A Christmas Bride

by Viveka Portman

  She inhaled deeply. ‘If, through some extraordinary circumstance, I knew of what you spoke, what would you say?’

  He smiled broadly now, his teeth glittering white. ‘Oh but you are so clever, Miss Smith, I do so like fine wit and intelligence in a woman. Your speak of angels nearly had me fooled.’

  Her cheeks burnt but she wanted to laugh.

  ‘Oh, your angelic visitation? Is this to what you refer?’ she pressed, feigning ignorance.

  He laughed softly under his breath and took a gulp of his own ale. ‘Yes, and I cannot tell you how ardently I wish for another.’

  His gaze was heavy, Ellen swallowed.

  ‘And if you were so blessed with another visitation, what is it that you would say to this angel? Would you rail at her for leaving her lofty heights?’ Her voice shook, ‘Would you tell her superiors how far she has fallen?’ she asked, her voice throaty.

  Carring’s hand slipped over the table and curled around her own.

  ‘I would say that she need not fear me. I would never disclose her secrets to anyone. I would say that I am haunted by her vision and that our one night together is not enough.’

  Ellen’s chest heaved, relief ran like water through her veins.

  Her shoulders softened at the admission.

  Carring continued, ‘I would offer that angel another, or as many nights of freedom as she wished.’ he breathed, ‘Because one night will never be enough, will it, Miss Smith?’

  ‘No,’ she breathed. ‘Never enough ...’

  Chapter 10

  He wanted to kiss her, he wanted to make love to her. The key in his pocket felt heavy and disused.

  Finally she had admitted it.

  His lover was Miss Smith.

  The murmur of the public house became unbearably loud, and the presence of so many people crushing.

  ‘Will you come upstairs with me? I have a room to which we can go,’ the words came out all tumbled. ‘Perhaps we can speak more plainly there?’

  He watched Ellen bite her plump lip again and his cock surged in his breeches. He was being too forward, he’d frighten her away.

  ‘Yes,’ she replied without preamble. ‘I will, but you must promise me, you will never speak of this to Miss Brampton, or anyone.’

  He smiled. ‘Have I not already made that promise?’

  ‘You have, but I must hear it.’ She looked so serious.

  Robert nodded. ‘I, Robert Carring, will never disclose our secret to anyone. Miss Smith may trust me implicitly.’

  She nodded then added with a mischievous smile. ‘Then let us go upstairs, Mr Carring—but let us not talk. I feel we have spoken quite enough.’

  Her words set his heart pounding and he was in no need of further encouragement. He caught the eye of the barman and nodded. Gently, he took hold of Miss Smith’s hand and led her through the tables of patrons towards the wooden stairwell at the rear of the public house. Most pubs offered lodgings, and even if Miss Smith had declined his offer he’d probably have stayed the night, for the snow was falling heavier outside.

  None of the other patrons so much as cast an eye their way as the gentleman and his lady ascended the stairs to the lodging rooms.

  A sense of thrilling anticipation rushed through his body as Robert unlocked the first door on their left with the key from his pocket. A small, clean room opened up before them. It smelled slightly smoky, and there was a small new fire in the hearth, just enough to keep the ice from the air. The curtains were drawn, and a small double bed with thick green quilts rested beside the far wall. Its plump pillows were inviting.

  He felt Miss Smith hesitate and just for a moment, he feared she may baulk and leave. He turned to her, expecting to see a face drawn with worry or angst. Yet when he looked down at her pretty face, he found her eyes bright with excitement.

  ‘I have never stayed in a public house,’ she breathed and stepped into the room, she spun on her heel, sending the skirt of her long pelisse flying.

  He closed and latched the door, and as he turned, he saw her continue her wild spinning.

  Robert felt himself laugh and he reached out to capture her in his arms, her excitement infectious. She succumbed to his embrace readily.

  Robert looked down at her glowing cheeks and kissed her.

  She was as sweet as he remembered, her mouth parted eagerly for his and her small tongue reached out exploring. Such passion he’d never known in a woman.

  Sensations swamped him. ‘Miss Smith,’ he moaned and kissed her harder.

  She groaned softly in response and pressed her body to his. Even through the layers of his jacket and her pelisse, he could feel her breasts crush against his chest.

  ‘Take this off,’ he growled and moved his kisses to her cheek, then her neck, ‘No bonnet, no coats, no dresses. Just you, Miss Smith. I must have just you.’

  Miss Smith pulled away and looked up, holding his gaze steadily. Her cheeks were flushed with pleasure. ‘Ellen, my name is Ellen,’ she said, and began to undo the ribbons beneath her chin.

  After just a short time, she pulled the bonnet from her head. Robert’s cock grew harder as her golden curls burst eagerly from their confinement. Would her breasts do the same? he wondered.

  Her lips curled in a naughty smile, as if she’d read his thoughts. Her small hands moved towards the buttons of her pelisse and began to undo them, one by one, her eyes never leaving his.

  Soon her pelisse tumbled to the ground, and her small hands began to work at the buttons of her matronly schoolmarm’s gown. That too was shortly discarded, and she stood before him in nothing but her shift, quilted stays and stockings.

  Robert studied her. He was surprised and aroused by how her body appeared so vulnerable yet her eyes were wild with excitement and passion.

  ‘Mr Carring,’ she said as her hands moved towards the laces of her stays. ‘What are you thinking?’ Her fingers toyed with the long thin laces coquettishly.

  Robert swallowed, ‘What I am thinking is entirely too vulgar to say,’ he said and moved towards the bed, where he sat and pulled off his boots and jacket.

  When he looked up, Ellen was smiling again. She pulled the stays loose before lowering them to the floor.

  Robert gazed at her, without the stays, he could see her nipples harden through her shift. He swallowed as her lips curled in a broader, knowing smile.

  It was hard to accept that this passionate vixen was the very same woman who tutored his daughter so artfully.

  Not waiting, Robert unbuttoned his waistcoat and flung it away. As he did, Ellen bent to the hems of her skirt and lifted the entire thing from her body.

  Speech was denied him as she stood before him, naked except for her stockings and winter boots. His eyes travelled from her glittering eyes, down the fine line of her throat and lingered at the heavy swell of her breasts. They were beautiful, blue-veined and full, his mouth watered to suckle them. Yet greedily, his eyes travelled over the round soft belly to the juncture of her thighs. Light brown curls hid the lush, tight sex there. He groaned and beckoned her to the bed.

  She came towards him, her hips sashaying left and right. Soon she stood before him, and her hands moved to the buttons of his shirt. ‘It only seems fair that you also remove your clothing,’ she murmured, then gasped as he leant forward and captured one of her rosy nipples in his mouth. Her hands faltered on his buttons, and she threw her head back and moaned. Robert drew the nipple deep into his mouth, tasting her sweetness and relishing the impossible softness of her. Then he released her.

  She cried out and looked down at him, her eyes blazing with need. Her hands worked faster at the buttons and quickly it too lay discarded on the floor. Now Robert stood, and pushed her gently back onto the bed, her nipples hard and erect. He unlaced her boots and rested them on the floor. She lay back, waiting, as finally, he removed his breeches.

  ***

  Ellen had never seen a man in his naked glory. Her breath left her as she avidly gazed at Carring’s superb
ly masculine form. His chest was broad and sculpted, with just the finest dusting of dark hair. She let her gaze wander down past the ridges of abdominal muscles and narrow waist to that which she had been dreaming about. His cock was hard, and stood rigidly to attention. It was enormous.

  Her sex pulsed with need. Would it hurt as it had the last time? She doubted it, and that pain hadn’t lasted long.

  Her thoughts were cut short as the bed sunk under his weight. He moved between her legs, opening them wide as if for assessment.

  ‘I have dreamed of seeing this,’ he said, his voice guttural. ‘My wife ... she never ... I never was able to ...’ His words failed, and Ellen let her legs fall wide, exposing her most intimate parts to Carring’s devouring gaze.

  ‘You are like an exotic flower,’ he moaned, and lowered his head between her thighs. She felt his tongue, hot and wet, slip between the lips of womanhood and test her channel. She moaned, rolling her hips high to try and get more of him. His tongue flickered out and around her pearl before delving in again. ‘Your nectar is my opium,’ he murmured, his words half lost. He pressed his face further into her, so that she could feel the stubble of his chin graze against her skin.

  She cried out, her hands reaching down and curling in his hair. ‘More,’ she whispered, ‘I need more.’ Her heart felt as if it may run away, and her body scorched with heat.

  Carring obliged her, at her bidding he moved his face from her sex and positioned himself above her, the hot head of his cock nudging at the slick, hungry entrance of her tunnel.

  So rapt in pleasure, Ellen had no time to brace herself for his entry. She felt him surge forward, pushing into her hard and deep.

  Ellen cried out, her eyes flying open. Cradled in between his arms, she looked up into his face. Roberts handsome face was taut, and his pupils dilated with need. He leant down and kissed her tenderly.

  After a few kisses, Ellen felt her womanhood grow accustomed to his girth, the momentary discomfort fading to nothing but sweet pleasurable pressure. Then he began to move. He thrust his hot length into her, then withdrew, only to plunge back and repeat the process.

  Ellen grew insensible, she was no longer Miss Ellen Smith, schoolteacher, but a vessel of pleasure. Every inch of her body was alive and full of sensation, from the deep stretched flesh of sex to the tips of her nipples that grazed Carring’s hard muscular chest with every thrust.

  They may have stayed in that erotic dance moments, hours or years and Ellen wouldn’t have known the difference—so consumed with need and pleasure. When finally, the thumping of Carring’s manhood deep in her womanhood sparked a newer, more intense sweetness, she groaned, opening her legs wider to give him deeper access.

  ‘Please don’t stop,’ she cried, and curled her arms around his neck to draw him closer. They kissed as he pumped harder into her. The stretch and release, and relentless pulsing, became everything, until, like a rainstorm, sweet powerful pleasure broke within her.

  Ellen cried and wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him ever deeper into her body. ‘Carring,’ she moaned as wave upon wave of pleasure made her sex clench around him. Then she felt it, a spasm roared up the length of his cock and hot seed spilled into her over, and over again. She held him to her tightly until the last of their crisis ended.

  ***

  Robert felt Ellen’s legs fall open, releasing him from their carnal hold. He could feel the mad pounding of her heart through her breasts crushed hard against his chest. She stirred beneath him, and Carring watched her pretty eyes open.

  ‘Are you well?’ he asked. ‘I did not hurt you?’

  That naughty smile curled her lips, ‘Far from it, Mr Carring. You gave me yet another Christmas gift to treasure.’

  He returned the smile, and lifted himself away. His cock slipped from her and he sat up, glancing down at juncture of her thighs. The blonde curls of her womanhood had parted, displaying her glittering, pink sex, open and still inviting. His pearly seed glistened at the mouth of her channel. His cock stirred again at the sight. He had never seen anything so flagrantly erotic.

  He looked up, and found Ellen watching him. He expected her to snap her legs closed at his lewd gaze, yet she did not. Her eyes sparkled, and she snaked a hand down the length of her body. It trailed over her belly and slipped past the curls between her open legs. Her fingers traced the dark pink inner lips of her sex and slipped in the copious seed.

  His cock reared up against his thigh, ‘You are exquisite,’ he growled.

  Ellen released a throaty laugh, and her hand left her body as she pulled him back atop her. ‘As are you, Mr Carring,’ she whispered and kissed his ear. His cock was hard again, desperate to taste her again. He felt her legs widen once more. With no effort at all, he slipped his throbbing cock back home. It slipped in smoothly, its passage eased by the volume of his spent seed.

  Once more they began their sensual dance, though this time it was slower, slicker, and more considered.

  Much later, they lay together covered in the green quilts; the fire had died from neglect and the air in the room chilly. Many hours had passed, as they’d talked, kissed and made love.

  ‘I have never known a woman to enjoy intimacy as you do. It pleases me.’ Carring said, coiling one of her golden curls around his finger.

  She looked at him and raised an artful brow. ‘No?’ She smiled, ‘But what of your wife? How is it she could not enjoy your bounty?’

  He chuckled, ‘My wife did not enjoy our relations, she endured them.’

  Ellen was quiet. ‘I find that impossible to believe.’

  He snorted, ‘Our marriage was arranged, and my parents thought us a good match. She was pretty, well read and clever, but she had no passion for me.’

  Ellen’s finger traced a line around the muscles of his chest. ‘How extraordinary. Forgive me for saying so, but she can’t have been that clever. For I have always found you exceedingly charming.’

  Robert laughed and kissed her forehead.

  She reciprocated his smile, but it shortly faded.

  ‘I really must return to the school,’ the sun was rising through the smog. ‘The Sneddons are away, but I am uncertain when they will return. It would not do to have them return and find me absent. I cannot risk my position any more than I already have ...’ She paused and held his gaze. ‘I am sure you understand?’

  He studied her, suddenly feeling conflicted, and guilty for having held her here so long. ‘I do,’ he agreed. ‘I will walk you there.’

  She sat up. ‘No, I do not think that would be wise. We ought not be seen together. London is a crowded place, but we ought not tempt fate.’ She paused, ‘But thank you, for your discretion and ...’ she gestured to the bed, rumpled by their lovemaking. ‘This. I had never thought to experience such things and I am truly grateful.’

  Robert felt his brow furrow. ‘What are you saying, Ellen? That we ought not meet again?’

  He saw her throat contract as she swallowed. ‘It is dangerous for me, I should not make a habit of ...’

  His frown deepened. ‘Make a habit of what?’

  She slipped from the bed, and he watched her plump, round derriere move towards the previously discarded shift. She did not answer.

  A sense of alarm filled him, was she saying she would never see him again? The notion filled him with ire. It was unacceptable.

  ‘Make a habit of what? Meeting me? Or meeting other men?’

  He regretted his last angry words immediately.

  Ellen pulled the shift over her head. ‘Do not be ridiculous.’ Her eyes flared. ‘There has never been anyone but you, and there shall not be.’

  He looked away as she bent to pick up her stays. ‘Forgive me, I did not mean that.’

  He stood to assist her with lacing. She made a noise of displeasure, but allowed him to lace the contraption.

  ‘You must understand, I have a position to uphold, Mr Carring.’

  ‘Robert,’ he corrected.

  ‘Robert.’ />
  His name slipped from her lips like liquid.

  ‘I very much like my dalliances with you ...’ she began.

  Dalliances? Was that all they were?

  ‘But I cannot risk my livelihood and reputation. And nor should you.’

  He sighed and picked up her dress and handed it to her. She was right.

  ‘You are a man of position and wealth, it would not do to cause scandal. If not for you, then Penelope. As for me, I am a teacher, and my very reputation depends on your discretion ... and in truth, I find it very difficult to be discreet with you. Why, just look at this evening ...’ she began. ‘How many in this street may recognise me? Goodness, I have been so foolish.’

  Robert jaw tightened with sudden frustration. He pulled on his breeches. Gooseflesh rippled over his skin. He caught Ellen staring at his chest, a look of distinct longing in her gaze.

  For a time, he said nothing. He wanted to argue. He wanted to contradict her and say that all was well, that they could continue in this fashion for eternity if she wished. Yet he knew they should not. He cared not for his own reputation but was shocked to realise he did care very much for hers.

  ‘You are, of course, right,’ he agreed after a moment. Discretion was vital, and thus far they had not been at all that discreet.

  Such indiscretions could cause Ellen untold harm, and that was unacceptable.

  ‘Ellen ...’ he began, ‘Perhaps it is for the best that we do not do this again.’

  A look of acute displeasure rushed over her pretty face as she shrugged her pelisse over her dress, but she smoothed it away. ‘Yes, it is probably for the best.’

  Chapter 11

  Two days had passed since the glorious night in the public house, and Ellen was feeling thoroughly depressed. Her heart and body yearned to see Carring again. She longed to have more lazy conversations in bed like they had that night in that chilly public lodging room. She longed to make love again.

  It was ridiculous and preposterous.

  It could not happen again.

  She’d been lucky on both occasions that no one had recognised her. She ought not to tempt fate.