Part 7

Handing Elsie her glass of wine he smiled "So how has your week been?"

Elsie smiled as she looked at him revelling in this sweet peace between them "Good, nothing out of the ordinary, though of late a mysterious man has been prone to sweeping me into dark corners for a few moments giving me a sweet kiss" she said teasing him "I will have to look into it more, it's getting rather distracting" she said with a cheeky smile and Charles couldn't help but chuckle.

He watched as she took a sip of her wine, her eyes never leaving his as she waited for his response "Yes I can see how that could become distracting as you call it" he said putting his wine on the table and taking some bread before dipping it in the sauce and eating it. Savouring is rich creamy taste.

Elsie nodded as she followed his actions with her eyes "And what about you? How has your week been?" she replied before digging into the food too.

Charles swayed his head from side to side before speaking "Not too bad although the rumours of Young Mr Crawley's leaving for good has shook everyone up upstairs which always make things a little more difficult" he said smiling sadly.

Elsie nodded her head in understanding again as she reached back for her wine, the alcohol as always helping to relax her heart that always beat that little bit faster when in the presence of the man seated in front of her.

Charles smiled as he watched Elise drink her wine. He loved it when she did that, the way she drank her wine yet her eyes never leaving his, always connected. Something about it was so sensual, sparks igniting just by that mere moment, her tongue occasionally darting out to take any droplets from the edge of the glass.

Taking the glass away from her mouth Elsie raised an almost seductive eyebrow at Charles "What?" Charles looked away laughing before looking back at her; oh she knew what she was doing he thought.

"Nothing my dear though I do question if your entire motive is all so innocent" he said smirking.

Elsie's jaw dropped down at such an outright comment but she couldn't help the small smile etching its way around her mouth "Charles Carson!" she laughed.

Charles chuckled "Forgive me, I could not resist" he said, his deep rumble effecting her so deliciously.

Elsie shook her head "And here I was thinking you were such a gentleman" she quipped back.

Charles smiled again and revelled in the warm sensations taking over his body, the automatic response to her mere presence undeniable. For a few minutes they just stared at each other, so many things passing between them through that electrical silence, waves of something that could only be called pure want running in waves across the small expanse that separated them.

Elise too, felt it and couldn't deny the lustful tension that surrounded them. Though she wanted it, whatever it was, she couldn't unleash what could only be described as their passion just yet. Reluctantly she tore her gaze away from his and stood, idly walking around the small library, anything to put some distance between them for she knew if she did not, deep desires would surely be released.

Clearing her throat she spoke, her eyes drifting over the enchanting stories that were encased by their covers as she did so "What made you do this?" she said not looking at him.

Charles followed her with his eyes "Do what?"

Elsie turned and looked at him "This, this small moment. It's not like you, you're usually so guarded, so abiding by the rules" she said curiously "Yet now, with me, in this library you've come undone, in the past few weeks I've seen more of the real you than I have in the whole entire time we have worked together"

Charles smiled at her revelation, her words were true, but with her, around her, he felt like he could be himself, no longer the strict butler "I feel relaxed around you. Sometimes being the rule abiding strict butler can be tiresome, when I'm with you I don't feel the need to be that person I can just be merely me" he finished with a small gesture of his hands.

Elsie smiled and her heart leapt at his confession. To know that he could feel that relaxed around her made her stomach flip, the air once again becoming thick with tamed desire.

Feeling more confident and at ease she walked back round to him but instead of sitting back on her chair she took up the spot small spot on the couch which Charles was sitting on. Charles, always watching her, smiled at the subtle gesture of intimacy. He couldn't describe this feeling, it was overloaded, filled with such passions and contradictions it was almost too confusing. But what he did know for certain was that there was nowhere else he would rather be than here in her presence.

Taking her wine he put it on the table then carefully shifted them. Elsie let him, following his lead till they were lain out on the couch Elsie on top as Charles lay underneath her, both of them snuggling up to each other.

As Elsie shifted into a comfortable position she looked at him "I'm not too heavy am i?"

Charles chuckled "My dear if you were any lighter you wouldn't exist"

Elsie scoffed and rolled her eyes "Sweet talk won't get you anywhere Mr Carson" she teased looking into his deep dark eyes.

His eyes scoured over her face taking her in, how did they get here? Get to this point? He wanted so much to pin point the moment, know when this beautiful madness began be he could not, it was impossible. His heart pounded and his hand ran down her hip making Elsie's breaths come a little deeper.

"Are you sure?" he said, desire lacing his voice.

Elsie swallowed and couldn't help but feel as though the floor was about to collapse, passion and pure desire, engulfing her. She nodded slowly "I'm sure" she whispered her accent coming back to her, its soft lull washing over him.

Gently she bent down and their lips touched. Both of them melting into the other as their lips and tongues collided. Elsie met his every stroke and touch trying with all her might to give him back every sweet caress he gave her. Though the touches were small, just mere caresses, Elsie felt as if she were on fire, her hands gripping his waist and arm tighter as he pulled her closer, his tongue exploring her mouth exquisitely.

The broke apart Elsie gasping as he moved down her jaw trailing feather light kisses down to her neck where he nipped gently and kissed sweetly. Elsie bit her lip but couldn't help the small whimper that escaped her lips, all of her emotions and feelings building, combining together to create that sweet rush of pleasure, going straight to her core.

Charles smiled at the sound that escaped her, his groin twitching, but he cast his own desires aside and flicked open the first few buttons of her black dress, exposing her neck more.

Elsie let him, her own hands stroking down his arms and anywhere she could reach but as he trailed lower the buttons getting lower and lower "Wait!" she pulled away, her breaths ragged and uneven.

Charles looked at her worried "Elsie?"

Elsie swallowed such strong emotions clouding her usually wise and controlled brain "I…" she stopped.

Charles sat up slightly and touched her arm "Did I hurt you?"

Elise looked at him in shock "No! goodness no, quite the opposite in fact" she trailed off.

Charles frowned and drew her closer "I don't understand" he said trying so desperately to know what was going through her mind.

Elsie looked into his eyes, everything she ever hoped shining through them "I… I don't… I never thought I wou…" she stuttered unable to find the words her mind was desperately scrambling to find.

"Never thought what?" he said trying to help her.

"I don't know how, I never thought I would get here, to this stage of a relationship" she sighed "I don't how to make you happy… physically" she whispered quietly, almost ashamed.

Charles's worried expression slowly turned into that of a smile, her innocence and vulnerability which she rarely showed making him smile. Reaching out he stroked her cheek Elsie leaning into his warm loving palm "I would never ask you to go that far" he said gently, the subject tender "and what you were doing just then was perfectly fine" he said trying to sooth and calm her worries.

Though he hadn't completely confirmed his feelings for her he knew that she knew and he knew that she felt the same but though the love between them was strong, they were not married and so such things as making love and heavy petting were still unknown territory and rather tender subjects.

Elsie shook her head "I am a foolish old woman, I cannot…" she got up tears brimming in her eyes as she walked towards a book shelf, anywhere away from him.

Charles' heart sank as he watched her walk away. So many lines had been crossed between them in the past month or so, both taking it carefully but maybe this was it, maybe they couldn't go on, instead of crossing the line maybe this one was shattering, breaking, taking them down and into painful, unwanted territory. No, he would not accept this, could not accept this he thought as he quickly got up and walked after her "Elsie…"

Elsie heard him move and turned "No! Please Charles! I cannot give you what you wish, I don't…" her heart hurt her head hurt everything hurt. She may have been proposed to twice but all they had ever really done was petting, nothing this passionate and uncontrollable. When she was with Charles she didn't know whether she was coming her going, every touch felt like fire and when they kissed she didn't know where she started or he ended, they were like one. She loved this man with all of her being but she was old and a virgin. She was inexperienced so how could she please this wonderful man when she knew not what she was doing?

Elsie wiped her tears furiously "I'm 62 and still a virgin Charles, I may be inexperienced and unknowledgeable about these things but I do know the need of a man and I know I cannot and will not be able to ever satisfy it" she said trying to hold her composure but failing most miserably.

Charles tried to speak but she continued "You know what you are doing, I do not. You told me long ago of the love you once had and how she had satisfied you greatly. You may have been drunk but you were indeed infatuated with her I could tell. I know I will not be the same!" she wept, no longer able to look at him as she leant her head against the book shelf trying desperately to hide her tears.

Charles didn't know what to do, she thought he had wanted more, how could have he have been so stupid as to scare her so? He wanted with all his heart to show her the physical love between a man and a woman but not like this, he would only show her were they married, how he could have been as stupid as to not tell her this?

"Elsie…" she shook her head refusing to listen.

"Elsie please, listen to me" he said turning her and making her look at him "I would never ask you to come to bed with me unless we were married. Call me old fashioned but those are the rules I abide by. I am sorry…"

Elsie cut him off "No, you don't understand. I would let you take me here and now if you asked, my bones would ache and at our age our hips my never work again but I would let you. What scares me is my inexperience, I want you to be happy, I want you to find someone who can give you what you need, I fear that I can do no such thing" she said no longer caring about improper conversations or impropriety.

Carson looked at her with those big deep eyes, his gentle gaze making her insides melt "But I have found her, the stubborn yet vulnerable beautiful woman who stands before me. I don't care if you are the most experienced woman in the world" he almost laughed when she glared at him but he continued "Or the most inexperienced, I…" he smiled and touched her cheek as she stared lovingly up at him "I love you and if we were to be married and only then, I would teach you, slowly and surely, but I would show you and guide you" he said gently and Elsie's tears had come back but this time they were of joy.

Elsie's heart had never felt so full, desire, passion, love, fear, heartbreak, lust, happiness, all of them and more filling her heart so much so that she felt like it was bursting. How could this man, this mere mortal, born and bred in a low class make her feel like a goddess?

Her fears swept aside, no longer caring of her inexperience Elsie grabbed Charles's head and kissed him passionately. Not to prove anything just to show him all the passion and love she had for him. Charles moaned as she licked his bottom lip with her tongue and he wrapped his arms around her waist, crushing his body against her as hers was crushed up against the book shelf.

As they kissed Elsie's hands moved down his back and up again before pushing his jacket off his shoulders, it dropping to the floor with a gentle thud. Charles pulled away afraid they were going too fast "Elise…" but she cut him off as she kissed him sweetly.

Charles complied letting her lead and though things were traveling in a far more pleasurable direction he would not let it go too far, he had too much respect for her.

His lips were just traveling down her jaw when she suddenly Elsie put a firm hand to his chest. He frowned for what felt like the millionth time today and spoke "What is…" she put her finger to her lips, indicating for him to be quiet as she listened.

There in the distance they could hear faint footsteps and what she assumed was laughter and no doubt coming this way.

Their eyes widened and they quickly moved grabbing his jacket before they looked for a place to hide. Elsie's eyes searched the room with panic when she suddenly felt a strong arm pulling her towards a coat cupboard, Charles shoving them both inside before shutting the light flimsy wooden door.

Elsie looked at him, the light coming through the gaps in the door, keeping them hidden yet letting them have almost perfect sight into the actual room.

She smiled as she looked at him the light shining on parts of his face and making his dark eyes glow. Suddenly they heard the library door opening and they held their breath watching with the ut most silence as their eyes followed shockingly two inseperable figures...

Authors note: OMG! I am soooo sorry I haven't updated lately! I have been overloaded with work etc! But Christmas is coming so hopefully it will let up! Please review and tell us what you think! Thank you! :D