Then his mouth moved back up again, latching onto her swollen clitoris and he sucked hard as his finger mimicked the sex act inside of her bottom. The ecstasy crested and Gabrielle fair screamed as her orgasm blazed through her. Her virgin muscles tightened around Felix's finger, making it feel even larger, increasing the burn as he continued to force the thrusting movement, and sending her to higher heights of rapture. It was decadently wicked and strangely satisfying.
Long licks of his tongue laved her sensitive tissues as she came down from her blissful high, his finger easily sliding out of her barely stretched rosebud and leaving her empty. Gabrielle took a deep, shuddering breath as her eyes opened again, bringing her back to earth and the smug gaze of her husband.
He moved back up to press a kiss to her lips, letting her taste her honey. The sweet, musky flavor wasn't bad, although she couldn't help but make a small face. Still, she opened her mouth for his tongue and she could practically feel his pleasure that she didn't protest.
When he pulled away and began to push down her skirts, she frowned. "What about you?"
"Later," was all he said, before bringing her the tray of fruit and biscuits and hand feeding her.
She felt incredibly spoiled by the attention, even as she was a little perturbed that he wasn't going to slake his own lust, despite the fact that she could see his cock tenting his breeches. He wouldn't even talk with her about it, changing the subject and pushing away her hand when she tried to reach for his manhood, telling her that she was tempting him to put her over his knee again. Exasperated, Gabrielle gave up and let him do what he wanted, which was apparently to indulge her every whim except that one.
Once she resigned herself to that, they passed a pleasant afternoon together. Felix pulled out a book of Shakespeare and they took turns reading from A Midsummer Night's Dream, making her giggle as he used different voices for each of the characters. Once both of them wanted to rest their voices, Felix produced a checkerboard and challenged her to a match. Dinner was an intimate affair with just the two of them, and Gabrielle found herself telling Felix about some of the places she'd always wanted to visit. Not just the usual amusements for the English that could be found in France and Italy, but she'd always wanted to see the pyramids and the Great Sphinx of Egypt - which wasn't very ladylike but Felix didn't disparage or attempt to deter her, and Gabrielle felt hope rise in her as he listened with interest.
It wasn't until that night in bed that he finally indulged himself, showing her a new way to make love in the process. Gabrielle lay on her side, her bad ankle on top with a cushion between her feet, while Felix pressed into her from behind. His cock felt huge in that position, his groin rubbing against her still slightly tender buttocks, his fingers rubbing her clit and squeezing her breast, moving slowly back and forth as he penetrated her from behind until they both cried out in ecstasy.
They fell asleep in that position, Gabrielle finally deciding that perhaps his parents’ absence wasn't the worst thing in the world.
Chapter 10
"Mail from London, Mr. Hood," Mr. Taylor, Felix's parents' under butler said in a solemn tone, practically bowing as he handed them over to Felix. Everything about him was impeccably correct, upright, and starched. Felix managed to keep from smiling in amusement as he accepted the offering.
Since his parents had taken Mr. Appleby, their head butler, with them to London, Felix and Gabrielle had been left in Mr. Taylor's care and it was obvious he took his responsibilities seriously. In his late twenties and having been in the household for fifteen years, this would probably be his first time running the household in the absence of Mr. Appleby. Felix couldn't remember himself or his brothers ever having been in residence on the estate when his parents weren't. Skinny as a stick, with a rather large Adam's apple, and straw-like hair, he somewhat resembled a very stern looking scarecrow.
Well, until he turned to Gabrielle, who was propped up on the daybed again, with utter worship in his eyes. "Mrs. Hood."
"Thank you, Mr. Taylor," she said, accepting her letters with a sweet smile. The man gulped, bowed again, and retreated. Now Felix really couldn't hide his amusement, although neither his wife nor the under butler seemed to notice, which was probably for the best.
Not that he blamed the man for his obvious adoration. Gabrielle had that effect on the staff, and the young men in particular were susceptible to her genuine sweetness towards them, not to mention her beauty. She was looking particularly lovely today, in a bright green day gown that just matched her eyes, trimmed with ivory ribbon, and her hair braided and pinned up to keep it off of her shoulders, revealing the long line of her neck. She was practically glowing with an inner light, which Felix smugly attributed to himself.
With his parents out of the way, he'd made it his mission to keep his wife entertained and happy - and well sated. This morning he'd woken her by kissing her all over, ending with the tender flesh between her legs while she'd moaned and cried out in ecstasy. The more he indulged her, the more submissive she seemed to become, at least in bed. There wasn't a single part of her that she denied him, not even when he renewed his interest in her virgin bottom hole, first with his finger again and then with his mouth. In fact, she'd rather seemed to like it once she got into it.
Felix grinned down at his kippers, feeling wonderfully smug. So their marriage had gotten off to a rocky start; Gabrielle was even more than he'd realized, and their compatibility in the bedroom even more than he could have hoped for.
"Cynthia, Arabella, and Cordelia all wrote me," Gabrielle said, looking delighted. "And one from your mother." She held up a thin envelope, turning her head to beam at him, obviously thrilled that his mother had written so quickly. "Do you think I should have written the others sooner?"
"No, we're on our honeymoon and they understand that," Felix said, reassuring her as her brow puckered in thought. "That's why they waited several days to write."
"I see," she said, her expression clearing. He couldn't help but feel happy at her complete lack of suspicion and her willingness to accept his explanation. It was all true, of course, but he was fairly certain that Gabrielle in London would have met his explanation with cynicism, and she certainly wouldn't have taken him at his word or let herself be guided by him.
Glancing through his own correspondence, mostly business, a note from Walter, one from Thomas, another from Manchester (Arabella's eldest brother), and one unexpected one...
"I have a note from Cordelia as well," he said in surprise, and immediately wished he hadn't.
Gabrielle's entire body froze in the middle of unfolding one of her own letters, her expression going completely blank and still, like a statue. He wanted to curse as he could practically watch her personality and happiness withdraw.
Only two things managed to do that so completely - trying to talk about her past and anything to do with Cordelia. Although, she'd seemed perfectly happy to have Cordelia write a note to her, she just didn't seem to know how to react to Cordelia writing a note to Felix as well. Truth be told, Felix wasn't entirely certain how to react to it. Why hadn't Cordelia just written them one note, together? That was the usual thing to do when writing to a couple.
But more importantly, what did he do now to fix this?
Ignore it? Read it later when Gabrielle wasn't around? Or read it now and hope that she didn't attach undue importance to it?
For his own peace of mind, Felix decided to read it immediately. He didn't think he could take a morning of Gabrielle being withdrawn from him; drawing things out would just be torture for them both. Better to get it over with.
"Perhaps Philip had something to say," he said, as casually as he could, picking up the letter and opening it. Gabrielle didn't respond and kept her eyes averted, focused on the letter that she was now finishing opening with very slow, deliberate movements. Something inside his chest clenched as he felt like there was now an icy barricade between them, despite the fact that she was sitting beside him. If someone could be said t
o be reading furiously, that's what Gabrielle was doing, with her cheeks pinked and her forehead furrowed.
Felix looked down at Cordelia's flawless handwriting. The letter wasn't very long, nor was there anything of great import in it or anything that couldn't have been said to Gabrielle. At the end was a post script from Philip, saying that he looked forward to seeing Felix and Gabrielle and hoped that they would be as happy as he and Cordelia, which made Felix smile. He already felt quite happy with Gabrielle, despite her prickles and tantrums, and despite the uphill battle into her affections.
After all, anything of value was worth fighting for.
Feeling her eyes on him, Felix handed the letter over to her as she blinked at him with astonishment cracking open the social mask she'd had covering her emotions. "Here, sweetheart, you can write back for both of us and I'll just add a post script at the end as Philip has. There's no point in both of us sending letters."
Gabrielle's slim fingers held the letter gingerly, her wide eyes blinking in confusion and - did he dare hope? - relief. "Are you certain?"
"Oh yes," he said dismissively, turning his attention to the other letters at his elbow. Picking up the one from Manchester, he peeked over the edge of it at Gabrielle who was now studying the letter Cordelia had sent to him as if it held some kind of vast secret.
That didn't bother him. He was too happy that the icy barricade had melted just as swiftly as it had appeared. Apparently he had reacted correctly to soothe Gabrielle. Hopefully Cordelia's letters wouldn't exacerbate the situation. Perhaps Gabrielle was jealous that he was receiving attention from her stepmother as well? She hadn't exhibited any of that when his mother doted on him, but after all, his mother was his. Perhaps she didn't like sharing Cordelia's attention with him because Cordelia was hers, even she didn't exactly see Cordelia as a mother figure.
She had very few people that were hers, after all.
"Thomas and Walter sends their regards," he said to her, after he was done scanning their letters. Both were very short and said much the same as Manchester's - reassurance that everything that could be done was being done to clear up any lingering rumors from Gabrielle trying to elope with Fenworth, and that Fenworth himself had fled to the countryside to rusticate for the rest of the Season. Of course, he was fleeing his debts, not the scandal he'd tried to cause, but without him in town any gossip would blow over much more quickly. They reassured him that people were much more interested in some other scandal that had cropped up the day after he and Gabrielle had married.
"Send them mine back, please," she said, smiling.
There was still a bit of tension in her demeanor, but it didn't seem to have anything to do with him, to his relief. Still, he would read the letter that Cordelia had sent to Gabrielle later, when he got a chance. He didn't want to ask to read it, since it was such a sore topic with his wife, but he wanted to know why Cordelia had sent them separate letters.
******
The flush of excitement over receiving mail from London had faded the moment Felix had announced that he'd received his own letter from Cordelia. A hard little knot had formed in her stomach at the look of surprise and pleasure on his face. He hadn't expected or asked for the letter, that much was clear, but he'd been pleased to see it. Gabrielle had gone numb inside, because the other option was to cry.
And she wouldn't do that.
When he scanned the letter and passed it over to her, seemingly uninterested in responding to it, most of that knot dissolved. Most of it. She still couldn't quite get past that look of pleasure... why had he become disinterested? Was it because the letter hadn't contained the kind of missive that he'd desired? Or was it because he'd noticed Gabrielle's distress?
The latter would be the most desirable reason, in her opinion. After all, even if he was pleased that Cordelia had written him, he'd then chosen Gabrielle's feelings over her stepmother's.
To keep from completely coming apart at the seams over breakfast, Gabrielle focused steadfastly on the letters she'd received. Viscountess Hood sent a very short missive to say that they'd arrived safely in London, she was very happy to be in the city although she missed Gabrielle's company already and looked forward to when they could enjoy the Season together as mother and daughter. She sent her love to Felix and wished them a happy honeymoon. Smiling, Gabrielle set the letter aside for Felix to read if he wished.
Cynthia's letter was longer and much more newsy.
Dear, naughty Gabrielle,
You scandalous chit, how I adore you! I wish I hadn't missed all the fun, but I've been a bit naughty myself this Season and have missed out on several events due to it. Wesley seems to think that getting me with child will slow me down and has bent his efforts to that effect.
Blushing, Gabrielle giggled at Cynthia's indelicate references, as well as her unabashed enjoyment of misbehavior.
Fenworth has fled, so any gossip around you has died down very quickly, though of course I've heard quite a bit from Eleanor (before she and Edwin left town) and Arabella. Arabella and I have formed a bit of an alliance, now that you're absent from the scene... I don't believe her brothers approve, but as long as my Wesley is on hand to keep me in line they don't quite disapprove either. Manchester is even more of a stuffed shirt than my own husband! I pity the woman who ends up with his scowling demeanor in her bed. Although, truthfully, Wesley is not much of a stuffed shirt except when it comes to my behavior, whereas Manchester is one all of the time. Poor Arabella! I do believe she wouldn't be having any fun without my presence, so I am endeavoring to keep her entertained until you return.
Everyone is agog that you've so quickly reformed Mr. Hood. You've garnered quite a few admirers among the men, as well as the old dragons, for such a feat. The debutantes all think you're a hero and hope to duplicate your feat, the silly things. I try to tell them that catching a rake is a very different thing from reforming one.
The key, of course, is to keep him entertained, addicted, and ever unsure of what you're going to do next. Wesley has no time to look at other women, even if he desired to, because he's too worried about what might happen if he takes his eyes off me. Although I don't worry overly much about it as I know he loves me, but I don't intend to ever let his interest wane, either. He shall spend his entire life trying to catch me and I will spend mine trying to keep him, and that suits us admirably. Of course, Eleanor, Irene, and Grace handle their husbands a bit differently in practice, but I believe the basis precepts are the same. That's my bit of marital advice!
More salacious tidbits of gossip followed, including an account of how Lady Winchester - a widow with a remarkable resemblance to Cordelia, and an unfortunate interest in Felix - had taken up with Felix's middle brother, Walter, after the news of Felix's wedding to Gabrielle. That was a relief. It seemed that the lady hadn't truly had an interest in Felix, just in a man - or perhaps in a rake. So there should be no ill feeling from that end and hopefully one less person that Gabrielle would have to eventually deal with.
She was also sure to mention that no one seemed very interested in Gabrielle and Felix's hasty wedding, in large part because the very day after their wedding, the Marquess of Butte's daughter, who had been engaged to the Duke of Cornwall's second son, eloped with his first son and heir. There was nothing to brush away interest in a scandal like another, much larger, much more obviously scandalous scandal.
Cynthia's letter was entertaining reading, and it was with a light heart that she moved into Arabella's. She didn't put Cynthia's letter where Felix could read it; she wasn't sure she wanted him seeing Cynthia's advice about marriage. If she was going to take it, and entice Felix to chase her for the rest of their lives, then it was better he not know about it. Rakes did like a chase, she'd once heard. And, unlike Cynthia, she didn't have her husband's love to bind him to her. Although he obviously cared, at least a little.
Glancing at him under her eyelashes as she unfolded Arabella's letter, she smiled a little to see him completely engrossed in his own
correspondence. His fork stabbed his plate several times as he tried to eat without taking his eyes from the letter. No feminine handwriting on that one, so she assumed it was business. His pile of letters was much larger than hers, but he was plowing through them at a much faster rate. Perhaps they were shorter. Or not as interesting.
My dear Gabrielle,
I miss you so already! Just a few days without your company and this Season is already a dreadful bore. Although, of course, the scandals never stop, Isaac and Benedict have taken it upon themselves to make sure that not even a hint of such comes near me again. They've chased off any interesting suitors and I'm left with a pack of the dullest, most strait-laced men in all of England. They can't possibly think I'll actually choose my husband from such an assemblage! I'd rather drown myself in the Thames first!
Lady Spencer has been my only solace in these dreary times, although she's hardly a stalwart companion. Not a ball goes by that she and the Earl don't disappear for at least an hour. Off doing that, I expect, because she always returns just a little mussed and her skirts rumpled. Not that she'll tell me anything about that. What is the point of having married friends if they won't divulge important information?
Oh dear... Gabrielle pursed her lips in amusement. Poor Arabella. Stifled by her brothers and not even Cynthia would talk to her about bedroom matters. Not that Gabrielle would be much better. She'd known enough before, but she'd always pretended ignorance to Arabella. It wasn't exactly the easiest topic. Well, at least now she had some time to think of what she would say to her friend.
Like Cynthia, Arabella reassured her that any scandal had been quickly swept under the rug, and cited the shocking elopement as the final nail the in coffin. With the Hood brothers, the Marquess of Dunbury, the Duke of Manchester, Lord Hyde, and the Earl of Spencer circling the wagons and protecting Felix and Gabrielle from undue gossip, no one wanted to speculate on the circumstances of their marriage, not when there was much juicier meat to be had. The way Arabella told it, her brother glared away anyone who so much as hinted that perhaps there was something amiss with the hasty wedding. Gabrielle could picture that - the Duke of Manchester was a very large, very imposing, and very stern man. His glares made quite an impression on everyone except Arabella and, to some extent, Gabrielle. Despite his demeanor, he was actually quite kind, especially to his sister, despite the trials she put him through.
Gabrielle's Discipline (Bridal Discipline Book 3) Page 14
