His lips were warm, loving and utterly magical on hers. Grace felt like floating as Lucas kissed her slowly, lovingly, passionately. She cupped his cheek, her other hand resting on his chest, above his heartbeat.
As he slowly broke the kiss, she inhaled much needed air and smiled, letting out a shaky breath as his warm gaze caressed her face with so much love she nearly started to cry. Her eyes sparkled, her breathing turned heavy and her smile grew even more as he leaned his forehead against hers and gently nuzzled his nose against hers.
"So, my lovely Miss Bennet", his deep timbre sent Grace's insides into a flame "What are you doing for New Year's Eve?"
Grace watched as Lucas' eyes twinkled with teasing glint and she let out a short, shaky breath.
"I don't know…What AM I DOING for New Year's Eve?", she quipped, feeling her heart thumping wildly.
Lucas' lips curled up and he whispered:
"Would you do me the honour and allow me to take you out for the New Year's Eve?"
Grace slowly nuzzled her nose against his, her palms joining behind his neck as she smiled teasingly.
"I don't know, Mr. Bouchard…What will my fiancé say?", she mumbled silently.
Lucas' smile grew wider and he cupped her cheek.
"Then don't tell him about it", he said in his silent, deep voice, fingers of his other hand slowly brushing up and down her spine, causing the goosebumps to kiss her skin. He could feel them under his touch as he moved his hands to her upper arms and slowly dragged them down, then back up.
Grace let out a soft sigh, her breathing going back into disorder.
"I'd love to go out with you", she whispered, her eyelids half closed as his lips hovered above hers "We just have to be very careful that my fiancé doesn't find out."
Lucas' eyes sparkled dangerously as his smile turned almost wolfish.
"I might just steal you away", he whispered, his breath hot against her lips.
Grace let out a soft whimper of delight.
"Oh, please, do!", she barely finished her sentence when his lips gave her such a sensual, loving kiss that she felt her entire body tremble with anticipation and love, her toes curling deeply inside her shoes.
She dived in, their kiss growing more deep, more passionate and Grace could feel herself trembling deliciously.
As the desperate need for air made them break the kiss, she fought to take a breath, her fingers cupping his cheek.
"I just have to check with Lillian is she okay with staying alone with the kids", she whispered.
Lucas smiled gently as he put a stray curl behind her ear.
"Don't worry about it. I already arranged with Carson to go and help her", at Grace's surprised look, he chuckled "He said that he will teach the munchkins to play ukulele if they want to. And that he still remembers many children's songs", as Grace opened her mouth to say something, Lucas put an index finger on her lips and smiled "And Lillian is fine with it. So, there's nothing for you to worry about."
Grace's eyes widened in surprise as her lips curled up in a happy smile, making Lucas' heart sing with joy.
He leaned in and gently kissed her lips before he whispered:
"So…all you have to do is open the doors tomorrow at 18.00 and take my hand", he took her palm in his and placed a gentle kiss on her ring finger "And be with me when we enter the year we will get married in."
Grace's heart skipped a beat, butterflies exploding in her stomach and she smiled happily, her eyes filling with tears of joy.
"Oh, I cannot wait, my Lucas", she exhaled a shaky breath as his lips brushed over her knuckles "I cannot wait."
—--
Grace pulled the long black glove on her left hand and checked her reflection in the mirror one last time.
Perfect.
She opted to wear black cocktail dress with bare shoulders and added black gloves that reached up to her elbows. String of pearls decorated her left wrist and her neck.
She put a final touch on her make-up, opting for a rosy lip gloss, her lips spreading into a loving smile as she looked down at the lip gloss in her hands.
That will be the only thing that doesn't get in the way of their kisses. Easily to apply, easily to wipe away.
Grace let out a sigh, her smile never wavering from her lips
Or kiss away without any traces left.
She gave herself a happy little ballerina twirl before she put her coat on, grabbed her shoes and quickly left her room, glancing at the old clock in the hallway.
17.53.
She rushed down the stairs, her smile widening as she heard out of tune sound of the ukulele and children's giggling.
The scene in the living room was priceless.
Lillian was trying to catch Tess and Victor who were running away, shrieking with laughter as they barely escaped Lillian's fingers.
Carson was teaching little Tonya how to play ukulele, but the music class looked more like a comedy show because the little ones around him giggled hysterically at every sound the instrument made. Her good friend had a big smile on his face as he gently moved Tonya's tiny fingers on the ukulele, trying patiently to teach her at least one note. But, Tonya would strum down the strings before Carson could even place her fingers in the right position.
In the next moment little Tess waved at her.
"Gracie! Wanna play tag with us?", she gave her a toothless grin, making Grace smile warmly.
"Another time, sweetie. I have to go now", she said and knelt down to welcome precious girl in her arms.
Tess hugged her and pulling back, she said with smile:
"You smell so nice, Gracie. And I like your hair. And your lipstick. And your eyeshadow", little Tess sweetly rambled on making Grace laugh warmly.
Glancing up at Lillian, she quipped:
"Well, when you get tired of playing tag, you can always go for beauty treatments."
Lillian chuckled warmly.
"Oh, we are going to paint nails later, won't we Tess?", she gave little girl a wink and grinned as she patted her on the shoulder and exclaimed "Tag!"
Little Tess giggled as Lillian ran away from her and she rushed after her beloved guardian, exclaiming:
"Hey! Not fair!"
At that moment, the knock on the doors was heard and Grace rushed to open them, exclaiming her goodbyes.
Grabbing a bottle of champagne and two glasses from the little table in the hallway, she quickly put on her shoes and opened the doors.
Her smile turned radiant as she took in Lucas' handsome features and Grace quickly stepped out, closing the doors behind her and looking from left to right in mock panic.
He watched her antics with a smile, his heart racing up at how gorgeous she was.
"Are you looking for something, Miss Bennet?", he asked teasingly, only to have Grace widen her eyes and cover his mouth with her palm.
"Ssssshhh! My fiancé could come home any minute now!", she quipped as she gave her surroundings one more quick over.
She could feel her palm vibrate from Lucas' chuckles and she looked up at him…only to bit her lower lip as she saw the storm pooling in his dark eyes.
He slowly pried her fingers away from his lips and wrapped his arms around her waist before he silently murmured, his tone of voice dropping down for one octave:
"You are breaking The Rule, Miss Bennet."
Grace slowly snuggled closer into him, placing her hand behind his neck, holding a bottle of champagne and two glasses in her fingers.
"I know I am. That's why I brought a bribe, Governor", she gently clinked the glasses against the bottle of champagne behind his head "So I hope you can forgive me."
Lucas inched closer and gave her lips a loving kiss, robbing her out of breath in a matter of milliseconds.
He slightly pulled away and looked at her, loving her with his eyes:
"Oh, I may be persuaded", he whispered and watched as she smiled and pulled her arms back to give him the bottle so he could open it "You didn't have to trouble yourself with bringing the drink, sweetheart."
Grace smiled as she watched him taking off the golden wrap around the cork as they started to walk toward the car.
"It was no trouble", she said sweetly, shrugging her shoulders "I just thought we should give a proper goodbye to this year and thank her for bringing us together."
Lucas glanced at her, his gaze warming every part of her body and making her smile go radiant.
"Well, when you put it that way... ", Lucas slightly shook the bottle, sending a cork flying out from it, foam bursting out, making both of them yelp and laugh. Grace quickly brought the glasses up for him to pour the sparkling drink in them.
She waited until he put the cork back in the bottle and then gave him a glass and gently clinked it with her glass.
"To you, my Lucas. And to our future together", she gently murmured.
He slowly circled his wrist around hers, so they could drink from each other's glass and looking deeply in her hazel eyes, he whispered:
"To you, my angel. And to our lives tangled up in love. Now and forever."
They smiled at each other and took a sip of champagne before they continued to walk, Grace's palm resting in the crook of Lucas' arm.
Tangled up in love.
Now.
And forever.
—--
I'll paint my mood in shades of blue
Paint my soul to be with you
I'll sketch your lips in shaded tones
Draw your mouth to my own.
I'll draw your arms around my waist
Then all doubt I shall erase
I'll paint the rain that softly lands
On your wind-blown hair.
I'll trace a hand to wipe your tears
A look to calm your fears
A silhouette of dark and light
While we hold each other oh so tight.
I'll paint a sun to warm your heart
Swearing that we'll never part
That's the colour of my love.
I'll paint the truth
Show how I feel
Try to make you completely real
I'll use a brush so light and fine
To draw you close and make you mine.
I'll paint a sun to warm your heart
Swearing that we'll never ever part
That's the colour of my love.
I'll draw the years all passing by
So much to learn so much to try
And with this ring our lives will start
Swearing that we'll never part
I offer what you cannot buy
Devoted love until we die.
("The Colour Of My Love" - Celine Dion)