Here it is guys! I'm happy to have not made you wait too long. Cliffhangers are a killer! ;) I hope you like it! I love my reviewers! You have stuck by me so loyally, and I appreciate it more than I can say :). This is my longest fic yet and I'm deciding whether to wrap it up soon, or see them as a married couple... Hmmm. What do you think? It may be time for a new fic.. Thanks so much, Mona xoxo
Charles stopped in his tracks when he saw his Elsie with Ian Tavish. She wouldn't have gone to him. Certainly not now, not after everything they had been through. She did not have a cruel bone in her body. She loved him. A hot angry flush burned through Charles as he picked up his pace towards Elsie and Tavish. As he approached he could see that Elsie was speaking to the man as tears ran down her face. His rage bubbled like an active volcano. Never in his life had he felt such a fury. A painful, burning, hatred for another human. As Charles moved in closer he could hear Elsie pleading with Tavish to leave her be. Charles stormed towards the man, and noticing his presence, Tavish turned to Charles. "Ahhh. Mr. Carson." He said looking him up and down smugly. "Looks like once again you've caused grief for our beautiful Elsie."
"Mr. Tavish!" Elsie said sternly. "Just go! Please, just leave us be!"
"Oh now, darling. Don't be so coy now that your Butler is here." Ian said, slurring his words. Charles could tell the man was obviously intoxicated. And in the early hours, no less. Charles looked down upon him with an air of superiority.
"Don't you dare speak to her!" Charles growled moving in closer to the man and grabbing him by the lapels. His deep voice took on a throaty growl that Elsie had never heard before. "I know what you've done you filthy excuse for a man! If you ever lay a hand on her, it will be the last time you do anything. Do you understand?" Charles released the mans coat and shoved him back forcefully. Charles' fists tightened at his sides and he clenched his teeth so hard he was certain they would shatter.
Tavish would not give in so easily. He chuckled at Charles and smoothed his coat down." I didn't do anything she didn't enjoy receiving. Isn't that right, love?" He said glancing to Elsie and smirking. He boldly reached out to stroke Elsie's face and Charles moved so quickly Elsie hardly knew what was happening. In one swift movement Charles grabbed her, pulled her tightly to him and then pushed her safely behind him. She heard a loud crack and looked around Charles to find Ian curled up on the cobblestone holding his face in his hands. "You will never speak to her again!" Charles barked, shaking with anger. "If I so much as hear you've looked in her direction...I will find you...and you will be sorry." Tavish drug himself off the ground holding his bleeding nose in his hand. He scanned the square looking for an audience to find no one around. Without a word, he slumped off in defeat. Leaving Charles worried this would not be the last they'd see of the man.
Charles turned back to Elsie and gently took her face in his hands, looking into her soft blue eyes. "I'm so sorry love." He whispered, kissing the tears from her cheeks. "I love you so much. Elsie, you are everything to me. When I first stumbled upon you with him... I... I.."
"Shhhh Charles. It's alright, my darling man." Elsie said softly, while stroking his face and taking his battered hand in hers. She kissed the forming bruises on his knuckles. "My big, strong, handsome, man." She whispered as she continued her kisses and speaking with a calming lilt she knew would sooth him. "I've never seen you like that Charles. Well I suppose once, when Thomas and our William got into a fight. Do you remember me heading to my sitting room straight after? I had to Charles. I couldn't trust myself around you after that. So strong, so manly. That handsome curl coming down across your forehead." She said sliding her hand up his arm.
"Mrs. Hughes!" Charles said feigning shock. "I would have never guessed..." He added deeply, his eyes darkening with lust. "If I did, I would have followed right after you and.."
"And what, Mr. Carson? What would you have done to me?" Elsie purred up at him as she stroked his chest.
"What would you like me to have done to you?" Charles whispered into her ear as he bent to kiss her neck.
"Mmmm. Ohh yes, Charles." Elsie moaned.
Charles pulled back abruptly and grabbed her hand in his. "Elsie Hughes. We need to get to Ripon." And with that he took her arm in his and nearly dragged her to the train station.
...
After they purchased their tickets and boarded the midmorning train to Ripon, Elsie and Charles settled into their second class car. Charles was very happy to see the seats were nearly empty. He pulled Elsie in close to him and bent to kiss along her ear and neck. "There is something special I would like us to do in Ripon."
"Charles please." Elsie whispered as he teased her neck. "The only thing I want is to be alone with you." She pulled back from him to look desperately into his eyes. "Charles, will you please take me somewhere? Can we get a room? I need you so badly. I want you so badly." She whispered as she leaned over and drug her nails up the inside of his thigh. She raked them gently towards his now growing member.
"Elsie." Charles hissed as he felt himself react under her touch. He reached around her neck and pulled her lips to his. Pushing hard against her mouth and licking against the crease, parting her lips as the daring kiss between them grew more heated.
"Ahem!" A loud noise and clearing of the throat by the ticket collector, quickly brought them back to their senses. The small older gentleman neatly dressed in his blue uniform, walked towards them.
"Pardon me." Charles offered embarrassedly, not making eye contact.
"Nothing wrong with showing the lovely Misses a little affection sir, but might I suggest a private cabin next time." The old man said smiling.
Elsie giggled at him. "Thank you for the advice, kind sir." She said cheerily.
"Not at all, my dear. Always at the assistance of a lovely lady." He tipped his hat to her and winked as he kept on slowly shuffling down the hall.
Charles wrapped his arm around Elsie's shoulder and pulled her tight to his side, smiling down at his beautiful woman. "How many men am I going to have to beat off you today?"
Elsie giggled and laid her head on his chest. Her hand trailed patterns over his shirt. "Now about that room, Charles?"
Charles kissed the top of her head, whispering into her hair. "And just what did you think the special something I had planned was?"
...
They stepped off the train in Ripon and headed towards town. Charles knew exactly the place he would like to go. It was a bit out of the way, but even in Ripon he was a well known man. Running a great house like Downton did not offer a lot of of anonymity to him. Though his thought face may not be so recognizable at any of the Inns he was thinking of. Why would an Inn keeper ever have seen him before? He blushed as he realized it was still so early in the day to be looking for a room. Surely the keep would know exactly what they wanted it for. And then, when the left in the evening, it would be more than obvious. He wished they had a reason to stay over night. But that was asking too much, and the rumors they would come home to would certainly cause too big a stir in the household, both upstairs and down. Charles realized Elsie had yet to say a word since they stepped off the train. She just clung tightly to his arm and kept her pace with his.
"Are you sure you want to do this, my love." Charles asked her as they walked on. He was more than certain it was what he wanted. It would be sinful, but nothing he ever did with gorgeous woman could ever be wrong. He wanted to see every inch of her naked body. Run his hands along every curve and dip. Memorize every freckle and scar. He longed to know her inside and out. For there to be nothing separating them, only their love and passion between them.
"Do you have to ask, Charles?" Elsie said exasperatedly. "My god! I would have had you on that train if I could have." She stopped and turned to him, running her hands up his chest and around his neck. She pulled him down to her lips and whispered in between soft kisses. "I want you Charles.. I want all of you... I want you inside me so badly I can hardly think straight.."
Charles kissed her hungrily before pulling back and giving her his sexy half smile. "If we don't find a room soon, you can have me right here in this street!"
A determined Elsie tugged at his hand and nearly drug him towards the nearest Inn. They both looked up at the sign. "The White Horse it is, Charles." Elsie said confidently as she drug him through the door.
They approached the counter, and a blushing Charles asked for their best room. The man behind the counter smiled and handed Charles a key to their best room. "Your lovely wife may enjoy the private bath. It is newly renovated, with a large tub. A good soak is always relaxing." He said boldly, smiling at Elsie. Charles grabbed the key from his hand with a snort and put his arm possessively around Elsie. My God, was every man they ran into going to make advances towards her? His chest swelled with pride at being her man. He would take on every single one of them if it meant he could hold this precious woman in his arms for just a moment.
Elsie shyly smiled up at him as they approached their door. Charles' heart filled with such a love he felt as if it would burst. Before turning the key in the lock, he brought one hand to her cheek. He spoke the words he often found it so hard to find. "Oh, my love. I have waited a lifetime for this moment with you. It has always been you Elsie Hughes. I have never loved another as I do you. You are my light, my breath, my sun and moon. Though you haven't always known, you have held my heart in your hands since the moment I laid eyes upon you. You are still the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen. If only you could see how you have filled my soul. You are as much a part of me as I am myself. My love is so strong that I ache for you when we are parted, and drown in you when we are near. I am yours Elsie. Always."
Tears fell slowly down her cheeks as Charles so openly declared his complete and utter love and devotion to her. The fiery heat and lust burning within her, turning into something even more real and desperate. It was a need to be one with the man who consumed her so absolutely. Her heart was pounding in her chest and her breathing was short and shallow. "Charles..." Was all she managed as her tears fell and her lips found his. His words had filled her heart with such love and joy. She pressed into him, wanting to show him with her body just how much she needed and loved him. "Charles.." She whimpered against his lips. "I love you...I love you..."
TBC... :)