Archive of Our Own ^beta

“P-p..”

“Pen! I think he is trying to say papa!” Colin shouted in excitement while  nodding his head at his son, Samuel, in encouragement. 

“P-pen,” the baby muttered instead, repeating his father. Colin sighed, slumping against the settee in defeat. He really thought he’d say it this time. 

For the past few weeks, baby Samuel had been speaking a few words here and there. His first word was “mama,” much to Penelope’s delight, and Colin had been trying to get him to say ‘papa’ ever since. 

Penelope chuckled from the doorway of the drawing room, shaking her head at her husband.

“My love, the more you try to force it out of him, the more disappointed you are going to be when he does not say it.” 

Colin groaned, crossing his arms to pout. Samuel copied his father’s grumpy face, causing Penelope to chuckle again. The two looked the exact same when they were pouting and she found it utterly adorable. 

“I cannot understand why he has not said it already. He has said ‘mama’ multiple times now, has called Rae by her first name, and he even tried to say my mother’s name the other day! Surely Violet is harder for a baby to pronounce than papa.” 

Colin knew he sounded ridiculous, grumbling about his son when he wasn’t advertently doing anything wrong. But he would be lying if he said it did not hurt that Samuel was yet to say papa.

Penelope hummed and made her way over to the settee, taking a seat next to him. Colin lifted his arm instantly for her to cuddle into his chest, peace washing over him the minute she did. Cuddles with his wife were always the cure to his stress. 

“Darling, I understand your frustration. I, too, would be upset if it were the other way around. But I promise that it is not because you are doing anything wrong. You are a great father to Samuel and he adores you. Sometimes these things take time,” she whispered against his chest and Colin nodded. 

“I know, sweetheart. I just fear I am becoming a bit impatient,” he admitted, squeezing her to his chest once more. 

Penelope giggled, sitting up and looking up at him with those insanely beautiful blue eyes. She once told him his eyes were the most remarkable shade of blue but Colin felt his were in no comparison to hers. He often found himself getting lost in them. 

“I can tell,” she teased. “Now, your mother told me while you were out earlier that your brothers will be stopping by to see you and the baby soon. Quit moping around and look like you enjoy their presence once they arrive.” 

Colin smirked, pulling her into a kiss. 

“I love when you start bossing me around,” he said, kissing down her neck. He felt her shiver against him and smiled again. Before he could take things any further, Penelope pushed him back and stood up. 

“Not in front of Samuel, Mr. Bridgerton,” she huffed in fake annoyance, her smile giving her away. 

“Of course, Mrs. Bridgerton. I shall go get ready for my brothers’ arrival.” 

He watched his beautiful wife bend down to pick up their son, “a spitting image of Penelope”. Well, he takes after his mother in terms of appearance. The red hair, the pale cheeks, he couldn’t imagine loving anyone as much as Pen until he saw Samuel, a tiny copy of his beautiful wife. He tilted his head, a big grin spreading across his face.

Pen looked up at him, puzzled by his expression. “What?”

He smiled and said, “You both just look so beautiful together. I can’t help it, I love watching you.”

She chuckled. “You need to go. Anthony and Benedict will be here any minute.”

He stood up quickly, laughing. “I’m going, I’m going!”

As he left the room and headed toward his own, he saw Portia coming out of hers. She looked at him and said, “Why aren’t you ready to go to White’s?”

Colin frowned. “Why does it seem like you all have been planning this outing?”

Portia looked at him with studied indifference. “Because we have. We want you out of the house, you’ve been moping around, and it’s getting pathetic.”

Colin tried to defend himself. “I’m not moping! He almost said ‘papa’ today.” Then his expression fell. “But then he said ‘Pen’ instead.”

Portia smiled. “Oh, he said ‘Pen’? That’s so sweet.” She quickly caught herself, smoothing her expression back into indifference. “Colin, you know he loves you dearly. He’s always looking for you.”

Colin pouted again. “Yeah, but he still won’t say ‘papa.’”

Portia smiled gently at his sulking. “He will, when you least expect it. You’re so eager for him that he doesn’t need to say it to get your attention. He already has you wrapped around his little finger.”

Colin sighed. “I can’t help it. It feels like I’m not doing enough.”

Portia smiled and pinched both his cheeks. “You’ve been doing too much. Let the boy miss you for a bit, and he’ll call for you. Go have fun at White’s, you need to get out of the house.”

He smiled back and continued toward his room. He was still adjusting to the new Portia who had been living with them. She had grown closer and closer to his wife, and although he knew she had been a great help with Samuel and had given him and Pen some precious time alone. He still daydreams about the days before Samuel, when it was just him and Pen in their home.

He went into his room and began changing his clothes. He could have called Dunwoody to help him, but there was no need, he was only going to White’s. He didn’t really want to go; he wanted to stay downstairs with his family. He loved being with them more than anything.

Before he could dwell on the thought, the door to his room opened, and Pen stepped inside with a smile.

Colin looked up. “Where is Samuel?”

Pen smiled as she walked toward him. “Mama has him. He will be entertained for some time.”

Colin swallowed at the sight of his beautiful wife alone in their quarters with him and pulled her in by the waist as soon as she was within reach, unwilling to waste an opportunity to be near her. As he stroked her lovely, always-blushed cheek with his thumb, she smiled up at him, blinking the pale blue eyes he wished to drown in through her lashes innocently, as though she were not calling him as a siren did, his sweet minx.

Each day, his love grew stronger for the intelligent, witty, stunningly attractive woman who had agreed to be his bride, to be his lover, to be his best friend forevermore. Each day, his desire grew stronger for her as well, though he would never have thought either of these developments possible.

“I wondered if I might help you get dressed.” Penelope’s voice was soft as she traced shapes she alone could see on his chest with the tips of her fingers before allowing them to find a path down his abdomen and stomach before beginning to unbutton his trousers.

“Gods, Pen,” he said with a chuckle as the bulge beneath her fingers hardened the way it always did under her attention, her care, her seduction. “My sweet wife, I apologize for my mood today.”

Penelope continued her work on his buttons, dropping his trousers to the ground before tugging her eyes, widening in surprise at the sight of his cock already begging for release as though she had not been the cause, taking it in her hand gently.

“I wish to cheer you up, dear husband,” she whispered and he bit back a moan before leaning down to capture her lips with his own, his tongue finding entry as she soothed it with hers, their mouths moving knowledge of one another that made every movement smooth - different but equally sensual when compared with the inexperience of their earliest kisses. “You take such good care of us, Colin. Will you let me take care of you?”

“Yes,” he exhaled as she stroked him, nearly causing him to lose his balance as he backed up toward their bed and sat on the edge. Reaching out to pull her into his lap, he frowned when she shook her head before his eyes widened and rolled back as she dropped to her knees before him, pressing her soft lips to the tip of his cock and sending a shiver through him.

“Oh, Pen,” he whispered as he threaded his fingers into her hair, grounding himself in her as she took the head of his manhood into her warm mouth, sucking gently while she wrapped her arms around his muscular thighs. Pulling off for mere moments, she licked a stripe slowly from his base to his tip before accepting him between her lips once more, swallowing around his cock as he used every bit of self-control he possessed to remain still for her, his legs trembling with need as she slowly relaxed her jaw.

He couldn’t keep his eyes off of his gorgeous wife, kneeling before him, taking more than half of him into her mouth and down her throat. 

What a wanton little thing she was!

They had done this act before in their marriage, though the first time it took some convincing on Penelope’s part. Colin’s face had reddened, all the way to the tips of his ears, at the mere suggestion that his gently bred wife perform that act on him. Surely that was reserved for whores and harlots and he wouldn’t demean her in such a way.

As with everything else in their married life, Colin could not deny her anything. She convinced him swiftly, and since then she had become quite a quick study in this act. 

This was very much apparent at the moment as he gazed upon her - face flushed, her porcelain cheeks a delicate pink as her red, plump lips stretched around his thick manhood. He wouldn’t dare say it out loud for fear of sounding far too lewd, but he loved this part. She was such a small, delicate thing, his lovely wife. Her body was soft and pliable, perfect for him in every way. 

He loved to see her lips stretch to take him, the idea that his cock was almost too large for her, but she tried anyway, so dedicated to him and his pleasure. It was an intoxicating thought and sight to behold. 

He heard her let out a little moan, which rumbled over the flesh currently on her tongue and made him shiver with pleasure. He realized in his wandering thoughts, he had been pulling a little too hard on her hair. 

But his delectable little minx, she liked it!

“Do you like that, wife? You like when I guide your little mouth?”

She nodded, causing more of him to slip out of her, and a growl escaped his lips unbidden. He thrust his hips just slightly, pushing more of himself into her warm, wet, throat, and rather than being horrified she let out a contented hum and ran her tongue along the large vein on the underside of his cock.

“Oh bloody hell, Pen,” he called out, nearly spilling right then and there at the shock of pleasure the move elicited. Her hands squeezed his hairy thighs then, almost as if she was trying to tell him something. He paused for just a moment, before starting to thrust lightly again into her mouth. She squeezed him again, and he knew he’d done something right.

The idea that she wanted him to use her mouth, find his pleasure in whatever way he wanted.

Well, that was enough.

He thrust past her lips once, twice, a third time, before crying out, “Gods, Pen! Yes!” pulsing his spend deep into her waiting throat, feeling her swallow around him, only prolonging his climax further at the idea that she would accept this piece of him so willingly and enthusiastically. The idea that his spend could fill her in more ways than one.

Only once she was sure he was done did she allow his softening cock to slip from her lips. She looked up at him somewhat sheepishly, her lovely blue eyes looking far too innocent for what just happened.

Colin inhaled deeply, trying to catch his breath, as his lovely wife got up from her knees to tuck him back in his trousers and continue helping him get ready. However, he had other ideas, pulling her by the hand to sit on his lap and kiss her soundly. He could taste his spend on her tongue, and while it was considered an act not fit for gentle ladies, Colin couldn’t help thinking that such a thing felt so intimate that he was glad it was Pen and only his Pen he would ever have like this. 

“My love,” Penelope spoke sweetly against his lips, “your brothers will be here any minute. Let’s get you dressed.”

To his disappointment, his wife took the opportunity to hop off his lap and open his wardrobe. Unlike Dunwoody, Penelope didn’t ask him about his preferences, and Colin didn’t care to volunteer them, content to wear what she chose for him. He dressed himself, with Penelope only helping him with his cufflinks and giving his hair a brush and comb to neaten it. 

Penelope insisted on walking him down the stairs to see him off, knowing Colin would likely go back to overthinking about their son if she didn’t. It was rather transparent to him what she was doing, but he also wouldn’t ever say no to being the center of his wife’s attention. 

Dunwoody was just greeting Anthony and Benedict as they stepped off the landing. 

“Brother!” Benedict called to him from clear across the room, in that Bridgerton way that was too uncouth for polite society but expected for a family so familiar as them. Remembering his manners as his eyes landed on Penelope, he bowed to greet his sister-in-law. 

“Good evening, Penelope,” said Anthony, also bowing. “We are rather delighted you would allow us to have an evening with your husband. We brothers have much to discuss.”

“I will say,” Benedict chimed in with mock inquisitiveness, “we were expecting a much gloomier version of him, from what Eloise has claimed.”

“And what has Eloise claimed?” Colin asked with a quirk of his brow. 

“That you’re moping around because your son won’t acknowledge you,” answered Anthony matter-of-factly. 

“Now, see here—”

“Our son,” interjected Penelope, “adores his father. He is simply still learning to say papa.”

“He said ‘Pen’ though,” grumbled Colin, and Penelope took it as a sign to hand him off to his brothers. 

“You have a good night with them, my love,” she told him, and he bent down to kiss her on the cheek, unwilling to give his brothers more of a show but unable to leave her be completely.  

“Alright, Casanova,” said Anthony, pulling him away from Penelope toward the door. “We won’t be going anywhere if we let you carry on.”

The club was dim, the lighting giving way to conversations, to card games, to revelry.

The brothers made their way to their usual table near the bar, Colin and Anthony sat, while Benedict made his way to the bar to grab their drinks.

“Well, little brother? Do tell me, how is life with young Samuel now that the dowager Lady Featherington has joined your home?”

Colin groaned but looked in good spirits. “She is much improved from when she was the Lady of the house. So that is a welcome surprise, and I admit it is helpful to have another set of hands around for Samuel.” Colin looked to Benedict as he joined, blushing as he finished his statement and poured a glass from the decanter of brown liquor his brother had procured.

A mischievous grin spread across the faces of his older brothers as they noticed his blush.

“Well, when can we expect an announcement of the next grandchild? If you and Penelope have your hands free there is little doubt where those hands will be used,” Benedict said, trying to tease him.

“It isn’t our hands that have me blushing this day, brothers.”

“Oh?” Anthony said, swallowing down a swig from his glass. “Tell us, what makes you so very bashful, little brother!”

“Well, many weeks back, Pen asked me about an act she had read about in a book. And she begged me to let her try it,” Colin said, sipping at his glass with a smirk.

“Well? Brother! Tell us! What kinds of books is that wife of yours reading?” Benedict teased.

“She wanted to know if I had even heard of fellatio,” Colin said, ducking his head conspiratorially and dropping his tone to a whisper.

Anthony looked truly appalled. “Colin! Tell me you did not degrade your wife like that!”

Benedict just sat back sipping his drink and watching as the vein in Anthony’s forehead began to throb.

“I assure you, brother, I did try to talk her out of it. But, but then it happened and I became intoxicated, addicted. She enjoys it, especially when I use her mouth and drive into her, holding her head.”

Anthony looked as though he had experienced an apoplexy, but Benedict simply added, “Sophie likes it too, it is truly incredible.”

And with that, Anthony sat brooding, slightly, as the brothers discussed the family, and the upcoming holidays.

Before long though, Colin made his apologies and exited, needing to get home to his little family.

As soon as Colin made his way back into the house, he began to search for Penelope, as he always did. It mattered not how long he had been away, it was always long enough to miss her and need to secure himself a kiss upon his return.

The halls were empty and as he entered their bedchambers - hoping that she would perhaps be there waiting for him, as she often was - he found that room empty as well. Heading back into the hallway, he heard the angelic voice of his love singing a lullaby. Smiling to himself, he picked up his pace as he moved toward Samuel’s nursery and stopped short in the doorway at the sight of his beautiful wife in her nightgown and robe, rubbing their son’s back as he settled in his cradle to sleep.

Colin tried his best to stay quiet as he approached his Pen, sliding his arms around her from behind when he reached her and leaning down to kiss her neck as she hummed, her hand still on their darling boy.  She turned her face and captured her husband’s bottom lip, tugging it gently before kissing it once more and turning back to Samuel.

“Did you enjoy your time with your brothers?” she asked, leaning back into his chest as he sighed.

“We discussed you, my love, and your,” he lowered his voice even more, sucking her earlobe before whispering, “newfound talent.”

“Colin Bridgerton!” she whispered loudly before throwing her head back against him in laughter, his large hand covering her mouth to prevent the noise from disturbing their son.  

“I thought you would not mind my reporting it.”

“I do not mind a bit,” she replied, giggling. “Especially if it cheered you.”

“Oh, it did cheer me,” he whispered, kissing her cheek as she removed her hand from Samuel’s back and turned toward him, running her hands along Colin’s chest.

“You are so very good to us, Colin,” she said, lifting his hand and pressing a kiss to his palm before holding it to her bosom. “The most loving husband to me, and a wonderful father to Samuel.”

“Even if he cannot yet call for me,” Colin joked.

“He does not need to say papa to call for you, darling. You quickly rush to him whenever he needs you, even without words,” she whispered as he wrapped an arm around her to hold her close. “He knows your love and will one day say your name.”

“Thank you, love,” Colin whispered back, leaning down to kiss her softly. “He seems to be sleeping, shall we take our leave to our bed as well?”

“Very well.” Penelope smiled against his lips before breaking free from his embrace and walking to the door.  “Let us go then, Colin.”

Colin turned to his sleeping son, running a soothing hand through the child’s hair before leaning down and pressing a kiss to the crown of his head.

“Sleep well, Samuel,” he said softly before leaving the room.

“Papa,” the sweetest little voice murmured back.