Page 5 of Desired By Mr Darcy
When they finally broke apart, breathless, Lizzy’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes shining with unshed tears. Darcy cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing against her cheek.
“Elizabeth Bennet,” he whispered, his voice hoarse, “you undo me.”
“And you, Fitzwilliam Darcy, have made me whole,” she replied, her voice no louder than a breath.
For a moment, they simply held each other, knowing full well that the world beyond their secluded spot would never approve of this intimacy. But here, in this stolen moment, propriety held no power over them.
“I love you,” he said softly, his words a gentle hum against the crown of her head.
She turned in his arms, looking up at him with adoring eyes.
“I love you, Fitzwilliam. Until my last breath, I love you.”
Darcy’s breath caught at her words, a rush of emotion rendering him momentarily speechless. Her declaration, so heartfelt and unwavering, undid the last thread of his self-restraint. Slowly, reverently, he lowered his head, his gaze never leaving hers.
“Elizabeth,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “My beautiful Elizabeth.”
And then his lips were on hers once more, capturing her in a kiss that was at once tender and consuming. It was as though the world had fallen away, leaving only the two of them in a cocoon of warmth and longing. Her arms slid up around his neck, drawing him closer, and he responded by tightening his hold, his hands cradling her as though she were something infinitely precious.
This kiss was different - deeper, more certain, as though each of them sought to pour every unspoken feeling into it. The tentative hesitations of before had vanished, replaced by a shared understanding of their love’s inevitability.
Lizzy tilted her head slightly, deepening their connection, and Darcy followed her lead, his heart pounding as her fingers threaded through his hair. The gentle rustling of leaves and distant birdsong became a symphony to their passion, and time seemed to stretch endlessly.
Darcy’s hands began to roam tentatively, skimming the curve of her back, the delicate outline of her waist, as though memorizing the contours of her form. Lizzy, too, let her hands explore, fingers tracing the broad expanse of his shoulders and the strong planes of his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath the fabric. Each touch ignited something deeper between them, a shared hunger that neither had dared acknowledge until now.
When at last they pulled apart, the air was filled with their panting breaths. Lizzy rested her forehead against his, her lips curved in a soft smile, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of exhilaration and joy.
“We must go,” he murmured. “I have taken liberties that are unforgivable.”
“What liberties, my love? You have taken nothing that was not mine to give. Would you deny me a kiss?”
“If we were to be seen…”
“Nobody will see us here. Oh, if I had my heart’s desire I would stay here with you forever. You are right, I suppose. We ought to continue our walk before it gets dark.”
He rose to his feet and extended a hand to her. She grasped it, using his steady grip to pull herself upright. Once they stood face to face, their eyes locked. Had this unbearable tension always simmered between them? He knew that it had, for he had dreamt of her for months, but this – this closeness they shared seemed to have heightened.
They walked on, emerging from the woodland and continuing on. The walk was silent, until Elizabeth spoke.
“How often shall we be at Pemberley?”
“I would endeavour to be there more than I have been this past year. If I had a choice, I do believe I would never stray beyond its bounds.”
“Will you show me all that there is to see? I wish to explore it intimately. I am sure nobody knows the place better than you.”
“Every bit of it. We will depart after our wedding and spend our honeymoon there. In time, perhaps we will venture abroad and see the sights of Europe.”
“Where shall we go?” Elizabeth breathed in excitement. “I have seen so little of the world, and yet there is so much I have read about that I should like to see. I would go anywhere with you by my side.”
“I have travelled little compared to others, but what I have seen enriched me greatly. I believe you would enjoy Greece; the architecture is incomparable.”
“I do so enjoy the myths, and the tales of Gods and men. Did you see Mount Olympus?”
“I did.”
“Was it as magnificent as they say? And the Parthenon?”
“It is just as it is written. I will take you there when the seas are calm and the war is over. The heat is least oppressive in the spring.”
