MmmmmmMonday - Displaced

Happy New Year, lovelies!!!

As I was searching for today's lemon, I began thinking about all the things I wish for both myself and my readers in the new year. Yes, yes, there's health, wealth and wisdom. And of course, I wouldn't be a Lemon Sister if I didn't wish for steamy hot sex. But there is one thing that I'm wishing for us all of us to have a little more of: romance.

Whether or not you're lucky enough to have found your own personal Edward (or Jasper...or Emmett...or Carlisle...or, well, you get the idea) no relationship suffers from an additional dose of romance.

Dear Lord, I promise I will be a VERY good girl this year as long as I can have some combination of the above!

So with that thought in mind I present to you this year's very first MmmmmmMonday recommendation: Displaced by algonquinrt.

This story is so wonderful. I laughed and teared up and was transported to another time, all of which must have been the author's goals since it was written for (and was a winner in) the Age of Edward contest that took place over the summer last year. The concept behind the story is sort of a Twilight meets Far and Away scenario, where Edward, a good Irish boy finally joining his family in America, comes to the aid of Bella, a Polish girl all on her own and having trouble entering the country. Overcoming the obstacles of nationality and language in order to fall in love, their story will have your heart aching for their wedding day.

“Bella? You understand we're to be married?”

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Edward, could you be any less romantic? She turned to face me again, and her eyes seemed even sadder.

“No, Ed-vard. No marry.”

I found her denial made me angrier than me da's demand to marry her. I may not have offered her a romantic proposal, but why would the girl not want to marry me?

“Bella, vihj-jeesh za minyeh?” I asked her usin' the Polish, offerin' me ma's ring, hopin' it was only the delivery that set things awry.

“No, Ed-vard. No marry.”

She was much more insistent the second time, and I found I was bereft. What was I to tell me da? So much for the banns, the girl said no?

“Why?” I asked her, plaintive as a wee child.

“Ed-vard, marry... ah... love.”

Me heart broke, but I wasn't sure for whom it was breakin'. Was she waitin' for her true love, or was she expectin' that I should be waitin' for me own instead?

'Til then, I'd been speakin' slowly and deliberately, so she could understand as much as possible, but me next words flew out in a blur.

“Bella, me ma and da weren't in love when they married, and it seems to have turned out fine for them. I'm afraid of what might happen to you, and, if I'm honest, to me family, if we don't get married. I do find you beautiful, and interestin', and I hope in time I might come to love you, much as me ma and da have. Please, Bella, will you marry me?”

She was starin' at me by the end of me long speech, her head tilted as she tried to understand what all I might have said to her.

“Pocałujesz mnie?” she asked.

I struggled, sortin' through the few Polish words I'd learned. Po-sa-wu... Did the girl just ask me to kiss her?

“Kiss?” I blurted out. “You want to kiss me?”

For the first time, I really watched her as she blushed, seein' the bright pink as it lit up her face. This time, I swore there'd be no interruptions, and I leaned toward her, givin' her ample opportunity to flee if this wasn't what she'd meant.

I'd imagined kissin' her more times than I should admit to outside the confessional, but was still expectin' a chaste kiss, no more than a brief brush of me lips against hers. That is, that's what I'd expected until me lips finally did meet hers.

She'd closed her eyes and jutted her chin out, offerin' me her closed lips. Mine were slightly parted as they met hers, takin' one last breath before I dared to kiss her. When our mouths met, me heart stopped beatin' for a moment, then came back to life with a heavy thud. Unable to stop meself, I moved me lips over hers, addin' more pressure that she met as well. I heard her breath grow faster, and dared move me hand to the side of her neck as our mouths met again and again. Her hands moved to me shoulders, then crept around to the back of me neck, curlin' into me hair. Truly, I'd never felt so tempted, and without thought, me tongue darted out and licked her bottom lip. She gasped, and the sound brought me back to me senses. This was no whore; this was the woman I was to marry, and I was treatin' her no better than a woman of ill repute.

I pulled back from her and nearly lost all sense of propriety. Her eyes were still closed and her face flushed. Her lips were red as cherries and swollen from our kisses, and I knew if I didn't step away from her then, I'd be lost.

Her eyes fluttered open as I backed away, and she looked at me, hurt and confused.

“Ah, Bella,” I stammered. “I, ah, shouldn't, ah...”

I couldn't bear the look in her eyes.

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Bella, that was... I've never... that was simply amazin'.”

Whether it was me words or the sentiment behind them, I had no idea, but she gave me a great smile and reached for me hand. I realized I still had me ma's ring in the other hand, and dropped to one knee, offerin' her the ring again.

“Bella, would you do me the honor of bein' me wife?” I asked, hopin' this time she would accept.

She smiled again, and accepted the ring.

“Yes, Ed-vard. Marry you.”

I slipped me ma's ring onto her finger, and exhaled. Suddenly, the idea of marryin' this girl wasn't as frightenin' as it had been.

Go check it out and get your swoon on for the week.