Authors note: This is a multi-chaptered story, I'm currently writing chapters in between packing to move so they may vary in length of chapters.
Lizzie's fingernails dug into the warm skin of his back and she knew instinctively that he would have a mark there by morning. Her eyes closed, she arched her back, gasping for breath as she heard his own pants next to her ear. It was hot. They were sweaty and clinging to one another as his hands on her body made her feel like she was on fire. Shaking her head, the feeling was too much, it was too intense and it wasn't what she wanted. No, it was exactly what she wanted, she just didn't know how to deal with all of it at once.
Her breath caught and she felt him shift and opened her eyes to see him directly above her, his mouth within kissing distance. The warmth of his own breathing ghosting along her lips as she struggled to maintain eye contact with what he was doing to her. His eyes were dark, pupils enlarged and the look on his face made her pulse flutter higher.
"Will." She whispered out as his mouth descended upon hers. Kissing her firmly, easing her lips apart to slide his tongue against hers. Her hand that had felt like lead on the bed beside her lifted up to run her fingers through his hair and they tightened as he teased her with his tongue and lips.
Two Weeks Earlier
She stood outside the glass building of Pemberley Digital, a little less daunted this time around, but nervous all the same. Her hands gripped the access pass she had been given the last time by Gigi, she had forgotten to return it and on her request to finish shadowing Pemberley, she was told to bring it back to have it reactivated.
Reactivated. That was a words she felt was going to be said a lot. A lot of reactivation. It seemed like she had to reactive her entire life. Lydia was happy again, she was settled, maybe even a little bit more grown up. She wasn't sure what to think where that was concerned, but she had been assured that everything was fine. And Dr Gardiner had told her that given the circumstance and her dedication to her thesis project, she would be given an extension on her shadowing project.
She wouldn't graduate on time, but in the scheme of things. Lizzie didn't care as much about that any longer. Too much had happened that year for her to be stressed about timing of graduation. The mere fact alone that she was allowed to return to Pemberley was a miracle. Or the handiwork of Gigi Darcy, she wasn't entirely certain. But she had one person that may or may not be in that building that she both dreaded and desperately wanted to see.
Tightening her hand on the strap of her bag, she walked through the large glass doors into Pemberley Digital and was overwhelmed once again by how big and state of the art everything was. It hadn't been that long since she had been there, but things seemed different.
Approaching the security desk where a man and two women were answering phone calls and placing people on hold, she waited until she saw a hand go up to wave her over. The man was still on the phone, but he held his hand out expectantly.
"Oh." Lizzie was taken aback, but she held out her previous access card and let the man take it from her. He looked at her and then at the photograph and at the name, all with a raised eyebrow but didn't say anything else as he typed something into the computer and scanned her card.
Hanging up the phone, he gave the card back to her and pointed to the collection of comfortable chairs behind her. "Wait there please for your guide."
"Oh, I've been here before, I don't nee-"
She paused as she realised that he would know she'd been there before as her access card would show it, and the fact she even had an access card would suggest that Pemberley Digital and herself were acquainted. But for things that were familiar, it still felt like the first day and like she had to make an impression. Taking a seat in an oversized arm chair, she looked out the window at the view of San Francisco, it was clouding a little outside and that would make it difficult to light her video later but she would make it work.
Peering into the windows, she saw the reflection of somebody very familiar in the background. "Darcy?" She said quietly to herself and turned quickly to see if she could catch where he was. But there wasn't a sign of him anywhere. No photographs to suggest where the reflection came from. Peering around the edge of the arm chair, she tried to see if he had gone done some corridor somewhere.
Realising she must look like an idiot, she collapsed back into the chair. What was she going to do anyway? Run after the CEO of the company she was trying to make a good impression on, begging his forgiveness and showing her gratitude? She would be removed from Pemberley or become a laughing stock. Or worse, she would sully the reputation of William Darcy again. Maybe it was best if she wasn't to be looking or him, although there was a pang of something inside that wanted to disagree with her own statement.
Great, she was even arguing with herself.
"Lizzie!" Another familiar voice echoed out as she found herself in the path of a dark haired female bullet. Standing up from the chair in time, she found herself being hugged by the younger sister and a stake holder in the company.
"Gigi!" Lizzie laughed and returned the hug although she didn't know what she had done to deserve it, and if anything had probably done more to earn Gigi's hatred. "Are you my guide again?" Lizzie asked when they had detangled themselves from one another.
"Of course!" Gigi laughed and grabbed Lizzie's hand to start to guide her towards the main offices.
"Wait wait," She laughed, "I need my bag."
Returning the few steps she had been dragged, she grabbed her bag and proceeded to follow Gigi through the rabbit warren of corridors. "So Lizzie, I can't tell you how happy I am that you're back. I'm so glad you did. How have you been?" The questions were fired at her one by one.
"I'm good, family stuff is better and so I'm glad to be back. How-" She wanted to ask but it felt too soon. "How are you? How's grad school applications?"
"Urgh, so many essays." Gigi answered as she turned another sharp corner, leaving Lizzie to have to double back to keep up. "And all of them are due at once, you would think they could coordinate things better. But things are good around here." There was an innocent smile on Gigi's face that Lizzie had learnt through videos and time now meant something different. She was daring Lizzie to ask.
"I thought I saw Darcy earlier." Lizzie mentioned casually ad narrowed her eyes in thought, shaking her head, she added. "William. It's probably strange to you both called Darcy."
"Oh I'm used to it. Fitz called him that before he met me, so I know it's not me. But it is strange."
Lizzie looked at Gigi as they walked. "What's strange?"
"That you saw him."
"Fitz?" Gigi had the ability sometimes to confuse her quite a lot.
"No no silly, not Fitz, my brother. It's strange you saw him?" Gigi answered happily and swiped her own card to gain access to another side of the building.
"At his own company?" Lizzie asked and then looked around. "Where are we going?"
"Your office, unless you really want the tour. I can do that if you want." She suggested but Lizzie shook her head.
"No, it's fine. Why is it strange?"
Gigi paused and looked at Lizzie curiously. "That you saw William?"
She wanted to sigh in frustration. "Yes. That I saw him."
Gigi shrugged and opened and office door. "Because he's in LA."
I hope you like the beginning, reviews are much appreciated and a new chapter as soon as I've packed up another room.
