Just a short chapter tonight, loves! But I'm actually surprised I've managed anything with the turkey coma I'm in :). Thanks so much for the reviews, my sweets! I love them all, even when they say "Stop! You are killing me!" Haha. Happy Thanksgiving and I hope you enjoy this chapter :) Mona xoxo
They lay silent in the dark of her sitting room, Elsie still draped across Charles' body. Their hands still caressing and holding one another. The dim firelight dancing across the bare skin of her arms, his chest. Elsie felt as if she was in another time, another place. Charles was overcome by the intensity of their love and passion, but trying his hardest to keep his mind from racing. He tried not think, to only enjoy the moment they were in. To bask in the absolute, all consuming, love he had for her. He always knew she would be his ultimate undoing, the only thing in this world that could break down all his senses and cause him to lose control. Even with Alice, he had the sense to not go this far. But he had never wanted her like he did Elsie. He hadn't spent twenty years of sleepless or dream filled nights imagining her skin and curves. The way she would look and sound as she writhed underneath him. All his hopes and dreams could not have prepared him for the way he felt when she took him in her hands, a lustful siren, yet so sweet and innocent. He should be ashamed he let it get that far, but he was not. Nothing shared between them could ever be wrong or sinful, because this love between them was more real and pure to him than anything could be. He felt like he'd waited forever to be in this moment, right where he was, his love in his arms. He knew he would never be able to let her go. He hoped she would never want him to. He would hold her forever. Give her everything he had, and take nothing from her but her love.
Elsie lay on him, listening to the steady beat of his heart. She tried to take in this moment. This perfect moment of love and connection. She pushed back her bitter thoughts of the hurt he put her through only hours ago today. She didn't know exactly what caused him to break, to finally come to her, to finally confess his love and longing. They had so much to discuss, but it really was lovely coming together in this way. After so many years of secret longing and desire. Decades of being deprived their mutual need to touch and love one another physically. She never wanted to let him go. Never wanted to leave his warm embrace, be without the feeling of his skin against hers. She had so many questions and they had so little time before the sun would be coming up and Ivy would be down in the kitchens. Getting caught out like this would serve neither of them any good, no matter how well the family thought of them both.
"Charles?" She finally spoke, breaking the silence of their mutual thought. Thinking his name still sounded lovely coming across her lips after being so formal with each other for so long.
"Yes, Elsie." He answered back, smiling at the way she spoke his name so sweetly.
"Why.. Why now? What happened?" She asked softly as she slid off him to see his face. She sat curled next to him, still in his arms.
"What do you mean, what happened? He answered deep voice husky from lack of sleep and the burning desire that still stirred in him. He gazed at her, unable to answer the question, bewitched by her eyes, lips, skin. "You're so beautiful." He said slowly dragging the back of his fingertips down her cheek. "It seems like I've waited a lifetime to be able to say those words to you. Do you know how absolutely stunning you are?" Elsie blushed at his words and looked down. He tilted her chin back up to look at him. "You are the most precious and lovely woman I have ever laid eyes on. Your stunning beauty and elegance has kept me awake at nights for nearly twenty years. You never change, only grow more perfect to me with every single day that passes. How I have longed to taste your lips, feel your skin, hold you in my arms."
Elsie melted under his gaze, his loving words. She knew he was a romantic at heart. Knew that underneath that tough and stern exterior held the heart of a poet, a gentle and kind man full of love and passion. "Charles." She said blushing in embarrassment at this new level of intimacy between them. She turned her face from him. "There's no need for any of that, you silly man." She tried to use her best housekeeper voice.
He pulled her back to him and looked into her eyes once again. Her eyes slowly filled with tears of happiness, and he kissed them away. Peppering her face with soft kisses. "There is, love. And I will spend the rest of my days telling you this, and showing you how much I truly adore you."
She smiled broadly, unable to contain the sheer joy inside her. This really was happening. They were finally here after so many long, lonely years. So many years of pushing it all deep down inside. So strong and overwhelming now, she wasn't sure if she could ever hide these feelings again. "Ohh, Charles. I never though we'd get here." She whispered her confession against his lips. He pulled back to see her face as she spoke to him. "Though I've never wanted anything more in my whole life. I have loved you so long now I cannot remember when my heart began to do so." She stroked her fingers down his still bare chest, her Scottish lilt soft and inviting. "And I've desired you in this way since the first moment I laid eyes upon you. I don't think I'll ever want you to put your shirt back on again." She kissed his strong shoulder then neck, snuggling her face into his neck and breathing in his delicious scent. They held each other for moments longer before reality set in upon them both. Neither wanting to break this spell upon them and separate. Elsie spoke first.
"I think we need to get up to our rooms." She said sadly, still not moving from his embrace. "Ivy will be 'round soon."
"You are right. I just don't want to let you go. Perhaps if we both went to your room." Charles said hesitantly. "Then I could hold you awhile longer."
Elsie sighed in his arms. "You know we cannot. If we were ever found out.." She stopped and sighed again. How were they to ever do this. They had so many things to discuss about their future. How were they going to endeavor on this new understanding between them?
"I know. I know. I just don't want to let you go." He said quietly. "I'm afraid if I do...If we part now and this ends... I'm afraid you will change your mind on me, Elsie."
The words came out so honestly she knew them to be true. He was still as scared as she. Blissfully and completely happy for the first time in her life, but scared senseless as what was to come. "I promise I will never stop loving you, Charles. No matter what happens, you will always have my heart." She said as she brought her lips to his in a passionate kiss, reassuring him of her adoration and devotion.