Chapter Text
Colin’s eyes flew open, wide with urgency. The relentless pounding of rain against the bedroom window jolted him from sleep. Lightning flashed outside, illuminating the room for a brief moment, followed by the deep rumble of thunder that echoed loudly through the night.
He glanced over at his wife, peacefully asleep beside him, her gentle face serene despite the ragging storm outside. As he sat up, she stirred, but her eyes remained closed, lost in her dreams.
Colin briefly admired Penelope's beautiful features. In the waking hours, she looked as heavenly as an angel. In sleep, she was just as ethereal.
Just as he was about to lay back down beside her, he heard the unmistakable sound of wailing coming from across the hall. A surge of instinct propelled him from the bed, and he quickly threw on his breeches before hurrying out of the room.
With quiet care, he opened the door to his son’s nursery. The infant’s cries pierced through the night air, loud and distressed. It struck Colin that the thunder might have startled the little one.
For the first month after his birth, they had Lillian, the nursemaid, here to help them overnight, but a few weeks ago, his wife's laying-in period had finally come to an end.
Penelope had informed him that she wanted to take on the responsibility herself. Colin found it deeply touching that she desired to nurture their son so intimately. Many women of her financial standing would have chosen a nursemaid to take on the bulk of nighttime duties, but Colin always knew Penelope was different—she was forging her own path in motherhood, determined to be close to their child.
Colin didn't shy away from helping out. In fact, he relished the moments spent bonding with his newlyborn son. The reality of fatherhood still amazed him, filling him with an unexpected joy that warmed his heart daily.
After losing Marina, he had convinced himself that domestic life was beyond his reach; work became his sole focus for so many years. Yet, somewhere deep within him, the yearning for a family and a loving partner lingered.
Then came the day everything shifted—the day Portia Featherington entered his office. At first, he wasn’t inclined to engage with her. To him, she was yet another weeping widow seeking relief from her husband’s mountain of unpaid debts. But something about her captivated him. Perhaps it was her innate charm or the way fate had woven their paths together. Whatever it was that had compelled him he was forever glad for it.
He had been contemplating marriage for a few months before the clandestine meeting with his future mother-in-law.
All his previous encounters with women had been disappointing—most of the young ladies lacked depth or substance. None stirred his interest until Portia, desperate and vulnerable, stood before him, imploring him to save her and her youngest child from financial ruin.
At that moment, it felt as if the universe was nudging him toward a new beginning—the chance to finally embrace love and companionship, which ultimately led him to his soulmate.
Now, leaning over the bassinet, Colin gazed down at his tiny son, Archibald Edmond Bridgerton—Archie, for short—who had grown so much in the short two months since his birth. Colin marveled at how Archie was beginning to resemble Penelope more and more every day. The baby’s bright blue eyes and sweet button nose made his heart swell, and though his hair was still sparse, flecks of vibrant red were starting to appear. Colin was hopelessly in love with this little boy. He had been since the moment Archie had entered the world.
Scooping the infant into his arms, Colin held him gently, stroking his back soothingly until the cries subsided. "It’s okay, sweet boy. Your papa is here now," he whispered softly, the warmth of their connection wrapping around them and calming the baby down completely.
He settled into the rocking chair in the corner, swaying to and fro, allowing the rhythmic motion to lull them both back into a serene sleep.
Hours later, the soft creak of the door pulled Colin from his slumber. Penelope entered the room, her eyes lighting up with affection as she took in the tender scene before her.
"Good morning," she said gently, her voice barely above a whisper. "I woke up and noticed you weren't there."
"I heard this little man crying, so I came in to soothe him back to sleep," Colin replied, his voice thick with tenderness as he cradled Archie against his chest.
She stepped closer, kissing their son’s forehead before leaning in to press her lips to Colin's. "I think he likes being held by his daddy,” she smiled. “Look at how content he is."
Colin peered down to admire the infant's tiny face.
“Come back to bed,” Penelope murmured, resting her forehead against his, her eyes sparkling with affection. "The baby will be fine here. He loves his bassinet. His mama misses her husband's nice, warm body snuggled up behind her. She needs it very badly."
Colin bit his lip to suppress a yearning sigh, exhilarated by her vulnerability. He adored it when she turned to him in her moments of need. Penelope was fiercely independent; she managed their finances, organized their home, and cared for Archie with unwavering dedication. So whenever she sought his support, he felt honored to step in. He would do anything for her, and he loved that she knew just how to tempt him into doing whatever she desired. Colin was wrapped around his wife's finger and he didn't mind at all.
Gently laying their sleeping son down in his cradle, he took one last lingering look at Archie's peaceful form before Penelope took his hand, guiding him back toward their bedroom.
As soon as they settled back into bed, Penelope nestled her head against his sternum, her fingers absentmindedly stroking his chest hair. She released a soft sigh of contentment that made Colin's heart swell with pride. Making her happy was the best feeling in the world.
“Thank you for tending to Archie while I slept. I was out like the dead,” she said, her voice filled with genuine appreciation.
“I was happy to do it. I know you need your rest,” Colin replied. Honestly, he looked forward to the times he got to soothe the baby. It made him feel useful.
Papa's seldomly were when the children were so small. He could only recall a handful of times when his own father had been around to tend to his younger siblings when they were babies. But he understood. It simply was not how things were done. He was glad his wife was bucking such traditions. This time spent with his son was precious. He wanted as much of it as possible.
“Well, I’m completely rested now,” Penelope purred, a hint of playful joy in her tone. "And the baby is likely to sleep for at least another hour. Whatever shall we do with all that free time?"
Penelope nuzzled her nose against his bare skin while her lips skimmed across his pecs.
Colin closed his eyes, savoring her bold advances.
"Pen are you sure?" He asked carefully.
They had only been intimate a couple of times since the baby was born. Penelope spent nearly three weeks in bed recovering from the birth. The first time they attempted to couple, she was still too sore, and they had to stop midway through.
The second attempt was more successful, but towards the end, Penelope became nervous about him spilling his seed inside her. She was worried about becoming with child again too soon. So she had stopped before either of them could climax.
They hadn't fully made love since then. They found other ways to satisfy each other and Colin was content with sticking to those ways until his wife said otherwise.
Of course, he missed being inside her, but he never wanted to run the risk of her feeling uncomfortable. Her well-being was all he cared about.
"Yes. I'm sure. I need you so much. I miss having you inside me. I can't go any longer without it." Penelope pleaded while climbing into his lap until she was straddling him.
Colin let out a deep sigh at her statement. It took every ounce of self-control he possessed not to tear the nightgown completely off her body and pin her down onto the mattress so he could fuck her senseless.
He knew it couldn't be that primal, at least not yet. They would get back to that point eventually, but for now, this needed to stay gentle.
He kissed her sweetly on the lips as she lined herself up with his already rigid length and slowly let it tease her wet folds.
"Bloody hell," Colin groaned through gritted teeth. There was no way he was going to last if she kept this titillating behavior up.
"Do you feel that? I'm so ready for you. For this," Penelope breathed hot and heavy into his ear and Colin's length twitched with anticipation.
"You are being quite the temptress Mrs. Bridgerton."
"I'm just thanking you. For being the best husband and father that any wife could ask for. I think that deserves a very large show of gratitude." Penelope paused, sliding her nightgown off with ease and tossing it aside.
Colin's pulse raced as her bare body came into view.
Ever since giving birth her alabaster skin had a radiant glow that rendered him absolutely speechless.
She was still nursing so her already voluptuous breast were nearly twice their normal size.
He wanted nothing more than to feel the heavy weight of them in his palms, but he knew how sensitive they were from the baby feeding off them.
So instead, he leaned in closer, gently kissing them with only a feather-like whisper against her heated flesh.
"You are so unbelievably beautiful," Colin breathed against her skin, and her whole body trembled.
"Colin I need you." She rolled her hips, causing her soaking wet core to rub against his growing erection.
He bit hard into his bottom lip to suppress a loud groan. She was working him up in the best way imaginable.
She shifted slightly until they were perfectly aligned and then she let him inside. Inch by inch at an agonizingly slow pace.
"Christ, you feel so amazing, Pen, but I don't want to cause you any worry or pain."
Penelope raised up slightly before moving back down on his rigid length.
"You could never do either of those things, Colin Bridgerton because you take the best care of me." She whispered hotly into his ear.
Colin grew more aroused by her words. Taking care of her was the biggest turn-on for him.
"Now make love to me," Penelope demanded as she ran her hands through his hair, playful tugging at the roots while moving expertly in his lap. Up and down in a maddening rhythm that drove him absolutely wild.
He bucked his hips up, meeting each of her thrusts with one of his own.
He had forgotten just how much he missed this. The way her heat completely enveloped him until his vision blurred and his head spun.
Since becoming parents something in their relationship had started to shift.
The bond they now shared when it came to the well-being of their son had unlocked an entirely new facet. One that brought them closer together on a much deeper level and went far beyond the strong carnal connection they had established early on in their marriage.
It was nice to know they could have both things simultaneously. It made Colin feel complete in a way he never truly had before. As if Penelope was the missing piece and now he was finally whole.
Colin gripped his wife by the waist, pulling their already connected bodies even closer. Their lips met in a searing kiss that lasted until they were both breathlessly panting.
"Colin I'm so close," Penelope breathed against his lips.
Colin's fingers dug into the tender flesh of her hips, holding her firmly in place and then he sped up his thrust.
Penelope gasped, her eyes going wide as a guttural moan came bubbling up from her throat.
"Let go, my love," Colin instructed, and then she did. Her entire body trembled in his embrace. She cried out his name over and over again until he finished inside her.
Penelope's spent body went limp in his arms. The weight of their connection felt so amazing. Colin never wanted it to end.
It was at that very moment that the piercing wails of their son began.
Penelope giggled into Colin's neck as the baby's crying grew louder. "I'll go and get him."
She kissed Colin sweetly on the cheek before shakily climbing off his lap. She threw on her robe before swiftly exiting the room.
Colin smiled to himself. He stretched and rolled off the bed, eagerly throwing on his breeches so he could run across the hall and help his wife tend to the babe.