The Country Affair 3.docx

The Country Affair 3.docx

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TheCountryAffair3

Withteethchattering,hewrappedhersnuglyinhisdryridingcoatandliftedherontohishorse.Severalfatdropsofrainstainedthedeckasheliftedhimselfupintothesaddle.HoldingMarytightlyinfrontofhimashedidinthewater,Willkickedhishorseintoafullgallopbacktothecottageguesthouse.

"Marystaywithme.Pleasestaywithme...Please,"herepeatedoverandoverintoherearastheyrodethroughthestorm.

*****

Maryawoketothesoundofacracklingfireandrainsmackingthepanedwindowsofherroom.Adullrumbleofthunderoutsideshookthecottage.Shewasinhernightgown.Hadshebeendreaming?

Shefeltbehindherpillowforthehandkerchief,andonlycamebackwiththefeelofherloosenedwavyhair.

Thiswasnodream.Herroomwasfilledwithdiffuselightasshecrackedhereyesopen.Shegrewpale.Mr.Deerhurst.Thelake.Sheopenedhereyesfully.Herdressandchemisehungabovethefireplace,flameslightingupthediaphanousmaterialfrombehind.Herstayhungnexttoit,minusitsstrings.Besidethosehungdarktrousers,andashirt.Ridingbootswereproppeduponthefloor.Aheavyridingcoatandhathungonthedoor.

Ohwhathadshedone,whathadshedone?

Mary'sstifflimbswouldn'tobeyherdesiretositup.Shegroaned.

Aknockatthedoorstartledher.Shepulledthecoversupoverherchest,"Whoisit?

"sheasked,knowingfullwellwhoitwas.

Willopenedthedoorslowly.Hewaswearingashirtseveralsizestoowideforhimandherfather'sBanyanrobe,cinchedandoverwrappedaroundthemiddle.Hecarriedatraywithtwoteacupsclatteringagainsttheirsaucersandahalflemon.

"Imustsincerelyapologizetoyourfatheronedayforthis,"hestarted.

"Whyareyouwearinghisrobe?

"

"ItwasallIcouldfindthatfitme.Ihonestlydidn'thaveachoice.Yourfamilywasnotabout,theybroughtnoservants,youneededtendingto,andIcouldn'tverywelldosointhebuff,ifyou'llpardonmysayingso,"heanxiouslysatattheedgeofherbedandplacedthetraybesidethemonthetable.

MarytriedhopelesslytoerasethethoughtofWillDeerhurstinthebuff.Heliftedthebackofhishandtoherforeheadandthentoeachcheektocheckherforfever.Shesuddenlybecameveryawareofherbodyunderthethinnightgown,"Howcouldyouhavedonethistome?

"

"Donewhat?

"

"Undressedme!

...Shamedme!

You...youhadnorightto—"

"Well,Iwouldhavebeenhappytoaskyoufirst,"Willinterrupted,"butyouwereunconsciousfromnearlydrowningandsoppingwetinyourclothes.Mychoicesweretoriskyourdeathbychillorsimplyremovethem."

Maryopenedhermouthsilentlytoprotestbutnothingcameout.Willthoughtherindignationwascuteandtriedtosuppressagrin,alongwiththememoryoftryinginvaintoremainclinicalanddetachedfromthesightandfeelofherexquisitebodyashehadcarefullychangedherintothenightgownalreadylayingonherbed.Hewasmoreconcernedthanarousedwhenhehaddressedherbutnowthatheknewshewasallright,hisminddriftedbacktohersubtleanddelicatefeatures.Thesmallbeautymarkonherstomach.Thegentlecurveofherhips.Thethatchofchestnutcurlsthatmatchedherhair.Thepertswellofherbreasts.

"Will?

" 

"Yes?

"Mary'svoicebrokehislustfulreverie.Heimmediatelyfeltguiltyforhislasciviousthoughts,butrememberedthatshewouldbehiswifeinlessthanafortnightandthosethoughts'stateofimproprietywasallamatteroftimepassing.Hesmiledatthesoundofhisnameonherlips.Gonewastheformal'Mr.Deerhurst'thatdrewanimpossiblewallbetweenthem.

"HowlonghaveIbeenasleep?

"

"Almosttwohours.Youwerestartingtoworryme,"heshookhisheadandleanedtotheside,squeezinglemonintohertea,"AllthisforamissingoarwhenIcouldhaveeasilythrownyoutheropeonthedock..."

Marystillfrozeevenundertheblankets.Thismanconfusedher.Howcouldhebesoplacidaboutallofthis?

Hehadseenher...naked!

Shehadbeenexposedtohiminwaysthatonlyherdressingmaidhadseenher.Thisfactshouldhavebotheredhermore,butforreasonsunknowntoher,shetrustedhim,intuitivelyknowingthathehadtriedtocareforherthebesthecould.Butifanyoneknewaboutwhathadtranspired,herlifeindangerornot,herfamilywouldberuined.Cloudsofimpendingscandalobscuredherthoughts.Shefelttheheatofantagonismrisingwithinher,"Iwouldhavenevertippedtheboatinthefirstplaceifyouhadnotcomealonganddisturbedme!

"

Willcockedupaneyebrowather,"Really?

You'reright.Itwouldhavebeenmuchbettertoslowlydriftawayanddrownastherowboatfilledwithrainwater,"Theyglancedatthewindowaslightninglitupthecloudsoutside.Thundershookthewindowssecondslater,"You'dstillbeoutinthis.Whatpossessedyoutogooutonthelakebyyourselfatthistimeofyearinthefirstplace?

"

"I...,"Shestammered,caughtinhispiercinggaze. IhadtoforgetaboutyouforeverWill,becausethethoughtofyouundoesmysenses. Thewordssatfirmlyonhertongue;shecouldn'tlethimknowwhateffecthehadonherorallwouldbelost,"Ihadtobealone."

"Wereyounotalonehereallready?

"

"IgotothecountrysideifItrulywantsolitude.Ididn'tcountontherain,orsendingmyoarsadrift."

Willsighedandclosedhiseyes."Inearlylostyoutoday.Ifanythinghadhappenedtoyou..."

Shepausedamomentandlookeddown,"Will?

"

"Yes?

"

"Thankyou,"shewhispered.

"Forwhat?

"

"Forsavingmylife,"Marylookedupintohiseyes.

Hedrewahandtohercheek,drawingclosertoher,"HowcouldIeverletanythingbadhappentoyou?

Mylifeisyours.Ijustfoundyou,andthethoughtoflosingyou—"hefeltherheadtiltuptoaccepthiskiss.TheirlipsmeltedtogetherandMaryfeltheatreturnatoncetoherbody.Hisarmsencircledher,drawingherforwardtoleanintohischest.Hecradledherthere,holdingheragainsthimashislipslefthersandwhisperedintoherear,"Iloveyou,Mary."

Mary'svisioncloudedoncemoreastearsreturnedtohereyes,"Will,I...Iloveyou,butI'msoafraid,"shewhisperedback.

"Don'tbe.Please.We'vealreadyhadenoughfearforoneday.Foroncelet'sbothliveforthismoment;forclearlyit'sallwehave,"hewaitedforher,inchesfromherface,lettinghercometohim.Shestrainedupward,themagneticpullofhimtoohardtoresist,andcrushedherlipsagainsthis.Shefeltsafehere,againsteverythingthatswirledoutsidethisroom:

theengagement,herfamily,society,duty,fearandloneliness.Allvanishedinhispresence.Shehadworkedsohardtohideherinnerjoywhenheappearedaroundthebendonhorseback.Eventhen,despiteeverythingshetriedtomakeherselffeel,shewouldnothavewantedtoseeanothersoulbesidesWillcometoherrescueatthatverymoment.

"Fatebroughtyoutothelake.HowelsecanIexplainit?

YouappearedjustasIhadtriedto..."

Willlingeredinchesawayfromherlipswaitingforhertofinish.

"...Toforgetmyneedforyou."

Willbroughthismouthdownuponhers.Likehellshewouldforgetherneedforhim.Hewouldmakesureofthatrightnow.Hefelthispulsepoundingthroughhim.Mary'shandsflewintohishairandacrosshisshouldersasshedrewhimintoherembrace.Histonguecaughttheedgeofherlipsandslippedthroughforamomentbeforedartingout.Shetastedliketherain.Slowlyheincheddownwithher,reachingthroughhermaneandfanningherlonghairoutbehindheronthepillows.

Hertongueflickedoutgrazinghisteethbeforematingwithhis.Maryarchedherbodyuptohimashelaytothesideofher,turninghertowardhimwithonearmunderneathandcuppingherbreastinhishand.Shegaspedashisthumbbrushedthenipplethroughthefabric.SomethinglowinherbellybegantowindandtightenasWilltouchedher.Histhumbranincircles,makingtheareolapuckerunderthefabric.Shemoanedsoftlyintohisear,thesoundnearlysendinghisself-disciplineovertheedge.

Willfeltflamesconsumehimandsparksrununderhishandsashetouchedher.Hefelthispassionbuildingwithin,hardeninghimagainstherthighthroughthefabricofhisrobeandtheblanketsenvelopingherbelowthewaist.Hefelthishipsthrustinvoluntarilyforwardtowardher,instinctdirectinghisbodytowhereitsodesperatelywishedtobe.Shestoppedforamomentandlookedathim,thentimidlybroughtonehanddownthroughthesparsecurlsonhischest,thecottonshirtandacrossthesilkoftherobebeforeherthinfingersfeltsomethinghardandhotbeneathit.Willlaynearlystock-stillasshecautiouslyexploredhim,delightedatherinnocentboldness.Hesuckedinairthroughhisteethasherfingertipsgrazedoverhismanhood,standingrigidunderthefabric.Slowlyhebroughthishandoverhersandcuppeditagainstthelengthofhim.

Maryfelthimpulsingthroughthefabricandcautiouslywrappedherhandaroundtheheatbeneaththesilk.Hegroanedandkisseddownthehollowofherneckandoverherchemise,histeethgentlynippingatherbreastthroughthefabric.Willranoverthehardpeakwithhistongue,hismouthgentlysucklingather.Thechemisesoakedthroughfromhisministrationsuntilthethinmaterialrevealedthepinkfleshunderneath,meltingawaylikesugararoundthetipofherbreast.Mary'sotherhandkneadedthroughhishairandherbackarchedup,asoftwhimperescapingherlipsasherfingerstightenedaroundhim,strokingupthroughthesilk.

Willwincedsuddenlyandpulledbackfromhersearchinghands,gaspingforairandsworeunderhisbreath.Marywasimmediatelyhitbyawaveofguilt.Hadshegonetoofar?

Didhethinkhertoo