This is set slightly pre-canon. Sometime before the Titanic sank but roughly in 1911/1912. Beware, M-rated content! Please review!
Pink II – Playfulness Love
His eyelids were still heavy and refused to follow his wish to stay open. But he wanted to keep his eyes open. He wanted to watch his wife's figure in front of her dressing table. Distantly, he heard her humming, and it lulled him right back to sleep. The covers were so soft and warm against his bare chest that he simply was too comfortable to stay awake.
In a last attempt to stay with her, he mumbled her name, "Cora."
The humming stopped. And then the pink morning robe swished around and the last thing Robert caught was Cora's beaming smile.
"You look comfortable." Her voice carried over to the bed in a warm and low singsong. Robert heard her palms brushing against each other. Then her soft feet padded to the bed. The mattress dipped when she sat down at the lower end.
"Are you still sleeping?" she whispered.
He let out a little groan. After a few seconds, he added in a drowsy voice, "Yes."
She chuckled. The sound mixed into his first moments of drifting off again. Her clear laughter like a bright dream. This slumber lasted only fractions of a second, because, in an instant, Robert felt her weight on his lower body.
"We've slept enough, you snoozer. You'll sleep through all the nice things we could be doing this morning."
Robert blinked against the morning light again, and blearily, saw his wife laying on her stomach across his legs, her feet high up in the air and looking at his sleeping face expectantly. The dark curls framed her face in wild tufts and the longer ones hung down in front of her shoulder, the peach-coloured ribbon only hanging on by a thread.
"Cora. It's still so early," he groaned. "Why are you up already?"
"I guess you left me quite energised after last night," she said lightly.
Last night. Parts of his body woke up much quicker at the mere thought of it.
Her fingertips travelled to the seam of the covers and ran along his exposed collarbones. A pleasant shiver ran through Robert's body. Belying his tired grumpiness, he smiled at the sensation. Wafts of the flowery scent of her hand cream reached his nostrils. That's what she had done at the dressing table.
"You're trying to coax me into more of this," he said.
"Of what?" she asked innocently as her fingers uncovered more and more of his upper body. With one fingertip, she circled his areola just when he was answering her.
"Of last night." He gritted his teeth to keep from making sounds of pleasure and giving in to her so quickly.
"And? What about it?" She was so nonchalant. As if they were making love every time of the day and it was the most normal thing. It stirred a special place in him when she was like this; so certain and confident about their love life. Demanding whatever she wanted and whenever she wanted it, because she wanted him fiercely and around the clock. What a gift her love was!
Robert cleared his throat. "Nothing. Nothing about it." He took her at the elbows and beckoned her up on the bed, closer to him. Her grin was wide when she realised, she had already won him over. Her palms pressed into his ribs and suddenly, her face was a few centimetres from his. Robert kissed her wide smile. His hands glided down on her back and ran along the lace of her morning robe. Like a warm ray of morning sunshine, she melted into him. Like the tender rose light slowly flickering through the windows but amplified by so much love. Robert felt Cora was all around.
His lips greeted her slowly and softly. "What a nice way to wake up," he scattered between blows of kisses.
"No one says you can't have that more often," Cora said and then kissed him on the cheek.
"Oh, some people do."
"Some people don't matter."
With a silent chuckle, Robert stroked some hair from Cora's forehead. His palm followed every dip and curve of her temple and brow. She watched him with that adoring look of hers.
And then, slowly grinding herself against him, she said, "Are still too tired or already up for more? I'm sure we have enough time before you have to go downstairs for breakfast."
"Yes, breakfast has to wait," he said; his voice a husky rasp. His hands dropped to the back of her thighs and he held them in place right against his body. Now the last remnants of sleep wore off quickly and he was awake and ready for her.
With a pleased smile, Cora sat up. Her bum pressed into his thighs. Robert stared at her from his lying position. Cora looked totally the intimate and private version of herself that Robert loved so much. Apart from her bright eyes beaming at him, she had that bedroom look that told him she had been sleeping until just about now, too. Her wild hair graced the morning face that hadn't seen any product yet today. She wasn't touched up yet to be seen by the public. It was Robert's privilege to see her so naturally. She was wrapped in her morning robe that had the colour of the cherry blossoms in their little orchard behind the house. The robe had puffed sleeves and frilly lace on every seam. Cora's hands now wandered to the belt that was closed in a tight bow around her waist. Her fingers loosened the knot, and Robert watched enraptured as the robe slowly opened at the front and he saw that she had nothing underneath. Her nightgown had to be tangled in the sheets somewhere with his own pyjamas.
Robert hummed in appreciation. And Cora laughed as she pushed the robe off her shoulders. She was totally nude now. Robert drank in the sight; not less lusting than last night.
The robe pooled around their hips, together with the sheets that still covered him partly. Cora didn't seem to care about any of that and she just took his wrist and guided his hand between her spread legs. And Robert of course touched eagerly where she desired to be touched. She was warm down there. Robert brushed over her tight dark curls until he reached the place where he could dip his fingers between her folds. He ran his fingers softly up and down on the tender parting of her lower pairs of lips. First tentatively then more eagerly, Cora moved against his hand. A short look told Robert that she gave in to the sensation; her eyes were barely open and her mouth made that adorable pout. Her fingers were still firmly around his wrist. Robert moved his hand more purposefully and alternated the pressure and pace until a little mewl told him that this was right. And he kept giving her just that. She began to pant, and Robert got pleasantly hot under the covers to the point where he strained more and more against her sitting on him.
"Alright, alright, alright. That's good," Cora breathed as she tried to quit the feeling of his fingers and exchange it for the body part of him that was poking her more prominently by the second.
Robert slowly pulled his hand away and for a moment Cora still chased the contact before she regained her self-control. Lazily, she opened her eyes and looked at him with that hooded darkness of desire in her eyes.
"Maybe sit up," she whispered. Robert thought that was a good idea. He wanted to be as close to her as possible and having her lips on his while he was inside her was making their lovemaking even nicer. He scrambled up with a few struggles, and then he had her in his arms just like he wanted. She laughed voicelessly into his embrace and showered his face in kisses. His fingertips pressed into her skin wherever he could reach, and she really seemed to enjoy it. And quickly, Cora blindly fumbled with the fabric separating the two. Her hand tugged impatiently at the sheets over Robert's lap. She lifted her hips a bit but still, she couldn't get the sheets off him.
"Help me," she groaned. Her annoyance was loud and hot in his ears.
"Well, get up."
"I am up!"
"You have to get more off of me," he said and pushed at her knees. He quickly regretted that.
With a huff, she broke all contact with him in a second, and the cold air hit his chest. Her look of irritation pierced right through him. Of course, he hadn't meant it the way it came out. But eventually, the sheets were all off his lap and his erection stood high and proud in the open. Robert held his arms open for her but she still seemed a little annoyed with him.
"I actually prefer you on me, not off me," he said. "You know that, right?"
She slowly came closer to him again and lowered herself onto his lap, not taking him in yet but accepting the peace offer. She didn't say anything and she kept a neutral face.
Robert tried to kiss her last resistance away. She responded and soon lapped at his tongue. Robert pulled her closer with his hands on her lower back, his member pressing against her abdomen.
"All's alright now, hm?" he said lowly when he got free of her lips for a moment.
She only nodded, not wanting to speak. Her face was nicely flushed, and Robert pressed a kiss to her warm cheek. Then, he felt her fingers close around his erection. She looked deeply into his eyes with determination.
"Oh, yes," he breathed.
She guided himself into her and he immediately gripped her hips. He hid his face in her neck, breathing her in deeply and relishing in the intense feel of her. And suddenly, she laughed. Laughed out loud, high and clear and freely.
"That tickles," she said after a moment. Robert felt her squirm under his nuzzling face. He couldn't help himself and continued his attention on her neck as he added soft nibbling on her sensitive skin.
"Robert, stop!" she laughed, but her arms closed tighter around his back. Robert felt her laughs travel through her whole body, even into her core, rippling around his penis inside of her. How could he stop?
Only when her laughs grew into desperate cries, the first cries of agony, he stopped. He pulled back and watched her catch her breath. A few tears were running down her cheeks, and as she brushed them away on her left cheek, Robert raised his hand to do the same on the other cheek.
"I'm sorry," he said with a grin.
"You seem very sorry indeed," she sneered.
"I just like it when you laugh like that."
"And then you torment me like this just because you like it when I laugh."
"I can make it up to you," he suggested.
"Oh?" she sounded interested. "Well then, show me!"
He pushed his hips up into hers. And then again. Twisting his hips so that he brushed along her walls in a way he knew would soon make her eyes roll back. And soon enough, they did, and Cora joined in the efforts. She languidly bounced on his lap. Robert watched her entranced as her pale pink body moved up and down in front of him. She leaned back, her hands resting just above his knees, and her eyes were closed in pleasure. The blood pumping urgently through her body coloured her cheeks a bright pink. Robert jerked into her, and even though she seemed to enjoy that angle a lot, he looped his arm around her back and pulled her closer again. He was dying for a kiss from her full magenta lips. He needed her close.
Their slick bodies moved against each other, not letting a breath of air between them. This really was the best way to start the morning, was the last clear thought Robert had before he fully drowned in pleasure. He clung to Cora's body only waiting for her final groan, signalling that he could let go. But he didn't have to wait too long and, panting heavily, they slumped into each other's arms.
Cora's head nestled lazily in the crook of his neck. She was so calm and relaxed in his arms that he nearly thought she had fallen asleep. But then came her amused low chuckle, and Robert felt her exhale in staccato puffs on the back of his neck.
"How fun!" she mumbled into his body.
Robert ran his fingertips along her sides and secretly, he tried to pull these hearty laughs from her again. It was one of his favourite sounds. But now, she only hummed at his gentle attention.
"Was it fun for you too?" she asked after a while because Robert had given no answer.
"Oh, absolutely!"
"Good." She adjusted her head and turned her face outwards to his shoulder. "Otherwise, I would have felt bad for denying you your last minutes of sleep." Her voice was much clearer now that it wasn't muffled by his skin.
"Really?" He barely believed her.
Cora pushed back and Robert could see her afterglow-basked face now. Her palms rested on his shoulders.
"Sex isn't everything, you know?" she said with an earnest expression. Now Robert was the one laughing out loud.
"You're incorrigible, my dear."
She kissed his cheek before she got up and left the bed. "I'll be with you in a minute." Grabbing her morning coat, she went to the bathroom, and soon Robert heard the running water.
"That's the way to live," he whispered to himself. He arranged the pillows behind his back and sighed satisfied. What a lucky man he was!
Cora was still in the bathroom when Robert's thoughts wandered to the events of the day. She seemed to take her time. Robert threw a glance at his alarm clock. They had really exploited the morning. Soon, the servants would wonder what was up with their masters.
"Cora! What is keeping you? We have already exhausted the free hours of the morning. And you still have to prepare James's and Patrick's coming over," Robert called.
"I'm on my way!" The door to the bathroom opened a crack. "We're still in time. And James's and Patrick's visit will be fine. As long as Mary is in a good mood their visit will be a success," she called from inside. Then she walked through the door, all orderly and neatly wrapped into her morning robe. She was brushing her hands over her hair that she had tied back with the ribbon.
"That's a delicate variable." Robert hoped Mary would soon change her mind about Patrick. She never said outright she wouldn't marry him but her cold indifference made the whole deal so much harder. She seemed to be the one least looking forward to Patrick visiting Downton. For a short moment, Robert wished Edith was the oldest. Just because she seemed more eager to do everything the way Robert wanted. In a way, Edith was maybe more like Robert, in the sense that she seemed to care for the greater purpose she could serve while Mary valued herself most highly, always looking out for herself primarily.
Robert got out of bed now himself. He collected his pyjamas from the depths of their bed and slipped into cotton clothes. He found Cora's nightgown.
"Do you need this?" He held it up for her.
"Yes. We don't want to scandalise O'Brien too much."
Robert watched her as she opened the robe again, laid it down on the bed, and pulled the nightgown over her head, covering the pale pink skin entirely again. She only casually threw her morning coat on now. When she walked to her dressing table again, Robert followed her. Cora's hand hovered above all the jars and small pots full of ladies' cosmetics. Robert wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder.
"Sprucing yourself up, fair lady?"
Her fingers settled on an off-white jar and she quickly opened the lid. The insides showed a pink cream and the familiar scent of her hand cream rose to Robert's nose. Cora dabbed a finger into the cream and then spread it on the back of her hand.
"You don't need to cream your hands at every opportunity," he said.
"It's not for you to understand," Cora simply stated and continued rubbing the lotion into her skin.
"Your hands are soft anyway. That's what this is for, right?"
"Go ring for your valet. You have your morning routine and I have mine."
Robert squeezed her. He didn't want to leave her room just now. He planted his lips on her cheek right before her ear.
"No, show me! Maybe it's for me too," he said. He let go of her waist and reached his fingers into the small jar, his arms still around her body. His fingertips were covered in pink cream.
"Robert!" she called out in surprise. "That's too much!"
"No, it's not. I have larger hands than you." He tried to massage the cream into his hands. The sticky texture on his skin was weird and irritating. But he didn't let it show.
"Mhm, how soft! Oh, I love that hand cream!" he said in a mock impression of her voice.
Cora snickered quietly as she seized to attend to her own hands and just stood there in his arms and watched him massage his hands. Robert reached into the pot again. Her adorable reaction suddenly prompted him to extend his joke even further. He took more cream and spread it on his lower arms.
"I need more of this. This is doing my skin good, believe me," he said and Cora covered her mouth with her hands as she laughed hard. "I might come back in a minute because I definitely need more of that hand cream," Robert emphasised.
"Robert, that is not at all accurate. I'm not like this. And I don't sound like this," Cora protested.
Robert caught her in his sticky flowery-scented arms and hugged her tightly. Cora shrieked when he spread the excess of the lotion on her but still, she melted into his embrace as he once again nuzzled her neck.
"You're impossible, Robert," she said but her voice was a soft coo. "And good luck explaining that your valet." She grabbed his arms and pulled them off her body.
Reluctantly, Robert let her go and made his way to his dressing room. Before he turned the doorknob, he halted and looked back at Cora. He saw her lifting the sheets and saw her expression brighten when she found her undergarments.
In a low voice, he inquired, "And how do I get this off?" He rubbed his fingers against each other. He really did not enjoy the feeling of the cream on his skin.
Cora looked at him confused. "Well, usually you don't. Because you only take the necessary amount." She couldn't hold back a laugh when she said this. "But maybe try water," she suggested.
The tips of Robert's ears were coloured hot pink when he went into his room to ring for his valet and ask for a bigger jug of water for his morning routine.