Chapter 5: Just You and Me - Michael

A smile makes a soft dance over her lips. "I was being quiet. I like watching you do that."

I twist and throw, spinning the axe through the air. It hits the stump with a clunk, lodging in the timber. Striding across, I take her in my embrace. "You have odd taste in entertainment..." Her smile widens...

Rubbing at her arms and shoulders, "It's cold. You should be indoors. Go find a movie to watch. I'll join you in a few minutes." Sliding my arms around her waist, I pull her close. "I'll bring in plenty of logs. How about we get the fire really blazing, then curl up on the couch with a bottle of wine and watch old movies all afternoon? Your mother and Beth will probably join us."

She presses close, "I like that, but... I wanted to be with you. Just you..."

... My stomach tightens and my groin stirs...

"... It's wonderful having everyone here. I love it. But sometimes I want you and me together. Just you and me."

I tilt her chin up. "You okay, Babe? I thought you were enjoying having people around you? A big family. I thought it was what you wanted?"

She nods, her face bright. "Oh, it is, yes. Just... not all the time."

She's moving closer in, plastering herself to me, and while I have no problems with where this is clearly going... "James? You want me to...?"

"Just you," she murmurs. Then, her mouth close to my face, she whispers, "Let's make a baby."

Something thumps under my ribs.

And again.

"Really? Now?"

Her fingers coil into my hair, nails nipping into my scalp. "Really. Now."

My heart jabbers away, doing double-time. My mouth is dry.

This is ridiculous...

It's what you've wanted...

"Charlotte, you're sure? You really want this?"

Her grip on my skull relaxes and she pulls back. Brow wrinkled, she stares into my face. "Why would I not want it? I thought it was what you wanted?"

"It is, but... I know you didn't enjoy being pregnant before, with Cara. You're right, I do want this, that you and I have a child together too. But... I understand what your reasons were for having Cara; to give James his daughter back. And with everything that happened, with Finchby and Baxter... And Juliana... I'd thought... Maybe..."

She cradles my cheek with her palm. "That it put me off the whole idea? No. That was then. Juliana is dead. We're all safe. Yes, I needed time to feel like myself again. But it's been it's been a year now. And... you think I don't want to give you what you want? Cara needs a brother or sister, and my Golden Lover wants a baby of his own."

Her smile fades. "Why are you arguing about this? Have you changed your mind and you don't like to say so?"

"No!" I didn't mean to sound sharp. Moderating my tone, "No, I've not changed my mind. It's just... Charlotte, I know you love James more than me. It's alright. I've always known it. I married you knowing it. The point is, I don't want you doing this out of some misplaced sense of duty. It's too important."

"Hah!" Nostrils flaring, she spins away, swiping a hand through her hair. Then, she calms, turning back. "Michael, that's not true. We... we keep coming back to this..."

Scuffing at the floor with the toe of her boot, "I'll repeat myself, again. And I truly hope this is the last time." She moves close again, curling her fingers around mine, staring up into my eyes. "I love you too, so much. But it is different...

"... With him, it's... intense." She bites a lip, blinking. "... It's so intense. When he tells me to kneel, or orders me to... to..." ... Her arm flails up... "... whatever... sometimes I feel as though my heart will stop. As though the air's too thick to breathe..."

The thumping in my chest grows to banging, my ribs set to rattle. Charlotte slides her gaze back to mine. "When I'm with you, it's different. It's... it's like I'm living inside a smile. Everything around me is bright and beautiful." She slides a thumb over my lips. "You're my Golden Lover. My personal sunshine."

She looks away again, but when her eyes return to mine, they're smiling eyes. "I want this. Yes, I chose to have Cara first, and you know why. But now it's your turn. That was always what I promised you..." She reaches for my mouth with her own, her lips brushing mine... "And I keep my promises."

Fingers slip down my cheek and jaw, trace a line down my neck and chest, then trail out to take my fingers in hers. "Come on..." Her mouth twitches... "... If I'm going to make a baby, I can't do it by myself."

I can't help it. A grin takes over my face, spreading from ear to ear, from cheek to cheek.

Charlotte grins back. "You look pleased."

"Oh, Babe, you have no idea."

Mischief gleams in her eye. "It's my Day Twelve. The next few days..."

"Is that right? No time to waste, then." "... Best get you indoors ASAP."

"Here," she whispers.

"Here? Charlotte, it's fucking freezing."

"Here. Now. Everyone's around in the house. I want you to myself. And now." Jade eyes dance upward. "That hay should be comfortable."

"It'll wait an hour, Sweetheart. Until we can get some privacy indoors."

"I took my temperature. Now."

"Your temperature? You're not messing around, are you."

"I know it's what you want. I want it too. And I'm ready. Both up here..." She taps her temple and... "... She slips her hand back into mine, sliding it over her belly... "... down here."

The grin has charge of my face. "Who am I to disappoint a lady?"

"What happened to the caveman in my life?" She eye-points upwards.... "I thought you'd drag me off by my hair into your lair."

"You want a caveman? You've got one." I scoop her up, and she shrieks with laughter as I fling her over my shoulder.

Snagging my jacket en route, I carry her up the ladder into the hayloft. "You might regret this. Hayseeds get everywhere." Laying the jacket fur side upwards over the straw, "Lie on this. Keep your top on. Just take off your jeans."

She kicks off boots, shoves off jeans, leaving herself with only thick fleecy socks below the waist, then settles her pale, naked rear on the sheepskin, Lying back in the classic artist's model pose; a hand behind her head, one knee slightly raised, her eyes lock with mine.

I lie alongside, stroking the length of her body, moving close to nibble at an ear. The hay is sweet and fragrant, if a touch bristly. "Charlotte, thank you."

Her smile is bright and perfect. "My pleasure."

I let fingers drift over her thighs; soft and warm, a hint of firm muscle beneath. Sliding from knee to loin, and back again, I'm conscious that my fingertips are roughened, catching slightly on her smooth skin.

She draws in a whisper of air, and I rest my hand over copper-red curls. "Open up," I murmur. Sighing, she eases her knees apart, canting her hips upwards a trifle as I slip my fingers down and in.

For a moment I hold, my palm cupping her mound, fingers probing at warm flesh. Oddly, my cock's slow to respond. By now, I'm usually bulging at my fly and keen to release a bit of pressure. This time...

More at stake...

More than just lovemaking...

"Are you alright?" Her words are quiet.

"Yes, I'm fine. It just... feels different this time."

"It is different..." She chuckles... "Would you like me to google instructions for you?"

I burst out laughing. "I don't think that will be necessary... Fuck..."

"What's wrong?" She semi-sits, propping herself up on her elbows, then giggles as, rolling to one side to lie flat on the hay, I do battle with my belt.

"Sorry, gimme a mo. Got a sudden congestion problem. It's getting a bit crowded in here." Wrestling buckle and zipper open, I let my shaft out for air. "God, that's better. A man needs room to breathe sometimes."

She nods down at my waving cock. "I don't think you breathe through that."

"No? You'd better hope I can. Because where I'm going to have my nose and mouth in a minute, air's in short supply... Now... about that caveman thing..."

Eyes widening to glorious green gems, she giggles again, then gasps as I plant my hand between her breasts, pushing her down.

"Silence please," I say. "Artist at work here..." Grabbing her under the knees, I tug her along, tip her up and, a palm on either thigh, spread her wide.

Her perfume blooms, flowing over me in a glorious scented cloud, fragranced and heady. My cock pulses...

Gonna take my time over this...

My cock disagrees...

It doesn't carry the vote...

Hovering over her with my lips, I breathe... letting heated air bathe her, first at loin and inner thigh, then the swelling flesh of her outer labia.

"Ahhh... " She flexes, her head flinging back.

The copper-red of hair merges with the growing flush of her skin; a flush that flowers over her vulva, spreading to belly and thighs

A glinting line at her slit...

The gleam of wetness...

Her heating sex...

Pushing up her sweater, I kiss her navel, her belly. Then, pulling the sweater back over her pimpling skin, slip down to mouthe over the vee of her loins.

She's arching now, rising at the hips to meet me, legs straining wide. My hands opening her, fingers parting labia to expose her glorious, pungently-scented, liquefying pussy, I thumb over her hooded clit.

Charlotte groans... "Oh, God..."