A Year In the Life

Chapter 15: In Which a Love is Consummated

Disclaimer: Howl's Moving Castle and the characters portrayed within that book and movie are the sole property of the talented Diana Wynne Jones and Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli. They are not my property.

Warning! Mature content!

You should not read this if you are offended by explicit descriptions of:

Intercourse

Oral sex

Male and female anatomy

This material is definitely not suitable for those who are under age 18. You have been warned.

"Howl," she repeated, "would you help me with my dress?" Howl encircled Sophie in his arms and kissed his brand new wife. Her heart was racing, despite her casual, cavalier words. He could feel her pulse pounding through the many layers of clothes she wore. "I love you, Sophie," he said simply, and reached to unfasten the buttons that kept her from him. He grew frustrated as he considered the many layers of clothing separating her from him, and he briefly considered his alternatives. She wouldn't appreciate having her clothes ripped from her, although he could easily mend them after the fact, and if he magically removed them, well, that would be cheating. He wouldn't play parlor games with her. This night, this moment was too special. Besides, Howl, told himself. He doubted Sophie would find such maneuvers proper. She might even faint in fright. Howl slipped the opened bodice from her and unhooked the fastenings of her skirt. It dropped to the ground with a rustle, and Howl wondered at the weight of the many garments she wore. Even in her abundant undergarments it was easy to see how slight she was. How stultifying it must be to wear all of these clothes. Where was his mind right now? A warm vibrant woman in front of him—the woman of his dreams, that is--and he was thinking of the weight of clothing? Howl realized he was just a little anxious. He'd waited so long for her, and here she was, in front of him.

Refocused on his task, Howl moved quickly now, unfastening the busk that ran up the front of her corset and releasing her from the constricting garment. She breathed deeply and Howl admired the curve of her waist and the soft, firm breasts that pushed against her chemise. He kissed her though the thin, fine cloth and felt her respond. His teeth pulled down the chemise and he focused on her breast, felt her nipple rise against his tongue and the exquisite softness of the surrounding flesh. Howl tugged at the ribbon that gathered her petticoat, and this, too, dropped to the floor. He made short work of the rest of her garments, and knelt to kiss her along the lower length of her legs as he removed each sheer tube of silk. He kissed the back of each knee, and noted a slight saltiness along with a ticklishness that made her pull her leg away. She giggled softly, and Howl heard a slight reluctance in the sound. Howl rose and kissed her again, pulling her to him, feeling her nakedness along the length of his body, and wishing he was with her in that state. She was so warm, so soft, the best present he'd ever unwrapped. Howl kissed her gently on her lips, then trailed more kisses down her neck, to outline her ribcage, the curve of her waist, her hips and thighs. At each touch she trembled, shuddered. Between the cool light of the full moon and the warm glow of the firelight, the room was brightly lit, and Howl marveled at the woman who stood before him. "You're magnificent, Sophie." She blushed at this. It began at her cheeks and spread quickly to her neck and breasts. She pulled away from his slightly as he rose to kiss her again. "Sophie, don't ever be embarrassed at how you make me feel. I've never lied to you, and never will. You're a goddess, Sophie."

As Howl removed his jacket, he felt Sophie's hands at his neck, untying the lace which fastened his shirt. Her hands were shaking, so he helped her with this task. She removed the shining cufflinks from his shirt, and pulled the garment over his head. Sophie smiled then, and pulled him toward her, inhaling his scent and gently kissing his neck, his chest. She knelt, quickly removed his boots and socks and then more tentatively unbuttoned the two closures that fastened the fly of his pants. She struggled to pull his breeches and then his drawers over his hips, but soon he stood in front of her, as naked as her, and equally as beautiful. He was engorged, and Sophie was taken aback at first by this, then gingerly reached to touch him. She was surprised at the silken velvet feel of him, and he by her boldness.

"Sophie," Howl said, gathering her up and drawing her to him, caressing her smooth skin, unadorned except for the pendant that fell just above her breasts. Her pulled her toward his bed, which in her practicality she had already readied for this moment. The beautiful lily-embroidered coverlet lay folded at the foot of the bed, and lavender-scented sheets had replaced the crumpled ones Howl had slept on last. Howl smiled at the detail-oriented nature of his wife and at her single-mindedness. It was clear that her mind had been made up long before he'd entered the room.

"Sophie, I need to ask you something first. Doing what we're about to do could make you pregnant, unless we take precautions. How do you feel about that?"

"About becoming pregnant? Howl, I want to have your children." She was unabashed. "But, if we could wait a bit—is that possible?"

"Absolutely." He closed his eyes and waved his hand. His brow furrowed for a moment, and then he said, "Done." With another motion, the room was blanketed in silence. The creaking, wheezing noises of the resting castle could not be heard, nor could the rather loud, regular snoring of Emma in her room below. "Just to give us some privacy." Howl smiled. "The other thing, Sophie, is that it may hurt—just a little, for just a moment. Are you sure you want to do this tonight?"

"I'm ready, Howl. I told you that. And anyway, I'm your wife now. I want to make love with you, even if it hurts. "

Howl wrapped his arms around her and gently lowered her to the mattress. His lips teased hers with small, quick kisses until she grasped his head with her hands, and pressed him closer to her, urging him to kiss her more deeply. Her lips opened slightly, and his tongue darted into the space. This surprised and pleased her, and her tongue met his as they kissed more deeply. His lips moved to her jaw, to her neck and breasts and he traced the tan halo centered on each breast with the lightest touch of his tongue. She responded immediately and he flicked his tongue over her hardened, erect nipples. He tugged gently at each and she moaned slightly. He paused and looked up at her to see her face soft with pleasure. "That doesn't count as biting, does it?" Howl asked mischievously, thinking of her earlier description of the mating practices of cats.

"What?" Sophie asked, confused. "No, Howl, it's lovely. Just lovely." She ran her fingers over his lips, and Howl took his hand in hers. He kissed each finger tip, then her palm, and the place on her wrist where her pulse pounded. Her skin was so soft, she was so exquisite, Howl thought to himself as he touched the flesh of the inside of her upper arm. Sophie sighed as Howl continued his exploration of her body. She was luscious and he found he could not kiss her, caress her enough. His tongue trailed past the curve of her abdomen, and he found she was quite ticklish. He caressed her more firmly to rid her of that sensation, and gently touched the inside of her thighs, separating them slightly as he did so. She shuddered at his touch and opened her legs even more, allowing him to caress the silver curls at the place where they met. He gently kissed and then separated the full lips these curls adorned and felt the soft, silken folds of flesh they protected. She was slick with wetness and it was easy to locate the source of her pleasure. She responded to his touch by growing larger, firmer beneath his fingers, and Howl felt her pulse increase, her breath quicken. A gentle moan escaped her as Howl spread her lips and let his tongue explore her further. Her hips rose involuntarily and Howl placed one hand at the small of her back to support her. He pleasured her relentlessly until it was clear that she was on the verge of losing herself. Then she did, and Howl felt an intense happiness at being able to bring her to this.

"Well?" he asked, lying alongside her and caressing her face as she came back to herself. "Do you feel loved, Sophie?"

Sophie was at a loss for words at first, and only nodded. Finally she was capable of answering. "I never expected it to feel like that. Howl, that was… incredible."

Howl laughed at her openness. "Well, would you like to continue?" She nodded, and he nibbled on her ear, and kissed the nape of her neck. He felt her breathing increase almost immediately as he began to touch her again, and felt her gasp yet again as he appreciated her breasts. As he stroked her rhythmically, he felt her tensing and relaxing; it was clear by her movements that she was climbing to a crescendo; Howl took the opportunity to enter her just slightly. She gasped, and Howl looked at her with concern.

"It's okay," Sophie said. "It didn't hurt. You just surprised me. Actually, it felt quite nice." A shy smile played on her lips.

Howl continued his ministrations and Sophie responded as though they had done this many times before. She really was a natural, Howl thought. This was everything he had hoped for. He felt her breathing change again, growing more ragged as she approached climax. She kissed him with abandon, exploring his mouth, then pulling his tongue into hers, moving her lips to his unshaven cheek and neck, grazing her teeth over his collarbone and shoulder. As wave after wave of pleasure began to wash over her, Howl quickly moved his hips toward her, and entered her fully. A muffled cry escaped Sophie as she felt pain intertwine with the joy he gave her and Howl was surprised to feel a sudden, sharp unpleasant sensation. She had bitten down on his shoulder, unaware of her actions. Howl gently removed her mouth from his flesh and kissed her, all the while urging her on with his body. It was clear she was no longer hurting. She moaned his name and told him over and over, in short, breathless phrases, how much she loved him. Howl rode the waves of her passion and wondered at the way she'd unabashedly responded to him. Finally, the tide ebbed and Sophie looked at him with love and surprise in her eyes, and a sated smile on her lips. Howl rolled next to her and winced slightly. Sophie looked at him curiously. Then her eyes opened in shock as she saw what she had done to him. She colored and stammered an apology.

Howl laughed. "I thought we'd agreed on no biting, wife." She reddened further, and Howl continued, "You're quite the tigress, darling. I wonder if your familiar is a cat. Mmmm. Cat and bird, probably not the best combination."

She began to giggle. "I'm so sorry, Howl."

"Don't apologize, Sophie. Really, it was a little more fair this way, wasn't it? I'll be right back."

She gazed appreciatively at his naked body as he walked to the bathroom adjoining the bedchamber. She would have averted her eyes only moments before, but now she felt different. He was beautiful, he was hers, and she wanted to see him. She heard water running, and the sound of his toothbrush, then slamming noises as he opened and shut cabinets, obviously looking for something. Well, she'd definitely have something to clean up tomorrow. She was sure he'd leave the room in chaos.

He quickly returned with a salve he rubbed into his shoulder, and continued the conversation as though he had not left. "My wife bit me on our wedding night," he said theatrically. "Sad but true." As he continued to rub, Sophie saw the blood she'd drawn disappear, the flesh knit itself together, "See? It's nothing that couldn't be fixed."

"You are such a show-off, Howl Jenkins," Sophie said drily. She considered his actions for a moment. "Howl," she said slowly, "if you can heal yourself like that, can you do that for me, too?"

He nodded as he lay on his back, stretching his shoulder. "A small cut like that? Child's play, really." His arrogance was astounding sometimes.

"Well, if that's true, why did you let me feel the pain I just felt?"

Howl turned to her suddenly. She was crying and… angry? Why? He suddenly realized and drew her to him, kissing her gently, wiping away her tears. "Sophie, it's important that what's between us is real. No magic tricks, no "great and powerful wizard," just you and I as equals. If I'd wanted to—and I didn't want to, Sophie—I could have seduced you with a spell a long time ago. But that wouldn't have been fair. And it wouldn't be fair to use magic on you tonight. Making sure you don't get pregnant, keeping the house quiet, that's one things. But you're not my plaything, darling. You're my partner, my wife. My equal. What we're doing needs to come from us equally. Do you understand?"

She nodded, understanding now, and became ashamed of her tears. "I didn't mean to ruin this, Howl."

"How could you ruin things by sharing your thoughts with me? Sophie, you really have to trust me more than that. I'm not afraid to know what you really think. It only makes me love you more, darling."

"So, what's next?"

Howl laughed. "Well, we can certainly continue if you feel up to it."

She nodded. "I'd like that. I feel like this has been a little one-sided so far."

"That's not true at all, Sophie," Howl responded, but Sophie had already moved down his body, straddling his legs.

He grew erect immediately at gentle touch of her fingers, as she stroked the length of him, exploring the details of his anatomy. His skin of his shaft was silken smooth, and velvety soft at its end, and Sophie felt him tremble as her fingers focused there. She leaned over him, taking him in her mouth, and Howl gasped at her boldness, and at the exquisite pleasure she gave him. Her tongue flickered over him and she focused first on what was clearly his most sensitive part, then took him further into herself. She continued these caresses for a while, establishing a slow rhythm, until Howl stopped her.

"Don't move, Sophie. I don't want this to end just yet, and one more movement and it will." Sophie complied, allowing Howl to collect himself and come back from the brink to which she'd driven him.

"Would you like to try something else?"

Sophie nodded, and Howl asked her to straddle him as before. He helped her mount him, and she gasped with pleasure at the intense sensations this produced. She moved until she was filled with him. Howl placed his hands on her hips and showed her how to rise and fall against him. She moved slowly at first along the length of him, until she reached his most sensitive part, then encompassed him again. Howl grasped her hands, allowing her full control over his body. She did not disappoint him, and seemed to revel in the power she had over him. Again he felt himself slipping away, but not before he noticed that she seemed to be drifting as well. He reached out to caress her, so that she could share in these feelings, and was surprised to feel how wet and aroused she was by the intimacy they shared. She climaxed violently, again and again and he accompanied her this time, losing himself in the physical and emotional feelings she elicited. "Sophie," he groaned over and over, pulling her closer to him. Slowly he became aware of her resting against him, looking at him with love and devotion in her eyes.

"I love you, darling."

"Yes, but do you feel loved, Howl?"

"Gods, Sophie, yes. Yes! You're incredible, darling." He kissed her again, more gently and slowly now, then touched her face with his hand. How on earth was he born this lucky?

They lay in each other's arms and contentedly caressed each other. Finally, Howl broke the silence.

"Sophie, how did you know how to do that?"

Sophie blushed and told Howl of the book she'd examined. She didn't know its title, as it was written in some foreign alphabet, but she described it accurately enough.

"The Kama Sutra?" Howl exclaimed. "Oh, Sophie!" He laughed with abandon, unable to control his mirth.

"What's so funny, Howl? Are you mocking me?"

"No, Sophie, no." Howl was lost in another gale of laughter. "No." He took a deep breath. "It's just that… that was the book I read to find out about lovemaking. I think my uncle bought it specifically for me, though he never said a word about it, or asked about it when it disappeared from the library. I studied every picture—spent hours and hours memorizing it. But honestly, I never had the chance to practice most of what I saw. There were more chaperones in my life than you might have guessed."

Howl pulled Sophie to him and kissed her. "What you did to me before—both things—I've never experienced before. You are quite the lover, Sophie Jenkins. You are a natural, darling."

They lay in each other's arms for hours, unable to sleep, content in each other's company. They kissed, slowly, softly and as Sophie's eyes finally began to close, Howl wondered at the fortune that had brought them together. He'd loved her before tonight, but somehow, he loved her still more now. Every day she was new to him. Every day he learned something else that made him love her even more.

He'd waited so long for this night—the time when they'd fully commit themselves to each other. "Making love." The words had seemed silly when he'd first heard them. How can you create love? Didn't it already exist? But he understood those words, now, and realized this had been the first time for him, as well as Sophie. They'd created something together. Not anything physical, but it was tangible none the less. They had been one for a while, and that union had been perfect. Not just physically, but emotionally, spiritually. Howl felt blessed to have found his love and promised himself that he would make her happy, always.