Hello, hun.
May I request this prompt: “I think I’m in love with you and I’m terrified.” With John Thornton, please. ❤️❤️❤️
Confession
Fandom: North and South Ship/Pairing: John Thornton x Reader Trope: Admission of love/Engaged Note: Sorry for the delay @fizzyxcustard I hope it suits you ;). Warnings: N/A Word count: 847 words Tag-list: @heilith @asgardianhobbit98 @middleearthpixie @glassgulls @evenstaredits @fizzyxcustard @sotwk
« You don’t understand, do you? How your constant presence is… You can not possibly understand how I feel… You don’t seem to care for anything else but your reputation and your business!»
M. Thornton was a man of patience and composure. He’d never lost his temper easily. Not even with you. So, when he came to you for the millionth time that week seeking advice and you had got mad, he’d kept his wits to himself. Today, though, he would not keep quiet any longer.
« I beg to differ. — What…? »
Your voice turned weak in your throat. He was looking anywhere but at you, clasping and unclasping his fingers around the arms of his chair.
« I do not care only for many employees nor my reputation… »
While you were still standing in front of him, he kept his stare on the window. How fantastic that the man you were engaged to was more interested in the blossoms outside than he was with yourself. The irony bit a nasty mark on your mind.
« If that was all… — I was not finished. »
Finally, he looked up at you. The depths of his eyes revealed themselves to you as they never did before.
« I care for other things, you know. »
His hand reached for yours. He placed a chaste kiss on your knuckles. Fixated on the delicate skin there, he did not see your breathing accelerating or your eyes widening. His breath tickled your hand as he spoke.
« I care for our union. More than you know. »
That made you pull your hand back, and you started pacing the room once more.
« See? You only refer to this… »
You toyed with your engagement ring.
« As a union or marriage at best… As if you do not have more in this than money or reputation… »
You bit your lip, looking at the floor. The restlessness when he was around would not stop.
« What do you mean? »
The words got stuck as he got up to reach for you. He had not taken a step. You were already distancing yourself from him. Your arms crossed over your chest, head held high. It was your turn to admire the view outside your house.
« I mean that… »
You licked your lips. John feared the worst. Had you fallen for someone and wanted to break the engagement? Had he been this reckless?
« I think I’m in love with you and I’m terrified… »
This time, he did stop when you stepped back. His hands found the edges of your throat, resting there. In an instant, he was kissing you, slowly. The warmth of his lips left you burning from head to toe. Your palms were secured around him. A weak way of keeping him closer. When you finally caught your breath, your eyes remained closed. You were afraid.
« Please, look at me. »
Then you did. His eyes were blown as if he was seeing light for the first time. His thumb kept drawing small patterns against the apple of your cheek. You did not want to break the moment. You stayed there, in limbo, between the real impact of his past actions and the tangible feelings his present actions were leaving behind. Jhon did not utter a word either. He kept licking his lips, willing himself to speak. Silent, yes, of course. Keeping his thoughts to himself as usual. In that instant, everything he wanted to say, every word, felt worthless compared to how he felt. Having you in his arms, knowing you loved him, was more than enough. It should have been. He wanted to carry the feelings inside of him directly to you. Bringing you closer, his lips brushed your brow; Your hands settled higher on his arms. You could sense his tension all the way into your body. You wanted to look at him, but he wasn’t looking at you.
« John… »
He did not respond, even when you looked at him. His mouth opened under the weights of words you didn’t know where there.
« I… I think I’m in love with you too… »
He did not « think ». He knew. He had known all along. That’s why when your fingers reached his lips, he held out a breath, his hooded eyes encapsulating you when he leaned down to kiss you. You met him halfway, the soft embrace of his arms feverishly gripping and grasping your body. You both smiled into it, chuckling and laughing in bliss. There was no other feeling like it in the whole world. That is until Fanny opened the door.
« How long is this… »
Mortified, you were about to step away when John brought you closer. He was hiding you from prying eyes. Hers as well as the world’s. Fanny laughed, overjoyed.
« Finally! Mother, you owe me! They’ve finally kissed! »
She left the door wide open as she left.
« We are never going to hear the end of this, are we? — I fear so, yes. »
John smiled again, and it felt as if the whole world could not be strong enough to keep you from kissing this man. And it wasn’t.
