Emmeline exhaled rather abruptly when he finally moved her hand. She'd won, but at what costs? She just hoped he wouldn't be cross with her though he didn't seem to be.

"I suppose a lady's first time should be a bit more special," she said with a faint smile and a slight blush to her cheeks. Taking in a deep breath, she settled her head against his chest gently.

"Thank you," she added, softly still but sincerely.

---

  

---

#LovelyLadySet

"What for?" Charles asked, his expression and tone softening a little as hers did. He'd not missed her rather large exhale though he wasn't sure if it was because of relief or otherwise and for the briefest of moments, Charles felt bad as if he had coerced her into their little game when she didn't want to play.

He wasn't the type to do that kind of thing and if that had happened, he'd wanted her to had said something sooner.

The thought quickly moved away however when he decided to go back to what she'd just said, "and wait - first time?" He asked with a tease, his hand squeezing hers once again though this time it was more in a comforting sort of way, "I suppose we will have to make it special then, as you say. Fondling one another on a park bench isn't very productive, after all." He smirked.

They hadn't actually done anything - it was more the tension that built around it Charles had enjoyed. Also making her blush and fluster. That was good too.

---

  

It didn't take Emmeline long to realize that she would have given herself wholly to him in that moment had they truly progressed that far. And perhaps the scariest realization was that she was no longer just a little schoolgirl smitten with the Hit Wizard. Her heart ached in an entirely different way, especially as he told her they'd have to make the first time special. The fact he cared enough was perhaps what made her realize that the fluttering in her chest wasn't just lust, but love.

"For everything," she answered simply, not even bothering to broach the topic of a first time.

---

  

---

#LovelyLadySet

That was it.
For all the moments they'd shared where he wanted or believed time had stopped, nothing had actually happened. There was no sudden epitome, no magical second where his body became electric with feelings of wonderment, excitement, and absolute bliss. There was no deafening silence he wanted to embrace, no blinding light as his heart raced to his lungs and then through his body. There was never anything before beyond words and a feeling of something.

But now there was.
Those two words knotted his stomach and seared her initials onto his heart. Those two words had caused the butterflies to storm into a frenzy, had caused his mind to warp in and out of focus.

Those two words of hers helped to echo and understand what she evidently was to him.

He watched her as her breathing slowed, her cheeks flushed. He watched as her lips moved to form the words that were most unexpected.

The sudden shift in tone had rendered him speechless and he felt the beat in his heart skip for a split second though that second truly felt as if it wasn't ending. He bit his lip and narrowed his eyes a little, trying to think of something to say.

The answer was simple; he could say she was welcome and they would both be on with their day though it wasn't simple, was it? The inflection in her tone told him she meant more than she was saying. Her posture confirmed that. He couldn't run away now, despite his instinct telling him to. And if he thought about it, he didn't really want to.

His mouth opened before he could think on what he was saying and he spoke softly and quietly, "You're... I... --" He stuttered, feeling every pulse of his heart in his chest, "I think I-" All he needed to say was that she was welcome and that it wasn't a problem but he couldn't. He had something else he wanted to say.

"It's... Erm, Ems," He tried again, "Can I... I.. Erm, I think I'm falling in --" He paused. He'd said he was falling for her but the 'L' word wasn't mentioned and he didn't want to use it. But it felt so right, "Why'd you have to say that?" He said though he didn't release his hold on her 'nor did he avert his gaze, "Because now I'm flustered and... I don't know what to say... I... I want to say something but I don't want to ruin this."

---

  

Emmeline sat silently, comfortable where she was a he seemed to struggle with what to say. With each word, each stutter, her heart pounded a little harder. Slowly she pulled away from him but only so she could look at him. She wanted to really see him so she could see if she could read between the lines.

Her features softened into a look of pure adoration as he continued to try and say what she longed to hear. Her heart ached, however, when he made his fears known. He didn't want to ruin anything when in all reality what he was trying to say was all she wanted to hear.

"There's nothing to ruin," she said softly, watching his facial features closely, "Because I love you, too."

A rush of heat ran through her once the word was said. She leaned in then, before he could ever respond to kiss him softly, almost as if she were sealing her words in. So that he'd believe them just as much as her own heart did.

---

  

---

#LovelyLadySet

Being too focused on getting what words he could out, he didn't notice she had moved away. It was only when he stopped talking and her soft tone told him there was nothing to ruin that he noticed her looking toward him with admiration.

And when she said that word, he suddenly felt his world spin into chaos. He wanted to hear it. He liked it coming from her mouth. He even wanted to say it himself but he couldn't and thankfully she seemed to understand as, before he could say anything with a gormless - almost shocked - look on his face, Emmeline had moved in to plant her lips against his own.

Instinctively almost, Charles moved so he was completely facing her; his hand coming to wrap around and caress her back gently. His eyes closed as he embraced the kiss with her.

This was all he could do. He knew he did love her. He wanted her to know he did. But he couldn't bring himself to say it right now.

After they kissed for a few moments, Charles pulled back and spoke quietly, the same distant gaze in his eyes as before; "I... I do feel the same," He said as he moved his right hand to brush gently through her hair, a comforting smile on his face.

---

  

The kiss was sweet and simple. They lingered in that moment, almost as if it spoke more than either of them could really say. And though his response wasn't exactly what Emmeline could have hoped for, it was better than nothing. He'd at least responded and that was something. Though his lack of repeating the "l" word was a bit of a concern in her mind. She wasn't going to point it out and risk ruining the moment. She simply nodded in response and smiled at him. It would be enough in that moment. It would have to be.

"Now I'm not sure if I'll manage to survive the school year," she said softly, her lips pulling into a smirk at the thought.

---

  

---

#LovelyLadySet

Charles chuckled a little when she harkened back to what they had been discussing earlier before their little 'game' had started. It was quite amusing really; the thought of what they were doing - the teasing of one another in the middle of this park, all-but concealed by the fog surrounding them.

And her words seemed playful, matched by the smirk tugging at her lips.

"You'll have to if we are to kiss during your weekends away from Hogwarts," Charles said, "Because I would be absolutely loathe to see you not survive. I think it would break my heart, Ems."

His tone was as playful as hers though there was an underlying sincerity about his words that told her he meant what he said. Much as she didn't want to be hurt for fear of him forgetting her, he had come to realise he didn't want to be hurt either. Now that she had solidified the fact she loved him, it was real and she had a commitment - much as he felt he did to her - and he did not want that broken.

"And can I - might I - say, you are a great kisser," Charles said with a small grin as he leant in and gave her another quick kiss.

---

  

Emmeline's smirk melded into a wide grin at his own playful tone. While it was obvious he was playing just as much as she was, she could here the sincerity. They had gone from yelling at each other and her trying to push him away as much as she could out of fear to admitting rather serious feelings for one another. It would clearly hurt them both if something were to happen to either of them. Truthfully, she wasn't sure if she'd be able to handle the loss of him. Not after such an admission. She just hoped she hadn't acted rashly by admitting such a thing to him already. What if it had just been an in the moment sort of thing?

She wasn't going to think on that though. She didn't want to ruin what was happening.

Her cheeks flushed as he told her she was a good kisser though and enjoyed the quick kiss he added to his words. "I'm a quick learner," she said, smirking once more, "Though I'm sure there's plenty more I need to learn." Which lead her thoughts down a dangerous track all over again and caused her cheeks to burn even brighter. She really needed to start thinking before she spoke when she was around him.

---

  

The things one learned when blossoming into adulthood was something Charles remembered fondly. His first kiss, first cuddle, and first bed all happened before he was twenty and though it was a messy endeavour that was not that great, he did remember it fondly. It was special.

And as she spoke about the things other than kissing she could learn, Charles found his thoughts moving toward the unsavoury and not-quite-innocent sort of pattern. It seemed her own thoughts were too, evidenced by the sudden rush of blood to her cheeks.

He smiled a little, placing his hand on her leg once again, brushing against her skin with his thumb. It wasn't anything untoward; he just felt the need to ensure they were touching and in close proximity to one another. If nothing more than to reiterate that they were close and they were one another's.

"Oh?" He questioned, "And what exactly is it you'll ho- you're hoping to learn from me beyond kissing?"

Were they back to this game?
Charles hoped so.
He enjoyed it last time - though hopefully she quit first. He couldn't lose again.

---

  

Emmeline was back to staring at him with shock and flushed cheeks. Her gaze wandered to where his hand was rested on her leg, brushing against the fabric of her dress softly. It lead her thoughts down an entirely different train. Well, perhaps not too different from where it was already going. But they couldn't go down that road. Not yet. That point had already been made clear.

But.. if they were to be one anothers eventually, would it hurt for them to go down such a road eventually? Even before they married? She knew she wasn't supposed to be thinking of such things in the slightest but she found she couldn't really stop it.

"Everything," she ended up saying, looking back up to him as she said it. She did want to learn from him. Anything he was willing to teach her, she wanted to learn it. Maybe not right then. But eventually. Hopefully.

---

  

---

#LovelyLadySet

Everything.
That was... loaded.
It was vague enough that it encompassed all manner of things though given the context, it really only entailed a few things.
He wasn't entirely sure how to respond.

There was a sense of something primal as the word left her lips when she looked back up from his hand to lock eyes with him though at the same time, it was something altogether different.

Charles moved his hand to take hold of hers, raising it so that he could place a soft kiss on the back of her hand.

"Then I suppose I'll have to teach you everything then," He said, "The question though... where would I start?"

He wasn't going to actually do anything he Charles had come to find that talking about it felt just as exhilarating as doing it. What exactly 'it' was, he wasn't entirely certain - though he had good grounds to guess.

---

  

The gentle kiss in the back of Emmeline's hand resulted in an exciting shock to course through her body. It was just a simple gesture but with all that had been said, she found herself in an entirely different frame of mind. It was confused all while being exhilarated. She didn't really know how to react or to respond anymore.

"W-what would you recommend?" she asked with a faint blush still to her cheeks but with an obvious nervousness to get voice.

---

  

---

#LovelyLadySet

How was she doing this? Every time he opened his mouth to render her speechless, she opened her mouth and effectively rendered him speechless instead. So he thought he'd try a different tactic.

It was obvious by her stammering and blushing features that she was embarrassed or at the very least treading on previously unexplorered ground though Charles noticed a distinct will in the way she was acting that spoke volumes about how much she did want more.

He wasn't going to give that. Not yet.
Instead, he was going to do something else.

With his unoccupied hand, Charles ran the back of his forefinger along her collarbone and up to her jawline before resting his finger at her lips for a moment, "I suppose the first thing," He began as he ran his finger gently down the other side of her face, running across her collarbone once again, "Is make sure you are soft in your touch."

Moving his finger then down across her shoulder, he slid it down her arm allowing his nail to brush against her clothing before it came to a halt on her spare hand, scratching the back of her hand slightly, "It's important to touch."

---

  

Emmeline watched him almost cautiously. She didn't think he'd push it too far. He'd already had a chance to and he'd stopped himself. Stopped them. It spoke loads to his character. She found herself biting her bottom lip regardless as she felt his gently touch trail across her. Everywhere it trailed sent a shock through her.

She found her own free hand moving, however, to trail along his own jaw and down his neck. She didn't move much further than that though but her eyes did remain on his.

"And after that?" she questioned, her voice a little more stable than it had been before despite the exhilaration and fear she felt inside.

---

  

---

#LovelyLadySet

"After," Charles began, tensing a little at her touch as he allowed his teeth to pull at his lip, his eyes moving to her mouth before slowly moving back to look at her intently, "You make sure your attentive," He said softly.

Moving his finger to then brush across her knee, Charles rested his hand on her knee. He could tell they weren't truly playing like they were before. Instead, she was wanting and she was curious. She wanted to know more. To go further; and so did he. But he couldn't. Instead, he would give her little snippets.

Squeezing her knee a little, Charles then raised his other hand to take hers and he guided it to his neck; placing it firmly on the side of his neck, "And you make sure you're always present." His tone remained calm and quiet.

He then repeated the action with his own hand against her neck as he leaned in and placed another kiss against her lips, his spare hand still on her knee.

---