The Red Room

That night Edith went to the bottom drawer in her wardrobe and pulled out a box she had put there after her last shopping trip into Ripon. She opened it to reveal a nightgown made of silk in the latest style. It clung to her curves like a sheath. The straps were small and the v-neckline plunged between her breasts. She looked at herself in the mirror and her hands flew to her cheeks. She was embarrassed by what she was contemplating yet at the same time the desire to go to her fiancé was driving her crazy. Other than his slightly off color comments about wanting to spend time alone with her, he hadn't come right out and asked her to come to his room. He hadn't even said he loved her. Was desire enough to base a marriage on? Edith wasn't sure but it certainly was better than her prospects with Anthony Strallen. He had been a nice man, but as far as physical attraction, he had left her wanting.

Finally, she got up, put on her housecoat and slippers and got the candle from her beside table. She put the key to her bedroom door in her pocket after she locked it and headed down the hall. When she reached the door to the Red Bedroom she paused and took a deep breath. Once she turned that handle her decision would be irrevocable. Was she ready for this? She still wasn't sure, but whatever happened she didn't want to be an old maid that had never been with a man. It was now or never.

She cautiously glanced up and down the hallway before she tapped quietly on the door. She turned the knob and entered the room. Her fiancé was sitting still half dressed in an armchair he had pulled over so he could look out of the window.

"I was wondering if you'd be along," he said as he held out his hand to her. Edith set the candle on a dresser before she blew it out and went over to hold his hand.

"So who is Anthony Strallen?" he asked.

"A man who was interested in me for a time last fall. He changed his mind."

"Did you love him?"

"No. I was lonely and he paid me compliments. I was fond of him."

"Do you love me Edith?" he asked. He looked up at her. She couldn't fathom the expression on his face, the room was too dark and she couldn't make out any of the details around his eyes. She was so terribly nervous all she could do was nod.

"Good. I've written to my parents. They'll be overjoyed I've found someone nice. They were afraid I would marry a French Canadian."

"Is that so bad?" Edith questioned.

"I'm of English/Scottish decent. The English and French don't mix well. There aren't a lot of English speaking girls back home. You'll find there are lots of English brides. You won't be lonely if we get there."

"What do you mean if?"

"The news coming from France isn't good. There a strong chance I might not…"

Edith stopped his words with her fingers on his lips. She kneeled down and pressed her lips to his. His arms went around her and he kissed her back harder than he had ever done in the past. He was kissing her with so much passion Edith was slightly frightened at first. He stood up pulling her with him, pushed her housecoat off her shoulders and trailed kisses down the side of her neck. He was holding her pressed against his naked chest where his shirt was hanging open. Edith could feel herself responding and her natural awkwardness starting to leave her.

"I didn't lock the door," she managed to mumble. "I wasn't sure if you would want me here."

"Why wouldn't I?" he said against her lips. He went to the door and locked it all the while keeping an arm around her so she went with him. Edith kicked off her slippers. They hit the dresser with a slight thunk.

"I'm not pretty like my sisters, I don't really know why you would want me, but I'm glad that you do." she said.

"I don't like dark haired women," he said. "Your beautiful when you forget about your family and talk about the land. Don't let anyone tell you your not."

He kissed her again cradling her head against his shoulder. Edith slid her arms around him and pressed herself close. The passion of a few minutes ago was back even stronger than before. His tongue was in her mouth and she was sliding his shirt down his arms and onto the floor. Her hands trailed along the muscles in his arms and touched his back in wonder. His lips trailed along her cheekbones and caressed the sides of her eyes. He moved back from her slightly as he pushed the thin strips of silk from her shoulders and the nightdress landed in a puddle on the floor. He wrapped his arms around her again and lifted her slightly to carry her to the bed.

The roughness of his wool uniform pants scratched her legs. Edith allowed her self to be lowered to the bed and reached for the closure of his trousers as she sat on the side of the mattress. She undid the buttons. They were tight and she had to tug hard to get them undone. He let his trousers drop as she tentatively stroked his hardened penis through his drawers. He began undoing the buttons and allowed his underwear to drop as well. Edith's eyes opened wide as his hardened penis sprang free of its restraint. He kicked off the remaining cloths and moved to join her on the bed. She was more than a little frightened and turned her face away from him and shut her eyes tightly.

"Look at me," he said placing a hand on the side of her face and turning it back towards him. "Edith," his lips trailed over hers while her eyes were still squeezed tightly shut. "Open your eyes and look at me." Slowly she opened her eyes keeping her gaze riveted squarely on the center of his chest.

"It's alright," he coaxed trailing kisses across her lips. "We're not doing anything terrible. Try to relax." He pushed the folded back covers open a little further so she could get into bed and then lay down beside her. "Don't be frightened." He took her hand in his and kissed her wrist and forearm. He stroked her abdomen and thighs until she sighed and started to relax. Her eyelids drifted shut as she began to enjoy his touch and her hands began to tentatively explore his body. He kissed her mouth again allowing her desire to build to match his own. It wasn't long and Edith was kissing him with increasing passion as she pressed herself against him tighter. He followed the trail of his hands over her body with his lips. He slowly kissed his way around the undersides of her breasts making her moan with the sensation. Finally when she was pulling on his hair and her nails were scratching his back he traced a line with his tongue around her aroused nipple and pulled it into his mouth. Edith began to whimper. He finally broke off what he was doing and moved to look directly into her eyes.

"Do you like that?" he questioned with a grin.

"Yes," she said through trembling lips. Her eyes were open and she returned his smile shyly.

"Good, I like how you sound when you like something."

He placed his lips on hers again and kissed her with more passion. She was twisting in his grasp and pulling on his shoulders. She had no idea what she was doing but it felt right. He attempted to push her legs apart with his hand, but she resisted.

"Edith you have to move your legs, trust me. It's not going to hurt. You'll like it."

She finally let the muscles in her legs go enough that he was able to nestle his hips between her thighs. He continued to kiss, suck and tease her body until she was squirming beneath him again and moaning in the back of her throat. Suddenly she felt a pressure inside her with a tearing sensation. She tried to pull away from it, but he held her tightly to him.

"Relax, give it a minute," he whispered to her. She nodded her head before his lips closed over hers again. Once her body adjusted to him being inside her the sensations took over and she threw back her head as he moved. He took his time making every movement count to the fullest. Edith didn't feel awkward at all or out of place. She felt as though she was floating above the bed on a cloud of sensation. Suddenly the awareness increased to a fever pitch and she felt wave after wave pushing against her. She started to struggle against it.

"Let it happen," he coaxed her. "It won't harm you." He reached between them and rubbed her pubic area. He circled her swollen nub with his index finger until she cried out. He had been holding himself in check and sweating with the effort. He finally let his own climax happen and emptied himself into her warmth.

They lay in the same position, not moving for a long time. He looked down at her and continued to stroke her hair away from her face as though he was trying to memorize every line of her face and second of their time together. Finally he moved onto the vacant side of the bed. When Edith tried to get up, he pulled her back against him.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"I have to go back to my room," she said. "Someone might notice I'm gone."

"Do people normally look for you at three in the morning?"

"No," she said.

"Stay with me."

"But!"

"No, buts. Stay. We can do that again in a few minutes if you like."

"So soon?" she questioned. "I didn't think you could that quick."

"I'm not an old man. Who told you about sex?"

"No one."

"What? Didn't anyone tell you the basics? What to expect? Nothing?"

"Not a word."

"What did you think? Did you like it?"

"It was nice. Like an unexpected present but better," she said against his shoulder.

He lay staring at the ceiling for a bit, lost in his thoughts.

"Fliers have a bad reputation for living a wild life. I will stay true to you. I give you my word. You have nothing to worry about."

"I don't want to think about the war or your flying or any of it," she said. "I just want to be here now with you."

"Sounds good to me," he said as he kissed her and the passion rekindled itself for the second time.