Title: The Nearness of You
Author: soft lite
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author's note: This is the promised sequel to "I've Grown Accustomed." The song, "The Nearness of You" is by Ned Washington and Hoagy Carmichael.
The Nearness of You
Minerva had recognized the sound of his stride and felt his hands on her hands and face – she had struggled to move, speak, open her eyes – give any hint that she had heard every word.
While she was concerned that he would be caught, she couldn't help enjoying the feel of his hands caressing hers, and she was glad that he stayed long after speaking. She imagined she could feel his eyes on her, and this along with his fingers stroking hers were reassuring and relaxing.
When that sensation of being watched disappeared, she struggled even harder to open her eyes, and at last, despite a heaviness and stickiness, she succeeded in pulling her eyelids apart. There he sat, possibly asleep, the moon shining in the window behind him, making his hair gleam.
Weakly Minerva whispered, "It's not the pale moon that excites me." Albus had almost immediately opened his eyes and tightened his grip on her hand. She now saw the sparkle in his eyes join the glint off his glasses and diffuse glow of his beard and hair. "That thrills and delights me." Now Albus was smiling unabashedly at her. "Oh, no." She couldn't help grinning back at him as she explained, "It's just the nearness of you."
She watched Albus, never taking his eyes off her, lift her hand to his lips and kiss it. She could feel herself blushing and thought she might pass out from the excitement. "It isn't your sweet conversation that brings this sensation." She felt herself shiver as he rubbed the back of her hand against his cheek. "Oh, no." Her eyes widened as he kissed her palm and wrist. "It's just the nearness of you."
Smiling into his eyes, Minerva thought she could be happy doing just that forever. But then he gently drew her into a hug and she wrapped her arms around him, savoring the tickle of his beard on her neck and nose and ears. "When you're in my arms and I feel you so close to me." She pulled away just far enough to look into his eyes. "All my wildest dreams come true."
Her smile grew as she saw his eyes focus on her lips and she tightened her arms around him as his mouth met hers and they shared their first kiss, which was full of passion and promise. When their lips parted, she continued to stroke the short hairs at the nape of his neck. "I need no soft lights to enchant me." He interrupted her with another kiss before she could finish her thought, but she didn't mind at all – she had waited decades to kiss him. "If you'll only grant me the right to hold you ever so tight." She felt his arms tighten around her as hers did around him. "And to feel in the night the nearness of you."
Author's note: This is the promised sequel to "I've Grown Accustomed." The song, "The Nearness of You" is by Ned Washington and Hoagy Carmichael.
The Nearness of You
Minerva had recognized the sound of his stride and felt his hands on her hands and face – she had struggled to move, speak, open her eyes – give any hint that she had heard every word.
While she was concerned that he would be caught, she couldn't help enjoying the feel of his hands caressing hers, and she was glad that he stayed long after speaking. She imagined she could feel his eyes on her, and this along with his fingers stroking hers were reassuring and relaxing.
When that sensation of being watched disappeared, she struggled even harder to open her eyes, and at last, despite a heaviness and stickiness, she succeeded in pulling her eyelids apart. There he sat, possibly asleep, the moon shining in the window behind him, making his hair gleam.
Weakly Minerva whispered, "It's not the pale moon that excites me." Albus had almost immediately opened his eyes and tightened his grip on her hand. She now saw the sparkle in his eyes join the glint off his glasses and diffuse glow of his beard and hair. "That thrills and delights me." Now Albus was smiling unabashedly at her. "Oh, no." She couldn't help grinning back at him as she explained, "It's just the nearness of you."
She watched Albus, never taking his eyes off her, lift her hand to his lips and kiss it. She could feel herself blushing and thought she might pass out from the excitement. "It isn't your sweet conversation that brings this sensation." She felt herself shiver as he rubbed the back of her hand against his cheek. "Oh, no." Her eyes widened as he kissed her palm and wrist. "It's just the nearness of you."
Smiling into his eyes, Minerva thought she could be happy doing just that forever. But then he gently drew her into a hug and she wrapped her arms around him, savoring the tickle of his beard on her neck and nose and ears. "When you're in my arms and I feel you so close to me." She pulled away just far enough to look into his eyes. "All my wildest dreams come true."
Her smile grew as she saw his eyes focus on her lips and she tightened her arms around him as his mouth met hers and they shared their first kiss, which was full of passion and promise. When their lips parted, she continued to stroke the short hairs at the nape of his neck. "I need no soft lights to enchant me." He interrupted her with another kiss before she could finish her thought, but she didn't mind at all – she had waited decades to kiss him. "If you'll only grant me the right to hold you ever so tight." She felt his arms tighten around her as hers did around him. "And to feel in the night the nearness of you."