On for a stroll

    Quill and I decide to go to the gardens, waving away curious stares from butlers, and maids. The wedding planner storms past me, giving me a dirty look, but she stops when Quill places a protective arm around me, pulling me outside.

     On a whim, I curl into his warmth, forgetting for a moment that he's not Mason; werewolves run on a higher temperature, and since I chilled so easily, it was one of the few things I appreciated.

      And a bonus; Quill smells like clean clothes and soap. Mason mostly smelled like raw meat, and outside scentst hat I could never pinpoint at times.

      I snuck a peek at him, wondering what was he thinking. Did he think this was a good idea? Did I think this was a good idea?

      Honestly, this seemed too fast in such a short amount of time.

      As I opened my mouth to ask him something, someone calling out my name stopped me. Confused, we both turned, and I felt the color leave my face for a moment.

      Isadora was there, face flushed from having ran across the room, her usually put together hair in tangles, eyes wide open as her gaze went from Quill, to me.

      "Cece...may I have a word with you?" she asked, wringing her hands together.

        I took a step towards her, thinking about how her and I had been friends since long before we could walk. And then I remembered that she too had taken part in having an affair to my use to be betrothed, not honoring the promise we had made to each other.

        My hand shot out, lashing at her cheek, and she let out a startled yelp, redness blossoming on the side that I hit her. She cupped her face, and looked at me in dismay, her eyes filing up with tears.

         I leaned forward, looking at her with disgust. 

         How could I allow someone of my stature to befriend someone so lowly? And it wasn't even about status at this point; how could someone so two-faced exist?

          "I know." was all that I had said, Isadora's eyes betraying her. 

           She said nothing, scuttling back like a wounded animal before scurrying away, her sobs breaking the silence.

           I felt a light touch on my shoulders, and again without thinking, I threw my arms around Quill's waist, accepting his comfort. There was a deep ache in my chest as I realized I had lost the man I loved, and my best friend of many years.

           Quill rubbed my back, offering me comfort, as he whispered soft words in a language I had never heard about.

            We stood like that, as the sun dipped back down into the horizon, and the moon peeked out, Stars glittered, and little bugs with green lights flashed around. Quill pulled me into his arms, as we walked over where a giant tree had been planted at, plopping down.

            We both looked up at the sky, not saying anything, and I realized that in the end, I did get my under that stars date after all.

           Once the magic wore off, I felt embarassed at what I had done, and especially to my new betrothed. I tried to step up from Quill's lap, but his hold on me never faltered.

           His deep green eyes stared at me confused, and I blushed.

          "Are you not tired?" I had asked him, and he shrugged. "That's not much of an answer."

         "Are you?" he countered, and I could feel my back ache, and my ribs ache from the tight corset, my eyes itchy with sleep.

          "Will you...sleep with me tonight?" I asked him, the blush growing stronger on my face. He looked taken aback, but after a moment, he nodded, standing up while still holding me. I protested that my legs were still functioning, but he either didn't hear me or didn't care.

            Once we were in the main hall of the castle, he set me down, motioning for me to lead the way. I took his hand, and walked forward, going through many twists and turns, until we were met with a heavy wooden door, with purple coloring all over it. It was the only door father had allowed me to color differently, and I turned the handle, waving in Quill first.

            My maids appeared then, ready to undress me, but I shooed them away, closing and locking the door on them. I hoped they hadn't seen Quill, otherwise more gossip was going to trail all over the castle.

            My room had been cleaned, the rug dusted and beaten, the soft yellow quilts on my bed folded. It smelled of fresh spring, and Quill gazed around, staring at my cramped bookshelf that was crammed with many books, the top of it littered with trinkets, and such.

             I blushed again, thinking that maybe this was a bad idea.

            "I'm going to go undress. Do you need night clothes?" I asked him, fidgetting a little. He looked surprised, before shaking his head, and sitting on the edge of my bed.

             I nodded, before heading over to my walk in closet, and closing the door. Gowns upon gown stared at me, and I walked to the end where the ones for sleep were at. I struggled to undo the ties for my gown, but managed, letting it drop to the ground.

            The corset was going to be a different story, as it was double knotted to the upper of my back. I wondered if I should call my maids for help after all, then sighed as I peeked my head out of the closet, using the door to hide my body.

             Quill had taken off his boots, and shirt, leaving them folded in the chair in the corner, laying back on my bed. His tall body looked at ease, even though the bed was smaller compared to him. My face flushed as I realized we'd have to sleep very close together.

             He must have felt my gaze on him, because his head turned to me.

            "C...can you help me get undress?" I asked, and Quill's tanned skin reddened. He nodded, getting up from the bed, and walked over to me.

             I stepped back into the closet, and  turned my back to him, his breath hot on my neck. Goosebumps trailed on my skin, and I tried to control my breathing as I felt his hands begin to unknot the corset.

            Once the binding became loose, and I could feel myself breathe, I slumped forward, taking careful breaths. My ribs throbbed, and I know when I would be in the process of changing, there would be bruises littered on both sides.

            "You're bruised." Quill said, tracing my aching skin with a heated finger. I flinched, but I could feel myself relaxing at his warm touch.

             "It happens when I wear new corsets." I admitted, and Quill said something under his breath, as he moved his hands away from me.

             "All better?" he asked, walking so now that he was in the front of me. 

             "Yes, thank you." I replied, and he smiled, before stepping back out into the bedroom.

              I dropped the corset, and did some stretches, feeling the aches in my ribs, and lower back, looking down to see fresh bruises. They looked quite ugly, and I sighed, moving some more.

             After the stretching was done, I looked for an extra loose nightgown, pulling through the many ones I had. I grabbed one that felt the softest, and placed it on, feeling it cozy and loose.

             Taking out the braid from my hair, and the pins, I felt my hair tumble down to my back, rubbing through my scalp at the relief of being free.

             And now that part that I was trying to prolong; sharing the bed with a man. I eased opened the closet door, noticing that an oil lamp had been left on my dresser. Quill slept on his back, light snoring filling the room. I exhaled in relief, taking quiet steps, as I got under the covers.

             This was a bit more difficult, since Quill had decided to sleep on the covers instead of under them, but with his extra heat, I doubted he wanted to have blankets on him. I turned, and laid on my left side, away from Quill, and closed my eyes.

             They flashed opened, as I felt Quill's heavy arm around my waist, and tug me towards his heated body. I could feel the muscles of his lower abdomen, and upper chest against my back, and my breathing hitched as his hand just grazed the side of my breast.

             Oh, this was going to be hard to sleep after all.