After their late supper, Elizabeth and Ciel were seated across from each other in Elizabeth's bedroom, a chessboard placed between them. This was their third game and Elizabeth had already lost twice.
"How come you are so good at this,Ciel? I know you've been playing for a long time but I've been practicing too." Elizabeth furrowed her eyebrows, wondering which piece to move next.
"Practice." Ciel said as he waited. Sebastian stood nearby, watching his young master. His lip twerked in a smile as he looked at the way his young master looked at Elizabeth. That was love alright. But there was something more. For the first time in his life, Sebastian saw lust in Ciel's eyes.
Ciel caught Sebastian looking at him and with a frown on his face, he asked "What is it?"
Sebastian blinked once, brought out his thoughts. "Nothing at all master. Will you be requiring anything of me?"
Ciel narrowed his eye at him. What was his butler up to? Sebastian never left Ciel's side until he was already in his bed, ready to sleep, and yet that question sounded more like asking permission to withdraw.
Sebastian smiled back at Ciel, waiting for his master to say something.
"Lizzie, do you have a room prepared for me to sleep?" Ciel asked, breaking Elizabeth's concentration.
"Huh? Oh yes of course. I had Louie ready a room for you and another for Sebastian."
"Then I shall finish this game and retire to my room." Ciel said. Elizabeth was a little disappointed upon hearing that. She had wanted to spend a little more time with Ciel.
Ciel noticed the look on Elizabeth's face. "Sebastian, you may retire for the night. Lizzie here can show me to my room, can't you Lizzie?" Ciel said, focusing his eye on her.
Sebastian hid a wicked smile as he focused his attention on the blonde headed girl.
The odd request stunned Elizabeth for a moment but she replied with a broad smile. "Of course I can, Ciel. Sebastian, go find Louie, he should be in the kitchen. He will be able to help you find your room."
"Thank you for your concern and your hospitality madam. Young master, should you require my assistance, ring the bell. Have a splendid night master and mistress." With a deep bow, Sebastian straightened to leave.
Ciel watched Sebastian until the door shut.
Elizabeth was sitting there quietly watching Ciel. She was elated sure, but she couldn't help but wonder what it was that brought about this change in his attitude. She noticed the eyepatch that covered his right eye and for the millionth time wondered what that symbol was. Her research had led her nowhere and she was too much of a coward to ask Ciel herself, fearing she may offend him.
"Elizabeth, your move." Ciel was sitting back in his armchair, arms cross, resting under his chin as his elbows rested on the ledges of the chair.
"Right." Without thinking, Elizabeth made a move.
"Are you sure?" Ciel arched his brow at her.
"Yes." Elizabeth said and then with a scowl looked down at the chessboard again. She had made a big mistake and she watched as Ciel dragged his knight to corner her King. There was no place to move.
"Check mate." The game was over. Why did it have to be so soon? There wouldn't be a fourth game. "You lost your concentration there. Word of advice, Lizzie, in a real battlefield, a moment's hesitation or loss of concentration can result in a serious injury, or worse, death." Lizzie nodded silently. It was time for them to separate.
"I shall show you to your room then?" Elizabeth got up and was too busy straightening her dress to notice that Ciel hadn't moved.
He sat there silently watching his fiancé. Like him, she had grown. He knew she'd be just as beautiful as she was cute when they were children, but somehow, her beauty has transcended his expectations. Her long lashes brushed lightly across her cheek as she looked down and started assembling the pieces of the chessboard in their original position.
Unknowingly, Ciel reached out too and helped Elizabeth until there was a last piece and both of them reached towards it. Elizabeth got to it first and when she saw Ciel's hand, she hesitated, looking up into his eyes. As their eyes met, Ciel moved his hand and placed it upon Elizabeth's warm hand. Elizabeth shivered at the touch. Ciel noticed this and squeezed her hand.
Elizabeth dropped the piece on the chessboard and slowly, Ciel stood and pulled her towards him. Elizabeth's heart quickened at their sudden closeness. Sure they were close when they danced but this was different. Ciel had never willingly pulled Elizabeth this close to him.
Ciel looked down at her with his eye and noticed the blush spread across her face. "C-Ciel, aren't you tired?"
Ciel shook his head and asked, "Are you sleepy?" Elizabeth shook her head, she was far from it. The musky scent she picked up from her closeness to Ciel and the touch of his hand on hers awakened every sense in her.
"Good. Then let's dance." Ciel said and pulled Elizabeth as he adjusted his stance and put his other hand of the small of her back.
"But there is no music." Elizabeth said, looking around her unsurely then at Ciel.
"Does it matter?" He spoke the words softly and Elizabeth looked up at him as a shy smile appeared on her face.
"Of course not." Then the two continued to move, going through various steps of the waltz. Elizabeth was impressed, his various lessons with his tutor and his new height did wonders for him when they danced.
After some time passed, both of them stopped and looked at each other.
"This is nice." Ciel said and Elizabeth smiled.
"It is, thank you for coming Ciel." Elizabeth relaxed against Ciel, placing her head on Ciel's chest and listened to his heartbeat for the first time. Ciel stood there, awkwardly, unable to move. What should he do?
Instinctively, his arms came up and embraced her. Elizabeth, stunned at the sudden embrace, stood still as she took in the warmth his body radiated.
"Lizzie." Ciel's voice was raspy.
"Yes?" Elizabeth sighed happily as she brought her arms around him to hug him back. She loved being this close to him.
He didn't say anything and unwittingly, Elizabeth yawned.
"Oh my, how rude. Sorry Ciel." Elizabeth grew flustered as she realized she had become so relaxed in his arms that she had let her tiredness take her over.
"Ssshh." Ciel said as he gently pushed her away from him, but just enough to look at her face. She did look tired and Ciel's gaze softened as he looked into her emerald ones.
When had he become so attached to Elizabeth, he thought to himself. Everything he had done for her today was new and somewhat daring. It thrilled him to be like this, and yet he was nervous.
Ciel gripped Elizabeth's shoulder and used his other arm to spoon her into his arms.
"Oh! Ciel, what are you doing?" Elizabeth asked, surprised as she was hoisted into the air.
"Taking you to bed." Ciel said as Elizabeth's eyes grew wide.
"But I must show you to your room..." Her voice trailed off as Ciel looked down at her as he sat her on her bed. He leaned in slightly and pressed against her shoulder, causing her to lay on the bed. Ciel was now on top of her, his knees on either side of her slender frame as he held himself up using his arms.
Elizabeth too bewildered by the sudden change in events, just lay there staring up at her fiancé. A million questions ran through her mind but she voiced none and waited to see what Ciel would do next.
A lock of Elizabeth's golden, smooth hair had fallen across her face and Ciel reached out to push it aside with one of his hands. The touch of his finger brushing against her face sent shivers down her body and she shut her eyes, embarrassed.
"You look beautiful when you blush." Ciel whispered and her eyes shot open. She swallowed hard as she deliberated the words. Sure upon insistence, Ciel had called her cute and other pleasant things before but she knew that this was the first time he had ever complimented her so. It made her chest hurt and her breathing grew heavy as she tried to fight back her easy tears.
Before she could say anything, Ciel leaned in further. At first she thought he was going to kiss her, but no. Instead he placed his head on her chest.
Ciel listened carefully for his fiancée heartbeat, wanting to hear the sound that proved that this was real and prove that she was really there.
Thump. Thump. It was faster than he had expected but he knew why. He was having an effect on her physically. He could tell by the way she blushed and how her breath came raggedly. He looked up to see her swallow hard again. He noticed the beautiful porcelain skin of her collarbone and without a second that, he moved his head up to rest it on the cranny of her neck.
His lips brushed against her skin just slightly and the heat of it electrified him. He heard Elizabeth take a sharp breath and she turned her head away, exposing more skin.
'Is this the sign of an invitation?', Ciel thought.
He couldn't hold himself back anymore. He had been doing so for the past few years as he and Elizabeth grew up. With everything he had been through and with his secret, he thought it was too dangerous to get too close to her. But as of late, controlling his emotions and temptations had gotten harder. He found himself thinking about her more frequently and God he wanted her so bad.
Things changed once she discovered his mark. He had expected a frightened reaction, but no. Instead he had received a promise in return. That day, Ciel had completely and utterly given into his emotions and for the first time in his life, he had spoken his feelings aloud to himself. He loved her.