Charles/Laura fic, Chapter 11 'Through Time & Seasons'
Through Time & Seasons
By Missbevcrusher
Rated [M]
Chapter 11 ~ In This Refuge
Previous chapters can be found here.
Acknowledgments: This chapter took over a month and a half of rather intensive writing and re-writing. It saw me go through a confusing spell with my narrative and was quite frustrating at times. But regardless, this fic is my baby and to write it was a joy. It was nice to get back to this one and I could not have written it without the encouragement I received from
bytesofspencer and unavitasegreta. You girls are a gift and I consider you both to be amazing discoveries in my life.
Standard Disclaimer: Laura Brown, Charles Lattimer, and the wonderful story that is 'For All Time' belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Time can be a strange thing; while its pace is constant and steady, its perception is not. It can be easily altered by exterior elements, most notably by the tide of human emotion.
For instance, it can seem fleeting when one is dreading a particular event, or when the minutes are ticking to finish a certain task.
Naturally, the same is true for the other side of the coin; if someone is looking forward to something, time will drag on endlessly, the seconds slowing to a trickle, as if hindered by a tightly woven sieve.
For Laura, the day had been long, endlessly so-its sluggish pace caused not by unpleasant concerns but by sweet anticipation. Luckily, most of it was now behind her-her morning chores, the day’s work at the Gazette, her short stop at the homestead in order to drop off Mary and fix supper.
Now, she was on the road, heels nudging her horse so he would pick up the pace.
It had been some time since Laura had taken Turnip out without the wagon. It felt strange, but good, the gentle sway of his walk rather exhilarating. It made her wish she could indulge in horseback riding more often, something she didn’t really have time for.
Laura loved it, always had. She remembered the first time her pa had lifted her off the ground and placed her in the saddle. The pride in his eyes had been palpable. But then again, she had been an only child, his little girl… he’d always been proud.
This evening, she had opted to saddle up because she wanted to be free to roam into places the wagon could not travel. She wanted to make her way down the narrow path by the old Haine’s place. She wanted to cross the sheltered grove, then continue on toward the old weathered trees she remembered from childhood to that place so special to her now.
Charles had asked if she would meet him there and she had agreed-at once, without hesitation.
In retrospect, Laura had been secretly hoping he would ask, had thought her heart would stop when he had.
Meeting a man like this-alone, in a secluded area-it was risqué and would most certainly be frowned upon if word ever got out. But to resist had been impossible. Laura wanted to see him, felt they needed this time away from prying eyes and ears in order to build the foundations of this new relationship.
There was much to discuss. Most of all, there was much to discover.
When it came to knowing one another, Charles had gotten the better bargain so far. He knew a lot about her, while she knew next to nothing about him.
It was a strange acknowledgment, but it was true. He was here, had given up everything to save her life and be with her, yet Laura had no clear idea of who he had been prior to coming here. Oh, she did not expect him to divulge everything. It was likely he would keep certain things to himself. But she needed the basics, wanted to know him, really know the man she had fallen in love with.
Yes, this meeting was a bold move, one that hovered precariously on the edge of what was considered proper. But Laura did not deem it wrong or illicit. In fact, she could not see it that way.
What she felt for him, what he felt for her…
The emotions were heartfelt and true, rooted in love and based on goodness of heart-to define them as wrong was not something she could or ever would do.
Besides, perhaps one day, this man would become her husband.
The idea filled her with warmth and made her smile. It was early, she knew, but successful courtship led to marriage. For her mind to make that jump was not much of a stretch. It was a natural conclusion; one she hoped would come to fruition.
Thoughts adrift on the possibilities, Laura guided Turnip down an invisible path through the meadow. Her heart aflutter, she remembered the last time she had walked here-her fingers interlaced with his, the gentle tug on her hand when he had stopped her to steal one last kiss...
The beautiful memory served to further enhance the anticipation, knotting her insides and making her shiver.
Being in love was intoxicating.
She would never tire of it, would never tire of him. Of that, she was certain.
~~~
The river was whispering, revealing its secrets in a soft trickle of water. Charles sat on a blanket, knees bent, arms loosely draped over. On a breath, he gazed at the languid ripples before him and saw trout swimming below the surface. They lingered in spots spared from direct sunlight, their bodies swaying in the current in a way that made it seem as though they were suspended in time. It was a soothing and lulling sight, one that led to a memory vivid in both detail and feeling.
…
The water was cold, colder than he had expected. His body tensing up, Charles voiced his surprise-not so much a word but a yelp.
Laura seemed amused by this, briefly looked at him with a twinkle in her eyes.
“Are there fish in here?” he asked.
“Trout,” she answered, holding the hem of her dress out of the water as they walked in the shallow current. “We often come down here on Sundays, lay out a blanket and catch our supper. Do you like to fish?”
“When I was a kid, my dad used to take me. Haven’t done that in a long time.”
“It relaxes me.”
…
The simplicity of that moment had been wonderful, the memory sweet and separate from the bitter heartbreak that had followed. He had been in love with her then, had fallen in spite of himself.
It was crazy in a way, how quickly they had become entangled. There was just something about her, about the two of them, that he couldn’t wrap his mind around. It was hard to explain, if not impossible. But Charles didn’t need all the answers. As long as he had Laura by his side, he was content and happy-truly happy for the first time in his life.
A silent chuckle shaking his shoulders he blinked once, slowly, still not quite believing his luck in the grand scheme of things.
To find his way here, to find Laura and now to be courting her...
It was surreal.
Charles was not only hopeful but enthused. The journey ahead was a promising one. They were building something wonderful, laying the groundwork so to speak.
A foundation is a part over which something is laid. Without it, no structure can withstand the test of time. Life is not exempt from this. It needs a sturdy base before one can build something worthwhile.
Charles had arrived, the final destination not an era, not a town. Rather, he had found peace and welcome in the heart of one woman, in Laura.
She was his everything, the love in her heart the foundation over which he would build his new life.
There was much promise ahead, the landscape lush and fertile. He was eager to explore, discover, and make his way over whatever hurdle lay ahead.
It was a good place to be, the only place for him.
A tiny smile pulling at the corners of his mouth, Charles tossed the twig he had been fiddling with. He couldn’t wait to see her again, couldn’t wait to look in her eyes, touch the side of her face, and…
Charles heard a sound, faint and steady in its cadence. Hooves, he realized-a slow plod against earth and grass that made him turn to look over his shoulder.
At first, he saw nothing but the landscape, a carpet of green and a few trees framing a window of clear, blue sky. Then, in a slow reveal, Laura came into sight-cresting over the slight rise in terrain, her body swaying gently with her horse’s measured steps.
Her eyes finding and connecting with his, she smiled a beautiful smile and literally took his breath away.
Heart thrumming, Charles rose to his feet, started through the grassy patch, intending to meet her halfway.
The closer she got, the more he was struck by the picture she presented.
Her dress was ivory, the neckline lower than all her other dresses.
It was the dress he had seen clinging to her body after splashing in the river that day.
It was the dress his hands had skimmed when he had laid in the grass with her.
It was the dress she had worn when he had broken her heart.
That last memory was a stinging one, but maybe, just maybe, it could be laid to rest, replaced by the ones they were about to make.
Laura’s eyes were bright, as bright as the smile on her lips. To see such warmth and joy was a gift, a privilege even. Charles was spellbound, astounded by how many times he had fallen in love with her.
In fact, he was still falling, hard, and he had no intention of ever getting up.
Swallowing, he watched as she guided the horse towards him, her gaze filled with something too beautiful to even name.
Then, she was right there, next to him, not a figment of his imagination but real.
His eyes never leaving hers, Charles extended his hand in welcome, thought his heart would flip in his chest when her fingers finally touched his palm. For what seemed the thousandth time since she had come into view, he literally felt the air rush out of his lungs and wondered if he would ever breathe again.
Her descent was fluid, her arms wrapping around him before her feet even touched the ground.
Charles caught her, his hands finding station at her waist as she came to stand with her body pressed against his. He still couldn’t believe it, had thought about her all day, thinking this moment would never get here.
But it had, and she was here, looking at him with a blend of love and promise.
Whether he leaned in first or she did, Charles could not say. It didn’t really matter though. Nose to nose, they paused for a few moments, their gazes flickering from eyes to mouth and back again.
Then, they were kissing.
It was a lingering kiss, a firm pressing of lips against lips that conveyed just how much they had missed each other.
While his hands sought the small of her back, her fingers journeyed to his hair, threading and pulling him closer still. Extended breaths, deep and passionate, filled air between them, making the moment even more dizzying. They could have easily lost control, like that first time by the river near her home, but for some reason managed not to.
Instead, their kiss tapered into a series of smaller ones until finally, their foreheads met as they tried to steady their breathing.
“Hi.” Laura was the first to speak and from the tone of her whisper, Charles could tell she was smiling.
Mirroring the expression he knew she wore, he replied with the same simple greeting then opened his eyes.
His thumb brushing her cheek, he drank in the sight of her. He noted the gentleness in her eyes, the delicate curl of her lashes as she blinked a slow blink.
She was perfect… perfect for him at least.
Charles was eager to get to know her, flaws and all. He longed and hoped for the day when her presence wouldn’t be limited to stolen moments such as this. He wanted to be there with her, on her good days and her bad days.
She had once told him she had a temper. He remembered smiling at that moment for it had endeared her even more.
There were many layers to Laura Brown, each more intriguing than the next. And Charles couldn’t wait to uncover them all.
Around them, a gentle rush of wind brought the leaves to life. Charles listened to the rustle, his chest rising on a slow inhale. While the breeze was laden with the aroma of wild flowers, it had nothing on the woman in his arms. Devoid of artificial perfume, her scent was sweet, decidedly hers. Charles loved it, just as he loved everything about her.
“I missed you.” Again, Laura was the first to speak, her smile fading to match the longing in her heart.
“Missed you too.”
And they were leaning forward again, their necks craning to find that perfect angle. And find it they did, their mouths meeting in a gentle brush that ended with a soft tug to her lower lip.
Charles felt the smile she gave then recognized her invitation as she kissed him back with tender confidence.
His hand journeying upward to cradle the nape of her neck, he deepened the kiss. What he heard next was a veritable caress to his eardrums, a hum uniquely hers and entirely feminine. It was something she did whenever they kissed and it sent his heart racing.
Charles was adrift. All he could do, was breathe-or at least try to-as they expressed their feelings with equal measure.
The previous night had been long, achingly so. He had thought about her, imagined her as she would be in this very moment. His mind had been generous, but his fantasies had nothing on the real deal.
Laura was incredibly responsive, highly sensual in how she kissed him. He had been struck by her eagerness the first time her lips had collided with his. He still was. There was a hunger in her, a yearning for intimacy that was both beautiful and heartbreaking.
She was temptation personified, always had been and always would be.
And now, locked in a fervent embrace, the question of where to draw the line came to the forefront. To answer was not easy and was made all the more difficult by the fact that they both wanted this.
Before Charles could sort through this conflict though, something unexpected happened.
Laura yelped, her body pushing and squirming as she broke the kiss. Charles did not have time to think-didn’t even register the horse’s whinny-simply pulled her sideways, arms wrapping around her protectively.
Turnip had pulled his signature move.
“He nipped me.” While Laura sounded mostly incredulous, there was a hint of amusement in her voice as well.
“Lives up to his name, doesn’t he?”
“Bad Turnip,” she admonished, barely contained laughter lacing her voice as she clung to Charles’ shoulders.
He did not let go of her, instead smiled, kissed her hair and asked, “You okay?”
“I’m fine. He caught my dress is all.” To Turnip, she said, “I think someone needs a drink.”
And so they eased away from one another, their mirth remaining as they started for the river.
Trailing a few steps behind, Charles watched as Laura guided the horse. She was so gentle in the way she led him, in the way she brought her hand up to pat his neck.
While he was not one to dwell on the luxuries he had had in his previous life, Charles wished he had a camera-that or a paint brush and canvas. The sight of her was beyond beautiful, her outline haloed by the orange sun in the backdrop.
As an artist, his eyes catalogued the image as he would a painting. He noted the way the light shone on her chestnut hair, how the fabric of her skirt fell in soft waves as she walked. Perfection made all the more breathtaking by the tufts of cottonwood that floated on the breeze.
Looking over her shoulder, Laura saw that he was trailing behind. A glimmer of curiosity in her gaze, she tilted her head to the side and extended her hand.
It was all he needed to snap out of it, to blink a few times and get a move on. As he got nearer, Charles reached for the hand she offered, his index finger hooking onto hers in a most delicate handhold. And like so, they made their way to the water’s edge, their gait unhurried.
~~~
“What are you thinking about?”
Charles’ query, spoken soft and low, floated on nature’s lullaby. It reached Laura as would a feather-light caress, making her smile as she kept her gaze downward, fingertips tracing random patterns on the blanket upon which she sat.
“Many things.” This admission was followed by a breath, her gaze flickering back to his in a soothing meld of green and blue.
Indeed her thoughts were filled to the brim, awhirl with unspoken questions and possibilities for the future.
“Such as?” The warmth in Charles’ features was remarkable, his touch incredibly gentle as he grazed her jaw with his thumb.
On a sigh, Laura brought her hand to his, turned his palm so it cupped her cheek and held it there. Leaning into his touch, she sighed, answered, “About this, us… And how wonderful I feel when I’m with you.”
This netted a self-effacing expression, the one she loved so. A small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, Laura watched as Charles chuckled and looked down. There was a balance about him, in the way he could be both unassuming and confident.
When their eyes met once more, she decided to be open and say what was on her mind. “I’m also thinking that you know more about me than I know about you.”
“You’re right.” Charles nodded.
What he said next was exactly what she longed to hear.
“We’re going to have to fix that, aren’t we?”
“I’d like that, yes.”
Soft laughter filled the air between them. Barely audible, it came like a gentle wave before receding into a moment of utter tranquility.
Turning into his palm, Laura kissed his wrist and lingered, eyelids falling shut for a heartbeat or two. Then, their joined hands falling away from her face, she interlaced her fingers with his. To pinpoint where to begin turned out to be difficult, however. Therefore she did not speak, rather debated where to start.
“Well then, ask away. What do you want to know?” he asked.
The answer to that question was ‘everything’, but Laura knew she had to narrow it down. Not only that, but she wanted to ease into this conversation and gradually feel her way through it.
“Oh my…” While she suspected he would be open about most things, Laura did not want to pry. She took her time, looked to the sky and pondered a safe starting point. “Your childhood.”
“My childhood, wow.” Charles passed a hand through his hair and exhaled. “Alright, let’s see…”
And so began his story.
He started with the basics-his date of birth, his parents’ names, the fact that he was an only child. He then went on to describe his upbringing-what his family had been like, the values his parents had instilled in him.
From what she could gather, Charles had been very close to his mother and father. There was a definite twinkle in his eyes as he spoke of them, so much love. Then, as he went on to say that they had passed, he looked at the river, the light in his features fading to a solemn expression.
Laura’s heart went out to him and as the words, “I’m sorry” tumbled from her lips, she received his thanks in the slight squeeze of his hand.
“It’s alright,” he whispered, fingers rising to skim her chin in a reassuring way.
When he resumed his story, Charles chose a more cheerful direction. He spoke of the things he loved, hobbies such as collecting model trains and clocks. He then went on to describe his love of art, stated that he used to sit on the front steps on the weekends and draw his days away. This passion had led to a study of the craft, four years he described as being ‘quite something’.
As she listened, Laura felt a warmth wash over her. Since their first meeting, she had speculated much about him and now found many of her assumptions to have been correct.
It was sweet confirmation in a way-that she had fallen not for an image of the man she wanted him to be, but for the man he was.
“It took a few years but I eventually landed a job at a successful advertising firm, steadily worked my way up.”
“Sounds exciting.”
“It was fast paced, hectic. I got to draw every day, but…” Shaking his head, Charles drew a breath. “It was empty. It…”
Knowing he had more to say, Laura waited for him to continue.
“It wasn’t for me.” At this admission, a tiny, lopsided smile broke through his reflective expression. “Not to say that I didn’t get anything from my time there. In fact, I met my best friend at that agency.”
“You did?”
“Yeah. His name was Al Glasser.”
Upon hearing this, something changed. Laura’s curiosity gave way to muted guilt. What had struck her most was not hearing a name but the use of past tense. While it was technically erroneous, Laura recognized that Charles had used it because he would never see his friend again.
“We were total opposites,” he continued on a chuckle. “He was always looking ahead, couldn’t sit still for one moment.”
Despite Charles’ upbeat tone, a veil had descended on Laura. She tried to look happy, she really did, but suspected she was failing.
To get a sense of who his loved ones had been, knowing he had left them behind for her…
“You must miss him,” she said, the words sounding choked to her own ears.
Charles’ answer came by way of a nod, the light in his eyes gradually fading to nostalgia. “Yeah.”
Feeling a tightening in her chest, Laura looked down and inwardly cursed her inability to hide her emotions.
“Hey…” Charles’ voice was soft and filled with concern. “You alright?”
Of course, he had noticed.
“I’m fine.”
It was a lie and as she forced a smile and ignored the sting of impending tears, Charles called her out on it.
“No, you’re not.”
There was no fooling him.
“I’m sorry. I guess it’s just… when I think of everything and everyone you left behind…” Laura could not finish her sentence.
As she sat there, unable to meet his gaze, Charles lifted her chin and willed her to look at him once again. “Laura.”
The sincerity in his eyes was striking. So were his words.
“I don’t regret coming here and I never will.”
On a quivering breath, she shifted slightly. He had more to say. It was written on his face.
“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And this,” Charles gestured to their surroundings, his words laced with conviction when he continued, “Is where I belong.”
Rationally, Laura knew that he did not regret coming here. But what he had given up-which was essentially everything-was mind boggling, almost too much to ponder and comprehend.
“The last thing I want is for you to feel guilty over the choice that I made.” There was a pause and then, “The choice that I made.”
The truth in his gaze made her heart flutter. Her insides quivering, she brought a hand to wipe her cheek.
He was right. She shouldn’t feel guilty.
Charles was at peace with his decision.
Laura wanted to tell him she believed him, because she did. But the words were not forming right in her mind. Instead, all she could do was smile through a sniffle.
“If this is upsetting you, we don’t have-”
“No, it’s fine,” she assured him. “I want to know about your life. I really do.”
“You sure?”
Her heart filled with fervent certainty, Laura’s gaze did not waver. “Yes.”
And as they sat there, locked in a moment of understanding, time lost its meaning. There was nothing but the two of them, nothing but this place and the conversation they were about to have.
“I’ll tell you everything you want to know,” he murmured.
Laura recognized that he had yielded, that the thread of discussion was now hers to choose. It was such a Charles thing to do, caring and considerate. Not only that, but he was gentle too, incredibly tender in how he spoke, touched, and looked at her.
I’m so lucky.
Awash with those wonderful feelings he evoked in her, Laura leaned forward, reached for the side
of his face and brought her mouth to his.
The kiss, though soft, was nothing short of profound. It washed away the guilt and bound them in a vow of honesty and openness.
When it was over, their eyes met once again. No doubt, no regret.
Now or never.
“Tell me about her.” As these murmured words fell from her lips, they held not an ounce of hesitation. “Tell me about your wife.”
Rather straightforward, but this was not the time to sidestep and cower. The door had been opened and-secure in the love between them-Laura had chosen to step through the threshold.
The woman with whom Charles had shared a life had been the source of much reflection for her.
Initially, there had been conflict in the way she had wanted to perceive this person.
On the one hand, she could have thought of her as ‘the other woman’, a rival of sorts. But Laura had not been able to because she recognized this comparison to be wrong.
When all the puzzle pieces had fallen into place, it had revealed the picture of three souls unwittingly caught in a triangle. It had been a sad tale of circumstance, the burden of culpability belonging to no one.
To vilify this woman would have been unfair.
Laura knew nothing about her.
And then there was Charles…
He was a good man-kind hearted, thoughtful, and giving. She could not imagine him falling for and marrying a woman who did not share those traits in some way.
“Her name was Kristen.”
And there it was, the first revelation.
Laura turned it over in her mind and allowed it to sink in. “It’s a lovely name.”
Reaching for a strand of grass, Charles pulled it free and proceeded to twirl it between his fingers. “We were introduced by a mutual friend and at the time, it clicked, you know.”
“What was she like?”
“Well, she was kind, funny,” A slight chuckle shaking his frame, he added, “Energetic.”
The fondness in his voice could have sparked jealousy within her-very well might have in another woman-but it did not. Laura actually found it comforting.
Charles’ marriage had faltered but she couldn’t discern any resentment or animosity. It spoke volumes about him, about the kind of man he was.
“She was very different from me, always on the go, very devoted to her career.”
As a woman who owned a business, Laura was intrigued. “What did she do?”
“She was a business consultant,” he answered, shoulders rising in a shrug. “Helped companies improve their performance by analyzing problems, finding solutions, stuff like that.”
“Impressive.”
“It was a good job. She had a passion for it.”
Laura could understand that. While the dual role of mother and newspaper editor sometimes wore her out, she loved to work and found a lot of fulfillment in it.
“I had a lot of respect for her and what she chose to do with her life,” he continued, his eyes narrowing in contemplation as he shook his head. “But as the years went by, we sorta became lost. Things were going by so fast, too fast. It was… dizzying.”
“You wanted different things?”
“We did,” Charles nodded slowly. “I needed a change, wanted to get away from the city, maybe think about starting a family.”
Hearing this not only painted a clearer picture, it was also comforting.
Except for the one time she had said, “You really like children, don’t you?” they had never really broached the topic of family. While she had deduced he did not have children of his own, she had never asked outright.
As a mother, Laura would not have been able to reconcile his decision to come here if he’d had any. To leave an unfulfilling life behind was one thing, to leave children was quite another.
And knowing Charles as she did…
He never would have done that.
“I was also looking at schools and seriously considering a shift in careers.” These words broke through her musings, bringing her to the here and now.
She was curious. “Oh?”
“Teaching,” he answered. “It was something I’d always wanted to do.”
This made her smile. “You would have been a wonderful teacher.”
“Thanks.” His smirk receding into a wistful expression, Charles resumed his story. “But Kristen was happy where she was. She was content with the way her life was going and didn’t see the need to change anything.”
“I’m sorry.” While she was grateful to have him in her life, Laura did not rejoice in his separation. The dissolution of a marriage… It couldn’t have been easy.
It was a concept that was somewhat foreign to her. Oh, there were instances where couples divorced, but it was an extremely rare occurrence. Laura had never personally known anyone who had severed the bonds of wedlock.
It wasn’t something that was done. Well… perhaps in the big cities but certainly not around these parts.
Couples stuck in a loveless marriage were all too common, unfortunately. Over the years, she had seen her fair share of unhappy husbands and wives. While the subject was seldom discussed, it was often visible. And it was always sad.
It was one of the reasons she had refused to settle for a marriage of convenience after her husband had died. Many had frowned on her decision to provide for herself, but Laura had never looked back.
If she was to give herself to someone, it would be for the right reasons-not because she needed to be taken care of.
It was a decision she did not regret for it had allowed her to find love again-the kind that made her heart race and her toes curl up.
“It’s alright,” he replied. “We ended on good terms. Both of us acknowledged that our relationship had run its course.”
“That’s good.”
“Yeah,” he agreed, hand lightly stroking her arm before he continued. “I’ll always remember our last conversation. She said, ‘we had a good run, Charlie’. And we did.”
Laura could discern the peace in his voice, the closure in his words. It was comforting to know that he was truly okay with how things had ended between he and his wife.
“And now, I’m here… with you.” There was a pause as Charles met her eyes, his gaze filled with incredible depth of emotion. “And I couldn’t be happier.”
Whilst these words were profound, what he said next was even more so.
“I love you, Laura.”
Even if his feelings were no secret, Charles had never said the words. To hear them was a gift, one she would cling to forever and always. Her insides awhirl with the quiver of a thousand butterflies, Laura looked at him through tears. They spilt to her cheeks, and this time she made no move to wipe them away.
Instead, she sat there, breathless, his declaration already replaying in her mind.
To say it back was more difficult than she had foreseen. Her voice had fled. But Laura mouthed the words anyway and managed a whisper she hoped conveyed everything. “I love you too.”
What he gave her in response made her feel even more wonderful-an easy smile accompanied by a caress slowly winding from her cheek to the side of her neck. Then, he was nuzzling her, whispering things she longed to hear.
What followed was a beautiful expression of affection, a kiss so meaningful as to shatter them both.
It was gentle, it was heady, and it stirred Laura in ways she could not define.
This place was special. It was theirs. And in this refuge, it was easy to forget everything and just be. Right now, she was floating. She surrendered to the pull he had on her and allowed their bodies to fall to the ground in a slow descent. Oh so slow.
When her back met the blanket, Laura thought she was dreaming. To have him pressed to her side, his hand cupping her cheek as his mouth glided over hers…
Adrift, she sighed then hummed, her own hands rising to hold his face.
The moment, while filled with yearning, was not desperate. Rather, it was attentive, a languid manifestation of that which existed between them.
It carried them both, and Laura hoped it would sustain them through the long nights ahead.
No question about it, this courtship would be a whirlwind romance. A few days ago, she would have never believed it, but now-lying in his arms, their limbs entangled-she could not do otherwise.
This man was a godsend and Laura was beyond grateful to have him in her life.
With honest words, they had strengthened the foundations of their relationship. And now, as they indulged in quiet intimacy, Charles and Laura revelled in it.
To draw the line and pull back was not easy.
In the end, Charles was the one to ease away, his eyes delving into hers as his thumb rose to brush her lower lip. “We should…”
Laura noted the regret in his features, felt the same.
Neither of them wanted to leave but they had to.
“Yes,” she finally answered, eyelids falling shut for a few moments.
The desire was there and it was deep. But what they had was too beautiful to rush. To give in now, while incredibly tempting, would ruin the careful pace they had set.
And as far as she was concerned, there was nothing more enticing than a slow burn.
Their time together had been everything Laura had hoped it would be and more. She had gotten to know him on a deeper level and was content with the discoveries she had made. They had not covered everything of course, but there would be other times.
As Charles helped her to her feet, Laura felt happy and relaxed.
The peaceful feeling lingered as they gathered the blanket and made their way to where Turnip grazed.
It followed as they walked in a leisurely stride through the meadow, hand in hand with the horse beside them.
When they parted ways, that peace morphed into a longing that followed her right into the night.
In sleep, she dreamed of him, the images in her mind a quasi mirror to what they had shared that evening-the two of them, alone and in love, with only the river as their witness.
continue to chapter 12