Fantasy Caught in the Waves (Closed)

[SheLuvsMusic]

Josephine had to admit she was a little surprised to hear Ella wanted her on her own team. She sort of just figured that she and father would be on a team while Ella and Peter joined up. She wasn't complaining, though, and gave Ella a nod. Any opportunity to show up Peter was a good opportunity. "Sounds fine to me. As long as father and your boyfriend are prepared to lose to a couple of girls."

Mr. Sinclair just laughed. Josephine's competitive edge was no secret in this house, so he always expected this sort of thing from her. "Very well. Peter, I apologize in advance if my old brain can't keep up." They really probably stood no chance, but that was fine. It was more about the fun of it, and he loved spending time with his girls.

"That's alright, sir," Peter said. "We can just say we let them win," he teased, biting into his pancakes. Rory had really outdone himself with this meal. He wished he could have them all the time. He made a note to remember the chocolate covered strawberries for tonight as well. It wouldn't be a special date without some of Miss Crawford's magic. Peter doubted it would matter much that Ella was already eating strawberries and chocolate right now for breakfast, but if it did, at least there was still wine and candles and his small little gift to her. "Good. Can't wait," he said.

The four of them enjoyed their walk mostly in silence, just enjoying the day. It was nice out. Not too hot, sunny, and there was a gentle breeze. Peter still missed the smells of the ocean, but the scent of flowers from the garden was quickly becoming a close second favorite. When they got back inside, he took his place by Mr. Sinclair while Josephine passed out small pieces of paper for them to write their topics on.

 

[AvianJen]

Ella had never been nearly as competitive as Josephine, and her words made her laugh. But both Father and Peter were good sports, and it was all just fun anyways. Ella wasn't great at charades, but she had no qualms with allowing herself to look ridiculous, and that was half the battle most of the time. It also made her smile to hear Josie refer to Peter as her boyfriend, as if she was coming to terms with it at last. She had been more supportive in the past couple weeks since they'd had their fight, and Ella had gradually begun to feel more comfortable telling Josie about Peter the same way Josie had always told her about Alec. It was nice, and Ella hoped that it would last.

She stuck her tongue out at Peter playfully, taking a bite of her pancakes and a strawberry. "Male ego," she sang with a giggle. Mr. Sinclair chuckled and shook his head, looking between the two of them. He loved seeing Ella so happy, and he genuinely hoped that everything with Ella and Peter worked out for the best. He doubted he would be able to find a decent suitor for Ella who would make her halfway as happy as Peter appeared to, especially not one that hadn't already been scared away from the family by Josephine. He was a good man, and it seemed like a perfect match. After the struggle with Josephine, it was great to have his younger daughter find someone on her own. Even if it was a direct result of being kidnapped on a pirate ship, at least he could say there was one good thing that came out of it.

The walk was very nice, and it was a great idea on Father's part to do it in the morning when it was still cool. The last thing Ella wanted was to get her nice new dress all sweaty and disgusting. Inside, she sat next to Josie across from the two men as her sister got the game set up. They played several rounds, and it was quite a bit of fun. Ella and Josephine proved to be a formidable team, although Peter and Mr. Sinclair were able to hold their own as well. The girls ended up winning three out of the four rounds, but that was fine with Ella. She still felt accomplished, and it was fun to playfully rub the many victories in her boyfriend's face. Not that she actually cared. About the time they were finishing up, Rory brought them tea and sandwiches for lunch, which they ate in the parlor together before playing a few more games. Ella chose pictionary, one of her personal favorites, and then later on Mr. Sinclair offered to teach Peter how to play chess while Ella played the piano for a bit. It was a lovely, perfectly picturesque day, the kind Ella wished they could have all the time.

((I hope it's okay I kind of glossed over the games, I felt like that would get slow really quickly haha))

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

(That's okay, I was thinking the same thing haha. I'm actually probably just going to even skip right ahead to their time alone together since I don't think there's a whole lot we can do leading up to that)

All in all it was a good day for all of them. The decision not to have a party turned out to be a good one. They didn't need a lot of people or live music to make the most of a celebration, even though Ella did play her piano for a bit. It felt like a good family bonding experience, and even Josephine and Peter were getting along well for once. Neither one was about to ruin Ella's birthday over their dislike for each other, so they were able to set their differences aside, although Josephine still took great pleasure in rubbing her victories in Peter's face as well.

Eventually evening approached. They enjoyed a small lunch, played games, and mostly relaxed all afternoon. For dinner, Rory cooked up a favorite roast, some potatoes, and roasted veggies for them to enjoy. For dessert they had a traditional cake, chocolate of course, and they all sung Ella "Happy Birthday" before eating it. Josephine teased about whether she would get to spank Ella twenty times, and Mr. Sinclair told an embarrassing story of Ella from when she was just a small child. It was all in good fun.

Afterwards, when everybody had finished dessert, Peter helped Ella out of her chair. He pulled her close and whispered in her ear, "I finally get you all to myself." He gave her a peck on the cheek and wished the others a good night before escorting Ella back out into the garden where their spot was. Everything was already set up. He'd spread out the blankets on the ground, and he'd asked one of the servants to light the candles, which were placed strategically around them in places high and low. A tiny little basket contained the chocolate covered strawberries should they still have room for them, and there was a small bouquet of roses tied together with some ribbon next to another wrapped present. Peter had found a tiny spyglass for her that he thought would be useful for when they stargazed. She still had a lot of constellations to learn after all, and an astronomer was not an astronomer without their tools. Of course there was also wine as she'd requested - two whole bottles of it, because he didn't want to leave her wanting more.

Peter had his hands over her eyes so she couldn't see what he'd set up for her just yet. Although it was more or less exactly what she said she'd wanted, he still wanted it to be as much of a surprise as he could make it. "Alright, ready? One, two, three..." he lifted his hands away and held his breath for her reaction.

 

[AvianJen]

Ella had a wonderful day. She loved being with her sister, her father and her boyfriend all day, and she wished every day could be just like this one. Dinner was wonderful, and Rory's chocolate cake was absolutely to die for. Ella's two favorite foods were chocolate and strawberries, and she had been treated to both today. Playing games had been fun too, but Ella was surprised by how nice it was to simply sit and relax in the parlor for a couple of hours. he stories about her when she was little were embarrassing to hear in front of Peter and made her turn slightly red, but she knew that it was all in good humor. And Peter wasn't going to stop loving her because she liked to run around the house naked when she was two.

Overall, it was a perfect day. But when Peter leaned over to whisper in her ear excited shivers ran down her spine, and she had a feeling that the day was about to get even better. "Yes, you do," she murmured back, turning her head and kissing him on the lips. Ella let him lead her out to their spot in the garden, holding onto him for support since she couldn't see. She was giddy with excitement already just knowing that he had a surprise for her, even though she was pretty sure she knew what it might be.

When she opened her eyes, she wasn't disappointed. Peter had gone all out, and the setting was enchanting. "Aww..." she gushed, her hands flying over her mouth as she took it all in. "Oh my goodness Peter, it's perfect." He'd gotten her roses and chocolate covered strawberries, and there was something else along with the candles and the wine she had asked for. Ella could hardly believe how perfect it was, and sometimes she still couldn't believe it how lucky she was to have him in her life. If she hadn't ever been captured they never would have found each other, and sometimes Ella thought it was the best thing to ever happen to her.

"It's beautiful," she continued to say, sitting down on one of the blankets and admiring everything. It was the most romantic setting she'd ever seen, and she picked up the roses and buried her nose in them, sighing contentedly. "Mmm." Roses were another one of Ella's favorite things. They reminded her of her mother and of her childhood, which was especially appropriate of a day like today. "Thank you. Get down here so I can kiss you." She glanced up at Peter, beaming as she patted the ground next to her. She had a feeling that they could spend hours out here together, and that was exactly what she planned on doing if he was up for it.

She took the liberty of pouring both of them a large glass of wine, handing his off to him as she took a huge sip of hers. It was delicious, and she wondered if it came from her father's stores or if he had picked it out himself. Either way, there was plenty and she was sure she would be drinking her fill. If there was a night where overindulging in her favorite drink was okay, Ella thought that it had to be this one.

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

Peter sighed in relief as Ella seemed to like what he'd done. Even though he had gone a bit beyond what she'd asked for, he had been nervous all the same. "Good," he said. "I'll take perfect." He grinned as he sat down beside her on the blankets. He had never quite done the whole birthday thing before, at least, not like this. His own birthday had never been properly celebrated with a cake and wrapped presents since he was a kid, and on the ship birthdays meant a trip back to the docks and a night at the pub. But romantic evenings with your girlfriend on her birthday? That was new territory. Ella seemed pleased, though.

He sat down beside her as she requested and moved in to redeem his kiss. He lingered at her lips for a moment, and when he pulled away, said that there would be many more to come before the night was over. "As promised," he added, before accepting the glass of wine from her. One of the bottles he had bought himself, and the other he had asked her father for. The one they were drinking now was the one from her father, and by the time they got to the cheaper wine, they would probably be too wine drunk to even notice the change in quality. It was all fine by him. Tonight was a night of celebration, after all.

"So," he said, putting his wine aside to hand her the small box. "There's also this. I know you said you didn't want anything else, but..." he shrugged. He didn't mind spending his money on her. She was the reason he even had honest earned income, and she really deserved it. "Maybe it will help you with the stars," he hinted. He used to have a spy glass of his own when his father was teaching him. On the ship, they'd all just used the big one up by the helm. It made it a lot easier to see the sky sometimes. "Or the neighbors, if that's more to your interests," he added teasingly.

 

[AvianJen]

Ella giggled and wrapped her arms around Peter's neck, pulling him into a kiss. She was excited to get all of her kisses, but also just to spend some time with him, one on one on her birthday. She leaned against him and gazed up at the stars, sipping contentedly at her wine. But when he handed her the box, she also set it aside, taking it from him curiously. "Ooh. I've never gotten so many presents before." She opened the box, having no idea what Peter might have gotten her to help with the stars. When she saw it, though, it seemed like it should have been obvious.

"Oh, it's beautiful," she said, gasping in surprise. She held the object up and examined it, unable to hide her delight. Maybe it really would help her with the stars. It had to have cost a pretty penny, too. "Thank you." She gave Peter another kiss before laying on her back, twisting the spyglass and looking through it, up at the stars. It made them so much bigger and more clear, and she was easily able to spot the big dipper once again. It was actually very fun looking through it, and Ella could see herself easily spending hours out here, just looking at the stars and exploring the night sky. "Thank you," she said again, sitting back up and hugging her arms tightly around him. "I love it." She laughed at the suggestion that she could use it to spy on the neighbors, shaking her head. "I probably will do that," she admitted sheepishly. Not in a perverted way, but just out of curiosity to see if she could. "You can spy on them with me."

Gently, careful not to scratch it or break it, she tucked the spyglass back into it's packaging and set it aside. The gift was nice, but Ella was mostly interested in spending the night with Peter. They would have lots of other nights for stargazing. She returned to her wine, finishing up her first glass fairly quickly before she went to pour herself a second. "So, Josie wasn't so bad today," she said, glancing up at him with a smile. Ella appreciated her sister trying to get along with him, and she had been nice today even if it was only for Ella's sake. "Maybe she's warming up to us. Father seems thrilled." He really did- Father was always happy to talk to Peter or spend time with him, and he spoke highly of him even when Peter wasn't around. Ella was excited by that, and hoped that it was a good sign for the future.

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

Peter grinned at her reaction. "No? Never?" He usually didn't get presents anyway, but he was certain a wealthy girl on her birthday probably got many gifts. "Well, it's your special day, so you deserve it." He wished he could shower her in gifts all the time, but he nearly did that anyway.

He watched her unwrap the spyglass, happy to see that she knew what it was. It was not only pretty, but practical too. "You're very welcome," he said, wrapping his arms around her in return, then laughed as she said she probably would spy on the neighbors. "I'm sure they're hiding all kinds of secrets. Why else would they live so far out here in the middle of nowhere?" he teased. The Sinclair family and their neighbors were pretty isolated from most of the town. He knew it was just because it was private out here, the plots of land so large it took forever to walk to one end and back. If he could afford it, maybe one day he and Ella would have their own large plot of land. He would prefer it be by the ocean though, instead of out towards the country.

Ella was going through her wine so fast, even Peter had a hard time keeping up. When she downed hers, he quickly finished his as well, filling up a new glass. He leaned back on his elbows and nodded. Josephine hadn't been bad at all today. She hadn't really given him that stare from across the table, and she hadn't made any snide comments outside of the few during their games, but she had been giving them to her father too, talking trash because she wanted to win. "No, she wasn't. And maybe... Or maybe she was just being nice because it's your birthday." He didn't want to be pessimistic, but he doubted Josephine had actually warmed up to him. He was glad that Mr. Sinclair liked him, but he's always known that. He feared what might happen if he ever found out about his pirate days, but for now, he was being his most genuine self around him. "I think he just likes having both of you back and seeing you happy."

 

[AvianJen]

Ella shook her head. "Nope. Never. Usually I get my new dress, and Father might get me some jewelry but I really don't need it." Between the two of them, Josie and Ella had more jewelry than they could ever wear thanks to their mother's collection. "I mean, there's usually a party, too," she clarified. "And parties are pretty expensive, and sometimes I get gifts from the guests. But I feel especially lucky this year." Three presents from the people who she was closest to and who knew her the best. That was what made the presents special, anyways, and her favorites were always the ones that proved how well someone knew her. And of course, she always anticipated her new birthday dress.

She laughed at his teasing, sticking her tongue out at him. "Well, we don't have any secrets," she said pointedly. "But I don't know about them. They're shady." She was joking, of course, but the next-door neighbors had always seemed a little more stuck up than the Sinclairs. Or maybe it was just because Ella and Josephine usually weren't above having a bit of fun every once in a while. It was hard to imagine not having a lot of land, though. Ella was used to having an entire, massive property to run around, and being as adventurous as she was, she didn't think she would like being confined to a small area. She needed a little bit of space.

Wherever he'd gotten this wine, it was delicious. But Ella slowed down a bit once she'd gotten to her second glass, savoring the taste more. "That could be," she agreed, nodding. Actually, that was probably what had happened. Josie took birthdays very seriously and wouldn't want to do anything to ruin hers, so she had likely been extra careful to be nice to Peter today. But Ella still appreciated it, and hoped that with time it would become more natural behavior. "Yes, I think that too," she said in regards to her father. "But I'm happy that he likes you." She never wanted to have to go through what Josie and Alec did, but she and Peter had been lucky so far. Hopefully it continued to stay that way.

Taking another sip of her wine, Ella scooted closer to Peter and leaned against him. "So...what did you want to do out here?" she asked, secretly hoping for a makeout session. The wine wasn't having a huge effect on her yet, but she was beginning to feel slightly more relaxed.

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

Clearly Ella had a lot of people who really cared about her, so Peter supposed she was pretty lucky. Not just because she'd gotten a few extra gifts this year, but to have a circle of people who loved her so much. "Well, everything you got today, you deserve it. Hell, I don't think I've had a better birthday, and it's not even mine," he said with a grin, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Well, we have one," Peter pointed out, referring to himself. "And until recently, your sister has been keeping a pretty scandalous secret as well. So I'd say we're still pretty shady ourselves," he teased. The Sinclairs, though well respected around this town, also had a reputation for being a bit different. Nobody could really understand how Mr. Sinclair had allowed Josephine to go so long without finding a husband, and buzz was already circulating around Ella's intent to go to university. And since Peter lived with them and was seeing Ella, he was usually lumped in with them as well. He didn't mind. This was the closest thing he'd had to a real family since Tom died.

He had to smile at that thought. Even though he was pretty sure Josephine still disliked him, he felt more or less welcome here. All he really wanted was for her sister to tolerate him. They didn't have to be best friends. And Mr. Sinclair was the fatherly figure he'd always to have, in ways that Tom had always lacked. "Me too," he agreed, then relaxed as she leaned against him.

"Well," he started when she inquired what he wanted to do. He was pretty sure what he wanted was the same thing she did. "We never did spend the night out here like we'd planned, and I haven't fulfilled my promise of a thousand kisses yet, so... Maybe we could just..." he tilted her chin up towards him and pressed his lips against hers. One of his favorite things about her was that he never felt the need to speak all the time. They could just cuddle, or fill the silence with kisses.

 

[AvianJen]

"It has been a good birthday," Ella agreed happily. "Probably the best one ever. Partly thanks to you." She leaned over to give him a kiss, entirely serious. She loved spending the day with her family, but he had added an extra element to it all. She loved him so much, and she was thrilled that he had been able to spend the day with them. "Just wait until your birthday. Maybe we could rent a little boat and stargaze on the ocean." She thought he would like that, and as long as he didn't make her swim Ella thought that she would like that, too.

Ella sighed, relenting when he pointed out that they actually did have a secret. A pretty serious one, too. It could be a matter of life or death if it got out, and Ella was a hundred percent devoted to keeping it a secret. "Fine," she gave in, flashing a smile at him. "I guess we are pretty shady. But in the best way." What she meant was that her family as a whole didn't have any secrets, but Ella, Josephine, and Peter all had one or two of their own. Sometimes Ella really wished that they didn't have anything to hide, though. It was so hard, and she loved her father dearly. She didn't like having to keep things from him, but she was happy that Peter had more or less been accepted as part of the family by her father. She never wanted that to change.

It was definitely true that they didn't always have to be talking to each other; Ella was more than happy to sit in silence with him. That was actually how they spent most of their time, cuddling on the couch and reading. She did enjoy talking to him, but they were comfortable and content to be around each other in silence, which Ella liked to think was a hallmark of a good relationship. A slow smile spread across her face when he mentioned that they hadn't slept out here yet, and the idea of a thousand kisses was more than welcome. She closed her eyes as his lips touched hers and kissed him back, allowing herself to get lost in the moment. He was so perfect, and she was so lucky. She drew closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss. After several minutes, the natural progression resulted in Ella laying on her back again, her head against one of the pillows and Peter on top of her. It was always difficult for the two of them to not get carried away, but...Ella wasn't sure she really minded.

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

Peter felt a slow smile spread across his face. He was glad to have contributed to her best birthday ever. Although his wasn't for a while yet, her idea sounded wonderful. "Maybe I'll even own my own boat by then. A little sailboat I can fish off of and take my girlfriend out in," he said. He would have to do a better job of saving his money if he wanted that to happen though. "The only snag in that plan is that it might be a bit cold in January for sailing." They could celebrate any way they wanted and it wouldn't matter.

He had to laugh at her admission, but he agreed. Despite their secrets, and their dysfunctionality, the Sinclairs only wanted the best for each other. He admired that kind of love and dedication to each other. "Yes, in the best way," he said, and then they were kissing not long after, and he was showing her just how much love and dedication he had for her. It didn't take long for her to wind up on her back. It seemed that every time they made out, this happened. Even that very time he'd kissed her, they'd ended up like this, except this time they were mostly sober. The wine had only relaxed them both, but it wasn't enough to completely impair their judgement.

He pulled away from her lips only to place a trail of kisses along her jaw and neck. "I love you," he murmured against her skin, his kisses venturing lower than they have ever gone before. It was easy to get drunk off of his love for her, and unlike during their picnic together that one night, he wasn't hesitant at all about what he was doing. His fingers, finding their way underneath her, pulled apart the bow Josephine had tied in the back of her dress this morning, then moved on to the many buttons. Unless she said otherwise, he had no intention of stopping.

 

[AvianJen]

Ella grinned, liking the sound of that idea quite a bit. She could picture it so easily, the two of them out on a little boat in the middle of the ocean. Or the lake, for that matter. They might have more luck fishing in the lake where it wasn't as deep. "Oh, true," she sighed when he reminded her that his birthday was in January. "How about this, then. I'll get you a boat for your birthday, and then we can go out in it as soon as it's warm enough." It wasn't quite as good, but it would still be exciting and it was still something to look forward to. Ella couldn't wait to spend her future with Peter. She could see it so clearly in her head, and it was perfect. A lifetime of being with him sounded incredible.

Kissing him was amazing, as usual. It was always difficult for them to not get carried away, though, especially when they were out here alone. The candles and the wine weren't helping, although Ella was beginning to think that if it was so hard for them...they should just go for it. They loved each other and were committed to spending their lives together, so why not? Ella wanted it. She wanted to know what it was like, and she wanted to show Peter how much he really meant to her. Giving him her virginity was the ultimate way to do that, and her birthday was the perfect time. When he started to undress her she realized that he must feel the same way; he wasn't saying no this time. He wasn't asking her to reconsider. It was the perfect moment, and she didn't utter a word in protest. "I love you, too," she whispered, still kissing him.

Instead, she gave him a hand. Her dress had about a thousand buttons and was very painstaking to remove, but when he'd managed to undo them all she pulled it over her head, exposing her undergarments. It was quite a lot of work to get a woman's clothes off, but it didn't dampen the mood. Ella reached up and started unbuttoning his shirt, and that was when the anxiety hit her. This was actually happening, tonight. She wanted to do it, but she had absolutely no idea what she was doing. She didn't want to make a fool of herself, not with Peter. "Peter," she said softly, stopping him for a moment. "I just wanted to tell you I...I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do." It was impossible not to feel a little nervous.

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

Peter wasn't sure he wanted her to buy him the boat. She could probably afford it just fine, but it felt like an extravagant gift to receive. Still, the idea of sprawling across the deck with her at his side and the wind in the sails of his very own boat had a happy little ring to it. "Whatever you get me for my birthday will be fine," he relented. "All I really request is your presence." To think that she would still be with him a year from now was something he wanted very dearly.

This was all he could think while he kissed her. He loved her like he had never known was possible. It was unfortunate that he couldn't give her the very same as what she would be giving him - his virginity had been long gone before he met her. But maybe that was almost for the best. His first time had been awkward, as he imagined most people's were, but he had experience now. He could make hers comfortable, and show her how much he loved her in the most rewarding ways. Women were so different from men, he had learned. It didn't take much to please a man, but women required much more work. All he really cared about was doing right by her and making sure she was getting the most he could possibly give her.

He was patient with her dress, thankful for her help all the same. Sliding out of his shirt after that task was nothing, but he enjoyed how she reached up to help with that as well. He paused when she stopped him, then silenced her worries with a kiss. "It's alright," he assured her. He wasn't worried about himself very much, nor did he expect her to know anything. "Just focus on what feels good, and it will be fine." He kissed her again, his hands sliding up under the loose fabric of the little clothing she still wore. "Let me know if you want to stop. We don't have to do this," he added. He wanted to be sure she really wanted this. He wouldn't talk her out of it or into it either way, so long as this choice was what she really wanted.

 

[AvianJen]

Peter didn't seem quite as excited about her boat idea as Ella was, but she wasn't thinking about a big boat. Just a little one, sturdy enough for them to go out on the water and fish and hang out, but not for any serious travel. It would just be for fun, but when he said that all he really wanted was her presence, Ella was more than happy to oblige. She had said something similar when he'd asked what she wanted for her birthday, and all Ella would want to do was make him feel special. If just being there was what he wanted, then that was what she would do. But she had to get her boyfriend a birthday present, too. "Well, I'll make sure you have a perfect birthday. No matter what we do," she promised.

Ella loved Peter and she was excited for what she knew was coming, but she was also very nervous. It was a difficult emotion to explain, but it was impossible not to have a few anxieties surrounding the idea of intimacy. What if he didn't like her body? What if she didn't do it right? What if it was painful? She'd heard rumors that a girl's first time could be painful, and that was a little bit of a scary thought. But on the other hand, she trusted Peter. She knew that he would take care of her and make her feel comfortable. That was what made this the right time. They weren't doing it out of lust, they were doing it out of love. Peter was gentle and patient, and Ella knew that everything would be fine. Still, as they had realized, it was always best to communicate.

She closed her eyes when he kissed her, allowing herself to relax. Ella just wanted this to be good for him. She didn't want to be a disappointment, but she knew that she was overthinking this. Peter loved her just as much as she loved him, and they were both in it together. She nodded when he advised her to focus on what felt good, figuring that was what they usually did anyways. "Okay," she agreed, opening her eyes to meet his. "No, I want this. I want you." She felt his hands slip under her clothes, and it felt like her entire body was humming with electricity, every nerve coming alive. Slowly, she pulled her last layer of clothing over her head and discarded it along with her dress and his shirt before pulling him down for more kisses. The feeling of his bare skin on hers was amazing, and all of her apprehensions melted away.

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

Ella didn't really have much to worry about. Peter found her beautiful, the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. Not even Nora could compete in all her other worldly beauty, because he was attracted to more than just Ella's face and body. She had a big heart, an intelligent mind, and a beautiful soul. Her looks were simply a bonus. It didn't matter to him that she was inexperienced. They had time to learn, and in the meantime he could provide her with a bit of direction if he thought it was needed. He wasn't sure if he could help with the pain. He'd heard, of course, what sometimes happened during a woman's first time, but bearing that in mind he could at least try to lessen whatever pain she might feel by being gentle. Ultimately all Peter really cared about was showing her that he loved her and that she enjoyed herself as much as he expected himself to.

"Okay," he echoed, watching her undress herself completely now. It had grown dark, but he could see by the light of the still burning candles how beautiful she was. He was no stranger to the bodies of the opposite sex, but he still found each time as satisfying as the last one when seeing a specific woman for the first time. Ella was no exception, and she was by far the best. "You're so beautiful," he said before she pulled him down to kiss her, and before long the rest of his clothes joined the pile as well. Soon he was touching and kissing places on her he never had before, listening and feeling for the tell tale signs that he was doing something right. He went slow and gentle as not to hurt her, and when it was all over, he grabbed one of the nearest extra blankets to cover them before pulling her to his side. He held her close, occasionally kissing the top of her head, and whispering I Love Yous until they eventually fell asleep.

Ella and Peter's privacy was only granted for one night. When Josephine went to say good morning to her sister the next day and didn't find her in her room, or any of the others in their house, she came wandering into the garden. It wasn't that she expected to find them together. She only just assumed that maybe Ella had gone for a morning stroll. So when she happened upon them curled up together, naked, only covered by a thin blanket among her mother's flowers, she was understandably a little shocked.

She stood for several moments unsure about what to do. Her face was flushed red, and she sort of paced back and forth while she debated her options. Should she wake them? It was probably in Ella's best interests that Josephine had found them and not their father. And then she had a panicked thought about whether Ella might be pregnant now, or whether this had happened before. Then, with another start, she realized this meant her younger sister had actually lost her virginity before she had, and that gave her all kinds of odd and confusing feelings everywhere from surprise to even a little bit of jealousy. Save for the night she had embarrassed herself by getting drunk before going to see him, Alec had never even laid eyes on her without a corset on. They had always been careful. Ella and Peter had been together a fraction of the time, and they'd already gone as far as you could go with someone.

She devised to just walk away. It was almost as embarrassing to be the one catching them as it would be to be the ones getting caught, and she honestly had no idea how to handle this. She turned to walk away, but then she heard Peter stir and froze.

"Josephine?" he asked in surprise when he realized she was there. He pulled the blankets up to further cover Ella, although, since they were sisters, there probably wasn't much of Ella Josie had not already seen. He gently shook Ella awake, his body and mind already in panic mode. He felt for sure like this was his undoing.

 

[AvianJen]

It was probably too dark for him to see, but Ella blushed at his compliment and kissed him passionately. "So are you," she murmured against his lips. Her heart felt like it was overflowing, and she was dying to share her passion with him. He meant the world to her, and she hoped that he knew that. As bold and daring as she was, her virginity was a special thing, especially as a woman, and she had always guarded it carefully. It was the most precious thing that she could give him, and she knew that he was the right person. There was no doubt in her mind.

The actual experience was hard to describe, but Ella already wanted to do it again. She had never knew that she could feel so much at one time, or that all those feelings could be so amazing. Peter was so gentle, and it felt so...good. When they had finally finished Ella was exhausted but very satisfied, and all she wanted to do was cuddle. With the blanket over top of them it was so easy to fall asleep in Peter's arms, and that was exactly what she did.

Even though they meant to stay the night outside, it probably wasn't a great idea to not at least put their clothes on first. But Ella wasn't thinking much about that after sex, and it certainly wasn't the first thing she thought of in the morning. She smiled when she felt Peter shaking her awake, and she rolled over towards him. "Mmm, morning," she murmured happily. She groggily fluttered her eyelids open, smiling wider when the first thing she saw was Peter's face. But he didn't look happy, and her smile quickly faded away. It didn't take her long to figure out why.

"Oh, hi Josie," she said, yawning as she sat up. After a second of taking in her surroundings and she and Peter's current state, though, her heart dropped to her stomach. "Josie," she realized. Oh, this was not good. Not good at all. She flushed red with embarrassment at being caught naked outside with her boyfriend, but as much as she wanted to crawl under the ground and disappear, there wasn't time for that. Josie had been better about Peter recently, but this was the kind of thing that could turn that all around.

"Josie," she said again, holding the blanket to her chest and looking up at her sister. "I know this maybe looks bad, but...please. Promise me you won't tell Father. We weren't drunk or anything like that." That might not help, but at least it meant that Ella had only done one potentially bad thing instead of two. It would be hypocritical of her to be upset just because she'd slept with her boyfriend; she knew that Josephine wanted to be with Alec, and neither of them had issues with sex before marriage. The only reason she could really be upset was because it was Peter and she didn't like him, or because she was worried Ella would get pregnant or upset Father. But Ella knew that it would take some reasoning...she just hoped that Josie was willing to talk. She leaned over Peter and grabbed her slip, pulling it over her head so that she at least had something on.

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

Understandably they were all rather embarrassed, but even more than that, Peter and Ella had the additional worry that this was exactly what was going to get Josephine to go running to their father. She had been better, yes, but had she come around enough to accept this? Last night had been so perfect, and Peter was glad to have found out what it felt like to sleep with somebody you actually loved, but it could very well be the last time they ever got the chance now. He was utterly speechless, afraid anything he said would make it worse. Thankfully Ella had spoken up for him.

Josephine stood frozen in place for what seemed like forever. Her face was red, her eyes trying to look anywhere but at her naked sister and her boyfriend. She had about a million questions, but lacked the courage to ask them. She wasn't even sure she really wanted to know the answers, or that she was prepared for them. If it was hard for her to find out that Peter and Ella were kissing, it was another thing entirely to know that they were having sex. It wasn't that she disapproved of the act in general, just that she'd always taken the subject so seriously herself, it came as a surprise to her to find out Ella was no longer a virgin, and that she had given herself up to Peter of all people.

She tugged at the end of her braid anxiously. Honestly, she didn't know what she was going to do. Telling father was probably the right thing to do. It did after all give her a reason to get rid of Peter. But that was thing, the real kicker of it all. If Peter left, whether it was because father found out about him and Ella or his past, then Ella would be heartbroken, even more so than she would be if they hadn't crossed that line. Josie didn't really want that. Ella would never forgive her, and she wasn't really sure she could live with that. Even if it did end up being the right, better thing to do.

She risked a glance at them, relieved to see Ella put on some clothing. Peter it seemed was still naked, but he was covered by the blanket, looking at her with absolute fear in his eyes. At least she got a little bit of pleasure out of that, so she shot him possibly the meanest glare she'd ever given him, angry that her selfish need for Ella to love her as much as she loved Ella protected him from what Josie thought he really deserved. "You're lucky my sister loves you and that I love my sister," she said, crossing her arms haughtily in an attempt to appear intimidating and hide how embarrassed she really was.

To Ella she said, "I won't tell father, but I swear to God Ella, if you end up pregnant, there's nothing I can do to save either of you," She turned back around to walk away again, thinking that she would give them to chance to get dressed. If she was lucky enough, maybe she could just pretend this never happened. She knew in reality, however, that her mind would probably obsess over this for some time to come.

Peter stared after her, tugging at his hair. He wasn't sure he believed her, but he wanted to. He had to. Letting out a sigh, he looked to Ella apologetically. "Sorry, that's... not exactly how imagined this morning would be like. Are you alright?" They really should have been more careful, but after being with her, he'd been too exhausted that the thought never even crossed his mind that somebody would find them. That they should have put their clothes back on at least.

 

[AvianJen]

There was a long moment of silence where all Ella and Peter could do was sit and wait for Josephine's response. Ella was terrified, and she was sure that Peter was too. This was important, and she could tell in Josephine's eyes that she was upset. They would have all the time in the world to talk about it later if she wanted to, but for now, Ella just needed her to promise not to ruin this. She wished that it didn't have to be scary, but as grateful as she was to Josie for trying her best it was still difficult. For everyone.

Ella's heart was beating fast. She bit her lip, the fear really taking hold when she saw the look on Josie's face. Josephine probably had the scariest death glare of all time, and poor Peter was always on the receiving end of it. But her words gave Ella hope. Josie loved her, and that was why she wouldn't tell. As much as Ella didn't want Peter to come between them, if Josephine were to send her boyfriend to the gallows, that would be a challenging thing to forgive. Ella wasn't sure that she could do it, just like Josephine probably wouldn't ever be able to forgive her if she somehow did something that ended Alec's life.

Her entire body relaxed when Josephine finally promised not to tell. Becoming pregnant was a little bit of a concern, but she didn't want to think about it. Ella understood her cycle and she knew when it was safe...hopefully. "I won't," she promised. "And if I do it's my problem, I understand that. But thank you. Really." She offered Josephine a little smile as she finished pulling her clothes on by pulling her dress up over her head. Ella was focused on protecting Peter at the moment, but she was also incredibly embarrassed at being caught by her sister in this state. Josie had seen her in various states of undress multiple times, but they hadn't seen each other naked since they were little. It was awkward and extremely uncomfortable. Ella was dying for this moment to be over.

The good thing was, it seemed like Josephine was on the same page. She watched her walking away and leaned against Peter's shoulder, hugging him tight. "It's not your fault, we should have planned better," she sighed. It was a little scary knowing that another secret was already out, but she wasn't going to tell. Ella believed her. "Yes, I'm alright," she told him with a smile. "She isn't going to say anything to Father, I promise. Don't let this ruin anything. Last night was amazing." She put her hands on either side of his face and pressed a kiss to his lips. "But how about we get inside before anyone else finds us?" she suggested.

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

Josephine didn't really have the words. There was just too much shock to really process what she'd walked in on. If she hadn't found them out here, would Ella have even told her? She doubted it. Ella knew how much she didn't like Peter, and despite how they had improved their relationship with each other lately, she was almost positive they weren't quite there yet. It wasn't like Josie had any of her own experiences to help Ella either. She was just as clueless about the details despite her curiosity about it as Ella was. Or... had been.

In either case she wasn't sure she was ready to talk about it anyways. This memory was going to burn itself into her brain for a long time to come, unfortunately. Once the shock wore off she was sure she'd be more frustrated, and maybe then she'd want to talk about her concerns, but... for now she mostly just wanted to get out of here. So she just gave Ella a sharp nod before taking her leave.

Peter was used to the dirty looks by now. He was mostly unfazed, and as long as Ella believed Josephine, then he knew he could too. She wasn't going to tell, not because she cared for him, but because her love for her sister prevented her from it. That was good enough for him, he was just sorry it had happened this way. Getting Josephine to accept him was going to be a lot more difficult now. They'd taken a step forward just to take two steps back. How much more backtracking would there be if, heaven forbid Ella did get pregnant, he wasn't sure. He shuddered at the thought of the wrath that would bring, but this hadn't been his first time. He'd taken precautions. They probably didn't need to worry.

He relaxed when she leaned against him. It wasn't really anybody's fault, just poor timing and unlucky circumstances. It didn't change that last night had still been the right decision for him, and he hoped, for her too. Whether they would get another chance any time soon was questionable, but he would replay their first night together in his mind for a while until they could. Kissing her back, he nodded. "That's probably a good idea. I should meet Mr. Lawrence soon, anyway. I've already slept in too late." He gave her another kiss and stood to put his clothes back on, gathering up what he could of their mess as well.

 

[AvianJen]

Truth be told, Ella probably wouldn't had told Josephine anything if she hadn't caught them. Not for a while, at least. But this encounter was humiliating, and she felt like she could breathe again when Josephine finally turned around to leave. Ella loved her sister, but this was between her and Peter. Their relationship and sex life, if they chose to have one, was their business and theirs alone. Ella just hoped that Josie understood that and would be able to respect it, as she had been able to respect their relationship.

She was able to calm down once she felt the tension in Peter's body relax and the embarrassing moment ended. That wasn't how she'd really wanted to wake up, but it wasn't he worst thing that could have happened, and Ella was still happy about the decision that they'd made. She wasn't sure if they would be able to do it again anytime soon, but she certainly wanted to. And if not, she was sure she would be daydreaming about it quite frequently. When Peter mentioned Mr. Lawrence, Ella groaned, turning and resting her forehead against his chest. She didn't want him to have to go to work, but she knew that he needed to. "Oh, alright," she sighed. She wished that they could spend some time reading, maybe go and spy on the neighbors with her present...but that would have to wait for the weekend. She stood and finished getting dressed, combing her fingers through her messy hair and gathering up her gift and one of the bottles of wine. She'd come back and clean the rest of it later.

The two of them snuck inside through the back kitchen door, where Ella dropped off the wine before heading upstairs. She needed a bath and a new dress to wear for the day, and Peter needed to go to work. She stopped out of her bedroom and gave Peter one last hug before he left. "Thank you for a wonderful birthday," she said. "And a wonderful night. I love you." She bounced up on her toes and pressed a kiss to his lips, stroking his hair. "I'll see you for dinner?"

Around the time that Ella and Peter headed inside, Alec came riding onto the Sinclair property. He took a couple minutes to check on the horses before going up to the front door and ringing the bell. He was hoping that he could get Mr. Sinclair's permission to bring Josephine to his new house and show her around, as well as show her what he was doing with his business. After spending several days networking in town, he'd managed to acquire two customers so far, and it was a lot of fun. He was beginning to feel like he might be successful, like he might actually have a chance.

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

Peter would have loved to spend all day with her again, but unfortunately life called. He stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head when she rolled over, sorry to disappoint her. "We'll have all evening tonight and plenty more time after that as well," he assured her. He was just lucky to have gotten her birthday off, but Mr. Lawrence didn't want him making a habit of it. They liked each other a lot so far, and Peter didn't want to do anything to compromise that or his position.

Back in his room he changed his clothes. He didn't have enough time to get properly cleaned up, but he was used to being dirty. Besides, he was always so grimy by the end of the day anyway. He was looking forward to when Mr. Lawrence would finally teach him more of the business side of things so he didn't have to lug around huge crates all day anymore. He smiled when Ella stopped by to bid him farewell and leaned in to kiss her softly. "I'm glad you had fun," he said. "And you're welcome. It was wonderful for me, too." He was glad she didn't seem disappointed with any of it. The best part was, whenever they did get around to making love again, it was bound to be even better than the last now that she had at least one time's experience. "I love you, too. I'll see at dinner, and then maybe we can relax for a bit. Try not to let Josephine get to you today." He kissed her one last time before departing. He was already running late.

Josephine was still recovering from the incident. She'd heard Peter and Ella come in shortly after she did, and thought about whether she could approach Ella about what had happened later today safely, but for now she sat in the sitting room trying to distract herself with a book. Unlike Ella, she wasn't much of a reader. But she did enjoy poetry. Today it seemed quite dull, however, but it was probably just because she couldn't keep her mind from wandering to the scene that had burned itself into her memory.

She welcomed the ring at the door and hopped up from the chair to rush and get it before one of the servants did. Some company would be good, even if it was just one of father's business friends. When she opened it, she was somewhat surprised to Alec. Normally he just came to tend to the horses, not usually giving them enough time for a visit before he left to handle his new business. She grinned anyway and bounced on her toes. He was the best kind of distraction.

"Alec," she said happily. "Come in. What are you doing here?"

 

[AvianJen]

Ella smiled and nodded, knowing that he was right. It was just always hard for her to say goodbye to him. If she had her way, they would spend every second together, but she was sure that then he would get sick of her if that was the case. "I know," she murmured. "I hope you have a good day. Tell me all about it when you get home." She'd have to figure out a little present for him today, but that was one of Ella's favorite things to do anyways. She was happy to hear that he had enjoyed last night as well, and she was already looking forward to when they could do it again. "That sounds great," she agreed. "And I won't. It'll be fine, don't worry about a thing." She kissed him back and watched him go, knowing that she couldn't keep him any longer. His job was important, both for him and for their relationship. Besides, she should probably take this time to talk to Josephine.

Before that, though, she needed to take a bath. She had a servant set one up for her and spent almost an hour soaking in the tub, daydreaming about last night and scrubbling herself clean. She felt amazing, and nothing, not even Josie's anger was going to ruin it. It would probably be a little awkward when they finally had to face one another again, but Ella wasn't thinking about that. They would all get over the embarrassing moment this morning and things would go back to normal...at least, as normal as they could be.

Alec couldn't help but smile when it was Josephine who answered the door. He usually got the butler, but he always loved it when hers was the first face he got to see in the morning. He stepped inside at her invitation, shoving his hands in his pockets and glancing around the grand entrance hall. It was difficult not to take her in his arms and kiss her as soon as he saw her, but it had gotten a little bit easier. "Hey," he said cheerfully. "I was just...stopping by to see if you'd like to come see my house, everything I've been up to. If your father is okay with it, of course. He's welcome to come too. How was Ella's birthday?"

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

It was a struggle to not to kiss Alec as well, but after a couple of years of keeping their relationship quiet, Josephine was a master of self control. Instead of kissing him, she ushered him inside and settled for a hug. Dinners were nice, and she was occasionally lucky enough to see him in the mornings while he worked, but she missed seeing him everyday. Especially now that she was supposed to be seeing John. They had been out together another two times since the theater visit, and he still remained a perfect gentleman, but Josephine was beginning to wonder how much longer they could wait before he started to want more from her.

She grinned when he explained why he was here. "I'd love that," she said. And it was true. Josephine was dying to know where he lived now. If things went to plan, his home would one day be hers. She was curious to see if it was the perfect little country house they daydreamed about together. Knowing father was the one who bought it, it had to be nice.

"Ella's birthday was fun. We had pancakes for breakfast and cake for dessert. We went for a walk and played games all day, and she looked really beautiful in her new dress," she said. She wasn't sure how much she could say about the rest of it right now. She told Alec everything normally, but discovering that Ella and Peter had slept together was a little much for her to comprehend at the moment. It was probably better she actually speak to Ella about it first anyway before things got too out of hand. "We have a lot to catch up on I suppose, but... it can wait. Come. I think father's in his office." She took his hand and started to lead the way.

 

[AvianJen]

The hug was nice, and it satisfied him for now. He missed getting to see her in more casual settings; the dinners were nice and he was grateful to be invited, but they stressed him out and he hated to wear his fancy outfit. He wore the same one every time- there was no way that anyone was going to convince him to buy another one, but he worried that Mr. Sinclair might judge him for it. Or maybe he thought it was impressive that he'd bought one at all. It was hard to tell what he was thinking, but he was hoping that by showing him and Josephine how well his business had started out, he would be able to tilt the scale in his favor. Josie was still seeing John, and as long as she was seeing him their future wasn't secure.

He returned her smile, happy that she wanted to go. He'd wanted to show her his new house the second that Mr. Sinclair had given it to him. It really was the perfect location for a family, in the country just like he and Josie had dreamed of for so long. There was room him and his horses, three bedrooms, and the house was open and spacious. It wasn't anything especially luxurious, but it was nice, and Alec had been working on fixing it up a little bit more. He'd repainted the entire place and kept it absolutely spotless. "I've been wanting to show it to you," he told Josie happily. "I think you'll really like it." He hoped that she would.

Ella's birthday celebration sounded nice. Alec knew that Josie always worked hard to make sure that her sister had a special day, and even though there was no massive party this year, he thought that maybe it was for the best. "Things have gotten better between you two, then?" he asked. It seemed like the sisters were being friendly again, even though Josephine was still incredibly disapproving of Ella's taste in boyfriends. The important thing was that their relationship didn't change because of Peter's role in Ella's life. He tilted his head, wondering what she meant when she said they had a lot to catch up on, but obediently followed her to her father's office. Mr. Sinclair looked up when they entered.

"Alec," he said in surprise, standing and leaning forward to shake his hand. "Good morning, what a surprise. What brings you in?"

Alec shook his hand politely and stepped back, clearing his throat before replying. "Well, sir, I came to invite you over to my property today," he said. "If you're not too busy. I'd love to show you what I've done with the place and speak with you about how my business is going so far."

 

[SheLuvsMusic]

Josephine had no doubt that she would like the house. She knew to expect something substantially smaller than the mansion she'd grown up in. Something with less bedrooms, no library, and probably no large garden out in the back with a gazebo. It probably didn't have a grand staircase or marble pillars out front. Most likely it would also lack the large balcony she currently had outside her room, or wide french doors, and an extra room for all of her dresses. All of that really didn't matter to her, though. Some thing she would miss, and it would take some time to adjust to a life without extra help, but she didn't need luxury to be happy. She wasn't vain, apart from her interest in fashion. All she needed was the man she loved by her side and the hopes of a family one day. Smiling up at him, she beamed. "I can't wait to see it."

As far as she and and her sister went, they were getting along a better than they had the entire time they'd been back. Apart from the mishap today, things had been perfect, actually. She wasn't sure if running into Ella and Peter this morning ruined any of their progress, but at least Ella seemed to believe her that she wouldn't tell father anything. That was a good sign, at least. Josephine just hoped she was doing the right thing by promising so. "I think so," she answered Alec's question, believing things would be fine for the most part. Even after today, so long as they talked about what happened and Josephine had the opportunity to speak to Ella about her concerns. "She's still annoying and getting into trouble, but that's what younger sisters are for, right?"

There would be time to talk about Ella later, though, and Josephine was eager to go see her father so they could see Alec's property. When they got to his office, she left Alec's side to go give her father a kiss and a hug. Piling on affection always seemed to soften him a little bit and she wanted desperately to get her wish this time. "Pretty please?" she added after Alec explained why he was here. If Alec got to visit for dinners, she didn't think a visit to his place for once was too much to ask.

Mr. Sinclair listened and looked between his daughter and Alec. They had been behaving themselves and adhering to his rules better than he ever expected to. A part of him was still hoping that maybe John would win Josie's heart somehow, but it was clear even just through their dinners together that she was still holding out hope that she would get to be with the stable boy in the end. He had to give Alec credit where it was due. And he did say that he would help him with whatever business needs he had. "Very well," he agreed. "I don't see why not. Josie, why don't you go and find Ella? We'll all go together."

Josephine grinned ecstatically, and gave her father a tight hug. "Really? Thank you! Have I mentioned I love you lately?" She let him go to run past Alec, shooting him a happy look, before running off to find Ella.