The Light in My Darkness ||Ominis Gaunt X OC||

Chapter 6

Content Warning: Light spicy ahead! Mostly kissing, nothing crazy.

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"May I touch you?” His voice, smooth and soft, fills the cabin’s hush, vibrating through the still air like a low note on the piano.

Charlotte’s heart jolts, and she releases a strangled gasp, the plate she holds clattering against the table with a dull thud. She quickly grasps his hand near her ear and spells one simple word.

“What?”

He stumbles, his confident tone unraveling. “Ah, well, erm… You see, I can’t- I don’t know what you look like. Well, obviously not. But I was hoping to touch your face, to sort of map your features. I- I’m sorry. It’s stupid.” His hand starts to withdraw, his face flushing red, but Charlotte holds it fast.

A nervous laugh slips from her, surprising even herself. She shifts on the cushion, turning to face him. Maybe, just maybe, this could be a step forward. She guides his hand back up, pressing it to her cheek.

His expression changes, embarrassment fading into focused curiosity. His brow furrows slightly as his fingertips explore her high cheekbones. He moves slowly, as if each touch is a step deeper into unknown territory. His other hand rises, cradling her jaw. The contact feels like the promise of something- something that makes her breath quicken.

His fingers glide along her tapered jawline, then hover near her lips. She remembers their kiss from earlier that morning- a kiss that had been chaste and brief, as proper as their wedding ceremony. Her tongue darts out to wet her lower lip, and his thumb brushes the moisture. His breath catches, and his eyes, glazed but intense, seem to darken.

The tension stretches between them, thick and suffocating. His thumb lingers, tracing the curve of her bottom lip, pulling it down slightly as if testing its softness. Charlotte’s stomach flips, a shiver of warmth coiling there, and her breath comes out in a shudder.

Ominis pauses, breaking the trance. His thumb moves up, tracing her upper lip, skimming over her cupid’s bow, before trailing along her small nose. She closes her eyes, feeling the light touch as his fingers move higher, skimming her eyelashes.

“You have such long lashes,” he murmurs. “What color are your eyes?”

She takes his hand again, guiding his fingers into her palm. “Blue,” she spells slowly.

“What kind of blue?”

She hesitates before writing, “Dark. Ocean.”

A silence lingers between them. Her eyes are one of her favorite features, a deep, stormy blue. They would always be a mystery to him. For a moment, the loss feels like a small ache.

His fingers rest on her cheeks, and she opens her eyes, finding his face downcast, his brow furrowed as if in deep thought. She reaches out instinctively, pressing her fingers to the crease between his brows. He softens, lifting his milky gaze to meet hers.

“You are beautiful,” he whispers, and his fingers trail down to her neck, then her arms, before finally holding her hands. He lifts one, pressing a kiss against her knuckles, his lips warm and soft.

Heat flares in her cheeks. Her pulse quickens. There’s a tenderness in his touch that twists something deep inside her, a sweetness she never expected. Maybe, just maybe, he isn’t as cold as she once thought.

She tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear, turning back to the sandwiches to steady her racing heart.

Carefully, she lifts a cucumber and cream sandwich to his lips. He jerks slightly, surprised, before taking a bite. A hum of approval vibrates in his throat as he chews, and she finds herself watching, captivated. Even this, the simplest act of him eating, feels graceful.

“That’s delicious,” he says after swallowing. “What else is there?”

She feeds him an open-faced biscuit with smoked salmon and cream next. His expression changes as he tastes it, and she catches the slight grimace.

She writes “Scone?” in his palm, and he nods.

“Yes, with clotted cream and jam, please.”

A smile tugs at her lips as she prepares the warm scone. There’s a joy in caring for him, in these small gestures. She hands him half and watches as he eats, feeling a sense of connection she hadn’t expected.

Their tastes in things are similar. Charlotte wonders what else they share.

As she takes a bite herself, she notices a bit of cream near his mouth. Without thinking, she reaches up, wiping it away. His reaction is immediate. His lips part, and he catches her thumb, sucking the cream off.

Her heart stutters. His mouth is warm, his tongue grazing her skin, and a tremor of heat shoots through her. She tries to steady her breathing, but the intensity of the moment holds her captive.

Oh, good lord. Her stomach is performing acrobatics.

Her mind races with all manner of indecent thoughts. How can this man be so unbelievably attractive at the smallest gestures.

As he releases her thumb, a thin string of saliva trails between them, snapping as it breaks.

Something snaps within her as well. Her thoughts blur, and she leans forward, pressing her lips to his.

He groans, startled, but his hands quickly move to her waist, pulling her closer. Her body responds instinctively, straddling him as she deepens the kiss.

His lips part for her, and his tongue brushes hers, teasing and exploring. His hands tighten on her hips, and a shiver of pleasure races down her spine.

Tugging her hips against his, a heavy moan falls from his lips. He quickly takes control of the kiss, nipping at her for more access. She grants it to him, and his tongue worms its way deeper into her mouth.

Her head is swimming as she presses closer against him. Who knew kissing could be so mind-numbing?

Charlotte can't help the strangled moan that leaves her mouth as his lips consume her. This changes something in Ominis as his arms snake fully around her, grabbing the sides of her corset and pulling her impossibly closer.

His mouth moves from her lips to her neck, burying his face there. Charlotte is left panting as he noses under the collar of her shirt to plant kisses along that sensitive area.

Instinctively, Charlotte arches her back, pressing up into his mouth. Ominis hisses against her neck, hips jerking upwards as he fists her skirt tightly.

Charlotte can't breathe from the overwhelming pleasure. She tries to pull away, needing air, but Ominis won't let go. His teeth scraped against the junction of her neck and shoulder.

She pushes at the man's chest, but his grip is tight and unyielding. The sharp teeth on her neck bite down hard.

A cry tears from her throat, and she slaps his shoulder, forcing him to release her. She scrambles back, pressing herself against the opposite side of the carriage.

Gasping for air, her fingers tremble as she touches the throbbing spot on her neck, tears stinging her eyes.

Why did he hurt her? That's not how it's supposed to be. It's supposed to be tender and pleasurable. That's what all her books have said.

She steals a glance at Ominis. His eyes are downcast and stormy as he stares unseeing into the carpet. His cheeks and ears are flushed ref, and his lips are  slightly swollen and wet.

She was sure she looked much the same.

He turns away, hand running through his messy hair as he faces the window.

Her heart sinks. All the progress they’d made, all the tentative steps toward understanding - gone. She curls into herself, struggling to keep the tears at bay.

They were doing so well.

~~~

Ohhhhhh things are getting heated! There is a lot more of that to come!

Let me know your thoughts!

What would you like to see as their relationship grows?

Love ya! <3