A lovely friend shared the most gorgeous photograph with me today and it instantly made me think of this pentadrabble I wrote for Doc-cember, of Lyra and Harvey's wedding. I thought I'd share it here. Thank you so much @lumineve-isonline for bringing back such a lovely memory. I think this might be one of my favourite snippets I've ever written.
It was her laugh, as she read beside him, that captured him in the memory. All light and beauty and suddenly he was back in the moment.
She giggled, fingers flexing by her sides. He glanced up with a smile from where he knelt before her, saw her eyes close as her teeth pressed against her bottom lip. His chest swelled as a wave of warm adoration rushed through his body.
'Shall I continue, Mrs Dalton?' His heart squeezed as he said it aloud for the first time.
She looked down at him, a blush dusting her cheeks. 'Please⦠Yes, please Doctor Dalton.' A rush of goosebumps swept over his skin at her soft voice.
Looking down, he pressed the fingertips of both hands to her calf, sweeping teasingly slowly up her leg, the gossamer fabric of her dress parting, cascading gently to reveal a shimmering garter of white lace flowers wrapped around her thigh.
Before he ascended further, he placed a kiss on her knee, drawn up gracefully, her foot perched on a small stool. He heard her gasp, taking a moment to glance up into her sparkling eyes.
'I love you so much.' He offered it to her like a prayer.
'Oh Harvey⦠I love you too.' Her voice was whisper quiet.
Her skin was warm and soft beneath his fingertips, and he paused once more before continuing his path, smiling at the unbelievable revelation that she was now his wife. His beautiful Lyra, His Stardust.
Time seemed to slow, blissful seconds passing with each inch of exquisite skin he caressed, his touch featherlight as he resisted the urge to press his fingers a little more firmly into her flesh, his desire for her curling through his restraint, building a delicious longing.
He ran his fingers along the edge of the fabric, following the flowers around the curve of her thigh, his heart throbbing in his chest to feel her shudder as he hooked his fingertips beneath the lace of the garter, looking up once more.
'For you.' She sighed dreamily.
Her lips parted with stuttered breath as he began to drag it down.
'You're perfect.' He murmured against her skin, pressing another kiss to her knee as he slid the circle of lace flowers further down.
He met her gaze with a tender smile. Soon enough, he'd press his lips to where the garter had rested against her skin. He'd take his time, those small glittering flowers placed reverently by his side, shining against cotton sheets, undressing her in a delicate ritual, uncovering her with care and devotion. He'd worship every inch of her, he'd touch every freckle, he'd drown in her eyes. He'd give her his kiss, his body, his love.
He smiled, opening his nightstand, hands falling to the small pink box. He opened the lid to reveal the sparkling white garter resting on a bed of satin and he allowed himself a moment to slip back into his dream.
If you want to read this and the other Doc-cember prompts on AO3, you can find them here in These Little Intermissions.
Thank you as always to @saradika-graphics for the beautiful dividers.
And thank you once again to @voideydew for coming up with Doc-cember. It was so inspirational and I thoroughly loved it!