thepicketfencecliche | regency au } { of explorations and awakenings

Stiles: [and finally he will come in, shivering as the servants come to get his cloaks and he pulls on a warm thick sweater and fur lined inside boots before heading into the main sitting area and the fire to warm himself by]

Cora: [and she will come find him when she hears he's returned, smiling as she does] How was the hunt?

Stiles: [smiles when he sees her] It went well. I managed to bring down a deer for our dinner tonight. You would think it would be easier to get rabbits but they are quick little things.

Cora: They are. Small and light on their feet. [she moves to sit next to him, reaching for his hand and frowning in surprise] You're freezing.

Stiles: Well, it is winter and I am human. Plus, I cannot arch and wear thick gloves at the same time.

Cora: [makes a face and pulls his hands to her, doing her best to try and warm them] Is that better?

Stiles: [he looks at her hands, then nods] Yes, I think that is much better.

Cora: [she smiles] Good.

Stiles: You're very warm, in fact.

Cora: Werewolves run a bit warmer than humans do.

Stiles: That is the one downfall I have of being the human in the hunting party then, I believe.

Cora: [she nods] But you will get used to it. Or we shall find you thinner gloves.

Stiles: That or you will just have to great me like this every time I return.

Cora: [she smiles softly] I think I can do that.

Stiles: Perhaps we can sit by the fire until I'm warmed up more?

Cora: [she nods] Of course.

Stiles: [and he will guide her to the couch by the fire, sitting down and taking the blanket to wrap around them both] Better?

Cora: [she nods as she curls into him, settling comfortably against him]

Stiles: What did you do today while I was with the other men?

Cora: Spent time with my nieces, mostly. Elena has been under the weather and Laura had other matters to attend to.

Stiles: [nods] I take it Malia is still in mourning of the loss of her companion?

Cora: [she nods] She is very upset with Laura, but it will pass.

Stiles: From what I have heard, it could have been a lot worse.

Cora: Yes, it could have. The Lord that he tried to steal from could be quite cruel. Never mind what Laura would have done to him if those items couldn't be recovered.

Stiles: Thank God the merchant had held the items waiting for him to rebuy them. Nothing was lost but the trust.

Cora: [she nods] That was some of my mother's favorite silver.

Stiles: I wonder if my using him to help me with my fox persona was a factor into his behavior.

Cora: No. This isn't your fault, Stiles. He was getting himself into trouble before that started.

Stiles: [nods] It is still a shame though. I hope being a squire to this knight will help lead him to a better future.

Cora: I do as well.

Stiles: [and he will just snuggle into Cora a bit more]

Cora: [she is more than happy for the snuggling. it's helping her get used to being close to him, one step at a time]

Stiles: [and since they are in the main sitting room, he's not going to get too intimate, but his hands under the blanket are going to thread his fingers with hers]

Cora: [she gives his hand a squeeze as he does, letting her head rest against his shoulder]

Stiles: Derek said he was going to start working on continuing my mapping education with the stars, and he thought that perhaps you would like to join us as well.

Cora: [glances up] How so?

Stiles: He can teach us both about the stars during the winter, and we can work together to map them.

Cora: [she nods slowly] Sure. If Derek would be alright with both of us.

Stiles: He seemed excited about the idea. I think he misses spending time with you.

Cora: [she nods some more then looks up with a smile] Then yes. I would like that.

Stiles: Good. I will let him know so we can find time to do this.

Cora: Good.

Stiles: And then we will have a reason to lay and stare at the stars all night together.

Cora: [she laughs] Ah. And there is the real reason you wanted me to do this.

Stiles: If we are to be married, we will need to have hobbies that we can do together, after all.

Cora: Mmmm. And the fact that it happens to be at night - the time when we don't normally see each other.

Stiles: There is that.

Cora: We are engaged, Lord Stilinski. We are not married yet.

Stiles: The night comes early in the winter, m'lady. And one day we will be. I will not dishonor and stay in your bed before we are wed, I promise.

Cora: I did not think you would. But a lady still needs to keep some secrets until then.

Stiles: Then we will save those nights until after we are wed. [he cuddles her closer] There is much we can learn before it is time to extinguish the candles.

Cora: [sighs as she leans back against him] I'm sure there is.

Stiles: [and he will give her a gently, innocent kiss on her cheek]

Cora: [closes her eyes at the touch, letting her hands rest over his]

Stiles: [he will trust her to stop him if she hears someone coming, and he will just kiss along her jaw, his fingers tightening to hold her hands]

Cora: [oh, that feels ... nice. And she is listening for someone coming, but she's also being distracted at the moment]

Stiles: [and he will just kiss where her head tilts to guide him, eventually kissing along her neck]

Cora: [her breath catches as his lips brush over her skin arching up slightly when he kisses her pulse point]

Stiles: [and he pulls back a bit] Are you okay?

Cora: [she nods, looking slightly flushed and she pulls away a bit] Yes. I'm fine.

Stiles: I'm sorry if I went too far.

Cora: No, it's fine. I just ... I didn't expect that.

Stiles: [his fingers went to trace that last spot] Are you sensitive there?

Cora: [her eyes close again at the touch] It felt good.

Stiles: Would you like me to kiss you there again?

Cora: [she glances to him for a moment, considering, before glancing back to the hall to make sure none of her family was coming. Once she's sure the halls are quiet, she looks back at him hesitantly and nods]

Stiles: [he smiles, and then leans in and goes to press a kiss again at her pulse point, light and gentle]

Cora: [her eyes flutter closed again, her head tipping back against his shoulder as she settles against him]

Stiles: [and he will be a bit firmer in those kisses, shifting so that his hands rest on her stomach and just gently rub up and down as he does so]

Cora: [her hands move with his, continuing to rest gently on top of them, drawing a soft sound from her as she relaxes into him]

Stiles: [he is content with that, his nose going to run along the flesh behind her ear as he twisted his head a bit to get better access to the spot.]

Cora: [shifts to give him that access, her heart starting to race and feeling the need to squirm when he hits another good spot]

Stiles: [and his hands will hunt out hers again, covering them and gently pushing her hands upwards just a bit, her hands moving just below her breasts with her hands between them and his]

Cora: [as they start to move upwards that's enough to draw a line, and she pulls away, blinking a bit as she straightens and moves away from him]

Stiles: [and he will let her, putting his hands in his lap and smiling to himself a moment before looking up at her] are you okay, m'lady?

Cora: [nods, swallowing and shifting to smooth her dress a bit] Fine. Just ... a bit further than I'm comfortable with.

Stiles: I understand. I would not wish to make you uncomfortable.

Cora: [she nods, uncomfortable and flustered, one hand coming up to play with the ends of her hair] Perhaps I should go and check on dinner.

Stiles: If you must. I am much warmer now, so I should probably return to my rooms and change for dinner. Thank you for your company and warmth, m'lday.

Cora: [nods and off she goes to breath and process all of that and try to compose herself]

Stiles: [and he is going to end up taking a short nap with happy dreams]

Cora: [and eventually they will have dinner and Cora will have to pretend that she's not feeling awkward sitting next to him at all]

Stiles: [and he is concerned that she's not acting like normal, unsure if he had done something unrepairable]

Cora: [no, she's just a weirdo. he can probably find her and ask her about it later if he wants]

Stiles: [which he will, in a corridor away from the rest of the people] Cora... did I upset you this afternoon?

Cora: [glances back to him before shaking her head] No! No. I just ... am not accustomed to those feelings.

Stiles: I did not mean to upset you.

Cora: You didn't. Honestly.

Stiles: Okay. [nods, then smiles] I am glad though that you enjoyed it.

Cora: [she blushes slightly before glancing to the corridors, making sure a member of her family isn't coming] I did.

Stiles: Perhaps when you are comfortable with it, we could try that again?

Cora: [she isn't sure she should. As much as she is certain in her decision to marry Stiles, she doesn't want things to get too out of hand as she is still a lady. and all that. Never mind that her sister totally was sleeping with her husband before she was married] Perhaps. We will have to see.

Stiles: [nods] Of course. It will be your choice, m'lady.

Cora: [she nods] I just ... do not want to risk impropriety. I have a feeling your uncle is much more traditional in his concerns than mine has been.

Stiles: Perhaps so, but I don't seek my uncle's counsel on what is expected of me when it comes to our relationship. That is only something that should exist as a discussion between me and you.

Cora: I understand. And I appreciate that. But that wasn't my concern. [she's concerned with the fact that if they go too far and get ahead of themselves, she is the one who would be disgraced later when it is determined she's not a virgin. as uncomfortable as that process would be] Men are held to different standards than women are.

Stiles: I know. [but he wouldn't let it go to that part. He would not disgrace her]

Cora: [she nods] I just ... do not want to get ahead of myself.

Stiles: [nods] Then how about this - no matter what we do, we will promise not to see each other naked until our wedding night. Nor will we consummate our relationship until then. That I swear to you.

Cora: [she meets his eyes for a moment before nodding. That seems like an effective compromise] Thank you.

Stiles: You're welcome. [he smiled] I will do just about anything to make you happy.

Cora: [she nods with a small smile] I know. It is why I trust you.

Stiles: Well, I should allow you to retire for the evening. I will see you tomorrow?

Cora: [she nods] See you tomorrow. [and with that she will step away to return to her room]

Stiles: [and he will head off to his, all grins and probably writing a letter to his father about how good everything is]