Chapter Seven – Fighting It.

Groggily Thom blinked his violet eyes open as he became accustomed to his bedroom which was brightened by the early morning sun streaming through his window. His hair shielding most of the view allowed him a period of gaining his mind back to reality until he felt a tickling sensation on his neck which made him shiver.

His brain went on high alert as he gazed down at the sight.

Emilie.

Somehow, during the middle of the night, she had discarded the pillow barrier and snuggled next to Thom with her head seeking the crook of his neck. Her breathing was soft and shallow as she was fully asleep, although her head moved slightly deeper into Thom's shoulder as if she wanted to play hide and seek. The gentle feeling was her hair brushing against his skin. He gasped quietly, closing his eyes, as his stomach plummeted down where his emotions were in a whirlpool.

He looked at Emilie's figure. Her short hair covered most of her face from his gazed but he noted a serene expression there and wished there and then that he could wake up to see such a beautiful picture every morning. He slapped himself mentally at the thought.

The long shirt that he had given her made her look natural lying in his bed and he could see her slim shoulders and long neck as t hung loosely off her frame. And it felt right, her nestling up against his side. She fitted perfectly and gave off this warmth and comfort that Thom had never felt before. It seemed that the world had stopped for them.

Thom was lost as he continued to gaze at Emilie. He relish being able to be this close and star at her without worrying if she could detect his underlining feeling of love and lust for her in his face. Ever so slowly his hand reached up to Emilie's face and tenderly pushed her auburn hair behind her delicate ears.

He smiled at the silkiness of her locks and the smoothness of her skin. He had been right last night at his queries…if only he could get an answer about the taste of her delicious mouth. And before registering the action of his hand on her chin and the downward movement of his head, he had captured Emilie's lips in a sweet, short kiss.

He pulled away suddenly at the sound of the gong chiming the hour of a new day and also due to the slight moan he heard when he kissed Emilie. He body went extremely still, as his heart raced up and his eyes were averted and terrified at looking at Emilie's to see any rejection there. Thom felt the tension in the air as the seconds passed like years.

For the love of the Goddess Thom you are a Black Mage! And you're scared of the reaction of your kiss. You have no backbone! Thom scowled at his own thoughts and the situation. Gingerly he turned around and found …that Emilie was still asleep but she had moved nearer, grasping his shirt tightly as if she did not want to let go.

Maybe she does love me…probably like a brother though…although I never had any of my sister burrowing themselves like this.

As he continued to pondered over Emilie's action and trying to decipher what it all meant, the lady in question gentle aroused herself from the land of dreams and yawned right into Thom's neck which made he squirm considerable.

"Would you please stop that", muttered Thom more to himself, "it's tickles."

"Sorry", said Emilie very apologetic as she sat up and surveyed his room.

Thom blanched as he turned to see a very dishevelled but still irresistible Emilie smile shyly up at him.

"How long have to been awake?" Thom demanded, frightened at the possible answer.

"And a good morning to you too", replied Emilie sleepily as she stretch out her arms above her head which made the long shirt slip further down her chest.

Thom forced himself to look at Emilie's face and not below her neck area as three of the shirt's buttons had come undone. "Sorry," he said, "good morning. Did you enjoy your sleep?"

"Yes", she answered, "your bed is so soft! In fact I might try and sneak in here regularly. I haven't had a restful night for a long time."

Thom was curious to why she wasn't getting enough sleep in her own rooms but Emilie was distracted as she realised the closeness of their bodies and blushed furiously.

"I guess that I actually moved the pillow then", murmuring more to herself than to Thom as she looked at the side she was suppose to sleep in.

"Pardon?" asked Thom.

Emilie's face looked slightly guilty as she glanced over at him while she bit her bottom lip before confessing. "Well, you see…mmm…you looked so comfortable and cosy at your side…and I had woken up feeling not well…and cold…and…and I thought that it would be nice…"

She trailed off with a blazing red face as she averted her emerald eyes from his.

Again action before thinking, Thom clasped his fingers around her chin and tugged it so that he cold see her face. "I don't mind being a pillow", he smirked, "but it's going to cost you."

Emilie raised her eyebrows in surprise and so was Thom inwardly. Stop flirting! Stop it right now! Stop…

The gazing contest stopped abruptly as a loud, persistent knock was being herald at Thom's door. As Thom cursed and got up to answer the summons, thinking of ways of enforcing no early meetings particularly if he had the undivided attention of Emilie of Queenscove. He straightened his clothes and brushed his hair with his fingers and before disappearing, smiled at Emilie, closing the door firmly behind him.

Swinging the down open, ready to release his tirade on manners, his words stopped in his throat as he faced his small mother. "Morning ma", he managed to choke out and stepped aside for her to enter.

His mother walked in with a small scowl. "What have you been up too?" as she spied the broken vase on the floor. Thom cursed inwardly at his forgetfulness and with a wave of his hand, fixed the vase while returning it to its rightful place. His mother's face darkened further.

"Tripped over coming back from the Priestess yearly gathering ma", answered Thom politely as he moved to the couch and reorganised the cushions.

"I heard from your father that you went with Emilie of Queenscove?" asked Alanna directly.

"Yes", replied Thom and wondering where this was leading to. He hoped that Emilie was too busy in the bedroom to listen. "She asked me to escort her as a friend."

"I have heard that you have become very close."

"She has helped me a lot in settling into the court social life. It is trickier than I would have thought. I don't think I would have survived without her guidance – I consider ourselves as good friends."

Some of the tension in his mother's body lifted as she slowly lowered herself into a chair near his table. "I'm glad."

"And why is that?" countered Thom, slightly annoyed at his ma's reaction.

Alanna glanced up at her oldest to see hostile in his eyes and hesitated for the first time in a long while. She did not want to start up a fight, especially today. "I want you to meet an old family friend tonight. He is bringing his daughter with him. I thought you two might get acquainted."

"I see", said Thom stiffly, "and what time should I arrive?"

"Eight. We are staying in the King's quarters."

"Fine. I'll be there. Is there anything else?" Thom was barely able to control his anger and frustration at his mother. How dare she set me up! I'm perfectly capable of finding a wife on my own! I can't believe she doesn't like Emilie. The Queenscove and our family have always been on good terms. Why doesn't she think Emilie is good enough for me?

"No," stated Alanna.

"If you don't mind ma, I have a lot of work to do today if I am to meet you for dinner."

When his mother had closed the door, Thom stomped back to his bedroom to find Emilie who was sitting on his made bed and dressed back into her red dress staring at his angry face.

"I suppose that you heard the conversation", demanded Thom.

"Yes," Emilie replied calmly as Thom started pacing his room, "I see our plan of pretending has finally caught us out."

But Thom did not registered the words. "I can't believe that she thinks that you are unsuitable! I mean she spelt it out very clearly that she would not like you if you were to become my wife…" He stopped his rambling as he heard what he had said and went red.

Emilie was shocked as well but recovered quickly and smiled mischievously at him as she stood up in front of him. "You thinking of taking me as your wife? I'm flattered Thom but I don't think you would survive with me. I mean all those balls, parties and boring gossiping that you despise…"

"I wouldn't mind any of it if you were there by my side," he interrupted her. He caught her eyes with his and stared deeply into them, trying to read her. Unconsciously he brought her closer as he wrapped his arms around her back. "What do you think?"

"I doomed to spending late nights in the library researching whatever you want", she replied very softly and then slowly smiled widely, her eyes sparkled with happiness.

"You mean you actually might love me?" enquired Thom.

"I have loved you since you came back Thom", stated Emilie with ease as Thom stood there gaping like a goldfish.

"Why didn't you tell me?" commanded Thom.

"Because you needed time to work out what you wanted," Emilie said wisely as her hand reached up and stroke one of Thom's cheeks. Thom felt like an idiot, as he remembered all the things that they had done together he always noted that Emilie would subject him to a assessing gaze. She was watching him for signs.

"And what was it that gave me away", asked Thom intrigued.

"The kiss this morning" blurted out Emilie while blushing.

Too embarrass to care anymore, Thom looked at Emilie astonished. "I thought I heard you moan!" he exclaimed as Emilie went as red as her dress and avoided his eyes. "So you like my kisses hmmm?"

Emilie nodded into his shoulder, unable to escape with his arms around her waist. Thom felt delighted at his good luck. She loves me! She loves ME!

"Emilie?" coaxing her to face him and when he had her attention, he swiftly captured her lips into a soft, passionate kiss. He moved one hand into her hair and pulled her further closer, deepening the kiss with all his emotions going in. He knew from her lightly grasping hands on his neck that she was buckling under his touch and he felt exhilaration coursing through his veins.

Unable to survive without air, Thom reluctantly let go of Emilie's swollen lips and grinned down at seeing her flush face. "You look beautiful," he said huskily as he bent below her ear and nibbled down her soft skin. Emilie gasped in surprised which made Thom smirked against her neck.

She's never been seduced, noted Thom as he continued his path, there's always a first time for everything. It pleased him immensely that Emilie was still innocent in certain ways because it made it for him that they were equal. As he reached the base of her neck, despite what he knew his body wanted to do, Thom stopped his loving attention and allowed Emilie to gain some reality on the situation.

Thom's eyes became fixated with the raising and falling of Emilie's corset until a voiced interrupted such thoughts. "I'm up here Thom not down there!"

Thom went red at being caught but none the less grinned at Emilie who still had a pouting mouth.

"I think we should keep this a secret for a while," suggested Emilie. "We need to work on your mother liking me and get to know one another better."

Although Thom was slightly disappointed at the sensible plan that Emilie had proposed, he did like the idea of sneaking around and keeping up a charade. "You want me to go tonight and pretend to be interested in this girl then?"

"If you could that would be wonderful" said Emilie.

"Do I get something in return?" murmured Thom lowering his voice to a deeper timber.

"Maybe."

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I wasn't intended for the proposal to happen so quickly but then it seemed right afterwards. It doesn't mean that's it is over. I still think there is another five chapters to write but I could be wrong. Anyway I would love it if you reviewed because then I'll have feed back to work on.