Maggie was very much getting lost in the moment and the feelings he was causing within her. She honestly didn't know how to respond to any of it so simply let instinct take hold. That was the best way to go, surely. Let him lead and follow her own instincts no matter how inexperienced she was in everything that was happening in that moment.

A small squeak of surprise did managed to escaped her when his hand found her breast. The shocks it sent through her body were intense but oddly welcomed. There was still plenty of fabric there between his hand and the tender flesh beneath but she could feel the heat of it. The heat quickly spread through her body and to her very core as he easily moved her against the table. His body flush against hers was another bit of shock but it would be the downfall it would seem.

Realization of what was happening managed to break through her foggy, lustful senses and she managed to break away from the kiss. Lips swollen and eyes bright, she pressed her forehead against his and did what she could to catch her breath. "Wait.." she murmured under her breath, more for her sake than anything. None of this was supposed to be happening. They'd married for convenience after all. They weren't supposed to actually fall for each other, or at the very least, weren't supposed to fall into the bed together. Right? That's what they'd said in the beginning after all.

But if they kept going down the road they had been, she knew she'd fall further than just into the bed. As if she hadn't already gone and fallen fully.

---

  

---

Marvelous MJ Masterpiece

Now that they had this close contact, it was fast becoming clear just how this had opened the floodgates. He'd known her for long enough - Merlin, practically forever in his books, even if the times in the bakery had been few and far between - and even since they had been secretly engaged, there had been nothing, save one kiss on the cheek.

Well, nothing wrong with a little acceleration. Make up for wasted time. Especially because it felt so right with her, just as the honest concern and the childish sweetness of earlier had been, so natural even now they'd done away with both in favour of this. Especially not given the way this felt, the blazing warmth between them, heart pounding and the blood thundering through his veins, the growing tightness in his trousers -

And then she pulled back. From the kiss, at least; mercifully, not away from him entirely, her forehead coming to rest against his. His eyes flickered open and roved briefly over her, bemused. "Wait, what?" He murmured, breaths coming heavily against her cheek. The rational part of his brain supposed it would be slow down. However, the rational part of his brain was languid and lazy on a good day, to say nothing of the state of the rest of his reflexes right now. So, even as he waited for an answer, he began hitching up the layers of her skirts.

---

  

---

There were too many thoughts running through Maggie's mind. And emotions. Those were perhaps the hardest things to deal with. It wasn't supposed to be that way. They weren't supposed to be doing this. Only that was an absurd idea. They were married after all. But.. but that hadn't been part of the plan. None of this had been part of the plan and she didn't know what to think.

"Lorcan," she all but whispered as her hands came up to push lightly on his chest, "Lorcan, stop please. We can't.." But that was still an absurd thing to say. There was absolutely nothing stopping them. Or there shouldn't have been. They were married. It was acceptable, perfectly proper and appropriate.

But something didn't feel right and she couldn't figure it out. She'd known they hadn't married for love, she'd have been crazy to think he loved her. Lust, surely. She could believe that. She lusted for him herself. With every single fiber of her being as her core felt like liquid fire in that moment. And she'd be a fool to think she needed to wait for love. That likely wasn't going to happen. She was already married. There was no changing that now. So what was so wrong with what was happening in that moment?

---

  

---

Marvelous MJ Masterpiece

She’d told him to stop, which was another strike against possibility, a rejection that was getting more difficult to ignore. Her hands were not pushing very hard against him, so if his hand was still pushing her skirts further up her thighs, it was in the hopes that her - well, her body, if not her heart - would overrule any delusions she had in her head.

“Why can’t we?” Lorcan countered in her ear, wondering how much persuading she might need. No one would find out; it would ruin neither of them more than they already were; whatever they’d said about what this marriage was to be, no one could blame them. He’d gone to bed with people for much less.

A traitorous twist in his gut told him that even this would feel better if he’d resolved to wait, if he waited for her to come around in her own time, long enough for her to feel anything more than gratitude towards him - but Lorcan was under no illusions that she would ever feel that way, and so this was better than nothing, and now better than never. Besides, he’d never been much one for patience.

Which was why he hardly waited for her to reel out her reasons and kill the mood, and tried to conquer any qualms on the tip of her tongue by pressing in to catch her in another kiss.

---

  

---

Maggie was still lost in her own thoughts and worries of it all when he asked his question, barely a whisper against her ear. It sent a shiver through her entire body, one that seemed to hit her in her very core. It was an amazing feeling but it didn't stop the terrifying fear she felt. Taking in a deep breath, she was cut off from speaking as he pressed in for a kiss.

It was a brief one, though, one she reveled in just long enough before she dipped her head down to break it off. Her hands pressed a little more forcefully at his chest this time. "Lorcan, please," she pleaded. She couldn't look at him though. She knew if she looked into his eyes, it would be her undoing. She'd give herself to him physically right there on their kitchen table if she did. And she just.. couldn't. She couldn't be that for him, she'd found.

She knew she was destining herself to a life without passion but she just couldn't bring herself to go that far with him. Not if their hearts weren't in it too. Convenience. It was all for convenience. She had to just keep reminding herself of that.

---

  

---

Marvelous MJ Masterpiece

He'd have almost rather she argued with him about it, actually answered his question so that he could find a way to coax her a different way. But Lorcan still didn't know what her problem was, just that she had one, by the way she shied away from the kiss and pushed him back again.

He had been turned down before, so - why should this feel so much worse? Granted, he'd didn't have any comparison for this situation, not even close, but they were married. He'd gone and gotten married for her. But not like that, apparently. Their marriage wasn't going to be like that. Maggie clearly didn't like him like that.

How could he have convinced himself otherwise? He was a bigger fool than he'd thought, Lorcan thought with a grimace as he took his hands off her and stepped back from the table, let the chill of reality rush into the space between them. "Yeah. Alright," he said shortly, though as soon as he looked away from her he felt ridiculous blaming her for refusing him. "Sorry," he added with a frown, trying to settle the thud of his heartbeat. "Stupid idea. My fault. It won't happen again."

---

  

---

The cold rush of air between them was almost like a slap to the face for Maggie. The look on his face didn't help and she felt a distinct pain in her chest over it. But it was what was best. For both of them. She was sure of that. It had to be.

"You don't need to apologize," she found herself saying softly but unable to meet his gaze. Pushing away from the table, she took a few tentative steps toward him but quickly changed her mind. "I should get to bed..It's going to be busy tomorrow," she said, gaze flickering to him just briefly before she moved to the doorway. A quick glance was made to the mess and she took in a deep breath, "I'll take care of the mess in the morning." And with that, she walked out of the kitchen and headed to her room.

---

  

---

Marvelous MJ Masterpiece