Already His (The Caversham Chronicles - Book Two) (49 page)

Elise shivered as she felt his erection growing beneath her. She shifted, afraid she was hurting him. Kissing his eyes and temples, her lips then traced a path to below and behind his ear, where his pulsed thrummed wildly. Her hands parted his robe and she caressed his chest. Resting her hand over his heart, she could have sworn it beat so hard it would burst from his chest. Moving her hand again, she felt the tip of his nipples harden under her palm. She stared into his hazel eyes, filled with an emotion she’d always longed to see there. Her husband loved her. He tugged at the chain around her waist, and she rose from his lap and unfastened it. He took it from her and dropped it to the floor. Then she felt his hands slip beneath the tunic and slide upward to cover her breasts, which ached for his touch. He toyed with her nipples, sending sharp rivulets of fire to her core.

When he lifted the tunic, she raised her arms for him allowing him to remove it from her. His hands were everywhere at once, caressing her back, her waist and shoulders. She felt his tongue tracing a path down the nape of her neck, and rest at her collarbone, her head fell backward giving up her breasts to his mouth. As he laved her nipples, his hand had worked the drawstring free from her pantalettes and she felt his hand reach in and stroke her bottom. She tried to turn on his lap without hurting him, and eventually stood to reposition herself. As she did, the pantalettes slid down her hips, falling silently onto the floor. She stepped out of them and stood before him, naked, except for the fine chain around her ankle. Fighting the instinct to cover herself, she let her hands fall to her sides while she awaited his touch.

It wasn’t long in coming. He reached out and lay his palm across her womb, and looked into her eyes. “I cannot wait to see you grow with our child.”

“I want that more than anything, Michael.” The voice that came from her body sounded so different to her ears. So sultry and seductive, she didn’t think it was her speaking.

He stood and lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed, where he lay her on the turned-back sheets. Elise boldly watched as he unbelted his robe, and let it slide from his body, his large, muscular frame finally as naked as she. His manhood stood pulsing and she glanced up to his face, to see his desire for her burning in his eyes. She welcomed his warmth as he lay next to her, his arms wrapping around her, his hands stroking her softly.

His lips took hers again, kissing her deeply and provocatively. She enjoyed his touch, and began to caress him as well, one hand moving across his back, and the other boldly traveling to his erection. Taking him in her hand, she heard him suck in a deep breath as she began to fondle him, stimulating him in the up and down motion she was told he would enjoy. As she did this, his fingers dipped in her woman’s curls causing her legs to fall open for him. When he slid a finger into her, touching her on her sensitive core, she nearly leaped from the bed. Drawing forth her moisture, he then began to stroke her gently. But only for a moment. She whimpered when he removed his hand and rose up on his knees before straddling her. Leaning over he took first one nipple and then the other, into his mouth to suckle. The sensations as his tongue moving over the tender peaks caused a coiling tension within her womb and she called out to him. He chuckled and roved lower with his mouth, kissing her navel, and lower still, until his tongue traced the slit covering her nub.

Even though he’d done this for her before, she’d forgotten the how wonderful it felt. His expert ministrations brought her to a level of passion she hadn’t experienced since her first night here at Woodhenge, all those weeks ago. Her breathing became rapid. She felt unable to inhale deeply, almost as though a vise were clamping her around the waist. The pressure within her intensified, and she begged him for release.

Raising his head, he lifted himself over her and before taking her lips with his, he said, “Not just yet, minx. There’s more.”

Michael slid into her slowly at first, to allow her to acclimate to his invasion. Once fully within her, he held still a moment before beginning to move. When she wrapped her legs around him allowing him deeper access, he sighed, knowing there was nothing more right and more perfect in the world than being with this woman, like this. His thrusts were slow and deep at first, but before long she was again pleading with him for relief.

Her breaths matched his movements as her walls surrounded him, pulling him in, squeezing and releasing rhythmically. He tried to keep his passion in check, but her sweet body demanded release, and after fighting it for only a moment, he decided to give them both what their bodies wanted, promising himself he would take more time later.

Driving into her deep and fast, he felt her nearing her peak. He pushed her over the edge first, as her sheath tightened, the contractions drawing him forward to his own climax. Unable to control his body any longer, his orgasm overcame him and he poured himself into her depths.

After a few minutes, he lifted from her, intending to roll over, when she stopped him.

“Please don’t. I’ve wanted this for so long. Stay with me for a moment longer.”

“I’m afraid to hurt you, sweetheart,” he replied.

“You’re not hurting me, I promise. Just hold me this way.”

“I’m going to roll over onto my back and bring you with me, so I’ll still be inside you, just not on top of you.” Then he did so. “I weigh twice what you do, minx. I’d smother you.”

“No you wouldn’t,” she said as she rose to sit on him, still impaled on his shaft. She shifted slightly feeling him within her depths. “Mmmm. Now this is interesting,” she said as she gently lifted and lowered herself on him, slowly at first, then picking up her speed. The motion was similar to posting a slow trot. “And it feels good, too.”

“If you keep that up, you’ll not get any rest,” he warned her.

“You’re the one that thinks I need rest.
I
think I want more of
this
,” she replied as she flexed the muscles inside her, drawing a smile and muttered curse from her husband.

C
lose to sunrise, laughter was heard coming from the earl’s suite by a maid passing by in the hallway. She smiled and went about her morning chores.

E
PILOGUE

Woodhenge, May 1823

M
ichael pushed Attila as hard as his conscience would allow. As a result, he turned onto the long drive leading to Woodhenge in almost an hour under what the ride from London normally took. The message from his sister Sabrina stated simply,
It is time
.

If his partner hadn’t insisted he be the one to present the closing argument before the high court, he would never have left Elise’s side, and would already be here for her. He’d hated the thought of leaving his wife so near her time, but the case was one sure to bring about reform in the banking industry if the court ruled in their favor, and perhaps avert a mass financial crisis in the country.

Before the stable lad had even reached him, Michael had dismounted and threw Attila’s reins to him. He ignored the footman who stood awaiting his arrival, and ran through the open doors and up the stairs. The scene that greeted him when he bounded into their suite was a surprise. His wife stood, albeit hunched over and holding both her distended belly and her back simultaneously. And with the help of his mother, Elise was attempting to walk.

“Shouldn’t she be in bed?” he asked her.

“No. The delivery will be easier if she walks as much as she can before taking to the bed. It is something I wish I knew when you and your older sister were born. By the time Christina came along, old Magda had passed away and her assistant was a young girl by the name of Piper, or Poppy, I cannot remember. She’s the one who told me to walk while I labored before your younger sister was born. As a result, her birthing was a much easier, much faster process.”

“Where’s Prescott? Has he been notified? I didn’t see his coach.”

“He’s sent word. The good doctor will come as soon as he is able.”

“Where on earth is he when my wife is having my child?”

“Beverly is in labor as well,” Elise replied, “and she has no female relatives to sit with her. Since I have your mother and sister here, I thought it best the doctor go to Beverly’s side before coming to mine.” She grimaced, before taking a sharp, deep breath and doubled over.

He ran to her side and held her as she cursed the very ground he walked on. His mother looked over Elise’s head and said, “She doesn’t mean what she’s saying. It’s the pain talking.”

“Maybe it’s time to put her in the bed,” he said, concerned only for his wife’s well-being.

“Not yet. We’ve got hours more of this. Why don’t you go downstairs and have some brandy and a cigar. You’ll be a father before the night is through.”

“I’m not leaving my wife.”

“Michael, go away!” his wife shrieked.

“I’m sorry my love, I stay. This is my child as well.”

Elise looked to his mother, “Make him go away. Please.”

“Michael, leave us for a little while.”

Reluctantly, he left the room, but only after vowing to return. He passed through the connecting door to his rooms, and stripped away the coat, cravat and waistcoat, tossing them on the bed. After pouring a whiskey, he fell into the chair before the hearth. Connor arrived and offered to help him freshen up, but Michael refused. He listened to the sounds coming from the room next door, and prayed all was well with the babe and his wife. Perhaps he should send for a mid-wife from the village as well. He felt helpless and uncertain for the first time in his thirty three years.

He heard Sabrina and Elise’s maid entering and talk of hot water. At the sound of Elise’s very pained groaning, he rose and re-entered her room, but only after knocking and awaiting permission. He found his wife lying on the bed, and a sheet thrown over her. “Is she alright?”

“Michael, you can ask
me
how I’m feeling, you know.” She sounded tired and annoyed at the same time. “Quit speaking as though I’m not in the room.”

On trembling legs, he stepped closer to the bed and asked, “How do you feel, minx?”

“Horrible right now, though everyone says I’ll feel better by morning.”

His mother looked to him and said, “This babe is coming quickly for a first child. Please go see what’s keeping that hot water.”

“But she’s fine, isn’t she?” His mother nodded, and Michael sighed, only somewhat relieved. “Right. I’ll go fetch the hot water.” He strode from the room and ran down the stairs, nearly knocking into two maids carrying pitchers, presumably of hot water. Taking one, he sent the maid back for another, unsure how much the women needed.

He poured the water in the basin beside the foot of the bed then went to sit next to Elise’s head. Stroking her sweat-covered brow, she grimaced and groaned through another painful contraction, and his mother again ordered him from the room.

“No,” he said firmly. “I stay.”

After looking to Elise, who nodded her head, his mother then lifted the sheet and checked her progress. “Everything is coming along just fine. Your babe is eager to be born, my dear.”

“And I am eager to have her out of me!”

“Or him,” Michael stated.

Elise grimaced again, and he helped her sit upright, as his mother directed. Soon Elise began to bear down hard and scream. The sound wrenching his heart. It was almost enough to make him never get her with child again.

“It’s a girl,” she panted. “Lia said it’s a girl.” More panting. “And I feel as though it’s a daughter.” Grimacing again, she screamed as she pushed now harder than before.

Thirty minutes later, his mother said, “I see the head, Elise. At the next contraction, push as hard as you can.” That next contraction came sooner than Michael thought, and as he supported Elise, she squeezed his hand until he felt his fingers going numb. “Good. Keep pushing. Don’t stop pushing, dear.” Then his mother looked up and said, “We have a head, Elise. Now at the next contraction, give me the rest of my grandchild.”

Elise relaxed a moment, then began pushing again. This time she pushed with a renewed vigor, and screamed louder and longer than before. Sabrina went to her mother with the twine and a pair of scissors, set them down and opened up the folded towels, holding one ready in her hands. And in a moment Michael will never forget, he saw his child for the very first time as his mother lifted the babe and handed it into Sabrina’s toweled hands.

All scrunched up and coated in a grayish-white wax, streaked with blood, the baby began to wail from a very healthy set of lungs. It was the most beautiful sound he’d ever heard. Elise relaxed and lay back against his chest, encircled in his arms, exhaling as tears began to fall from her closed eyes.

“I have a grand-daughter,” his mother said.

Michael dropped a kiss on his wife’s damp brow. “Don’t cry, sweetheart.”

Sabrina took the infant to the large table brought in for the occasion and began to wash the babe with clean cloths and warm water. His mother continued working with Elise, and soon had her covers drawn up over his resting wife. Sabrina carried the babe over to him and handed him his clean, blanketed daughter. Elise opened her eyes and smiled. He lowered the babe to her, and she took the infant from his arms.