Indulgence (174 page)

George had seen that fresh flowers graced every room, along
with the lamps he had lit earlier that evening, which glowed softly in every
room. Albert knew and understood her hesitancy, so taking her in his arms, he
held her. After a moment, he felt her hands on his back, returning his embrace.
He knew without either one of them saying a word they were one. Gently holding
her face with his hand, he kissed her softly. As he showed her to the lower level
of the house, Albert waited for her reaction as she explored each room, finally
telling him, “It’s beautiful, Albert, absolutely beautiful.”

“This is my gift to you, Anne, I built it for you. We still
have some finishing to do, but we can take our time. I just wanted to have the
essentials before we moved in,” he told her.

“I have something for you, also,” she said. “Nothing quite
as grand as your present, but I think you’ll like it. Wait here.” Returning
shortly, she handed him a small black box. “Open it.”

Slowly lifting the top, inside he found an exquisite gold
pocket watch and fob. Removing it from the box, he turned it over in his hand
and read the inscription on the back.
To Albert, my love, my life. Anne

“It’s beautiful, Anne,” he began.

“Open the case,” she said softly.

Doing as she said, he opened the watch clasp and inside
found a picture of his mother and father on their wedding day.

“Where, how, did you find this picture?” he asked.

“Your father was showing me some photographs one day. We
came across this one, and he gave it to me. When I had the watch made, I had
the watchmaker encase the picture,” she explained, then added, “You have your
mother’s eyes.”

Speechless, Albert stood staring at the watch in his hand.
Finally finding his voice he told her, “Thank you my love, it’s beautiful.”

Taking her in his arms, he kissed her passionately, with her
returning his fervor. Knowing both their minds were on what lay ahead upstairs,
Albert silently went throughout the house turning off the lamps and checking
the door. Albert took Anne’s hand, and they went up the stairs together.

Entering their room, she told him, “Albert, it’s beautiful.”
Candles, along with a low fire burning in the fireplace, cast muted light
throughout the room. On the table was champagne, along with fruits and candies.

He poured each of them a glass, kissed her softly, then told
her, “You complete me, you touch me, and I want you. You look at me, and my
heart melts like the snow when the sun shines on the mountains. Today, when I
saw you come down the aisle, I knew I had realized my dream to marry you. From
the moment we met, I loved you, and today, my heart is overflowing with that
love. My only desire is to love you and live the rest of my life with you.”

With his words, all apprehension left her. She set her glass
down and walked over to him. Embracing him, she told him, “I will love you for
the rest of my life and beyond.”

Albert had calmed her fears with his words, and now she
wanted to be one with him. As he held her, he felt her heart racing and her
body tremble. Both were keenly aware that soon they would take the next step as
husband and wife.

Anne excused herself and went into the dressing room to
change. Removing her wedding gownand hanging it in the closet, she then took
the pins from her hair, allowing it to flow down her back. She changed into a
diaphanous nightgown, took a deep breath, then stepped back into their bedroom
and found Albert gazing into the fireplace. He had removed his suit coat and
tie, his shirt unbuttoned to the waist. When he heard the door open, he turned
to see her enter the room.

His pulse quickened as he watched her come to him, stopping
in front of him. He had to remind himself to take it slow. He didn’t want to
frighten her. He sat his glass on the mantel and gathered her into his arms.

Pulling her to his chest, he told her, “Anne, don’t be
afraid, we’ll take it slow. We have all the time in the world.”

“I’m not afraid, Albert. I just don’t want to disappoint
you,” she said, looking into his eyes.

“You could never disappoint me, Anne, never,” he said, as
his mouth covered hers. Gently at first, then more demanding as his tongue
forced her mouth open, slipping into the sweet, warm depths. Anne’s hand rested
on his chest, her fingers playing in the black dense hair there. Reminding
himself again not to rush, he gently pulled back from her, as he took her hand
from his chest, kissing her fingertips.

“Anne, don’t be afraid. Remember I told you once, I would
help you and prepare you when the time came?” he said, looking at her.

“Yes, I remember, Albert, and I’m not afraid,” she answered.
Her arms circled his neck, pulling his mouth to hers as she kissed him
tenderly, his arms pulling her closer, molding his body to hers. He felt her
begin to respond to his kisses as his manhood grew, pressing against her
stomach. Lifting her into his arms, he carried her to their bed, laying her
there as he took his shirt off and stepped out of his pants.

Anne’s eyes grew wide as they swept over his body, resting
on his hardened manhood, straining against the thin material of his
undergarments. He slipped into bed beside her, pulling the sheet over them as
he took her in his arms, gently stroking and kissing her. Soon, all fears were
gone as Albert’s touch woke feelings in her that yearned to be free. Anne
willingly gave herself up to his caresses, responding to his touch. They took
their time, exploring and undressing each other as a spark began in both as
their desire and want for each other took over.

They strove to satisfy the other, giving everything they
possessed. Although he had prepared her as best he could, when he entered her
for the first time, she experienced pain like none she had ever known, her
nails digging into his back as tears sprung up in her eyes. He whispered words
of love to her that soon turned all the pain into a burning desire for him.
That night a passion ignited between the two lovers that would never be
quenched.

Afterwards, as they lay entwined in each other’s arms, he
promised her he would never hurt her again.

“The first time is painful, Anne, but I swear from now on
there will be no pain, only pleasure.”

Reddening, she told him, “I’m alright now. I just wasn’t
prepared for the, for the intensity of you of your...”

“It’s alright, sweetheart, don’t be embarrassed. This is
what married people do,” he explained.

After a few moments of his caresses, she asked, “Do you know
when I fell in love with you?”

Stroking her hair, he answered, “I’m not sure.”

“It was the very moment I heard your voice and looked into
your eyes,” she told him.

“And do you still feel that way, Mrs. Stuart?” he asked,
smiling.

“Yes, every time I look into your eyes, I fall in love with
you all over again,” she said, stroking his chest. Albert had given Anne all of
the love he had, and now married, she could give of herself freely to him.

Later that night, Albert lay watching his wife sleep. He had
made love to her again that first night, far more than he would have ever
imagined. He had planned to introduce the intimate side of their marriage to
her slowly, but Anne, eager to please him, ignited a fire in him he could not
deny or control.

He had been concerned that given her upbringing, she may be
inhibited in this area of their marriage. His fears had been short lived, as he
soon realized, Anne had a burning want to please him both in and out of bed.
She was finally free to shower all of her love and affection on him. That night
they both slept better than they had in all their lives, wrapped in each
other’s arms.

As the sun rose the next morning, Albert looked down at the
woman sleeping in his arms. Brushing a curl from her face, he gently kissed her
as she snuggled closer to him, her hand on his chest. A sense of contentment
swept over him as he folded her in his arms, knowing she was his forever and
drifted back to sleep.

Anne, waking a short time later, lay there looking into the
face of the man she loved so much that it made her ache. Her thoughts slipped
back to the night before, her body still tingling from his touch. She slipped
from his arms, quietly got out of bed, put a robe on, and walked out on their
balcony. The view was breathtaking. A mist rose over the deep blue lake with
the snow-capped mountains rising majestically behind it. Wrapping her arms around
herself, she thought of her husband and last night. Albert had been gentle and
patient with her, awakening feelings and emotions she had never imagined
existed in her. She smiled, remembering her husband’s lovemaking, as two strong
arms wrapped around her and soft lips kissed her neck.

“Good morning, Mrs. Stuart,” he greeted her.

Turning to face him, she wrapped her arms around his neck,
smiled, and kissed him softly. “Good morning. I didn’t wake you, did I?”

“No, I just missed the feel of you in my arms,” he told her.

“You were right, the view is beautiful. I will never tire of
looking at it,” she told him.

“Well, sweetheart,” he said, pulling her close, “we have a
very long time to enjoy this view. The rest of our lives. There’s something
else I want to share with you.” Grinning, he swept her into his arms and
carried her back to their bed.

From the beginning she had been an obsession with him, but
never more than now, as he was insatiable in his want of her.

After Albert had fallen back to sleep, Anne slipped out of
the bed and went to the kitchen. She found that George had stocked the pantries
with assorted foods to tempt the lovers. Anne brewed coffee and began making
breakfast for her husband.

Albert woke to the smell of coffee, biscuits and bacon frying.
Rising, he splashed water on his face, combed his hair, slipped on a pair of
pants, and was buttoning his shirt as he went down the stairs. Entering the
kitchen, he found his wife at the stove.

“Anne, you didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”

“It’s no trouble, and besides, I’m hungry. I hope eggs,
bacon, and biscuits are all right,” she said, pouring him a cup of coffee.

“That’s perfect. In fact, I’m starved. I’m exhausted from
last night and this morning. I need food to keep my strength up in order to
satisfy my wife,” he told her, grinning as he sipped his coffee.

“Albert,” she blushed, “you cannot possibly. . .”

“Anne, I told you I will never tire of making love to you.
However, you’re right, I am hungry. We need to eat. Then I want to tell you
where I’m taking you for our honeymoon.”

Going to him and putting her arms around his waist as she
looked up at him, she said, “I would be content not to go anywhere, just stay
right here with you.”

“I know you would, but I want our honeymoon to be special,
something we will never forget.”

After they dined, he told her about San Francisco, and was
delighted by her reaction.

“We leave the day after tomorrow,” he told her.

“San Francisco! I’ve never been there. What a wonderful
surprise,” she declared, throwing her arms around his shoulders, kissing him
softly.

For the next two days, they enjoyed being alone and
adjusting to living together as man and wife. Albert’s family respected this
time, knowing the couple wanted no one but each other. Anne cooked small meals
for them with Albert helping her clean up the kitchen afterwards.

The morning they left for San Francisco, Albert woke before
sunup, kissed her, and whispered, “Time to get up, sweetheart. We’ve got to
hurry to make the morning stage on time.”

“Mmmmmm, Albert let me sleep just a while longer. I feel as
though I just fell asleep,” she moaned.

Chuckling, as he remembered the night before, he said, “You
did, but I’ll let you sleep on the stage. Really, Anne, you must get up and get
dressed.”

When he received no response from her, he pulled the covers
off her, resulting in a squeal, “Albert Stuart, you are the most infuriating
man!” she cried.

“It was the only way I could get you up,” he explained,
watching her climb out of bed, her gown riding up on a shapely thigh. Pulling
her back onto the bed with him, he kissed her, and then nuzzled her neck
telling her as his fingers toyed with the top of her gown, “Maybe we do have a
little time.”

She gently pushed on his chest, nuzzling his ear, telling
him, “No, you’re right. I must get up and get dressed. Perhaps if you had woken
me a little nicer we would have had time for
other things
.”

“Anne, I don’t believe it. We’ve only been married for three
days, and you're already refusing me.”

“No, darlin’,” she said caressing his face with the back of
her hand, “I will never refuse you. I’m just doing as you requested, I’m
getting up and getting dressed. Your other ideas will have to wait until
later.”

The couple spent a romantic week in San Francisco at the
Palace Hotel. Albert had reserved a suite for them, requesting the staff keep
it well stocked with champagne, fruit, pastries, and Anne’s favorite
chocolates.

He enjoyed showing her everything he loved about the city.
They spent their days sightseeing, visiting museums, art galleries, and dining
at the finest restaurants. In the evenings, he took her to several stage shows
and the opera.

On one of their last nights in the city, they lay in bed
after making love as she told him, “Albert, I’ve had a wonderful time. You’ve
made it so very special.”

“I wanted you to have a good time,” he told her. “Something
both of us will remember for the rest of our lives.”

Anne had gotten bolder and more comfortable in her role as
Albert’s wife, wanting to please him at every turn. She had soon discovered
that Albert was not only gentle and considerate in his love-making, but a
powerful and demanding lover at the same time, satisfying her every time.