Happy S03 Trailer Unbeta-ed RP Wednesday!
It might be a Wednesday but how could we resist?
Happy trailer Wednesday!
(Excuse the totally unbeta-ed nature of this.)
Love epea_pteroenta and clunkhall.
Mary rested her hand on the door and was surprised to find it trembling. He made her so angry, angrier than she thought she could feel. Mostly, she recognised, it was terrible sadness. How could it have gone downhill so fast? To the point where she had actually suggested earlier that day they should call off the wedding tomorrow? But... they should, surely? It was such a tremendous thing and to disagree on it. Going ahead was senseless while they disagreed about something so fundamental. A marriage had to be based on - she did not know. She felt a terrible panic welling up inside of her. Tomorrow was her wedding day. She should be receiving advice from her mother and going to bed to dream of happiness and instead she was standing at her bedroom door with a man she suddenly felt she did not know at all who should not even be in the house any longer. She swallowed thickly. It was all silent in the corridor. He had gone. She had driven him away - perhaps he felt she had meant it...
"Matthew?" she called in a low voice without really believing he would still be there.
He was still there. Of course he was still there, he hadn't been able to move, because to move would be to leave her, and he couldn't leave her like this... surely. Not now. He'd thought, at Christmas, that this was it - finally, they could be happy, perhaps - and now, again, he'd felt his world falling apart. He stood motionless, numb outside her door, when he heard her. Only - he'd imagined a voice calling to him softly, unseen, so many times in darker times before now - and he closed his eyes and breathed. Again, and... then he took one step back towards her door, hovering almost within the doorway and yet not quite daring to go any closer. It was not... proper, still, and... would it ever be?
"I haven't gone," he mumbled through dry lips, staring at his feet. "I'm...here, darling, and... God, I'm sorry." He'd said it, thought it, so many times... but once more couldn't hurt.
There was such a long pause before he replied that she had quite given up and her hand fell slowly from the door. Then he spoke and she was overwhelmed by a sense of relief so strong she physically swayed, her heart leaping into her throat. Trembling, she pulled open the door without even considering that she was already in her nightdress and stepped towards him. Her eyes were wide and hopeful, all her feelings written on her face as she supposed they had been all through this ghastly day.
"Oh, dearest Matthew," she murmured, her eyes closing in apology and gratitude, before clasping his cheek and kissing him firmly.
His heart contracted and shattered and swelled, all at once, as he meekly accepted her kiss and returned it, with as much tenderness as she gave it. He sighed, shifted towards her, naturally lifting his hands to her face, but - oh God, her hair! - he'd barely taken in while they'd argued that she was dressed for bed...
"Oh my darling," he murmured against her lips, his fingers trembling as he resisted the urge to take anything he shouldn't... yet. "I shouldn't - really be here!" And he smiled fondly, unable to comprehend the depths of what he felt. He didn't deserve this. She drew away from him but only far enough to open her eyes and meet his.
"No, you shouldn't be," she whispered.
She could not stop touching him, compulsively stroking his face. She felt a desperate, terrifying need to be close to him and he was holding himself back from her, kissing her so chastely!
"But, oh, Matthew, I thought-" Her eyes pressed shut again as her thumb brushed over his lips. None of it mattered, none of it could ever matter more than this, than them. They would talk it over - rationally. They had to.
"I know," he breathed, eyes still closed, his every sense honed entirely on her. He knew this was not an end to it, but... what could they do? "I hate fighting with you," he sighed. "But I don't - you know that I - Mary, nothing means more to me than you, you must know that."
God, he hoped that she knew it, whatever might throw itself between them - he would not lose her. Very tentatively, he asked her, "Do you - do you still want to marry me?"
It seemed a silly question, after such a kiss, but... he had very seriously worried.
Her heart felt like a fluttering, caged bird under her nightdress, desperate to burst free finally. She swallowed again and moistened her lips, tasting him on them.
"Matthew, how can you think I-" She opened her eyes and pressed her hand her hand against his cheek. "Oh, my darling..." She took a shuddering breath, almost daring to smile. "Didn't anyone ever tell you not to listen to my nonsense?"
He laughed at that, just gently, and very fondly. "Someone did," he murmured. "A very long time ago, but -" He took her hand, as that was all he dared to touch, stroking his thumb over it softly, and shook his head. "I'm not sure my mind was wholly focussed when she told me..."
His heart stirred with memory, and he kissed her again. It was too much to think of, and tomorrow...It seemed impossible.
Her lips curved up as she leaned into his kiss, extracting her hand from his, its back still tingling from his touch, in order to grasp his shoulder. But still she felt his restraint and after a moment she pulled back to look at him seriously.
"We need to talk about this, Matthew. You must see that we must. This will not work if we are at odds with each other. But... that can wait." Her expression softened and her eyes glowed suddenly with love. "Tomorrow you will be my husband..." Her hand slid from his cheek to cup his neck. "For now, please, darling, kiss me. Kiss me properly!"
His eyes darkened, and he looked at her seriously - yes, of course they must talk about it. It was hardly a matter to be set aside! But... just for now, maybe... He nodded, slowly.
"If you like," he whispered, and leaned towards her, eyes dropping to her lips as the air between them lessened and stilled... "You do know, darling - and I've been incredibly stupid to not realise it sooner, to need it reminded, even - that..." He paused, a hair's breadth between his mouth and hers and that was all, as his fingertips alighted on her waist. "I would never be happy, with anyone else, as long as you walked the earth."
And then he kissed her, and held her as he'd longed to and as he'd missed these last days, with the strength of everything he felt for her.
She sagged in joy and relief and excitement and gave herself up to him, pressing as close to him as she could, her lips parting and moving against his, spelling out words of reciprocation and affection that she had not spoken out loud. Tomorrow they would be husband and wife, tomorrow... Trembling, she pulled him closer.
At last he allowed his arms to encircle her, and he gasped as he felt her against him more than he ever had before, more real, more warm... Could he be this happy - could they? For now - for this blissful, wonderful moment (and he could barely think about tomorrow) - it seemed gloriously possible. As he instinctively deepened the kiss between them, helpless to resist his desire that he knew she shared, he felt his hands slide over the cotton of her nightdress and a soft groan hummed in the back of his throat. Oh, he loved her... and that was more than enough for now.
Matthew's hands on her back burned through the thin nightdress and she gasped as a spike of desire, stronger than any she had yet felt, shot through her. Somehow, the time and the place and her state of undress was making it so easy to abandon the restraint she had always managed to hold onto with him. She should stop... but then he groaned and she shuddered and only kissed him more ardently. In a minute... she could stop it in a minute.
They swayed together, and Matthew's hands curled and clutched at her, smoothing up and down her back, from her shoulders to her hips and back again, and he groaned again.
"Darling, we... really - should... stop," he gasped against her lips. One more day... Only one more day. He stiffened with the effort of restraint, the taste of her still upon his tongue, and tried to breathe.
Thank goodness he had more restraint than she had. As he broke the kiss she realised with a thrill which ought to have been horror but wasn't that if he had pushed forwards through the open door behind her, she would have let him.
Leaning her forehead against his, she murmured, "Tomorrow...", brushed her lips tantalisingly against his once more and drew away very slowly. It felt painful and terribly, terribly cold to leave his arms.
"Tomorrow," he breathed, eyes fluttering shut as she kissed him once more. He caught her hand as she stepped back and their fingers slid together, sending another thrill of desire rushing through his body. "And - thank you," he said softly, and smiled.
As terrified as he was, to finally be facing this with her - it was with her, and allowed a strange and tentative confidence that whatever may come, now - they would be alright. They'd be together, and wasn't that more important than anything? He licked his lips, taking one last indulgent gaze at the woman who tomorrow would be his wife.
"Goodnight, my darling."
She smiled happily back at him. "Goodnight."
She retreated behind the door, her eyes never leaving his even when she was simply peering round it, her loose hair falling unchecked round her face. They gazed at each other, deep in love, and finally she raised her hand to press her lips to her fingers. She turned her hand round and pressed the same fingers fondly to his lips.
"Tomorrow," she whispered again, her smile expanding suddenly into radiant joy.
Then, before she could lose her resolve again, she turned and shut the door quickly, leaning against it, her heart beat rapid and her entire body thrumming with desire and anticipation. She would not sleep tonight.
Happy trailer Wednesday!
(Excuse the totally unbeta-ed nature of this.)
Love epea_pteroenta and clunkhall.
Mary rested her hand on the door and was surprised to find it trembling. He made her so angry, angrier than she thought she could feel. Mostly, she recognised, it was terrible sadness. How could it have gone downhill so fast? To the point where she had actually suggested earlier that day they should call off the wedding tomorrow? But... they should, surely? It was such a tremendous thing and to disagree on it. Going ahead was senseless while they disagreed about something so fundamental. A marriage had to be based on - she did not know. She felt a terrible panic welling up inside of her. Tomorrow was her wedding day. She should be receiving advice from her mother and going to bed to dream of happiness and instead she was standing at her bedroom door with a man she suddenly felt she did not know at all who should not even be in the house any longer. She swallowed thickly. It was all silent in the corridor. He had gone. She had driven him away - perhaps he felt she had meant it...
"Matthew?" she called in a low voice without really believing he would still be there.
He was still there. Of course he was still there, he hadn't been able to move, because to move would be to leave her, and he couldn't leave her like this... surely. Not now. He'd thought, at Christmas, that this was it - finally, they could be happy, perhaps - and now, again, he'd felt his world falling apart. He stood motionless, numb outside her door, when he heard her. Only - he'd imagined a voice calling to him softly, unseen, so many times in darker times before now - and he closed his eyes and breathed. Again, and... then he took one step back towards her door, hovering almost within the doorway and yet not quite daring to go any closer. It was not... proper, still, and... would it ever be?
"I haven't gone," he mumbled through dry lips, staring at his feet. "I'm...here, darling, and... God, I'm sorry." He'd said it, thought it, so many times... but once more couldn't hurt.
There was such a long pause before he replied that she had quite given up and her hand fell slowly from the door. Then he spoke and she was overwhelmed by a sense of relief so strong she physically swayed, her heart leaping into her throat. Trembling, she pulled open the door without even considering that she was already in her nightdress and stepped towards him. Her eyes were wide and hopeful, all her feelings written on her face as she supposed they had been all through this ghastly day.
"Oh, dearest Matthew," she murmured, her eyes closing in apology and gratitude, before clasping his cheek and kissing him firmly.
His heart contracted and shattered and swelled, all at once, as he meekly accepted her kiss and returned it, with as much tenderness as she gave it. He sighed, shifted towards her, naturally lifting his hands to her face, but - oh God, her hair! - he'd barely taken in while they'd argued that she was dressed for bed...
"Oh my darling," he murmured against her lips, his fingers trembling as he resisted the urge to take anything he shouldn't... yet. "I shouldn't - really be here!" And he smiled fondly, unable to comprehend the depths of what he felt. He didn't deserve this. She drew away from him but only far enough to open her eyes and meet his.
"No, you shouldn't be," she whispered.
She could not stop touching him, compulsively stroking his face. She felt a desperate, terrifying need to be close to him and he was holding himself back from her, kissing her so chastely!
"But, oh, Matthew, I thought-" Her eyes pressed shut again as her thumb brushed over his lips. None of it mattered, none of it could ever matter more than this, than them. They would talk it over - rationally. They had to.
"I know," he breathed, eyes still closed, his every sense honed entirely on her. He knew this was not an end to it, but... what could they do? "I hate fighting with you," he sighed. "But I don't - you know that I - Mary, nothing means more to me than you, you must know that."
God, he hoped that she knew it, whatever might throw itself between them - he would not lose her. Very tentatively, he asked her, "Do you - do you still want to marry me?"
It seemed a silly question, after such a kiss, but... he had very seriously worried.
Her heart felt like a fluttering, caged bird under her nightdress, desperate to burst free finally. She swallowed again and moistened her lips, tasting him on them.
"Matthew, how can you think I-" She opened her eyes and pressed her hand her hand against his cheek. "Oh, my darling..." She took a shuddering breath, almost daring to smile. "Didn't anyone ever tell you not to listen to my nonsense?"
He laughed at that, just gently, and very fondly. "Someone did," he murmured. "A very long time ago, but -" He took her hand, as that was all he dared to touch, stroking his thumb over it softly, and shook his head. "I'm not sure my mind was wholly focussed when she told me..."
His heart stirred with memory, and he kissed her again. It was too much to think of, and tomorrow...It seemed impossible.
Her lips curved up as she leaned into his kiss, extracting her hand from his, its back still tingling from his touch, in order to grasp his shoulder. But still she felt his restraint and after a moment she pulled back to look at him seriously.
"We need to talk about this, Matthew. You must see that we must. This will not work if we are at odds with each other. But... that can wait." Her expression softened and her eyes glowed suddenly with love. "Tomorrow you will be my husband..." Her hand slid from his cheek to cup his neck. "For now, please, darling, kiss me. Kiss me properly!"
His eyes darkened, and he looked at her seriously - yes, of course they must talk about it. It was hardly a matter to be set aside! But... just for now, maybe... He nodded, slowly.
"If you like," he whispered, and leaned towards her, eyes dropping to her lips as the air between them lessened and stilled... "You do know, darling - and I've been incredibly stupid to not realise it sooner, to need it reminded, even - that..." He paused, a hair's breadth between his mouth and hers and that was all, as his fingertips alighted on her waist. "I would never be happy, with anyone else, as long as you walked the earth."
And then he kissed her, and held her as he'd longed to and as he'd missed these last days, with the strength of everything he felt for her.
She sagged in joy and relief and excitement and gave herself up to him, pressing as close to him as she could, her lips parting and moving against his, spelling out words of reciprocation and affection that she had not spoken out loud. Tomorrow they would be husband and wife, tomorrow... Trembling, she pulled him closer.
At last he allowed his arms to encircle her, and he gasped as he felt her against him more than he ever had before, more real, more warm... Could he be this happy - could they? For now - for this blissful, wonderful moment (and he could barely think about tomorrow) - it seemed gloriously possible. As he instinctively deepened the kiss between them, helpless to resist his desire that he knew she shared, he felt his hands slide over the cotton of her nightdress and a soft groan hummed in the back of his throat. Oh, he loved her... and that was more than enough for now.
Matthew's hands on her back burned through the thin nightdress and she gasped as a spike of desire, stronger than any she had yet felt, shot through her. Somehow, the time and the place and her state of undress was making it so easy to abandon the restraint she had always managed to hold onto with him. She should stop... but then he groaned and she shuddered and only kissed him more ardently. In a minute... she could stop it in a minute.
They swayed together, and Matthew's hands curled and clutched at her, smoothing up and down her back, from her shoulders to her hips and back again, and he groaned again.
"Darling, we... really - should... stop," he gasped against her lips. One more day... Only one more day. He stiffened with the effort of restraint, the taste of her still upon his tongue, and tried to breathe.
Thank goodness he had more restraint than she had. As he broke the kiss she realised with a thrill which ought to have been horror but wasn't that if he had pushed forwards through the open door behind her, she would have let him.
Leaning her forehead against his, she murmured, "Tomorrow...", brushed her lips tantalisingly against his once more and drew away very slowly. It felt painful and terribly, terribly cold to leave his arms.
"Tomorrow," he breathed, eyes fluttering shut as she kissed him once more. He caught her hand as she stepped back and their fingers slid together, sending another thrill of desire rushing through his body. "And - thank you," he said softly, and smiled.
As terrified as he was, to finally be facing this with her - it was with her, and allowed a strange and tentative confidence that whatever may come, now - they would be alright. They'd be together, and wasn't that more important than anything? He licked his lips, taking one last indulgent gaze at the woman who tomorrow would be his wife.
"Goodnight, my darling."
She smiled happily back at him. "Goodnight."
She retreated behind the door, her eyes never leaving his even when she was simply peering round it, her loose hair falling unchecked round her face. They gazed at each other, deep in love, and finally she raised her hand to press her lips to her fingers. She turned her hand round and pressed the same fingers fondly to his lips.
"Tomorrow," she whispered again, her smile expanding suddenly into radiant joy.
Then, before she could lose her resolve again, she turned and shut the door quickly, leaning against it, her heart beat rapid and her entire body thrumming with desire and anticipation. She would not sleep tonight.