~Return of Love~

June 1482, Middleham, one year later....

Eleanor stood in front of the fire as she twirled a lock of hair between her fingers before brushing it back into place. It was late into the night and the rest of the castle was at rest but she was wide awake with not a grain of sleep entering her mind. This was one of those sleepless nights she so hated and left her tired and irritable the next day. 

'I will go riding tomorrow' she thought to herself. It would probably be best. When irritable she had a tendency to snap and she hated whenever she even muttered a single sharp syllable to any of the children or the servants. A ride out on the moors would lighten her spirits! Perhaps she would take Anais with her? Anna could always make her laugh.

She sighed. Perhaps she should go and fetch little Thomas from the nursery? Her seven month old son could always bring a smile to her face and his strange sleep pattern made sure that he was often awake when she was.

When she did fetch him she would prop him up in her bed, that always felt rather too big without Richard beside her, and read to him from the Canterbury Tales!

Little Thomas (who had recently learned to sit up with the help of his siblings) would roll around on the pillows and sheets, his toothless grin on his rosy face as he smiled adoringly up at his Mother. Eleanor had been beyond grateful when Richard had returned from war three months before their son's birth but had been desolate when he had been ordered to go back to Scotland the following January.

He was there now and had been for five long months.

When would he come back? Would he come back? No! She pushed the thought from her mind as quickly as she could, wrapping her arms around herself and shivering despite the warmth of the fire before her. Richard would come back to her! He would win and he would live.

She only wished that he would write more. Letters were few and far between and often were lost along the way or were so marred by water from the rain they were unreadable. To Eleanor these letters had become more precious to her than any jewel or castle that she owned and she wished that she could have more of them!

Francis, Rob, Jack and Harry had all gone to Scotland with Richard and so there was no way to get news from them but, oh, how she craved it! To hear simply that her husband was safe! That he was well!

"I just caught Georgie running up the stairs! He's been to that brothel again I am sure of it" she jumped a little. His voice startled her though it was as soft and gentle as she could remember. Surely she should have heard horses in the courtyard if he had returned?

"He's almost eighteen" she replied quietly, not believing her ears as she heard Richard's footsteps head towards her. But she did not turn around. What if she did and it turned out he wasn't there at all? That her mind was playing tricks on her in the dark? "What did you expect him to be doing? Playing in the nursery? Besides, what were you doing at eighteen!"

"Well, I certainly wasn't in brothels, Sweetheart" she gasped as he placed his hands gently on her waist, sliding them down to her hips, her need for his touch instantly consuming her "as I recall I spent half of it in exile and the other half bedding you!" She could almost feel him smirking behind her as her eyes fluttered close.

"And was I enough to satisfy you?" She asked, her voice honeyed with a long pent up lust and a shuddery breath escaping her as Richard swept her hair aside and placed a light kiss to her neck.
"You always were" a second kiss "and always will be" and another "more than enough to satisfy me but have I been able to satisfy you? You can be quite a lusty little minx when you want to be" now it was her turn to smirk.

"Really, my Lord?"
"Hm" he murmured against her skin "I've brought you strawberries, I thought they would make you happy" Eleanor chuckled as his hands moved to the front of her nightgown.
"Just as you did the first time you returned from war" she said dreamily, shuddering with pleasure as she felt Richard's hand slide into the front of her gown, warmth flooding through her "and you have returned to me again, mon amour"

All of a sudden he took her hand and pulled her to the bed, his lips pressing hot kisses to her skin, her lips, her cheeks, her neck, anything that he could lavish his lust on his did. Turning her to face him, he pushed her against the bed post behind and, taking hold of her nightgown in his hands, stripped her to her waist.

꧁꧂

The morning light flooding through the open windows with a gentle breeze, Richard pushed himself up onto his elbows and gazed down at his wife. He smiled. He had always found it rather adorable, the way she slept, curled up at his side with her body pressed against his. Even in sleep she had a need for closeness and intimacy and he loved her all the more for it.

He had missed this. Had missed her and the way here mere presence could ensnare his mind from all others and all else. A simple look, a brush of the hand could set his body aflame and all the time he had been in Scotland he had half thought he'd burst into actual flames for his need for her.

Reaching out, he brushed her hair away from her face and grinned as she rolled over onto her back in her sleep, the covers slipping down and revealing one of her breasts. He grinned, feeling himself beginning to harden as a spark of lust shot through his veins.

Throughout their almost thirteen year marriage they had found numerous ways to wake one another with pleasure and Richard decided that he would do just that that morning.

Five months he had been away.
So in his mind they had five months of love making to make up for!

Leaning down he gently brushed his lips against the tip of her breast before he turned over completely and brought his hand up to the other; fingers gently caressing the soft skin he worshiped. Glancing up he saw a faint smile dance across her lips.

Bending his head again he gently took her nipple into his mouth, his tongue swirling around it until it hardened while his hand drifted down her body, one finger gently dipping between her thighs.

She moaned.

Eyes flicking upwards he grinned at he pair of emeralds that were staring down at him, all trace of the sleep that had been in them moments ago gone and replaced with lust filled fire.

"Well, good morning, sweetheart" he murmured, releasing her nipple and moving upwards to place a kiss to her lips. Eleanor immediately smiled into the kiss and happiness filled her as her body awakened. She had been scared at first that the night prior had been all a dream and she would wake up alone but no, he was here. He was truly here!

"It is a very good morning" she replied as he broke the kiss and sat up, sitting back on his heels and watching her as he removed his hand from between her thighs. She stretched and pouted at the loss, eyes never leaving his as her arms danced above her head and her hips swayed against the mattress "for you are here and free for me to make love to all day long!" She smiled, looking at the freshly healed scar on his arm. "how was Scotland when you were not being cut to pieces by blades?"

"Believe me" Richard chuckled "Scotland is definitely not what I am thinking about now"
"Perhaps not" Eleanor returned before pulling the covers back up her body and playfully shaking her head when he frowned "but I would have you tell me. You will not have your wicked way with me until you do!"

"Don't tease me so, Leena!" he complained, flopping onto his back, making her chuckle "and besides, from last night I think it has become more you having your wicked way with me rather than the reverse!" He could feel her smile at that.
"Do you not like that, my Lord?" She asked, her words as honeyed with sweetness as she could make them, knowing it would drive him practically mad.

"I do not think there are many things on this earth I like more" he confessed, barely having a chance to take another breath before she had thrown the covers aside and was straddling him, her face mere inches from his "Christ, Leena! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

"Do you mean it?" She asked, excitement shining in her eyes "do you really?" She kissed him fiercely when he nodded, running a hand down his chest "well then I take it you would rather be in my bed than in Scotland" Just as he had done earlier, Richard pushed himself up onto his elbows and Eleanor smiled, watching him through strands of copper hair that tickled his shoulders.

"Would I rather be in your bed or there?" He paused pretending to think "hm, I think I would take the highlands for there are some nymphs atop a mountain that like me very much!" Eleanor's eyes widened with surprise and she shook her head.

"Do they now?" She slid from his lap and onto her side, listening to him groan a protest before it turned into a gasp as she curled her fingers around his cock. His breath hitched and his heart began to pound as he slipped entirely under his wife's spell, letting a low moan escape him "and do these nymphs conjure feelings and thoughts as I do, my Lord?" She whispered, feeling him harden fully as she began to stroke him, and smirked, leaning forward to kiss his neck "I hear they have magic yet I seem to be able to arouse you well enough without it!" Another moan made her laugh and she peered up at Richard through her lashes.

"They do not" he breathed when Eleanor began to kiss his chest, her lips knowing exactly how to please and tease him simultaneously "and you know full well that no nymphs exist!" His eyes flew open as her touch suddenly left him and she shuffled from his side, her sultry gaze holding his unsatisfied one.

"Well then" she teased lightly as she moved further away "we should be attending breakfast" about to leave the bed she suddenly found an arm curling around her waist and squealed as she was practically thrown back onto the covers and pinned down to them by her lust driven Duke of a husband.

"You, my little red minx" Richard said smoothly, his fingers dancing across her skin "are not leaving this bed"
"Really, Dickon?" Eleanor replied, sounding as innocent as could be though she knew the look on her face spoke of nothing but a want for him.

"Mm" he murmured as he leant down and began to place kisses to her jaw "and besides" he continued "from the way you are looking as me I would say that your appetite is for pleasure rather than food as mine is?"

Nodding, Eleanor smiled as she wrapped her fingers around his wrist and slowly guided his hand between her parted legs.
"You take correctly" she breathed, crying out as his fingers brushed across her throbbing centre and they did not leave their bed for the rest of the day.