Colette gasped as she awoke from the nightmare. The cottage was dark and the only noise that she could hear was her erratic breathing. She looked down beside her at her father who was sound asleep on his side of the bed. He had his hand across his chest and his other behind his head. He looked peaceful sleeping. The wrinkles he wore during the day sagged and his breathing was deep and undisturbed.
Colette let out a long, shaky breath. She brought her hand to her chest, feeling the shadow of claws scraping against them.
Colette rode silently on the mare Sébastien had given her beside Gregorie on his. They were out on his estate, trailing the grounds. Gregorie had his gun strapped around him. It's slender, elegant barrel laid across his lap and he searched the tall grass around them.
They hadn't said much since they set off from the house. Gregorie was itching to shoot something and asked Colette to keep him company. She had been in the garden, playing with his younger siblings by the fountain. They absolutely adored her and were very excited for her to marry their older brother. She loved them already like they were her own family.
"A coin for your thought?" Gregorie said, steering his mare up beside hers.
Colette gave him a weak smile. "I had another nightmare last night. The same nightmare. I've been having nightmares since I came home." She admitted.
Gregorie searched her face, his eyes assessing the tiredness in her own eyes. She wondered if the nightmares would stop once she slept with Gregorie.
"I'm sorry. Perhaps the maids know of a remedy for you to take to help with that. They always talk of old wives tales about ailments that can cure anything." He chuckled knowingly.
Colette smiled with him, a little more at ease from his feeble attempt at humor. "I suppose I could ask." She said, warrily.
He smiled at her and it sent her heart fluttering. The sun was beginning to set as they trailed down the slope of a hill that led into a spring fed creek. The sun's reflection on the water's surface looked like swirls of golden oil had been poured out on it. Dinner would be served right about now and Gregorie took the liberty of having the kitchen hands prepare them a basket of food for the occasion.
Colette's mare followed Gregories as it led them down the rocky embankment onto a narrow sandy shore. The river's shore was just wide enough to spread out the quilt Gregorie had brought. He helped Colette off of her mare, grabbing a hold of her waist and bringing her down slowly. He kept his hands at her waist as she touched ground and stood between him and the mare.
He gazed down at her and the sun shone in his eyes. Had he always been this handsome she thought, fascinated by the yellow- orange halo glowing around his unbound hair. He had always worn it pulled into a low ponytail until Colette mentioned she never saw him with it down. Once she confessed her admiration for it he never wore it pinned back again unless he was working. For her, he would be undone. Untamed.
"Why is it when you look at me that way I get the sudden urge to kiss you?" Gregorie admitted above her. All of him shielded her and suddenly dinner didn't sound so appetizing as she reached up on her toes to kiss him.
It was a gentle peck on the lips that soon turned into something hot and heavy. All of their kisses, at least when they were alone, turned into a heated frenzy. His hands never left her waist though. He always was the one to ground them as she fought to keep her hands from tearing away his clothes.
"Colette." He breathed, pulling away first. She stumbled forward through the distance he put between them.
She embarrassingly recovered and reached for his hand to apologize, but he banded his fingers through hers and pulled her back into his embrace. "Where does this fire come from inside of you?" He mumbled against her forehead.
She leaned into his chest, wrapping her other arm around his back. "I don't know. You make me feel... all sorts of things."
Like I'm on fire.
A smoke filled memory flitted across her eyes. She turned her face into his chest and looked up at him. He smiled and leaned down to kiss her once more. "Let's eat. Then we can roll around in the grass,"he teased. Colette couldn't hide the blush that filled her cheeks. Three more days until they married. She didn't think she could wait any longer.
She was never the same since leaving the castle. Since leaving Sébastien. He had awoken something inside of her or atleast kindled the small fire she already had but was not aware of. His presence turned the small flame into a burning bush. And she burned. All. The. Damn. Time.
Gregorie settled down into the blanket, guiding her down along with him before opening the basket at his feet. He pulled out a loaf of crusty bread, silver bowls of fruit and cheese and salted fish. Colette helped lay out everything and they ate while they watched the sunset.
Colette had just finished her crust of bread as the last rays of the sun splintered across the horizon. She sighed heavily, feeling full and lethargic. Gregorie pulled her towards him and set her between his legs. She eased back into his chest and he wrapped his arms around her.
The evening air was cool and with night arriving soon it would be even colder. "Do you think we should head back? It's getting colder."
Gregorie nuzzled the top of her head. "I'll keep you warm." He hugged her tighter and she felt his biceps press against her breast through her riding coat. Suddenly she did feel warmer.
"Shall I share some of my fire," she teased, stroking her fingers down his forearm in a tantalizing way.
She felt him grin against her scalp and she leaned her head back to look up at him. He stared down at her with dark eyes and kissed the top of her nose before claiming her mouth. She had to lean to the side and twist some in his arms to make it easier for him. She kissed him back with the same lazy movements his mouth made. She could be patient.
Gregorie slid his tongue between her lips to taste her own. The gesture had her breast aching. Her riding coat felt too tight against her chest. He nipped at her bottom lip and she stifled a moan. Did he know what he was doing to her?
Colette deepened the kiss, bringing her hand up to cup the back of his neck. Her chest lifted with the movement and her nipples strained against the silk fabric of her camisole. A delicious sensation raced down her spine from the contact.
She felt Gregories arm loosen and his hand slide from around her waist to the front of her jacket. His long fingers skillfully unbuttoned the top half and he pushed his hand beneath the wool fabric to cup her breast over her camisole.
Colette gasped at the contact and arched into his touch. "Shhh.. my sweet Colette." He whispered and began to kiss along her neck while massaging the tender breast.
Colette felt liquid heat form between her thighs and she reached to cup her hand over the one at her breast. She moaned as he flicked his thumb across the peaked nipple. No one has ever touched this part of her.
Patience. Patience, she gritted out in her mind as Gregorie shifted and she felt the hardness of him press against the small of her back. What was he doing? Was he aware of what pooled deep below her waist? Had he intended to do this the whole time they were riding? Did he plott this romantic dinner and the loving embrace while they watched the sun set. Did he plan on giving into her desires tonight? The thought sent a thrill of pleasure through her.
"Please, Gregorie." She pressed his hand harder against her breast. "Please." She needed him. She needed him to tame the throbbing. To soothe the aching between her legs.
He groaned against her shoulder. "Colette." His voice was full of warning. It was a strained sort of sound and she knew he was holding himself back. He wasn't going to take her. Not with their wedding just three days away. Why spoil it now?
Colette glowered at the realization and sat up straight. Gregories hand fell at her waist and she huffed out an irritable breath as she fumbled to button up her coat.
"Have I upset you?" He asked, reaching to pull her back towards him but Colette brushed his hands away and abruptly stood up.
She felt anger swell up inside of her. What he was doing to her was wrong. It felt wrong not to give into the desires they obviously both wanted. Perhaps it didn't affect him as much as it did to her. She felt like her whole body was on fire and he only sprinkled drops of water along it. She turned to face him. "I understand you wanting to wait until we are married before consummating our relationship but I cannot endure your touch any longer if you can't appease the growing ache inside of me." She admitted, rather breathlessly. It was torture.
Gregorie leaned forward and cupped his face with his hands. "I know. I know. I'm sorry. I... I just, I know that you burn for me as do I for you and I want to appease your burden. I want to take care of these... sexual desires, but... I- I'm afraid I won't be able to. I won't know how to."
His confession was an all too familiar slap to the face . "And you think I know how? Gregorie. I am depending on you to ease this ache. I am trusting you to take care of it. What are we to do when our wedding night comes around and both of us are clueless as hens? You should know what to do."
The hurt in his eyes made her regret what she said. She could not blame him for his innocence. She was innocent as well. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't put that burden on you. I did not realize you were innocent to this as well. Please, Gregorie. Forgive me." She knelt down on her knees and took his hands into hers. He looked beaten but relieved to know she understood.
"When the day comes, we will learn how to appease each other's desires. I will go as slow or as fast as you need me to. I will listen to your every command and put myself at your mercy. You know I will."
She smiled at Gregories promise and kissed him softly on the mouth. "As will I."
"I love you Colette. I have always loved you." He murmured.
She didn't know what to say so she kissed him again and again and again until they fell into each other's arms, embracing one another. They kissed for a long while beneath the stars. There were no roaming hands, only the feel of their mouths against one another and the sound of their heavy breathing like thunder before a rainstorm.