First Kiss

by Peg

September 2002, Firthness Challenge Entry

Rated PG

Author's Note: Hi there, after I could easily find a beta reader - thank you melly!!! I have to pluck up some courage to actually post my story. It's my first try at fanfic. So I stuck with the original setting, it's a regency story with a more self-confident Darcy, now that he knows she will be his... I hope you like it. Here it goes (if I can manage the technical details...)

It was the second day of their engagement. Both parents had given their consent and the joyful time of courtship stretched out ahead of them.

Bingley and Darcy had asked their fiancés for a walk. And as the gentlemen had agreed on their way to Longbourn, they'd start off together but separate soon.

Darcy and Elizabeth were dawdling on their way into Meryton. They were walking a few inches apart not yet used to the intimacy they were entitled to. Elizabeth was a little flustered in his presence. "It seems so unreal, this whole situation. I would not have dreamt things might turn out this."

"I did!" Darcy stated.

"Did you? You never gave the impression of having a fancy for happy endings," she teased him.

"I don't, but I've always fancied you!" and with this he took her hand. They came to a halt and he slowly brought her hand to his lips and kissed it gently, looking in her eyes while he did so. She could not hold his gaze for long, being afraid of giving too much away. Her knees getting weaker, she suddenly pulled her hand back.

"I'm sorry," he sighed.

"No, no, you must not be sorry. It's just; well... we'll never make it into Meryton at that pace."

"I don't care where we are, as long as we're together." He took a hold of her hand again and placed it in the crook of his arm. Her breathing became quicker but when they moved on at a steady pace, it soon found a good rhythm again. Her excitement eventually was overshadowed by a most comfortable feeling of being protected from all the evils of the world by this picture of a man walking by her side.

She tried to glance at him because they had been silent now for quite a while. She wanted to find out if he looked as comfortable as she felt. One of the many times that she tried to catch a glimpse of his expression, he just happened to look at her too. He smiled, actually beamed, with happiness, and made her feel like bursting with happiness as well.

"Have you got a mistress?" The question just shot out of her mouth. Damn!!! This thought - just as it entered her mind it was out of her mouth!!! God, what must he think of me! The blood shot into her face immediately and she looked away, biting her lips. Darcy looked over to her, waiting for her to face him again.

He wore a little confused expression and when they had walked another couple of steps, and she still had not faced him, he stopped. Elizabeth, bright red, looked at him quickly and then studied the symmetry of his shoulders. "I don't know what I've said and why I've said it. I didn't think at all! It came just out of my mouth by itself." Darcy took her arm away from his but kept holding her hand. He took her other hand as well and pulled her closer. Elizabeth dared a short look at him and then held her gaze shyly downwards. Both of her hands he laid on his chest and held them there. She could feel his heartbeat.

She looked at his hands holding hers when he spoke. "I do know about the art of lovemaking, Lizzy. I haven't got a mistress and will never have one. For if I have you, no other women in the world can matter to me. You are the dearest, loveliest creature I ever beheld. I love you, Elizabeth." She looked at him. "And if you don't feel ready for any kind of physical attentions I'll give you as much time as you need." The huge embarrassment she felt just a moment ago was washed away by the same feelings that had also weakened her knees. She was glad he held her hands, because she needed every bit of support to not, literally, fall for this man.

"I will endure the time of waiting as best I can, and not for propriety but for you, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth looked at him as though hypnotized; she tried to speak but couldn't get a word out. She didn't know what to say anyway so she just kept looking into his eyes hoping he would find some statement within her intense gaze, like her longing for some physical attentions. His lips were so lovingly smiling. And when her gaze was locked at his mouth for quite a while and her lips started quivering, he finally got the hint. He placed her hands in one of his still holding them on his chest. She could feel his heartbeat quicken while he slowly bent down to her. His other hand moved to her shoulder, barely touching her skin. Like tracing over a most delicate blossom, his hand made its way to her neck. Her skin was tingling and hot. By the time his hand reached the back of her neck his mouth was very close. She could feel his breath and was dying to taste his lips. But his mouth moved to her cheek, placing the tenderest of kisses there. He moved to her ear. "Loveliest," he breathed, gently tilted her head and moved slowly to her mouth, until their lips met. Elizabeth freed one of her hands gently from his grip, entwining her fingers with his, while the kiss deepened. She brought her free hand to his cheek and gently caressed it. She heard him groan and felt him cradling the back of her neck while the kiss continued and deepened even more. Only an approaching coach could bring them back into this world...

Copyright held by Peg - 2002