Title: Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
Author: Calito
Notes: hey everyone, sorry for the short delay but I finally have it for you, Chapter 2 of Fumbling Towards Ecstasy!! WOO-HOO!!
Anyways, so please enjoy and r&r!!
Thank you Castra for the review. I need to come up with a better Summary to this, that's probably why you thought it was going to be different but I had major writer's block that day. So enjoy this chapter!
Hey Terriah, thanks for reviewing this one. I'm glad you liked it. Now lets jus hope I update this one better than Without Honor or Humanity. lol
Hey amber-rules. Glad to see you on another one of my stories! Any who, I really don't like stories where they characters are involved because it just seems unreal to me; mostly because the author makes them stay with their girlfriend/boyfriend/whatever instead of their soul mate but I was thinking what if they were in a time period were divorce was not accepted so will just see what happens. (Wow…major run on sentence) Oh well, I hope you like this one!! Enjoy…
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in here except for my own characters. I do not own anything by Sarah Mclachlan or LJ Smith.
Premise: This story is set in the early 1900s where a divorce or a wife having an affair was looked down upon and considered a disgrace. Most young women of that time were brought up to believe that either your father or your husband's word was law. The wife was in charge of family and certain matters of the house only. They were breed to never to be dishonest to your husband or cheat on them even thought it was okay for them to do it. Some of this may not be true but hey this is my story and this is what I gathered from the all the movies I have seen from that time. So enjoy and please r&r.
Chapter 2
Under my Skin
The tight Corset was absolutely killing her sides. Emma placed a hand on the vanity to steady herself as she stood up. Her husband had bought her this dress straight from Paris and she did admit it was beautiful.
It was an emerald green with off the shoulder sleeves and black lacing at the neckline. It had a huge gathering of fabric in the back that reached all the way to the floor into a train. The color complimented her dark brown hair that was swept up in a loose bun. The only thing she disliked about it was that fact that she couldn't breath.
Steadying herself in her new heels, Emma admired her reflection in the full length mirror. Well, she thought, I do look beautiful as she traced her hands down the fabric. Her bear skin stood out against the emerald green, making Emma remember to put her long black gloves on. There, she thought, I'm finished.
"Emma," rang a loud voice through the quiet room.
"Yes, in here," she yelled back as she went to her vanity and put her black earrings on. Fernando walked in; he was wearing a very expensive suit and carrying a good sized jewelry box.
"There you are," he said as he walked up to Emma and looked at her dress. "You look very good," he said briskly.
"Thank you," Emma said as she looked at him through the mirror.
"Here, this is for you, I want you to wear it tonight," Fernando said as he handed her the jewelry box.
"What is it?" Emma asked as she held it in her hands.
"It's a necklace, and please be quick about it our guest will be arriving shortly." He said as he turned and walked out of the room.
Emma held the box in her hands as she watched her husband walk away; His behavior was so odd to her sometimes. Placing the box on her vanity, Emma sat down in the plush seat and opened it carefully. What was inside nearly took her breath away, a chocker, four inches thick of nothing but flawless diamonds.
Emma slowly brought her hand fourth and touched it gingerly. "Oh my," she mumbled as she traced the design of the necklace. Her husband was always surprising her with gifts, but nothing this expensive.
Carefully, pulling it out of the box, Emma draped it around her neck. The necklace was so heavy and cold on her bare skin, but the way it looked was just amazing. Snapping the back together, Emma admired herself in the mirror. The chocker completely covered her neck, from the collar bone to her chin. She titled her head so she could see the side, it was so beautiful.
Standing up, Emma positioned the necklace on her neck and did one more glance at the mirror. She looked like an American princess, if such a thing was possible.
Downstairs…
Emma walked into the main hall and was surprised to see already a few guest had arrived. She saw Fernando at the door greeting them as the butler took their coats. Oh my, she thought, she must have took to long getting ready. Quickening her pace, Emma took her place by her husband's side.
"Here she is, my lovely wife, Emma," said Fernando as he introduced her to their guest.
"So this is the lucky, girl," said a man who had to be in his late thirties. He took Emma's outstretched hand and kissed the black glove gently. Emma noticed that his eyes seemed to keep changing every time he moved, even his beauty was unnatural. Must be a European, she thought. They always had an odd look about them. Beside her, Fernando shifted back on fourth on each foot, as if nervous about something.
"The rest of the guests are in the living room," he gestured with his free hand. The vampire nodded and then winked at Emma. Emma's face instantly turned a bright red causing her to look down.
"Don't mind him," Fernando muttered into her ear, "he's not properly mannered."
Emma nodded lightly but continued to look at the floor, she was sure her cheeks were blazing right now. Fernando friends had some of the strangest ways of expressing themselves. Her thoughts instantly shifted to Edmond, with his liquid green eyes, jet black hair and…wait what was she thinking? She was standing right next to her husband fantasizing about him.
"Aahh…Edmond, Friend, how are you?" said Fernando as he lifted his hand up. Emma snapped her head up as the front door opened, revealing a slightly disheveled man. Taking off his trench coat and wiping the water from his face Edmond smiled. He reminded Emma of a wolf.
"Fernando," it rolled off his tongue, "fine weather isn't it?" he jokingly said as he shrugged the rest of the rain off of him.
Fernando chuckled beside Emma, "yes it is, probably sent to us by some unfavorable friends."
Edmond walked up to the couple and glanced at Emma, Emma once again felt her cheeks turn red and was confirmed when Edmond's smile grew.
"You remember Emma," Fernando said as he placed his hand around her waist.
"How could I forget," Edmond drawled as he gently lifted her hand and kissed it lightly.
It sent shivers through her body and she hoped that Fernando hadn't felt it.
Emma slowly slid her hand out of his and Edmonds eyebrows flew up ever so slightly. "So tell me Fernando, how is business," he asked while looking at Emma.
"Hectic, but this must wait until later to discuss," Said Fernando as his eyes shifted back to the door. Another couple had just walked in and it seemed to be someone very important by the way Fernando straightened up.
Edmond turned around and his wolf like smile returned, "I see the Redferns have arrived."
"Yes they have, and we have much to talk about," Fernando said glancing back at Edmond.
Emma watched the exchange between them, she wasn't sure what was going on but assumed it was just business. Her mother always told her to never involve herself in that affair; that was the man's business.
"Edmond, would you mind escorting Emma to the dining room? I need to get some business deals out of the way," said Fernando as he held out Emma's hand.
Emma had to keep herself from showing shock on her face. She was hoping this entire night she wouldn't be alone with him again but it seemed her wishes were futile.
Edmond glanced at Emma and smiled, "anything for a friend," he said as he gently took her hand and looped it around his.
Emma grudgingly let him lead her through the myriad of hallways as he husband left to talk to the Redferns, whoever they are.
"It's been awhile since I've last seen you, "Edmond whispered into her ear, sending shivers down her back.
"Please not again," Emma muttered as she tried to pull away from him but Edmond wouldn't let her. They had turned down about three different hallways and Emma was sure they weren't near the Dinning room.
"Not what again," he said as he looped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him.
His gloved hand lightly traced her chocker as a small chuckle came to his lips, "I see Fernando bought you another gift, funny how it covers up your whole neck."
"I'm sorry I don't see the humor in it," she said as she tried to pull out of his grasp. He was making her more and more nervous as he kept on leading her further into the house.
"Please take me to the dining room," she said as she kept on fighting him but she could tell this was just a game for him.
"Why do I make you nervous?" he asked casually.
"I…you…" Emma tried to find the words.
Edmond took this chance and gently pushed her towards the wall, pinning her arms to her side. Emma held her breath as Edmond leaned in closer to her.
"What makes you so nervous?" he whispered as his gloved hand lightly traced her lips. Emma squeezed her eyes shut but it wasn't doing any good; she could still feel his warm breath on her skin. The smell of his aftershave intoxicated her, but why did she feel this way? Why does she keep letting him do this to her? Emma slowly opened her eyes and was met with liquid green.
"Edmond," she was barely able to get out.
"Yes," he replied as he slowly started leaning in, his gazed fixed on her lips.
"We can't do this," even though inside she was waiting for his lips to be on hers.
A small smile showed on Edmond's face, "really?" he drawled. They were only breaths away from each other and Emma could feel something inside awakening. She closed her eyes again, but only this time in expectation. She could feel him almost on her this time…
"Emma, are you down here?" rang a female voice down the hallway.
Emma's eyes flew open and immediately pushed against Edmond. The two flew a part quicker than the eye could see, right in time for Scarlet to walk into the hallway. Emma still stood up against the wall and Edmond was on the other side. Scarlet didn't even look twice at the situation but just smiled when she saw the two of them.
"There you are Emma, oh and good evening Mr. Knightly," she said as she held out her hand to him.
Edmond smiled and kissed her hand lightly, "Good evening Mrs. Jones. Excuse me ladies, but I must be getting back to the party. Emma can you find your way to the dinning room with Mrs. Jones?" he said as he gazed at her, winking ever so slightly.
Emma just nodded, afraid her voice would betray her if she tried to speak.
"Well then good evening ladies," as he did a small nod with his head and walked off into the darkened hallway.
Scarlet watched him go, sighing every so slightly. "What a man," she mumbled.
Emma held a hand over her stomach trying to gather her strength again before her friend realized anything was a miss.
"So, Emma," said Scarlet as she turned around, her eyebrows arched ever so slightly. "What were you two doing?" as she placed her hands on her hips waiting for an answer.
Emma sucked in her breath at first, fear flooding her senses. "What…what ever do you mean?" she asked with her confidence slowly coming back to her.
Scarlet watched her. Emma could tell she suspected something but Emma wouldn't dare confirm it.
"Well," Scarlet paused, "Bernice is being pursued by so many men and she needs a proper chaperon and I…" she said going back to her normal behavior, "am just way to busy to do that."
"So you want me to watch her," Emma asked, a small smile playing at her lips.
"If it wouldn't be too much to ask," she said looping her arm through Emma's and dragging her down the hallway.
Emma listened, well tried to listen to what Scarlet was talking about, but her mind kept floating back to Edmond. His eyes, his lips everything about that man drove her absolutely crazy. She remembered how close he was to kissing her, god she couldn't believe it either. She wanted him to kiss her but she knew deep down inside that she shouldn't. She was married, she made a vow and she had to stick to it; if only he wasn't so handsome.
"Emma, have you even been listening to what I've been saying?" scarlet said snapping Emma out of her thoughts.
"Huh…I'm sorry what about Bernice?" she said trying to cover.
"I stopped talking about Bernice ages ago," Scarlet said eyeing her.
"I'm sorry Scarlet, it's just with this party I've had so much on my mind," Emma said trying to think up the best excuse she could.
Scarlet shrugged, "oh its all right, it was just me gossiping. Nothing your ears should be hearing anyways."
Emma smiled, "of course not."
The two girls made their way through the hallways and into the dinning room. Scarlet left Emma's side and went and joined martin where he was talking with some of Fernando's associates. Emma glanced around the room, making sure everything was together before she rang the bell to serve dinner. She could hear Fernando's thunderous voice in the other room, talking up a storm with someone.
Well, she thought looking around one more time; everything seems to be in order. The food was waiting in the kitchen to be served, the napkins and glasses were laid out, and all that was missing were the guest. Emma nodded to the Maid that was patiently standing next to the door were the guest were. The maid turned around and rang a small bell signaling the beginning of dinner.
The guest poured in, all fifty of them at once. Emma stood there, a smile plastered on her face as she showed the guest to their seats; half of them she knew half of them she didn't know. The dinning room was so large that she nearly ran out of breath just walking up and down it. Unconsciously she would look up when someone passed her, wondering if it was Edmond.
About twenty minutes had passed and the entire guests were finally seated except for a few; Emma looked down the table and saw her husband seated at the very end, signaling for her to come. Nice to know you waited, she thought as she started to move but a gentle hand on her arm made her turn around.
"Do you mind escorting me to my seat," said Edmond; a devilish smile playing at his lips.
Emma was a little shocked to say anything but managed to sputter out a yes, which seemed to amuse Edmond even more.
"Don't tell me I still make you nervous," he whispered in her ear as they walked to their seats.
Emma tried to keep a smile up but Edmond was not helping. "Not now," was all she was able to mutter before they reached their spots by Fernando.
"There you are," Fernando said as he stood up and pulled Emma's chair out for her. Sitting down Emma tired not to look at Edmond as he sat down on the other side of her; I'll kill who ever made the seating arrangements she thought.
"Well…" started Fernando as everyone situated in but Emma didn't hear him; all she could do was think about Edmond. She could sense him right next to her, she could smell him and she had no idea how she was going to get through this dinner.
"And to our guest of honors…Hunter Redfern," said Fernando as everybody started to clap, snapping Emma back to reality.
Emma brought her hands up and started clapping too; a slight nudge in her arm made her look over. Edmond was clapping but looking down at her through the corner of his eye; like he knew what she had been thinking. Straightening her back, Emma ignored him.
The rest of the dinner went by smoothly, Emma made sure she played her best wife act to the fullest and tried not to look over at Edmond as much as possible. Though, it was especially hard when he would run his hand over hers underneath the table.
At the end of the dinner, the guest slowly started to say their good byes and leave. Emma painfully stood by the doors, wishing them a safe trip home until her feet where about to kill her.
"I'll be back," she whispered to Fernando who had been standing next to her.
He nodded; too engrossed in his own conversation to ask where she was going. Emma held a hand to her head as she made her way down the long hallways, she really whished her bedroom was much closer because it felt like she was about to collapse.
Placing a hand on the wall, Emma took a moment to catch her breath, the corsets were really painful.
"Emma," said a voice from the dark. Turning around Emma was surprised to see Edmond leaning up against the wall across from her. He was so close but she didn't even hear him approach.
"Edmond…" she whispered.
She knew what was coming, she knew that it was wrong but something inside her wanted it so bad and before she could move Edmond had crossed the room and was in front of her. He wrapped an arm around her waist and in matter of seconds his lips were on hers. His other hand was intertwined in her hair; hers were wrapped around his neck securely and in the midst of it all Emma didn't even realize that her vision had faded to a soft pink…..
To be continued…..