by Golden Angel
He moved his hips, pushing a little deeper into her with each thrust, and Arabella arched up to meet him as her body responded. Her wrists pressed against his palms, reinforcing his position of power over her when she didn’t manage to move them even an inch. Thomas thrust again, burying himself inside of her and Arabella let out a high cry as his groin rubbed over her sensitive lips and clit.
It felt like she might die of the pleasure.
******
Arabella arousing, Arabella desirable… two things Thomas had already known, but Arabella submissive? That was something he never would have guessed.
Yet every time she pushed against his hands, it was clear that failing to move him aroused her rather than angered her as he would have expected. Her body clenched around him, moving up to meet him, her reactions setting him aflame. The silken heat of her grip on his cock was erotic bliss, her softness cradling him as he pumped his hips, riding her slowly at first and then harder and faster as his own urges began to swell.
She writhed beneath him, her legs wrapping around his to pull him into her, trying to hold him against her, within her. Thomas lowered his mouth to hers, taking her lips in a bruising kiss as he plowed into her, feeling her cry out against his tongue. The hard thrusts into her body were driving him wild, especially as he felt her responses.
A sob rose in her throat as he moved, making sure to rub himself against her body with every thrust. Her nipples rubbed against his chest as he moved, her breasts softly bouncing beneath him, and she clenched around him with a high cry as another orgasm over took her.
Feeling her coming apart beneath him cut the last string on his reins and Thomas let out his own wild cry as he pounded into her hard and fast, his own culmination rising like a geyser. Passionate rapture filled him as he flooded her, his hands tightly gripping her wrists as they rode out the swells of pleasure together. His thrusts slowed… shallowed… until he was entirely spent and slumped on top of her.
Beneath him, Arabella murmured something but he had no idea what.
It became quite clear when he lifted his head and placed a much gentler kiss on her lips that she was nearly insensible after two such intense climaxes. Happily smug, Thomas rolled over and pulled her with him, to the unspoiled portion of her bed, and pulled up the covers.
Immediately, she snuggled into him, her head finding the crook in his shoulder, her arm wrapping around his body. A feeling of extreme contentment flowed through him; far more than just sexual satisfaction, he felt as though he’d come home.
Which was a very odd feeling to have when he was already home… but it was as though his home had been incomplete and now it wasn’t.
Stroking his fingers through his wife’s hair, Thomas smiled before reaching over to pinch out the candles on Arabella’s nightstand. She’d surprised him tonight, with her easy acceptance of his presence in her bedchamber. It seemed his wife was no longer upset over this morning’s spanking.
Happy with the night’s work, Thomas closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, his chin resting on Arabella’s head.
Chapter 12
To wear the perfume or not to wear the perfume?
That was the question.
Arabella made a face at herself in the mirror, causing Cammy’s fingers to come to an abrupt halt as she worked on Arabella’s hair.
“My lady, is there something wrong?” Cammy asked. Having been with Arabella a long time, she didn’t sound particularly worried. She just wanted to know that Arabella’s expression wasn’t due to the hairstyle Cammy was currently laboring over, since Cammy had insisted she wanted to try something new this morning.
“No, no, carry on, I’m just woolgathering,” Arabella said, waving her hand.
Smiling, Cammy returned to work with the hot iron she was currently using to curl Arabella’s locks.
Moodily, Arabella stared at herself.
Thomas had been perfect this morning. When he'd risen, he'd kissed her temple which had woken her up immediately, and asked if she wanted to go for a ride. She'd immediately agreed. They'd had a very pleasant ride in Hyde Park and had even galloped. The way he'd constantly been on the lookout for any other early riders had been a bit annoying, but she'd been rather pleased overall.
It would be very easy to forget how different yesterday morning had been but...
Arabella wasn't the type to forget and she certainly wasn't the type to forgive easily. Her struggle this morning had come about because part of her wanted to. She thought it might be very easy to just let the first day slide. After all, she had made several mistakes.
Still. So had he. Yet she was the only one who had been punished.
When Cammy finished with her hair—a beautiful if slightly formal arrangement for the daytime, but Arabella rather like it as two curls bobbed next to her cheeks whenever she moved her head—Arabella rather defiantly sprayed on her new perfume. It did smell lovely. Perhaps it wouldn't even bother Thomas.
After all, she was only going by hearsay. So if he did have a sneezing fit, it wouldn't really be her fault.
Rising, she went out to meet the rest of the family. As the Season came to a close the events were slowing down and today the ladies were going for a promenade in the park. She couldn't help but wonder if Thomas would join them or not, the way he had yesterday. Earlier she hadn't thought to ask.
Donning a forest green and cream day dress, Arabella smiled at her reflection. The more vibrant colors she was now allowed to wear as a married woman suited her much better than the paler hues permitted to debutantes. The dress also suited the hairstyle, especially once Cammy had pinned the matching green and cream hat with an extra-long pheasant feather to her hair.
After giving Cammy some instructions about what not to pack today—they still had two more days in London and Lady Hopwood's ball which would close the Season before they quit the city for the country—Arabella hurried downstairs. The viscountess was already waiting in the foyer foray, but Mary was only a few steps ahead of Arabella.
"Well!" The viscountess said, beaming at both of them. She'd told Arabella to call her mother if she liked, and Arabella did so but she still had trouble thinking of her mother-in-law by the title. It would come with time, she supposed. Especially as the viscountess certainly did her best to be a kind of mother to Arabella, which she appreciated. She couldn't help but preen under the positive attention of the older woman. "Don't you two look lovely."
Smiling, Arabella looked between herself and Mary and had to conclude the viscountess was correct. The two of them set each other off particularly well with their vastly different but equally attractive features. Arabella was taller and darker and beside Mary's auburn hair and pocket Venus shape they somehow managed to enhance each other's positive attributes. It didn't hurt that Mary had chosen to wear a mint green day gown trimmed with gold ribbons and a rather fetching mint cap, so they were both gowned in contrasting greens.
They made very good foils for each other.
As both of them thanked the viscountess, Thomas came striding through. Seeing them gathered, he hesitated.
"Ladies, you are all looking particularly fine today," he said, including his mother in the compliment. She preened as he dropped a kiss on her cheek. Unlike Arabella and Mary she was dressed in a deep purple, which would look well with both of their outfits but wasn't nearly as flashy. "Are you off then?"
As he asked the question, he moved to Arabella's side, his hand automatically going to the small of her back. Smiling up at him, she leaned closer, his presence acting like a magnet pulling her in.
"Yes dear, are you going to join us again?" his mother asked, a glint of amusement in her eyes. Like Arabella, she'd been entertained by Thomas' presence at the tea.
Thomas sneezed.
A bubble of laughter pushed up into Arabella's chest and she firmed her lips against it. After all, the sneeze might just be a coincidence.
"I—" He turned his head away as he sneezed again, more forcefully this time.
/>
Goodness. Gabrielle had not been exaggerating at all.
"Thomas, are you all right?" The viscountess glided forward, looking concerned.
"Yes, I—" He sneezed again and stepped away from Arabella. It looked like his eyes might even be watering. Fascinated, Arabella stared up at him. "Something seems to be affecting me."
"Oh dear..." His mother bit on her lower lip and then sniffed the air. She looked between Mary and Arabella. "Are either of you wearing a new scent?"
"I am," Arabella immediately volunteered, as innocently as she could. "I bought it yesterday. I wanted something more mature as a matron."
"It must have roses in it." Turning to Thomas, his mother shooed him away with her hands. "Don't stand right next to her, dear, you'll only make it worse."
"Roses?" Arabella asked. She was surprised at the loss of warmth she felt as Thomas moved away from her, rubbing his nose which already looked a little red. Not having anticipated how much she would enjoy his nearness, she hadn't realized this little experiment would affect her as well.
"He can't stand to be near them," his mother said, giving her a sympathetic smile. "You'll have to see if you can find a different scent that you like. Which is too bad, that one smells very nice, but as you can see Thomas won't be able to step near you while you're wearing it."
"I'll do it tomorrow," Arabella said, and her contriteness wasn't entirely an act. Still, she did receive some smug satisfaction from the expression on Thomas' face. He wasn't happy either. Good, it served him right.
"We'll see you when we return, dear." Smiling genially at her eldest, the viscountess turned and led the way out of the house. Arabella proffered an apologetic smile—as apologetic as she could make anyway—and followed, with Mary trailing silently along behind.
To look at Mary one would think it impossible to forget her, because she was so beautiful, but she really did have a gift for fading into the background. Probably because she so rarely opened her mouth.
******
For one moment, Thomas had thought perhaps Arabella had worn a perfume he couldn't stand on purpose. There had been something in her expression... but he brushed the notion aside. After all, how could she have known? When in public, Thomas took care not to attend garden parties and he avoided roses on principle. Fortunately, violets were the current fashionable scent and it was rare he came across a woman wearing rose perfume whom he couldn't avoid.
It had been an innocent mistake, albeit an annoying one for him.
He hadn't planned to accompany them to the park, but it still irked him to be unable to stand beside his wife for the few minutes he could have.
Sighing, he left the house a few minutes behind them, headed to meet Felix and Walter for a round of shooting at Armstrong's before retiring to White's for a luncheon. They would all be separating in a couple of days when the Season ended and so were taking the time for some brotherly bonding while they could.
Thomas and Arabella would be going on their abbreviated honeymoon at Oakley Manor, which would be fairly close to both his parents and Felix's home on the edge of Chipping Norton, but he didn't plan to visit either for at least a week. Not unless a messenger came to summon him and Arabella away. They needed time together on their own, something currently in short supply as long as they were in London.
Unlike the rest of the family, Walter had decided to stay in London for the off-season. His decision was not entirely unusual for him, although Thomas had been a bit surprised by it this year, considering the scare over their father's health they'd had so recently. So far he hadn't had a chance to question his brother on it.
Of course, Armstrong's was not the proper locale for such a discussion. What conversation they managed there was more boisterous, centered around the tiny bit of sibling rivalry they all had between them whenever doing anything competitive. Both Walter and Felix ribbed Thomas on being a distracted newlywed when his first few shots were wide of the target.
Walter ended up winning their impromptu competition and teased his brothers that his prowess was due to his single state.
"If that's true, then I'll happily lose to you every time," Felix teased back as they walked into White's. Thomas agreed although he didn't say so. He'd rather have Arabella than beat his brother at shooting.
The majordomo quickly whisked them to a table where they ordered their drinks and meal before settling back to chat.
"So, you're staying in London?" Thomas asked Walter, immediately going for the topic he was most curious about. He didn't bring up their father—if Walter wanted to stay, Thomas certainly didn't want him to feel guilty over it. He just couldn't help but wonder why.
"Yes," Walter said, sipping the brandy he'd ordered. "I talked it over with Father and he encouraged me to stay in town. Said he didn't need me and mother hovering over him."
"I thought Mary was going to stay with them as well," Felix said, frowning. Their cousin's parents were traveling constantly and barely seemed to have time for their only child, whereas their parents had been happy to take her on and treated her as if she were their own daughter. In fact, his mother had been in alt to have a female to launch for a Season.
While part of her might be disappointed that Mary hadn't received a proposal her first Season, another part of her was probably thrilled they'd need to return next year to continue the search for a husband. Normally the Hoods only came into London every other year, as the viscountess had the habit of running herself ragged with events while she was in town.
"Father said she doesn't hover," Walter replied with a grin. "It's true, one barely knows she's there most of the time."
"But you want to stay in town?" Thomas asked, pressing on with his curiosity. Despite Walter's insistence that he would never marry, Thomas couldn't help but wonder if there was a woman at the heart of this. Even if Walter didn't want to admit it.
"I do," Walter said, a rakish smile lighting up his face. Thomas recognized that smile, he'd seen it every time Walter had a new conquest. "I've ah... been introduced to a new club recently and I'm quite enjoying it."
"A new club?" Felix asked curiously.
Walter tipped him a wink. "A secret one, so don't ask, I can't say any more about it."
Both Thomas and Felix exchanged amused looks. It seemed Walter had found a new distraction. Since the viscount's health was improving daily and London wasn't so far from home that Walter would be completely out of touch, especially if the viscount had encouraged him to stay, it seemed the puzzle had been solved.
Then Felix asked Thomas what he thought of married life and it was his turn to be interrogated. He didn't tell his brothers about the contretemps of yesterday morning, instead choosing to focus on the aspects he was enjoying. However, he did take the time to lament his decision to attend the tea yesterday. He was able to vent his feelings and they were highly entertained, so it made for an enjoyable conversation all around.
******
The third day of her marriage, Arabella was feeling rather content.
Last night the Hood household had had a quiet family dinner and then played charades all together before retiring for the evening. Mary had surprised them all by being a rather inspired actress; her charade of Cleopatra's death had been so absorbing none of them had even begun to guess until she was finally lying prone on the floor. It had been quite fun and something which strongly reminded Arabella of when she'd been younger and the evenings she'd had with her family then.
Afterward, Thomas had escorted her upstairs where they'd ended up in his room rather than hers and he'd played the part of her maid, taking his time removing every piece of her clothing as he kissed the skin he bared. Arabella had been nearly frantic with need when he'd finally moved them to the bed and pulled her atop him, showing her how to ride him.
Straddling his body, she lifted and lowered herself on his cock, setting the pace she desired while he played with her breasts, pinching her nipples, until she threw her head back and screamed in ecstasy. A moment later
she was on her back while he pounded between her thighs, sending her climax soaring higher until he followed with his own culmination.
She woke feeling almost dreamy, even though both of them had agreed they would forgo their morning ride as there was much to do. Instead, Thomas had shown her how enjoyable remaining in bed for the morning could be. Their passion was quieter, gentler, but no less intimate as he slowly pleasured them both to distraction before they fell back asleep for a few more hours.
The household was busy preparing to quit the premises and close up most of the house as only Walter would be remaining after the Season ended. As a bachelor, he wouldn’t require nearly the amount of staff and rooms as when the residence was full. Thomas and Arabella’s wing would be closed up entirely.
She was rather looking forward to leaving the bustle of the city and explore the Hood estate. Gabrielle had told her it was very beautiful and she’d certainly enjoyed her stay there on her own honeymoon. Not that Arabella and Thomas would be going to the main house immediately, but she would still get to see quite a bit of the land. Knowing Gabrielle would still be close by was an especial treat, as they had been over a day’s travel apart when Arabella was living at Manchester Chase with her brothers.
Drifting through the hallway, looking for something useful to do (as many of her clothes and things had never been unpacked after she’d arrived in Hood House, since it would have been pointless), Arabella ran across Mary in one of the hallways. To her surprise, the young woman immediately hurried up to her.
“I… I just thought you should know…” Mary started to say, and then came to an abrupt halt and began chewing her lip instead of saying whatever it was she thought Arabella should know.
Curious now, Arabella cocked her head at the younger woman. “Should know what?”
“The Marquess of Hartford was here to see you but Appleby sent him away and said he was given orders not to admit him,” Mary said in a rush.
Arabella blinked as Mary’s words sank in. “Was he also ordered not to tell me if the Marquess came to call?”
