Chapter 163 Be Patient, Darling

Chapter 163 Be Patient, Darling
A U T H O R

In the middle of the night, Bernadette woke to the sound of the bedroom door clicking shut. She blinked sleep from her eyes just as Severus yawned heavily and dragged his feet toward the bed. He looked exhausted but peaceful, his movements slow with fatigue.

“Bern?” he called softly, his voice rough with sleep. He noticed her shifting under the covers and stilled, not wanting to startle her.

“Yes,” she whispered, turning fully to face him as he settled onto his side of the bed. She couldn’t hold back a yawn of her own, but her eyes stayed on him, warm and awake now.

He lay facing her, and a slow smile curled his lips as he watched her. She was beautiful, there was no doubt about that, in a way that still made his heart flutter even now. In the quiet dark, it hit him all over again: he had this woman. After everything, after all the waiting and the pain, he had her. And it was worth it. They would be together forever.

“I fell asleep in the girls’ room,” he murmured, voice low. “Sorry… I didn’t mean to leave you alone.”

“You shouldn’t apologize for that, Severus,” she said gently, her hand finding his under the covers. “Never for that.”

“I just… I don’t want you to ever feel like I’m neglecting you. I’ve been spending so much time with the kids lately. It feels like I’m always putting them first, and you…”

She didn’t let him finish. Instead, she scooted closer and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to his lips. When she pulled back, she cupped his face in her hands, her thumbs stroking his cheekbones. She searched his eyes, and what she found there made her own fill with affection. 'How could I have ever thought of leaving this man?' she wondered, her chest tightening with emotion.

“I’m sorry about what I said that night,” she whispered, her voice thick with sincerity. “Our marriage isn’t a mistake. It never was. I was just… overwhelmed. And scared. But I have no excuse. You shouldn’t have to walk on eggshells around me. You should feel free to make your own choices.”

He let out a slow breath, some unseen tension leaving his shoulders. “I’m sorry too,” he said quietly. “For shouting. For not listening better. The kids… they’re amazing. They’re one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. I could go on and on about how blessed I am—that I met them, that I have you.”

“You’re remarkable,” she smiled, her thumb stroking his cheek once more. “And you’re everything I never knew I needed.”

He leaned closer for another kiss, their breath mingling in the hazy space between them. He could taste the wine on her lips, rich and faintly sweet, as the kiss deepened slowly. They broke apart only briefly, just enough for her to catch her breath before he claimed her mouth again.

"Don't stop," she whispered against his lips, her voice husky with need.

"I have no intention of stopping," he murmured back, capturing her mouth once more.

A sharp surge of desire shot through him as his hand slid beneath her nightdress. A low, approving sound escaped him when he discovered she wore nothing underneath. "So eager for me," he breathed against her neck, nipping lightly at her sensitive skin.

His fingers traced upward along her thigh, then dipped inward, seeking the heat of her core. She was already wet—soaked, actually—and he groaned against her lips at the discovery. "So ready," he whispered, his voice thick with want.

She moaned in response, hips lifting slightly, rocking against his touch. "Please, don't tease me tonight," she begged, her voice trembling. "I need you. All of you."

This is it, he thought. After all this time holding back, after moments of restraint and taking it slow, they were finally crossing that line. Her earlier apology had washed over him like a relief. He didn't want to let her go, not after years spent apart, not when they were so close to having everything they'd ever wanted: a life together, a family.

"Tell me you're mine," he demanded, his voice rough with emotion as he looked down at her.

"Always," she gasped, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I've always been yours."

Carefully, he shifted above her, his weight familiar and wanted. He guided her nightdress up and over her head, tossing it aside without breaking contact. "So beautiful," he breathed, drinking in the sight of her. "Every time, you take my breath away."

His hands held her wrists gently as his mouth traveled down her neck, then lower. He took one breast into his mouth, lavishing it with attention while his hand kneaded the other.

She gasped, her fingers tangling in his hair. "More," she pleaded, her voice barely audible. "I need more of you."

His kisses trailed lower, across her stomach, down to the very heart of her. She was dripping, eager for him, and the sight alone nearly undid him. "So sweet," he whispered against her inner thigh. "I could feast on you forever."

He took his time, tasting her, drawing out soft cries and whimpers until she was trembling beneath him. "Please," she begged, her hands fisting in the sheets. "I can't wait any longer."

He unbuckled his pants with hurried hands, and she clutched the sheets, back arching off the bed. "Now," she demanded, her voice raw with need. "I need you inside me."

"Just do it, please," she breathed, lips parted, eyes dark with need.

"Be patient, darling," he chuckled, voice rough with want as he positioned himself between her legs. When she rolled her head back with her lips parted, an idea slithered into his mind.

He moved over her again, guiding himself to her mouth. "Open for me, darling," he whispered, and she complied without hesitation.

She took him in willingly, gagging softly as he slid deep. "That's it," he encouraged, his voice strained. "Take all of me."

Saliva coated his length, and he began to move with slow, careful thrusts. "Your mouth feels so good," he groaned, his hips moving rhythmically. "So perfect around me."

The sensation was overwhelming—warm, wet, tight. It didn't take long before pleasure coiled tightly in his gut. "I'm close," he warned, his voice tight.

She hummed in response, encouraging him, and with a broken groan, he spilled into her mouth. "Swallow it all," he commanded gently, watching as she obeyed.

She swallowed around him, gasping as he pulled back and kissed her deeply, sharing the taste of himself. "You're incredible," he breathed against her lips.

When he finally entered her, her eyes rolled back, blind with white-hot need. "Yes," she cried out, her nails digging into his shoulders. "Finally."

They groaned in unison, bodies moving together like they were made for this. "You feel so good," he panted, driving into her deeper. "So tight around me."

Her legs shook around him, and she came apart with a sharp cry. "I'm yours," she sobbed, clenching around him as waves of pleasure swept through her. "Always yours."

He rode out her aftershocks, driving into her until his own release crashed over him. "Forever mine," he growled possessively as he spilled into her, leaving them both breathless and trembling in the aftermath.

He collapsed against her, both of them breathing heavily in the dark, their hearts pounding in unison. The air in the room felt thick and warm, charged with the energy of what they had just shared. For a moment, there was only the sound of their ragged breaths and the faint rustle of sheets.

Then a gentle knock sounded at the door.

“Papa?” a small, sleepy voice squeaked from the hallway.

Both of their eyes flew wide open. Bernadette scrambled away from him instantly, grabbing her robe and hurrying toward the connected bathroom without a word. Severus let out a heavy, frustrated sigh as he swung his legs over the side of the bed. He quickly adjusted his pants and yanked the top layer of the tangled sheets up over the bed before crossing the room.

He opened the door just enough to peer out. James stood there rubbing his eyes, his little frame silhouetted by the dim hall light.

“Is everything okay, Papa?” James asked, his voice soft with sleep.

“Yes… yes, everything’s fine,” Severus replied, forcing a calm tone as he scooped the toddler into his arms.

“Did you have a nightmare too?” James asked, his small hand patting Severus’s cheek. “You’re breathing fast. And I heard yelling… Is Mama okay?”

Severus bit the inside of his cheek, fighting back a groan of embarrassment. He stepped fully into the hallway, pulling the door shut behind him.

“Yes, she’s perfectly fine,” he said, adjusting James on his hip. “And I didn’t have a nightmare. Let’s just get you back to bed, okay?”

“I’m thirsty,” James murmured, resting his head against Severus’s shoulder.

“Okay,” Severus said, his voice softening. “Let’s get you some water.”