A/N: Hello, my lovlies!
Thank you once again for all your lovely reviews and to all who have followed or favorited my story. You guys have brought me up to nearly 1000 followers, which blows my mind.
This chapter gets a little steamy (well, more than a little, if I'm honest) and merits the M rating. Just letting you know :)
I hope you enjoy it. I know the Poppy and Bofur shippers will be very pleased with me.
As usual, I don't own anything but if I did, I'd have Richard Armitage in every one of his guises tending to my every need.
Chapter 28
Poppy's assessment of Bella and Thorin's relationship was both correct and incorrect at the same time.
They had grown close enough that Thorin didn't feel the need to seek any more courting advice from either Primula or Poppy but neither was there a definitive understanding between them, much to Thorin's frustration.
He wanted to ask Bella for her hand and seek a decision on their future, and where it lay, but he was also terrified to push too hard, lest she retreat back behind her defensive walls.
That Bella never said she loved him was a source of mild angst as well. He knew she did, it was in her eyes when she looked at him, but she hadn't said the words. He had told her at least half a dozen times, each time disappointed that she hadn't reciprocated but he couldn't force them from her lips, any more than he could force her to be his. He had to continue to be patient, as difficult as that was for him.
Underlying all their interactions was the undeniable, sexually-charged tension that thrummed between them whenever they were together. Each look, each touch, was fraught with repressed longings that they didn't act on. Bella, because she was afraid of the consequences and the decision she had to make and Thorin because he wouldn't act without her complete consent.
After their picnic, they had stuck to relatively chaste kisses, except for a couple of times when they had nearly lost all restraint, their bodies straining for completion before one or the other had pulled back, regathering their fragile self-control before they were completely swept away by their desire.
A self-control they were finding harder and harder to exercise each time they were together.
It seemed that the day of the spring party was upon them before anyone realised. The day was bright and warm, promising a pleasantly cool evening; a perfect night for merriment. Hobbiton and the surrounding villages hummed with excitement for the festivities to come.
In the week preceding the party, Bella had been busy baking and preparing her contribution towards the food for the night. To her delight, Thorin had spent a lot of time with her in the kitchen as she worked, happy to be her helper as she directed his tasks and accompanying her to the markets for supplies. Occasionally, some of the other dwarves would visit as well, but after Bella realised that the food seemed to disappear almost as fast as she made it, she had shooed them out of Bag End, all except Thorin, and invited them back for dinner so that she had a chance to hide her goods before they got there.
There were a lot of smiles and laughter between her and Thorin as they worked, Bella being the teacher and Thorin, her willing pupil. That this excited Thorin came as a surprise to him and it was while Bella was teaching him the secret to a good icing that all restraint between them was nearly lost.
Bella was demonstrating how to make a light, fluffy icing for a cake, her prim tone as she spoke making Thorin feel hot under the collar. He was having a fantasy of Bella using that tone of voice to order him to do her bidding in their bedroom when he was pulled back to the present by something cool on the tip of his nose. His glazed eyes took a moment to focus and realise that Bella had playfully planted a dollop of the icing on it.
"Are you even listening to me?" she questioned with a knowing smirk. He grinned back and wiped off the icing, licking it off his finger, watching as her eyes avidly followed the movement, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.
"Mmm, delicious," he purred in response, before reaching into the bowl and dipping his finger into it. "Have you tried it?" he asked, as he copied her action and smeared the icing on her cheek. Bella laughed and moved her arm to wipe it off but he grabbed her hand and moved closer. "Let me."
Bending down, he licked the icing off slowly, her sharp indrawn breath pleasing him. Instead of moving away, his lips caressed her satiny cheek as they travelled down to her mouth. "Mmm, even more delicious," he murmured as he licked her lips.
Bella immediately opened her mouth, a situation he took full advantage of as he proceeded to kiss her hungrily, his tongue savouring the taste of icing on her own. With a tiny mewl, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him even more firmly against her. Thorin reacted instantly, crushing her body to his as he ravaged her mouth.
The heat in the kitchen owed nothing to the fire in the oven. With no conscious thought, Bella ended up seated on edge of the table, Thorin standing between her legs as they kissed over and over again. His hands roamed feverishly over her back, her own running up and down his muscled chest, only covered by his shirt.
Thorin moved away from her mouth, ignoring her little groan of protest, and kissed his way down her throat, suckling on her pulse point, enjoying the way she squirmed against him as he did so.
Seemingly lost in his ardour as his lips reached the top her breast, his fingers preparing to pull down the material that obstructed him from the object of his desire, a faint glimmer of sanity made him pause. With the greatest difficulty, he lifted his head and looked into her eyes. "Are you sure?"
Bella's slight, but definite, hesitation was all the answer he needed, as unwanted as it was. With a last chaste kiss to her skin, he straightened up, pulling back so that there was a sliver of space between their bodies. As if awakening from a dream, they slowly disentangled their limbs as Thorin stepped back and helped her down from the table.
"I'll go back to the forge now," he rasped, his body still throbbing with want. "If I stay…"
She nodded. "I know. I'm sor…"
"Don't. You don't have to apologise. I promised I would stop if that's what you wanted," he reminded her. "I'll see you this evening," he said, giving her a last sweet kiss on her lips. She nodded at the reminder that the dwarves were coming for dinner and watched him leave, somewhat regretfully.
Now, she waited for Thorin to come to escort her down to the party, having dressed up in her festive best. She had only seen him in passing today as she delivered her food, the dwarves having been drafted into helping set up. Their height was seen as a boon by the organisers and there had been much merriment as Fili and Kili played around, climbing on each others' shoulders in order to hang banners and ribbons. Dwalin's strength was much admired as he hammered in stakes for the tents which would hold food and drink. Thorin and the others had helped lug barrels of ale and Old Toby that would be heartily consumed during the night while Ori happily recorded as much as he could in his book.
When the knock on her door came, Bella gave herself a last approving look before opening it with a welcoming smile.
"Beautiful, as always," said Thorin, bowing low in greeting. Giggling, Bella curtseyed in response before taking his arm.
"What a glorious night for the party," sighed Bella, hugging his arm and drawing a loving smile from his lips.
"It promises to be quite a feast," he remarked.
"There's certainly enough ale and wine to make it a loud one, at any rate," laughed Bella. "I think it might just end up being one of the best."
Bofur walked to the party with the other dwarves, minus Thorin, all of them dressed up in their best clothes. He had even brushed his hat so that it was free of any specks of dirt.
The princes were looking forward to dancing with lots of pretty hobbit lasses but were going to be very careful about kissing any of them. They didn't want a repeat of the incident with Master Bolger's daughter and there were going to be a lot of fathers there tonight. They were also determined to drag Ori away from his book for once and make him actually join in, despite his protests. If they could get Ori kissed by the end of the party, they would deem it a successful night.
Dwalin was very much looking forward to an evening of drinking, smoking and lots and lots of good food. Some of his hobbit friends from the Green Dragon had even challenged him to a drinking contest the previous night. Dwalin shook his head and smirked as he contemplated being the sole victor. Yes, it would be a very good night.
Bifur also looked forward to the night and being surrounded by all the little faunts who would beg him to show them his toys and to be taken for piggy-back rides around the field. He was never happier than when he was with the little ones. Somehow, with them, the language barrier just didn't seem an issue and they accepted him as he was.
Bofur, well, he was just looking forward to spending the evening with Poppy. When Thorin left to collect Bella, he wished he had had the courage to ask Poppy to accompany him to the party. He would practise the words in his head over and over, but he couldn't get them out and now he had to go alone and would have to look for her in the crowd.
Which would be no mean feat when they saw the amount of people in the party field. It was teeming with hobbits of all shapes and sizes, and the party had only just gotten started. By the time it was in full swing, it was going to be an absolute crush.
How in Arda was he going to find her in this? He wondered mournfully. He hadn't even had the wherewithal to suggest a meeting spot to her. Then again, why would she want to be monopolised by him all night? There were many young male hobbits who would no doubt enjoy the company of such a beautiful lass as Poppy.
The prospect of watching her be surrounded by other males, laughing and flirting, sent him searching for some ale to drown his sorrows, his eyes roving for her, nonetheless.
On one side of the field, near the large party tree, a band had been set up and were entertaining the crowd already gathered. As the night wore on, and the food and drink eagerly consumed, the dancing had started in earnest. The older hobbits sat around watching the youngsters dance, smoking their pipes or gossiping with friends and neighbours about which hobbit would get the courage to ask which hobbit lass to step out with him.
Bofur, who still had not found Poppy, watched the young dwarves' antics amongst the dancers. Ori was shuffling awkwardly, his face beet-red, as he danced with a young hobbit who giggled at his mistakes. Fili and Kili were eagerly teaching a group of lasses some dwarven dance steps, the ladies vying with each other to partner the princes. He caught sight of Thorin and Bella dancing on the edge of the dance area but lost them when the crowd shifted.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed a flash of red. Turning, he saw Poppy being led to the dance area by a handsome hobbit and his heart fell. Grabbing another ale from a passing hobbit, Bofur desultorily watched as the hobbit took Poppy in his arms and whirled her around to the beat of the music.
She looked exquisite, her deep red dress a perfect foil for her dark tresses and sun-kissed skin. The matching red ribbons in her hair twirled teasingly behind her as she moved. He couldn't see her green eyes in this light but he knew they would be sparkling with life and merriment and he wanted to march up there and claim her as his.
Instead, another hobbit grabbed Poppy and swung her around before pulling her in even closer than the first one. Seething with jealousy, Bofur didn't notice that he had broken the earthenware mug he held until he felt the cold liquid on his fingers.
With a curse, he tossed it aside and attempted to clean his hand, his eyes never leaving the sight of Poppy and her partner. If that upstart tried anything, Bofur wouldn't be able to stop himself from knocking him out.
As if she could feel his glare, Poppy twisted her head in his direction and peered through the crowd. She must have seen the corner of his hat because she pulled away from her partner, despite his protests, and sidled through the crowd until she was before him.
"Bofur! I've been looking for you all night!" she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around him.
Instead of hugging her back, as he would usually do, Bofur stepped back and glared at her. "Looks like you were having too much fun to notice whether I was here or not," he retorted belligerently.
Poppy's eyes widened in shock at the tone of his voice. "The dancing? My mother made me dance with Mungo and then Marroc just cut in."
"You didn't look too upset about it," replied Bofur, turning away but brought to a halt by her hand on his arm.
"Bofur, son of Findur, don't you walk away from me!" she demanded loudly before realising that they were the centre of attention.
Pulling on his arm, Poppy led Bofur through the partygoers and past the party tree. From there, she led him through a gate in the hedge before stopping at the edge of a field. She let him go and turned to him, her hands on her hips in irritation. "What is the matter with you? I was looking all over for you in the crush until my parents made me sit with the family to eat supper. I was going to continue looking when my mother practically threw me at Mungo. Why didn't you come and find me?"
Her green eyes were flashing with anger, her cheeks rosy and Bofur couldn't help thinking how much he wanted to grab her and kiss her senseless, almost making him forget about his jealousy. Almost.
"I was looking for you and then I see you having a ball on the dance floor. Laughing and flirting with him," he snapped.
"And what was I supposed to do? Cry, because I couldn't find you anywhere? None of this would have happened if you had asked me to go to the party with you," she retorted heatedly.
"You would have gone with me?" asked Bofur, all anger draining away.
Poppy looked at him and shook her head before murmuring, "stupid dwarf." Without warning, she took hold of his tunic and pulled him abruptly towards her and kissed him.
It took Bofur's brain a few moments to process the fact that Poppy, his beloved Poppy, was kissing him fiercely. Then it was like one of Gandalf's whizz poppers went off. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back, his heart almost bursting with joy.
They kissed for several minutes before their lips reluctantly parted but remained in each other's arms. They rested their foreheads together, their eyes telling each other what they had not been able to express previously.
"Stupid dwarf," she repeated affectionately. "I don't know how much more I was going to have to do to get you to kiss me."
"You…you want me?" asked Bofur dazedly.
"Of course I do! How many hints did you want? I am always practically throwing myself into your arms," huffed Poppy. "Thorin isn't the only one who's clueless when comes to females."
Bofur's face broke out into a huge grin before he swooped and kissed her ardently again. They were both breathless when they broke apart. "I love you, Poppy. I have since the moment I saw you but I was too much of a coward to tell you. I couldn't believe that someone like you would want a crusty, old dwarf like me," he admitted wryly.
Poppy caressed his face and beard, tracing the line of his lips. "I love you too, Bofur. And to me, you are perfect as you are."
"Marry me?" he asked before he had a chance to wake from this dream.
"Yes. Yes, I'd love to marry you, my Bofur," she replied joyfully.
She didn't get a chance to say anything else as her lips were occupied for the longest time after that.
A sensual tension seemed to hum between Thorin and Bella, which both were acutely aware of. Every time he would take her hand, or touch her, the energy between them fairly sizzled.
She kept her hand wrapped around his arm as they wandered through the party-goers, often being stopped for a chat or gossip. Bella noted the way Thorin was eyed over by many female hobbits and felt a possessive pride that she was the one on his arm. Even when they weren't touching, they stayed near each other as Thorin talked with the males and Bella had a giggle with the ladies. They paused to talk with Dwalin who had already started his drinking competition with his hobbit friends, scoffing at their insistence that a dwarf could not beat a hobbit when it came to drinking ale.
When they grew hungry, Thorin led them to the food tent and helped her pile her plate high with various treats. He carried the plates to a couple of spare seats while she held the ale and wine for their drinks. Bella was not intending to over imbibe but she did think she deserved a festive drink or two.
While they ate, their gazes would lock and they could feel their pulses race, Bella's cheeks blushing becomingly each time Thorin smiled at her. After finishing, Thorin took Bella's hand and led her towards the dancing where they caught sight of the boys.
Thorin sighed. "Those two will turn my hair completely grey," he lamented with a wry smile. "Kili had better behave himself tonight."
Bella laughed affectionately. "They are just having fun, Thorin. There are way too many fathers, uncles and brothers around for them to get into too much trouble."
"Fili and Kili are masters at finding trouble. You know this, Bella." They grinned at each other before looking back at the dancers. "Is…is that…Ori?" he asked incredulously.
Bella followed his gaze and spluttered with laughter when she caught sight of the shy young dwarf looking helplessly between two girls who were arguing over who was going to dance with him first. "Oh my! He looks like he'd rather be taking on Smaug again than be standing there," she choked through her giggles. Thorin, caught up in her mirth, joined her and they both stood there for ages, laughing at Ori's predicament.
Eventually, they somehow managed to regain their composure. "I sense the hands of my nephews are somewhat involved in Ori's dilemma," he commented drolly.
"I believe you are right, Thorin. Still, what could it hurt?" she concurred.
"It is good for him to get a taste of life outside of his books," stated Thorin.
They watched the dancing for while longer, Bella explaining what the dances meant. "This one that's starting is a fertility dance." Thorin's eyebrows lifted at that. "For a good harvest," she rushed to finish, blushing at what Thorin naturally assumed. "The other type…has its own dance, and only married or betrothed couples should dance to it."
Thorin smirked knowingly at her, his blue eyes gleaming with a mix of mirth and desire which made breathing somewhat difficult for Bella. "Would my lady like to join me in a dance?" he asked, his deep voice husky with suppressed longing.
Bella could only nod and soon found herself led by the hand to the edge of the crowd. The music changed and the other dancers paired up for the slower tempo, the females' arms on their partners' shoulders while they held the females' waists and began swinging around slowly.
Taking note, Thorin placed his hands on Bella's waist and drew her close, closer than strictly necessary. Bella's hands fluttered to his shoulders, his silky hair making her nerve endings tingle. "Do…do you know this dance?" she asked breathlessly.
"No, but I believe we can make it up as we go," he replied, his hands tightening imperceptibly.
The music, the party and their fellow dancers faded into the background as they moved, their bodies scandalously close. They didn't speak; their eyes conveying everything that needed to be said.
One of Thorin's hands crept around her back and pulled her into him, the dim light and the crowd effectively hiding their movements. Bella was close enough to feel his desire through the layers of their clothing and unconsciously rubbed her hips against him. His swift indrawn breath made her feel reckless and she did it again. She felt, more than heard, his low growl as his hand moved down to cup her backside so as to enable him to grind himself into her.
"Mahal, what you do to me," he murmured huskily.
His words brought her back to their surroundings. They were practically making love in public. She should have been ashamed but her body was aflame with desire, the few wines she had had with dinner making her feel brave. Wordlessly, she stepped back and took his hand. His eyes, heavy lidded with desire, looked at her intently, an unspoken question in them.
In answer, she led him through the throng, not stopping to acknowledge anyone, just needing to be away from here. Silently, they left the party and walked back to Bag End, their footsteps seeming to echo with their urgency.
With shaking hands, she unlocked the door and walked inside, Thorin at her heels. The door slammed behind her and in the next instant her body was pressed back into it, the heat from Thorin's body nearly scorching. His action gave her a moment's anxiety but the need coursing through her body was too great to pay it any heed.
His hands threaded through her hair, his fingers dislodging the ribbons so that it fell unbound about her shoulders. With a small groan, Thorin claimed her mouth, kissing her with a desperation he'd never felt before. Their tongues clashed as they strived to get even closer, his body deliciously crushing hers. Bella's hands had taken hold of Thorin's hair, clutching at it as if it was the only thing anchoring her to this world.
They were lost in the throes of their passion so it was naught but a relief when his hands skimmed down her body to the edge of her skirt and began working it up between their bodies. Bella moaned her approval when his fingers reached where she ached for him, and began rubbing her through her drawers, the material soon soaked with her desire. His mouth moved to suckle the pointy tip of her ear and she nearly climaxed right then and there, a small cry emitting from her mouth. Her hips bucked against his hand, wordlessly pleading for more. Nipping at her neck, he pushed down her drawers enough so that he could get his hand inside. He swallowed thickly as his fingers traced her lush flesh, soaked with her moisture and found her little pearl. If this was a dream, he prayed to Mahal to never wake up.
"More," she panted, one hand clutching the back of his tunic while the other made its way down to cup his raging erection, still entrapped by his clothes. In response, Thorin slipped one finger into her, a modicum of sanity reminding him that it had been a long time since they'd been together like this. When she wordlessly urged him on, he added another finger, closing his eyes as he imagined it was his manhood inside her.
By now, her frantic cries were driving him mad and when her little hand snaked down into his breeches to take his engorged member in it, he just about lost control. He bit down gently on the skin of her shoulder as he tried to stop himself spending in her hand as she caressed him. He was teetering dangerously on the edge.
"Bella?" he ground out. "Bella…are you…is this…what…oh…you really…want?" he panted, his eyes nearly rolling to the back of his head when she cupped his heavy balls and gently squeezed. "Please…tell me…now," he begged. "I…can't…"
"Yes," she breathed into his ear. "I need…you…inside me."
With a triumphant growl at her words, he captured her lips hungrily as his free hand pulled down her dress, freeing her breasts, puckered in their arousal, before joining its twin under her skirts. With one hard tug, he ripped her drawers down the middle so that the material hung limply around her ankles.
Bella gave a small gasp when those same hands lifted her up by her bottom, her back still pressed against the door, and he rubbed himself against her wetness, coating himself.
She was frantic for him by now so she angled her hips in an effort to get even closer, her lips sucking on Thorin's neck. When he finally sank into her, she couldn't stop the moan of relief and pleasure that was wrung from her. It mingled with his gasp and all movement stopped for a heartbeat, both of them savouring the sensation of being one again, after so long.
"Oh, Bella," he breathed into her hair, grinding his teeth to stop himself from climaxing as she gripped him tightly.
"Move," she demanded breathlessly.
"As my…queen…demands," he panted, withdrawing a little before pushing back in.
Bella's legs locked around his waist but she felt completely secure in his hold, the movement drawing him in even deeper.
Thorin tried to go slowly and gently but it had been too long, and he had been wanting her so desperately that he found it impossible. When she ground her hips into him, trying to have as much of him as she could, he gave an internal sigh of gratitude and promised that next time he would take all the time in the world to worship her properly.
Now… now he needed her just to survive.
The two were completely lost to their passion as they moved together, their harsh breathing the only sound in the hallway. Over and over, he ground into her, taking her higher and higher each time, until he was the only thing that existed in her world. She could feel her body tighten, as if an invisible string was being pulled tauter and tauter with every thrust.
When he lowered his head and took her nipple into his mouth and at the same time, gave a deep roll of his hips that caused a flood of new sensations, the string finally snapped.
Throwing her head back against the door, she let out a sensual wail as wave upon wave of ecstasy crashed over her, drowning her in erotic delight. Her body shuddered from so much pleasure, her face flushed a rosy pink.
The feel of her body, tightening around him as she reached her peak, was the catalyst for Thorin's own climax. Grinding himself as close as physically possible, he gave a hoarse cry as he spent himself inside her for seemingly endless moments, giving her all he was.
While the storm subsided, they remained pressed together against the door, their ragged breathing witness to what had just occurred.
Coming back to his senses a little, Thorin turned his head and rained soft kisses on her dewy skin before claiming her lips again, this time in utter love and devotion, rather than need and arousal.
"I love you," he whispered against her lips. "I love you, so much."
Bella kissed him back and tightened her arms around him, still lost in a sensual daze. He was still holding her up and she could feel him inside her. She wriggled a little and was surprised to feel him begin to harden again. Dwarves and their stamina.
"Keep that up, my love, and we'll stay against this door for the rest of the night," he joked, his eyes gleaming with renewed ardour.
"Then… I suggest…we…head to…my bed…chamber," she replied between kisses. "I think…something softer…than my…front door…would…be nice."
"Wonderful…idea."
To her dismay, he set her down, her body instantly cold from the lack of his, and pulled up his breeches over himself. With a sensual smile, he scooped her into his arms and walked towards her chamber, his eyes plastered on her exposed breasts.
"Oh, I have missed these," he murmured as he lowered his head to lick one taut nipple. "My treasures."
Bella couldn't help but giggle at his words. "Silly dwarf. They're nothing special."
Thorin just looked at her from under his brows. "Nothing special? Oh no, my Bella. Your bounteous breasts have enslaved me from the moment I saw you. I would gladly pay homage to them forever. In fact, I plan to start right now."
Elbowing his way into her room, he gently placed her on her bed and sat beside her. He reached out and stroked her hair, slightly damp from their previous activity before softly tracing his finger over her brow, moving over her nose to her lips, which parted in anticipation. He then continued downwards, over the skin of her throat and her collarbones before reaching the tops of her breasts, pushed up by the material of her dress and which were now rising and falling swiftly from her agitated breathing.
Seemingly lost in his own thoughts, he slowly rimmed each nipple before stroking them, drawing a soft gasp from her.
The first storm of lust having been slaked, Thorin kept his word and proceeded to worship her body. Slow, gentle movements, punctuated by kisses and sighs, went on for a long time as he disrobed her and himself.
For several moments, they just gazed at each other's naked bodies, admiring that which had been denied them for so long and noting the changes. Bella kissed each new scar, thanking the Valar for sparing his life and he gloried in her fuller figure that enticed him even more than before.
When they finally came together again, they savoured each and every sensation, prolonging their fulfillment as long as possible so that when the end came, it was like no other coupling they'd had before.
Afterwards, they clung to each other as their bodies cooled, overcome by the intensity of emotions they had experienced until they finally slumbered.
And it was if their bodies could not get enough of the other, for, several times during the night, they came together in ecstasy until the first pale rays of dawn shone through her window and their sated bodies succumbed to exhaustion and they slept, their limbs still entwined.
A/N: Well! I can't help envying Bella, just quietly...
