She ran her fingers through her hair, then brushed her teeth. She pulled a pair of panties and bra out of her back and then cursed under her breath.
A knock came at the door. "Forget something?" A teasing voice called to her.
Emilia opened the door. Magnus stood before her in jeans and a tank, holding one of her tanks and a knee-length skirt with a slit up the right side in his hand.
"You went in my suitcase?"
"In fairness, I only took what was on top. No digging, I promise."
She snagged them from his grasp. "Promise?"
He nodded, solemn.
"Thank you." She stepped to him, placing a quick kiss on his lips. "I'll be out in a minute."
After putting lotion all over and dressing, Emilia emerged from the steamy bathroom to the cool main area. Magnus lay on the sofa, nibbling a piece of chocolate.
"So what do you have planned for us today?"
"First," he said, rising from the sofa, "I'm going to brush my teeth and shave." He ran a hand over his chin, showing the very beginnings of scruff. "Then we'll have breakfast, go for a stroll, and go for a wine tasting at the castle."
He strode over to her. Reaching to tuck a section of her damp hair behind her ear, he asked, "How's that sound?"
"Lovely."
He smiled, then kissed her forehead. "Just give me a few minutes."
While Magnus was in the bathroom, Emilia quickly applied some makeup and dug her thongs out of her suitcase. She slipped them on just as Magnus emerged, running a hand through his hair.
"These curls are a bane sometimes," he grumbled.
She moved over to him, walking around behind him, placing a hand on his back as she came around to face him. "Yet you keep them."
Magnus shrugged, dropping his hand to her shoulder. "Laziness."
"They suit you," she said softly.
He raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Seriously?"
She nodded. "It's your hair, darling. You do what you want with it, but I like it like this."
"I forgot my leave-in," he mumbled.
Emilia smiled, then reached her other hand up to ruffle his curls. "Then use mine, silly." She moved her hands to his waist and turned him back toward the bathroom, then gave him a gentle nudge. "Go on."
"Thanks," he said over his shoulder.
"Just pay me back," she smiled.
"How?" He asked as he took her squeeze bottle from the counter and doused his hand in conditioner.
"I'll leave that up to you."
He ran his fingers through his locks, ruffling and combing as he went. "You may not want to make an offer like that."
She leaned against the doorframe, watching him with a smile. "Oh, I really think I do."
Finishing his comb through, Magnus washed his hands and dried them on the hand towel sitting on the counter. He turned to her. "Really?"
She nodded. He strolled past her, back into the main room and she turned to follow. He pulled on his shoes, then stuck his wallet and phone in his back pockets. Emilia went for her phone and Magnus reached over, taking her wrist. She looked up at him and he shook his head. She looked at him questioningly.
"Where were you planning to put that?"
"You know where," she chided playfully.
"Not today."
"Magnus," she sighed.
"Not today. No money, no cards, no phone in the bra. I'm not letting you out of my sight, so you don't need anything but yourself."
She pulled her hand away and plugged her phone in. "I'm still taking my ID."
She went to her bag, slipping it out of its holder in her wallet. Magnus came to her side and snatched it. "I'll keep it," he said, reaching back to take out his wallet.
"Seriously?"
He nodded as he slipped her ID in behind his. Emilia gave a small huff of frustration.
"Do you trust me?" He asked, slipping the wallet back in his pocket.
"Of course, but-"
"There's just one more thing."
She pursed her lips, glaring for a second before replying. "Ok, what?"
He leaned in close, his lips brushing her jawline before whispering, "Take off your knickers."
He pulled back, his gaze both commanding and sensual. She blinked several times, clenching her jaw once before relaxing. His gaze softened and a small smile emerged as she walked around him to the bathroom. She left the door open, but he stayed facing the main door as she reached up under her skirt and tugged her panties down. She stepped out of them and walked back to the main room. He looked over his shoulder to her. She held up the knickers with her index finger, then casually flung them toward the sofa. They landed in its corner as she walked back to face him.
"Satisfied?"
He grinned. "You will be."
He reached past her and opened the door, gesturing her into the hall.
"This is going to be a fun day," she said as they walked downstairs.
"Darling, I shall do my best," he replied, taking her hand in his and leading her out into the courtyard. "There's a cafe just down the road. Breakfast?"
"Yes, please."
They ate and walked through the city a bit before making their way back up to the castle. Though their manner was overall easy and relaxed, whenever Magnus' hand or fingers drifted to Emilia's legs for a brief touch, her nerves tingled with excitement and anticipation. A few times she'd glare at him, and he'd just smirk, or kiss the side of her head near her temple and chuckle softly. He was driving her wild with desire, in measured increments, and they both knew it.
The wine tasting took them into different areas of the castle from the previous day's tour, including entering the deep catacomb-like areas holding the wine barrels. The light drinking put Emilia a bit more at ease, and while they remained casual, the pair were constantly touching in some manner. As the guide led the small group to the massive wine casket, Magnus put an arm around Emilia's waist, resting it on her hip as his currently empty wine glass balanced between two of his fingers. As the guide continued talking, Emilia leaned her head against his chest, soothed by his steady breathing. He gave her a gentle squeeze before releasing her as the group broke again to move through the castle.
Once outside, the tour concluded, they walked hand in hand to the gardens again, not speaking, just enjoying companionable silence. They wandered down into a different section of the gardens, paved, railed pathways opening up in places to small green patches with large clustered trees or flower beds. Emilia let Magnus lead her, pausing only occasionally to look more carefully at a bank of flowers or the dangling leaves on branches. The tourists here were spotty at most, the early-afternoon drawing more people to shopping or eating than taking a stroll.
In a fairly secluded area with several large trees in a patch of green near the edge of the grounds, Magnus stopped, leaning against a tree. He looked up to the branches, their green canopy blocking most of the sun. Looking down at Emilia, a smile crept across his face, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"We are not climbing the tree."
Magnus flashed her a grin. "I wasn't thinking that."
"Then what?"
He brought a hand toward her face, fingers stroking her cheek. He lifted her chin, leaning down to meet her lips. His kiss was soft, plaintive. His hands moved to her waist, gently smoothing over her hips as she stepped closer. Parting from her, he said softly, "I want to taste you."
Emilia blushed, unmoving. Magnus sank to the ground, his back leaning against the trunk of the tree; his long legs stretched forward on the ground. One hand slid up her leg to her knee. Emilia glanced around, trying to ensure their seclusion. She stepped forward, her feet on either side of Magnus' right leg. His hand moved along her flesh where her skirt was slit. Emilia's heart pounded as she looked down at Magnus, enchanted as he slid his fingers higher, inching around under her skirt. When his finger brushed the top of her inner thigh, she inhaled sharply.
"Just a taste," he said, licking his lips as he shifted his fingers. He rubbed his first two fingers along her folds and Emilia felt her knees almost buckle. His other hand shot to her calf, steadying her.
"God, so wet," he breathed as one finger eased inside her entrance. His other finger brushed her clit. Emilia closed her eyes as she tried to steady her breathing. He teased her entrance for a moment, alternating working his finger inside a bit at a time, and rubbing and flicking her sensitive bud. When he finally removed his hand, Emilia moaned softly. Her eyes fluttering open she looked down. Magnus brought his fingers to his lips and sucked on them gently. His eyes closed briefly and he smiled as he brought his fingers out and licked the tips.
Shifting his gaze to her face, he moved the hand from her calf and held it up. She took it and he gave it a tug. She crouched down in front of him, their fingers entwining as he leaned forward and kissed her. She sucked his tongue into her mouth and he let out a groan of pleasure.
"Come sit, love," he murmured as he eased away from her lips. He slipped his hand from hers and patted the ground beside him. Emilia turned and stretched out, more laying than sitting, her head against his chest, her leg pressed against his. He slid an arm behind her, cradling her shoulders and lazily stroking her arm with his fingers. She traced her fingers along his leg and they stayed like this for a few moments, the breeze and the birds providing a soundtrack to their contentment. Emilia had closed her eyes, enjoying the serenity of just being with Magnus.
He kissed the top of her head, then nuzzled it with his nose. She smiled, giving his leg a soft, approving squeeze.
"Are you ready?" He whispered in her ear, his lips brushing it with his words.
She blinked her eyes open and tilted her head to look at him. The look on his face spoke of pure adoration, no pressure, barely a hint of lust.
She nodded. "Yeah. You?"
He kissed her nose before replying. "Absolutely. Food first?"
"Mmm," she smiled. "Maybe one more glass of wine?"
He started to stretch, his long limbs extending out, his chest pressing forward against her head. "There looked to be a nice cafe by that chocolaterie we passed yesterday. You remember?"
"Mmmhmm," she said, shifting forward and gathering herself up. She stood and held out her hand to him. He took it in his and kissed it before standing.
"Food and wine, then stop for a little treat?"
Emilia's fingers danced up his chest, each word punctuated by a soft poke. "Food, wine, chocolate, sex."
"Good date?" He smiled.
"The best," she returned, then tugged at his shirt. He bent down and kissed her, then swept her into his arms.
"Magnus," she laughed as he moved back toward the path. "What are you doing?"
"Just proving my virility, at least so far as strength goes."
"I know how strong you are," she teased.
He set her back down when they reached the path, grinning. "And I know how flexible you are."
She swatted him with her hand. "We were having a peaceful moment, you know."
"We'll have more," he countered before clasping her face in his hands and drawing her lips up to his. She stood on her tip toes, leaning into him as they kissed. "See," he smiled when they parted.
They clasped hands again and strolled back to the castle entrance to take the streetcar back down the hill.