He nodded.
“Ludo?”
“Yes,” he said cautiously.
“I’m so very glad I married you.”
“You are?”
Bunty nodded. “I think I made a wise choice, and I believe that everyone will see that one day, but I don’t care how long it takes, as long as you are glad too?”
“Bunty,” he whispered. “Oh, God, love. I’ve never been gladder of anything in my whole life.”
She laughed then. “How foolish we both are. From now on we must speak our minds and not fret about what each other is thinking, but ask. Don’t you agree?”
A slightly wicked glint lit his eyes, but he nodded.
“I do,” he said. “Why don’t you do that, then?”
“Do what?”
“Ask me what I’m thinking.”
Bunty swallowed, a little daunted now, but determined not to be silly. “W-What are you thinking, Ludo?”
He leaned in and nipped at her earlobe, making her gasp, and then whispered in her ear. “I’m thinking I should like you to take your clothes off now.”
Bunty blushed as an odd mixture of anxiety and excitement coiled low in her belly.
“Oh.”
“Mmmm,” he murmured, kissing a path down her neck before returning to nuzzle the tender spot beneath her ear. “I want to unwrap my prize.”
“I thought you were nervous.”
“I’m putting up a heroic fight.”
“Oh. Well, go on, then,” she said, aware that she was breathless but impressed she’d got the words out at all.
He took a step back and grinned at her before turning her around. She felt the brush of his fingers against the nape of her neck as he worked each fastening in turn and shivered. What clever fingers he had. He was far quicker than her maid, she thought, as her dress slithered to the ground. Bunty closed her eyes and wished she were slender. If only she’d known she was to marry such a man, she could have at least tried to lose weight, not that it had ever worked before. Oh well, it was too late now. She only hoped he wasn’t expecting too much. With a gasp, she realised he had worked even faster than she’d anticipated. She was clad only in her stockings and chemise, and Ludo was turning her back to face him. Panic struck her. She clutched her arms about her middle, wanting to hide as much of herself as possible. He would not allow that, though. He undid the tie of the chemise and gently moved her arms aside, before pushing the flimsy material down to join the rest of her clothes.
Bunty squeezed her eyes closed with mortification and prayed he was not disappointed.
Holy God and all his angels
Ludo let out a ragged breath as he stared at his wife in wonder. You lucky bastard, Ludo. He had no idea what the devil he’d done to earn this astonishing gift, surely nothing in this lifetime, but he swore he’d do whatever it took to be worthy of it.
He could hardly breathe. He longed to touch her but felt he ought not, as if it wasn’t his right, yet he was her husband. She was his wife. His wife! He blinked hard as a sudden surge of emotion caught him off guard.
“Ludo?”
He looked up, to discover Bunty peering at him from between her fingers.
“Yes, love?”
“I’m trying hard not to jump to the conclusion that you don’t want to touch me, b-but what is taking so long?”
Ludo let out a bark of laughter and then forced his expression into something more solemn as she glared at him in outrage.
“Forgive me,” he said, his voice low and gravelly as desire thrummed through him. “I was so overwhelmed by my own good fortune, I could do nothing but stare. My God, Bunty, how lovely you are. I cannot help but fear I shall wake up in the morning and discover the whole thing has been a dream.”
She gave him a sceptical glance and wrapped her arms about herself again, a gesture he was recognising as a habit, and thoroughly disliked. He moved closer and took each wrist in turn, moving her arms aside, allowing him to stare down at a delicious landscape of full breasts and luscious curves. His mouth watered.
“Don’t you dare try to hide from me, wife.” He released her wrists in favour of cupping her breasts and groaned as the plump weight filled his hands, heavy and ripe. “I do not understand how such a thing is possible, when everyone was so certain I’d go to the fiery pits, but I’ve died and gone to heaven.”
“Don’t be silly,” she said, laughing, though it was a nervous sound.
Ludo looked at her curiously. “You have no idea, do you? You don’t have the faintest idea what the sight of you does to me?”
She shook her head and Ludo smiled. “That’s all right, love. I’ll show you, but I tell you now, I’ve seen nothing as lovely as you in my whole life.”
That he’d seen more than his fair share was something he didn’t mention. He did not doubt that she knew it.
Ludo kissed her then, delighted at her eager response, that she remembered everything he’d taught her as she opened her mouth, her tongue seeking his. He kissed her until she was breathless and trembling, unable to still his wandering hands from exploring the silky skin exposed for his pleasure. Working his way down her body, he kissed her neck and shoulder, working lower with as much patience as he could muster until his hands and mouth found her breasts. He sighed happily.
She gave a little squeak of surprise as his mouth closed over her, suckling at her breast with enthusiasm before moving to the other and lavishing the same attention there.
“Oh,” she said, a wondering sound as her hands rested tentatively upon his hair.
“So sweet, Bunty,” he murmured against her skin. “I just know you’ll be even sweeter elsewhere.”
He got to his knees, pressing kisses over the soft swell of her belly and hips, moving lower as her eyes widened and her breathing grew fast. She gasped and squealed as he wriggled his tongue into her belly button and then laughed and he sat back on his heels to grin at her.
“I love to hear you laugh.”
“Really?” she asked doubtfully. “Is it appropriate at such a moment? I always thought… well… this was supposed to be serious, solemn.”
Ludo pressed a kiss to her belly.
“Sometimes, yes,” he said, savouring the feel of her skin against his cheek. “But there ought to be playfulness, too: fun, and pleasure above all things.”
He held her gaze and moved lower, kissing the sensitive skin at the apex of her thighs. Her breathing hitched as he moved again, nuzzling the silky curls before parting the delicate folds that hid the little pearl of flesh he sought. With a sigh of pleasure he kissed her there, before teasing his tongue between the folds. She gasped and clutched at his hair.
“Oh! Oh, my.”
Ludo chuckled and settled to his work, licking and teasing until she was squirming, and he was forced to hold her still.
“Oh, it was all true,” she murmured, though now she held him in place, her beautiful skin flushed with pleasure. “You are a bad, bad man. Dreadful. Utterly wicked….”
“Yes, love, and all yours now,” he murmured before looking up at her, dazed with his good fortune.
“All mine?” she repeated, as if she had doubted it.
Ludo frowned and got to his feet. “I meant what I said, love. Forsaking all others.”