Chapter 22

In total, the

family was snowed in and confined to the manor for three weeks. It

was near the end of that time that Edward's mother

discretely pulled Alessandra

aside so that they could talk alone.

"Alessandra, you have now been

married for almost two months. Have you bled?" she asked directly,

making Alessandra blush.

On hearing the question,

Alessandra felt guilty about the decision she had made with Edward

to not yet have children. Although she and Edward were happy with

that decision, she was uncertain if or how she could tell her

mother-in-law that. In response to the question, she nodded. At

least in that, she could be honest.

"Then you are not yet

with child," Edward's mother continued, and Alessandra shook her

head, not wanting to respond in any way at all. "It is of no

consequence. It is still early days," Edward's mother continued,

and then changed the subject as if it were nothing.

The memory of

it having been spoken remained with Alessandra throughout the day, until she was with her

husband alone again.

In the privacy of their

room, Edward knew immediately that something was different about

Alessandra. He lay beside her in their bed, the two of them

huddling together to keep warm in the cold of the night.

"What is bothering you,

Alessandra?" he asked, worried that she was going to give him some

kind of bad news.

"Oh, Edward. Your mother

asked me today if I had bled," Alessandra replied, revealing her

concern in her voice. "She was asking in an indirect way if I was

with child yet."

"Oh, I see," Edward said.

"And you told her you were not?"

"Yes, of course,"

Alessandra replied. "I could not lie to her, but I also did not

tell her that we have not tried yet. Do you think we are being

selfish, wanting this time for ourselves?"

He held her

tight as they looked into

each other's eyes.

"No, but I equally do not want

you to feel pressured by my parents."

"Edward, do you think it is the

right time for us to try?" Alessandra asked and heard him let out a

deep breath.

"Do

you ?"

Alessandra considered their

situation for a moment. She knew that she would feel guilty if they

continued to be selfish and keep from his parents something they so

desperately seemed to want.

"Yes," she

answered.

Edward

kissed her passionately while they

pleasured each other with their hands. After they'd both climaxed

and he'd grown hard again, they moved naturally so that he was on

top of her, between her legs. He looked into her eyes, not wanting

to hurt her.

"Are you sure?" he asked one

more time.

Alessandra nodded and

kissed him deeply, preparing herself for whatever feeling was about

to come.

Edward moved closer to

her, kissing her deeply while moving with her in a way that it all

happened naturally, surprising them both. Alessandra felt him

enter. While it was a strange sensation, she only felt a mild

discomfort before she realised he was fully inside her.

"Oh, my love. Are you

alright?" Edward asked, staying still and not moving while fully

inside her.

"Yes, I can feel you,"

said Alessandra. "Oh, Edward. I like how you feel."

Edward slowly moved out

and then back into her, trying to control how he was feeling. After

three such movements, he convulsed and slumped on top of

Alessandra. He stayed there, unmoving while looking at her face and

continuing to kiss her.

Alessandra kissed him

eagerly in wonder at how children were made. She considered that a

life may have just begun to grow inside of her. If so, it had come

from the wonderful act that produced so many good feelings in

her.