A/N: Ummm, hi. Yes, dear readers, I'm back! I'm still blown away by how popular The Honeymoon continues to be ~ it's completely amazing to me. Thank you all so much for your support and re-reads. :) To all you lovely readers who asked me for more, here it is. Finally!
I first mentioned this little tale somewhere around chapter seven of The Honeymoon. I don't think it's necessary to have read TH to understand this, but it might help…
The Blue Suit – Part One
(June 1888)
Chapter One:
Anne Shirley is thoroughly bored. She suppresses a sigh as she gazes around the Sloanes' gaudily decorated parlour. The room is so crowded it seems all of Avonlea must be there to witness the wedding of Charles Edwin Hiram Josiah Sloane to Mabel Mae Murphy.
Anne is standing with a small group of gossiping Avonlea matrons in one corner of the noisy room. The reception has been underway for several hours now, and it is just getting to the point in the festivities when all the ladies gather together to cluck and titter and whisper about the day's proceedings. Anne's luminous grey eyes are surreptitiously searching the room for the shapely form of Diana Wright, hoping to gain her friend's attention and signal for her to come and join the ladies, so that they might make their escape from the group together.
Her mind is already wandering, but the ladies' whispers fade entirely away from Anne's hearing and her boredom is instantly forgotten as her attention becomes completely diverted by a most appealing sight across the room. A slight smile curves her lips and Anne can't take her eyes off the handsome man standing near the window. He is apparently so engrossed in his conversation with Fred Wright that he doesn't appear to notice her bold stare.
The man is tall and lean, and the jacket of his dark blue suit hugs his broad shoulders in a most attractive fashion. Anne feels a flush creeping up her cheeks and her pulse quickens as she watches him. The man's thick, curly brown hair seems to be begging for her fingers to tangle themselves in it. Anne imagines running her fingertip along his smartly groomed sideburns which extend down his cheeks, framing his face perfectly. Her fingers are itching to caress the strong lines of his kissable jaw, gorgeous cheekbones and splendid chin.
As her eyes continue to roam, Anne notices a touch of sunburn on the back of the man's neck, just visible in the gap between the curls at his nape and the stiff collar of his crisp, white shirt. Anne's breath catches in her throat as she is immediately consumed with the urge to soothe and caress that delicious spot with her lips and tongue. Her heart begins to flutter wildly in her chest.
Shiny dress studs form an enticing trail all the way down the front of the man's shirt, running from his necktie and down his chest until they disappear below his vest. Anne's mouth has gone dry and her fingers are twitching to follow that line of shirt studs into the man's dark blue waistcoat so that she might discover where they finish. The man's waistcoat is cut low in a vee shaped curve with four delectable buttons covering the hard planes of his abdomen. She stands there for a moment, unable to breathe and longing to unfasten those buttons, then run her palms across the solid muscles beneath.
Anne watches eagerly when the man raises his arm slightly as he speaks and suddenly his suit is stretched so tightly across his shoulder that she wonders for a moment if those rock-hard muscles might burst right through the fabric. A flood of heat surges through her body and her eyes are fastened on the straining seams of his jacket. Anne licks her lips as the man turns away from her slightly, lifting his arm higher and affording her an even better view of the rippling muscles on his back which are now plainly outlined beneath his blue jacket. Anne holds her breath, hoping to catch a glimpse of the seams parting, revealing his crisp white shirt beneath. She feels a slight wave of disappointment wash over her when the man lowers his arm with the jacket seams still intact.
The handsome man is smiling wickedly now, turning his head slightly so that his profile is perfectly displayed to Anne's heated gaze as he drops his arm to his side once more. From this angle, Anne can discern the outline of his long, dark lashes as he scrunches up his striking hazel eyes in mirth. Her eyes wander along the line of his beautifully formed nose before they settle on his smiling lips. Anne's lips are tingling with the urge to press themselves against the tempting corner of his luscious mouth. Her skin grows hot and she bites her lower lip as she continues to stare.
Anne can't help but notice how strong and capable-looking the man's lean, brown hands are as he gestures to make his point, much to the amusement of Fred evidently. As she watches the man gesturing, Anne is seized with an impulse to capture one of those large, skilled hands in hers and then press eager kisses into his palm. Anne is burning to unfasten the shiny silver cuff links so that she might push the shirt sleeve up his arm and taste the skin at the man's wrist before kissing a trail along the muscles on that long, lean forearm.
As she watches him, Anne finds herself imagining what it would feel like if the man were to place those expressive, warm hands on hers. Better, if he were to place those lovely, long fingers on her bare skin. Anne shivers as she imagines those same fingertips slowly sliding along her naked body, upwards from the curve of her hips to her waist, then across her ribcage until they cup her breasts. Anne's breath quickens and her skin feels flushed as she brushes her fingertip against the hollow in her throat, visualising the man's lips caressing the heart pendant nestling there, then lower -
Fred and the tall man both begin laughing together. The man's delicious lips part to reveal his straight white teeth as he throws back his head to laugh heartily, and Anne's breath catches at the sound. She watches, fascinated, as the man's Adam's apple bobs up and down, just above the collar of his shirt. Anne longs to press kisses along his throat before letting her lips linger on the delectable curve of his jaw. Now she is desperate to taste those delicious-looking lips.
Anne yearns to loosen the man's blue silk tie and slowly slide it from his neck before she removes the stiff collar from his shirt. She wants to yank his coat off those broad shoulders, then rip his vest off and unfasten each and every dress stud on that crisp, white shirt while she kisses his full lips until they're swollen and he's panting in her mouth. She burns to run her hands and her lips all over the planes of his hard, well-muscled chest, lick the delicious skin at his throat and then pull his face to her breasts so that he might kiss her. Anne's eyelids flutter as she is consumed with imagining the sensation of his lips pressing hot kisses to her breasts.
She takes another tiny step away from the group of ladies and Anne's breath is coming in shallow gasps now as she continues to watch the man, whose tall figure is perfectly framed by the bay window in the Sloanes' parlour. The pink sunset behind him creates a halo of light around him so that he looks like an angel. Although Anne's thoughts are far from angelic, her breath catches in her throat again as she gazes at him.
The handsome man raises his bright hazel eyes and suddenly he is staring straight at Anne. He still has the remnants of a smile lingering about his full lips and Anne watches his hazel eyes darken until they are burning with an intensity which steals the breath from her lungs as he gazes at her steadily for a brief moment. Anne's skin feels damp and her knees wobble a little as she feels the energy of the man's desire wash over her body, even from across the room. He smiles and winks at her before he turns casually back to resume his conversation with Fred.
Anne sways a little and her head is spinning as she presses her hand against her cheek. There is a molten heat coursing through her veins now that makes her gasp aloud.
"Why, Anne," Mrs Harmon Andrews says. "You look right peaky. Are you feeling quite well?"
"Oh, yes – uh, no, Mrs Andrews," Anne mumbles shakily. "It's only this room is awfully warm. I think I might need a little fresh air. Please, would you excuse me for a moment?"
With that, Anne turns from the clucking group of matrons and makes her way over to where the tall man is standing with Fred.
Anne is unable to resist running the fingers of her slender hand along the man's sleeve, delighting in feeling the hard muscles of his forearm beneath the delicate weave of his jacket before she begins caressing the shiny silver cufflink at his wrist. At her touch, the man turns his face towards her, and standing this close to him Anne feels the full force of those hazel eyes upon her. A delightful shiver curls straight down to her toes as he grins at her with one eyebrow raised. Anne's breath leaves her in a rush and she smiles somewhat unsteadily. She wants to thread her fingers through the brown curls on his head and pull his lips to hers so desperately that she has to clutch at her skirts to stop herself.
Anne is about to speak, when the man turns his body towards hers slightly. The blazing gleam in his hazel eyes fairly steals the words from her lips, so she is standing with her mouth slightly agape and her head spinning as she stares at him.
"Hello, Anne-girl," he says, the deep timbre of his voice sending a sparkling tingle of delight throughout her body.
Anne's skin grows hot and she feels a flush creeping up her cheeks at the silkiness of his voice. Although they've been engaged for a little more than nine months now, he's never called her that name before, but Anne likes it. The smile is growing on her lips. She likes it very much.
The man's hazel eyes are glowing with a heat which makes Anne's stomach twist and flip delightfully within her body. Her eyes are huge as she gapes at him and for a brief moment Anne thinks she might actually melt into the Sloane's garish floral rug.
"H-hello, Gilbert," Anne stutters. "Uh - hello, Fred."
"Fred and I were just reminiscing about our A.V.I.S. days," Gilbert tells her as Fred smiles at her in greeting. "You know, I truly thought we were done for when Joshua Pye painted that hall blue."
And then those full, pink lips are turned up in the most delectable grin Anne has ever seen as he bends his face a little closer to hers. She enjoys seeing the heated flash in Gilbert's eyes as they run over her dress appreciatively.
Anne has dressed carefully for the wedding because she had wanted to make sure she was looking her best this evening. Charlie's wedding is the first formal function which Anne is attending in Avonlea as Gilbert Blythe's fiancée, and she's thrilling proudly from head to toe every time she thinks on it.
Over the past several weeks at Summerside, Anne has spent many delightful hours working on her dress of light green silk for this particular occasion, all the while imagining Gilbert's response to it. Anne always loves watching her fiancé's eyes whenever she wears a dress that he likes especially, and she knows Gilbert likes to see her wearing this particular shade of green. Moreover, he'd told her at Christmas how much he had admired the rosebud dress she'd worn to several functions when they were at Redmond, so Anne has modified this dress to include the rosebud-embroidered over-dress, fashioning the fabric to form part of the skirt on her dress for this evening. She's also sewn the chiffon to create a sheer trim around her bodice, delicately framing her creamy neck and ethereal features. The daintily stitched rosebuds perfectly complement the delicate enamel heart pendant which is glistening coyly at her throat.
Since they became engaged the previous September, Anne has only seen Gilbert for a week at Christmas and one other weekend for her birthday in March before they both returned to Avonlea this week. Although Gilbert had returned to Avonlea from his first year at medical school on the previous Saturday, Anne had arrived at Green Gables on Wednesday evening. She smiles as she recalls their joyous reunion when Gilbert had met her at the station, but in the intervening few days Anne has only managed to snatch a few hours here and there with her fiancé.
Gilbert's hazel eyes are blazing as he looks at her. Anne forgets to breathe, blinking her sparkling grey eyes and hoping that he's going to kiss her, even though she knows he won't in this room full of Avonlea's respectable townspeople. Nevertheless, she licks her lips in anticipation.
"Are you having a nice time?" he asks, squeezing her fingers in his warm hand. Shivers are running down Anne's spine at the rich tone of Gilbert's voice as he smiles into her eyes.
Anne feels a little light-headed, nodding while her eyes wander lower to stare at his beautiful, smiling lips. She simply must get Gilbert alone soon or she is beginning to fear she really will faint.
"Yes, lovely," Anne murmurs breathlessly. "But this room's rather warm. I wondered if you'd care for some fresh air with me, Gilbert?"
"Of course," Gilbert's hazel eyes crinkle at the corners in that delightful way she loves before he glances at his friend. "Would you excuse us please, Fred…"
Anne is already tugging on Gilbert's hand and pulling him towards the door.
"Forgive us, Fred," Anne says over her shoulder. "It feels a little stuffy in here, don't you think?"
"Oh, ah - yes," Fred grins, with his eyebrows raised as Gilbert is yanked unceremoniously away. "I'd better go find Di and the baby. We'll talk to you both later then."
Anne hears the laughter in Fred's voice but doesn't give it a moment's thought as she makes a beeline for the front door. By now she is desperate to be alone with Gilbert.
I know I promised this story to you ages ago, dear readers, and I'm beyond sorry for the delay with posting. I'm afraid this year has been an exceptionally busy one for me, but I have been working on The Blue Suit whenever I can. Plus, it seems Gilbert's suit had way more to say than I first thought! Evidently, it's impossible for me to write a one shot. So, if you want more, I've got quite a bit more written for this story – and I'm hoping perhaps that might make up for the excessively long wait for it? It's all written, so I should be able to post each new chapter pretty regularly.
Please review and tell me what you think of the story so far? I hope you like the Blue Suit as much as Anne does!
~ Love from FKAJ x