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Post by bedeviledmanor on Jun 18, 2012 23:07:24 GMT -5
Charles moved his hands to her elbows and nudes her arms so that they were back around him, his hands on his back. She could feel his muscles ripple as he raised an arm to the back of the bench and leaned closer to her. They were so close... His half-exposed chest brushed against hers, the fabric of her bodice making distinct ruffling noise.
Decidedly, he moved in for a kiss, closing his eyes. He could feel her breath, feel her heartbeat against his chest. The gap was mostly closed, but their lips barely brushed, not even in a kiss, when Hilde opened the screen door with the pitcher of water.
Charles pulled away all at once, and was at least a foot away from Emma in a split second. Hilde didn't seem to notice, or pretended she didn't, and grinned at him. "Here, Sir!"
He cleared his throat. "Thank you, Hilde." The maid curtsied and left, and Charles picked up a glass and filled it, then offered it to Emma silently.
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Emma Ravenhearst
Love can hold one captive in more ways than one...
The bride of Ravenhearst
Posts: 269
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Post by Emma Ravenhearst on Jun 18, 2012 23:28:18 GMT -5
It all happened so quickly...And she could feel those feelings rushing back again, that lower stomach ache as Charles moved closer to her. Just the simplest move of his hands on her arms sent flutters through her and she could hardly keep her heart from springing from her chest, so hard was it beating against her rib cage.
She stared up at him, her eyes wide, her lips trembling just a little bit and her breath trembling as well. Her arms were shaking a little around his neck, and he was coming closer and her eyes were closing, his lips were so close to hers and...
And he was far away again. Emma's eyes snapped open and her arms fell back to her sides, trying to look inconspicuous as she saw the same maid from before coming out with their pitcher of water, though her bright red cheeks surely hinted to her that something was amiss. She cleared her throat, still blushing dark red, and looked at the ground, not moving at all until she heard the screen door shut once again.
She looked up cautiously when she heard it close and saw that Charles was offering her a glass of water. She took it in equal silence, simply holding it in her hands and resuming her staring at the ground.
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Post by bedeviledmanor on Jun 18, 2012 23:36:24 GMT -5
Charles poured himself a glass and stared into it for a moment before realizing how very thirsty he had been for quite a long time. He downed nearly the whole glass before setting it aside, and set his hands on his knees, fumbling for something to say.
"Forgive me," he finally managed, breaking the awkward silence. He looked over and saw that her blush was still prominent, and felt himself blush too. "I should not have... compromised you in such a way." He knew that she wanted it too, but he remained gentlemanly.
"Perhaps we should go back inside," he said, a hint of hopefulness in his voice. Charles ran a hand through his hair, stood, and offered her a hand. He could still feel her arms around his chest, and then his neck... He visibly shivered, looking at his shoes. He had never wanted a woman like this, and he questioned if he even should, Emma being the goddess she was.
Did he even deserve her?
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Emma Ravenhearst
Love can hold one captive in more ways than one...
The bride of Ravenhearst
Posts: 269
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Post by Emma Ravenhearst on Jun 18, 2012 23:54:43 GMT -5
Emma stared down at the glass of water, trying to collect her thoughts about what had just happened. Charles had almost kissed her...It hardly counted as a real kiss, for their lips had hardly touched at all, but his intentions were clear...And she had wanted it as well. She had let it happen, had even moved in a little closer to him to close the gap...It had felt heavenly to be so close to him...To have her chest against his chest, his arms around her...Beautiful...
But frightening...Was this what it felt like? To love someone? To want to be with them? Was the still present ache in her lower stomach connected to it in any way? She...liked it...But no. No, that wasn't her. She couldn't allow that to happen, couldn't let herself fall into that trap again. She had done it once before and it had ended badly for her. She had been quite content with the championship they had had...Why wouldn't her feelings let that be...
She shook her head a little when she finally realized that he was apologizing to her for his actions, though she said nothing. She didn't really think he needed to apologize. It had been just as much her doing as his. After all, she hadn't pulled away, hadn't tried to stop him...She had moved closer to him, had encouraged it...
She looked up when he offered his hand and wordlessly took it, rising slowly and putting the glass back on the table. She had to stop letting herself feel so much for him...She couldn't allow it...Not again.
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Post by bedeviledmanor on Jun 19, 2012 0:01:41 GMT -5
This time, Charles let go of her hand when she rose and folded his hands behind his back. They stood here in silence for a moment before he went to open the door for her. He noticed that she had an air of shame... oh embarrassment... God, he felt so bad. If only he could control himself! He was going to ruin everything!
He opened the door for her and let her pass, putting his head in his hand for a moment, frustrated, before following her in. Grace was laying on the scullery floor, being petted by the two women in the room. He smiled a little, but it wasn't enough. He hesitantly approached.
"Hilde, will you fetch Emma's things from the front hall, please?" he asked gruffly, staring out one window. He didn't want her to go just yet--he didn't wan her to go at all, ever--but she had to. He had to clear his head. It would be better for both of them, he thought as he watched Hilde scurry to follow orders.
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Emma Ravenhearst
Love can hold one captive in more ways than one...
The bride of Ravenhearst
Posts: 269
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Post by Emma Ravenhearst on Jun 19, 2012 0:13:42 GMT -5
Emma was completely lost in these thoughts as she walked into the house before him. She wanted to go home now. She needed to think, needed to sort herself out before seeing him again. Of course, she knew that she would. She was far to fond of him to just stop seeing him, but she needed to clear her head before she threw herself back into his company. Needed to remind herself of her priorities, which seemed to have been thrown away so quickly when he had moved in to kiss her.
She smiled just a little when she saw Grace in the hallway, and was grateful when she heard Charles ask for her things. She, of course, didn't notice the strange tone of his voice, either because it really didn't catch her notice, or because she brushed it off as normal. Either he had sensed her need to be alone or needed to clear his own head. Surely, he too needed to remind himself of the friendship and companionship that they shared, and why it must remain that way. Surely, he understood her.
When the two servants moved away to fetch her things, Emma walked forward and knelt down beside Grace, who began a vigorous licking of her hand. She smiled just a little and ran her hand down the old dog, petting her gently and scratching her behind her ears, just the way she liked.
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Post by bedeviledmanor on Jun 19, 2012 0:21:16 GMT -5
Charles watched Emma intensely as she petted the dog, his hands curling into fists at his sides. His jaw tightened. His brows furrowed. He frowned deeply. He looked almost like he was trying to discern what she was thinking, trying to secure her here, with him
But slowly, he relaxed. He couldn't let himself get so wound up for something so silly. She loved him, he knew she must. Everything she did confirmed this. They would be alright. She would come back to see him again very soon, surely.
He draped her shawl over her shoulders with care and a smile, then handed her her parasol. They stood next to the front door now. Charles looked out the small side window and then back at Emma. "I hope you keep well... I will see you again soon, I hope?" he said softly. Sadly.
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Emma Ravenhearst
Love can hold one captive in more ways than one...
The bride of Ravenhearst
Posts: 269
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Post by Emma Ravenhearst on Jun 19, 2012 0:29:41 GMT -5
Emma didn't noticed the way he looked at her, of course. She was fair to involved in the important task of petting Grace to notice the crazed look in his eye. Oh, how much could have been prevented if she had noticed it then, had known then what he was capable of doing to her, the horrors that he would cause her...
But, of course, she didn't notice. Didn't know. She smiled at him as he wrapped her shawl around her, took her parasol from him gently and was very kind to him, as she always was. She held no grudge against him, and she wanted that to be clear. She just wanted to go back to the way things had been, when they weren't so horribly confusing. She wasn't sure if she liked her disliked the feelings that were developing for him, and would rather banish them completely then think of them at all.
"Of course you shall..." She smiled at him as the door was opened, and she walked out, looking at him for a moment before nodding a little, "Well...Goodbye..." And with that, she was gone, off to banish these new thoughts from her mind, and fill her brain with books and knowledge instead.
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