A Bottle of White

At the end of Lizzie Bennet's first week in San Francisco, William Darcy insisted on taking her to his favorite Italian place in the city to celebrate their reunion. Lizzie's idea had been pizza so they could keep unpacking, but William was persistent in his belief that they needed both a celebration and a break from setting up her new apartment.

This is how Lizzie Bennet came to find herself in a small Italian restaurant she wouldn't have been able to afford without William if she'd saved for a year.

"Lizzie, is there anything in particular you're hungry for tonight?" William asked.

"Not specifically, no, but it all looks delicious. Why do you ask?"

"I'm attempting to make a wine selection, and I want it to pair well with your entree."

"Is that a real thing? I thought they made it up for TV."

"White goes with chicken, fish, cream and oil based sauces, light cheeses and fruits, and bread, generally. Red goes with beef, pork, tomato based sauces, heavier cheeses, roasted veggetables, and tomato or beef based soups. They both go well with desserts. Rose is more for salads or light meals, perhaps snacks. Champaign is for toasting and celebrations, which I suppose this is. Would you like some champaign?" With the question, William finally looked up from the wine list to see Lizzie staring at him with her eyes wide.

"I had no idea there were so many rules to this. I'm not sure I belong here, William." Lizzie was starting to feel like she should've insisted on the pizza just to stay in her comfort zone.

"Elizabeth Bennet, you belong here as much as anyone else. You've moved to a new city and started a company. Let me treat you to one thing. Don't worry about the wine-pick an entree, and I will build the rest of the meal around it. And don't look at the prices, Lizzie, just enjoy yourself." William felt better as Lizzie visibly relaxed; they were still getting used to each other, and it was going to take them both awhile to adjust to how the other perceived finances.

Eventually, Lizzie decided on a pasta of Cavatelli followed with the Market Fish entree. William paired this with Ramini Buffalo Mozzarella for the antipasta. Lizzie insisted she would not be able to eat this AND the insalata course, so he omitted it. He ordered himself the exact same meal and paired it with a bottle of Carricante.

"So...how did you come to know so much about wine, William?"

"My parents were collectors. The Carricante is a Sicilian wine, this is the only place I know in the area that stocks it. It happens to be my favorite, as well. I've never seen anything as beautiful as the vineyards where it's grown. That is, I hadn't until very recently." William gazed across the table as a bush creeped up Lizzie's face. He leaned closer and spoke softly, "Perhaps, if you like it, I can take you to see it yourself."

Lizzie laughed, "If you want to take me to Italy, please don't let my taste in wine be a factor in the decision."

"Really? When would you like to go?" She so rarely let him do things like this, let him treat her the way he was capable of, showering her with what he thought she deserved.

"Um, in like three years, when I can afford to leave my business for more than two days?" She was tensing again-he had missed her teasing tone; but he was learning, and he was becoming capable of teasing back.

"Noted for future reference." He smiled, and she relaxed again, and he unconsciously released his breath.

Their meals arrived, and Lizzie found that she may not know much about wine, but she did know she liked Carricante. She thought it paired perfectly with everything they were brought, but readily admitted she wouldn't truly know the difference if it hadn't.

"Perhaps I can teach you about wine, Lizzie. The Napa Valley is only about an hour and a half from here."

"That actually sounds delightful."

Over dinner, the conversation flowed delightfully, Lizzie and Darcy finding substantial overlapping interests and opinions, and quite a bit of dissent to converse over. She learned that his favorite color had been blue until about six months before they started dating, and has since changed to green. He learned her favorite book was Jane Eyre, but she had first read it because it was mentioned in her favorite series in high school, The Princess Diaries. She learned that his favorite movie was The Breakfast Club, which she wouldn't have ever been able to guess. He learned that wine added a slight blush to her cheeks, which he found extremely charming.

After they had finished the last course of their meal, William insisted that Lizzie had to try the dessert at this restaurant. There was one in particular he was sure she would like, triple chocolate cake, topped with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and pomegranate. From the first, bite, Lizzie was certain she'd died and gone to heaven. William let her eat most of the shared slice, finding more joy in watching her light up with every bite than in the taste. After the last crumb was consumed, she drained the last of the wine from her glass as William got the check.

Lizzie was feeling warm and happy when they were finally ready to return to her small apartment. So happy that she didn't notice the slight wobble in her walk when they left the table, but fortunately William did. Without a word, he slid an arm around her waist, ensuring she didn't lose her balance.

Lizzie relaxed into William's shoulder, and found that she could feel the muscles of his arm and torso through the fabric of his jacket. The blush she had gained from the wine deepened a little as she looked up at him.

"Let's go home, Will."

By the time they returned to Lizzie's small apartment, William had concluded they weren't getting anything else done that night; Lizzie's hand had been slowly working its way up his thigh for the entirety of the short ride home. As soon as they entered the apartment, she had turned in his arms and pressed her lips to his, pulling him down by his tie; when they came up for air, she still had his tie in her hand. A slow smile crept up Lizzie's face, and she took a small step backwards towards her bedroom.

"Remember this morning, when you thought we should set up the bathroom first, not the bedroom?" She asked, a sparkle lighting her eyes.

"Yes," he responded breathlessly.

"I think it's time to prove I was right."

With that, Lizzie turned around and pulled William to her room by his tie. As soon as she released his tie, he leaned towards her face to kiss her again, but she held up a finger between them.

Lizzie pushed him back onto the bed and climbed on top of him, her skirt bunching around her thighs; he placed a hand on her knee and began to slowly slide it along her leg.

William didn't get very far with his exploration before Lizzie had captured both of his wrists and pinned them above her head. They both knew perfectly well that he could have taken the control back from her at any moment if he had so chosen, but she could tell by his reaction underneath her that he was unopposed to her actions. She caught his eyes as she bit his lip and began to grind her hips in the same moment, and was gratified by his gasp of pleasure, but noticed he pushed slightly against her hands holding him down.

"Will," Lizzie whispered, "I want to have control of you...I want to be in charge for the night, I want to tie you to this bed. But only if you want it, too."

"Yes," William answered breathlessly, bringing a smile to Lizzie's face. She shifted both of his wrists to her left hand and teasingly ran her finger tips down his arm, then loosened his tie and slid it over his head. She used the preexisting loop to tie his wrists together and the remaining ends to connect him to her headboard, the whole time feeling his increasing arousal beneath her.

"Lizzie, kiss me," William whispered. She leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek while beginning to work on the buttons of his shirt.

"Kiss my mouth."

"No." Lizzie was rewarded by the sound of the bed frame shifting as he pulled at his bindings. She suddenly grabbed both sides of his shirt and pulled, buttons flying. "Don't worry, Will, I can put those all back on. Later."

William tried instinctively to sit up and kiss her, falling back quickly when his bindings stopped him. "Please, Lizzie, I need to feel your mouth on mine."

"I need to hear you beg for it some more."

"Please, Lizzie, I need you. Please, kiss me, please. I'll do whatever you want."

"Whatever I want?"

"Anything, just let me taste your mouth, please," he nearly shouted.

"You may regret that," she kissed him briefly, but passionately.

"More, please, Lizzie. More."

"No. It's my turn now."

Lizzie reached down and slowly unzipped his jeans, noting his panting as her hand brushed his erection. She slid his pants and boxers down just enough to release him, then waited for him to look her in the eye before she bent her head low and lightly licked the tip of his cock. She smiled as he groaned and pulled at his bindings again.

"Lizzie, do that again."

"No. I told you, it's my turn. Remember how you said you'd give me anything I want?"

"Yes."

"I want you to hold off. Don't come without my permission. I'm going to use you for my pleasure."

"Y-yes."

"Good." Lizzie stood up and slipped her hands up her skirt, pulling off her panties before climbing back onto William. She slowly lowered herself onto him, involuntarily moaning as he filled her. She saw his muscles flex as he fought against his looming climax. He reached up to the knot holding him to her bed and gripped it like a lifeboat; he was grateful he had, it allowed him to focus and watch her as Lizzie rocked back and forth on him, bringing herself over the edge twice. He couldn't remember ever seeing anything so beautiful before, and it tortured him as much as it enthralled him.

"Lizzie, please, I can't hold on much more. Please, please can I come. Please," he begged, fully expecting her to deny his pleas.

"Yes."

As soon as the permission left her mouth he was rocking his hips in sync with hers, and it only took him seconds to release himself into her. She collapsed against his chest for a few moments before reaching up and releasing his wrists. As soon as he had control of his hands, they were in her hair, his mouth was on hers, kissing her passionately.

"That good, huh?" she asked, eyes sparking again.

"That good. You?"

"Let's just say we're ordering Carricante again." He kissed her forehead as they drifted off to sleep together.