Here you go then, part 2
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"And then we can count the rose bushes..."
Kate, with some help from Marie, had got them both cleaned up and was now wandering through the gardens, talking and singing to Maddie who was starting to get tired and tetchy. "But we won't go to the stables this time, eh? Because we don't want a repeat..." Her voice trailed off and she paused on the threshold of the garden, taking in the scene. Then backed quietly away whispering "Or maybe we'll count the roses tomorrow, because Mummy wasn't in the stables after all..." As she turned leave, Maddie saw her mother and let out a wail of protest at being taken away.
Eleanor jerked upright on the seat, half rising and pushing Aramis away as she looked towards the sound.
Kate's voice carried through the hedge, soothing Maddie and announcing (somewhat louder than necessary if she had just been talking to the baby) that they were both in need of an afternoon nap and should go back to the house, then called a gardener away, saying that his attention was needed elsewhere.
Eleanor sat back down on the edge of the bench, nerves jangling as Aramis mentally cursed Kate's timing for the second time. Though then again, it sounded like she had also diverted a gardener away from them.
"She might need me..."
Aramis dropped a kiss on her neck "I'm sure Kate can manage, I can't see her letting any harm come to the child."
"But..." Eleanor was torn
"She'll be fine. Besides, she might need you, but I definitely do. And you should really make the most of such an accommodating babysitter." He pulled her across onto his lap and kissed her neck again - she could feel him hard through his breeches.
Eleanor cast one more worried look towards the exit, then muttered to herself "She'll be fine, she'll be fine..." before dropping her lips back to his, shuddering as his hand resumed its path up her leg again. She had been widowed a year, but it felt like it had been much longer since anyone had touched her like this, let alone someone who was as interested in her own pleasure as his. She trailed her tongue round his ear then grinned against his neck, if Athos was as good as Kate implied then she must have near exploded when he'd bedded her. Thoughts of Kate were driven from her mind as his hand reached up between her legs and she found herself trembling uncontrollably in his arms, gasping for breath as his fingers pressed against her, sending sharp jolts of pleasure through her whole body. He groaned against her neck as his fingers slipped inside and he felt how ready she was for him, then began kissing her collarbone - licking and nibbling his way back up her neck and along her jaw - finally covering her mouth with his, muffling the cry that escaped her as she collapsed against him - cheeks flushed and heart racing.
He grinned as she clung to him, still gasping for breath and shaking, then she pulled back and smiled at him, blushing at his enquiring look.
"Well, now we've got that out of the way shall we take things more slowly?" He began to unlace her bodice, kissing his way downwards, beard ticking against her skin, then returned to her lips, kissing her and using his weight to pin her down onto the bench. His hand slipped inside her bodice, fingers circling her nipples and she squirmed, moaning with pleasure - for the past 6 months she'd felt as attractive as a dairy cow, but this... her breath caught, this was beyond words. He grinned, enjoying the sight of her writhing at his touch, then began to slowly work his way downwards again. His thumb brushed against her lips and she bit down on it as his tongue teased her breasts - circling round the nipples before covering one with his mouth - licking and sucking to stimulate a sudden gush of milk into his mouth. She gasped again, eyes widening as he swallowed and looked up at her, eyes creased with a smile and then pulled back licking his lips, before he knelt on the grass beside her and pushed her skirts up, kissing and trailing his tongue slowly up her legs. Eleanor closed her eyes and breathed in the smell of the roses, listened to the birds singing in the hedge, and revelled in the sublime feeling as his fingers brushed against her skin, raising goosebumps; his tongue and lips soft and gentle, contrasting with the scratching of his beard on the skin of her thighs. The hard bench might as well have been a featherbed for all the notice she paid it.
Anticipation built as his lips moved higher - skin quivering under his touch. She reached blindly down to him, whimpering slightly as his tongue finally reached her. He glanced up, took the hand that was groping towards him and felt her fingers lock round his, her whole body now rigid with tension. She shuddered - one hand gripping his, the other gripping the bench, head spinning at the sensations as his lips and tongue teased - swirling, sucking, driving her to distraction.
Aramis grinned again - he was starting to get distinctly uncomfortable, but her reactions were reward enough for now. He could hear her muttering under her breath - he heard his name and some frankly blasphemous comments. Finally, her back arched and she pushed against him, fingers flexed in his hand. He could feel her muscles contracting against him as her orgasm radiated through her and she relaxed back against the bench, heart pounding. He pulled himself onto the bench and sat slightly awkwardly next to her, pulled her bodice together and skirt down then watched as she lay with her eyes closed, cheeks flushed and a slight smile on her face. To the casual observer she appeared to be having a peaceful nap on the bench, watched over by her escort.
Eleanor opened her eyes, smiled mischievously at him and sat up, pulling at her bodice. "Well, that was fun, we'd better go back to the house now though."
He looked somewhat taken aback and she burst out laughing "Your face... " then pulled him to her and kissed him, tasting herself in his mouth, fingers working on the buttons and laces of his breeches and brais. "We can't have you going back to the house in that state!" He sucked in a sudden breath as she spun round to straddle him, kissed his neck and simultaneously slipped her hand inside his braies, caressing and stroking, then closing her fingers around him. He pushed her away and pulled her clothes aside - cupping her breasts in his hands, then burying his face in them - licking, sucking, nuzzling as he wrapped one arm around her waist - the other continuing to tease her breasts. Eleanor sighed with pleasure, gods but he was good... she pulled his shirt open and licked his neck, tasting his sweat on her tongue, then pushed the crucifix to one side - hand beneath his shirt and mouth teasing as much skin as she could reach. Grinning, she sank to the ground in front of him and dropped her head. He gave a sigh of pleasure as he ran his fingers through her hair, revelling in the feeling of her lips surrounding him, her tongue swirling - sucking, caressing, teasing. She felt him twitching, growing ever harder and increased her efforts - listening as his breathing became ragged and sporadic groans escaped him. Finally, his fingers clenched in her hair and he bit back a cry as she sat back on her heels, looking smug and swallowing.
He leant back with a satisfied smile as she refastened his clothes and sat back down next to him, grinning and tidying her hair. He turned his head to smell a rose, then reached over and picked up her hand in his, raising it to his lips. "So, tell me more about this most exquisite specimen..."
Eleanor snorted a laugh "Kate was quite right, you are incorrigible."
He raised his eyebrows "Incorrigible?" He pressed his hand to his heart in mock alarm "I'm wounded. I was merely asking for more information about this beautiful rose..."
She returned his look and stood up, holding out her hand to him. "Well then..." she began to escort him around the garden "This one and the others in the hedge are mostly Damasks - they are very fragrant but tend to get quite... rampant, if they're not trained properly." She shot him a sideways look and smirked. "The shrubs are mostly Gallicas - much more compact and less challenging. Some are used for medicinal purposes - this one for instance..." She continued onwards dredging up every piece of information she could recall about the garden, suppressing a smirk at his increasingly fixed expression as he struggled to maintain his pretence of interest in the flowers - a challenge to see who would crack first.
The gardener arrived and stopped short at the sight of Eleanor detailing the differences between the bushes. She gave him a quick smile and turned back to Aramis with an evil grin "I'm sure that Jean can give you far more information about them that I can...?"
He looked somewhat aghast then quickly rearranged his expression to one of regret "Another time perhaps. I believe I was meant to be providing some sparring practise. May I escort you back to the house...?"
Eleanor smiled and took his arm. They turned the corner out of sight and returned the way they'd come.
He grinned, eyes twinkling as he looked at her "That was a narrow escape..."
"I thought you were interested in the roses..."
He poked her in the ribs and she collapsed, giggling, then found herself spun round and pinned against the wall of the kitchen garden. She swallowed and licked her lips as he moved towards her, , his face inches from hers when they heard Marie's voice calling.
He sighed and rolled his eyes "It appears we are doomed to constant interruptions."
Eleanor shrugged "Maybe later then." She tucked her arm back through his "How long are you staying?"
He pulled a face "Until tomorrow? But my horse might be slightly lame, it would probably be wise to rest him for one more day..."
They exchanged a conspiratoral smile and walked sedately back to the house.