Part 9
by Paula B and CJ
10 January 1863
Perryville, Kentucky
The Wallace horse farm
1500 hours
AJ stopped the carriage at the front of the house. He motioned to one of his men, who ran to him quickly. In a low voice, AJ said, "Take care of the horses." The soldier climbed into the carriage and was surprised to find Cordelia Wallace asleep under the blankets, her head in the General's lap. AJ recognized the shock on the man's face and explained quickly as he climbed out of the carriage, "The trial was overwhelming. She's exhausted." Once he was on solid ground, he turned and lifted Cordelia easily. She murmured in her sleep, her arms instinctively wrapping around AJ's neck, but she did not wake.
One of the soldiers raised his eyebrows and poked his companion in the ribs, nodding in the direction of the house. The two men watched AJ with Cordelia and glanced at each other and grinned. "He's been sweet on her since we arrived. Tried to hide it. Can't see him taking to a woman with slaves, though," one of them whispered to the other.
As AJ carried her up the porch steps, Cordelia began to talk in her sleep. She murmured something unintelligible, then said, "I love you." Finally, just before Lucy opened the door to allow them inside, Cordelia kissed AJ, who glanced at Lucy and blushed.
"She's asleep. She has no idea what she's doing," AJ said.
Lucy chuckled and made a motion with her hand for AJ to follow her up the stairs. "I have a bath drawn for her in her bedroom. I'll bring the hot water right up. I think that will make her feel better. You sit with her; wake her up for her bath. It will soothe her right back to sleep. I'll be right back." She opened the door to the bedroom, allowing AJ to carry Cordelia inside.
A fire burned in the fireplace, warming the room. Taking a seat in a rather large and overstuffed chair, AJ watched Cordelia sleeping in his arms. She breathed slowly and steadily, her lips drawn in a childlike pout. He touched her cheek. «How forward of me.»
Cordelia turned her head and whispered, "Do you not love me, too?"
"Yes, my love, I do," AJ breathed before he realized that she was still asleep.
Lucy burst into the room with two buckets of steaming water. "Lause, General, wake her up. The water will be cold before she can git into it," the former slave chided. Her outburst woke Cordelia, who was surprised to find herself in her bedroom and in AJ Chegwidden's arms. She blushed, remembering her dream.
The blush did not go unnoticed by AJ, who gently propped Cordelia on her feet beside him. "Ma'am," he nodded. "I'll delay your bath no longer." He left the room quietly.
Cordelia followed him with her eyes, then asked Lucy to help her out of her dress. Lucy made quick work of the buttons on Cordelia's dress and her corset laces. Cordelia climbed to the steaming tub and sank into the warm water.
Lucy washed Cordelia's hair, rinsing it with a pitcher of water she had heated by the fire. Then Lucy braided Cordelia's hair and pinned it, wet, to the top of her head. She left Cordelia soaking in the water as she found a simple shift for Cordelia to rest in and laid out a towel for her. "I'll come git the water and the tub after you're asleep, Miss Cori," she said, knowing her mistress would sleep soundly and the noise would not awaken her.
Cordelia murmured in reply, luxuriating in the warm, soapy water. «It feels almost as good as General Chegwidden's arms.» She glanced at the door between her room and his. Trusting him implicitly, she had never locked it. So far as she knew, he had never so much as touched the knob. She could hear him on the other side of the wall. «It sounds as if he is pacing the floor.»
***
In his bedroom, AJ walked the length of the room, then turned and crossed to the other side. She had stirred him with her kisses. «But she was asleep!»
«She wasn't sleep at the courthouse.»
AJ stepped near the window and gazed out, his arms crossed over his chest. He could see his men below. «And what must they think, seeing me carry her up the steps like a bridegroom bringing home his bride? And then she kissed me. They don't know that she was asleep.»
Glancing at the door between their rooms, AJ shook his head. «The impropriety will ruin her reputation. There's only one thing to do. It would certainly please me, but will she have me?» He swallowed, knowing that wasn't his real question. «Of course she will save her reputation. But could she love me?»
He heard Lucy struggling with the tub and stepped into the hallway. "I can help," he whispered through the open door. Lucy nodded and sighed appreciatively. AJ carried the tub to the back window, which Lucy opened. He tipped the tub, pouring the water over the runoff, sending a cascade of suds over the side of the building.
Lucy took the tub from his hands, but he reached for it again. "Where does it go? I can take it," he offered.
Shaking her head, Lucy smiled. "You git on in there and check on her. I'll take this to the warming kitchen, clean it up and let it dry while I cook some dinner. I'll bring up a tray for you both."
AJ glanced down the hallway into Cordelia's open door. She lay sound asleep on the bed.
"Gwan, git on in there," Lucy chuckled and swatted him across the chest. "I heard you pacing. I know you're worried 'bout her."
With an appreciative nod, AJ made his way to Cordelia's room. He left the door to the hallway open and dragged the chair beside the bed.
Lucy had unbraided Cordelia's hair and spread it out on the pillow to dry. Carefully, AJ reached to touch it. «It feels like silk.» He dropped his head, ashamed of his actions. He noticed that her color had returned. «She's so beautiful.» He waited patiently, watching her sleep.
It was the smell of supper that awoke Cordelia as Lucy climbed the stairs with a tray containing two bowls of soup. "I'll bring the rest up in a minute. That way it will be hot when you finish the soup," Lucy smiled. "Miss Cori, it's that corn chowder you like so much." She placed the tray on the bed, over Cordelia's lap. Lucy handed one of the bowls and a spoon to AJ. He held the saucer beneath the steaming bowl carefully as he mumbled his thanks and tasted the soup.
Cordelia thanked Lucy and watched her leave, then gave AJ a surprised look. "General, is everything all right? You look worried."
"I am worried, Miss Cori," AJ murmured.
Cordelia's eyes opened wide. "News of the war? Another battle? Are the Confederates coming? There have been rumors -- "
"No, no, nothing like that." AJ shook his head. "I shall be a hospital administrator for some time to come, I suspect."
Relieved, Cordelia tasted her soup. "Then what are you worried about, General?"
AJ sighed. "I am worried about you, Miss Cori."
"Me? You're worried about me?" Cordelia smiled. "Why, General Chegwidden, you have just seen to it that I have nothing to worry about. The trial is over."
"Miss Cori, what do you remember after the trial?" AJ asked.
Cordelia frowned, then shook her head. "I don't remember a thing until I woke up here in this room." She couldn't help but smile. «In your arms.»
"You fainted after the verdict was announced. The doctor in Danville said that all the excitement from the trial must have caused a spell of the vapors. He carried you to the carriage and I brought you home." AJ paused before going on. "You were still asleep when we arrived. I carried you inside." Both of them blushed. "You were dreaming, Miss Cori, and in your sleep, you kissed me."
Cordelia blushed furiously, remembering her dream. «Indeed I did. And more than kiss, according to my dream.» She gulped down more of the half-eaten soup.
AJ saw the blush deepen in her cheeks. «She is truly mortified.» "My men saw, Miss Cori. I could order them never to speak of it, but it is only the beginning of my worries. After the trial, me being here, alone with you. With only the," he stopped abruptly catching himself before he said 'slaves.' "With only the servants. People may begin to talk." His voice faded. "Your reputation, ma'am." AJ lowered his head. "I won't have you suffer because of me." He swallowed, took a deep breath and looked into her eyes, "Miss Cori, no one could say anything if you were to marry me. I'd be honored, ma'am, if you'd consider it."
«He asked me to marry him!» Cordelia smiled, then frowned abruptly. «But he never said he loved me. He just wants to save my reputation.» "I appreciate your concern for my well-being, General, but I hardly see marriage as a solution. Marriage is a holy bond between two people who love each other. To marry you in order to save my reputation would be a lie. I have never cared what people say. I could not force you into such an alliance. I would not make you live a lie." «But only on your part.»
"And if I did love you? Could you perhaps grow to love me?" AJ whispered.
Cordelia stared at him without speaking.
AJ carefully placed the bowl on the bedside table, then stooped to his knees on the floor beside the bed. "It was difficult to fight my emotions when I thought you were a slave owner," AJ said quietly. "And now there is no reason to hide my feelings, rather, every reason to share how I feel. I care about your reputation, Miss Cori, even if you don't. I care because in the months I have been living here I have come to love you. If you could come to love me, if there is any possibility, it wouldn't be a lie."
Cordelia began to cry. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed. AJ reached for her tray before it overturned. He placed it on the floor behind him and turned once more to face Cordelia.
"Don't cry, Miss Cori. Please don't cry." AJ pleaded. «See what the mere thought of marrying you has done to her?» He reached in his pocket for his handkerchief and handed it to her.
"I knew you hated the idea of me having slaves," Cordelia gasped through her tears. "I could feel it every time you looked at me. Your disgust."
AJ lowered his head. "I thought of the slave markets to distance myself from my real feelings. The squalor and the cruelty of slavery disgust me. But I had already begun to love you even before I learned that you did not own slaves." He looked into her eyes. "I wish I had been there when Daniel Wallace assaulted you. I would have gladly killed him. Then Sturgis and Bobbi wouldn't have had to leave, and you would never have had to go through this trial."
"If I had trusted you sooner. If I had told you about Sturgis and what happened instead of keeping my own counsel, I should not have had to go through this trial." Cordelia whispered.
"I promise that if you marry me, I will protect you and take care of you. You will never have to endure anything like this again, not as long as I am you husband," AJ stated. "No man would dare try to force himself upon you." «Of course, that's it.» AJ lowered his voice and forced the words out, "Not even me. Many married couples sleep apart. I could make the room beside this one mine. Do not let such fears hinder your decision."
Cordelia stared at him. "You would offer a marriage in name's sake only? Just to protect my reputation? Many men would be willing to marry a woman in order to protect her reputation, but few would eschew the marriage bed."
"I love you, Cordelia Wallace. I love you and I would not treat you unkindly." AJ paused, "I would only hope that one day you might find room for me in your heart."
"You truly mean it. You do love me," tears welled in Cordelia's eyes. It surprised AJ when she reached for him, her fingers stroking his face. His hand closed over hers.
"I will wait as long as it takes," AJ whispered.
Confused, Cordelia asked, "Why should we wait to be married?"
"We can be married tomorrow. Tonight, if you wish." AJ smiled. "But I will wait as long as it takes for you to grow to love me, if you can. I know there is someone in your heart. You were kissing him in your dream when you kissed me. When you told him you loved him."
"In my dream?" Cordelia blushed. "I told you I loved you in my dream."
"Yes," AJ nodded sadly, unable to look at her. "When you thought, in your sleep, that I was the man you love."
Cordelia lifted his face, running her fingers over his forehead and down his cheek. «I have wanted to touch his face like this for so long.» She looked him in the eye. "I told you I loved you in my dream." Before he could respond, she put her hand over his mouth. "It was you. In my dream." She moved her hand away.
AJ's jaw dropped then he found his senses and closed his mouth. A shy grin crept across his face, turning into a beaming smile. "You kissed me."
"I did much more than kiss you in my dream." Cordelia blushed profusely, the heat emanating from her face. "And there will be no need for you to sleep anywhere but in this room, in this bed, when we are married, General."
Still awed by her revelation, AJ spoke, "I believe that since we are to be married, you might call me AJ."
"What does AJ stand for?" Cordelia asked.
"Albert Jethro," AJ said, still grinning.
Cordelia ran her hand over his shoulder and down his arm, finally grasping his hand. "So, AJ, did you mean what you said?"
"That I love you? Absolutely." AJ nodded gravely, bringing her fingers to his lips.
"I know you meant that. But did you truly mean that we could be married tomorrow?" Cordelia whispered.
AJ stammered, "Tonight, if you wish."
Cordelia grinned. "I am exhausted tonight. But I should very much like to marry you tomorrow. Perhaps we could send someone tonight to Reverend Roberts asking him to come by with Harriet tomorrow morning. Harriet can be our witness. And perhaps one of your men could be our second witness?"
"I'll send one of the men as soon as we finish supper," AJ said.
In the doorway, Lucy coughed.
"Lucy, how long have you been in the standing there?" Cordelia laughed as AJ stood.
Lucy grinned. "Long enough to know I'll be seein' to brunch for the two of you, the Roberts and at least one other person. I'll bring out the country ham and beaten biscuits. You jist wait. I'll have a fine meal prepared for after the weddin'."
"In that case, I think I'll pass on any more supper. The chowder was filling and I'm so tired," Cordelia said. "I need to rest up for my wedding day."
"In that case, General, sir, you'd better eat all of this supper I carried up." Lucy let out a snort. "You're going need to fortify yourself for such a rested bride." She nodded in the direction of the chair and commanded, "You sit down, now. I'll check on you later for the dishes. Clean your plate; that's polite. Can't have my Miss Cori marryin' some rude soldier." She grinned as AJ sat, and she placed the tray with two heaping plates of food in his lap. "I'll bring you some chess pie for dessert when you're done." She picked the soup bowl off the bedside table, placed it on the other tray alongside Cordelia's empty bowl, and disappeared.
AJ ate as he watched Cordelia fall asleep. Her lips moved as she dreamed, sleepily mouthing, "I love you." She punctuated the words with a kiss, her lips pressing against the air.
«She's kissing me in her sleep again.» AJ grinned happily and whispered, "I love you."
10 January 1863
Perryville, Kentucky
The Wallace horse farm
2300 hours
Chegwidden nodded off in the chair after watching Cordelia fall asleep. A frantic knock on the door below woke him. He heard Lucy muttering, "Lause, what kind of person knocks like that on the front door of a good Christian home this late at night?" Chegwidden suspected it was a runaway slave, come for refuge. Then he heard Rabb's voice. Rushing from the room, he closed the door behind him hoping to shield Cordelia from the noise.
From the top of the stairs, Chegwidden spoke softly but firmly, "Mr. Rabb. Kindly lower your voice. After the ordeal you put her through, Mrs. Wallace needs her rest." As he reached the bottom of the stairs, he gave Rabb a grim look before he realized his glare was pointless. The young man, whom Chegwidden recognized as Rabb’s clerk stood just behind his boss, panting slightly.
"General Chegwidden, I realized at the end of the trial what was happening. I suspected the 'not guilty' verdict and thought it might be best to see the trial through. Better for Mrs. Wallace's reputation, being found not guilty. Then after the trial I found out why Lauren Singer lied," Rabb stammered. "This is Joshua Pendry, my clerk. He was kind enough to drive me out here."
"Oh? You knew that she lied?" Chegwidden looked at him suspiciously.
Rabb shook his head. "I wasn't sure until Webb's testimony. I never saw the murder scene. I didn't know what it looked like. I had to trust her until I knew she was lying."
"And you're here because?" Chegwidden was impatient.
"I'm here because of Sydney Walden, sir. I learned after the trial that she bribed Lauren Singer to testify. I sent Sheriff Lindsey to pick her up. He left to pick her up after the trial, but he never returned." Rabb seemed uncomfortable asking for help.
Chegwidden frowned. "Mr. Rabb, I appreciate you coming. I need to speak to Mrs. Walden on another matter. Would you care to join me?"
"I'd like that, sir," Rabb nodded.
After placating Lucy with assurances that he would return soon, Chegwidden grabbed his coat.
"Lead the way, Mr. Rabb." Rabb took Pendry’s arm and together they went back outside. . Chegwidden sent one of the sentries to ready his horse and gather some men.
It surprised Rabb how quickly the men and horses were ready. The ride to Neville's Landing was short. Chegwidden knocked on the door and one of the soldiers serving as an orderly for the evening answered, his eyes widening as he recognized the General. He jumped to attention.
"As you were, Combs. I must speak to Mrs. Walden," Chegwidden demanded.
"She's been with Sheriff Lindsey for hours, sir. Had dinner brought in and everything. We haven't seen her all night," Combs stammered.
Chegwidden eyed the stairs. More than once Sydney Walden had invited him to her private rooms. He'd never taken her up on the offer, but still, he knew where they were. He nodded to his men, who followed him. Rabb and Pendry joined them, though Rabb insisted on making his way alone. He listened carefully in order to make his way up the stairs without incident. When they reached the suite of rooms, Chegwidden threw open the door, his gun ready.
Tied to a chair, Sheriff Lindsey struggled against his bonds. Chegwidden sighed and motioned for one of his men to release Lindsey. As the soldier removed the gag from his mouth, Lindsey bellowed, "I told you Rabb! I told you she'd hurt me if I tried to arrest her!"
"What time did she leave, Lindsey?" Chegwidden growled.
Lindsey's eyes opened wide and he swallowed, "Not long ago. She was waiting for her son. He never showed. Probably playing poker somewhere in town. She finally left without him."
"Where was she going?" Chegwidden bellowed.
"I think she planned to head out past Danville. Maybe stay at Shakertown, at least for the night. I'm not sure after that." Lindsey swallowed again. "She said no one would miss me. That she'd have at least a day before you came after her."
"How did she get out? The sentry thought she was in here," one of Chegwidden's men asked.
"That doesn't matter now. She'll have gone quietly, probably leading a horse until she was far enough away not to be heard. She'd go more slowly on the road, too, not wanting to be heard by patrols," Chegwidden surmised.
Rabb stopped the General. "Patrols? You have patrols about?"
"Of course. There are always rumors of Confederates returning. There are patrols every night so nothing will surprise us. She knows that we have patrols, so she'll be careful to avoid them." Chegwidden turned to leave. "You coming with us, Lindsey?"
"I-I think I'll head on back to the jail," Lindsey stammered.
The men turned to follow Chegwidden out and they made their way to the horses. They disappeared into the night.
10 January 1863
A country road near Danville, Kentucky
2345 hours
Sydney Walden heard the sound of the horses' hooves against the road. The shakers had offered her a room with three other women. «Imagine that. They thought I would share a room. Fanatical creatures. Expecting everyone to follow a rule of celibacy, not even allowing men and women to enter a room through the same doors or to use the same staircase.» She hadn't stayed. «A little further and I'll make Lexington, I'll be lost in the crowd there at an inn.»
Behind, in the darkness, Chegwidden and his men followed. Pendry did an excellent job in keeping up in the swift little carriage. They stopped at Shakertown, where the believer who answered the door told them of a woman who had stopped for the night, but gone on when she learned that she must share a room. They knew they were close.
Chegwidden rode alongside the carriage. Finally a mile or so down the road they came to a fork. Halting the troops Chegwidden paused to consider his options. "That way. I hear a horse up ahead and that way," pointing toward the river road, Rabb whispered urgently.
One of the men laughed. "I don't hear anything."
"Mr. Rabb hears very well, be quiet and you may hear the horse, too," Pendry said heatedly.
Chegwidden spurred his horse on alone. After only a couple of turns in the road, he paused and heard the horse ahead of him clearly. He urged his horse onward, even faster still.
Sydney cursed softly as she rested near a fallen tree. She heard horses approaching and she knew they must be chasing her. «Damn that Lindsay. He must have escaped somehow. .» She was close to the Kentucky River and the echoes of the hoof beats off the limestone cliffs confused her. »I can’t tell how many horses though. First I hear several, then it sounds just like one.» She couldn't tell how closely she was being followed. She looked over her shoulder to see a pursuer gaining on her. Even in the darkness, she could not mistake him. «It's General Chegwidden.» She reached for her gun, firing in his direction.
The shot went wild, hitting neither man nor horse.
"Put down your gun, Mrs. Walden," Chegwidden yelled. "We know that you bribed Lauren Singer to lie in her testimony." «It's better that I don't mention that we know about her spying.»
In reply, Sydney turned once again, taking more careful aim this time. She spurred the horse onward, urging it to a breakneck speed. Chegwidden raced along behind her. Turning, she fired as she galloped. Again, she missed. She fired again, not paying any attention to where the horse was leading her.
"Stop, Mrs. Walden!" Chegwidden bellowed as he pulled his horse up short. Had he been a less skilled rider, he would have flown over the horse's head as the animal stopped abruptly. He didn’t know if she heard him or not over the echoing thunder of horse hoofs, but Mrs. Walden refused to stop.
She urged her horse into the inky blackness, all the while looking back at Chegwidden. His abrupt stop puzzled her. She turned her head just in time to see that she had missed the curve in the road. Her scream pierced the night as her horse raced over the cliff at the Kentucky River Palisades. The shriek ended with the sound of the impact on the boulders below. Only the sound of rushing water filled the night.
The carriage carrying Rabb and Pendry, followed by the soldiers, caught up to Chegwidden. "What happened, sir?" one of the men asked.
"She went over the cliff," Chegwidden murmured.
Rabb asked the question they were all thinking. "How did you know to stop?"
"You are not the only person who listens in the night, Mr. Rabb. I knew the cliffs were nearby," AJ said quietly. "Let's go home. We need not search the cliffs for a traitor in the dark of night."
"Traitor?" exclaimed Rabb. "She bribed someone to lie in their testimony, but that does not make her a traitor!"
"I received word today that she is a Confederate spy. My source was impeccable; I have no doubt it's true. I had already detailed men to take her into custody later this morning. They can search for her body instead." With that, Chegwidden turned his horse in the darkness. "I have more important things to tend to today."
"More important things, General?" Rabb repeated.
In the darkness, Chegwidden smiled. "Much more important. I'm getting married today."
11 January 1863
Perryville, Kentucky
The Wallace horse farm
2030 hours
Cordelia sat at her dressing table brushing her hair. The glow from the fire in the fireplace lit the room, casting gentle, flickering shadows on the walls. Lucy was hanging up Cordelia's dress after helping her change into a lacy nightgown. Lucy had called together some of the quilting women to piece together the nightgown and robe. The nightgown was a simple pattern with lace covering a pale, shell pink linen. Cordelia cried when they gave it to her right after she came upstairs to get ready for bed. Cordelia straightened the collar of the matching robe.
"What's wrong, chile? Surely you know by now that man loves you?" Lucy asked when she saw Cordelia tear up.
Cordelia nodded furiously. "What if I can't make him happy?"
"Looks to me like he's already purty happy to be married to you," Lucy grinned, coming to stand by Cordelia at the dressing table.
"But I haven't --" Cordelia blushed. "It's been so long, Lucy. Since I was eighteen. What if I can't make him happy…in that way?"
"You can't help but make me happy," AJ whispered from the doorway. He nodded at Lucy and she slipped away as AJ walked across the room and went down on one knee beside Cordelia.
"I can barely remember," Cordelia stammered.
AJ kissed her, silencing her with his lips. He kissed her neck and ran his hands over her shoulders. "What did you do in your dream? Can you remember that?"
Cordelia blushed and nodded.
"Then why don't we start there?" AJ asked, his arms surrounding her. He carried her to the bed. Lucy had pulled down the covers and used the bedwarmers. He could feel the heat. He sat Cordelia down gently, kissed her softly on the lips and watched as she pulled the robe over her arms. He could see her body through the sheer material and knew that she must be cold. He sat beside her, warming her with his body, and pulled the covers around her. With one hand she reached for the jacket of his uniform, pushing it off his shoulders. Her hands shook as she touched the buckle of his belt. He took her hands in his, kissed each palm, then stood. He unfastened his belt, placing his sword and the scabbard on the table beside the bed. He smiled, realizing that sometime during the day Lucy had brought his bootjack into the room. He hooked one heel in and pulled out of his boot, then did the same with his other foot. He unbuttoned his pants, letting them fall to the floor with his jacket. Cordelia lifted the blanket for him to climb under with her. "Is this like your dream?" AJ asked.
Cordelia let her hands play over his torso, flitting beneath his underclothes. "Better," she whispered. "It's real." She kissed him then began to peel off his underclothes, her hands lingering over his muscled body.
"What happened next in your dream?" AJ breathed. Cordelia tucked her head, her face burnished by her blush. She took his hands and placed them on her body just over her hips. AJ squeezed gently, then began to move his hands to her breasts. He felt them respond to his touch and began to undo the tiny mother-of-pearl buttons. "Your nightgown is beautiful."
Cordelia giggled. "I believe Lucy has used two of my best tablecloths to make it."
"I appreciate Lucy's resourcefulness. I can buy you new tablecloths," AJ grinned.
"I don't need them; I have a linen closet full of them." Cordelia said. "Unless you would have me make nightgowns of all of them?"
"Your tablecloths are safe," AJ murmured, opening the front of the gown to reveal her breasts. Cordelia watched his eyes as they moved appreciatively over her body. She wasn't expecting her response to his touch, and as his flesh met hers she gasped. His thumbs circled her nipples, caressing her breasts softly. Then his lips closed on her right breast as his tongue swirled around her aureola. He nibbled gently, his teeth skimming the surface of her skin. She shuddered in pleasure and drew a ragged breath. He moved on to her other breast.
Cordelia moaned and said, "Much better than my dream."
AJ ran his hand over the curves of her body and down her leg. He found the hem of her gown and slipped his hand under it, lifting it and uncovering her. He kissed her ankle and made his way up her leg with his lips, his kisses passing under her knee and on her thigh. He reached for her curls and parted her slick lips with his fingers, seeking her nub. He rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger as she writhed beside him on the bed. His lips joined his fingers; his soft kisses and gentle touches sending Cordelia into ecstasy. His tongue flickered over her clit as one finger, then two, slipped inside her, pulsing against her slick wetness.
Cordelia gasped, revelling in the sensations that arched through her body. She had felt his hardness when she started to undress him, seen his excitement grow beside her. «Yet he does not seem to want me. Not that way.» Finally she whispered, "Is there something wrong?"
His fingers still caressing her channel, AJ lifted his head and repeated, "Wrong?"
His thumb circled her clit and Cordelia arched her back and gasped the words out, "Do you not want me, AJ? As a man wants his wife?"
"I want you, Darlin', " AJ chuckled. "I want you so much it hurts. But I don't want to hurt you." He slipped a third finger inside her. "I want you ready for me."
Cordelia moaned quietly and in a hoarse whisper, pleaded, "I am ready, AJ. Please love me."
Still stroking her, AJ kissed his way up her body, his tongue making one final assault on her breasts. He lay beside her, one hand raising her sex to a fever pitch, the other clasping her head, turning it to face him as his lips sought hers. She felt him, his shaft probing at her thigh.
"I believe you are ready," AJ whispered softly, rolling onto his back as his hands met at her hips and lifted her over him. Thoroughly surprised, Cordelia managed to spread her legs as he lowered her slowly over his cock, straddling him as she finally sheathed him with her body. The sensation of being filled again after so many years was almost too much to bear. Braxton had never made love to her like this, but it felt wonderful. She leaned forward, her breasts fully exposed, and his fingers ran over her again. She shuddered and swivelled her hips, grinding into him and moaning. He found her clit, rubbing it softly between his thumb and forefinger as he thrust deeply with his hips.
Cordelia saw the muscles of his abdomen surge as AJ pulled up from the mattress, holding her, rocking her into him. He lifted his knees and rested her against them, his hands roving over her body, touching her face, her breasts, her stomach, her sex, her clit. Her flesh, inflamed with passion, felt burnished, branded at his touch. His love marked her, not with wounds or bruises, but in ways she could feel. She shuddered at his passion, unable now to speak, her voice unintelligible, undulating in a rhythm with her body, with his ardor.
Silky ribbons of hair filled his mouth as AJ kissed Cordelia. He could taste the salt of his sweat mingled with hers as his lips traced her body. Her voice, a siren call, filled his ears with her pleasure. He felt as if he might explode, and then he did, filling her with his seed, his cry of ecstasy joining her passionate moans.
Breathless, Cordelia leaned against AJ, her head resting on the solid muscle at his shoulder. He felt her gasps alternating warm and cool over the damp skin of his back. The fingers of one hand caught in the curly tangle of her damp hair, he played his other hand over her hips, past her stomach to the valley between her breasts. He could feel her heart pulsing, felt his own blood rushing through his veins. He dropped his head to kiss the spot over her heart where his fingers touched her burning flesh.
His voice as faint as her breathing, AJ whispered, "I love you, Cordelia Chegwidden. Forever and always."