thedispatch | (no subject)

(no subject)

William dropped down from his horse. It had been a long ride - from London straight down to the southern coast of England. But he'd barely stopped, only doing so when his horse refused to go further without rest and water. But each time, William did little more than tap his foot anxiously, trying to focus on anything but his thoughts of what happened the day before.

But now that he'd arrived, there was nothing else to distract him. The horse was forgotten as he walked towards where the English Channel extended out to what seemed like eternity. With the thick fog of the early morning, there was no telling just what was out there. William's breath was shaky as his gaze then drifted down. Beachy Head, a beautiful site for some, with the tall cliff towering over the shore line below. But for him, this day, it was his enemy - or perhaps his closes friend. Whichever the case, he was terrified.

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[ Once she's returned, she'll find William has forgone the long night gown he would typically wear to bed. Instead, he's merely in his pants. But being as it's Christmas Eve and snow is falling, he's dug out some heavy blankets to keep them snug and warm despite the bare skin. He's just laying out the last one as she approaches. ]

This should keep the chill off us.

[ Touching a hand to her chest with some surprise, she has a lopsided little smile on her lips. ]

Good. You must be freezing.

[ She, however, has removed all those pesky underthings of hers and replaced them with a nightgown. Not much warmer, though!

Picking up a corner of the diligently layered blankets, she holds them up for William to slip under more easily. ]

Come on, then. Let's fix that.

I sleep like this on occasion. Nightgowns tend to roll up on me and I rarely find them comfortable.

[ With that, he's slipping beneath the blankets, then holding them up for Grell to join him. The effect of the blankets takes over immediately and William finds himself sighing comfortably. ]

Pants don't seem much more comfortable in bed, really...

[ Still, she won't complain, as she's able to cozy right up beside him and run her hands along his bare stomach whilst embracing him! ]

It's the better of the two, for me.

[ He'd held her in bed like this before, but there's a difference this time. Subtle as it may be, William feels like he's relaxed even more as she holds onto him. Perhaps the conflict of his feeling for her was stressing him more than he realised, because now he feels as though he can breathe and push everything but this moment with her from his mind. ]

I have been curious. Which do you prefer, scarlet or crimson?

[ Grell idly wonders why he might not just forgo garments altogether, if that were the case - but, that can be a suggestion for another time.

Settling her head on his shoulder, in favor of the pillow, she is caught off guard by the seemingly random and startlingly innocent question. She can't help but chuckle through her breath. ]

Ah, that's a good one! I think scarlet is daring and lively, and crimson more dramatic and passionate. I might lean slightly toward the latter.

Hm. I can see how those terms would correlate.

[ The way he responds sounds as though her answer has given him some important insight, though he doesn't continue with any explanation. ]

[ When a moment of silence passes and he doesn't continue, she realizes that must be it. ]

Well, come on, then. [ There's some laughter laced into her words. ] Tell me what you're thinking.

I was trying to choose a nickname for you. It only seemed fitting that a word representing the colour you associate well with should be my choice.

[ Knowing him, he has a list of red related terms somewhere in his desk and has been adding to and pondering over them for some time now. ]

[ ah, she remembers talking about this months ago, and knowing now that he's been taking the task as seriously as she imagined he would just tickles her endlessly. ]

Whatever you choose, I'm certain that I'll love it. She kisses the just if his jaw with a content hum. ] Though, between the two, Scarlett sounds more natural as a name.

That was part of what kept me from choosing. Rose was another option. Which I believe sounds nicely along side either of the other two.

[ Okay, he's nowhere closer to a decision than he was before. Pondering it, he wraps an arm around Grell's shoulder once he's certain she's comfortable. ]

[ The newest suggestion earns an intrigued little sound! ]

Oh, it certainly does! I quite like that one.

[ Comfortable, she certainly is. In fact, she's even hooked a leg over one of his. His feet are much warmer. ]

You will be my Crimson Rose, then. Though I believe I'll keep it to special, private moments.

[ Like now, he supposes. But when her leg slides over his, it makes him startle slightly. ]

Your feet are absurdly cold.

[ He fidgets with the blankets as best he can in their position, but not much is changed. ]

[ Okay, that gets something of a purr out of her-- although cut short by his declaration! Blinking up at him innocently, she only shifts her weight onto him more, clinging for warmth! ]

I'm fortunate that you're here to warm me.

I should make you put your stockings back on.

[ Perhaps he warming her up, but he feels as though she's taking the warmth from him entirely! He even gives a shiver! ]

[ Oh dear. That gets a frown out of her. ]

I'm sorry, darling. I certainly could...

[ There's a moment of hesitation, once she trails off-- but someone has to get things rolling...! ]

O-or we could try something else.

Such as what?

[ He sounds honestly clueless. ]

I believe I took out all the blankets I had stored.

[ Grell cannot believe that he hadn't caught that, and her expression surely says as much. Licking over her lips, she musters up the courage to nuzzle the tip of her nose beneath his jawline, placing a kiss just beneath his ear. ]

Shall I show you?

[ That gets him to shiver in an entirely different way! And it helps to clear up just what she was hinting at. ]

Ah. I believe I would be okay with that.

[ That reaction earns a flicker of a smile, as she shifts, hiking her gown up enough that she can comfortably straddle him. Her torso lays gingerly atop his, as she ghosts her lips over his with a kiss. ]

Are you sure?

Yes. I haven't pushed you off of me, have I?

[ Despite there being barely any space between their lips, he's still speaking at his usual volume. But his hands have settled around her, hands meeting at the small of her back. ]

[ Somehow, that awkwardness is just endearingly amusing, and she appreciates the entertainment. She's nearly grinning against his lips. ]

Fair point.

[ Her palms run up his arms, over his shoulders, and up along his neck until they settle on his cheeks. She kisses him again, passionately drawn out - places a peck on his chin as she tilts his head back to trail more down his neck. ]

[ Seems shuddering is all he's capable of, this evening. That spot on his neck is apparently very sensitive, but he's certainly not complaining. Just a heavy, shaky breath before he awkwardly clears his throat to regain some composure. ]

[ Thankfully, Grell doesn't plan to torture his ego by focusing on that spot - though she'll certainly remember it for later; instead, she combs her fingers up into his hair and around his ears, lips continuing to pepper his collar and chest with kisses. ]

[ While Grell is showing little hesitation to touch every part of his exposed skin, William's hands are being fairly respectful. They remain over her gown, trailing up and down her spine with a firm touch. ]