Whiskers:

Elsie took a deep breath and sighed happily, wiggling her toes as she stretched out on the sofa and enjoyed a few quiet moments to herself. The windows of their little cottage were all raised, letting in the soft summer breeze while the birds singing outside offered up the sweetest music to entertain her. The new sheer white curtains which she'd made a few days ago flapped back and forth gently as if the entire house was taking a deep breath and exhaling it slowly in time with her own deep breaths. The smell of a peach pie floated into the sitting room from the kitchen causing Elsie to smile proudly. Glancing at the clock on the mantle, she reasoned that it had only about ten more minutes before it would need to be removed from the oven and set on the side table to cool. It was to be her little surprise for Charles since he had gone to all the trouble of picking the peaches from trees at the home farm.

Charles had decided to spend some time down by the lake, hoping to catch some fish for their supper, though he had warned Elsie not to start any preparations until he was back with the catch. Since Thomas Barrow had stepped in as the butler of Downton Abbey, Charles Carson had started doing more things which gave him pleasure instead of what was to be expected of a servant. It made Elsie incredibly happy to come home some days to hear her husband snoring in his chair or even humming as he puttered around in their little garden.

Since the family was away in London for the season and Miss Baxter had taken on the role of housekeeper, Elsie had taken several weeks away from the house. She and Charles had spent the first week unpacking the forgotten boxes and rearranging a few odds and ends. She had grown to love the idea of being a housewife, managing her own home, and tending to the needs of her husband and her husband alone. And, for his part, Charles was more than thrilled to have Elsie around the house more and more. Upon the return of the family, Elsie would retire and join her husband in their new life of leisure. This little taste of heaven was merely the beginning of their married life, and they couldn't have been happier.

One more glance at the clock reminded Elsie that it was time to remove the peach pie from the oven and that Charles should be returning home soon. She had hoped, for his sake as much as hers, that he'd been successful with his fishing. Still, even if they only had a light supper, it was something they would make together and enjoy as husband and wife.

She had just placed the pie on the counter to cool when she heard the front door open and Charles's humming replaced the birdsong which she'd enjoyed for most of the afternoon. She smiled and quickly wiped her hands on the dish towel and turned just in time to be wrapped up in a loving embrace by her husband.

"Mmm, how I missed you today," he whispered against the side of her neck as he backed her up against the small counter in their kitchen.

"Maybe you shouldn't have stayed away all day, then, Mr. Carson," she countered, tilting her head a little more to the right so he could pay proper homage to the spot just below her left ear.

"I wanted to make my wife proud by bringing home something for her to cook," he answered, slipping his hand around her waist and cupping her bottom. "Though, at the moment, cooking is the last thing on my mind."

Elsie giggled and pushed him back a little so she could catch her breath. "So, Charlie, tell me … what is on your mind?"

He took both her hands in his and began backing out of the kitchen and towards the sitting room. "Well, you see, while I was sitting on the bank, all alone, I had a lot of time to think." He continued to walk backwards until he was standing in front of the sofa Elsie had occupied only a short while ago. "And while I was on that bank, my thoughts drifted to home and the beautiful wife waiting for me. I remembered the way she kissed me, moved with me, and cried out my name. My mind recalled how lovely she looks when the moonlight spills in through the bedroom window and bathes her in moonbeams. And then, all I could think was why on earth I was sitting on a bank all alone when I could be home ravishing my wife."

She shook her head and grinned. "Is this your way of telling me you were unsuccessful at fishing today?" Far be it from Elsie to pass up an opportunity to tease her easily flustered husband.

"The fish are outside waiting to be cleaned, which I will do in due course before I take a bath. But I was serious, Elsie. I had a lot of time to think on that bank and you were in every single one of those thoughts."

"I'm flattered, Charlie," she said, reaching up and running her fingers through his hair. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him softly at first then more deeply as his lips began to glide over hers, his hands roaming over her body and exciting her with every caress. Before she had a chance to think, Charles led her to the sofa and helped her stretch out, just as she had been lounging before. He studied her for a long moment, his Scottish lass with her dark hair, her sparkling blue eyes, creamy complexion, and pink lips. Suddenly, his need to claim her, to remind her of his vows to worship her with his body, to see her come undone beneath him was too great.

He dropped to his knees beside her and began to slowly trace a deliberate path from her ankles up her shapely legs using only his fingertips. When he reached her knees, he paused in his exploration and shifted so that he was now kneeling between her legs on the opposite end of the sofa. Silently, he asked for permission to continue, and it was eagerly granted. With a broad smile, Charles lowered himself to her knees and replaced his fingertips with his lips and tongue, intent of completing the journey towards the prize awaiting him.

Elsie watched him with increasing passion. She tried desperately to remain in control of her body, her breaths, and her rapidly beating heart though to no avail. She sighed softly as his hands left her legs and began to deftly unbutton the fastenings of her blouse, slowly peeling away the fabric from her torso, breasts, and sides. The warm breeze from the window caressed her skin, and she was never more grateful that she had finally abandoned the bloody corset and opted for prettier and more easily removed undergarments.

Charles growled as he watched his wife open her arms to him, inviting him into her embrace. But, he had other plans in mind. Slipping his fingers beneath the waistband of her skirt and knickers, he slowly slipped them down her legs and dropped them beside the couch before taking her left leg in his hands and bringing it up to his face. Softly, he rubbed his cheek against her calf as he stared into her darkening eyes. He was not prepared for the sound she emitted.

"Did you just giggle, Elsie Carson?" he asked as he slipped her knee onto his shoulder and took her right leg in his hands, intent of giving it the same treatment.

"It tickles," she managed to say just before he repeated the action with her other leg, coaxing yet another burst of laughter from her.

He gave her a mischievous smile. "Does it, indeed? I had no idea," he said with mock innocence.

"Oh, I think you do," she countered, reaching out to run her fingers across his cheek, taking note of the soft whiskers.

"Any complaints, then?" he asked before nipping her inner thigh then soothing it with his skilled tongue.

She took a deep breath and let it out very slowly, humming as she did so. "Only if you stop," she said before losing all coherent thoughts. She allowed her head to fall back against the arm of the sofa, her arms over her head and gripping the edge. While his lips and tongue worked to bring her as much pleasure as possible, his hands slipped up her body and began to gently knead her breasts. In no time at all, she had unclasped the offending garment and removed it and her shirt, tossing both to the floor beside her.

With his beautiful wife bare before him, Charles quickly shed his clothing and returned to pleasuring Elsie. He took his time, drawing out her happiness and excitement as much as possible, finding all of the places she found erotic, and enjoying it as she grew closer and closer to her release. But both of them were unprepared for her tipping point. With his lips bathing her breasts, Elsie found the tickling sensation of his warm breath, his lips, his tongue, and his whiskers to be her undoing.

"The whiskers … they tickle … and oh, Charlie, my Charlie," she cried out as her body shook with a powerful release. He continued to kiss and caress her until she was well and truly sated before scooting back on the sofa, his head resting on her stomach.

"Did you enjoy that, love?" he asked with a sigh as her fingers lazily carded through his hair. "It certainly was enjoyable for me to watch you come undone like that."

"I don't know why but that was certainly intense, love. I feel like a little puddle. I don't want to move."

"Nor do you have to at the moment, though I think we'd both be more comfortable in bed."

"I still have to make your dinner. You still have fish to clean and a bath to take," she gently reminded him.

"Let's stay right here for a bit, first. No need to rush anywhere. We've got all the time in the world."

She closed her eyes and relaxed, her mind reliving the moments they had just shared together. Several quiet moments had passed before she suddenly found herself laughing, softly at first and then more loudly.

"What's so funny?" he asked, turning his head slightly and looking into her face.

"Just being naughty, I suppose."

"Naughty? Do tell, Mrs. Carson. Your husband is all ears."

She felt a faint blush creep over her, though why it was there she wasn't sure. It wasn't as if she had anything to be embarrassed about since they were well and truly married. "I suppose I was just wondering …"

"Yes," he asked, shifting so that his chin was now resting on her bare stomach, his fingertips lazily running up and down her sides, occasionally causing her to squirm.

"You didn't shave this morning."

"Yes, we've established that," he replied, moving his chin against her stomach so she could be reminded of his stubble.

"That's an impressive set of whiskers you've got after not shaving for just one day."

"One day old stubble does not a bearded man make, love. What's your point?"

She lowered her eyes and stared at him seductively. "I was simply wondering how it might be if you didn't shave for a week or more. Several men in our acquaintance have mustaches, some even have beards."

He chuckled softly and moved up her body until he could rub his cheeks against her bare breasts. "Is that something you'd like, Elsie? Would you like me to grow a mustache or beard just for you, for your … pleasure?"

She shivered beneath him, the very idea of experimenting with him exciting her even now. "You could always shave it off whenever you wanted," she offered. "And the family won't be back for a few more weeks. Plenty of time to return to the respectable, clean shaven Charles Carson before we see them again."

"You'll hear no arguments from me, love. Though you must promise me that if it starts to grow and you don't like it … for whatever reason," he said, giving her a pointed look, "you must tell me immediately. If it makes you uncomfortable in any way, I'll shave it off with no hesitation."

She grinned like the cat that got the canary. "And what would you like in return, Charlie? Surely, there's something I can do for you in return." She trailed her index finger down his impressive nose, tapping it on the end once before trailing it over his lips and throat. She saw him swallow hard and heard his breathing change.

"Maybe a trip to Ripon to visit that ladies store. I'd like to buy you some nice, soft nightgowns, more undergarments like these," he said, nodding his head towards the ones on the floor.

"That's lovely, but it would benefit me more than you. That wouldn't be terribly fair."

He shook his head and reached up to cup her cheek. "Trust me, I would get a great deal of enjoyment from those, too, though if you wanted to throw in an apple or peach pie more frequently, I wouldn't say no."

She laughed and pulled him up for a kiss. "Why don't we get those fish cleaned and you in the bath. When you're done, we can sit down to a nice dinner and continue our little discussion."

"Have I told you lately how much I love you, Mrs. Carson?"

"No, not in the last few minutes, but you certainly show me in a thousand little way every single day, and that's more than I ever thought I'd have in my life."

"I love you, Elsie, so very, very much."

"And I love you, too, Charlie. Now, go get those fish cleaned so I can start our supper," she said gently pushing him up so they could both sit on the couch. She kissed him quickly on the cheek and laughed. "Then, it's in the bath with you … and remember … no shaving those whiskers, Mr. Carson! That face and those whiskers are mine."

The End.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading my response to the Chelsie Prompts series. This one was Whiskers. If you're so inclined, I'd love to hear what you think about the story in a review. HUGS!