He gave a slight nod, and she leaned against him. She wanted to know more and to ask him what the scandal entailed and who exactly had to leave, but she knew better than to push him. It was an enjoyable evening, and if she had upset him, then it wouldhave ruined it all, and she did not want to do that. She wanted them to be happy.
She turned her face to the fire, the flames warming her. It was the most comfortable that she had ever felt, and the most inviting that her home had ever been.
“I ought to return to them soon,” he said suddenly. “I feel such guilt at leaving them.”
She bristled at that. Spencer had seemingly felt no guilt at all in leaving her alone for a year, but mere weeks after his return, he wanted to go back to them because of how he felt. She envied the faceless family members that had his full attention, even in his absence, for she did not doubt that he thought very little of her while he was with them, if at all.
But she did not say that. She did not want to accuse him of being happy to be away from her simply because of her jealousy. She swallowed her envy and tried to settle, even though she knew it was an injustice to herself.
“I understand,” she said softly, “I can only imagine how you feel. But will you promise me something?”
“What is it?”
“I need you to tell me before you leave again. Last time, you disappeared without warning, and it was awful. I did not knowwhere you were, nor how long you would be away for, and it drove me almost to madness.”
There was no doubt about it, though. The abandonment had led her to behave unbecomingly in public, which she had never done. It was not who she was before, but her own husband not deeming her worthy of a warning, that pushed her over the edge.
“Of course. I will not leave you without warning again, I promise.”
“And, whatever the issue is, at least you do not have to face it alone anymore. I am here, and I can help you with it.”
“I do not need your help,” he replied briskly. “I have managed it all alone for long enough. I do not need your pity, either.”
“Then it is just as well that I was not offering you pity. I am your wife, and it is my role to help you when something is wrong.”
He remained silent, and she took it as the invitation that she had been hoping for.
“And,” she continued, “as your wife, it is vital that I keep to my word.”
“And you do. Impeccably.”
“Then you will recall that I promised you something this afternoon.”
He looked at her with a furrowed brow, as if trying to remember just what she had said, when it suddenly seemed to dawn on him.
“You need not reciprocate what I did this afternoon,” he said quickly. “I should have thought twice, for we were around other people, but I wanted so badly to show you–”
She placed a hand on his thigh, leaning in and kissing him just as he did to her when she was talking that way. She pulled away, and he had stopped.
“You are right,” she giggled. “That is a very effective way to silence someone.”
He was leaning back, propped up on his hands, and he groaned softly as she began undoing his shirt. Once again, she marveled at his body. She never tired of seeing it, his muscles tensing beneath her gaze. She kissed down his stomach to distract him as she undid his trousers, in case she faced difficulty.
But she had read enough scenes to know what to do. She allowed herself one glance up at his face, and saw that he had tilted his head back, his eyes closed. She delighted in having such an effect on him by doing so little, and wondered just what he would do when she truly gave him something to feel.
His member was firm beneath her touch, as she stroked him over the fabric. She knew that it was of an intimidating size, and that she would have to make an effort to take all of him, but she knew that she could. What she lacked in experience, she would make up for in willpower, for he had made her feel divine, and she wanted him to feel the same way.
“Guide me if you wish,” she said in a sultry tone, at last letting him spring free.
She began by using her hand, moving along his length as she wondered how best to proceed. Tentatively, she placed the tip in her mouth and felt his body jolt against her. It was as though his instinct was to thrust forward, but he was managing to restrain himself.
To thank him, she dared to take more of him in. He was large, and as expected, she needed to take her time to adjust to it. Inch by inch, she made her way further down, humming so that she could give him as many sensations as she could. When she looked up, he was looking down at her with wide eyes, astonished that she knew what to do.
She swirled her tongue around him as she moved, her fingertips tracing lines on his waist. She waited for him to instruct her, but all he could muster was moans of approval.
“Like that,” he groaned. “Just like that, Anna.”
His pleasure pushed her further, and she could feel herself becoming aroused by it, but it was not about her this time. Lyingthere in their parlor room, it was about her husband and how much she wanted to please him.
