Coming Home to Aurelius 6

Hey! I'm back. Inspite of the fact that I lost all my documents yesterday because my brother, who's proven himself to be a bonehead, restored my laptop without making back-ups!

This is a largely romantic chapter, more significant developments later, but hopefully, you'll enjoy the mush.

Please comment. Please. I've written after a long time, and I really need to know how you guys feel
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Pulling Alex onto his lap on the window seat, Oscar regarded the pups with a mock frown, "Your illustrious Uncle wouldn’t have one of those handy baby naming book thingies in his library would he?"

Alex grinned as she happily leaned into Oscar’s bare shoulder, still trembly from their encounter, "Somehow I don’t think so. But even if he did, we could hardly use names like Maximillian or Athena or Andrew or Oscar for that matter………"

Her fit of giggles was drowned by a growl from Oscar right before he covered her mouth with his own.

Alexis went limp in the warm embrace as she surrendered to the wonderful assault on her senses.

Fireworks, she could see fireworks.

The ringing of the phone brought them both back to the present. Still unable to break the connection, Alexis leaned over to the console and picked up the receiver, only to be greeted by a pre-recorded message from some sales company.

Resisting the urge to slam the phone down, she turned to Oscar as he wound a strand of her flaming hair around his index finger with an intense look on his face.

"Will you come to the dance tonight at the Grange with me Alexis?"
It was a straightforward question, but her heart leapt at the smoldering look in his eyes.

Clutching his hands as if they were her only hold on reality, she whispered in a husky voice that couldn’t have been hers, "In a red dress?"

Oscar directed a heated gaze in her direction and murmured into her ear, "I wouldn’t have you any other way."

Careful not to overwhelm her with his obvious desire, Oscar drew her head onto his still bare shoulder and held her.
His heart felt ready to burst as a result of an overload of emotions.

He’d never felt so alive.

It was as if, life and all things involved had come into sharper focus.

And all because of this child-woman who was snuggled in his arms.

Sitting there, as a shaft of golden sunlight washed over them, Oscar fiercely vowed that he’d never let anything or anyone cause any pain to Alexis.

His Alexis.

Bertha had come into the room to replenish the vases with fresh flowers, but one look at the window seat had sent her scurrying back before she was discovered.

She sent up a silent prayer of thanks as she thought of the tender scene that she had just witnessed. If any couple deserved happiness it was those two.

Her eyebrows drew into a frown as she considered Oscar’s missing shirt, but she dismissed the thought thinking that times had changed and so had the rules of propriety.

But she did have a lot to tell Mrs. Carmichael, Mrs. Whitter and Mrs. Lane

It was five in the evening and Alexis knew she should have been busy getting ready.

Especially because of Oscar’s whispered promise that he’d pick her up at six.

The pups had been taken up by eager hands who were all too willing to dog sit.

And here she was swinging her legs on the side of the bed, dreamily looking into space.

The steam billowing out of the bathroom reminded her that she was supposed to be getting ready.

Emerging from the bath, a few luxurious moments later, Alexis stood in front of her wardrobe, contemplating what to wear.

It was only fitting that the dress she finally chose had been her Uncle’s gift to her 18th . Of course her uncle hadn’t personally bought it. He’d asked one of his PA’s in his office in Italy to buy something feminine for his niece’s coming of age.

The dress was red. Obviously. A deep scarlet.

From the front it was a dress even the nuns would have approved off. High necked, with a fitted bodice that emphasized Alex’s tiny waist, the dress flared into a wide skirt of organza that fell to her knees

From the back, the dress could make the devil blush. Apart from the tasseled fabric that formed the collar, her back was bared to the waist.

Her uncle had been appalled when she’d floated down the stairs. Only his sister’s laughing remonstrations had enabled the well meaning PA to retain her job.

Alexis coaxed her waist length hair into an elegant knot on top of her head, leaving a few stray wisps to frame her delicate face. She put on a pair of antique silver earrings she’d bought on a trip to Jaipur and the satin high heels that had come with this dress.

She kept the make up minimal, a little coral tinted lipgloss and mascara.

Alexis may not have realized it, but with delicate beauty like hers, less was more.

In her inexperienced eyes, she looked provocative.

In reality, she looked like a pre- Raeffelite virgin.

She was just shaking out the ivory summer silk wrap she’d planned to take when a dark shape joined her reflection in the mirror.

Alexis turned around with a startled gasp only to find herself looking into Oscar’s impossibly blue eyes.

As if on queue, blood rushed into her cheeks as she drowned in that incredible yet unidentifiable emotion in Oscar’s eyes.

He hadn’t said a word since he’d appeared behind her, but now he was making his way towards her purposefully, till he stood a mere inch away from him.

Alex was sure that if she so much as breathed, their bodies would come in contact.

Still not speaking, Oscar’s arms went around her, not touching her, just forming a ring till she felt a slight tug at her hair before the silky mass slithered down her back.

Finding her tongue Alexis protested, "Oscar! It took me ages to put my hair up neatly, what do you think you’re doing?"

Oscar’s hands traced the path her hair had taken, from her scalp to her bare back and finally came to rest on her waist, "Covering you up my dear. No man sees your back except me."
Alex’s eyes turned huge with mortification. Did he think she was some loose woman.

As if sensing her conundrum, Oscar drew her closer and spoke softly into her hair, "I might love the dress, but I will not have any other man lusting over my girl. Do you have any idea how desirable you look? And yet utterly unapproachable, like the lady in the ivory tower?"

Alex gravitated towards Oscar as if drawn by some inner force, "You mean you like it? It’s not indecent?"

Oscar shook with silent laughter, "Far from it my love. Is this the notorious dress that Alan got for your birthday?"

Alex drew back, her eyes wide with surprise, "Yes, but how did you know?"

Oscar laughed as he draped the wrap around her and arranged her now open hair to his liking, "He spent a good many days grumbling about it if you must know. He was livid that your mum supported the secretary. Now while I’m exquisitely happy that you wore the dress for me, I really don’t want any other man to see you in it."

Alexis smiled up at him, "You just repeated that line about five times, Oscar. And we’re getting late."

Oscar groaned, "I’m being repetitive because it’s the one thought buzzing in my brain, apart from the desire to kiss you and drag you off to some place where we’d never be disturbed. And before we leave, there’s something I want you to have."

Alexis felt a sense of loss as Oscar gracefully loped over to the bed and picked up a sleek black box that she’d failed to notice.

The desolation was short lived as he was back in a trice, a boyish grin lighting up his face as he extended the offering.

Opening the box with nervous fingers, Alex’s breath hitched. Inside was an exquisite corsage of white orchids.
Her face alight with delight Alexis extended the delicate blooms to Oscar and laid her slim wrist in his hand.

With care bordering on reverence, Oscar snapped the silver bracelet close and kissed the underside of her wrist, sending delightful shivers up her bare spine.

"Thank……"

The words were swallowed up by the sweet teasing a of Oscar’s lips.

The erotic interplay and the seductive motion of emotions flitting through her mind obscured all ideas of the dance.

At that moment, all Alexis wanted to do, was remain in Oscar’s arms forever.