his sapphire • anthony bridgerton

thirty-four • the joy of a child

•••
"we'll give the world to you and you'll blow us all away..."
•••

Grosvenor Square, May 1814

Anthony couldn't help but remember Sienna's first parting words to him, "you will marry, sire and heir, and protect your family." As he laid with Alverie on his bare chest, drool falling from her small mouth, he knew the life he was forced to live was not, in any way, a life he resented.

Nola looked to her husband and child, all the pain she had endured... she could not even recall the feeling, as she was happier than she ever was. She loved her family, and Alverie, just turning two months became more loving towards her parents everyday.

She loved to grasp her papa's finger while his hand was placed on her tummy. She especially enjoyed pulling on Nola's long hair, and when Nola would yelp, the baby thought it the funniest thing.

When Violet first held her first-born grandchild, she couldn't stop her crying, and now, whenever she would arrive at her sons home, she grabbed the baby from whoever had her, and frankly, Nola loved it.

Benedict had been the most intriguing uncle for little A. She adored watching his hands move as he sketched, and loved the picture he had made of her. Benedict hadn't expected to become so close with the child, not believing he was a baby person, but after meeting his niece, it all changed.

Colin had met Alverie last of the whole bunch, stopping by on his own while only Anthony was home. He was utterly shocked to see how his brother acted like their own father to his, and it brought back the fondest of memories. When he held her for the first time, he couldn't help but start to cry when the little girl looked up to him with the widest of eyes. "She looks just like you, Anthony..." He cried, Anthony placed his hand on his shoulders, and peered down at his brother. "I guess you're right..." he smiled.

Eloise seemed... scared of the child. With a warning for her fandom fits of tears, Eloise was terrified to even touch her niece. She much preferred to appreciate from a distance, and Nola took no offense from it, after all... if Eloise wasn't comfortable, who was she to force her into anything?

Francesca had been anxious to hold the baby, and as her mother had, she found difficulty setting her down. Alverie seemed to bond differently with Franny than she had anyone else.

Hyacinth and Gregory were quite fond of the small child. They had met the baby with the same gaze she gave them- a look of pure curiosity. When she saw them play, she bounced on her fathers lap, longing to join, but of course, being way too little.

When it came to Simon, he had difficulty easing up to the little thing. He had shown himself to be quite uncomfortable at the never ending gaze she supplied to him. He hated to admit it, but he felt different in the presence of his Goddaughter. It was this unbreakable bond that grew- just through sight. He would never allow anything bad to happen to her- as long as he could control it.

Daphne had caught her husbands affectionate gaze to Alverie, sensing his walls slowly beginning to plummet into shambles. She hoped this offered her a chance at motherhood, with him already looking so attached to his cousins baby. Hyacinth loved pointing out that Simon was not only A's Godfather, but he was also her uncle and second cousin. Alverie seemed to also think it the most magestic thing in the world, as a smile grew with the laughs of those around her.

•••

Finally being able to set the baby down for the first time that day, after the leave of their large family, Nola collapsed on the bed next to her husband, as he anxiously scribbled away on his papers.

She released a sigh, leaning up on her elbows, "how do you do it?" He stopped writing, and peered at her in confusion, begging her to continue, "how did you... abstain." His eyes widened a bit, releasing a throaty chuckle, "you know... the last two months?"

"It was not easy..." he sounded amused, sitting up to gaze down at her. "Why do you ask?"

"I just wanted to see if it was as maddening for you as it was for me." With those words, she stood from her place on the mattress, and looked to herself within the mirror, "oh, well..." his eyes followed her. "I never mentioned... my body seems to have recovered from-" she recalled the deal she made him, and it seemed he had certainly not forgotten.

Before the words slipped had fully slipped from her lips, he was up and pulling her up into his arms, working on undoing the never ending panel of annoying tiny buttons that kept her skin away from his touch. "I've been aching for you for months, darling,"

The buttons truly annoyed him, but once he reached the bottom, the dress had been pulled down her in a matter of seconds. He gazed upon her figure, seeing the stretch marks she adorned, and dropped to his knees, running his lips along the lines. "Absolutely breathtaking, my love."

He head fell back, running through his hair as he pulled the bow of her corset loose from the floor. It was the first time he was going to see her bare since Alverie was born, and he was most definitely excited about it.

Sensing his troubles, Nola began to pull at the fabric, forcing the string to undo itself, and release her from the confinement of the material. Anthony looked up as she pulled it off her body in awe, not wasting a second before rising to his feet, and pulling her in to attach their lips.

Skin against skin, Anthony's hand ran softly down her back. "You're so beautiful, you know?" His hands moved down her back to her thighs, as he lifted her up in to his arms, gently laying her on the bed. "I've missed this, Nola," he sighed, unbuttoning his trousers, allowing them to fall down his legs.

"God, Anthony, just do it already..." she begged. A smirk grew on the mans face, as he held himself up over the girls frame, beginning to line himself up with her womanhood, before given the opportunity, Nola groaned, pushing him over to end up sitting on his abdomen. "Looks like I just need to do it myself then..."

He was hungry for it. She had never taken over, and it shocked him... completely. He watched in awe, bringing his arms behind his head, as she lined herself up, and sank down onto him. "Oh, my god..." she moaned, slightly moving her hips to meet his.

Her hands rested on his torso, with her movements becoming more aggressive. "Nola..." he groaned, creating friction by forcing his hips up to meet hers. "I'm obsessed with you..."

She leaned down, and whispered in the mans ear, "then take me, Milord..." he released a strained breath before leaning up from his laying position, and quickly snapping his hips up to meet her roughly. Her head fell onto shoulder, beginning to lightly bite the skin.

He had missed her like this, confident and aching for him.

With one final thrust, he felt himself come undone, as she had just moments before.

They collapsed back on the bed. "I guess maybe restraining myself wasn't in vain?" He teased, as she looked up to him in annoyance.

"Oh, really?"

"I mean... love, that was the most... intense it's ever been?"

"And, Anthony. If you ever attempt to practice abstinence when I am in a severe position of need, expect to be practicing it for the rest of your life."