Hello Lovelies! :) Today we will be venturing into "M" Land. I do hope you enjoy. If it's not your cup of tea (come on, really? Who doesn't love it?..tee hee) then feel free to skip it. I appreciate all of your wonderful reviews. They make me smile, and they most definitely keep me writing this story..which is becoming my longest ever ;) Happy Thanksgiving to all. Lots of love, Mona xoxo
Elsie sat in her sitting room, drinking her fourth glass of wine. She stared at the nearly empty bottle. Only moments earlier she had turned Beryl away at the door, claiming to be too busy to chat. She knew Beryl could tell something was wrong, but she pushed her away, not ready to talk of it yet. If she spoke the words aloud they would most certainly be true. Charles Carson does not love me, she thought at she drained her glass. Tears fell from her eyes as she stared into the fire. How could she continue on here at Downton? Would things ever be the same? If only they could go back to the way they were before. She was sure she could live the life of quiet and secret longing. She had done so for so many years. She curses the day she ever received that letter! She curses the day she ever met Ian Tavish! She curses the day she let Charles Carson into her heart!
...
Charles hurried down the staircase in hopes that she would still be awake in her sitting room. He had to see her. He could not spend another sleepless night without her knowing the truth. Without telling her just how very much he loved her and how he would do anything to make her happy. Anything to make her love him in return. He would stay here at Downton with her, he would cross the ocean with her, he would follow wherever she went, so long as they could be together. So long as she could finally be his wife, his love, his everything. He would grovel at her feet for the rest of their days if she would only forgive him for his sins. For overlooking her for so many long years. For comparing her to a woman that could never hold a candle to her kindness, warmth, beauty, and grace. For pushing her away and giving up on her. As he left the stairs and neared her room he could see the firelight dancing from beneath the door. His stomach lurched up into his throat in panic. This is it Charlie, he thought. This is your last chance. He didn't bother to knock, but opened the door quietly and stepped inside. Rather than finding his darling Elsie sitting at her desk reading, he was shocked to see her sprawled out on her stomach across her settee. A empty wine bottle laid on the floor, her hand dangling close by it. Her cheek pressed against the cushions, her mouth hung open slightly and he could hear a faint, soft snore pass her lips. "Oh, my darling." He said aloud as he gazed at her. "My beautiful girl."
Charles kneeled down next to her face. He let his fingers trail down her soft cheekbones, her delicate neck. His hands slowly traced her hairline, feeling the soft brown strands under his fingertips. "My love. My life." He whispered as he continued to softly caress her face. She stirred slightly at his touches, softly whimpering "Charles" as a tear slid from her under her eyelid. How could he have he hurt her so? How could she have brought that man into their home? They were both foolish and blind. He would not leave her here like this tonight. Yet he could not wake her in this state to discuss what they needed to. He went to her cupboard and pulled out her blanket, draping it gently across her body. He sat down on the floor next to the settee. He knew full well he would pay for it in the morning, but he would not leave her side. Charles curled himself to face her and he watched her sleep.
Elsie woke to the sounds of a steady snore. She went to move, but was stopped by a great weight across her lower back. She rolled to her side, her head fuzzy in the dimly lit sitting room. What had happened? She must have drifted off down here. She pushed the blanket down her and grabbed at the weight now across her hip. It was a arm! She pushed it away quickly and sat up, her head still dizzy from the wine and now quick movements.
"Elsie." Charles said softly. The light from the fireplace illuminating his profile as he sat on the floor, propped against the settee and leaning so close to her.
"What are you doing here?" She asked him just as quietly. The dim firelight giving her a shield from him. From him seeing her pain and heartache.
"I..I found you like this. I didn't want to leave you." He confessed shyly and sincerely. "And I didn't want to wake you in the state you were in." He added quietly, looking ashamed and hurt.
"I'm fine, Mr. Carson. I'll be fine." She insisted, though the crack in her voice told him otherwise. She pulled her arms around herself as she spoke, as if protecting her heart.
"But I'm not, Elsie..." He said leaning forward and taking her hands in his. "I am not fine at all." His own voice cracked and she could see his eyes glass over with tears. She was overwhelmed to see him in this broken state. Never had she seen her strong, stoic, man so shaken. "Her man" because that is who he was, who he would always be.
"Charles." She whispered as she brought her hand to his cheek. The need to touch him overpowering all her senses, she lay it gently against his face. He turned into her palm and gently placed a kiss on the soft flesh. He then looked back up into her eyes. In her eyes he saw everything in the world that mattered to him. She was his everything, she always had been.
He could hold back no longer. Looking into her eyes and holding tightly to her hand, he spoke the words he had always held in his heart. "I love you, Elsie. More than I have ever loved anyone or anything in this world. I don't want to hold back my heart from you any longer. I was a fool. We both were. And I was cruel to you... I... "He stopped briefly, his voice breaking as he brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it so gently, with such love and reverence, whispering his sweet words of love, his tears falling onto her delicate fingers. "I'm so sorry, my love...my life...my everything."
Elsie felt her heart fill with happiness as the words of love flowed from Charles' lips. "Oh Charles, my darling man." She said sliding herself off the settee and into his arms. She wrapped her delicate arms around his broad shoulders and held him so tightly she didn't think she would ever let him go. He responded in kind, his strong arms wrapping around her small waist crushing her body to his. They held each other in this loving embrace. Both knowing when they pulled back their lips would truly meet for the first time. Charles pulled back slowly, just as Elsie did the same, her arms staying around his neck. They stared into one another's eyes and Charles brought his hand to her face gently pushing her hair back from her cheek. His finger slid down her her smooth cheek, settling at her neck. His thumb caressed her across her chin, his eyes only leaving hers for a moment to gaze at the soft pink of her parted lips.
"I have always loved you, Elsie Hughes. Always." He confessed as he softly pressed his parted lips to hers. Their faces tilted just so as their lips touched, their breathes mingling together. Elsie's tongue slid across his lips inviting him to deepen the kiss. Offering her eager tongue and open mouth for him to taste, she ran her fingers through his hair and pressed his mouth tighter into his. Her eagerness burned through Charles and visions of the previous night danced through his mind. Elsie naked and writhing under her beautiful fingers, her lips moaning his name. Still on his knees he drew Elsie tighter to him, her legs spreading so she nearly straddled his lap. More than receptive, she ground herself into him as her lips and tongue continued dancing across his. Their passion was escalating rapidly as Charles' lips trailed down her neck. She moaned and panted, her body still moving so slowly and gently against his. Layers of clothes still separating this lovers dance. Charles fingers worked loose the buttons at her chest, his hands pausing to take the delicious weight of her breasts in his palms. "Beautiful. So beautiful," he whispered. Kneading them softly, his want growing stronger. His lips worshipping her chest, the tops of her full mounds as his hands pushed her dress open and down her arms. She could feel his length harden between her legs and she continued her grinding and riding. Pulling away slightly, her hands went to his chest, her shaking fingers struggling with his buttons of his shirt. She pulled it from his body, then drug her nails down the hair of his bare chest. "Mrs. Hughes..." He groaned against her neck. "Oh, Elsie. We shouldn't. Not here. Not like this. I want it to be perfect for you."
"We won't, darling." She whispered the lie, wanting him more than she ever wanted anything. Shifting her skirts up, she settled back on him, pressing herself even harder against him. "Oh, Charles." She moaned, as their open mouths met once again, their kiss hard and passionate. Full of heat and lust. Their tongues teasing and caressing as their bodies moved faster and harder against one another. Their hands feeling and caressing every inch of their bodies, every bare spot of skin. Charles hands ventured under her skirt and he pressed his fingers against her mound. He could feel her dampness through her knickers and he pressed his fingers hard against her, rubbing through the thin fabric. Elsie clung tighter to him, her fingers clawing into his back. She was sighing and panting, feeling the most glorious sensations as Charles rubbed against her most sensitive spot . "Mmmm.. yes..," she moaned. "Ohhh Charles!" She cried out as shook in his arms, her center throbbing and pulsating with pleasure.
Charles rubbed soothingly up and down her back. His beautiful woman. So passionate and eager. So wanton and lustful. He was completely mad for her. His throbbing member was still pushing tight against her as he shifted them and sat on his bottom, leaning them both against the settee, his knees too creaky to stay like that for much longer. "My darling." He said stroking her hair and face. "So gorgeous. So very beautiful. So passionate." He kissed her cheeks, still glowing from her release. He felt her hand trail across the front of his trousers. Her small hands rubbing up and down his long, hard, shaft. "Elsie." He groaned deeply. "You don't have to, love."
"But I want to Charles. I want to make you feel the way you make me feel." She whispered eagerly as she kissed his neck, her fingers were at his fastenings, opening his trousers. She reached inside his shorts and ran her fingers along his length. "Your so hard Charles, so smooth." She whispered as she wrapped her hand around him. "Does this feel good?" She purred innocently, her brogue thick with lust as she pulled down his shaft and back up.
Charles groaned in reply as his hips bucked up into her hand. "Yes. God, yes! Oh, Elsie. Just like that, love." He moaned as her drew her closer to him, kissing her swollen and pink lips. Her hand stroked him gently, squeezing tighter and moving faster as Charles kissed her neck and stroked her bottom. Charles moans and groans deepened, his body thrusting as he gave a deep grunt and his seed spilled onto Elsie's hand. He leaned back against the settee and drew Elsie up onto him , her body laying flush atop his as his hands stroked up and down her body. Elsie lavished kisses upon the bare skin of his chest. She lay her cheek down against his chest she could hear the steady beating of his heart. A heart that beat for her, she thought and smiled. Charles looked down to see Elsie's smiling face lying so perfectly against his bare chest. He trailed his fingers up and down her bare arms. "Sixpence for your thoughts, love?" He said in a soft sensual voice Elsie had only heard in her dreams before.
She picked up her head from his chest to look into his eyes. "I don't want to think, Charles. I just want to be. Lets us just enjoy this moment." She said softly, her luscious Scottish lilt warming him like a blanket.
He looked at her quizzically, and she bit her bottom lip. They way she always does when she's holding back. "I love you, Elsie Hughes. I love you." He said pulling her up to kiss her lips.
"I love you, Charles... I love you." She whispered as their lips met, pouring all her love and devotion into the sweet and passionate kiss.