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

[tiltingwithlips]

For an answer, she moans in his ear.

"God's me, Harry, wilt thou chatter even now?"

[valiantrebel]

"Tush, then stop me!"

Hungryurgent kissing is a good way to do that.

[tiltingwithlips]

She shivers, kissing back, and reaches down blindly to put her hand over his and press his fingers just where she wants them.

[valiantrebel]

Perfect. By the devil, God yes. She's made him harder and hotter than even before. His own hips roll needfully against her thigh; if not for her hand on his, he might lose track of them both.

[tiltingwithlips]

Another shudder. She doesn't know just what she's striving for, but she knows she wants this, this, the pressure here and the heat here and -- and--

Whatever it is, it's so close, she wants it, God in heaven--

[valiantrebel]

The shudder runs from her to him; the wave of it, the feel of it under her skin, sends him mad, sends him seeking out her jaw, her throat, her ear with his mouth and teeth, his hand for her hair, his--

"God, oh, Kate--"

[tiltingwithlips]

"Wilt thou -- still be--"

She interrupts herself with a gasp, clutching him close. There. She doesn't know what's happening, but it's happening, it's happening with a vengeance, it's here and she doesn't want it to stop--

But it does stop, after a few seconds, leaving her panting and shaky and blinking at Harry.



"Wilt thou still be talking," she finishes breathlessly.

[valiantrebel]

--no.

No, because he's laughing, and planting both hands on either side of her, and kissing her while she's hazy with afterglow.

(Not least because he still must distract himself.)

[tiltingwithlips]

She hums against his lips, soft and happy.

"Heaven save me, Harry, what didst thou?"

[valiantrebel]

"That--" Another kiss. "--is not nearly the whole of it."

(Please be ready, please be ready--)

[tiltingwithlips]

"'Zounds, is there yet more?"

(She might be teasing. A little.)

[valiantrebel]

"Villainess! Put thy hand where thou thinkst more could be."

(He might be grinning a wicked grin.)

[tiltingwithlips]

Kate tsks and puts her hand on his cheek. "Art thou grown so ungentle so soon? I thought to have some goodly years of wedded life ere I became thy villainess and not thy wife."

[valiantrebel]

"Does this mean thou wilt keep thy hand so high?"

He'd really rather focus on the second part of that thing he said.

[tiltingwithlips]

"Oh, thou hast my hand already," she says -- scoffs, really. "Ask not for it again."

Which belies the fact that her other hand is, in fact, trailing down his chest. But she's taking her time about it; at the moment, she thinks she could be happy simply touching every inch of his skin.

[valiantrebel]

A long, slow breath, in and out. Her hand on his skin steadies him.

"For what, then, shall I ask thee?" he murmurs.

[tiltingwithlips]

"I could not say." She steals a kiss and runs her palm over his side. "Methinks thou hast all of me."

[valiantrebel]

"So graciously matched, as thou hast me as well." He lowers himself for another kiss, and presses closer. "Yet ask of me something, my lady."

[tiltingwithlips]

Her mouth quirks sideways in a smile.

"The stars," she says, and kisses him again.

[valiantrebel]

He laughs. "Something difficult."

Less difficult than waiting, anyway. His hand is starting to play over her inner thigh.

[tiltingwithlips]

Her breath hitches, just barely, and she laughs herself.

"Harry, my lord, thou'rt far from perfect in dissembling." She swallows, then kisses his cheek. "But perfect in patience, I wot. I know well enough there is more to go -- then let's go to't, and with a good will."

[valiantrebel]

"Still talking, my lady."

Better to tease and kiss than speak, what with the state they're both in.

Harry tries to be mindful guiding himself in. Better to kiss, and before they both know it--

[tiltingwithlips]

Kate can't help it: she tenses up as he starts to enter her. It isn't exactly painful, not like she was expecting, but it's -- very strange.

She bites her lip and grips his shoulders.

[valiantrebel]

That -- halts him halfway.

"Ah—breathe, breathe, Kate."

He runs his palm up and down her thigh, her hip, her side. "Don't think on it, just let go."

[tiltingwithlips]

--Oh. She is more or less holding her breath, isn't she.

She swallows again, sighs, and moves one hand to his cheek.

"All's well -- all's well."

This may be as much to reassure herself as him.