Of the Fells

[KieranSoares]

"I feel like if I came back too often, it'd lose th' same special feeling. Migh' be better I only come back once a year 'r so... lets me dream, y'know?" Theo drew her closer and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "An' I don' think I could stay away from Inverness anymore."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Oh, really?" Valentina asked with a happy smile on her face as he kissed her cheek and held her tightly. "Is there something in Inverness that has your attention?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"Aside from a couple children who call me Uncle, yeah. One beautiful lass, too serious fer her own good 'alf the time..." He stole a proper kiss then, his arms encircling her waist.

 

[heartofcourage]

The smile on Valentina's face was pure and full of joy as he stole a proper kiss and wrapped his arms around her waist. She let out a long sigh, feeling the strange happiness that warmed her belly. She never thought that she would find a man that loved her like Theo did and it was a little startling to know that it had happened so quickly.

 

[KieranSoares]

After a quiet dinner with just the two of them, Theo brought Valentina out to a special place he'd known since he was a child, where the little island stream ran out into the ocean at the edge of the thick forest. It was a lovely little corner of the island rarely visited by anyone else. Theo showed her where he and his sister had carved pictures into a tough old oak tree and where his mother had planted a bunch of mint that had spread like wildfire in the past five years. Theo settled in the large clover patch near the mint with a long, contented sigh. "Damn it's good t'be back..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You look much happier." Valentina mentioned as she sat beside him, snuggling against his side. "There's a lot to be said about the healing powers of simply being somewhere familiar."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I spent so much o' my childhood dreamin' o' leavin' this place. Goin' to the mainland t'see what th'rest o' the world was like. Left fer th'first time when I was sixteen t'go t'Wick lookin' fer a job, an' I didn' even last three months before I quit an' came 'ome." Wrapping an arm about Valentina's waist, Theo sighed contentedly. "Inverness is th'only other place I've ever been comfortable."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I still dream of leaving Inverness. I want to see the world." Valentina confessed as he talked about being comfortable in Inverness but missing his home so deeply. "Durban simply left and saw the world on his own. Papa did the same when he was young. I've always dreamed of doing the same, but I know I never could. Too many people need me at home."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We could see it t'gether, y'know," Theo told her softly. "Yer Da wants ya t'get out an' live fer yerself. I'd be glad t'do tha' with ya."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, that is something we can talk about." Valentina said as she rested her head against Theo's broad shoulder. "There is a lot to plan if we are going to do that. Places that we want to see. And I have to make sure that it's alright to leave Inverness."

 

[KieranSoares]

"But I'm certainly in no 'urry," Theo grinned before he laid her back in the clover and kissed her in that lovely, warm way she'd come to expect from him. Their love was still new and a bit unsure, but Theo was at ease with Valentina and it showed in how slowly and steadily he took their time together.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina gasped as Theo pulled them both back into the clover, his lips finding her own until all thoughts of plots and plans left her brain. He knew how to kiss her that made her forget everything about herself, that lovely warmth pooling in her belly as they lay together in the magical place that was his homeland.

 

[KieranSoares]

As their lips parted, Theo smiled down at her and lifted a hand to her cheek. "'Ave I told y'lately 'ow beautiful you are?" Stealing another kiss, he drew her closer.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I think so, but when you kiss me like that you make me forget everything." She murmured softly as he kissed her again, pulling her tightly against his body.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll remember tha' fer when I get in trouble," he whispered and rolled onto his back, drawing her up over top of him while his broad hands smoothed down her waist and to her thighs. His touch alone told her that he wanted her, and his gaze told her just how absolutely smitten he was.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Mi amore." Valentina purred as his broad hands skimmed up and down her body, the magical setting feeding into their mood as Theo sought to seduce his partner. "I like the way that your hands feel on my body. Who knew that you could make me so helplessly addicted."

 

[KieranSoares]

"If anyone's addicted 'ere, it's me," he murmured with a soft chuckle, letting his head rest back against the clover as he looked up at her. He lifted a hand to slip the tie from her hair which she always seemed to keep up in a ponytail, and he watched with a smile as her ebony hair cascaded down over her shoulder. "Beautiful..." he whispered.

 

[heartofcourage]

"No one's ever called me that before." Valentina confessed to him. "Well, Papa has, but he doesn't really count. I like hearing it from you, though. It means so much more especially because it's from you."

 

[KieranSoares]

Theo chuckled softly at her little confession, his hand coming to rest on her cheek. "Yer absolutely beautiful, Valentina. In more ways than one." Drawing her back down for another kiss, his other hand came to rest across her lower back.

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina let herself sink further into his kiss, a soft sigh leaving her lips as he cradled her close and loved her in the wonderful way that only he could. When that kiss broke, she looked into his eyes and asked him the question that she desperately needed and answer to.

"Do you love me, Theo?" She asked him softly. "Or is this just a passing fancy?"

 

[KieranSoares]

Theo paused to meet her gaze to let her know he was absolutely serious. "I do love you, Val. With all my heart." That also gave him a bit of worry. "Did y'think I didn't?" He asked softly with concern in his tone.

 

[heartofcourage]

"No." Valentina said honestly as he asked her if she doubted him. "I believe you, Theo. I just needed to make sure. It's hard to give your heart to someone for the first time when you never thought something like this was possible."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Trust me... I know," Theo murmured. "It's not any easier th'second time, y'just learn t'follow yer heart rather'n bein' shy 'bout it." He gave her another smile. "Y'don't have t'be afraid, darlin'. Even if it ended up tha' we parted, I do love you fer th'amazing woman you are."

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina smile as he told her that, loving him a lot more in that moment as he confessed that he was just as cautious as she was.

"I want you to make love to me right here, Theo." Valentina whispered against his ear, confessing to him just what she was thinking. "It's magical here and all I can think about are the things that you can do to me."

 

[KieranSoares]

Theo didn't need to answer then, all too happy to oblige her wishes. Drawing her leg up to wrap about his waist, he let his hips settle into the cradle of her own. His fingers searched for the buckle on her belt and unfastened it, followed by the buttons on her shirt, one by one. his lips pressed to the underside of her jaw and he gave her a smile before murmuring, "Maybe I ought t'teach you somethin' new."