Here we are! First of all, a million thank you's to everyone who has reviewed, and favorited and followed. There seems to be a little burst of interest with the DVD release, which is awesome, and I really hope it continues! I really love this fandom and I hope it continues to garner interest, readers and writers.
Much thanks to Roque Amadi for betaing, her help was invaluable and made this chapter so much better. Please check out her profile, and her own Elmont story 'Know You Better' in the Jack the Giant Slayer section, it is wonderful! Lyrics in this part are from "In My Life / A Heart Full Of Love" from Les Miserables.
I have already started writing another chapter, and I have many more ideas as well, and I'm thinking of adding to 'Closer to Heaven' (so I can write a little more of this day) so please continue to keep an eye out for those and let me know what you'd like to see! Any ideas? Past, present, future? Adventure or romance? Anything!
Hope you enjoy!
~And my life seems to stop as if something is over and something has scarcely begun~
For some time Elmont and Elleree lay in bed, Elleree secure at his side as they enjoyed the feeling of simply being together, just him and her and nothing else. Finally she broke the peacefulness with a punctuated sigh. "I suppose we have to get up..."
But there was nothing Elmont wanted, needed more, than to spend this time with Elleree. Something told him that this was their chance, and he wanted to start it right if he could, so even as she began to sit up, he couldn't help pulling her back against his chest.
"Well, actually..." he started.
There was still so much work to do... And he had hated leaving, even for the night, but it was true he'd been working non-stop, with no rest, until last night."I have been told to take the day off."
Elleree sat up a little in bed to look at him, her green-gold eyes sparkling with mirth. "A whole day?" she joked, knowing he rarely took any time off at all, save to sleep at night.
Elmont smirked and gave a little pinch at her waist, which produced a cute little squeak on her part, but backfired when her body shifted enticingly against his own and he had to take a quick breath to collect himself.
Elleree however somehow seemed to remain unaffected by the press of their bodies or perhaps she was simply enjoying teasing him too much to show it.
"This is the first night I've been away in a couple days," Elmont explained, attempting to tamp down the desire that was growing from having her so near and so unclothed. "The castle is in ruins and there is much to do... But I was instructed to come home."
Elleree grinned, propping herself up to look at him. "But who would dare tell Captain Elmont what to do?" she teased. "Did the King order you to take a day off?"
"Actually, yes."
Elleree laughed, but her amusement faded and she raised her eyebrows. "The King...ordered you to stay home."
"Yes," he smiled, enjoying the surprise in her tone.
"And you were going to ignore it, weren't you?" she said, her voice knowing.
Elmont's smile widened and he tightened his hold around her waist, pressing her body a little closer to his. "Perhaps I hadn't stopped to consider my own needs. Until you came...to help me attend to them."
"I couldn't bear to think of your needs going unattended to any longer," she answered, eyes sparkling.
Elmont chuckled quietly.
"Honestly, though, John...the King?"
He gave her a mock-frown. "You don't believe me?"
"I - I guess I hadn't thought about it." He saw her throat work as she swallowed."The King must really respect you."
Her expression grew stern as she considered him and he almost chuckled again. "And you must have been working far too hard."
Elmont smiled, but her own expression dimmed and she looked down for a moment, playing with the edge of the blanket. "I suppose I forget how important you are sometimes."
"Why, thank you." Elmont tried to lighten the mood, but she didn't look up and he let his hand slide further around her waist. "Ree - "
"I have no business occupying your time like this," she said quietly, turning away from him as if she was going to get out of bed, but once again he pulled her back.
"Elleree." His voice was firm, but gentle. "I am no more important than any other person, not really. And especially not here with you... None of that matters. Here I am simply John, and the only thing I care about is that you are - at least moderately - happy."
Elleree smiled faintly and he gave a nearly silent sigh of relief. The last thing he ever wanted was for her to feel lesser in any way.
"I am moderately happy," she answered his teasing by teasing back. "At least."
"Good," Elmont said. "And if I decide I want to make time for you, I believe that is well within my rights."
Elleree nodded in acceptance, and her brightening smile made her look even more beautiful in this moment than he ever remembered her looking. Scooting closer, she laid her head against his chest, one hand making it's way teasingly across his abdomen.
Elmont savored the feeling of her in his arms and couldn't help thinking he'd be quite delighted to spend the entire day in bed with her if she liked. He knew he hold tightened around her smaller frame as she gave a contented sigh, and his hand began it's own trek, rubbing up and down her arm.
After a few moments, she spoke again. "Do you?"
"Do I?" he murmured, entirely caught up in the motion of stroking her arm with his fingers and the feeling of her skin, impossibly soft.
"Do you want to make time for me?"
She shifted, looking up again into his gaze and he let himself study the depth of emotion in her hazel eyes before he answered.
"I do. If you'll let me."
A slow smile came to Elleree's face and she leaned forward to kiss his lips, her entire mood seeming to lift. "Does this mean we get to stay here all day?"
"I think so," he smiled.
"What shall we do?"
"Anything." Elmont pulled her closer, one hand slipping across her hip to caress her thigh. "As long as it doesn't require leaving this bed."
At that moment, his stomach emitted a quiet grumble and Elleree giggled. "Your stomach protests."
Elmont sighed, pushing back the blanket so they could sit up. "I suppose we should keep our strength up."
She laughed, the green and the gold in her eyes glittering and he knew he'd made the right decision to stay with her. "How about that sweet bread and some tea in bed?" Elmont suggested.
"Breakfast in bed?" she grinned."That sounds...wonderful." Her knowing expression was enough to make his breath hitch and he wasn't quite sure how they were going to make it through breakfast but his stomach insisted they at least try.
So they rose from the bed, each pulling on enough articles of clothing to ward off the morning chill. After briefly taking care of personal needs, Elmont went to the kitchen to start the tea while Elleree rebuilt the fire in the main room and then the bedroom.
Because he stayed in the castle most of the time, there were no servants that lived in his home. Honestly he was grateful for the privacy right now. Stealing a glimpse of Elleree as she headed back up the stairs, he admired her body in the light chemise she wore, and remembered the way even after she had pulled it on he could still discern the shape of her curves, still see the outline of her breasts, through the material.
The thought that she might not be so carefree as to walk around his house with so little on if there were servants here was not a welcome one right now; he reveled in this light-hearted, more vulnerable side of her that he knew she rarely let anyone see.
But he didn't want to think about anything else except the woman who was hopefully climbing back into his bed at this very moment.
When the tea was ready, he put a tray together with slices of the sweet bread she had brought on a plate and quickly headed back to his room.
She was indeed back in bed and Elmont shucked his pants before joining her under the blankets. Together they sipped at tea, and nibbled at the bread. It was more delicious than he remembered, light and soft. The glaze drizzled over the top was sweet but not cloying. They chatted quietly about nothing in particular, enjoying each other's company.
When he'd had his fill, he couldn't help but watch her. Before she could reach for it, he picked up the last bite of bread from her plate and held it to her lips. Her eyes heated, blazing a fierce jade, flecked with shining gold and she smiled coyly as she let him slide the bread into her mouth.
As he was about to drop his hand however, she touched his wrist, guiding his hand back and drew the tip of his finger between her lips.
The touch of her tongue tickling the pad of his fingertip sent a thrill of longing through his entire body and his heart thudded as he watched her.
Slowly she licked at his finger, tasting the sweetness of the glaze, he knew, and perhaps his own skin as well. The thought made blood rush through his veins until finally he pulled away so he could kiss her. Pressing his mouth to hers, he wasted no time in deepening the kiss, letting his tongue sweep across hers. A sound of pleasure escaped her throat and Elmont groaned in response...
...but slow...so slow. They had all day and he intended to make use of that time so as gently as he could, he broke the kiss and pulled her close, hugging her to his side.
She sighed, her body going soft and pliable in his arms and he molded her to his chest. Bowing his head, he let his lips brush the smooth skin of her bared shoulder, and he breathed in her scent, feminine and uniquely Elleree. The memories of the night before came rushing to mind and he smiled against her skin as he felt her hand smoothing over the planes of his back.
"I don't think I've ever told you how much I care for you, Ree," he murmured, pulling back to meet her smiled at her expression, so honest, her own feelings clear, and he lifted his hand to sweep her tousled hair away from her face.
"How much?" she asked, biting her lip for a moment before breaking into a full grin.
Was it possible to be this happy? ...and this was only the beginning.
"A great deal."
Elleree laughed quietly, and he swore he saw inchoate tears glistening in her eyes. "I do as well."
Quietness slipped around them as they held each other, peace seeming to flow like a gentle river through and within them.
Elmont gathered her closer in his arms, and kissed her forehead before setting the tray aside and laying back against the pillows. Elleree pressed herself against his body, as close as they could be and tilted her head to look at him. Gentle but sure, she swept her fingers down the line of his jaw, over his goatee and the stubble on his cheek. She traced the curve of his lower lip and gazed at him with such unfettered love he felt his heart clench with an immense swell of emotion. Perhaps it had not been spoken yet, but it did not matter right now.
There could not be anything better in this land than Elleree Rowan. Elmont had no idea what to do now, only that he did not want to let go of her, but beyond that...
Squeezing her hip, he gave a quiet sigh, caught in her gaze entirely.
"I never imagined," she said, her voice quiet, eyes shining. "I never thought I would find anything like this - that I would know real happiness."
Elmont exhaled, overwhelmed by her admission and the realization that he had always felt the same. In the back of his mind, he'd never thought he would actually have time to find someone that would make him this happy, or anyone that would want to share this life with him. And he wanted to tell her, wanted to convey how happy she made him feel, but his voice caught in his throat when he tried.
"Hmm?" She pressed a kiss to his chest before looking back up at him.
Elmont shook his head. "I am lost," he murmured quietly.
Elleree cast him the happiest smile he'd ever seen on her beautiful face. "I am found."
~The End/Beginning~
Thank you so much for reading! Please let me know what you think, and what else you'd like to see. More coming very soon! ~Ashley
*Edit 8/17 Story has been Continued!
