Elizabeth’s throat felt tight, and gooseflesh broke out all over her arms.
“There. All done. Imagine how relieved you’ll be when your lady’s maid is by your side again.”
Lizzie smiled weakly. “Thank you. You’ve done well.”
He nodded, and it seemed to her that the hand that gave her back the brush was trembling slightly. Elizabeth quickly manoeuvred her long hair into a plait and secured it at the end with a small ribbon, to prevent it from getting too tangled as she slept. With her arms raised to plait, she suddenly felt aware of how thin her nightgown actually was, and she shivered despite the fire that was blazing.
Mary had packed a bed cap, a dressing gown, and stockings, as well, but Elizabeth disliked wearing all of those items, so she ignored them.
They both got into the large bed without saying anything, and they each blew out the candles on their respective sides.
“Good night,” Lizzie said in a small voice.
“Good night, wife,” Talbot replied, and it sounded like he was smiling.
Elizabeth’s exhausted body was quickly pulled into a deep sleep.
When she woke up, the room was shrouded in darkness, and the fire had died down to embers. Her legs were tangled withColin’s, and their bodies were pressed to each other. He was stroking her waist.
“Are you awake?” she asked in a hoarse voice.
“Yes,” he responded, sounding like he hadn’t slept at all.
She laid a palm on his chest and moved it mindlessly, mirroring his movements on her waist. She could see his face turning toward her, despite the darkness. She pressed herself further into his body, craving the closeness.
His other hand cradled her head, and he started kissing her, not as wildly as he had in the carriage, but softly, like he was telling her a secret in the dark.
Any reserve Elizabeth might normally have felt was weighed down by the aftermath of sleep, so she grabbed his nightshirt with both hands and licked the inside of his mouth like he had done to her in the carriage.
“By God, Lizzie,” he moaned into her mouth and grabbed her behind with the hand that used to be on her waist, pulling her onto him.
She spread her legs to make it easier for him, and soon she was positioned on top of him, straddling him as they kissed.
“You feel so soft, and so wonderful,” Colin said, and something in her chest bloomed and warned her entire ribcage.
His hands were no longer on her, but she felt them move near her face. Suddenly, her hair was out of her braid, and he was spreading it over her shoulders.
Her nightgown was already lifted above her knees, and he deftly undid the lacing at its front and pulled it over her head, before divesting himself of his own.
She felt scorched by the heat of his naked skin, and she gasped.
“Are you cold?” he mumbled against her lips, and she shook her head as she continued to explore his mouth.
She found herself holding his face and gripping his hair like she was trying to hold him in place or prevent him from leaving her. It was the headiest feeling she’d ever experienced, and she never wanted it to end.
Talbot’s hands travelled all over her body as he now kissed her neck and she went limp - he stroked the thighs that held him captive, the waist that trembled, his hands palmed her breasts and tugged on her nipples until Elizabeth had to put her forehead on his and just breathe through the sensations.
Then he was cupping her bottom, kneading it, spreading it, and Elizabeth moaned helplessly, but it was a plea, a prayer, a beseeching, which he immediately obliged by touching her exactly where she didn’t know she needed him to.
She couldhearhim touching herthere.
“Talbot,” she breathed as he stroked her inside and out, “oh Lord, just, oh,” she rocked back and forth on his hand, thinking that she would die if he stopped and die if he didn’t.
“Call me Colin when I’m inside you like this, sweet, you have to call me Colin,” he groaned into her mouth as he removed his fingers and touched her with something both softer and infinitely harder.
“Colin,” she gasped at the unfamiliar sensation as he started entering her, and he froze immediately.
Elizabeth only felt his heat, and hardness, and some stretching, so she wiggled her hips further down what she now realised was his cock, delighting in his hissing and moaning. She did so slowly and carefully, both afraid of the possible pain andunfamiliar with the motions. She felt his cock burning her insides, but it was a pain she somehow craved.What's wrong with me?she thought briefly.
