Their lips parted. She could see he was just as out of breath as she. Beneath her fingers, she felt his chest rise against the steady thump of his heart. Giddy with lust, she slid her arms around his shoulders for her knees felt weak.
Thaddeus pressed his lips to her neck and nuzzled her before speaking. “If we continue this out here,” he paused, looking around the hallway as other couples passed. “It will be over before it’s done.”
Faith took a ragged breath, “Such a horribly wicked thought. I want this night to go on forever.” Pushing against the balls of her feet she pressed her lips to his and they kissed again. Easing her body down, she asked, “Do you wish to go inside?”
“Hell, yes,” he replied, reaching behind him to turn the knob.
Chapter Nine
Giggling, they slid into the room. Letting Faith go proved to be the hardest thing Thaddeus had done, moving away from her the second. Turning in place, he took in the elegance of her room.
“Nice,” he nodded.
“Miss Benedict says that our rooms should offer comfort. They should make a man feel at home, not that he has to get in, get it done, and be gone in the next minute,” she replied.
Her voice was a bit hushed. Thaddeus turned and found her leaning against the door. The corners of her mouth turned in a coy response and he heard the lock turn. “May I pour you a drink?” she asked moving away from the doorway to the small decanter on the table near the basin and pitcher.
“Yeah, a small one,” he replied. Standing in the center of the room, near the bed, he wondered where to sit, the only chair too small to hold his frame.
As if sensing his dilemma, Faith whispered. “You may sit on the bed.”
He turned and looked at the large feather bed, “Thanks.”
Easing his frame down, Thaddeus savored the softness rubbing his hand across the satin ticking of the comforter. Across the way, the cork pop from the bottle and the soft flow of liquid poured into the glass. The soft whispers of her slippers against the carpet made him look in anticipation at her direction. In her hand she held one goblet of golden bubbles.
“Champaign.” He acknowledged, reaching for the glass.
Faith stopped him with a shake of her head. Her lips pursed. He watched hypnotized as she ran a finger around the lip of the glass before dipping inside. Then lifting her hand, a single drop of the beverage fell into her opened mouth. Below his waist, Thaddeus felt himself rise.
“Ummm,” Her throat warbled the sound as she plunged her finger back into the drink, and then held it aloft for the second time.
Thaddeus needed no coaxing. He opened his mouth and allowed the nectar to fall into his lips. Peach, it tasted of peach. As she pulled away, he reached out and took her finger into his mouth. With slow diligence, his tongue began to stroke the single digit of her hand. First, down one side, then across to the other, finally he rolled his tongue around the length of it and drew firm against the skin.
It pleasured him to watch Faith’s lashes make a slow descent to her cheeks as the heat of passion painted her neck. She moved with his tongue to the left then to his right. Afraid she might fall, he placed his hands against her hips to steady her. His fingers felt the sudden attraction of lace. It seemed only natural to draw the material into a bunch and move it in slow circles against her. He could hear her breath increase with each rotation.
“Faith,” he whispered when he at last let go of her finger.
Her eyes opened and she stared at him. Her lips twitched, but did not break into a smile. It took three deep breaths, her breasts struggling to break free from the material that bound them, before she could answer. And when she did, it was only three words.
“Your drink, sir.”
Thaddeus took it tossing it back and handed the empty glass to her. His eyes drank in the provocative sway of her hips as she moved away setting the glass down at the table. His erection now painfully pressed against the buttons beneath his fly.
“I want you,” his voice deep and earnest.
Moving back she touched his collar, “Allow me.”
Her fingers trembled as they reached for the buttons. Faith paused as his hands covered hers. They needed no words, instead using precision teamwork each button popped through the hole. Her hands pushed back the simple cotton shirt to expose the well muscled, sun kissed skin beneath.
As her fingers caressed his shoulders, he stripped the material from his body, tossing it across the foot rail of her iron bed. Faith moved away. Her absence chilled him. As he watched she poured the tepid water from the pitcher into the bowl.
“Now, your trousers.”
His boots hit the floor no sooner had she gotten the sentence free from her lips. Standing, he fumbled with his belt, and then the buttons until he could wiggle out of the jeans, cursing the fact they were as snug as a second skin. Clad now only in his long john bottoms and socks, he waited further instructions.
Her long slender fingers lifted a small jar and poured a few precious drops of oil into the bowl. Giving her partner a sly glance she murmured, “Come here.”
Thaddeus moved forward uncertain of what was to follow. When they were only inches apart, she lifted the rag and began slow strokes across his body. Her hands tender. Her cloth warm and the scent invading his pores, if this was torture, he wanted more.
Moving the cloth across, she wiped the stale sweat from his chest and arms. He closed his eyes giving into her capable hands. Hearing her move around behind him, he felt the slide the cloth across his back. He felt her come near and she brushed his tense muscles with her moist lips.
With each touch, she consumed his body. He did not realize what her hands were up to until her fingers brushed the bones at the top of his hips. His erection twitched as his long johns fell to the floor. Air circulated around his privates. Then, to his surprise, her hands and that damnable soft cloth began to cleanse his shaft.
Slow deliberate caresses, up and around, her hands ran firm strokes across the length of him from neck to the stones that lay beneath. Just when he thought there was nothing left to do, something warm and moist encased his head drawing it deep.
His eyes opened in narrow slits to find her kneeling before him, her lips doing things he never dreamed possible. Unable to help himself he ground against her. Her fingers reached beneath him to gently cuddle his sacks. He wanted to explode. Only through sheer concentration did he manage to draw back from the edge.
“Faith,” he breathed through clenched teeth.
“You don’t…” she began.
He placed a finger upon her lips. “I do, but I want to be inside you when I...when we go. Together.”
Helping her to rise, he took the cloth from her hand, laying it across the bowl. Then he began unbutton the velveteen jacket. She held her arms out just enough to let the fabric fall from her body. Against the light, he could see her form outlined. She was so exquisite he could not believe his luck.
Beneath her shimmering drape, he could see the soft outline of each breast. The rosy peaks perched high against the lavender lace beaded and begging for his attention. Stepping close, he leaned and left a trail of kisses down the side of her neck and back up to the rich red of her mouth. Faith molded her body to his and he shivered with anticipation.
His hands moved from her hips, up her narrow waist, inching toward the bottom of her breast. Once there, he stretched his thumbs out and found her nipples straining for him. Obliging, he stroked them once, twice, and the third time pressed harder as they pooled. Faith groaned against his lips. It was all the urging he needed. Bringing his hands up, he slid them beneath the shoulders and pushed the material from her body.
“Faith,” he gasped seeing the soft skin encased in the soft lavender glow. “My God, what a woman you are.”
She stepped out of the clothing, puddled at her feet and placed one foot upon his inner clothing.
“Step out,” she commanded and he did.
With a hand upon his chest, Faith backed him
to the bed. The mattress bumped against the back of his knees, he sat down. He followed her gaze downward to his privates.
“I’m glad to see he approves,” she said in a deep smoldering voice, as her hand reached between his legs to stroke the bobbing member.
“Oh,” Thaddeus agreed, “he more than approves.”
As her fingers slid up and down along his chest, Thaddeus took his time unlacing the corset that held her breasts. When the last ribbon was undone, he filled his hands with the delicate mounds. They were perfect. Each graced his palms begging to be touched, stroked and suckled. He laved the right then drew the left deep into his mouth. His tongue swirling around her nipple as they grew in weight.
“Oh Thaddeus,” she gasped as he switched to the right making sure that each side was equally satisfied. Her fingers left his chest to clutch his head keeping it in place as she leaned to his body. His hands left her breast, sliding against the lace on her thighs. He slid the material up tight against her body making her squirm from the pressure. Then, finding the ribbon, he was delighted it took only a gentle tug to release her from bondages. Sliding a hand between her legs he found her velvet curls damp and circled them with his fingers.
“More,” she breathed dropping a kiss against his scalp.
Tugging only once, Thaddeus toppled her onto the feather mattress beside him. Sweeping back a dark curl from her face, he leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. Her hand encircled his head holding him close opening her lips to allow their tongues to mate. As his rolled and stroked the inside of her cheek, he could feel her tremble beneath him.
“Faith, let me pleasure you.” he murmured. Looking down into her face, he watched her close her eyes and sigh as if giving her body over to him.
His mouth slid down her neck leaving a trail of hot kisses in its wake while his hands explored the more than perfect body beneath him. Teasing her breast with his lips, his hands slid into the satin trough and found her inner most spot. With a slow deliberate circle his thumb moved across her bud. He heard her moan and arch toward his palm.
“That’s it, let me,” he whispered.
While his finger kept her attention, Thaddeus left his kisses across her ribs to her waist and still lower. She was whimpering when he lifted her legs and allowed his tongue to press against the intimate source of her heat with deep loving lashes.
Faith’s breath caught as her body moved on its own responding to the intimate caress. Colors swirled against the back of her lids. She cried out his name when he stopped. Opening her eyes, she felt him slide a finger inside, deep coaching her muscles to respond in a way that was only natural. Her womb warmed. Her muscles clenched trying to pull him deeper to release the ache building inside.
“I want you, Faith. Are you ready?” he whispered and slid another finger into her hot slick core.
Faith’s body tightened, her muscles signaled her readiness. As he withdrew his hand, she opened her eyes watching as he rose above her to rub the glistening drop of pearl on the head of his erection against her slit. She widened her legs, arching her back. Then to her delight, he plunged inside.
Crying out with pleasure, Faith could feel her body shift around his fullness as his length filled her. He held for a moment, then together they began to move. She found his rhythm, moving with him, and rode the crest of passion she had never felt. Just when she thought she would shatter, he paused.
Bring his erection to the edge of her body he leaned forward, paying one last homage to each breast before lunging forward to the hilt. She rotated her hips and ground against him as warmth flooded her. He clutched her, lifting her legs, and pressed home, driving them to the edge. They shattered together. Faith heard herself call out his name as she arched off the mattress, her body reduced to repeated spasms of Charity as he released his seed.
Bathed in afterglow, Thaddeus lay beside her pulling her close yet not removing his body from their coupling. She breathed deep and wanted the divine death to come again. Only when their breathing became regular did he speak.
“I never knew it could be like that.”
“Me neither,” Faith admitted.
They lay together still connected in that intimate way. His mouth took on a slanted smile. Not yet sated, Faith could feel his length harden with in her. His desire no more calm than hers. She shifted. Her body responded aching with delight as he pulled her close. This time they came again in quick secession.
Sometime in the early morning sleep came. Safe within his arms, his hands covering her breasts, and his body pressed closed to hers. They spooned, content beyond belief. She closed her eyes and drifted to sleep never wanting the night to end.
Chapter Ten
A delicate knock roused her. Opening her eyes, Faith raised her head from the pillow of Thaddeus’s chest as Nanny’s face peered in.
“It be about ten,” she whispered.
Faith nodded, “Bring in the bath, please.”
As the door shut, Thaddeus groaned, “Who was that?” he asked not bothering to open his eyes.
“Housekeeper,” she whispered, raining kissing across his chest. She wanted to relive the ecstasy of the night. Never before had she lost herself in her work. However, She didn’t think of last night as work, something magical had happened. If she didn’t know better, Faith would have said love.
Could it be?
Thaddeus stirred again beneath her. She lay with her head pressed to his chest, the symphony of his beating heart gave rise to dreams she wondered if they could share. Did he feel the same as she? Could he? Even now she could feel his hand moving up and down her spine, pressing her breasts against his body with each feathery touch. In response, she moved her lips across his chest letting her tongue circle his nipple.
His left hand moved to press their bodies together while her fingers explored across his ribbed abdomen to regions lower. A smile twitched along the edges of her cheek as his friend rose to meet her strokes. The soft skin felt good beneath her hand as she ran her fingers along its head.
“What’s this?” she crooned, her lips moving toward the stubble on his cheek, “So soon again?”
“I told you he needed no encouragement,” Thaddeus remarked. “He’s a rather randy fellow.”
“So I see,” Faith replied.
Lifting her leg, she straddled his waist. His hands rose and cupped her breasts pulling them to a peak. She squirmed against his skin as he lifted his head to suckle. Leaning forward, she let her hips rise as she placed a kiss upon his forehead. Easing down she covered the head of his erection and with a slow steady curl of her hips impaled him.
She watched him close his eyes arching his back as her body gripped him tight. Pulling her knees up against his chest, she held him close to her womb, rocking as he grew to fill her.
“You feel so good,” she purred as his hands lifted her hips to help her rise and fall back upon his velvet rod. Perspiration began to rise upon both their bodies.
Faith could feel her heart beat against her chest and his seed explode deep with in. Crying out, she arched. His hands found her waist. He held her suspended while her body seized. Only when her breath became normal did he allow her to slide down and rest upon him like a shield.
“I truly know what it is to die a little death,” she whispered.
Thaddeus kissed the damp hair on the top of her head and pulled the sheets up around them. Time was coming when he would have to leave. The very idea tore the heart from his chest. He could die here, wrapped in her arms, cocooned in their own little world. It would be a sweet death, a death so exquisite not even poets could write about it and do it justice.
“I don’t want to leave,” he heard himself say.
“Nor do I want you to go,” she replied, heaving a soft sigh, “But it is the way of the world.”
Gathering her close, Thaddeus closed his eyes and held her tight as the door opened. He heard others moving around in the room, setting something heavy down.
“What’s going on?”
“Miss Benedict requires our guests to bathe and have a morning meal before they go their separate ways,” Faith explained. “Big John and Nanny will supply water for the tub. I will help you bathe.”
The mere idea of Faith, her hands in water, as natural as the day she as born, brought mirth back to the sober thought of leaving.
“I think I shall enjoy this,” he smiled.
They lay in bed, his arms encircling her, pulling her close as they watched Nanny and Big John fill the brass tub with warm water.
“I put you some fresh towels, Mr. Oakley, right beside the fire. They’ll stay warm there. Now don’t you stay in that water and turn to prune,” she warned before leaving.
Thaddeus lay still, staring into the fire, thinking. Faith was a woman of the night, a prostitute. It was common sense that she would have other men. The thought of her body being invaded by the likes of the Major made him angry. Faith must have felt the change for she pulled away.
A distance was now growing between them. Looking to her, he didn’t know how to begin or what to say, he knew only he wanted her for his own.
“Faith,”
“No, you must rise and bathe,” she instructed, pulling back the covers, and holding out her hands to him.
With the greatest reluctance he followed. Sinking beneath the waters, he was surprised at the size of the tub. Looking at her, standing beside him, he reached out, touching her thigh.
“Surely there is enough room for two?”
She smiled and lifted a leg to step in.
Thaddeus watched as water encircled the ivory thighs, then the dark silk of her apex in agonizing slowness. She leaned forward, her nipples grazing the water creating a lazy design across the surface as she settled in to tuck her legs on either side of him. With cloth in her hand, she lathered it. The white lather grew reminding him of winter snow. She reached forward he raised his hand, taking it from her.
Sweetbrier Academy:Having Faith Page 7