Isabelle froze, Ciel still running his fingers through her hair.
"M-me?" she asked, blushing bright red.
He nodded, pulling her closer with a seductive smirk. She melted in his hold, her body limp and unmoving, allowing him to do as he pleased. He blinked in surprise at her reaction.
"Y-you're... actually going to let me…" he said with a bright blush.
She bit her lip, "u-ugh… I-I…"
They both froze and then started laughing.
"I must be really intoxicated…" he breathed, stifling a chuckle, making Isabelle giggle.
"You're not the only one." she said, returning a smile while poking his nose.
"M-my apologizes, Lady Isabelle…" he said with a smirk, wrinkling his nose while gently helping her off his lap, setting her down next to him on the bed.
She blushed, "think nothing of it."
He nodded and both fell quiet for a few agonizingly awkward moments.
"So it... was all you? The one who organized the party?" he asked curiously.
She nodded back, "yes, that's why I dragged you to the markets. I couldn't have you here while everyone was setting everything up." she said with a smirk, messing with her dresses skirt.
He chuckled, "sneaky girl."
They sat quiet for a few moments before he spoke again.
"...Thank you, Lady Isabelle…"
She looked up in surprise, only to find him looking straight at her, his face inches from hers.
She blushed, "i-it was just a party…" she said with a shy smile.
He shook his head, "it was much more than a party. You did not have to be so kind as to plan something so big for me on such short notice… Thank you." he repeated with a softened smile.
Her blush deepened as she kept herself from stuttering, "you're welcome, Earl Phantomhive…"
He chuckled to himself, looking away, "you're a very kind girl. To think, I didn't really trust you when you arrived, even less when I found out about you contract…" he said with a sigh.
She nodded, "in all honesty, I didn't trust you either." she said, smiling sheepishly.
He chuckled at her smile, making her laugh as well. They both hummed in unison before glancing back at each other.
"I guess the party must be dying down, the noise has somewhat ceased…" Ciel said with a yawn.
Isabelle nodded, curling her hair around her pointer finger absentmindedly as she relaxed beside him, "hopefully tomorrow's intoxicated guests won't be too crabby." she said, making both of them laugh at the thought.
Ciel glanced at her, "so, what do you want for Christmas, Lady Isabelle?" she was stunned by his question.
She blushed, "I-I don't know actually…" she said, tapping her chin lightly in thought.
He nodded, "let me know if you think of something…" he said, looking away awkwardly, which only made her blush brighter.
After a while, the maid and butler came.
Enobria came to retrieve Isabelle, who left Ciel's room reluctantly, leaving the young master with his butler. Enobria escorted the duchess back to her room, where she changed into her nightgown and readied herself for bed without mention of what had happened with the earl.
When Enobria, along with the other guests and servants, went off to bed a knock rang at Isabelle's door.
She jumped and sat up in bed, looking out into the dark in the direction of the door, "C-Come in…" she called hesitantly.
The light of a candle cut through the darkness as a familiar face peered in the doorway. Isabelle's eyes widened in surprise.
"E-Earl Phantomhive?" she called.
He smiled and showed himself, wearing only his nightshirt that draped over his torso to his knees; even his eye patch was absent. He was holding out a candle as he stood in the doorway,
"I'm sorry to wake you at such an hour…" he whispered softly.
Isabelle shook her head, "w-what do you need?" she asked curiously, suppressing a yawn.
He gestured for her to get out of bed and disappeared out the door, the candle light fading as he walked away. She jumped out of bed and scurried over to the door and peered out. He stood in the hall, gesturing again for her to follow. She looked up and down the hall before, hesitantly, exiting her room.
He waited for her to catch up and took her hand, the candle in his other hand as he led her down the hall.
"Where are we going?" she whispered curiously, clutching Ciel's hand in an effort to keep up with him.
He smirked and led her back to his bedroom, holding the door open for her.
She looked back and forth between him and his room.
"W-What?" she questioned, tilting her head in confusion.
He chuckled tiredly and took her hand again, leading the reluctant duchess inside his room. He set his candle in a holder before leading her back to the bed, sitting her down with him.
She went to speak but just yawned instead, making the earl chuckle again. He pulled the blankets open for her.
"Come now…" he cooed softly, pulling her under the covers. She blushed a brilliant red as he pulled her close to him.
"E-Earl Phantomhive, w-with all due respect, what the hell?!" she asked sternly, pulling away.
He narrowed his eyes, his cheeks red from the alcohol and blush, "I-I didn't want to sleep alone…" he said, almost innocently.
Isabelle blushed, "W-well, couldn't you just ask Lizzy?" she asked shyly.
He blushed even brighter, "I-I don't want to share a bed with her…" he said, turning his back to her in the bed awkwardly.
She bit her lip and found herself sinking back into the bed, finding herself far too weak to argue with the earl, "fine…" she said softly.
Ciel turned back to her, eyes wide with disbelief. He nodded slowly, rolling on his side until they were both facing each other. They scooted closer to one another until their bodies were touching.
Isabelle found herself cuddling under Ciel's chin as he pulled her closer under the blankets, their legs overlapping each other.
Their bodies pressed against each other in an attempt to get warm, cold winter air seeping in through the window. Isabelle groaned sleepily, burying her face in the earl's shirt, earning a soft laugh from Ciel.
They embraced each other in the bed as Ciel moved her hair from her face, Isabelle doing the same, revealing the purple contract mark in his eye.
He blinked in surprise as she cupped the right side of his face, studying the mark. His hand gently touched the back of her neck, moving the hair away as he peeked over, her red contract mark printed perfectly at the base of her neck.
He smiled softly when he finally felt her grip loosen; her breathing slowing down. He chuckled softly to himself and found himself watching Isabelle as she slept peacefully beside him.
He narrowed his eyes, studying the soft rise and fall of her chest, the curling of her lips when she breathed, the subtle twitching of her cold skin. Ciel bundled her up in blankets, rubbing her arms to warm her cool skin as he cooed "there you go…"
He finally sighed, snuggling her closer to him with a smile.
"Goodnight, Lady Isabelle…" he whispered, blowing out the candle.
Sleep was almost about to take him when a knock rang at his door.
Ciel clicked his tongue in annoyance and hoisted himself up from Isabelle's hold. With a awn, he approached the door and peeked out into the darkness only to meet a curious green gaze.
He gasped and stepped back in surprise, "L-Lizzy!" he shouted, freezing at a groan that came from Isabelle in his bed.
She smiled, whispering for him to calm before speaking, "I was curious as to if you were still awake Ciel."
"W-Why is that…?" Ciel asked nervously, holding the door open to just a mere crack as Lizzy tried to peek inside.
"I… Well… I was wondering… maybe we could sleep together tonight- it is quite cold and I thought-"
"No." Ciel cut her off sternly, earning a tense of surprise from his fiance. She went to question him outright, however, he turned away, "it is, after all, unbecoming of a women to sleep with a man."
"But you are my fiance silly!"
"I… really prefer to not…" Ciel muttered. Lizzy frowned in defeat as the Earl shut her out. Shortly, the blonde trudged off back to her room and Ciel allowed himself to relax once he was sure she had left.
"That was awfully close…" he mumbled, brushing the bangs from Isabelle's eyes as he lay down once more. He found himself smiling.
Ciel lay a soft kiss upon Isabelle's forehead before holding her, whispering sweetly into her ear.
"Goodnight, Isabelle…."
OHOHOHOHOOOOO! Ciel you dog. The deception has begun and now there is no going back. Let's just hope Isabelle's feelings are mutual. And that Lizzy isn't made privy of this little development. Anyways I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter!
Stay creative my friends~