Picking up Geraldine

[Decimus mab Halcyone]

She was sweet and giving in her actions, and I found myself deepening the kiss without any real thought as to what I was doing. It was... natural, really, to do it, or so it felt. Still, I knew that the wedding would be not too much farther away, and I had no wish to make her go looking like she'd been pawed up. I restrained myself from doing more than simply kissing, and when it broke, I gave her a rather sheepish smile. "I don't want you to be any less beautiful for the wedding," I said, trying to explain why I pulled away. "I'm afraid if I don't stop now, we may either never arrive, or your well-groomed appearance might be... less groomed, I suppose."

[Géraldine Grangier]

The kiss was deepened, and I took it all in, kissing him back, adoring the smell of him, and the sensuality of the kiss. Oh, it would take him very little to make me want him, in fact, nothing at all. I already did. But then he pulled away, and I stifled a small protest, though his sheepish smile made me grin.

Rather, I chuckled at his explanation. "I understand, and I have patience, Your Grace," I said, taking his hand in mine. "I wonder how the other carriages fare. There are a lot of adepts, going with their patrons, to the wedding...." I let it hang there.

[Decimus mab Halcyone]

I tilted my head, thinking on it. "I suppose there are, though I can honestly say I don't know enough to really have any accurate count on how many adepts were contracted to patrons." I reached out and took her hand in mine, running my thumb over her smooth skin. "But then again, I don't doubt you'll outshine them."

I smiled. "And call me Decimus, please."

[Géraldine Grangier]

I must have beamed. "Thank you, Decimus, for the compliment."

I liked his name. It sounded both tender and strong, very much like him. I couldn't help but ask, "Tell me, your first name, it's remarkable. Is there a story to be told about it?"

My gaze wandered, from his lush lips to his strong nose, to his eyes that were calm as the Straits, I imagine. Gods, the grandson to the Master of the Straits... it made my mind swim, and I couldn't help but wonder... had he retained any of his illustrious forefather's talent? Did he have the dromonde? Did he remotely command the waters? Did he...

I had to stop myself from thinking. He was gently caressing my hand, and I squeezed back gently, tenderness flaring from me for this charming man. Truth be, fisherman or not, he was quite seductive.

[Decimus mab Halcyone]

My thumb kept up the gentle motions as we sat, the swaying of the carriage more soothing now, less jittery and bumpy. Must have gotten less rain out this way.

"Not too long of one, I am afraid. My name was modeled after my fathers, the Duc Desideratus, as his was of his fathers. My mothers name was derived from my grandfathers, and my sisters from my mother." I shrugged slightly, watching her eyes. She seemed lost in herself for a moment, as if she were thinking deeply, focusing on some inner thoughts that may or may not have had anything to do with our conversation. It mattered little - her thoughts were her own, of course.

"There is no pattern to it," I added, "and the names do not have to closely resemble the parents. Keeps things from getting too confusing." I grinned and let my hand fall quiet with hers, though cupping it and holding it still.

[Géraldine Grangier]

"Desideratus..." I'd listened, and found his explanation confusing, but interesting. "So Decimus is a declination of Desideratus.... it is good, to have a memento of your parents, to carry where you go," I said softly.

I didn't let go his hand, enjoying the feel of it, finding it pleasant and agreeable, and I smiled softly, my eyes still drinking him in. In the end, I whispered, loud enough for him to hear, "You are quite the fascinating patron, Decimus, I'll have to say it, at least once."

[Decimus mab Halcyone]

"I'm glad I could amuse you," I said with a teasing smile as I glanced up from her, noting through the open window that the L'Envers estate was coming up. Returning my attention, I reclined back more as I looked at her. Sultry and sophisticated, she was, lounging next to me in my carriage. "You truly do look beautiful," I said softly, my eyes admiring her.

We wouldn't have time alone again until after the wedding celebrations, and with that in mind I leaned in again and kissed her fully, letting it build and deepen on its own, on how fast she wanted it, if at all.

[Géraldine Grangier]

That look he gave me... If I were made of wood, I would have kindled, ice would have melted, the dead would have risen, and flowers would have bloomed. But I was neither of those things, but woman, and so I blushed, smiling discretely, my eyes demurely tasting him. And yet, I felt myself kindled, melted, arisen and blooming, for such looks turn me to all these things.

His kiss became the natural consequence of it all, and I welcomed it, kissing him in turn, letting the kiss come deeper, slowly, patiently, carefully. Unwittingly, my hands found his shoulder, and I held him this way, not quite embracing him, but only giving him full leave.

[Decimus mab Halcyone]

She nealy melted into me and I kissed her deeper for it, my hand coming to place itself on the gentle curve of her hip before rising up. The beading along her dress I trod lightly over for fear of inadvertantly dislodging one, but ever so slowly my hand worked its way up to her breast until it at last cupped it, brushing gently along the outsides. I breathed out in appreciation, and immediately felt my arousal grow; I needed to stop, but for the moment I couldn't. My hand came up further and I traced it along the skin that poked out from her dress, just above her breasts, then slipped the tip of my finger down into the small hollow between her lovely mounds.

[Géraldine Grangier]

A very gentle, demure moan left my lips as his hand trailed up, discovered me. His kiss made my heart quicken, beat a racing song, and I returned it with all the skill, all the affection and mastery I could muster, my body instinctively molding to his touch. His strong hand, for all its power, was feather light on me, delicate, tentative, respectful, and for it all I adored him more. I was finding myself desiring him wildly, and that without propriety to hold me back, and the vague understanding that we were nearing our destination, I would have likely removed my dress for him, as against my nature as it seemed.

[Decimus mab Halcyone]

Her moan was echoed by one of my own, though my voice was stronger, more insistant. She arced towards me and encouraged me without restraint, and I had a very, very difficult time of retracting my hand from her dress as the carriage rolled to a stop.

The door opened and I kissed her a moment longer, ignoring whomever was holding it for now, before reluctantly letting her go. "We've arrived," I murmured to her, my lips stealing one last chaste kiss before leaning back. Straightening my clothing, I stepped down out of the carriage, then waited for her, my hand held to aid her down.