Delightful Company~ Author!EnglandxReader .15

A small, pleasured expulsion of breath left Arthur's mouth as he woke up the next morning, the chilled morning air causing goose-bumps on his exposed, pale skin. A slender hand drifted up to massage his temples, and then to rub his bleary eyes. He could easily recollect the night before, smiling softly as he rolled on to his side and stared into the face of his slumbering lover, pondering the gentle touches and sensual carresses exchanged along with heated, hungry kisses.
______ was almost submerged beneath the burgundy bed-covers, the sumptuous fabric twined in her hands and her legs tangled amongst it. It had always been a habit of his to rise before her, and he often made the most of those times; he loved nothing more than memorizing her glowing, radient face and twirling strands of her hair around his ink-stained fingers.
He remained on his side, propped up on one elbow with his eyes half-lidded in the dimly lit room. Gently, almost calculatingly tracing his fingers over her bare shoulders, the author waited patiently for her to wake up. He had begrudgingly remembered that he had to go and find Gilbert again, with the edited book, and he wanted to savour the time he had with his girl-friend. It was irritating having such an unpredictable schedule.
"Good morning, love..." He whispered lovingly when her eyes began to flutter open. A slightly dazed smile crossed the young woman's face, and she turned to face him. "Mmm...morning..." She yawned, sheilding her eyes from the blinding light of the rising sun "You're up early, aren't you?" That small smile crossed her countenance again. She herself also liked how Arthur looked in the radient light, thinking he looked so good that it was sinful. Indeed it is, she remarked internally. His shaggy golden mane looked like a halo of light, those twinkling emeralds that were his verdigris eyes luminous and adoring. His gentle hands were slightly calloused, scars and ghosts of them like miniature maps stretching across his parchment-pale shoulders and back; some were newer, but they still somehow added to how ertheral he looked. Huddling closer to him, feeling kisses being peppered to her face, she inhaled the familiar aroma of earthiness radiating from the lightly freckled skin, along with the reassuring scents of Earl Grey and washing powder. There was also the barely tangible smell of his sweat, and he tilted her face up to meet his and planted a kiss on his lips. "What are you thinking about?" Strands of blonde fell over his eyes as he tilted his head to one side in curiousity.
"You." He gave a chuckle, the sound resonating around the room and vibrating against ______'s skin as he placed a tender kiss on her hand.
"I'm nothing special~" He said, shaking his head and sitting up. "No matter what you say, I won't be convinced otherwise...you, on the other hand, are the most radient thing I've ever seen~" The two smiled, embracing tightly before getting ready to eat breakfast and get dressed.

After forcing down some slightly burned toast, Arthur realised he was nervous about the upcoming publishing of his new novel. It was on his mind, a relentless thought that wouldn't stop bugging him. His hands even almost began to shake instinctively as he tried to button up his slate-grey trousers. _______, who had been standing in the doorway nursing a glass of orange-juice, looked him up and down and gave a worried glance. "You shouldn't get yourself all worked up like this..." She said softly, placing herself on the bed beside him and wrapping her arms around him. The anxious author buried his head in the crook of her neck, reluctant to leave. "I was like this before the other books too...I'll be fine in a couple of minutes." He said, running his fingers through his hair and sighing. "It's just...well, it's like when I cook...I can do it, it's just the anxiety and the pressure makes me-"
"You'll be just fine, Gilbert's already seen it so it's not like he's going to toss it back in your face and get you to write it all over again."
"Good point..." There was a companionable silence, only filled by the steady breathing of the couple. The young Englishman let out another sigh at the realisation that Francis would be in the office too and that he'd have to put up with both his and Gilbert's banter.
"...How about you meet me afterwards and we go say hello to Alfred or something?" Arthur eventually suggested, ______ nodding. He'd fare better if he had something to take his mind off of the butterflies fluttering impetuously through his stomach.

"This is brilliant, Kirkland!" Gilbert raved, brandishing the thick stack of pages. Francis, him and Arthur were all sitting around his desk, and the German was out of his seat in excitement. Francis eventually snatched the words from his hands, reading over a few pages with a proud little smile on his face. "Gil is right, mon cher!" He acknowledged, tossing one end of his periwinkle blue scarf over his shoulder "This is, admittedly, very very good! Better than when you worked for me, too..." He smirked "I'm certain that lovely girl of yours has something to do with it, you did put her in the dedications after all~"
Arthur flushed pink, studying his hands "Well, she was a major part of my inspiration...I couldn't write anything worth keeping until we met."
"How romantic~" The Frenchman replied, placing a reassuring hand on the author's shoulder "As is this wonderful story~ I didn't know you had it in you!"
The young man looked up, inquisitive as to what would happen next "So...when is it meant to be published?" He asked, trepidation boiling within him. Gilbert eased himself back into his chair, scarlet eyes glinting "Very soon, I'm sure. Quicker than I first perhaps anticipated." He propped his feet up on the desk "Why?"
"I was wondering if I could go back to London for a while, after it was published."
"I don't see anything wrong with it, as long as you did a few interviews and such before you went. You and the girl-friend got plans or something?"
"N-No...though there is a few things that need to be sorted out. I think I've finally had an idea for what I could use some of my money for." A secretive smile crept across Arthur's countenance, both Francis and Gilbert thinking to themselves that he looked unmeasurably happy. The hopeless romantic that he was, the Frenchman immeadietly began enquiring into his former charge's personal life again.
Arthur didn't say a word, happy that his efforts had finally amounted to something.