Pen being the luckiest woman on planet earth for having a man who looks at her LIKE THAT. All teary-eyed, exuding nothing but love and worship for his wife. I'm jealous.
(if only somebody would explain to me, logically, why the fuck they didn't get to kiss after this? Who messed this up? Tom Verica? Also, I'm salty.)
In this split second, a decision of utmost importance was made. He did hesitate for a moment, saw her (probably hungry) eyes, and then decided to go for it. No turning back after that. That is my take on it. Asking her to tell him if she wished to stop was meant for the kissing part only, which was already scandalous in that unchaperoned moment.
We all need to take more time to appreciate Colin Bridgerton and the details of his sexy dream. In his brain, the ultimate fantasy involves
him walking to Penelope in a new (fully imagined) dress/nightgown as he is cravatless, shirt undone, in her garden in the mist
an APOLOGY to her for how late it is, and that he just HAD to see her (Colin Bridgerton out here putting the man in manners)
STUTTERING through a confession of how much he's been thinking of her ("I rehearsed that speech for hours")
The mist dissipating and turning into flames around them like candlelight (he's a WRITER!!!!!! the metaphors. the VIBES)
Her reply that she ALSO can't stop thinking of him or their kiss (consent KING)
The two of them passionately smooching as he presses her against a wall (they like it rough)
Cushioning the back of her head with his hand as she grabs onto his arm for dear life (but also tender)
Very loud moaning from her as he kisses over her neck and chest (praise kink! praise kink! praise kink!)
and then my man woke up in a SWEAT. chest HEAVING. cheeks RED. from one of the most romantic PG-13 wet dreams possible. this is the guy who was having threesomes like half an episode ago and now he's blushy blushy over the idea of Pen having feelings for him and them smoochin' about it. and you wanna tell me he's NOT the best Bridgerton Boy??? puhlease!!! 11/10, ultimate fave, sign him up for an AO3 account posthaste