Matronly Duties by Melissa Kendall

head from his chest to look at him. “Really?”
    I can see the sincerity in his expression. “Yes, really. Only cowards hurt women. I would never hurt you like that.”
    “So before?”
    He chuckles. “Yes, that was an example of the good, how it should feel when you’re with someone willingly.”
    “It did feel very good.” I want nothing more than to experience more of the good, leaving no room for the bad in my memories.
    I lean in closer, hoping to entice Howard into another kiss. He doesn’t hesitate.
    As our mouths and tongues dance, the hardness that I felt before returns. Wanting to feel the pleasurable sensation again, I rock my hips in a to-and-fro motion. Though not as strong as before, it’s still good.
    “Beth,” Howard growls, stopping our kiss.
    “I’m sorry. I just wanted to experience a little more of the good.”
    “I can do that.” He brings my lips back to his.
    Howard wraps his arms around me and sits up again with me still in his lap. His kisses leave my lips and start down my neck towards the collar of my jumper. I’m not sure where he is going, but when I feel him slide his hands under my shirt, I am a little nervous.
    “Is this all right?” he asks, gently caressing my stomach with his hands.
    “I think so.”
    “Tell me if it’s not. I’ll stop.”
    Once he is sure I am okay with what he is doing, he moves his hands up my chest. I tense as he gets closer to my breasts. My body is warring with itself. On one hand, the feel of his fingers on my skin is extremely pleasant. On the other, a part of me thinks this is wrong.
    As if sensing my unease, he changes direction. He slides his hands to my back and runs them up and down my spine. For what seems like the longest time, I get lost in kissing him. Then I rock my hips forward and find his hardness again. Howard groans, but I can tell it’s not an unhappy sound. He presses into me every time I grind against him, chasing the pleasure our movements are causing.
    The feeling is overwhelming and for a moment I panic, wondering if I should fight it. I’m not sure what will happen if I let it take over.
    “Relax, Beth, let go. I promise it will be fine.”
    I hesitate for a second and then relax like he tells me to.
    At first nothing changes. Howard continues feathering my neck with kisses, holding me so tightly against him that I can feel every breath he takes. The pleasure continues to build as I thread my fingers through his hair, holding on like my life depends on it. Then it happens, a detonation inside me.
    Waves of ecstasy hurtle through my body, making me cry out. My head falls to his chest. I continue rocking my hips, not willing to lose this ecstasy. There is a hitch in Howard’s breathing followed by a deep rumbling moan. He stills, and I follow his cue. The pleasure slowly ebbs away, leaving me with a happy satisfied feeling. I sink into Howard’s embrace.
    “Are you okay?” Howard kisses me on the crown of my head.
    “Yes, more than.”
    We sit quietly catching our breath. It takes a while for my body to return to normal, for my breathing to slow, and my blood to stop pumping wildly. It reminds me of how I feel after I’ve been for a good, hard run. When I think I have use of all my faculties again, I lean back and meet Howard’s gaze. I suspect the ridiculous grin on his face mirrors my own. “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.” He looks at his watch and his smile drops a little.
    “Come on, we need to return or you’re going to miss your ride.”
    Disappointment hits me. I don’t want our interlude to be over, but then this was never going to be long-term. It can’t be. He lifts me out of his lap, stands, and offers me his hand to help me up. Once I am standing, he grabs a bottle of water out of his backpack and offers it to me, then packs away the blanket.
    Taking my hand, he leads us out of the cavern and through the catacombs.
    When we arrive at the doors to the city, Howard stops me. “Beth, there’s