Mild M smut warnng at the very end...
Wow! Having a very busy few days over here! Between the shopping, parties, and preparations...I am beat! Christmas has officially kicked my butt! I hope you are enjoying your holidays, and I wish you a very Merry Christmas. Love to you all, Mona xoxo
They ate their dinner of a hearty stew and freshly baked scones covered in a generous amount of cheese. Both were famished from their day, and Charles was very pleased to see Elsie eating so heartily. He smiled as she tore the scone apart and dipped it into her stew. Every single action she made, being completely adorable and fascinating to him. She drank steadily at her wine glass, gazing at him over the rim. She smiled happily and he enjoyed this small piece of heaven he was offered. His love for her so overwhelmed him he couldn't imagine how he would possibly endure not having her at his side, or in his bed, for the next few weeks. She was wrapped in the sheet and sitting against the headboard. Her knees pulled up and her stew bowl perched in her lap. Her long, messy, curls hung about her shoulders and her eyes were wide and happy. He had never seen her look so lovely. Not even when she first came to Downton. The smile she wore now could light up the heavens at night.
After dinner they found themselves once again curled into each other's arms. "Charles?" Elsie said softly, the r in his name rolling in her thick, sleepy, brogue. She wrapped her arm tighter around him and snuggled deeper into his embrace.
"Yes, Elsie." His deep voice rumbled through his chest, vibrating her cheek as it lay upon him.
"We really haven't talked much since we've been here." Elsie said, slightly tentative about raising issues that could become problems for them.
"Yes, well we have kept ourselves busy. Have we not?" Charles teased lightly, stroking his fingers through her hair as it cascaded down her back.
Elsie smiled against his chest. "And it's been absolutely perfect, love." She paused momentarily before adding. "It's just that... Do you realize the banns will be read in the morning? We will not even be there, Charles."
"I think it will be alright." Charles stated plainly, before teasing her. "Unless of course you have a secret husband I'm not aware of."
"But that's just it, Charles." Elsie responded quietly.
Charles sat up against the headboard abruptly, knocking Elsie from his chest in the process. "That's just what?" Charles spit out frantically.
Elsie sat up and held the white sheets against her torso. Looking at Charles' shocked face she burst out into fits of laughter. "Charles Carson! That is not how I meant it!" She said between loud giggles, tears falling from her eyes. She laid her hand upon his chest lovingly. "I meant, we will no longer be a secret. Everyone will know of our intent to wed."
"And you do not think they would have already heard it from Thomas, Beryl, or Anna?" Charles chuckled and pulled her into his arms. "Come now, you cannot honestly believe the whole household hadn't been informed by that very evening?"
"I suppose you are right. It's just. Now that they now about us...well, what in heavens will they think when we return after two nights away? Oh, Charles. I'm afraid we didn't think this through properly." Elsie's voice began to go up a pitch. "How will I look my maids in the eye? How can I tell them not to behave in this way, when I myself have done so? Am I hypocrite Charles?"
Charles pulled her up on his chest, turning her to face him. "You are the most honorable woman I have ever known. What we have is true and honest. My dear, we will be married in just three weeks time. I will not wait any longer. I will not have you feeling sullen and guilty by this. Do you understand that you are everything to me love?"
"I do Charles. I do." Elsie kissed him softly on the lips, hoping she hadn't wounded his heart. "You are everything to me." She parted her mouth against his and traced his lips with her tongue. He moaned and parted his in response, matching her delicious teasing with his own. She ran her hands up around his head, pulling him even deeper into her kiss. Before he was lost to her divine attentions, he rolled them both over. Hovering over Elsie, and gazing deeply into her eyes.
"I want to retire." The words were out of him before he even knew he spoke them.
"Charles!" Elsie gasped, completely shocked by his revelation. "Are you certain? Where did this come from?" Charles rolled off her and back against the headboard. He sighed and rubbed his hand across his forehead and eyes. He didn't respond to her questioning and his fingers went to squeeze the bridge of his nose. He would not look at her. "Charles?" Elsie asked softly. "Why?"
He let out another long sigh. "I do not know." He lied, not sure how to put his want into words.
"Charles, please?" Elsie whispered imploringly.
"Because Elsie!" He said rather harshly. "I'm not sure if I can do it anymore!" He stopped himself and rubbed at his eyes again, softening as he looked at her face, so full of confusion. "I'm sorry, so sorry love. What I'm trying, and failing to say, is that I want you and you alone. I am not willing to share you or my time left with you. I don't want our life to be contained to a shared room for a handful of hours a night. I want this!" He said gesturing between and around them. "I want you all to myself. I want to be the master of my own life. Well, I at least want you to be the master of our lives." He smiled and leaned forward to kiss her. "I just want a life with you. A real life, where I can kiss you in our halls. Hold you close upon our settee. Hold your hand at our dinner table. Make love to you anywhere I please. Is it wrong? Am I a terribly ungrateful and selfish, old man?"
Tears had formed in Elsie's eyes and began to slowly trickle down her cheeks. "Oh Charles!" Elsie sobbed and fell forward into his arms. "That is all I ever wanted. I just never dreamed you would want to leave your home and family."
Charles took her upper arms and pulled her back from him. "You, Elsie Carson, are my family. You are my home."
"Oh Charles. I do so love to hear that name upon your lips." Elsie's sweet smile captured his heart, and Charles pulled her in tightly to him.
"Come here, Mrs. Carson. My Mrs. Carson. My gorgeous darling." He said adoringly, placing kisses along her jawline and down her neck. "Elsie I'm blissfully happy we're here. Not just in this room, but in this very moment. I'm so deeply in love with you. I've always wanted you. I also knew, the moment I let myself really love you, there would be no going back. I am completely yours, my darling girl. I will follow you to the ends of the earth, obeying your every whim and command." He nipped gently at the spot behind her ear and Elsie felt chills race down her spine.
"My every whim and command?" Elsie giggled brightly as she let the sheet drop and climbed over him, happily straddling his lap. She could feel his hardness beneath her, and rocked her hips against him teasingly. Charles watched her breasts swaying in front of him, reaching up with both hands to cup them. His thumbs brushed gently across her nipples. "Charles.. Promise me it always be like this?" Elsie said softly as she continued her torturous grinding.
"I promise, love." Charles softly kissed her lips. "I promise to love you, cherish you, and be the most attentive and adoring husband ever. We do have a lot of time to make up for. When I think of all those wasted years.."
"Shhhh." Elsie pressed her fingers to his lips. "No regrets love. Remember? Only now." And she leaned into him, pressing her breasts firmly to his chest as she kissed and nibbled on his waiting lips.
Tortured by Elsie's delicious movements, Charles grabbed her hips in his large hands and tried to maneuver her over his hard and throbbing erection. Elsie stayed in place, slowly rocking and teasing, as she smiled playfully down at him. "Wicked little minx!" Charles teased back. "Two can play at this game." He smirked at her before sitting up and flipping her onto her back under him. He stayed on all fours, hovering over her like an animal would its prey. Their teasing had taken on a desperate and lust filled fire.
"So big and strong, aren't you my man?" Elsie's deep brogue purred up at him as she ran he hands along his solid muscular arms. She then drug her nails sharply down his chest and stomach until she reached her goal, moaning softly. "So very big and strong."
Reviews are always appreciated...and make me very happy :) xo