Red Haired Beauty (wattys2016)

Chapter 8: A Promise

*edited*

" Grace!" John called loudly as he walked quickly over to the cliff's edge, where Grace was standing. She turned her gaze to him as he broke out from the forest lining with a large smile on his lips, causing Grace to smile back.

" John, your here." She breathed out as she walked over to John, instantly pulled him into a warm embrace. John snaked his arms around her waist as she intwined her fingers of her right hand into his long black hair, while her left hand held the middle of his shoulder blades. She wore her blue dress and allowed her red hair to hang freely down her back with a few curls here an there, but most of it straight. John took in a deep breath, pulling back to smile down at her while moved a piece of her long hair back behind her ear.

" I have something for you. A gift." He told her reaching into his coat pocket, he rummaged around until he finally pulled out a long golden chain.

" I remember you saying you enjoyed simple things rather than them been intricate." He whispered as he took her hand into his and placed the gold chain onto the soft pale skin. Hanging from the thin chain was a deep green gem, shaped as a droplet of water. She ran her finger over the smooth surfaced gem which was no bigger then a coin.

" It is beautiful." She smiled with a softened face, happy he had found such a gem.

" Indeed, a beautiful necklace for a beautiful woman." He smiled down to her before placing his right hand onto the side of her face, her red locks brushing against his fingers. She smiled leaning into his warm touch but kept her eyes down on the smooth, shining gem stone.

" Here. Let me help you put it on." John said, reaching for the pendent gently from her hand and moved Grace around so her back was facing him. Grace reached up and pulled her hair to the side, giving him a easy passage to pull on the chain. His warm fingers tickled over her skin sending shocking waves through her, as he slipped it on her neck and clipped it in place. John's fingers lingering over the naked skin of her upper back gently after the chain was fastened, sending fire rushing through her whole being at every silk touch of his warm finger. He felt an instant urge to kiss her back softly but bit his lips to stop his thoughts turning into actions. Grace gently pivoted on her feet as a hand trailed down the pendant, fixing it into place, as she lifted her head up to look at John; who was gazing at her with pure unconditional love.

"Exquisite." John muttered looking at the beauty before him, thinking that he would awake from this wonderful dream which he had strayed into.

"Do you think." Grace asked looking down at the necklace that hung just down under the collar for her blue dress.

" Oh, believe me. I have never seen anything more delightfully charming." John spoke of not the necklace, but of Grace. His eyes never once looked down at the jewel resting upon her neck. For his jewel was a lot taller and more fair to the eye than even the most precious of all stones.

"Shall we?" John said turning slightly so his side was facing Grace as he extended a bent elbow to her. He never took his eyes off her blue orbs at all, too sacred that if he did look away; she would disappear. Grace smiled with a nod and linked her right arm through his bent arm as they began their quick decent down to the beach below the cliff.

" There is something of which you should know before we continue any further with our courting." John said as their boots hit the sandy beach, the white sand and shells crunching under their steps. Grace looked to him with worry in her eyes at the impending words that were soon to follow his last. John could not help but chuckle upon seeing such an expression upon her fair face.

"Do not worry, it is nothing grave. Well, that depends really upon how you look at it." John laughed with a soft smile upon his lips, which brought a smile onto her own. They began to walk down to where the sea rolled up in white and blue over the sand.

"I have a sister. She is two and twenty and was married just over a year ago. She currently lives in London with her husband; who is still in the army himself. I write to her but I have not seen her since she moved not long after the wedding." John informed her of the only living family which he had left in this world.

" I see." Grace smiled a thankful smile that John had shared to her the knowledge of his family. John sighed dropping his eyes to the ground and continued to walk on along the edge of the pulling and pushing waves.

" What about yourself? Any siblings?" He asked, John watched as her smiling face fell.

" Once, I did. A younger brother. But he died a week after being born." Grace told him and John fell silent, regretting that he even asked her of the clearly touchy subject.

" I am sorry. Had I known." Josh began as he stopped and turned to face her as she did as well.

" You would have found out at some point." Grace smiled to him as they stared to each other longingly. The sound of the sea rippling over the sand sounded so softly into their ears as Grace felt her heart rate escalating by the moment. There was still a small amounts of fog from the day before, but you could still see clear enough to venture out. Grace looked at the man in front of her. His black curling hair fell down to just below his ears. He wore a deep brown coat with a dark green vest coat on top of a white shirt as well as a white cravat around his neck. He also wore tight light brown trouser that reach high up his waist before the best coat. His old deep brown leather boots strapped high to his knees.

" Catch me." Grace muttered with a smile.

" Sorry?" John asked unable to hear her words.

" Catch me." Grace smiled largely as she turned and ran off away from him at speed as she picked her dress up at the front and ran. Her hair flying behind her as she rushed through the mist with John close behind laughing brightly. Grace looked behind him and smiled as she kept on running as he was not too far behind her; catching up to her fast. It was not long before John reached her as he grabbed her waist and lifted her to a stop. Grace let out a laughing squeal as John held her closely before placing her back down and spinning her too face him. Her face was hot and red from the amount of running as she took deep breaths. She giggled as she looked up at the man she had fallen painstakingly in love with.

" Such wonder of beauty." John whispered as he could only utter words of the utmost to describe Grace. John reached his right hand up and took ahold of her chin between his thumb and index finger; tilting her chin gently upwards. His thumb tracing her lower lips that the softest silk even paled in comparison too. The world ceased in existence and his eyes filtered to her lip and then back. Leaning in softly, he looked to her one more time for permission to continue his actions; receiving it by closed eyes. He moved the last distance and placed his lips upon her own. In a split second; to what felt forever, he pulled away leaving the smallest of space possible between them.

John moved his left hand swiftly with speed to behind her neck and pulled her lips back onto his own once again. Grace's hands moved and gripped onto his coat only to pull him closer as they simultaneously opened their lips to allow each other access to explore. John's right hand trailed down and slipping around her waist, pulling her impossibly closer. He tasted sweet to Grace as he left no area of her unexplored; claiming her as his very own. The kiss was fiery yet calm, harsh but lovingly; body and soul, they joined completely. The world all but vanished as they shared this intimate moment together. John pulled reluctantly away from her lips, his heaven; opening his eyes to look upon the blushing belle before him.

" Promise me something, Grace." John growled lowly in a protective and possessive manner.

" Anything." Grace spoke to him in a flustered breathless manner from the kiss moments ago, with her eyes still held closed.

" Never give another man such pleasure, as you have just gifted me with." He told her more in a demanding way of possessiveness. Grace sucked in a breath as her eyes reached his dark lust filled eyes.

" If you can promise me the same." Grace asked him as she inched closer to him. The thought of him with another woman caused her to ache in her heart, something she wished he would never do.

" I would never dream of such. Only you hold my heart." John whispered as his hot breath and soft skin brushed against her lips.

" Then... It is a promise." Grace whispered as they indulged themselves into another tender and loving kiss as the wind blew gently past them. They pulled closer for warmth against the cold gently wind. Basking in each other's beings, wishing this moment together would never come to an end.