Author's note: Thanks to Avis Minter for the idea about a medicine that Lillian gave to Grace! :)
—--
Grace gently pressed her fingers into Lucas' hair, causing him to pull her flush against him. A shaky moan escaped her at the movement, her knees buckling and she swore she saw the stars as he deepened their kiss.
As his palms roamed across her back, their kiss broke as both of them gasped for a breath. Lucas didn't waste a minute; he moved his hot lips to her swan-like neck causing Grace to let her head fall back, her eyes closing as she gasped in pleasure.
She fought to catch a breath, to calm her breathing down. But, just as she managed to inhale one breath properly, his lips found her pulse point and pulled on it, making her eyes shut close and she gripped his shoulders, her breath coming out in short gasps.
Oh. My. God.
I am going to faint.
He slowly dragged his lips up and down her neck, going upwards to her earlobe, until she placed both of her palms on the back of his neck, hiding her face in the blackness of his hair, fighting for breath.
He gently kissed her hair, slowly stopping his loving ministrations, holding her in his embrace without a word or a movement, to allow her breathing to calm down.
She gasped, closing her eyes, her entire body shivering.
He inhaled her sweet scent in, his heart swelling with love as she trembled in his arms.
Lucas knew that he has to stop and that he must be strong for both of them now because he could feel her resolve crumbling down.
And he loved her too much to let them cross that line and lose control completely.
Grace's forehead touched his shoulder as she slowly started to breathe more properly. The heat from his body moved slightly away from her, but his hands made sure that she doesn't crumble to the floor as her knees turned into jelly.
She felt his lips gently kissing her closed eyelids, making her want to sing and cry and pur in his embrace at the same time.
It took all his willpower not to propose to her here and now. He never wanted to let her go. He wished that this train ride could go on and on and on, just so they could stay forever like this.
But, she deserved more. She deserved a perfect proposal. A ring chosen especially for her. And all the love in the world.
And Lucas promised himself there and then that he will make it the most romantic and loving promise of love ever.
Because she deserves all that and more.
And as her hands wrapped around his neck, her cheek against his cheek, Lucas placed a gentle kiss on her hair and closed his eyes.
An angel was missing in Heaven because Grace Bennet was on Earth, he was sure of that.
And he thanked God again and again for bringing her on his path.
In his life.
And in his heart.
He felt her head move and he looked at her to see her gaze at him with warmth and wonder.
"I love you", she whispered "No one has ever made me feel like you do, Lucas."
He gently smiled at her quiet words and he brought one hand up to cup her cheek.
"I love you, too. You deserve to be loved and cherished, Grace", he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, causing her to close her eyes and sigh as a smile curled up her lips.
"You know", she whispered as she rested her forehead against his "We never got to finish those 20 questions."
He let out a shivering breath.
"You think it's safe to go down that road again?", he whispered, her sweet scent causing havoc in his mind.
She ran her fingers through his glorious hair, making him close his eyes and sigh.
"I will be the strong one now, I promise", she whispered, her heart overflowing with love she felt for this wonderful, patient man.
She nearly lost control a few minutes ago and was seconds away from ripping his suit jacket, vest and shirt off him and giving herself to him completely, body and soul.
And he bravely held her dam against breaking and gently assured her that he won't take advantage of her.
And THAT was an act of love in its most beautiful form.
She could feel him get carried away several times now and she reveled in the fact that she could make him feel that way.
And the fact that he always found strength to stop them from causing a scandal spoke volumes about how much he loved her and what kind of man he was.
So, Grace smiled at him, taking his fingers in her palms and bringing him to the seat. She sat beside him, never letting go of his hands and promised to herself that she will make sure that Lucas always knows how much she adores him.
She knew how badly hurt he was before by the woman who didn't deserve to have her name spoken, not even in her thoughts. She could feel how surprised and moved he was whenever she would show publicly how much he meant to her. Even when she would reach out and simply held his hand it seemed to move him beyond words.
An idea was forming in her mind and she was hoping with all her heart that she would be able to make it happen after they settle back into their everyday life and their jobs.
Perhaps this Saturday?
Grace smiled to herself.
So he can relax after all the work.
It will only take some planning. And a visit to a bookstore, a flea market and contacting that cool place she just knew Lucas would love, to make a reservation.
Grace took a deep breath in and stretched lazily, like a cat.
Exhaling, she smiled.
"Alright", she laid down on a seat, crossing her legs and putting her feet on his lap "Lets go to the question number whatever", she grinned as he chuckled, then sighed as he took her shoes off and gently massaged her feet "Mmmm…that feels so good", she slowly wiggled her fingers, but then gasped and shrieked with laughter when his fingers reached the middle of her foot.
At hearing that sound Lucas looked at her in delight, his smile slowly, but surely curling up his lips.
"Grace Bennett", he leaned toward her as she giggled "Are you ticklish?"
Grace took a deep breath in and covered her mouth with her palm, but her eyes twinkled with laughter.
A smile on Lucas' face turned almost wolfish as he moved like a panther over her body and without a warning sneaked his fingertips into her side, tickling her!
"Noooo!", Grace shrieked with laughter, trying to defend herself by curling up on one side, but he just continued to tickle her on one side that was uncovered.
Oh, she was beautiful!
He pulled away a few moments later only to have Grace pointing her index fingers at him.
"Oh, you are soooo gonna pay for this!", she gasped for breath between giggles before sitting back up.
Lucas smiled, bringing her palm up and gently kissing her knuckles.
"No, go on, lay down. I promise I'll be good", he winked at her, making her stifle a giggle.
"Hmmmm…Well, alright. I trust you with anything anyway, so I suppose I can trust you with my feet too, right?", she quipped and went back to laying down, placing her feet back in Lucas' lap.
His heart swelled at her praise.
I trust you with anything anyway, so I suppose I can trust you with my feet too, right?
His eyes softened.
"Absolutely", he silently replied, gently caressing upper part of her feet "Is this okay?"
Grace's heart skipped a beat at how attentive and gentle her man was.
She smiled warmly.
"It's perfect", then pulling up a serious face, she clapped her hands and asked "Alright, where were we? Oh, right - question number whatever!", she giggled as Lucas chuckled at her choice of words "Your first hangover?"
Lucas' eyes widened, his mouth opening a little bit in surprise as he slowly turned toward her.
"He told you about that?!", he gasped.
Grace stifled her laugh.
"I don't know what are you talking about", she bit her lower lip hard in order not to burst to giggles.
Lucas shook his head, rubbing his forehead.
"Ah, mon frére… You'll never get an aspirin from me again. And holidays are at the doors", he mumbled, only to close his eyes and groan in the next moment.
Grace couldn't hold it any longer; she bursted in giggles.
"Come ooon, Lucas! He only told me that it's a funny story!", she grinned, sitting up.
Lucas couldn't help but chuckle at her sweet, bubbling energy. She was practically sitting on her palms in order not to jump.
He shook his head, throwing his hands in the air only to let them fall against his thighs.
"Fine. I was 17 years old and we were visiting my Aunt and Uncle in Paris. Gustave and his brothers Jean and Pierre are all older than I am, and they assured both their and my parents that they can let me go out with them. That they will take care of me", he chuckled "However, my dear cousin who is now a chef at my house was actually planning a revenge on me for beating him in darts."
Grace pressed her lips together, her eyes twinkling.
Lucas let his head fell back on the seat.
"The idiots took me to a bar, ordering drinks for everybody, non-alcoholic for me because I was still out of age…or so they made me think."
By now Grace was giggling, her eyes shining with tears of laughter.
Lucas grinned, loving the sound of her laughter.
"By the end of our night out I had about six or seven drinks, maybe eight. Not sure. They say that you should stop counting after fifth drink…I stopped thinking clearly after the third one", as those words left his mouth, Lucas laughed "And then they talked me into singing."
Grace gasped.
"No!", she shook with laughter.
Lucas smirked.
"Oh, yes. Apparently, I did a screaming version of 'After the ball is over'", he shook his head and laughed at the absurdity of it.
Grace doubled over in laughter. She glanced at Lucas, wiping tears of laughter.
"Oh, I'd like to hear that!", she giggled.
Lucas grimaced, chuckling.
"Trust me, you wouldn't. I can't sing even if my life depended on it", he said.
Grace giggled.
"Oh, you and me both!", she said, leaning back into her seat.
Lucas glanced at her, grinning.
"Alright", he turned toward her completely "Your turn."
Grace grimaced.
"Ugh… Well, Lillian and I wanted to celebrate her birthday and so I had to do everything she says. And one thing she wanted was for me to be the only one to sing 'Happy birthday' to her since I was not there for 12 years", she hid her face in her palms, her shoulders shaking from laughter "I told her that I can't sing, but she didn't believe me. I didn't want to do it so she suggested a toast. To her birthday. Then another toast. To us reuniting. Then a toast to cheese we nibbled on along with wine. Then a toast to her new dress. Then a toast to my new comb. Then a toast to the skies above. Then a toast to the crickets. Then a toast to a leaf that fell. Then the toast to a neighbor's puppy who barked angrily at my howling version of 'Happy birthday'. And finally, a toast to the sunny day that drifts away with her birthday!", Grace recited the last sentence with a poetic flare, sending Lucas into absolute hysterics!
"How much did you two drink?", he managed to ask between laughing fits.
Grace giggled.
"Didn't you just told me that they say that you should stop counting after the fifth drink?", as Lucas burst to another fit of laughter, Grace decided that she wants to watch those dimples for a bit longer, so she jumped up on her seat, saying "Oh, no wait! That was the second time! The first time was two months after Lillian and I reunited and I got a bad cold and cough. Lillian found a bottle of cough medicine and gave me a big spoonful every hour for about five hours", by now Grace was having a hard time to talk due to giggling like mad "Well it turns out it was an old medicine man elixir that was pure whiskey! After the fifth spoonful, I was bouncing up and down on the mattress in my white nightgown and saying out loud "I can fly!" Lillian caught me before I jumped out the second story window of our bedroom. To this day I will not take liquid medicine!"
Lucas collapsed to his seat from laughter, his head falling into Grace's lap. She laughed her heart out alongside with him as her fingers rested on his chest and hair, both of them gasping for a proper breath.
"Oh, dear God!", Grace gasped through giggles "Lets agree never to get drunk in each other's company!"
Lucas covered his eyes with his fingers, his other palm covering her hand that rested on his chest.
"Deal!", he said through laughter.
—--
Baby, pass the aspirin, something's gotta work
I know I did it to myself but man oh man it hurts
That second last Martini, the one that went down real smooth
Set me on the bender with nothing left to lose.
I just can't apologize
For what I did to myself
My bed's an ocean liner
And I can't call for help.
Yea baby, it hurts a bunch
The girls got going and we had a munch
I promise on a dime, it's the last time
I'll ever have a liquid lunch.
Yea baby, it hurts a bunch
The girls got going and we had a munch
I promise on a dime, it's the last time
I'll ever have a liquid lunch.
I think I've got the symptoms and none of them will leave
They think that it's a party to laugh at all my grief
It must've been a doozy, I had two hundred dreams
At least I found my pillow 'cause I can't find my keys.
It's hard to remember
All of the events
But I must've paid the tab
'Cause all that's left is fifty cents.
Yea baby, it hurts a bunch
The girls got going and we had a munch
I promise on a dime it's the last time
I'll ever have a liquid lunch.
Yea baby, it hurts a bunch
The girls got going and we had a munch
I promise on a dime it's the last time
I'll ever have a liquid lunch.
Baby, I can call the pharmacy
They'll bring something up, something up 'toute suite'
Some exotic medicine to cure my every ill
With some kind of magic pill.
I just can't apologize
For what I did to myself
My bed's an ocean liner
And I can't call for help.
Yea baby, it hurts a bunch
The girls got going and we had a munch
I promise on a dime, it's the last time
I'll ever have a liquid lunch.
Yea baby, it hurts a bunch
The girls got going and we had a munch
I promise on a dime, it's the last time
I'll ever have a liquid lunch.
Yea baby, it hurts a bunch
The girls got going and we had a munch
I promise on a dime, it's the last time
I'll ever have a liquid lunch.
Yea baby, it hurts a bunch
The girls got going and we had a munch
I promise on a dime, it's the last time
I'll ever have a liquid lunch.
("Liquid lunch" - Caro Emerald)