thumb and finger.

As he stopped his sucklin' and began to nibble behind my ear I felt his one of his hands grasp my hip while the other ran up my thigh up high up 'tween my legs. He nudged them open before touchin' my wet core. "Tolbert…" I softly moaned, my hands restin' on his chest, as I felt him rubbin' circles on the nub above my slit.

"Feel good?" Tolbert asked me, pullin' his head back to look at me while he continued to rub me 'tween the legs.

"Yea." I nodded, causin' him to smile.

Suddenly he slowly pushed a finger inside of me which caused me to let out a surprised soundin', "Ooo…"

Tolbert didn't say anythin' just moved his finger a few times before addin' another. After a few minutes I felt my stomach coil and my core tighten. Tolbert quickened his pace while comandin' smoothly and hoarsely, "Let go, Ella. Just let go for me."

His words for some reason tipped me off of an edge I didn't even know I was teeterin' from. I felt a blissful feelin' rush over me, causin' me to let out a slew of small moans. My body tingled with a euphoric rush I've never felt before as my core flutter 'round Tolbert's fingers. I laid of my bed, my chest heavin' as I tried to steady my breathin', as Tolbert removed his fingers from me. He looked at me with a lustful smirk before suckin' them clean. The action shocked me, I never thought he'd do that.

Tolbert stood up from the bed and extended his hand out to me. I sat up and took it, lettin' him pull me up to stand a bit wobbly on my feet. Tolbert kissed me before grabbed the hem of my shift and pullin' it up. I lifted my arms up, lettin' him pull the cotton garment off and over my head. "Get on the bed, darlin'." Tolbert ordered, tossin' my shift aside.

I just nodded and sat on the bed, watchin' him as he pulled down his red long-john pants. Seein' Tolbert naked made me both nervous and excited at the same time. He was a large man, had what whores would call a big prick, an' I had no idea how that was supposed to fit into me. I mean I didn't know much 'bout sex, I never had a mother to tell me and Aunt Sally just told me that Tolbert would guide me in our marital bed. So, yep, I'm just goin' alon' with both my instinct and Tolbert's actions with this stuff.

"Yer blushin', darlin'." Tolbert told me in his velvety lust filled timbre as he joined me on the bed. Kneelin' right in front of me he took my hand in his, placin' it on his hardness. "Ya can touch me." Tolbert bluntly told me, smirkin', as he guided my hand up and down along his hard prick a few times before removin' his hand and just leavin' mine to touch him. After a minute or so a groan escaped Tolbert's lips. "Ella, ya better let my prick go or we'll never be able t'finish makin' love." Tolbert told me as another groan fell from his mouth as he bit his lip.

I nodded and let my hand fall from him. Tolbert took a few deep breaths, calmin' him, before he placed a hand on my shoulder and guided me to lay on my back. He nudged my legs open with his knee before bringin' himself to rest between them, his upper body hoverin' above mine. "This'll hurt, but I'll try t'be gentle an' fast in breakin' ya in. Okay?"

"Okay." I told him as I felt a sudden wave of nerves wash over me.

Tolbert quickly pecked me on the lips before bringin' his hand to his hard prick. He smeared his length with the white beads drippin' out of it before linin' it up 'gainst my wet slit. As he began to push into me I felt a burnin' sensation. Quickly out reflex I grabbed his shoulders. As Tolbert continued enterin' me I felt myself stretch 'round him with a burnin' an' stingin' feelin'. I held tightly onto his shoulders but dug my nails into them as I felt him break my barrier, makin' me feel like I'd just been torn in half.

"Ella, darlin', ya okay? Did I hurt ya?" Tolbert asked, worry and concern in his smooth gruff voice, as he looked into my eyes that were blinkin' back tears.

"I'm okay. It just stings." I told him, playin' down the hurtful ache between my legs where we were connected.

"I'll go slow an' be gentle wit' ya." Tolbert assured me before kissin' me softly. He broke the kiss right as he started to slowly move.

After a little while the stingin' pain faded and was replaced with the achin' coilin' wantin' feelin' the I felt earlier when Tolbert was fingerin' me. I let out a small moan, which caused Tolbert to smirk at me before slightly speedin' up. My hands raked up and down his back as my hips began to roll into his, meetin' an' matchin' his movements as I chased my blissful release.

We were both pantin' and moanin', soaked wit' sweat, whenever I felt myself tighten 'round him and feel the wave of pleasure begin to wash over me. "Tolbert…" I moaned lowly, as I felt myself lettin' go.

"Darlin', I'm right behind ya." Tolbert grunted as he moved faster, pushin' me over the edge.

My back arched and Tolbert's name tumbled from my mouth as I peeked, feelin' pleasure overtake my sense. A few short moments later Tolbert jerked and spilled his seed inside of me while gruntin' my name. He collapsed on me, but quickly rolled over next to me.

So, that was that. We just made love, even tho we weren't man and wife yet. Dear lord, it might be a sin t'do so, but it felt wonderful.

I was layin' on my side with Tolbert behind me, holdin' me in his arms with his chin restin' on top of my head. Much like he did earlier when comfortin' me as I cried, but this time we were naked and wrapped in our quilt. Our hair was soaked with sweat and I had dried blood on my thighs too, but it didn't matter cause we were glowin' in the after math of our bliss.

"I love ya, Ella." Tolbert's velvet timbre spoke up, breakin' the silence in our room.

"I know. I love ya too, Tolbert." I replied softly, tiredness evident in my flowin' voice.

"Ya feelin' okay? Nothin' hurtin too bad?"

"I'm fine, Tolbert. Just sore an' tired's all." I honestly answered him.

Tolbert just kissed the top of my head in reply to my answer. One of him hands took my, lacin' our fingers together. Silence took over the room, surroundin' us, as we cuddled. Soon my eyelids felt heavy and I was driftin' off to sleep.

Dawn's mornin' light shined thru the bedroom window, wakin' me up. I tried to sit up, but Tolbert had his warm wrapped 'round my waist with his hand still holdin' mine. I wriggled my hand free from his and moved his arm off of my waist. As I sat up he stirred and woke up. "Where ya goin', Ella?" Tolbert asked in a sleep laced velvet voice while grabbin' my elbow, causin' me to still in my movements.

I turned my head to look at him while sayin', "To clean up and dress. Why?"

"No reason, just don't want ya sneakin' off while I'm sleepin's all." Tolbert told me, lettin' go of his grip on my arm.

"Oh." I simply nodded.

As I got up from the bed and walked over to the dresser he told me, "I'm gonna head into town today, get some supplies. I want ya to stay here, do women's work 'round the house 'til I get back."

"But why can't I come?" I asked as I poured some of the water from the pitcher I took from the top of the dresser into the small washbowl that was also on the dresser.

"Cause I said so, darlin'." Tolbert told be as I grabbed the cloth off the dresser, dipping it into the water bowl. As I quickly washed off he walked up behind me while firmly explainin' in a smooth voice, "Yer needed here 'round the cabin."

"You can't order me t'stay here and clean a cabin that ain't even dirty, Tolbert. You're not my lord and master." I rashly told him as I turned around and slapped his chest with the wet clothed, caused him to grab it out of pure reflex.

"As of last night, I'm yer husband in all, but name so ya gonna listen to me when I tell ya t'do somethin'." Tolbert informed me as he wet the cloth and wrung it out while I collected my undergarments from the floor.

My lord, is that really how he felt. We slept together so now he has the right t'boss me 'round. Hell, bein' his wife's not gonna be easy. What did I get myself into? Damnit, guess it's better then becomin' a dried up lonely old maid.

"If ya want somethin' special let me know. If I can I'll pick it up." Tolbert told me as he started to collect his long-johns while I went over to our dresser, pulling out a simple dress to wear for the day.

"Material for drapes since all the windows are bare." I told him as I put my dress on, buttoning the few buttons that lined the front.

"Okay, I'll see what I can find for ya." Tolbert told me as he grabbed himself a pair of pants from our dresser while I put on my stockin's and boots.

"I still think that I should go wit' you, Tolbert." I told him while watching him step into his pants and pull them up.

Tolbert's nostrils flared like a bull's as he took a shirt out of the dresser. Quickly he pulled it on while tellin' me, "Ella, I'll pick ya out somethin' real nice for sewin' drapes. Yer still not goin', tho." He took out some socks from the drawer and a set of suspenders before goin' over to our bed to sit down. "Go on and get yer day started. I'll be headed t'town soon."

I just nodded, shooting him a glare, before walkin' out of our room to do as he wanted me to. Start my day doin' housework in a cabin that wasn't dirty and didn't have any food in it. Looks like I'll be spendin' my time bondin' with the dogs.

Yea, Tolbert's a bit bi-polar... I imagine that with his uncontrollable temper and sudden outburst he must've had something going on upstairs in the attic. A. nyways Novella and Tolbert are seriously together now.