Crossing Into Forever

Chapter 46

Outside it was a beautiful bright and sunny day and the temperatures were at the warmest since before fall had set in last year. This was the first day that she could remember like this, and Ella couldn't wait to go outside and enjoy the beauty of it all. She had been stuck mostly inside for the past several months for one reason or another. It had been cold and very rainy during the winter months, not to mention a blinding snowstorms. She had also been forbidden from going out without a chaperone, because of the dangers that Erebus posed. Now that she was married, Erebus was no longer a threat, and she was overjoyed with the new freedoms that she had been granted. There were still rules in place. She was still forbidden from entering any of the woods without Nicholas, but that didn't bother her. She had no reason or need to go into those woods anymore. As she stood at her closet, peering in and trying to decide what she wanted to wear, Nicholas walked up behind her and put his arms around her giving her a kiss on the cheek. She let out a small giggle and turned around, wrapping her arms around his neck. He squeezed her tight while picking her up a small distance from the floor. He placed her back down as she gave him a small kiss on the lips and then turned around to continue the task at hand.

"I think I'll wear shorts today" she spoke halfway to herself and halfway to him.

"Do you realize there is still a slight chill in the air?"

"I'm going to wear a long sleeve heavy shirt with them." She answered in a cheery voice as she pulled the garments from the closet. "Now what was it you had to do today? When will you be finished? I'm going to meet the girls in the courtyard, and we are going to walk around the entire school. I wonder how far that is", she was mumbling the question more to herself. "So, I was thinking that when we get done, maybe you will be finished with your meetings or whatever it is that you are doing, and we can go on a picknick. Do you think you will be finished in time? I hope the weather stays warm enough that we can do something outside together when you're done." She chattered on, in a happy mood. As she continued to talk about the day's plans, she undressed from her nightgown and was walking around for a moment in her panties and no bra. It made him happy that she obviously felt comfortable being naked around him now. She had come a long way since their first meeting. He couldn't help but grab her as she walked by and pulled her to him. He gave her a passionate kiss this time, different from the playful kisses that they had shared earlier. She immediately got that butterfly feeling deep in her belly that she had become very familiar with. She stopped her chatter, and her eyes were heavy as she leaned in and pressed her body against his, as he was leaning against the bed. She had goosebumps on her skin as she was enjoying his passionate kisses. At that moment he stopped his kisses and looked up at her and sighed.

"I'm afraid we must continue this later today." She couldn't help but show her disappointment and mumbled some words about something not being fair. She couldn't hide the smile that came across her face as she finished grumbling, and he popped her on the butt. "I've got to discuss something with professor Findlay today and then I have a make-up lab today with a few students."

"Oh, well I hope we can still spend some time together outside before it gets too late" she said sounding hopeful.

"I think we will be able to arrange something. I should be done with the lab around 1:00 and I should be out of my office by 2:00 at the latest."

By now she was dressed in her shorts and an oversized sweatshirt. She was going exclusively for comfort while she was walking with her friends. A pair of tennis shoes completed her outfit. "Well, I will see you then, but I should hurry up and get to the courtyard. They are probably waiting for me. We think it will take a couple of hours to walk the property, so I'll be waiting for you when you're done." She gave him another quick kiss. "I love you so much and I can't wait to see you later this afternoon." She called back as she walked out the door and shut it behind her.