I'm favouring the short chapter at the moment (it's a bit mad in Oxford at the moment and I'd quite like to sleep). Thank you so much for your kind reviews.
He kissed her as gently as he could, not wanting to frighten her away. It was her who pressed closer to him, deepening the kiss. She left him short of breath. Her arms were wrapped around his neck, and her face lingered close to his.
"I'm not ashamed of what I want, Grace," he told her softly, "You are all I want."
He saw her eyes sparkling, the corners of her mouth tilting upwards in a smile.
"I love you," he murmured softly, "I should have found a better time to tell you."
She shook her head gently.
"There hasn't been a time when I needed to hear you say that than I am now," she told him quietly, leaning a little closer towards him, her mouth close to his, "I love you too," she replied.
His hand wound gently into her uncovered hair, making it fall loose as they kissed again. His hands stroked her back gently.
"Stay with me?" he asked her quietly.
He felt her nod beside his face. Their hands seemed to fall together, and their fingers entwined. He tugged her softly into his bedroom, closing the door behind them both.
He came back to her, stood before her. Raised his thumb to her face and traced the line of her cheekbone. Her hand rested gently over his, stroking his skin gently.
"We should sleep," he told her softly.
"I know," she replied, "But I'm damned if we do after what you've just said to me."
He smiled at her. Her hands slipped to his neck. She was unbuttoning his jacket, she was loosening his tie.
His chest rose and fell heavily. She was concentrating on her task, but her eyes flitted upwards as she divested him of the jacket and let the tie slip to the floor. She caught the intensity of his gaze as he watched her. She leant in and kissed him slowly. His arms wrapped around her waist, and it was good to feel her body against his without the barrier of his jacket. How was this happening? How was this happening so quickly? His mind could hardly compute it; she loved him. She loved him. She was caressing him tenderly, she was slowly removing his clothes- his shirt was gone too now- she was looking at him, taking him in, she was making love to him with her eyes.
His breath was uneven.
"Grace-… May I take your dress off?"
"Of course," she replied.
He knew his fingers were trembling as he handled the buttons. He tried not think about it. Thankfully, he unclasped the belt at her waist with a little more control. He pushed the cloth from her shoulders. His hand traced inside the hollow of her collarbone as he did so.
"Oh Grace-…"
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