Lord Eward Mountford-Miles (lord_eward) wrote in toujoursliberer, @ 2008-05-31 21:48:00 |
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Entry tags: | eward_mountford-miles, katherine_rochester |
The Keward Saga Continues
Subject: After the dance has finished, the two bump into each other unexpectedly.
Who: Katherine Rochester & Eward Mountford-Miles
Where: Bailston Abbey, a time after the dancing.
Warnings: NC-17 for arguments and making whoopie, followed by lethal doses of cuteness!!!
[Authors' Note: OOC shipper comments are welcome!!! :P co-authored by krochester and lord_eward]
Katherine could not sleep. It was late, and she had heard the guests from the dance starting to trickle upstairs from the festivities. She almost regretted leaving early, for she had not gotten to sleep early as she'd intended, so she may as well have stayed with the other guests. Her eyes were transfixed on a spot on the canopy above the bed, and she lay motionless, sleepless, and lonely. Part of her wanted to find Daphne, but a deeper part of her felt that maybe it was not best to interrupt the brewing romance between her best friend and the doctor.
Sighing, Katherine slid out of the bed, her nightdress hanging limply on her body. She pulled a robe on over it and did not bother with slippers; she'd not be out long, just for a quick walk to tire her out. Katherine stepped out into the darkened corridor, closing the door quietly behind her. She carefully began to walk down the hall, trying not to disrupt any of the other guests to whom sleep had come. Rounding a corner, Katherine found herself at the end of an even longer corridor. Perhaps a walk up and down this one would be enough to make her sleepy.
Eward had taken time after the arduous hours of hunting, eating and dancing to relax and order a bath courtesy of Lord Hurst's assigned servants. The exertion of the day plus the sweat of hunting and chasing certainly made him feel dirtier than usual, and after fifteen minutes of soaking himself he managed to get out of the bath and begin drying himself. He was far too fidgety to stay in long; thoughts of Katherine and her rotten behaviour was all that he could dwell on and that made him restless. The servants he had excused were missing as he attempted to clean up after himself, leaving him to pull on his plainer, looser clothes and as he exited the room he called for the manservant assigned to him.
"Michael? I didn't say go completely, you know!" he called, running his fingers through his damp hair to prevent the strands getting into his eyes.
Katherine was about half-way down the corridor when she heard a door open to her right. Spinning around, she found herself nearly face-to-face with the very last person she wanted to run into in a dark hallway when she couldn't sleep as it was. She fell silent as Eward stepped out of the room and yelled for his manservant, and Katherine took a wary step backwards. Swallowing, she avoided looking directly at him. It was obvious that Eward had just bathed, for his hair was wet and his clothes seemed rather hastily put on, his shirt hanging open.
Taking a deep breath, Katherine looked up at him before saying quietly, coldly, and admonishingly, "You are going to wake the entire estate if you shout like that."
Eward was stunned to see Katherine standing there, the last person on earth he had expected to see around the manor late at night. For a moment he stood silent, feeling his stomach warming at the sight of her - then Katherine began to snap at him and that feeling twisted into something of disappointment and anger. His face contorted from slight gladness to annoyance in one twitch of his muscles and he breathed down his nose. "Ah, Miss Rochester. Ever a pleasure. Did you make your way down here especially to annoy me or is this wonderful encounter merely by chance?"
Katherine pursed her lips. She had asked for this in being so short with Eward both that afternoon and now, but that did not make his snide remarks better. On the contrary, it made them worse. "By chance, sir, of course," Katherine responded, her voice biting. "Though had I known you would be out I may still have come. Your arguing does tire me as I had hoped my walk would." She crossed her arms against her chest, sensing the hot anger brewing in her stomach. It seemed to grow faster now than it had in the past, even during their worst arguments.
"I would think writing your little stories would be the perfect cure for insomnia," Eward countered, unable to stop the smirk from spreading across his mouth. Oh he had ammunition and by God he was going to use it. "After your little display at the picnic I'd think you had lots more to put down in words. Perhaps make yourself wittier so that you could re-live it in your perfect little ideal..."
Katherine's temper flared, her entire chest hot. It was like Eward to bring up something so personal to try and make a worthy jab at her, but this particular secret ran deeper. He was the only one who knew about her writing, and though he had promised to keep it that way, the way he was currently acting suggested otherwise. Katherine was hurt, and now hell-bent on getting back at him. But how? "How dare you!" she said, her voice a whisper but a cruel and harsh one. "Do not presume that you know anything about my work beyond that I am the one who writes it!" Katherine took a step forward, her hand raised just slightly as if to shove him as she had done many times in their childhood.
Eward grabbed her hand, and drew her towards him as if for an intimate moment together but just as Katherine was quick to anger, Eward's temper was also ready to flare. "You leave me no choice but to presume everything about you," he hissed, blue eyes piercing her with a deep, angry glare. "You tell me nothing of how you feel, you switch emotions at the drop of a hat. One moment you are civil and the next you seek to mock me in front of your friends to appear distant and aloof when mere days ago I admitted, despite my misgivings, of how I felt for you. Do not dare to accuse me of being unkind to you, for I start with the very best intentions every time we meet. It is you who seeks to bring it down to this level - this," he said, gesturing with his head to the hallway, "arguing in the middle of the night about some ridiculous subject which you brought up merely to protect yourself from what you really feel!"
As he finished speaking he realised how fast his heart was beating and let her hand go, silent and almost nervous as to what he had just admitted aloud.
Katherine let out a surprised gasp when Eward grabbed her hand, but she had almost seen it coming. She was nearly shivering under his intense gaze, not quite prepared for any of the things he said. It would have been wise of her to have known this would happen, but she had been everything but wise. For many long moments, Katherine stood staring back at Eward, her deep brown eyes stinging but strong, her entire body shaking. Finally, her voice low and almost inaudible, Katherine replied, "Then if you know so much, pray tell what it is you think I have to hide. I am allowed my reasons, and it is not up to you to determine why I behave as I do. Maybe I realize that we...that this...that what happened is wrong." She would have continued, but her mouth was dry, and oddly, Katherine feared that if she went on she would break down.
"How is it wrong?" Eward cried, a little too loudly and he lowered his voice hurriedly before he continued. "Please, explain to me your reasons for treating me like some dirt that fell on your shoe. You owe me that much considering I... considering that I was so open with you when I did not have to be. That I admitted to you what I felt just so that things would not have to be like this." Emotion was getting the better of him. The hues of his eyes were changing with the mixture of tears which were threatening to show themselves but he refused to let his voice mirror the swirling agony of his stomach. "I realise that you think what happened goes against every fibre of your being, but it is obviously not so... call it weakness or call it a mistake, just tell me something so I do not drive myself mad!"
"It is wrong in so many ways, Eward! Do not tell me that you don't realize that," Katherine responded, her voice cracking over the words. She looked away, unable to watch the mix of anger and sadness in Eward's blue eyes. Adamantly Katherine continued, "We have loathed one another since we were children, and that cannot be made up for by one night. And I am engaged to a man who could ruin you if he found out. As far as everyone else knows, this never happened, and it has to stay that way. It will only do that if we act as if it didn't," Katherine explained, but her words wavered and were beginning to sound choked and teary. She was terrified at what she had just said; it was exactly what Daphne had warned her against. Pretending and hiding would never make this go away.
Eward stood. That was all he could do. There was reason in her words that he didn't understand. How could he? It went against everything he wanted. Though it might have been rational to her, to him it was just another obstacle in their way. All her explanations were said out of fear. If Eward could think straight he might have - actually, probably agreed with her but he couldn't right now. The sight of her was enough to chase away any rational or sensible thought. "Did you pay no attention to me?" he asked, his voice quiet. "I told you at that party, that I had never truly loathed you. I could not, not in a thousand years. That one night, that mistake as you like to remind me, opened my eyes to what I really felt. It is thanks to you that I realised this part of me ever existed and I am not going to throw it away out of fear some old politician will get jealous!"
Katherine continued to look away, afraid to see eye to eye with him now. She could not argue with much of what Eward had said, but that did not make it right or acceptable. And, too, Katherine felt the stinging twinge of fear in her stomach, fear of what could be if she agreed with him, or him with her. Her gaze still directed away, Katherine murmured, "If you are indeed a good person, then you do not need me to bring it out of you." She paused. "And it is not just jealousy, Eward, for he would not envy you. It is a matter of pride, and of my obligation to marry him and be faithful to him." Katherine carefully avoided his more sentimental statements, mostly because they flattered her and started to defeat the anger in her body, and that was what she feared.
Eward scoffed, finding it unbelievable. He put a hand over his mouth, laughing at the idea which he thought completely ludicrous. The thought of her marrying that man, being with him was enough to make him gag but he couldn't. He just... laughed. "This is the most idiotic thing I have ever encountered in my entire life," he said, shaking his head with a smile which was completely without mirth. "I have no idea whether you are protecting me or yourself. Probably the latter. But I am tired of this game." He set his gaze on her, serious and stern. "I want you, Katherine. As I explained before to you I... I truly, want you. Whether you choose to act on this or continue to see me as a poor sap besotted with the better woman is up to you but I am tired of playing. Friendship or nothing. Make a choice. Either way at least my head will be settled and I will not drive myself mad at night wondering if this could ever work..."
Katherine was silent for a long time, what felt like ages, focusing on not looking Eward directly in the eyes for fear she might not be able to handle it. Never before had she thought on the possibility that someone, anyone, would want her at all, let alone out of attraction and least of all Eward. She could barely think, and certainly not speak, but her mouth was terribly dry and her hands were shaking uncontrollably, her heart racing, the pounding almost deafening to her own ears. At long last, she looked up at Eward, seeing his intense, serious stare set upon her. "Eward," she started, unable to say anything beyond his name at first, "is wanting me enough to put ourselves in this position? It can never truly be. You know this."
Frustrated, Eward threw his hands up in the air and turned to walk back into his room, talking to himself. "I cannot handle this, I really cannot handle this!" She had not made a choice. The simplest of decisions and she could not even tell him. It was not simply a matter of wanting her - he did, he did want her, but he was not going to admit that he loved her. He had not yet even admitted it to himself, despite his outburst to Harry those days ago and by hell he was not about to do that now, when he was unsure of her reaction. "The only thing that could ever hamper our being together is you. That is it. Nothing complicated. Nothing.... grand or supernatural. It is you. Never mind for now that I want you, do you want me?"
Taken aback, Katherine stared at Eward as he retreated into his room, listening to his outburst. She had not considered before now the effect she might have had on him beyond pure desire, and it seemed that he was not lying about how he felt. But when posed the question, Katherine wondered after her own feelings. It was true that in the wild emotions of that night some weeks back she had wanted him, desired him. And even afterwards, her body grew warm whenever she saw him, and deep within herself Katherine knew that it was not just fear or dread but something else, something as yet unidentified. And now...Eward was right. This was not a question of what was moral or right, it was of whether or not she could accept that maybe there was something tangible, something worth breaking the rules for.
Katherine took a step towards the door of Eward's room, not daring to cross the threshold, not yet. Silence prevailing, she slowly nodded her head, an almost invisible gesture. Feeling more at ease, she quietly uttered a simple, even, "Yes." But from the distance, Katherine almost wondered if he could hear her. Encouraged by her own daring, Katherine continued, "Yes, I do," and in a few strides had crossed the room to where Eward stood, giving in and adding, in a hoarse whisper, "Oh God, I do," and, using the momentum from her steps, threw herself against his hard, masculine form, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her lips passionately against Eward's.
Not for a million years would Eward have ever thought Katherine would so readily agree that she wanted him. It wasn't that easy in his slight experience of matters like these, but Katherine again surprised him. Where he predicted she would just walk away after giving some excuse, he could not believe that she was saying yes. He was so stunned that he did not even register her moving towards him for if he had he would have been prepared for her outburst. His heart beat faster and his body trembled in something more than shock or anticipation, and when her lips met his he let out a low moan of approval which he had been dying to let out for some time.
The feel of her was more than welcome, setting his whole nerves alight; he had dreamt of holding her again for so long and her embrace did not disappoint. He kissed her back feverently, almost desperately. He was not going to let this go, not now when he had her willingly in his arms, admitting that - he could not believe it - she felt the same way. Happy that he had been right about one thing he wrapped his arms around her, lifting her slightly so that their bodies were better entwined. If this wasn't pure euphoria he did not know what was.
Katherine half expected Eward to either push her away to spite her or violently throw her to the ground and have her right there, but she was not exactly surprised when he went to neither of those extremes. His return of her kiss sent shivers down her spine, and the feeling of his arms around her, holding her tightly against his body, was enough to break down the wall she had been building up between them. It came crashing down around her, along with all of her reservations and worries, as she kissed Eward back heavily, her fingers twisting in his dark, damp hair. Katherine let out a brief, throaty squeal of surprise when Eward lifted her from the ground, but forgot the shock in the sensation of him touching her.
Holding her in his arms was more perfect than he remembered last time, but he had no idea where to go. Letting his instincts lead him, Eward carried her to the wall just so she would be supported, furthering the kiss with deep breaths and short moans, wasting no time in prying open her mouth. This was too good to be true, but he was not about to dwell on it. Her fingers in his hair sent shocks all up his spine and he shivered, his hands moving all over her body to feel her beneath his fingers. Again there was far too much matieral between them... but he was not about to undress and risk losing her if she didn't want to go there...
Feeling her back hit the wall, Katherine moaned against Eward's mouth, her hands sliding down from his neck and hair to his own hands. She felt supported enough against the wall, and so, taking Eward's hands in her own trembling ones, guided him to the ties of her robe. Perhaps Daphne's words had truly gotten to her; if she was going to do something bad, she may as well do it as much as possible. Her body was on fire, every nerve on end and every thought in her head focused on Eward. Even more than the first time, it felt as though the barriers between them had fallen apart, disintegrated from the combined desire. But this time, she didn't want them to go back up.
Eward took her lead and tugged the material, releasing the ties of her robe which fell open infront of him. He daren't look down at her just yet - he had not tasted enough of her mouth, he had not spent time on her kiss to warrant going further just yet. His wandering hands slid up her waist and ribs, subtly shifting the material so it might open more. He did not want to appear too eager but with both of them obviously wanting and needing this so badly he did not see anything in wrong in easing things along.
Her robe may have fallen open, but that did not stop Katherine from feeling that the nightdress that remained to conceal her modesty was too constricting, and that Eward's own clothing was unnecessary. She straightened her arms, allowing the robe to fall away, leaving her in only the thin nightdress. Katherine slid her arms around Eward's neck once more, pulling him closer to her and pressing her body as firmly against his as she could. She continued their passionate kissing, the fervent joining of their lips and tongues, but soon slipped her hands a little further down on his back, tugging upwards at the thin fabric of his shirt.
Eward's senses were on overload, his nerves tingling and shivers running through his entire body. Only Katherine could do this to him; only Katherine could completely overtake him, consume him, fill his entire thoughts and it felt so good to experience this. He took the hint with the shirt, leaning back from her only a little to raise it and pull it clean over his head, throwing it down to one side before he resumed kissing her for the seconds he'd missed had been seconds too long. Helping her shrug off the robe from her shoulders, Eward's mouth never left hers. She was like an addiction, like nectar to a honey bee and he kept wanting more.
It was agony to see Eward pull off his shirt but still not press her skin to his. Katherine's heart was beating out of her chest, her stomach hot, and her limbs shaking with the sheer intensity of what was happening between them. She sighed against Eward's lips when he returned to her, her hands over his, bringing them to the hem of her nightdress where it had bunched around her thighs. She could not be close enough, not be held tight enough, not kissed heavily enough. It was as if they could never make up for all of the lost time of their youth, hating one another and calling each other names, but they sure as hell could try.
If Eward knew what Katherine was thinking he would agree - he could not believe that he had only just figured out his desire for her so late in life. Granted that Katherine was only twenty-two years old but still he should have known, had an inkling that it was not loathing he felt but a deep attraction. Trust him to leave things so late. His hands moved beneath Katherine's thighs, and slid up to hold her firmly there, grabbing her and trying to push up her nightdress at the same time. The wall was fine, but not for this and he found himself tearing her away, still kissing her with a desperate need, and beginning to carry her towards the bed where he rather roughly tumbled down onto her, letting out half a breath and half a moan as he was forced to break his mouth away.
Katherine felt as if in their kiss they might mend the years of loathing, might push aside what had happened in place of what could be, and what was. She welcomed the sensation of his hands on her legs, and even more welcome was Eward's acceptance of her weight against him as he carried her across the room to his bed. Desperately Katherine held her lips against his, but they toppled rather unceremoniously onto the mattress and were forced apart. In their disunion, Katherine saw the door still ajar and held her hand up to stop Eward before he returned to her. "The door," she whispered breathily, "get the door." This would have to be private.
The door? Eward could have killed himself. He was in the middle of this, he was just getting started and she had to mention the door? "Later," he breathed, kissing her again, wanting nothing more than to continue without interruption but he knew it was necessary to close it. He would not want to get up and do it when he was still in bed, so, despite his want to stay and kiss Katherine he heaved himself up with a loud growl, stalking over and kicking the door shut with a bang before rushing over to return to the bed. He grinned as he leant down over her, resuming their kiss and sliding a hand under her nightgown. That was another minute they would have to make up for.
Katherine almost laughed at Eward's unwillingness to leave her, and then his violence with the door. Had she not been so keen on rejoining with him, she'd have remarked on how they'd wake the whole estate one way or another, but now was not the time to be humorous. Katherine pressed her body rather wantonly against Eward's much larger form when he returned to her, and his hand against her leg was enough to drive her mad. She lifted her figure, pressing it to his as if in silent request that he remove her nightdress now, not later. Despite her desire to take things slowly, to enjoy him and the pleasure he gave her, the fabric was too heavy. It had to be gone.
Eward could not agree more. No sooner had she lifted herself than he was flicking up the material over her body and dragging it from her form; it passed through his mind that he had never seen her naked before. The last time she had worn a chemise, and now there was nothing to shield his skin from hers. Eward's grin widened and instead of rejoining their mouths he dipped low to kiss her stomach, between her breasts and then up to her neck and collarbone, simply to tease as the nightdress fell to the floor in a crumpled heap. Never mind clothes and material to cover themselves; Eward wanted Katherine to be the one covering him, limbs, skin, hair, he wanted all of her and he wanted her now.
Katherine let out a soft, contented sigh as Eward pulled the flimsy nightdress up her body and then off it, the feeling of the material dragging over her skin almost too much; she was sensitive and hot, and the caress on her skin was maximized tenfold. When Eward returned to her, Katherine saw the excitement on his face at seeing her without anything to hide any part of her, and though the desire in his eyes terrified her, it also encouraged her and heightened her own longing. His kisses to her abdomen and chest were enough to make her feel dizzy, and when he moved to her neck, Katherine used the closeness to her advantage, sliding her slim fingers down his sides to just beneath the waist of his trousers, a soft but promising caress.
He had not anticipated her to be so bold as to actually touch him but the sensation of her gentle fingers against his form was enough to encourage him to grind against her hand. It was instinctive and primal, something he would have avoided if he could have but he enjoyed it. It also reminded him that he was still too covered and as he rejoined their mouths he reached down to rid himself of the trousers by shoving the waistband down, hoping Katherine would help him with the rest.
Eward's body pressed against hers made Katherine recall easily their first night together, the pure need that had brought her such pleasure, and his touch now was just as desperate, just as agonizingly desirous. Katherine moaned sensually against Eward's mouth when he kissed her once more, and her body matched his as he ground against her. Taking Eward's lead, Katherine pushed his trousers down even further, unable to reach far enough to push them off entirely but sure that they'd be lost in the mix somehow. Katherine wrapped her arms firmly around Eward's neck, their bodies now fully bare, and the sensation of skin on skin made Katherine shudder with anxiety and passion.
This was where he wanted to be; in the midst of this, with Katherine, kissing and simply being with her. Though he continued to run his hands over her body, taking the soft feel of her skin, memorizing every inch of her that he had not taken the time to do so before, Eward still felt afraid in the back of his mind. This was still new, still exciting, and yet he was acutely aware of how... perfect it was. How complete. There was no way he was going to dwell on it, far from it, but it was there to think of after. For now he concentrated on her hands around his neck, caressing her tongue with his and all the while adjusting his body so that he was so tantalisingly close to entering her and making the whole thing that little bit more intense...
Katherine, unlike before, felt her reservations melting away by the second. He would not hurt her; if he had not hurt her the first time, he certainly wouldn't now. Worrying over implications could wait for the morning, but after what they had discussed earlier, perhaps it was best to pretend there were none. Driven on by the heated desire in her stomach and the quivering mess that she was quickly becoming in their frenzy, Katherine pulled her lips away from Eward's. She looked directly into his eyes, a soft and passionate look, as if to say that she did not fear him or what they were doing. She was just content to be there with him, to feel his body so close to joining with hers. That, for now, was all that mattered.
The moment she looked into his eyes Eward felt like he was about to vanish. Surely that was not how one was supposed to feel when they looked into the eyes of a lover? Becoming lost in the moment Eward pressed a gentle kiss to her lips, tender and almost loving before he eased himself in, his mouth parting in a shallow gasp. His hair fell over his eyes as his head dipped with the new sensation, resting near her face. He didn't want to be far from her mouth, far from her kisses and as soon as he began a slow and steady rhythmn he captured her in another embrace.
Katherine was admittedly surprised when Eward, too, stilled for a moment to look at her. His eyes said a million things, none of them being that this was bad or wrong, and that notion soothed her. She felt transparent, as if he could see everything about her, and so lost was she in his vibrantly blue eyes that she barely registered his gentle, tender kiss, one that stifled her passionate sigh as he entered her. Katherine clung to Eward's shoulders, her nails digging in there with the still-unfamiliar sensation of being joined with him, but as he moved to kiss her again, Katherine did everything but resist, instead offering her own equally intense kiss in return and matching each of his movements with ones of her own.
Eward had waited for this, wanted this for so long. Though he had passed it off as simple animal desire, somehow he knew it to be more. This was something bigger than mere enjoyment and as he moved with her, easing inside her and delighting in her gasps of pleasure he found himself holding his breath. The aching knot in his chest was tightening with every stroke and he feared he might lose himself completely. Despite his concerns he increased their joint movements, shifting her legs to better their position and deepen himself within her. He needed her to envelope him completely and only then would he be happy.... even happier than he was now, breathing with her and feeling her underneath him.
Katherine followed Eward's lead, still not entirely confident in herself as a lover, wrapping her legs snugly around his waist at his initiative. Every feeling, every emotion was new and exciting, and her entire body was aflame with passion and blinding desire, and she did nothing to stop it. It consumed her, took control of her, and Katherine had no intention of fighting, instead allowing the intensity to wash over her. Eward's much larger body on hers was oddly comforting, and Katherine reveled in the sensation, pulling him deeper within her by tightening her legs. She gasped against his mouth, her hands gripping firmly to his strong back, never feeling more alive than she did now.
There was no telling how much time passed or even if it was turning at all. Everything stopped and melted away as soon as he and Katherine were together like nothing mattered. In truth, Eward always felt like nothing mattered but him but this was different. All he could do was keep up the rhythmn he had acquired, continuing the pace as it seemed to be satisfying her but as his pleasure increased so did his desire and it soon changed. His movements became deeper, sporadic and longer, driving in to the hilt before returning to his gentle and considerate ways. He couldn't get enough of her moans, the sensation of her grasping fingertips driving him wild as he felt the similar warm sensation building through him, intensified by the heat of their skin rubbing against each other. Ecstasy could not even describe it.
Time and space were at a standstill, it seemed, for Katherine could see nothing but the blinding passion in her eyes and feel naught but Eward's body so intimately entwined with hers, hear only his breath against her mouth and neck, say no words, only moans and sighs. If it was possible, she felt even more hot, overwhelming pleasure than the first time, despite Eward's moments of fierceness. But it helped her rather than annoying her, increased her own drive to be with him in every way possible. Katherine could sense the tension in Eward's limbs, feel his desperation, and she pressed her lips almost painfully against his, her legs even tighter around Eward's waist. She needed him, wanted to feel him shudder in her arms from their shared pleasure, and with that thought in her mind, Katherine fit her body impossibly tightly against Eward's, gasping against his mouth as she came, her body turning into a quivering tangle of limbs embracing his.
Eward felt it before she displayed it on her face; the pre-curser to her climax, the tensing of her muscles. All it served to do was bring about his own immediate release and his voice trembled with moans as he shuddered in her grasp, arms tense and trembling, his stomach pulsing as he felt her spasm around him. The complete abandon in which they thrown themselves into this was now catching up with him, his heart racing as he came down from his high, breathing shallow. Opening his eyes he saw Katherine's glowing form beneath him and he smiled, nudging his forehead against hers in a very familiar manner before he kissed her once more, briefly and blurred.
Breathing heavily, her sounds raspy from exertion, Katherine pressed her head back against the pillows, feeling Eward's own release and the subsequent calm and tenderness. She found comfort in the way he held her despite his own quivering body, and Katherine relaxed in his arms, holding him gently but seriously, not ready to part from him just yet. Katherine looked up into Eward's face, her eyes aglow, her body hot and trembling, and was put even more at ease by his brief kiss, one both sensitive and passionate. Sighing against his mouth, Katherine soon pulled away, resting her head against his neck, her body heavy from its exertions.
Eward didn't want to move. He didn't want to break away or do anything to ruin the moment but he knew they couldn't stay entwined forever despite his deepest wishes. With a final, lingering kiss to her lips Eward pulled away and moved to her side, taking care to peel himself gently from her form before he settled himself with a sigh. There were no words to describe the feeling which was resonating through his body, but it was close to bliss.
Katherine closed her eyes, content to just enjoy the feeling of Eward's body pressing hers into the bed, but knew that it could not last. As he pulled away from her with another kiss, Katherine felt the strangest sensation of emptiness, as if she needed him with her. A few long moments passed, her eyes still closed tightly, before Katherine rolled over onto her side in Eward's direction. Opening her eyes, she gently slid her hand beneath his, grasping it tenderly, and laid her head softly on his chest.
Nothing could have prepared Eward for what Katherine did next; the tenderness in which she took his hand, cuddling up to him. This, he had not imagined happening. Not in a million years would he have expected her to want to be close to him, even after they had an unspoken understanding. Yes they had both admitted they wanted each other, they both knew that there was a connection they could not explain but to have her so near and holding him like a lover - a true lover - made Eward feel as if he were doing all this for the very first time. Instead of turning their opposite ways they were still together, and he was humbled if not slightly frightened by that notion.
Katherine could sense, if only innately, that Eward was anxious. For what reason, she was unsure, but anxious nonetheless. Perhaps she had overstepped the unspoken boundary between physical desire and emotional connection, and that notion scared her. Pulling her hand away as if burned, her head moving up off of his chest, Katherine murmured, "I'll leave, then." Maybe this had happened just as fast as the first time, and they would now need their space.
"Katherine," Eward said quickly, leaping into action and grabbing her hand, placing it back where it had been before and tugging her towards him. "I don't want you to leave."
Her hand burned with his touch, mostly out of surprise. Katherine looked back at Eward as he pulled her back towards him across the bed. Darkly and quietly, she responded, "You don't?" lifting her eyes to meet his.
Eward smiled slightly sadly, gently easing her into his side once more and putting an arm around her. He'd panicked when she'd moved, not ready to have her gone again so fast and though he regretted how weak he sounded he was glad she was back with him. "Just stay with me," he requested, taking her fingers in his and stroking them. "Do what you were doing."
Katherine's heart leapt at the prospect of Eward wanting her to remain with him. She did not know why or how, but a deep part of her adored the sensation of being wanted, of being desired and not used. And so she settled back against Eward's large masculine form, their hands pressed toghther, fingers entwined. His fingers stroking hers sent a shiver down Katherine's spine, but not one of desire, one caused by the new, strange, oddly tender gesture of Eward's. She did not say a word, feeling that she did not need to.
Though his eyes began to sag Eward did not want to sleep. He wanted to remain awake and take it all in; what had just happened and what was happening now. To feel Katherine naked and exposed against his own bare form was somehow fitting, raw and real. He had never got this far with a woman before, to simply lie there and hold her and while being held. But then, he reasoned, he had never wanted to. Now it felt strange if he didn't keep Katherine close.
Katherine felt her eyes become heavier, but could not leave behind the image presented to her. With just a slight shift of her vision, she could see Eward's face, his form, and their clasped hands, and it provided for a striking image. But she was indeed sleepy, especially after what had just gone on between herself and Eward. Shifting in his arms, Katherine turned so as to kiss him softly on the lips, then adding a second gentle kiss to his jawline, and at last settling back into his embrace, her head nuzzled tenderly in the crook of his neck. She felt calm, safe, and protected, and that comforted her even in the remaining afterthoughts of their union.
Eward's heart rate sped up when she kissed him, a bundle of nerves as to what she was doing but when she settled back down he eased slightly. Inclining his head to hers Eward was finaly able to relax, closing his eyes in the warmth of Katherine's arms and drifting into the first content slumber he had had in years.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Sunlight streamed through the break between the draperies on the window, casting dark shadows all around the room and a shaft of pure light across the canopied bed. The light struck Katherine rather harshly in the face, rousing her from the deepest slumber she'd had in many weeks. Her eyes flickering open, Katherine was quick to realize that she was not in her own room at Lord Hurst's estate, and that she was not alone. She did not even have to look to confirm that her bedpartner was a still-asleep Eward. His arms were still held tightly around her body, his hands splayed across her bare back, and it was odd, but also calming.
Katherine sighed, sliding deeper beneath the messy tangle of sheets surrounding their bodies, her head nestled comfortably against Eward's chest. This was new and strange, but she did not mind it, not for the moment. She closed her eyes against the searing sunlight, curling her arms against her bare chest and trying to regain the serenity she had before waking.
Eward was stirred by the feel of someone moving next to him. As he opened his eyelids it was to meet the blinding early morning sunlight flooding the bedroom; why had he requested an east-facing chamber? He took a deep breath to try and wake himself further, blinking hard against the light and glanced down to see a head of tangled brown hair nestled against his chest; a serene-looking woman he recognised instantly to be Katherine. There was no doubt of that. He never woke to women in the morning, for they were always gone by daybreak, and he would have been hard pressed to forget the night they had spent together.
Sensing that Eward had awoken, Katherine kept to herself. She was not ready to rise just yet, not after the previous night's exertions. Their lovemaking had tired her even at first, but she would have been remiss to even consider refusing a second time, and the passion of that had turned into a third, and before she knew it, she was physically spent and weary beyond anything she'd previously experienced. And so Katherine did not move, merely pretending to still slumber, if only for a few minutes longer.
Eward had loved last night. After they had recovered from their first reunion as such, it had not been long before he had instigated another try, wanting nothing more than to experience her again. In the dark of the early hours he had been surprised but pleased to discover Katherine awakening him, and actually taking charge. Her confidence was growing and that could only spell for a better future. With a sigh he stroked her skin with his thumb, taking in the smell of her hair. She was sweet - a scent he couldn't place but he did not want to. She simply smelt of Katherine and that was enough for Eward.
Katherine had not intended to wake so quickly, but when Eward began to stroke her back, it was difficult to remain asleep, or tired at all. She did not raise her head or show her alertness for a few long moments, simply enjoying the tenderness he seemed to be showing. But after a short while, Katherine, though not acknowledging being awake, ran her fingertips gently along Eward's chest where her hand rested, drawing lazy little lines of skin on skin.
The tickling sensation of Katherine's fingers were enough to alert him to her waking though he didn't register it for a moment. When he realised, he smiled and glanced down at her, watching her do it for a few moments before speaking softly. "Good morning."
Oddly, Katherine was surprised to hear Eward's voice. For a moment, she'd almost forgotten that he, too, was awake, and she was at first startled. Looking up into his face, Katherine offered a small, tired, but sincere smile, repeating the sentiment, "Good morning." There was little else she could think of to say.
Remaining silent now Eward stroked her arm, but as he allowed his thoughts to linger on the morning he suddenly realised what was wrong with this equation. "Katherine..." he said, almost panicked. "It is nearing six...the servants will be calling the house is already awake you...you are not in your room..."
It took Katherine a few moments to register what he had said, but when she did, it hit her heavily. Scrambling up, Katherine said breathlessly, "No! Oh, for goodness sake, they'll see me if I run back now!" Frantically, Katherine grabbed her nightdress from where it lay on the floor, throwing it over her shoulders before turning viciously back to Eward. "It's all your fault if they find out, you know! I might have left," Katherine admonished him, but only out of self-defense.
"Would you rather stay here and be discovered?" Eward asked, feeling the wrench of her moving away from him as if she'd torn herself from his very body. He should have expected her reaction - it was typical of her really but it didn't make him any less annoyed. "Oh yes it is all my fault, as usual," he snapped back, sitting up in bed. "It was my fault only that we spent the night together, it had nothing to you with you, of course - silly me for thinking it was a joint decision."
Katherine stared at Eward for a few long moments, thoroughly wasting time by doing so. He was right, and she was overreacting, but she'd be damned before admitting it. Wouldn't she? Her face softened then, the hard, defiant expression fading only slightly, but enough to make a difference. Swallowing, she took a gentle step towards the bed, holding her hand out to Eward. With a bit of an amused smile on her face, Katherine mused softly, "You know, I never thought I'd see the day when you worried after the state of your conquests in the morning," hoping he could sense her sentiment and humor.
Eward's own temper was quelled by her words and he felt a bashful smile creep onto his face. Taking her hand he brushed his thumb over her fingers. "I never thought I would see the day my conquests stayed til daybreak," he confessed, giving a chuckle as he raised his eyes to her face.
With a gentle smile, Katherine tugged on Eward's arm, pulling him towards her at the edge of the bed. "Well now you have," she murmured, running her hands along his bare shoulders, around behind his neck. Daringly, Katherine pressed her lips to his in a promising but brief kiss, hoping Eward would enjoy it but certainly not keep her there; if she wasted any more time than she already was, she'd surely get caught.
It was so tempting just to fall back and take her with him. He'd hardly had friendly banter after being with a woman but to say he was perplexed by it may have been an overstatement. He felt comfortable, natural doing this, though he doubted he would have made time for it with anyone else. Being a good but hungry boy, Eward allowed her to let go after the kiss, instead smiling at her form despite his niggling thought; What was to happen to them now?
Touching his cheek with a strange tenderness that even she did not know she possessed, Katherine pulled away from the kiss, oddly disappointed at its brevity. She turned away from Eward, afraid she'd never leave if she continued to stare at him as she had been, and collected her robe from the floor of the room. With one last look back at him, and what might have been a small smile, Katherine hurried from the room, her feet light so as not to attract attention, but her body still heavy with what they had done.
Eward was tired - so tired! But it did not change the fact that he was buzzing inside with an energy he'd had no clue he possessed. With a large grin Eward threw himself back against the bed with a blast of laughter; what did he care who heard him? It was the first time he had ever felt truly, inexplicably happy and as he raised his arms over his head to rest he grinned at the ceiling. He had just got what he had wished for for weeks - and it had not disappointed.