He felt like the luckiest man in the world as he poured the hot water in the teapot, before carrying it across to the tray that was already prepared with two cups on it. Lifting the tray off the side, Florian carried it out of the kitchen before walking up the staircase and approaching the master bedroom. Pushing the door open with his foot, Florian silently entered the room to see her fast asleep in the middle of the bed, the sheet covering her body while her loose curls covered her face. She really was beautiful. Resting the tray on the bedside table, Florian sat down on the edge of the bed before glancing down at her again, noticing the small smile that was covering her face as she continued to sleep. He was amazed that she hadn't been disturbed when he'd slid out of the bed ten minutes ago, especially seeing that he had woken up that morning to her curled around him. Reaching across, he slowly brushed the dark curls away from her face before leaning down to gently press a kiss to her lips, practically feeling her smile grow against his lips as she began to wake up.
"Good morning," he whispered as he moved away from her, watching as she blinked for a moment before sitting up and holding the sheet to her chest. "I made you tea," he blurted out, amusement covering her face as he nodded and quickly began to prepare her a cup while she watched in silence. Bringing the cup to her moments later, Florian smiled as she accepted the drink and stared at him for a moment in complete amazement. It had been five years since she had woken up in bed to find someone else there and she could not remember a time when Roger had ever prepared her a cup of tea and brought it to her before she was awake. He had been gone most mornings. she thought to herself, hating that her mind returned to those thoughts when she was so happy to be where she currently was.
"Good morning," she finally responded as Florian finished preparing his own cup of tea and relaxed back against the headboard, smiling when she moved closer to him and sat beside him, his free arm sneaking around her body as she laughed. "I can't remember the last time someone brought me tea in bed," she admitted as he looked at her in amazement before pressing a kiss into her hair, enjoying having this contact with her. He no longer had to hide his feelings or restrain himself from touching her and keeping her close to him. They had admitted their feelings, she was no longer pushing him away and he loved that he had finally woken up to the warmth of her body against his that morning. "Thank you for this," she whispered as he shook his head, leaning down to kiss her gently as she laughed against his lips. She felt like a young girl who was smitten with someone for the first time. She was not acting like the mature woman that she was supposed to be. It was so much easier not having to hide her feelings from him.
"What would you like to do today?" he asked as she shrugged, taking another sip of the warm liquid before she relaxed into his side.
"What did you plan on doing today before I arrived?" she questioned, her voice quiet as she shut her eyes, enjoying the warmth of his body against hers. "It is your holiday after all." She did not really care what they did that day, she just wanted to spend the day with him while she had the time too. She had not thought about what she would be doing when she had got on the train to the coast. She had barely thought anything through after talking to Agnes briefly and throwing some clothes into a suitcase. It was the first really spontaneous decision she had made in a long time.
"I was just going to spend the day on the beach and have a walk, enjoy the peace and quiet while I am out of London," he admitted as she finished her tea and rested the cup on the bedside table before kissing him gently and nodding.
"Then that is what we shall do then Mr Dupont," she smirked as he rolled his eyes at her use of his last name. He did, however, love the immaturity that was beginning to appear in her behaviour as she began to relax around him. She was no longer tense and attempting to control her behaviour. She was finally letting him into her life and it was the most amazing thing that he could have asked for.
XOXOXOXOXOXO
"The coast was always my favourite holiday as a child," Josie commented as they walked down the beach together, their fingers laced together as the water splashed across their bare feet. She did not normally take her shoes off and walk barefoot across the sand but Florian had persuaded her and there was no one else around, so she had allowed herself to behave in a way that she usually did not. "We visited the coast every year," she explained, realising that she had not discussed her childhood with anyone in a long time, and she had not really gone into much detail about it with Mr Grove during their twelve years together.
"My family visited the coast most years," Florian admitted quickly as he glanced down at her, noticing the small smile that was decorating her face. "My sisters adored the sea," he whispered, her smile disappearing quickly as she stopped and looked at him, her hand moving to rest on his cheek before she kissed him gently. "I sometimes forget that they are gone," he admitted as she smiled weakly, her fingers brushing across his cheek as she stared at him.
"I forget sometimes how you entered my life," she admitted as he gently moved his hand to the small of her back. "This war has barely affected me. I have not lost any family to this war like you or Agnes and I have not lost my home, I have been so fortunate and sometimes I forget how much you have lost over the last few years," she explained before kissing him gently. "Do you want to talk about them Florian?" she asked quietly as he remained silent for a moment. "I would like to hear about them, if you want to talk about your family, I know I stopped you the last time we discussed them," she explained as she stepped away from him before she tightened the hold of his hand and began to walk with him again.
"I was the only son and I had two sisters, I was the youngest," he explained as she nodded, remaining silent as he remained silent. "We were always close and my father taught us all the violin but they did not enjoy it like I did," Florian smiled as she moved to wrap her arm around his, remaining close to him as he laughed. "We were a close family," he explained before he shook his head, a concerned look covering her face as she glanced up at him. "My eldest sister got married two years ago and my other sister had just got engaged before..." he began as she stopped and moved her hand to his cheek, brushing away stray tears that he had not noticed.
"Florian," she whispered, kissing him gently before he rested his forehead against hers. "It sounds like you were all very happy," she explained as he nodded. "Do not think about the war or what happened, just remember how happy you always were before it started," she whispered, trying to comfort him as he shut his eyes, enjoying the safety of being close to her.
"If I had not come to England, I would never have met you and I now can not imagine my life without you," he declared quickly before kissing her again, keeping her closer as she remained silent, not knowing what to say to him. "You are the greatest thing to come out of this war," he whispered as she shook her head at him before she glanced across at the water. "I have made us miserable now," he commented.
"No," she insisted as they began to walk across the beach again, the water covering their feet as she kept hold of his arm. "I don't want you to hide your feelings from me because you are concerned about making me sad," she explained as he nodded, finally smiling before he laughed when a larger wave hit them and she groaned at how drenched her clothing suddenly was. "That was freezing," she commented as he laughed, the brunette quickly running away when another wave hit them. "Florian," she moaned, glancing down at the soaked dress while Florian laughed at her from where he was standing.
"You are a little bit wet," he commented as he walked towards her, his trousers sticking to his body as she shook her head at him while pulling the wet skirt away from her legs. She was drenched but seeing him smile and laugh was worth it. She knew that he needed to talk about his family, a topic they rarely discussed, but she hated seeing him sad when he was usually so happy about everything. "We should change," he suggested as she nodded, the musician running towards her before he wrapped his arm around her body and led her towards the house. "Thank you," he whispered into her hair as she glanced up at him. "Thank you for coming here, for letting me in to your life, for letting me love you."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
She loved watching him play the violin. He always looked so happy and far away, like the only thing in the world was his music and there was nothing else in the world. Hearing the familiar piece reach its ending, Josie smiled as she began to clap, the musician laughing as he put the violin down and shook his head at her. She seemed so happy now, so free and he loved it. It was almost like London had something over her. Something that was stopping her from being so free and happy all the time. He hated the idea that he might lose the laughter when they returned to London eventually.
"I am going to go to bed now," Josie stated as she stood up and looked across to Florian as he placed the violin into the case in silence, a nervous look covering her face as she walked towards him. "Will you be coming...?" she began, confusion covering his face as he turned to face her, confused why she was even asking that.
"Why wouldn't I spend every night with you, now that I finally have you?" he asked quietly as he moved towards her slowly, a small smile covering her face as he gently pressed a kiss to her forehead. She desperately needed to stop letting what had happened in her previous relationship affect this one. She was not used to someone wishing to stay with her for more than one night. She had been lucky to have one evening a week for twelve years and now there was a man, who was younger, single and clearly in love with her, who wanted to spend every night with her. "He really did hurt you," he commented as she shut her eyes and allowed him to wrap his arms around her body. "I am not going to hurt you, you need to stop worrying that I am going to leave you," he whispered, his hand moving to her cheek as he slowly tipped her head so she was looking up at him. "I love you, please stop thinking that I will hurt you," he begged before he gently kissed her, her arms wrapping around his neck to keep him close as she shut her eyes.
"Why are you with me Florian?" she asked quietly as she rested her head against his chest while he held her close to him, desperately trying to find someway of showing her that he was not just going to abandon her. "I am so much older than you and I have a history, a history that clearly won't go away. You could find someone…" she began before stopping when he stared at her, frustrated almost that she was beginning to push him away once more. Why didn't she understand that he wanted her just the way she was? She had been so happier during the day, why had she suddenly decided that she was not what he really wanted again?
"Please stop worrying about these things," he begged as he found her hand and squeezed it. "Josie Mardle, you are the woman I want to be with and this man who hurt you was completely wrong. You have to believe that you deserve to be loved, that you deserve to be happy," he explained before kissing her gently, his hand cupping her face as she watched him for a moment. "Answer me this, have you been happy today?"
"Yes," she admitted as he nodded again.
"And have I made you happy today?" he finally asked as she nodded slowly.
"Of course you have," she whispered as he leant down gently and kissed her once more, happy that she responded this time. "You have made me so wonderfully happy, happier than I have been in years Florian. Today has been one of the most wonderful days and that has all been because of you," she explained gently as she refound his hand and laced her fingers with his once more. "I'm sorry," she whispered gently, ashamed that she had acted like that. Why did her previous relationship keep appearing when she was happy and make her doubt everything? She had been so happy with Florian that day and now her doubts that ruined it. "I'm sorry, I have ruined a wonderful day."
"You want me to talk about what is worrying me so you must be honest with me too. I want you to feel like you can talk to me," he whispered as she nodded, holding her close as they fell silent.
I'm sorry it's taken me a while to update. I'm not happy with this chapter, especially with Miss Mardle's behaviour but hopefully you enjoy it and update. I do love hearing from you.