with this ring, I thee wed

[tiltingwithlips]

Man and wife.

They are at last man and wife, he hers and she his -- the Lord and Lady Percy.

It has been quite a day.

When the festivities are finally done, they have burned a great many candles, eaten a great deal of food, danced many a dance. Elizabeth is the one who finally takes Harry's hand, covering a yawn, and tugs him towards the door of the hall. The remaining guests raise a cheer and a cup as the couple head upstairs to their rooms.

Kate leans on Harry as they ascend the stairs, loose-limbed and smiling from exhaustion.

Comments

[valiantrebel]

He blinks back, panting.

"My lady?"

[tiltingwithlips]

Confused: "You bit me."

[valiantrebel]

"But a little!"

A pause, still panting. They were sort of in the middle of something.

"No more biting?"

[tiltingwithlips]

She considers this.

And then, carefully, leans in to take his lower lip between her teeth.

[valiantrebel]

The temptation to kiss back hard is there.



...ah, what else is temptation for?

[tiltingwithlips]

Someone is liable to end up bloody if this goes on.

Kate is breathless and uncertain for but a moment before returning the kiss.

[valiantrebel]

Well. He is a soldier, after all.

Though he's certainly not had his fill of this, Harry pulls back, one hand at her elbow. "Kate, if you'll just..."

[tiltingwithlips]

"Just what?"

She was enjoying that!

[valiantrebel]

He was too!

But... his plight.

A significant nod downward.

"Can do we both?"

[tiltingwithlips]

"--Oh!"

Yes. Yes, they can, and with a good will.

[valiantrebel]

The noise he makes in his throat is happy, and animal.

In between more kisses and nips, and kneading: "Oh, God's me, Kate." They haven't been at this long, but he's starting to build already.

[tiltingwithlips]

She shivers when he says her name like that, although it's a warm rush running down her spine, not a chill.

Her grip may tighten a fraction but the rhythm of her hand stays steady.

[valiantrebel]

It's for the preservation of them both that he buries his face in her shoulder -- he may bite through her lip, past this point.

"Just there," he pants, and he grins into the crook of her neck. "That's good, stay there."

[tiltingwithlips]

Kate laughs, startled, and kisses his hair. This is incredible, to see Harry Percy undone, his prattling put aside -- and there's nothing in the world but his skin and breath against her and the foreign pleasure of him in her hand -- and none of this is quite what she expected, but oh, she's beginning to see why it's so very popular.

[valiantrebel]

If she'd just -- faster, but --

But no, this spot, if he might stay here a bit --

"Ah--"

He grips her hair, close to the scalp.

"Kate, how I'll be avenged upon thee--!"

[tiltingwithlips]

She catches her breath, lets it out in a laugh.

"What cause for vengeance, lord?"

[valiantrebel]

...!

--!

A dry end, but a happy one, a deep shudder and a groan. He unballs his fist and begins stroking her hair instead.

There's no resisting a low chuckle. "How thinkst thou I mean such a thing, my lady?"

[tiltingwithlips]

For a moment there she pauses, uncertain again, but her tone is light when she asks, "Why, art thou not well, my lord?"

[valiantrebel]

"I am very well." He hesitates. "And thee?"

[tiltingwithlips]

She nods, and leans in for a soft kiss.

"Very well."

[valiantrebel]

He's still frowning a little when they part. "I trust thou knowst there's more."

[tiltingwithlips]

"I did think as much," dryly.

[valiantrebel]

"Just checking."

...

"Why ask?"

[tiltingwithlips]

"Why ask if thou art well?" she echoes, blinking.

[valiantrebel]

"Aye, was something amiss?"