A/N: I was asked why Elizabeth was so uptight and I just wanted to share with you the answer I gave because it will continue to come up:
I will explain Elizabeth as both a character and a sort of symbol for a lot of Irish women during this time period. I kind of hinted at it but will continue to elaborate on her views of women working as well as her overall view of the English. As Tom said to Sybil, she is English and not everyone is going to be as receptive to that as he is. During this time, especially in Dublin, the Irish people still have an intense bitterness toward the English. The Rising left a bad taste in their mouth and with Sybil believing as both a woman and an English girl that she can get a job, it irritates a rather conservative Elizabeth. What I'm trying to do is show that Sybil will have the same troubles in Ireland that Tom faced in England. As Sybil asked Tom when they were back at Downton "will your people accept me?"...we never really got an answer to that. This is my attempt to give us that answer. But again, I will elaborate and hopefully give you some closure on that.
Also please don't hesitate to ask a question if you're confused by the history or politics I'm referencing. I'm Irish and a political science major so what I know and find interesting may seem like nonsense to you. But if it bores you, that I can't help with...sorry...
Timeline: Still in Dublin. Yes, these two will eventually get back to Downton but aren't they much better versions of themselves when they're allowed to be? Dublin is the metaphorical safety bubble Tom and Sybil should have lived in forever.
Song: Never Let Me Go - Florence and the Machine
It took them exactly seven minutes to sign the lease on their new apartment. After doing so, the keys were give to their possession but it was the kiss Tom pressed to Sybil's smiling face that acted as confirmation for the whole thing. The two were as happy as they had ever been, a trend that continued and refused to wear off from its original inception just a month ago when they first arrived into the city.
Dublin was warm and inviting just so as long as Sybil said little and kept to herself. She had began to look for a job to no avail. Hospitals were staffed by men now and her English accent was off-putting to the many women that often received her applications. Her days were spent helping Tom's mother around the house, something that was more of a help to Sybil herself rather than Mrs. Branson. Helen was patient though, always feeling the urge to smile as her soon to be daughter-in-law was diligent and willing with the laundry, the cooking, and the cleaning.
Mrs. Branson was learning too, but not in the way she had expected. Sybil was a breath of fresh air in the otherwise stuffy city. Her presence in her home was not nearly as much of a hindrance as Helen had originally worried it would be. In fact, she found herself thinking she'd miss Sybil's distinctive laugh when she moved out after the wedding. Of course such a selfish thought disappeared when she saw the way her son and this young girl interacted. For as much as she wished to keep them apart until then, she knew that they had perhaps seen and done more than society, or she for that matter, would be willing to acknowledge.
On days when Sybil was not home, she spent her days at Tom's sister Elizabeth's house with Katherine. The three had gotten along well planning everything about the small wedding from the veil Sybil dreamed of to the dress she'd wear. Elizabeth often made comments that Sybil learned to brush off. The eldest Branson girl was strong willed, much like the rest of the family, but she held a conservatism undistinguished among the lot of them. She loved her husband and her children and the country she worked for. Of course, such work she believed was to be kept in the flat she kept clean for her family. When Sybil told the girls about nurse positions she had read about in the paper, Elizabeth would roll her eyes before excusing herself to pour more tea. In a way, she reminded Sybil of Mary, something that caused a throbbing in her throat as the younger girl thought of her eldest sister back at Downton.
Katherine and Elizabeth watched in amusement as Sybil budgeted her father's money to cover the cost of food, the church, and flowers. A small amount had been agreed upon by Sybil and Tom with the rest being set aside for future rent payments and any other expenses they might incur.
The girls were doubtful at first, but Sybil quickly proved that she was just as committed to this relationship as their brother was. She was in love and had no problem declaring such a notion to each florist or dressmaker she talked to. Katherine and Elizabeth would just laugh, wondering how such a girl who had grown up in such a different world had managed to give her heart in exchange for that of the same belonging to a boy from Dublin.
Everyday after work, Tom would come over and eat dinner at his mother's house. Sybil would greet him at the door, taking his jacket and hat to hang up as she followed him down the hall to ask about his day. The story he told in response was always the same but she asked nonetheless, never wanting to seem disinterested in the job he worked so hard to keep. When his mother wasn't looking she would kiss his lips and tell him how happy he was making her and how lucky she was to have such a hardworking man in her life. Tom could only smile in return, wondering how many days it was until she was legally his wife, where he could not only declare but show her just how much she meant to him.
After dinner they'd find themselves on the couch, discussing whatever suited the day with Mr. Branson. Tom was never particularly close to his father due to the older man's work schedule but he found himself suddenly enjoying the company of his father with Sybil's legs draped across his lap on the couch. Mrs. Branson only smiled at the interaction as she sewed in the corner underneath the burning light of a nearby candle.
When it got late, Sybil would walk Tom to the door. Each night they took more and more time to themselves, hoping all the while that they would not be interrupted. They never were; Mrs. Branson had given up on controlling the way they were only a week after they arrived. It was no use, and it even pained her to hinder such a tangible thing, like touching a finger to an outlet only to feel the spark of electricity seeping through.
With the wedding only a week away, Tom had invited Sybil to their apartment to see the progress he had made. His weekends, and late nights as Sybil now surmised as she looked around the space, were spent fixing the place up. The flat they had chosen was brand new but rather bare.
The last time she was here was when the two of them had moved in the table and couch his brothers and sisters had bought them as a wedding gift. Both rejected the help they were offered and spent a Saturday afternoon maneuvering both pieces of furniture into the tiny front room that acted as a kitchen, dining room and living room. It worked nicely though, with the table resting in between the kitchen and couch to differentiate the space.
Sybil smiled as the two finally collapsed against the cushions of the plush sofa, admiring their work. "This is perfect," she whispered. Tom answered by seizing her mouth, knowing no words could ever agree with her in the way that his lips could.
Now, as she stood in the middle of the room with her hands on her hips she noticed that Tom had cleaned the old icebox his aunt had given them and that a new light fixture was installed above the sink reflecting in the glass of the window that looked out onto a back alley. "Tom..." It was shock, or amusement. She wondered if he was sleeping for so much had been done since she had last seen the flat. A wave of relief washed over her, painting her cheeks in rouge. For a girl that was told she would marry for status, she somehow felt this is always what she had wanted.
"There's still so much to be done. But it's almost where it needs to be. It'll be done by next Saturday..."
Sybil placed her gloves in her hat and then dropped both items on the table. She stepped back, taking it all in again before shrugging her her coat off. Tom helped her, setting the light material on the back of a kitchen chair.
He was leaning against the stove now, staring at her small waist highlighted by the tight blouse and skirt she wore. He wondered when she would wear the pants he had bought her for her birthday after she had mentioned to him she rather enjoyed the style on young women. Her current look was flattering though and he found it difficult to peel his eyes away even as she moved to stand next to him and stir the stew on the stove.
"You made food?" she inquired, watching his forearms push at the thick liquid in the pot below.
Tom nodded, his arms crossed now as he stepped back. He was prideful in the way that most men would be afraid to be. He could provide for Sybil in so many ways and he did it all because he knew that she was trying just as hard to return the many favors he granted her. "I did invite you for dinner, love…"
"This looks delicious," she said before bringing the wooden spoon to her mouth to taste it for herself. She only smiled, tasting the carrot and lamb previously on the utensil. "It is delicious," she confirmed after swallowing the stew. "Aren't I just the worst? Leaving my husband to cook…"
She went to walk away, but Tom pulled her back in to him, not wanting such a moment to escape so easily. "You have other talents," he pointed out with a smirk. His lips were on hers, then on her chin and all the way down to the pulse point on her neck. Though she felt his mouth, hot and wet, she knew what he was referring to. It was the way she helped his mother cook dinner every night and the way she often held hands with Tom's nieces and nephews on the way home from church so their parents could have a moment or two alone.
The kisses were nice too, and growing more passionate as each day passed. Tom no longer had to initiate them as Sybil's confidence grew the more she was allowed to realize just how much she wanted him and how much she had always wanted him, for that matter. It was times like this one, usually at night, when her tongue was hungry to taste and thank him for all he had done for her. Of course he responded, doing his best to remain calm and composed as she ground her hips into him. He had told her, without ever saying a word, just how patient he was willing to be, but such sentiments fell on deaf ears.
Sybil dropped her head back, granting him all the room she could manage without allowing her own knees to crumble beneath her. The mood between them lately was intoxicating and she was suddenly thankful they were alone. Moments like these were few and far between. Sybil often found herself wondering how they had gotten away with so much back at Downton; prying eyes and social class separated what a crowded Dublin could not.
"Tom," she moaned, his hands now gripping her hips as he thrust up toward her. The action pushed her further into the counter, eliciting a purr from the lip she was now biting down on. She said nothing, but reacted by reaching behind them to turn the gas dial on the stove. Tom's eyes widened, kissing her lips again as she now jumped up to wrap her legs around his waist. The tight skirt she wore restricted them, causing her to dig her heels into his backside for support. He didn't mind; the action only pushed them toward the bedroom.
As they crossed the threshold, Tom felt Sybil's weight leave him. She looked around, her eyes darting back and forth from the lavender hue of the bathroom that she had requested to the way the bedroom, their bedroom, was nothing but rustic wood and the queen sized bed covered in the softest duvet cover she had ever seen. White and plush, also as she had imagined. Images of bare skin glittered with early morning perspiration littered her mind as she imagined the two of them sharing the most intimate of moments both atop and beneath the cotton of the comforter. Somehow a room that lacked all the luxuries her bedroom back at Downton contained seemed so warm and inviting and perfect.
"This is ours?" She said, clearly amused.
Tom laughed. He was by the door now, his foot scuffing at the floorboard as he looked at her face, so overjoyed and wide-eyed. "Tis," he said, stepping into her. "Do you like it?" His hands were around her waist now. Out of habit she leaned back into him, her head resting on the space above where his heart lay, beating for her.
She turned around, grabbing his arms so they were once again wrapped around her. "It's lovely, Tom."
"You're lovely," he whispered back. He wanted to say so much more but she cut him off, her lips tasting him as her hands reached up to stroke his neck. She loved how broad he was and the way he stood tall and strong for her. There was comfort here that stretched from the crown of her head to the tips of her feet. Sybil was certain that if she fell he would catch her: part of her knew he already had.
They met in the middle, their lips seeking the feel of soft skin upon soft skin. Sybil opened her mouth, feeling a sigh of pleasure escape her pouted mouth as Tom grabbed her cheeks. He was nibbling at her bottom lip, something that was only soothed when his tongue slid past her lips to duel with her own. It was then that Sybil felt it, a burning in her body, telling her that this was right and this was good.
"I want you, Tom," she finally managed through ragged breathing. Her lips separated from his in a slow pull, causing both of them to crave more.
He shook his head, doing his best to maintain control of the situation. Still, he knew she saw what he was feeling, the way he hardened against her hip as their bodies pushed against one another in need. "Syb, we-"
She stepped back. Her fingers were playing with the buttons at the top of her blouse. She had begun to toy with the delicate pearls that latched each half to the other but with the material still tucked in to the top of her skirt, it remained closed. He could see it though, the top of her chemise and the way freckles lined the area leading below where the silk covered her heaving breasts. "I don't care. I want you, Tom. I have wanted you for a long, long time now-" It was an invitation, one her body murmured into his as he reached out for her.
Tom hated to admit it, but a certain kind of lust was beginning to occupy his thoughts causing his head to spin. Be cut her off, placing a slow burning kiss to her swollen lips. She smiled, dropping her head back to laugh as he slipped a hand under her blouse to finally touch her in the way they both needed. He felt her nipple harden beneath his hand as he palmed her breast through the silk chemise she wore.
It had been so long since he had last been here and yet it was new territory. Tom never knew it could be this charged when there were feelings behind the words he spoke and the actions he performed. Not wanting to think about the past, he instead focused on her breathing and the way she sighed into his neck. He felt her stiffen as another set of goosebumps ran up the expanse of her chest. Tom vowed to take it slow, whatever this was, as she gave in to something her body was whispering to him that she had wanted for the longest time.
Sybil stepped back, bringing Tom with her. Both of hands were now moving deliciously against her chest. His movements had pushed her blouse open revealing the teddy she wore. It was simple, but the sight of it sent jolts down to his groin. Sybil felt him still pressed into her hip. She blushed, loving that she was the cause of such a beautiful thing. There was power here, power that Sybil was all too proud to cherish. She grew up in a household where such thoughts were never discussed and because of that, learned to be rather shameful. Sybil couldn't manage her lips to say such a word, much less feel it, as his body reacted to hers.
Tom felt it too and wanted nothing more than to continue. Patiently, he took his time, pressing chaste kisses to her earlobe and the expanse of her neck. He was kissing the valley between her breasts as they fell back against the bed. Sybil's hand had found him through the light material of his trousers, palming him in her tiny hand. Her eyes widened at his size, suddenly causing her to feel as inexperienced as she was. Kissing the nerves away, Tom sighed into Sybil's neck, eliciting a delicious moan from her lips as she began to relax.
Sybil's hands were making quick work of the shirt Tom wore, undoing every last button before pushing the material off his shoulders. She marveled at the way his arms and specifically his shoulders were covered in freckles. Sybil kissed his skin as her hands found their way under his undershirt to the muscles of his stomach. He growled as her fingertips brushed against the tufts of hair leading down to his now rock hard member. She was bold now, teasing him as she grabbed his length through the underwear he wore. Her actions were not as timid as they previously had been. Sybil applied pressure, loving the feeling of him throbbing in her palm. As inexperienced as she was, the way he bucked in her hand was enough for him to stroke him, up and down, slowly and sensually, causing Tom's eyes to temporarily roll back into his head.
He was warm in her hand, even through the light material of his pants. Sybil did her best to restrain the thoughts she was having, imagining herself doing so much more than teasing him through boundaries she so desperately wanted to be rid of. Tom could only respond by dropping his head back as he hovered above her. He breathed against her neck, doing his best to not crush her with his weight as he felt her fingers leave him and grab for his face to bring him back to her. He was thankful for that, both smiling into one another's mouths now. This was daring and she was so beautiful like this, her hair frizzed and messy and coming undone the more he played with it.
"I love you," he said, pressing a kiss to the space behind her ear. It was as honest and as beautiful as the moment they were lost in.
Tom was shirtless now and he wondered when she had pulled his undershirt over his head. It must have been around the same time his own hands were pulling the zipper at her hip down.
"Wait," she whispered, stilling his hand with her own. He rolled over to watch her stand. Tom couldn't take his eyes off of her and he wondered if she was trying as hard as he imagined she was to look as effortless as she did. He quickly forgot about all of that as she was now barefoot, standing before him in just her silk chemise. It was connected to the black stockings she wore held up by the sexiest garter he had ever seen. Hell, it was the only garter he had ever seen but he vowed then to only remember her like this and to do his best when they were in public to not want her in this state.
Sybil was blushing, her entire skin bright pink as she was suddenly self-conscious of the way she must have looked. Tom was her first everything and now he was the first and last man that would ever see her like this. It was exciting and terrifying and all she had ever hoped for. There was something addictive about the way he looked at her, his eyes wanting nothing more than to love every inch of woman she was.
When Sybil finally looked up, she saw the way his eyes glazed over her, taking every inch of skin and curve in. Her hair framed her hairline, spreading like a halo that she tried to wear so well. Even with their actions, she was innocent and their kisses were seemingly chaste, contrasting with the thoughts they both held in their long term memory from moments past. She smiled, crawling toward him now so that she was straddling him against the headboard of the bed she had to remind herself was all their own.
Sybil was kneeling now. She kissed him, hoping that his shut eyes would bring comfort to a girl like her in such a position. They did and so did the words he then moaned into her cheek as she stroked him again, this time unbuttoning his trousers to do so.
"You're wonderful," he whispered. "So perfect." And then, "mo anam cara," which elicited a wide smile from Sybil in the way words she actually understood were unable to. She vowed to ask him, when her mind wasn't running wild with possibilities, what he had meant. Unable to stop herself and inquire, Sybil kissed down his chest, pulling the belt he wore out of it's loops before removing his pants and socks completely.
"Sybil, darling, maybe we should-"
"Tom, please don't tell me you want to stop now." Her eyes were honest and lustfilled, clouded over by the heat she felt coursing through her veins. "It has taken me all I have to be with you like this," she choked out. There was fear there, but also determination. It was clear that it had taken everything in her to say such a thing and it made her all the more beautiful to him.
He kissed away her words. "No, love. I just, if we don't stop I'm not going to be able to-"
"We have all night," she reminded him, catching him completely off guard. It was the answer he wanted but was not quite ready to receive. "This feels right, doesn't it?" Her lips made a decision her heart had settled on many nights ago. Kissing her back, Tom tasted the determination on her lips.
His hand was cupping her cheek and he stroked at her ear, using the leverage he had to pull her face down to his again. With their foreheads touching, he chastely kissed the corner of her mouth. "I love you. I wanted this to be perfect for you and I don't want you to regret anything, okay?"
Sybil sighed. "I'm not going to regret this. I just need you to tell me what feels good, alright?"
"God Syb, it all feels good," he moaned, his head dropped back as she pulled him out of his underwear.
With him in her hand, she did all she could think to do; kiss him here just as she had the rest of his now naked body. He jerked in response causing Sybil to giggle. Quickly, she was serious again, and committed, as she bent down again, licking at his tip then all the way down the shaft. Again, he responded, his cock jerking in her hand as she teased the base of him.
Tom's head was still dipped back, but he mustered enough control to look down to her, his beautiful fiance with her head now bobbing down as she invited his length into her mouth again and again. He moaned, coming so close to releasing but holding on with all he had. He had never been with another woman like this, but dear god were her lips perfect and this view of her, her dark hair curling at the nape of her neck as it came loose from her braid was enough to send him over the edge.
"Sybil, love, I'm going to-" he somehow managed through the pressure building in his lower abdomen.
She released him from her mouth with a small pucker. She only smiled, licking at his head again before milking him to a steady climax. Tom had lost his ability to admire her as his body tensed and then released. She swallowed his seed, not thinking twice. She could only smile and she felt proud and dare she say sexy with the way she had just handled him. Such a bold move had hardened Tom immediately. Just as quickly as his cock softened in her hands he was hard again, earning the tip of his cock a stroke as Sybil kissed him there again.
Still in ecstasy, Tom brought her up to him, immediately pulling her in for a fiery kiss. He wanted to say something but his mind was still reeling. His hands itched too; Tom yearned to tease the thick straps of her camisole off her shoulders. His hands, large and calloused, instead fell down her sides to her garters, unhinging each strap wishing he could do the same with the straps above. Instead, she sighed, watching his eyes so full of love as he pulled the silk material up over her head, leaving her in nothing but knickers and the stockings she wore.
She wanted to cover herself, but his words stopped her. "Dear god, you are stunning," he muttered, immediately taking a pert nipple into his mouth as his hand caressed the other. She was grinding up against him now, reveling in the feeling of him so close and so in want of the woman she was. Sybil had to stop herself from smiling long enough to kiss his neck, lapping at the taut skin of his collarbone before returning her attention to his lips.
They were both lost now, so close to a place either had yet to ever reach. Sybil knew what she was about to do but had no idea how to go about doing it. Immediately, and for a reason she was unaware of, she thought back to Downton and the place that had brought them together and separated them all the same. It appeared to her in flashes, ending with her opening her eyes to see him laying below her, gazing up at her with a look she wasn't aware she craved until now.
Their tongues now in a slow dance, his hand had snaked down to her center, cupping her through the lace of her cream knickers. She bucked into his hand, encouraging him to discard the material before she grew impatient and did it herself. Tom laughed, holding onto his fiance as he turned her over, switching their positions so she was now on the bed, her loose hair fanned out behind her as he kissed his way down her stomach.
Sybil pressed a gentle hand into the top of his head, urging him lower. He obliged, painfully teasing each stocking down her slender legs. Next came her knickers, his fingers slowly removing them finally leaving them both with no fabric or pretense to separate them.
Sybil smiled through the kisses they shared, suddenly feeling as comfortable as she ever had with Tom. She reached down, separating them as her hand took his member in her hand and teased her center with the tip.
"Fuck," he muttered. Sybil smiled, her eyes widened as Tom grew even harder in her hand after the word she had never heard him utter slipped from his lips. He loved how he didn't have to ask her if she was ready. Her swollen lips and heaving chest was enough to urge him on. Pre-cum oozed from the head of his cock and she suddenly wished to pleasure him again. She sighed, knowing what was next. Hopelessly, she wanted him, even as her body tensed up in anticipation.
"You okay, love?" He softened, kissing her chin as he settled into the space next to her.
Sybil could only nod. "Go slow, okay?"
Tom's face dropped. Secretly, although parts of him hated this thought, he loved how timid and naive she was. It was one of the many reasons he first fell in love with and continued to adore everything about her. "Sybil, we can still stop, I-"
"No!," she shouted, almost too quickly. Realizing her obvious innocence, she corrected herself: "No, I want this. And I want this with you. I trust you..."
"I'm not going to hurt you, love," he promised, dropping another kiss to her temple. He would taste her forever if that's what it took.
As a shiver sent shock waves down her spine, Sybil nestled further into Tom, using him for the strength she was currently lacking. She wasn't scared and she did trust him. There was something so exciting about such a foreign concept to a Lady who grew up in a house where such things were never discussed.
She smiled up at him. She touched a palm to his cheek. "I trust you," she whispered, like a mantra to convince both him and her. Never before had words been so honest.
There was silence interrupted by the rustling of sheets below them. Tom was hovering now, resting on his elbows so as not to crush her. He kissed her forehead and then her lips as the tip of his cock pushed at her center. She cried out, getting used to the feeling of something so foreign and yet so beautiful filling her completely. It was a feeling she would find herself craving long after they separated.
He was slow and deliberate and ever so loving. There was no pain, but a minimal sting that lasted the time it took Tom to kiss away one tear. Once he was inside of her, he stopped, but Sybil nodded, encouraging his behavior. She wanted him like this forever, something that was only confirmed as he began to rock against her body, urging her to do the same. She obliged, needing little coaxing as he pleasured her.
Sybil felt it, a burning in her lower abdomen that made her want to cry out. Perhaps she had. She dug her heels into his backside now, mimicking the actions performed earlier when layers of clothing separated them. He smiled into her neck, muttering words she never wanted to forget. Somehow they meant so much more coming from him as they were connecting in such a way.
"Tom, yessss," she moaned, as the burning rose and then subsided again like breathing on an otherwise calm fire. "God, Tom!"
"I love you," he muttered in return. "So damn beautiful." He was close too, evident by a tingling in his bollocks. It was made worse as Sybil reached down between them to pleasure him there. It took everything in Tom to hold on to the last bit of control he contained. Thankfully, such a notion was fleeting, as he felt Sybil proclaim how close she was.
"Right there, love-" But she was unable to continue. Her body tensed just as his did, the two meeting a rather loud climax together.
With nothing but uneven breaths to fill the air, Sybil breathed out deeply, feeling Tom fill her in a way they had both craved. She felt complete, as if such a thing was all she had ever needed. In a way it was, something she was reminded of as Tom kissed her in appreciation. It was as comforting as the warmth she felt now seeping from her core. Something that should have made her feel shameful, sex before marriage with no intention of procreation, brought her such a comforting feeling. Tom felt it too, pressing a kiss to her wet lips. It tasted like love and all of the other things they were currently feeling.
Sybil smiled into his shoulder, not yet wanting them to separate. She felt weak, but her breathing was strong, encouraged by his arms wrapping around her and pulling her on top of him. They laid like this for quite some time needing no words to express just how happy they both were.
Finally, she spoke, a simple "I love you so much, Tom," pressed into his neck as she breathed him in. He whispered back something similar, neither wanting to move and ruin the moment. They didn't. The beating of their hearts had lulled them into a slumber with their exhaustion keeping them connected. She was content here and she never wanted to leave.
"I have something for you," Tom whispered, now in a position where he could kiss the top of Sybil's head. She was laying with her head resting on his chest while she drew circles on his stomach with the tip of her finger. Her stomach throbbed, feeling brand new as she found herself wanting him again and again.
Sybil looked up, watching Tom reach underneath the bed, bringing back with him a small box wrapped in simple brown paper and twine.
"A gift?"
"Not a gift, not really. Something I should have given you a long time ago had I the money for it…"
Sybil didn't need to open the box to know what was inside. Suddenly her fingers itched and she shook as she slowly revealed the green velvet box underneath the paper. Inside was a simple yet stunning engagement ring with a row of small diamonds along the outer band.
"Tom, it's-"
"I hope you-"
She placed a finger to his lips, stopping his words from repairing something that was not broken. "It's beautiful and perfect and you're perfect and I love it...and I love you."
She reached up, stroking his cheek before kissing him full on the mouth. He deepened it, allowing Sybil to straddle him again as she began to kiss down his chest. The ring he helped her slide onto her left hand shone under the dim light of the candle on the far dresser.
After a night of similar ministrations, Sybil found herself walking into Tom's parent's home with him trailing quietly behind. The morning was dawning, and they felt her, Mrs. Branson, watching them from her place at the stove tending to the kettle. Sybil smiled her way, never wanting to disrespect the woman she would soon call her mother-in-law but not once regretting the way she had allowed Tom to love her the night before.
Of course she had loved him back, her cheeks blushing as she was reminded of how he moved against her while she did nothing but urge him on. He kissed her, not allowing her to deepen the kiss in the way they both wanted. Sybil could only laugh, watching him go into the kitchen to help his mother prepare the beginnings of their usual Sunday brunch. He muttered something to her about both of them falling asleep after dinner and Sybil could imagine Tom with his hand in the air as if to swat away the question. If she remembered correctly, they didn't sleep at all, and she enjoyed it just the same.
She pressed the tips of her glove covered hand to her lips, not wanting the laugh she felt growing in her chest to escape. Like a little girl, or the little girl she used to be before last night, she smiled, then chuckled, feeling euphoric as she remembered it all, so slow and deliberate.
I'm a little hesitant posting this. I appreciate everyone who reads and follows both my stories and me as an author but it's a little discouraging when I get almost 4,000 hits and only two reviews. Needless to say, I don't know what that means. Did you hate it? Did you like it? It just leaves me a bit confused. If you feel so compelled, let me know what you're thinking of the chapter or if you have a question. I love to talk to my readers and see what they're thinking.
Thanks for reading!
x. Elle