"I'm not going to take you unless you ask, Gracie," he said, even as he undid the front of his breeches and pulled out his cock.
Although he could understand why she would think so. Her drawers had been left on the floor and he was kneeling between her spread, bare legs. The lips of her pussy glistened in the candlelight, pink and plump and utterly tempting. Her chemise was pushed up, above her gorgeous breasts, her nipples slowly softening from their ripe little buds.
Her lips formed a shocked little 'o' as he grasped his cock in hand and reared up on his knees, looking down at her body, all flushed and feminine. The look of shock on her face as he fisted himself only encouraged him. They'd never done anything like this before. Apparently she'd never seen a man rub himself before, because her wide eyes were glued to the sight.
That shock only heightened as thick, white fluid spurted and arched in the air, painting her naked breasts and stomach with his essence as he groaned his release. The last spurts fell on the dark curls of her mound and the parted lips of her pussy as she drew in a shuddering breath.
Sighing in repletion, Alex released himself and reached down to tug off her chemise. To his surprise, Grace didn't argue with him as he pulled it over her head and then used it to wipe his seed from her body. She just watched him with hooded, confused eyes, nibbling her lower lip the entire time.
His cock was already starting to stir again, but he ignored it. Settling beside her on the bed, he wrapped one heavy arm around her body and dragged her into him. She whimpered a bit as her hot bottom pressed against his groin, his semi-hard cock settling into the crack between her cheeks, but she didn't try to pull away or fight him.
It was the first time that she had let him cuddle her like this, as the light of the candles went out one by one.
Tenderness and triumph ran through him as he stroked her belly and whispered in her ear how beautiful she was. How well she'd taken her punishment. What a good girl she was.
His chest clenched as he felt her relax and then slump into slumber, her body pressed against his and her head resting on his arm.
It might not seem like a very large step, but he knew that it was. He was winning her over, slowly but surely. Surprisingly, spanking seemed to have something to do with it.
Edwin, Hugh and Wesley were definitely onto something.
Chapter 7
The all-too-familiar stirrings of nausea woke her, stronger than ever before. Eleanor groaned, her hand going immediately to her belly. Normally she could hold off in the mornings, at least until Edwin had risen and left the room. Since she often slept a little later than him anyway, he'd never known that she was hiding her sick from him.
But now she felt as though she was going to vomit immediately, and he was still in bed with her, his arm around her head and shoulders, which she had been using for a pillow.
Just stay calm... swallow... breathe... oh God...
She lurched off the bed, stumbling, unable to answer as she heard Edwin call her name, his voice disoriented and confused as she abruptly left the bed. Fortunately, the water basin wasn't too far away and had been left empty. Poppy had learned it was usually for the best to bring a fresh basin every morning, after her mistress had already used the empty one.
Bending over, gripping the sides of the basin, Eleanor heaved, and tears sprang to her eyes. Not just from the bitter taste or the stinging in her throat, but because she'd never wanted Edwin to see her like this. So many men lost interest in their wives as soon as they were with child, considering their duty done, but even if Edwin wasn't like that, this was disgusting. Unfeminine. Messy. Smelly. How would he ever be able to look at her the same?
So it shocked her when she heard him sharply calling out the door for Poppy's immediate assistance, and then felt him approach from behind her. The hairs on the back of her neck and arms lifted, making her horribly aware of his presence.
Her robe was placed over her shoulders, and Edwin helped her straighten, pulling her away from the basin as he coughed a little in reaction. Eleanor bit her lip to keep from moaning her humiliation aloud as he wrapped her up in the robe, helping her slide her arms into the sleeves. She couldn't look up at him to see his expression, she was too scared to.
"Oh my lady," said Poppy, rushing in with an expression of concern on her face. "I'm sorry I wasn't prepared, this is so much earlier than usual."
Out of the corner of her eye, Eleanor saw Edwin's mouth open, close, and frown. She winced.
"Earlier?" he asked, his tone sharp. "This happens often?"
Poppy halted mid-stride, nearly sloshing some water on the floor. Her soft brown eyes darted between the master and the mistress as she realized that the lady of the house hadn't been quite as forthcoming about her condition as Poppy had thought. Not that the servants knew everything that went on between the Lord and Lady, but none of them had realized he was completely unaware of why his wife never joined him first thing in the morning to break her fast.
"Ah..." she said, obviously searching for words. Eleanor just let out a little groan, which distracted him completely as she swayed slightly. Pulling her into his arms, Edwin let
her press her face against his chest while he rubbed her back. She made a small sound of contentment; her nausea wasn't gone, but it had lost a lot of its immediacy.
Sensing that the master was now distracted, Poppy quickly changed out the basins, taking the soiled one from the room. Holding on to Edwin's robe, Eleanor closed her eyes, wishing that she could stay just like this forever. Because she knew that questions were coming that she didn't want to answer - wasn't sure how to answer.
She was right.
"Nell, why didn't you tell me you were having problems in the mornings?" Edwin's voice was soft, not stern, and filled with concern, but the question still made her feel stubbornly tetchy. Mostly because she was being forced into telling him about her condition, and it definitely wasn't on her terms.
"Why do you care?" she muttered, just barely loud enough for him to hear. She almost winced at how waspish she sounded.
"Nell." This time he said her name a little more sharply, a warning for her to behave and to answer. Instead, she just tried to burrow even more closely into his chest and he sighed, somewhat exasperated. His hands caressed her gently, from shoulders to waist, and she melted against him as his voice lowered to a murmur. "You're going to be the death of me, woman. If I'd known how bad the mornings were for you, I would have been here to take care of you."