Oh looky...3!

He raised up with a half grin on his lips. She took his face in her hands and kissed him, longingly. They had shared short, sweet, sentimental kisses before, even a few lustful kisses in the very far past, fueled by too much wine or exhaustion. They had never kissed like this. Elsie parted her lips as his tongue begged for entrance to her mouth. They explored and fondled and it quickly became too heated. She stood up and helped him up as well. "Charles...I...?"

"I'm sorry love. I know...this is not the right time and place."

"NO! No...that's not what I was going to say." She took his hands in hers. "Let's go..." she whispered, breathlessly.

"Wha...where?..." Charles wasn't sure what to say but followed like a child when she tugged him toward the door.

Something was happening just now...a shift in the paradigm and they both knew it. She lead him to the large barn behind the house and Elsie turned and grinned at him. "Let's go in."

"What's in there?" Charles asked ignorantly, not being a farm boy and all.

Elsie laughed. "Cows, horses...farm animals..this is a farm you know!"

She pulled the big door open and noticed a lantern hanging on a nail and retrieved it. Charles took it from her. "Let me..."

"Are you sure you know what you're doing Mr. Carson?!" She teased.

He gave her a frown. "I'm not that daft!" He lit the lantern and the barn slowly came alive with the orange glow of the light. It was quiet save for the subtle sounds of animals rustling in their pens.

"Elsie..what are you doing?" Charles exclaimed when she started up the ladder to the loft.

"Oh come on! You're aren't that old! You climb stairs every day!"

The stiff butler looked around, red faced and a little embarrassed. "What if the ladder breaks?!"

"Oh! What if the whole barn collapses, what if we're struck by lightening, what if..." she starts to laugh when he points his finger at her.

"Not that again! He smiled this time. "What are we going to do up here?" He followed her carefully while holding the lantern in one hand.

"We're going to pretend we're young again." She turned to him once they reached the top and smiled so sweetly at him, he thought he might fall back wards. 'Do you have a clue what you do to me?' he thought silently.

The loft was wide but not high and while Elsie could stand fully straight, Charles could not. There was fresh hay piled to one side as well as baled hay. There were blankets stacked neatly in the corner and Elsie took 2 of them and spread them atop a large bale. Charles glanced about him for a nail to hang the lantern on, nervous that it might catch the hay on fire. "Don't want to start a fire!"

"There's one..." she pointed up high on a support beam running through the middle of the loft and he walked over and easily reached up to hang the lantern on it.

"Okay...now what?" He stood hunched over a bit.

"Well come...sit..."

He did, relaxed his back against the bales behind him, took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. "This is nice...being here with you."

"I'm so grateful to you..you know." She smiled. "For being here with me. I know you didn't have to and I know what it means for you to take time off." She tentatively leaned in, a little nervous about this recent intimacy, but wanting to feel his touch again. He sensed her need and leaned in to her, leaned his head against hers and kissed her lips gently, kissed her again and again. Soon he had encouraged her to lay back; covered her body partially with his, stroked her face and gazed at her with such love. The weight of him on top of her made her whimper with desire.

They spent a long while exploring, touching and kissing until Charles finally sat up, ran his hands through his thick hair. "What is it?" She asked quietly.

"Elsie.." he glanced back at her. "I...just...I don't want to take advantage..." He closed his eyes when he felt her arm go around his lower back, her cheek resting on his arm. He wanted her so badly but a battle was ensuing inside him. "This is such an emotional time...I wouldn't want you to do something you will regret and if I don't stop now I won't be able to."

Elsie bit her bottom lip. She knew what she wanted, had known for a long time and knew if and when he made a move, she would be right there to reciprocate it. "Sweet man..' she thought. If she ever needed him, it was now and she didn't care about propriety or Downton or rules or what the church thought. "Charles? You're right. It is a very emotional time for me but I'm very clear about one thing."

"What's that?" his voice was barely above a whisper.

"It's you and how I feel about you."

"Oh?" He swallowed hard.

She nodded and gave him coy smile. "You make me feel...comfortable...safe." Tears spilled over their boundaries again. "And...the fact of the matter is..." he voice cracked but she continued. "I really need you tonight."

He released the breath he had been holding, turning to look at her. He searched her eyes, her expression then brought his hand up to her cheek. "Are you sure love?" She only nodded. He moved his hand to the back of her neck and brought her slowly toward him, closed his eyes and covered her lips so tenderly with his. "Mmmm..." he groaned.

TBC...