BEGINNING NOTES:
I'm SO sorry you guys had to wait a while for this chapter! The holidays happened, things got kinda crazy for my beta reader & I, and I wanted to make sure this chapter was PERFECT before I released it. We worked really hard on it, and I even considered scrapping it altogether once (or twice, lol). We JUST finished it earlier today, & I couldn't wait to get it posted!
A heads up: Without trying to spoil too much, this chapter DOES contain sexual content. If that offends you, please be warned. I will update tags & fic rating accordingly, just in case.
Once again, a trillion thanks go out to my beta 'ScorpioSkies' - I seriously would have gone insane without her help with the writing & formatting on this chapter! She was SO amazing, helpful, and awesome... yes, I'm totally kissing butt, but she SO deserves it! You are beyond AWESOME, chickie! :-D
For anyone who doesn't know, I always try to post fic updates (and other fallout fun) on my Tumblr blog, under 'SoleSurvivorKat' (address also in my AO3 profile).
Chapter 26 is also written, we just need to edit it... but for now, I hope everyone enjoys this chapter - my last of 2016! WOOT! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
Arthur shifted a little in his bed, slowly waking up. He became aware of the weight on top of him, and a soft smile crossed his face. As he glanced down at Nora's sleeping form, she murmured quietly in her sleep and snuggled closer to him, clutching the fabric of his shirt in her fist. He moved the hand resting on the small of her back and brought it upwards to gently run his fingers over her scalp and through her silky hair. His other hand covered hers as he watched her in wonder.
He'd never slept so peacefully before as he did when she was in his arms. It was only the second night she'd ever spent with him, but he couldn't imagine sleeping without her by his side any more - even the thought of doing so caused a dull ache to occur in his chest. Gazing down at her, a flood of emotions washed over him. They felt so strong, he was almost overwhelmed.
He almost wished he could pause time, just to live in this moment forever. No Institute to worry about. No worries about attacks, enemies, or staggering responsibilities... just peace and quiet. Contentment. Just him and the woman he...
...the woman he...
'...The woman you what?' his brain asked him curiously.
He stared up at the ceiling, not quite sure how to respond. He took a deep breath, his pulse suddenly racing.
'...You knew this wasn't going to be easy,' his logical side reminded him. 'You're the Elder. Everything you do is watched and scrutinized - everything. If not by the Brotherhood here, then by the Brotherhood and the council of Elders in the West.'
'The council...', he thought, his heart sinking a little. 'What would they think of...'this'?'
They'd been pushing him to settle down, 'continue the Maxson name', and he couldn't keep using the Institute as an excuse. 'The battle will indeed be dangerous,' they had said, 'which is why you need an heir to continue the Maxson name, should the worst happen'.
Arthur sighed. 'They're not worried about me personally, so much as they're worried about what I represent, what I can do for them,' he thought bitterly.
Of course, Arthur couldn't give a care if they approved of his relationship with Nora or not - he knew how amazing she was, and if they couldn't see that, then they were just completely blind and senseless.
But... obviously things would be a lot easier if he were free to choose whoever he wanted to be with, without the council 'suggesting' women in case he had 'difficulty finding one himself'.
He sighed and held back a grumble. As if all of that wasn't taxing enough, now people were beginning to catch wind of his and Nora's relationship. ...Not that he'd thought it would remain a secret forever (he wasn't that naive), but the more people that found out, the bigger the risk to Nora - to both her safety and her reputation. He certainly didn't want the other members of the Brotherhood to think that she was getting some sort of special treatment, just because of his feelings for her.
And if someone outside the Brotherhood had already discovered their relationship... it was really only a matter of time before the truth came out completely. The only options were to either break things off, or accept the inevitable.
...And he'd be damned if he let anything or anyone take her away from him.
"...Arthur?"
He lowered his gaze as Nora softly addressed him. She was looking up at him, a concerned expression on her face. Her beautiful, soft, caring face.
"Is everything alright? You look... troubled."
She slid her hand out of his to gently cup his cheek, and he felt a muscle clench in his chest - confirming what he already suspected about his feelings for her. He forced a small smile.
"I'm fine, just... thinking."
She frowned, not liking the tight-sounding tone in his voice.
"Something's wrong. What is it? What can I do?"
He chuckled softly, touched by her immediate need to fix whatever was bothering him. He shook his head.
"I had a wonderful night's sleep, and awoke with a beautiful woman in my arms. At this moment, nothing is wrong. In fact... everything is very, very right."
She didn't look entirely convinced."...Arthur..."
He gently pulled her up towards him and placed a long, tender kiss on her lips. When he finally pulled back from her, he slowly ran his fingertips over the soft, creamy skin of her cheek.
"Better?" he asked. She pouted slightly.
"...That is totally cheating, and you know it."
He laughed softly and gave her another chaste kiss on her forehead.
Nora stood in the dining area getting her morning cup of coffee when she felt an enthusiastic pat on her shoulder.
" 'Ey, there she is! Feels like I haven't seen you for awhile!"
She turned and smiled when she saw Knight Womack grab a coffee mug from the counter and grin at her.
"Hey, Womack!" she greeted. "How's it been going?"
He shrugged as he filled his mug. "Oh you know, the usual - blasting muties away with Petris and Williams, hunting down ferals... speaking of which-" he glanced around and lowered his voice a bit, "-I'm trying to organize a little nighttime feral hunt - strictly off the books. Think you might be interested?"
Nora chuckled lightly. "I'd better not... I already got caught by Brooks, Danse, and Elder Maxson when I tried to sneak off of the Prydwen after recently healing from the Glowing Sea... I've been trying to stay on my 'best behavior' ever since, just in case."
Womack nodded in understanding. "I know Institute synths are one of our top priorities right now, but I don't really give a damn about 'em - these ghouls are disgusting, and we need to keep thinning them out before they infest the entire Commonwealth."
She felt slightly ruffled by the way he said that, but didn't let it show - she was sure he was just referring to feral ghouls, anyway.
...Pretty sure.
"Knight Taylor."
They both jumped as a deep voice boomed behind them. They turned to see Arthur striding purposefully towards Nora, a deep scowl set on his face. He glanced quickly at Womack and gave him a terse nod, then looked back at Nora.
"I need you to meet me by the vertibirds in ten minutes. There's some business regarding the Institute that needs your immediate attention. And Taylor -" his eyes flickered down to the mug in her hand and he grunted slightly. "-I know it may be difficult for you, but try not to keep me waiting this time."
Womack's eyebrows rose at the biting tone of his voice as her jaw dropped a little.
'What the he-'
She quickly realized what was happening and had to stop herself from reacting accordingly.
'He's... covering his tracks. He's up to something!'
She pursed her lips, trying to resist the smile threatening to emerge.
'All right Maxson, I'll play along...'
"May I at least finish my coffee, Elder?" she asked dryly, doing her best to frown.
Arthur narrowed his eyes, his scowl deepening. "I don't think I like your tone, Knight," he growled. "Watch yourself. Ten minutes."
With that, he turned on his heel and strode away. If anyone had been paying attention, they might have seen the slightest of smirks forming at the corner of his mouth as he left.
"Geez..." Womack murmured quietly, watching him go. "What crawled up his backside this morning?"
Nora held back a snort and worked to finish her coffee as quickly as she could.
She was outside in six minutes, trying not to look too enthusiastic as she headed for the vertibirds. Arthur was standing beside one, and turned when he saw her. Though he still wore a scowl on his face, it didn't reach his eyes - which almost seemed to twinkle at her.
"Knight," he greeted with a nod, his voice sounding gruff. He gestured towards the vertibird. "If you will."
She leaned forward to look at the empty cockpit, then looked back at him, confused. It took her a moment to understand.
"...You know how to fly one of these things?"
"...I'm a man of many talents." The corner of his mouth twitched.
Her eyes widened a little (to Arthur's amusement), and she hoped he missed the slight shiver that went through her (...which he did not).
Nora had no clue where they were going. As far as she could tell, they had flown in a northwestern direction. That was about all she knew. She hadn't done much exploring up in this area, so she couldn't really think of what might be up here. Arthur certainly hadn't given her any clues, just replied with a smug "You'll see," and a smirk on his face.
He landed the vertibird on a flat stretch of land and exited, waiting patiently for her to follow as well.
"Not too much further from here," he said succinctly, and started to walk forward.
Nora pouted slightly as she followed him, feeling a bit anxious. "You know Arthur... if you wanted to drag me out in the middle of nowhere and kill me, I'm sure there were much easier ways to do so."
He laughed softly, then seemed to remember himself as he shook his head and subtly put a finger to his lips.
Nora, catching his thought, was doubtful that even Deacon had the foresight to know that they were here (...wherever here was), but nodded and fell silent.
As they navigated across the desolate wasteland, she blinked, suddenly feeling like she'd been here before. True - most of the wasteland looked the same, but she still couldn't shake the feeling of deja vu.
A structure appeared on the horizon, and she squinted at it. It looked like... some kind of bunker.
As they got closer, her eyebrows rose, suddenly recognizing the surroundings. She and Danse had been here before - one of their earlier missions, in fact.
"Is that... Recon Bunker Theta?" she asked in surprise.
Arthur looked at her innocently. "It might be," he replied nonchalantly.
She fought to keep a straight face as they arrived at the door and Arthur fiddled with the terminal outside for a moment.
'Why you sneaky bastard,' Nora thought in amusement. 'No one would think to come out here looking for us. Even Deacon isn't that good.'
Her pulse sped up as he finished clicking away at the terminal and the door to the bunker popped open with a metallic creak. He turned to her once more, and the look on his face made her throat go dry. He stepped back to let her inside first.
"...Knight," he said softly, his voice sounding thicker.
She swallowed a growing lump in her throat and slowly walked forward.
"Elder," she purred as she passed by him, and smirked internally when she saw a muscle clench in his jaw.
She turned once inside and watched him enter, pulling the door closed behind him. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her rising blood pressure.
"...So."
Arthur started, looking just as anxious as she felt. He shifted a little uncomfortably, not quite sure where to begin.
"Knowing what we talked about last night," he began, "I know it's only a matter of time before you and I are... found out. By everyone, I mean." He slowly started walking towards her, causing Nora to swallow hard again. "I know we can't keep being secretive forever... the only alternative is for us to go our separate ways."
He stopped in front of her, then reached out and gently cupped her face in his large hands. Nora felt her skin tingling where he made contact with her.
"...I have absolutely no intention of doing that," he said, his voice taking on a husky tone as he stared into her eyes. "I just wanted... one last moment that was just for us. One last moment of true privacy, before the inevitable happens." One of his thumbs stroked her cheek, and she felt a pang in her chest as he drew a shaky breath. "...One last moment in which we didn't have to answer to anyone... just ourselves."
Her heart pounded in her chest, knowing she was falling harder and harder with every word he spoke.
"Arthur..." she whispered thickly.
He swallowed nervously and broke eye contact, looking downwards. It almost pained him to pull his hands away from her - and when Nora looked down, she noticed his hands were shaking a little. He unconsciously curled them into fists at his sides.
"I meant what I said before - I won't make you do anything you don't want to," he murmured. He forced himself to look up at her eyes again, his own pulse racing when he saw the expression on her face, something akin to... desire? But... maybe that was just wishful thinking on his part. He took a deep, shaky breath. "But... i-if you're willing... I-"
He never got to finish his thought, because at that moment she reached one hand up to the back of his head, slipping her free arm beneath his coat and around his waist. She pulled him tightly against her, and crushed his mouth against hers. He froze for a brief moment, then let out a sigh as he wrapped his arms back around her and returned her passionate kiss.
They tightened their embrace on each other as they deepened their kiss. Nora's hands began to wander, running across his chest and arms.
Arthur shivered at her touch, suddenly feeling like it wasn't enough... he wanted more, and the fact that no one was around to see or interrupt them this time only seemed to encourage his impulses.
He felt her tug at his coat and obliged, shrugging it from his shoulders and onto the floor where it fell with a soft thud. She drank in the sight of him in just his uniform, admiring the muscular curves of his body. He blushed under her intense gaze, then wrapped his arms back around her tightly and kissed her again. She whimpered softly, feeling electrified everywhere he touched her. She suddenly felt like there were too many layers between the two of them.
Her hands flew to the zipper of his flight suit, but she paused and pulled away to look at his eyes, silently asking permission. She shivered when she saw how his eyes had darkened with lust, his head tilting forward with the slightest of nods.
She swallowed hard, slowly pulling the zipper down to his waist, her breath quickening in anticipation. She could now see the soft blue glow of his holotags, and as she pushed his flight suit aside, she caught sight of the hard, chiseled muscles underneath.
'Oh God,' she thought, staring at his bare chest. It was... gorgeous, with a fine layer of soft, dark hair. She couldn't resist sliding her fingertips and palms over his pectorals and abs, feeling a small jolt of excitement when he let out a soft gasp at the contact.
His eyes slid shut and he fought to hold back the moan rising in his throat. Her touch set his skin aflame, and by the time he opened his eyes and reached for her own zipper they were both breathing heavily.
His hands shaking slightly, Arthur pulled the zipper down to her navel. It was taking all of his self-control to not just rip the damn suit off of her completely, but he wanted to enjoy his time with her as much as possible. He ground his teeth together as her holotags and bra became visible behind the uniform, covering her perfect, round breasts.
Nora began to grow anxious as he slowly undressed her. This was everything she wanted, and he was perfect - but she wasn't. Stretch marks still marred her belly from her pregnancy with Shaun, not to mention the multiple scars she had accumulated on her journey. Life in the wasteland certainly hadn't been kind to her body... so what if he didn't like what he saw?
Arthur laid her doubts to rest when he slowly pulled open her suit and ever-so-tenderly trailed his fingertips over the curve of her breasts, causing her breath to hitch in her throat. He reached up, his calloused hands warm as they slipped beneath her uniform, easing it away from her shoulders. She pulled off her Pip-Boy and freed her arms from the sleeves before returning the favor. She reached forwards, her hands caressing his bare chest again before she grasped his flight suit, pushed it off his shoulders, and rolled it down to his waist.
She stepped back and for a moment they stood there, silently drinking each other in. Then all at once they were locked in a passionate embrace, kissing each other hungrily.
Arthur raised his hand to her breast, gently cupping her through the satin material of her bra and squeezing with his fingers. Nora moaned softly, tightening her hold on him as her knees threatened to buckle beneath her. She felt his other arm slip around her waist, securely anchoring her to him.
He reluctantly broke their kiss, leaning his forehead against hers as they gasped for breath. She stared into his eyes before lowering her gaze, taking a moment to admire his bare chest and powerful arms. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.
'It may not be your 'first rodeo', but it is HIS,' she reminded herself. 'Take it easy... go slow...'
Going slow was the last thing she wanted right now - but if it was Arthur's first time, she wanted it to be as wonderful for him as she could possibly make it.
She felt an ache deep within her as she returned his gaze, lost in the hunger of his eyes. She cupped his face in her hands.
"...Bed," she rasped softly.
Arthur swallowed hard. With a small nod, he grasped the back of her thighs and pulled her up, her legs instinctively wrapping around his waist.
He carried her towards the bed, laying her gently down upon the sheets before kicking off his boots. He climbed on top of her, straddling her hips before turning around, one hand stroking down her leg towards her boot. As his fingers began working the laces loose, she studied him intently, noticing the old scars that marked his torso. She intended to run her hands over every inch of him before the day was through.
Once he had removed her boots he lay over her, leaning on his elbows so as not to crush her beneath him. His holotags dangled down from his neck, falling upon Nora's with a soft clink. He reached forward with one hand, gently removed the clip holding her hair up, and watched her golden tresses fall softly around her shoulders. When he brushed a stray lock away from her face, she closed her eyes and leaned into his hand with a soft sigh, placing a tender kiss against his palm.
He gazed at her in awe for a moment, then leaned forward and slowly trailed soft kisses across her skin, beginning with her cheek. He kissed down to the edge of her lips, then along her jaw before making his way down her neck. He took his time, occasionally pausing to brush his tongue across her skin.
Nora's breathing became heavy. She loved the feel of his beard brushing her skin and the way that he was building her up to slow torture.
He kissed along her collarbone, smiling when he felt her skin vibrate as she made a quiet noise of pleasure. He continued down, gently brushing aside her holotags and kissing her chest, pausing only when he reached the soft curves of her breasts. He watched, mesmerized, as they rose and fell in time with her breathing.
After a moment he leaned forward again, planting tender kisses between her breasts as he shifted more of his weight onto her. He slipped one arm around her back, raising his free hand to fondle her breast as he kissed the other.
She moaned and squirmed underneath him, yearning to feel more of his touch. Arthur seemed to have the same idea, because she felt him tugging gently on the back of her bra. It took her a minute to realize what he was doing - and when she did, she bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud.
"Arthur," she murmured, gently pushing her hands against him. He either thought she was calling his name in pleasure, or was too distracted to hear, because he didn't immediately respond. She began to shake with laughter and found it was getting harder to hold back.
"Arthur," she repeated firmly, pushing him a little harder.
He reluctantly pulled away to look at her, his brow furrowing in confusion.
'Oh steel,' his mind raced instantly, 'I've done something wrong and ruined the moment, or she's changed her mind and doesn't want this after all - doesn't want ME after all... now I've upset her and... and... is she... laughing? I... didn't think I was doing that poorly...'
His face reddened in embarrassment, and she quickly shook her head.
"Not you," she tried to explain through giggles. "You didn't do anything wrong, I was just trying tell you - it's... in the front, not the back."
Arthur blinked and looked down at her bra again, finally noticing the clasp in between her breasts. He glanced back up at her, a mixture of awe and confusion on his face.
"...They make those?" he asked incredulously.
His expression struck Nora as adorable, and a breathy laugh escaped before she could stop it. Even he couldn't quite suppress the small smile that threatened the corner of his lips.
"Well... they used to," she murmured. She reached up to undo the clasp, but his hands closed over hers.
"Please... let me?" he asked almost shyly, and she felt her face heat up as she nodded, withdrawing her hands.
His hands trembled slightly as he eased his fingers under the clasp. He swallowed hard, feeling more nervous - but also more excited - than he ever had in his life. He fumbled with it for a few moments, but then it came undone. He slowly eased the bra away, releasing her breasts from the fabric.
He leaned back, watching as she slipped her arms free of the straps before she tossed her bra away onto the floor.
As she lay back down, Arthur moved over her, his eyes burning with desire. Nora felt hot beneath his gaze, and as he began to caress her skin, her eyelids fluttered shut.
His thumbs brushed over her nipples and she gasped, biting her lip as she felt them stiffen in response. As his gentle touches became deeper strokes, she slipped her arms around him, pulling him closer.
He lowered his head, planting seductive kisses upon her breasts before taking one of her nipples into his mouth. As he began to suck, his tongue brushing against her sensitive skin, she arched her back, inadvertently grinding her hips against his.
"Ahh-A-Arthur..." she moaned, now only too aware of how hard he had become.
He groaned softly against her skin and she couldn't help but to grind against him again, reveling at the contact. He instinctively bucked his hips against her. He was panting, trying to stay in control of himself, but the sounds she made were definitely not helping.
She whimpered when she felt him pull away and opened her eyes, her breath catching when her green gaze met his blue. He lowered his smoldering gaze to where her uniform still hugged her waist, reaching towards it with hesitant fingers.
"I... want to see more of you, Nora," he breathed huskily. "...Please?"
She swallowed hard and nodded, raising her hips from the bed. He gently pulled the suit off of her legs before throwing it on the floor. She then proceeded to remove his uniform after a pause and slight nod from Arthur. She discarded his clothes by hers, leaving the two of them in their underwear.
He took a shaky breath, bracing himself on one arm as he leaned over her again. He gazed down at her for a couple seconds, taking in the sight of her beautiful body. Reaching down with his other hand, he slowly trailed his fingertips over her soft skin, starting at her cheek and working his way downward.
She squirmed under him, shivering as his touch left goosebumps upon her flesh. She watched his hand as he caressed her, running his fingers lovingly over her skin - imperfections, scars, and all. Her attention moved back up to his face, her pulse quickening at the captivated look in his eyes.
He hesitated, then reached towards her underwear, his fingers lightly brushing over the fabric between her legs.
Nora squeezed her eyes shut, her hands gripping the sheets as she bit back a moan.
'Please, not yet...'
She opened her eyes and reached out for him, one hand slipping through the soft hair across his chest and down his abs. Her other hand trailed across his back, her fingernails dragging lightly across his skin.
Arthur's eyes widened and he shivered, enjoying the feel of her hands on him. She was far from done, however. She moved both of her hands to his shoulder blades and dragged them down his back, digging her fingertips into his skin until she reached the curve of his hips. He grunted as she moved her palms down and around his thick thighs. A playful smile curved her lips as she rubbed him through his underwear.
He gasped, involuntarily thrusting against her palm as he felt her touch. As he bucked, his hand pressed between her legs, causing her to writhe and moan in ecstasy. His other hand moved to her head, his strong fingers tangling in her hair as he crushed his mouth against hers.
She responded with equal passion, wrapping her arms around his wide shoulders as they both fought against reaching their limits too soon.
After a few moments they broke their kiss, resting their foreheads against each other as they gasped for air.
"I'm... not going to last... much longer... like this," Arthur finally rasped, Nora nodding in return.
"...Me either..."
He drew a deep breath, releasing it slowly as he lowered his gaze. She felt his fingertips curl into the band of her underwear and his expression became nervous as his eyes returned to hers.
"...C-can I?" he asked uncertainly.
She nodded, lifting her hips off the bed as he slowly pulled her underwear away. He discarded it on the floor and gazed down at her.
Now that she lay completely bare beneath him, her insecurities returned with a vengeance. She began to fidget, glancing away as she attempted to cover her body, only to feel his hands close over hers.
"Don't," he pleaded softly. "You're... you're so beautiful, Nora." He gently pushed her hands away and leaned forward, placing tender kisses on top of her breasts, wanting her to feel as attractive as he found her to be.
She moaned quietly and moved her hands down, wanting him now more than ever. Clutching the top of his boxers, she slowly pushed them down over his hips and he removed them the rest of the way.
Her eyes roamed over him longingly, and it was Arthur's turn to feel a little self-conscious. She couldn't resist reaching down and gently stroking him, wishing the moment could last forever. His eyes fluttered closed for a moment as he groaned in pleasure.
"Ohhh... Nora..."
She whimpered softly at hearing her name from his lips, whispered with such passion. He reached his hand down, over her own, and helped guide himself into her. As he slowly began to push, they both gasped, lost in their joint ecstasy.
They both groaned when he was fully sheathed inside her and paused for a few seconds to catch their breath. Arthur leaned down to brush his lips against Nora's, his palms sliding over her warm body as she trailed her fingertips down his back.
When she felt ready, she began to move her hips, grinding against him gently. He grunted, pulling slightly out of her before thrusting forwards again, starting a slow rhythm.
She arched her back as she rolled her hips against him. Her head tilted back and she bit her lip to contain the small sounds of pleasure which escaped her. He stared down at her, mesmerized. As their eyes met, he cupped her cheek in his hand and leaned forward, trailing soft kisses down her neck.
She hooked her heels around the back of his legs, pulling him closer. The motion drew him deeper inside her, eliciting a low moan from them both. Increasing his pace, Arthur wore a faint smile as he watched the way Nora's breasts bounced slightly with each thrust.
"Ohhh... god, Arthur," she whimpered, almost at her peak. Her hands assumed a mind of their own, caressing as much of his body as she could reach.
Arthur pulled back slightly, panting as he gazed down at her.
Seeing this beautiful, amazing woman writhing in ecstasy beneath him, calling his name, wanting him as badly as he wanted her... it was almost too much for him to handle. The feeling was new, incredible, and he never wanted to lose it.
"Ahhh..."
As the pace quickened further, their moans and sounds of pleasure mingled, lost in passion. The thrusts came quicker - rougher and more erratic - as they moved their bodies against one another, writhing together in an almost-frenzied fervor. Nothing existed anymore. At that moment, the world faded away and all they knew was each other and what they were sharing.
Nora's fingertips dug into his back, gripping hard as she felt her muscles begin to clench.
"A-Arthur..." she panted, the feeling rising from deep within her. "I... I can't..."
His jaw tightened as his hand firmly gripped the back of her thigh, whilst the other moved between her legs to rub against her with his thumb. He groaned as she tightened around him.
She cried out beneath him, her back arching further as she squeezed her eyes shut. As the pleasure overcame her, she gripped him tightly, waves of heat rolling through her as white light exploded behind her vision.
Arthur gasped as he felt her tighten once again. Feeling his own release not far behind, his thrusts increased in intensity, growing more erratic.
"Nora..." he pleaded softly. "I... I'm..."
Her eyes held his attention as her heels held him in place. Her hand rose to his chest and she felt his heartbeat pulse with a steady rhythm. He calmed at her touch.
"It's... it's okay," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's safe. Please... trust me."
His brow creased in confusion for a moment but he stayed silent. He did trust her - with his life, in fact.
He nestled his head against her neck as he finally came with one last deep thrust - making a sound somewhere between a groan and an animalistic growl - and held her tightly as he shuddered against her. His body sank on top of hers, and they lay there, still entangled. They panted heavily as they caught their breath.
After a few seconds he rolled them over, pulling her onto his chest and holding her close. She snuggled against him and he lay there, content to hold her in his arms. For a few moments, all they could hear was the sounds of their heavy breathing as they came back down from their highs.
Nora was the first to recover, shaking her head slightly.
"You... fucking liar."
Arthur's eyes snapped open and he blinked, glancing down at her. "Hmmm?" he questioned, brow furrowed in confusion.
She looked back up at him, a hint of a mischievous smirk upon her lips.
"There's... no way that was your first time. I don't believe it for a second," she teased.
He stared at her for a moment as the words sank in, then slowly began to smile, his cheeks blushing. "I... I read," he mumbled.
It was her turn to blink and stare.
"...'You read'?" she repeated incredulously. "Read what?"
Arthur hesitated, pursing his lips thoughtfully. "...'Tumblers Today'," he replied with a wry smile. "Fascinating source of information."
Nora said nothing for a moment, then shook her head as a breathy laugh spilled out of her, Arthur's deep chuckles soon joining hers. When they had drifted into a comfortable silence, he brushed a stray lock of hair out of her eyes and cupped her cheek as he gazed at her intensely.
She gazed back at him, nestling her other cheek against his shoulder so that her face was a few inches from his. Gone was the lust in his eyes, but in its place... there was a look that made her pulse race, that made her feel hot and cold all over. What it meant she wasn't quite sure - but she didn't have to wait long to find out.
Arthur sighed softly as he looked into her eyes, his thumb brushing against her soft cheek as his heart swelled. The feeling of having her in his arms, bare-skinned and completely exposed to him, was indescribable. There was absolutely no doubt in his mind how he felt for this woman, and he didn't want to hold himself back anymore. He drew a deep breath and tried to steel himself, but getting lost in her eyes made the words just come tumbling out.
"I love you, Nora."
She froze for a moment, not daring to believe what she thought she had heard. She blinked a couple times, her lips parting in astonishment.
"Wh-what did you say?" she whispered.
Arthur leaned forward a little, touching his forehead to hers. "...I love you," he repeated tenderly. "I... I don't ever want to be apart from you. You make me happier than... than I ever thought I could be." He swallowed nervously and stroked her cheek again. "Please don't feel like you have to say it back," he added quickly. "You don't. But... I just couldn't go another day - another moment - without you knowing exactly how I feel."
Her eyes began to tear up, and his chest tightened as he immediately feared the worst.
'Oh God... she doesn't feel the same way... and now I've ruined things forever...'
She swallowed hard and didn't move for a second or two... then she reached her hand up and cupped his cheek.
"...I am so in love with you, Arthur," she breathed, feeling her heart pound inside her chest. She hadn't really admitted it to herself before now, but it was suddenly just so clear to her... as if it was something she'd always known, deep down.
Arthur gaped at her, his own eyes beginning to gloss over.
"You... you love me?" he stammered quietly, almost as if he was afraid to believe it. Nora nodded and smiled bashfully, a tear escaping from one of her eyes as Arthur tenderly brushed it away with his thumb.
"So very much," she murmured. He smiled shyly and closed the distance between them, kissing her deeply as he ran his fingers through her hair. She returned his kiss and sighed softly, feeling that for this one, brief moment... everything in her life was absolutely perfect. She knew she had many obligations and responsibilities - they both did. But for now - she had Arthur, and Arthur had her, and that was all either of them needed to know. Unbeknownst to the other, they both had the same wonderful, heartwarming thought in the back of their heads at the same time...
'...She loves me...'
'...He loves me...'
END NOTES:
Once again - Happy New Year! Hope everyone enjoyed reading this. I love writing for these two. ^.^
Feedback or comments, as always, are appreciated!