When the Music Ends (The Winter Rose Chronicles) (22 page)

"Sean, what did you do? It’s so cold in here."

"Don’t worry baby, I’ll keep you warm. Besides,
you look so hot like this."

"I’ve gained weight."

"I know. In all the right places." He cupped one breast
in his hand and teased her nipple with work roughened fingers. Erin hummed with pleasure.

"You do like that don’t you?"

"Oh yes. I always have." Her voice was slurred. He
leaned down and took first one straining peak in his mouth and then the other.

Erin
began to squirm with the stimulation,
grinding herself against Sean, feeling his erection through his clothing.

Sean held his wife with his arm behind her back while the other hand
snaked around her body to open and caress her intimate folds, spreading the
copious moisture before stroking her softly in her most sensitive place.

Erin
was so turned on that it only took a moment
for her pleasure to build and burst. She came hard, moaning deep in her throat.
It was a little disappointing that she had reached that peak so quickly, she
thought. Oh, but Sean wasn’t finished with her. Not even close. He
scooped her into his arms and pressed her down on the sofa, positioning one of
her legs on the back, lowering the other to the floor, so she was completely
open for him.

For some reason, Erin had never been modest where Sean was
concerned, and the fact that she was spread out before him with her legs
parted, far from embarrassing her, actually turned her on more. She watched him
look at her, his blue eyes dark with desire. Then he moved, rubbing her wet sex
again before sliding two fingers into her. Erin made a soft sound of pleasure
and arched her hips as he penetrated her, wanting him deeper. He gave her what
she wanted, burying those fingers to the palm inside her snug womanhood.

"Do you know what I’m going to do to you now,
baby?"

She looked up at him.

"I’m going to go down on you. This time there’s no
way you’re going to be able to come silently. I want you to
scream."

Erin
drew a shaky breath. They looked each other
in the eyes for a wordless moment, and then Sean leaned down and delivered on
his promise, licking her, sucking, teasing her clitoris with the tip of his
tongue, and all the while his fingers flexed and tickled in the deepest part of
her, teasing a spot she had never known existed. Every time Erin’s orgasm
began building, he backed off, driving her higher and higher, more than she
realized she was capable of going, until her whole body was hot and tingly and
her sex was on fire. Only then did he give her that last critical lick that
drove her over the edge. And she was not silent in her climax. Her cry of
pleasure nearly was a scream. Her whole body rose from the sofa with the force
of the spasm, her back arching, her head tilting back. Sean watched, aroused beyond
measure by the beauty of his wife as her passion burned through her. At last,
the final moment passed and Erin lay, limp and sated, quite sure she would
never move again.

"Poor Erin," Sean teased her, sliding his wet fingers
out.

"Why?" Her voice was low; her lips would barely form the
word.

"I’m going to take you so hard. It’s a good thing
you’re ready for it."

"Be gentle."

"No. Not this time. You can take it."

He lifted her hips and lined up the tip of his sex with her opening.
She was relaxed and drenched, ready for his entry, and he thrust hard, driving
all the way to the hilt inside her in one powerful surge. He immediately began
to pound into her, forcefully, not giving her time to adapt, just making her
take it all. At first, she wanted to protest. He was too much, too big. But
then she realized that he was right. She could take it. Take every inch, and
because she was still so tight, she could feel each ridge rubbing inside her. Suddenly
it was pleasure, the kind of pleasure that rode the edge of pain, powerful,
undeniable and wild. Sean thrust hard until Erin was truly screaming, ground
under with a wave of overwhelmed passion that swamped her and left her completely
destroyed while he finished inside her with a shout.

A long moment later, Sean rose from the sofa, scooped his wife into
his arms and carried her back to the bed. He tucked her under the blankets and
slipped in beside her, pulling her close so he could just feel the sweetness of
her supple young body pressed against him. She was still pretty wrung out from
that intense loving. Despite her husband’s roughness, she felt cherished.
He knew how she loved intimacy and had given her one for the record books, a
beautiful memory to sustain her during their next separation. She smiled.

"Damn, you’re good honey," she told him softly.

"You’re not too bad yourself."

Erin
rolled over and slid her arms around her
husband’s neck.

"I love you. Let’s just stay in bed together forever,
okay?"

"Well, we can for a while, but we’ve been invited to my
parents’ house for dinner tonight."

Erin
made a face.

"I thought you liked my parents."

"I do. I just haven’t seen them since way before we got
married, and I feel a little funny about going to them now, knowing how
I’ve misled them all these years. It was probably not the best
idea."

"True, but it’s done. What can we do about it
now?"

"Nothing, but I still feel kind of bad."

"I know. It’ll be okay though."

Erin
hoped that was true.

Later that evening, Sean escorted his wife to his childhood home.
After the very pleasurable interlude earlier that day, she was now dressed demurely
in a pair of black slacks and a Christmas sweater. She had her oboe case in one
hand and a folder of music in the other. She was also just about destroyed with
nerves.

They were met in the formal living room where, in the bay window, a
large real tree, strung with lights but not yet decorated, perfumed the air.
The fireplace was lit and the room was cozy and cheerful.

Roger and Ellen rose to greet the arrivals. Roger approached first
and engulfed Erin in a massive bear hug.

"It’s so good to see you," he said, "welcome
to the family."

Erin
’s eyes stung. It appeared that at least
from this man, all was forgiven. She hugged him back, unable to speak. This was
more than she had ever expected. When he released her, she gifted him with a
sweet smile. Hers was nowhere near as glorious as Sheridan’s, she knew,
but she did her best. He smiled back before turning to greet his son.

Erin
turned to Ellen. This was not going to be the
same, she saw.

"Erin," Ellen said coolly.

"Hello Mrs. Murphy. Thank you for inviting me."

Ellen nodded. Erin swallowed hard. Her mother-in-law was very angry.
This was going to be awkward. One thing she did not want was to be the cause of
problems between Sean and his amazing family.  Somehow she was going to
have to heal this breach. It was necessary, not least of all because her own
mother was a dud, and she desperately wanted to be close to this one. She hoped
her secrecy had not ruined that possibility for good. The two women regarded
each other, Erin with longing in her eyes, Ellen with barely suppressed
disapproval. Then Erin set her case and folder on the table and cautiously
extended her hand. Ellen took it briefly. Erin remembered when Ellen had been
willing to hug her, and grieved a little.

Sensing the tension, Roger intervened, offering Erin a glass of
wine, which she took and sipped gratefully. Sean approached and slid his arm
around his wife’s waist, making a demonstration of his affection, and
escorted her to a loveseat, where he sat beside her, still holding her. He gave
his mother a hard look. She looked back steadily. The unpleasant silence
stretched on.

"So Erin," Roger said finally, "how’s school
going?"

"Very well." Erin smiled, perhaps a little wider than
was necessary. The tension was thick in the room. "I’m so glad to
have finished that semester. It was a pretty tough one."

 "The next one is your last, right?"

"Yes. I can’t wait to be done."

"How have you enjoyed studying music?"

"It’s been great. I love it. I’ve learned so
much." She hoped she wasn’t gushing like an idiot. She sort of felt
like she was.

 "I see you’ve brought your oboe with you."

"Yes. I remember that you’ve liked to hear me play
before. I thought if you wanted to this time…well I’m ready."
What if they didn’t? What if she’d been presuming? She didn’t
want to show off, so she quickly added, "If not, no big deal."

"I would love to hear you again," Roger reassured her.
"After dinner?"

 "Sure, if that’s what everyone wants."

The conversation was stilted, but at least they were trying. The
wine however was not sitting well in Erin’s stomach at all. She found a
coaster and set the glass aside. Hmmm. She had been awfully uncertain in her
stomach for the last week or so. Interesting.

"Erin, there’s a little left to do in the kitchen before
we can eat. Would you please come with me?" Ellen said.

Erin
sighed a little. She didn’t know what
Mrs. Murphy was going to say to her, but she suspected it was going to be hard.

Sean’s hand tightened on his wife’s.

She squeezed back. She deserved to be told off, and there was not
point in trying to prevent it.

"Sure. Of course." She ran the back of one finger
lovingly over her husband’s cheek before following her host into the
kitchen.

Sean moved as though to follow.

"Let them go son." Roger told him, "They have to
work it out for themselves."

"I know. I just don’t want Erin to be hurt. Her life has
been painful enough."

"It’s going to be all right. Let your mother say her
piece. I’m sure she’ll feel better afterwards."

Sean’s every instinct screamed at him to go, to protect Erin,
but he heeded his father’s advice….advice, that reminded him…

"Dad?"

"Yes?"

"Why did you change your mind?"

"About what?"

"You remember years ago I asked you about whether it was wrong
for me to be with her. You said I shouldn’t let her give up her life for
me. In a sense, that’s what she’s doing, but now you seem fine with
it. Why is that?"

"You did your part son. You gave her the choice, and the time.
Four years later she’s still with you. She’s made her decision. She
wanted you more. I’m glad she still has an outlet for her art. Now
it’s up to you to give her the best life possible."

"Right. That’s what I aim to do."

******

In the kitchen, Ellen gave her young daughter-in-law the task of
making a tossed salad. Though Erin was not the cook the Murphy women were, she
was competent, and this was something she could manage. In fact, she was glad
to have a job to keep her hands busy. She knew exactly how Ellen liked salads
to be made and carefully replicated all the instructions she had been given during
that long ago Thanksgiving season.

"Erin," Ellen said as she whisked flour into a pan of
succulent roast beef drippings to make gravy.

"Yes ma’am?"

"I have to tell you something. I’m not happy with you or
Sean about the way you have handled this relationship. It was
wrong
of
you both to keep it a secret for so long." The whisk clanked loudly
against the sides of the roasting pan, jangling Erin’s shredded nerves
further.

 "You’re right. I’m sorry." Erin’s voice was gentle. She made no attempt to defend herself.

"And I’m especially upset that you two actually got
married without telling anyone about it. That courthouse wedding isn’t
valid
I hope you realize."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, my dear, that you and Sean are both Catholic. A civil
wedding doesn’t create a spiritual marriage. You two must have your
marriage sanctified by the church, and until you do, you’re living in
sin."

"I understand. How does one go about doing that?"

"I have the number of a priest you can call. There are some
marriage preparation classes that begin after Christmas. I believe you can
manage to do all of them before you go back to school. Are you willing?"

"Yes. Of course. Thank you for looking into that for us. I
appreciate it."

Erin
’s soft answers were disarming Ellen.
She had been spoiling for a fight, but Erin was not providing her any ammunition.

"And when you do that, when you say your vows properly, in
front of the priest, I expect to be invited to witness it."

"Of course. I wouldn’t have it any other way."

Erin
tipped shredded romaine into a bowl and
retrieved a couple of tomatoes.

"I want to know one thing though. Just why exactly did you
want to keep everyone from knowing you were with Sean?"