regency au } { of honeymoon escapades and learning boundaries

[impetere]

Stiles: [it's a beautiful morning in Italy. They are in Florence, a beautiful villa of a friend of Lord Stilinski that was being loaned to the touring couple. It was on the river, secluded and beautiful and as they woke the sunlight came in through the linens along the window to shine on the couple]

Cora: [stirs slightly at the feel of the sunlight, shifting under Stiles' arm but not quite waking, just wanting to bask in the sun a little more]

Stiles: [he sighs softly, feeling the warmth on his body and kicking at the covers a bit]

Cora: [stirs a little more as she feels him move, opening her eyes to blink at him over her shoulder, before turning back to the balcony and just looking out over the view]

Stiles: [finally he sighs and opens his eyes, looking at the window] Morning already?

Cora: Apparently.

Stiles: It feels like we only went to sleep an hour ago.

Cora: [smirks] I believe that is how sleep works. [though it's possible that they may have gone to sleep later than she thought]

Stiles: Well, perhaps we should stop reading Italian poetry late into the night. [he rolled to his side, kissing her shoulder]

Cora: [laughs softly as she curls into him] Is that what we were doing?

Stiles: Well, it was how we started... [grins and kisses along her neck] I'm sure the book is still in the room somewhere.

Cora: [her eyes close and her head tips to give his lips better access, and she sighs softly in response] It is certainly not how I remember finishing.

Stiles: I'm sure there could be poems written about how the night finished, mi amore. [kissing behind her ear]

Cora: Mmm. [her head tips to follow his lips as her hands move to his shoulders to balance herself] Though they would not be poems that I would wish to be shared.

Stiles: Perhaps then it would have to be a book hidden in our library where only we know the location? [he kisses along her jaw]

Cora: Not in the library. In my room, maybe.

Stiles: Which will be our room when we return, I hope?

Cora: [she glances back to him before nodding] I would assume. Unless you wanted to have separate chambers.

Stiles: No, I don't. But I wouldn't want you to not have a space of your own anymore.

Cora: I'm sure I could find other places for that.

Stiles: Good. Because I will admit, I do enjoy waking up to you beside me.

Cora: [she smiles softly, before reaching for his hand to play with his fingers] I've come to enjoy it as well. It is ... different, but without you it feels ... empty.

Stiles: [he smiles at that, and then leans in to kiss her gently]

Cora: [kisses him back, her hand moving to slip her fingers between his and link their hands together]

Stiles: [he will link his fingers, squeezing her hand as he shifts closer, pressing against her body]

Cora: [sighs as she curls into him more, shifting to fit better against him. The more they do, the more she relaxes and opens up to him which he's probably very happy with. It's only with him, but the more familiar they become with each other, the less of the restrained, reserved girl he sees]

Stiles: [he is enjoying watching her open up to him like this, They've only been married for a month at this point, and he has been slowly giving her more and more reason to be less restrained and to lead as well when they were alone like this]

Cora: [which she isn't entirely comfortable with as of yet - she likes him leading and she trusts him to do so - but that doesn't mean she won't be one day. For right now, she's just going to let him guide the way for her]

Stiles: [and since they are still in the clothing from the night before, he will gently start to run his hands along her body, fitting her in against him as he is already growing in readiness for her]

Cora: [and they will enjoy their morning and eventually bathe and get dressed and go down to find breakfast]

Stiles: [where they are met with a buffet of sliced fruits, cheeses, sweet breads and of course coffee and juices. Their table is set on the patio where they can look at the river] I could get used to this.

Cora: [nods as she looks out over the view] It is very beautiful.

Stiles: Perhaps after we eat, you would like to go for a ride? I have thought we could go to the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana.

Cora: [she knows enough Italian to know that "biblioteca" is library, so she nods eagerly in agreement] That sounds lovely.

Stiles: Wonderful. I'll work on the arrangements after we eat.

Cora: [nods] Good. [and she will turn her attention back to the water again. as lovely as it is, it still isn't home and part of her misses the constant presence of her family]

Stiles: [he tilts his head a bit] Everything okay?

Cora: [glances back to him before nodding] Everything is fine. I just ... miss my family. This is the longest I've ever been away from them on my own.

Stiles: [nods] We have been gone almost a month. If you wish, we could cut our trip short and just take another one later on?

Cora: [she glances up before shaking her head] No. I'm going to have to get used to it eventually. Might as well begin in small doses.

Stiles: Otherwise we will have to bring people with us when we go to Austria.

Cora: [she nods] I will have to adjust to all new ladies as well.

Stiles: You don't want to keep Erica and Kira?

Cora: It is not that, it is that Erica and Boyd are mated and Kira and Scott are married, if not mated already. If they stay with the pack, then it would be unfair to take their mates from them.

Stiles: I see. Though I don't think it would be hard to ask Boyd and Scott to accompany us as well.

Cora: It wouldn't be just their decision. It would be Laura's as well.

Stiles: True.

Cora: So we will see, when the time comes. But I would not wish to take them away from their home if they did not want to leave it.

Stiles: Well, If you do ask for new ladies, do not go on my cousins' choices.

Cora: No?

Stiles: Would you wish to have most of your private life shared with them?

Cora: Ah. Of course not.

Stiles: [smiles] We can ask my stepmother. I'm sure she had friends with daughters who would enjoy your company.

Cora: [she nods] Though hopefully that will not be for a long time.

Stiles: Except for a few weeks at either spring or fall solstice. Just to make an appearance and visit.

Cora: [she nods] Of course.

Stiles: [and he is going to sink into his seat, enjoying his sweet roll] I'm going to get fat by the end of this trip.

Cora: [laughs softly] You don't think we are getting enough exercise?

Stiles: [chuckles] Perhaps, but we could always do more.

Cora: More ... walking?

Stiles: Yes... walking. [not what he was thinking, but it will work]

Cora: Mmmhmmm. [she knows what he was thinking, but polite company and all that]

Stiles: We could walk to the library. I don't think it's that far from here

Cora: I think that would be nice.

Stiles: Then let's finish up.

Cora: [nods and they'll finish off their breakfast and get dressed for going out before making their way down to the library]

Stiles: [yup, and as they stroll arm and arm, they will head towards the more crowded and busy market piazza]

Cora: [and she will keep closer as they go, not wanting to get lost in the crowd]

Stiles: [and he knew enough Italian to keep them from getting too lost and soon they are at the library, which is a work of art]

Cora: [Yeah, she's super pleased with that, and will just wander off to try and look at all the different books]

Stiles: [and he will follow her, looking at the books as well, but enjoying the sight of her absorbed in the books just as much]

Cora: [and eventually she will curl up in a corner with a stack of books and half-browse/half-read for a while]

Stiles: [and he will watch her a moment, and then sit at a table a bit away from her, pulling out his journal from his bag and going to just sketch her as the sunlight lit her so beautifully in that image]

Cora: [completely oblivious to what her husband is doing, lost in one of the books she found and shifting to tuck her legs under her more]

Stiles: [once he has his sketch, he will tuck the journal back and then move to go sit next to her] Find something interesting?

Cora: [glances up, before nodding] Mythology text, from Greece.

Stiles: How old it is?

Cora: Couple decades, maybe?

Stiles: Ah. I keep waiting for a book to come from a time where it isn't mythology.

Cora: And the stories are true?

Stiles: Yes.

Cora: The problem with myths is that they're told by word of mouth. There wouldn't be a book from that time.

Stiles: You never know. Sometimes myths are truer than believed.

Cora: You are telling me that? [curious]

Stiles: [totally teasing] Of course.

Cora: Mmmm. [and she'll turn back to her book again] The problem with stories like these is they're always left to be interpreted by those telling the story.

Stiles: Well, that is true. But aren't almost all stories like that?

Cora: They are. But sometimes you can still find the source.

Stiles: Sometimes.

Cora: I don't know if we'll find what you're looking for here.

Stiles: Well, the only thing I'm really looking for is right in front of me.

Cora: [she glances up at him, confused for a moment until she realizes that he means her and she glances down, a blush coloring her cheeks again]

Stiles: [he pulls out his sketch book and shows her the sketch he made of her] I mean, it's not a Michelangelo, but it's still the most beautiful thing here.

Cora: [she glances over at it, and then up at him in surprise] You drew this?

Stiles: Yes. You were completely absorbed in that book you didn't notice me at all.

Cora: [shakes her head slightly] I still don't know how to respond to these things sometimes.

Stiles: I will always take a kiss if that helps.

Cora: [she smiles softly] That I can do. [and she leans in to kiss him]

Stiles: [and he will smile and kiss her back]

Cora: [holds the kiss for a moment, before pulling back and glancing to the windows] It's getting late. I should put these back.

Stiles: Let me help.

Cora: [she nods, before handing him back half the books]

Stiles: [and he will take them, returning them to their homes as he walks around the stacks]

Cora: [and she will do the same, moving to meet him in the main area of the library when she's finished]

Stiles: Perhaps there will be a book seller somewhere in the city we can find you a few souvenirs from?

Cora: Perhaps. We could visit tomorrow? We should get back before it gets dark.

Stiles: Tomorrow. [and he will take her arm and they can go back the to villa]

Cora: [where dinner will probably be waiting for them before they return to their room]

Stiles: [yes, something pasta and sauce and meat and cheese with pastries for them after]

Cora: [yum food. and once that is over, they will return to the bedroom, where she will turn and expose the laces of her dress] Help me with these?

Stiles: [and he will go to help her, kissing her shoulder] There.

Cora: [she smiles and will step behind the divide to change into her nightgown, even though she probably won't be wearing by the time she actually sleeps]

Stiles: [they at least try to act like they aren't about to ravish each other. He will change as well, quickly changing his shirt while she is occupied because he does try to hide his scars as often as he can]

Cora: [and she will slip into bed, shifting to get comfortable as she waits for him to join her]

Stiles: [and he's just going to wash his hands and wet his face a bit] I should probably shave again soon.

Cora: [smirks a bit] I like you better clean shaven.

Stiles: If that is the case, I will do so tomorrow.

Cora: [smiles softly] Good.

Stiles: [and he will crawl into bed, laying on his side and looking at her]

Cora: [shifts onto her side to look back at him, her brow furrowing] What is it?

Stiles: Nothing. Just thinking.

Cora: About what?

Stiles: Just us, and the path we took to get here today.

Cora: [her head tips to the side] And what have you determined?

Stiles: Aside from a very long detour, still the best trip I have ever dared to take.

Cora: [smiles softly] I'm glad you feel that way.

Stiles: And I always will. [leans in to kiss her]

Cora: [sighs softly into the kiss, moving one hand to rest against his shoulder]

Stiles: [and he will be gentle, and then pull back after a moment] As much as I want to make love to you every night for the rest of our lives, I think tonight I'm ready to just curl up in your arms and sleep already.

Cora: [she laughs softly] And here I thought you wanted more exercise.

Stiles: Well, we did a lot of walking today.

Cora: We did. But I don't think that was the kind of exercise you wanted to do.

Stiles: So is this my sweet wife trying to talk me into making love to her? [smirks a bit]

Cora: [laughs in return] I just simply would not want to stand the way of you meeting your goals.

Stiles: Well, as much as I appreciate your concern for my health goals, I wouldn't want to unless you wanted to as well.

Cora: [she does want to. She enjoys it, a lot. But they could miss one night, if they wanted] If you would prefer to sleep, than we can.

Stiles: What do you want, my love?

Cora: [she pauses for a moment, her fingers moving to play with his as she does] I want to, if that is what you want.

Stiles: You are beautiful and almost impossible for me to not want to touch. But if you want it, then we shall. This is something we share, my love. When you want to do it is just as important as when I do.

Cora: [she pauses for a moment, trying to figure things out] I'm just ... still learning how this works, I suppose.

Stiles: I know. That's why I want to make sure you know that if you want it, you can just ask. You don't have to wait for me to want it.

Cora: And if ... I don't want it?

Stiles: Then we won't do it that night.

Cora: [she nods slowly] We don't ... have to tonight.

Stiles: Then why don't we just lay here and cuddle, and see what happens.

Cora: [she nods before shifting to curl into him, letting her head rest against his shoulder]

Stiles: [and he will tilt his head to kiss her gently]

Cora: [kisses him back, her hand moving to rest against his chest]

Stiles: [and he will kiss her, but it's obvious he's drifting off as he does so]

Cora: [keeps up the kiss as long as he does, before closing her eyes and drifting off herself]