Anna quickly left Lady Mary's room and ran to find Mr. Bates.
She discovered him in their usual spot in the courtyard. Enjoying the night air, he rose quickly to greet his lovely, but out of breath new wife. "Anna? What is it?"
"Nothing. Nothing is wrong." She was nearly laughing with gleeful bliss, "its just that I have the most wonderful news," her eyes wide and happy.
He smiled, grabbing hold of her hands, calming her. "Catch your breath first", he laughed, peering down at her softly, enjoying her excitement.
She looked up into his expectant face, barely able to form words through her beaming smile, "there is something surprising and beautiful waiting for us."
He smiled confidently, squinting his eyes in anticipation, "tell me."
"As soon as you can, quietly go upstairs and meet me in the Highclere guest room."
He tilted his head intrigued, "what do you mean?"
"Lady Mary had Jane prepare the room as our bridal suite for the night." Her eyes glistened.
John answered with a tremendous smile, "That is the most wonderful news"... "how gracious of her to offer this to us."
Anna was nearly giddy, "and to think we were resigned to spend this glorious night alone, apart from one another." Anna squeezed her new husband's hands "meet me there soon, I'll be waiting for you."
As she turned away in a flurry of urgency, John grabbed hold of her arm, pulling her swiftly back to him. "Anna." He hesitated a moment and casting a look of tenderness, met her eyes once more. " I can hardly wait...but first, let me steal one kiss from my wife," and quickly seized her lips for a lingering and intoxicating moment.
They paused,marveling at each other, desire welling in their eyes. John couldn't stop smiling at his new bride. Anna drew a hard breath after such an affectionate kiss. Then biting her lip, she smiled eagerly at him. "I'll be anxiously waiting for more of thatMr. Bates."
Reluctantly he released her as Anna slowly backed away, and then turning, she swiftly disappeared into darkness. John's eyes followed for as long as he could see her silhouette. Looking up into the sky he smiled while whispering a prayer. "I know I am undeserving of her love, but with every fiber of my being, thank you for this beautiful creature." And with that, he returned quietly to the servants' entry, climbed up the back stairwell and entered secretly into the other end of the house.
John discreetly and quickly moved through the long hallway into the secluded guest chambers, where no one was staying and far away from everyone else in the house. A dim light glimmered from beneath the bedroom door where Anna had instructed him to meet her. John knocked quietly before slowly opening the door. He peered in tentatively to discover the room softly lit by a perimeter of candles, and smelling of sweet blossoming flowers.
Upon entering the room and quietly closing the door behind him, he removed his jacket and laid it down length wise against the door. Wanting to guarantee absolute privacy for his long awaited wedding night with Anna, he used his jacket as a prop to shield any light from shining out into the hall.
He called to her in a whisper, "Anna?"
She responded to him from the bath, "Is that you Mr. Bates?"
Looking toward the small door at the opposite end of the room, he smiled wondering to himself when she would finally start calling him John.
"Yes, I'm here," he responded, his voice carried his soft smile to her.
"I'll be right there, I've left wine near the fire," speaking only loud enough for him to hear.
John's eyes wandered about as he admired the room with gratefulness. Then walking slowly toward a small table where he found red wine with two glasses, he began to pour into one.
Warmed by the kindling fire and the anticipation of fulfilling his deepest desires that night, he pulled open his tie and removed his waistcoat.
Sitting in an armchair enjoying the wine, the glow of the fire filled the room enhancing the romanticism of the evening. With his heart beating anxiously, John waited patiently for his bride to reveal herself to him.
A few moments later, the door to the bathroom opened and John held his breath as Anna gracefully emerged wearing white silk. Her robe long and covering a knee-length nightgown. Her long blonde hair flowing freely and gracefully down her back, just the way he had imagined it on so many lonely nights in his room. Clearly enamored, John stood up from the chair slowly and quietly canvassed her while placing the wine glass down on the table.
Anna smiled nervously, shrugged her shoulders and nearly begged him, " say something."With a slow deep breath, John spoke softly. " You are more lovely than I ever imagined this moment when I dreamed of you."
She blushed with amusement and walked quickly toward him. John reached his hand toward hers, never looking away from her face. His eyes glistening as he gently took hold of her fingers in his with the request, "let me memorize this moment, so I may cherish it, come what may." Then pulling her hand up to his lips, he placed a soft kiss upon the delicate skin of her wrist. Inhaling the intoxicating perfume she placed there only moments ago – the very same scent that had caused him to suffer his desire for her all these years.
They slowly embraced as John took Anna up, lifting her in his arms, bringing her level with his eyes. She gathered his hair in her hands while carefully sliding her fingers through the back of his head, their eyes glistening together now in the light of the fire as fresh emotions erupted.
Anna marveled at his gentle strength, enthralled that she never considered how strong he must really be. Holding her in place with little effort, her feet dangling below her. It excited her to feel him holding her in this way.
"Mr. Bates", she began apprehensively, "I must confess to you, I am...a little nervous."
He easily lowered her to the floor, casually resting his hands around her waist before addressing her worry.
"Anna," he began quietly, "do you trust me?"
She looked at him fiercely, "of course I do, with my life, with my everything."
"Then trust me with your love," he assured her, "everything we will do this night is a gift. We will give, we will take; all of it an expression of our love." Leaning down kissing her lips softly, just once, he pulled away resting his forehead against hers while speaking again, his eyes remained closed. "And I promise, I will be gentle and nothing will happen unless you want it to."
He pulled back to affirm what he had promised, seeking her eyes to see that she believed him.
John moved one hand toward her face then gently cradled the back of her head. With his other hand he covered her fingers that gripped tightly over his heart. He leaned in to kiss her temple, then her cheek, and moving cautiously slid his lips down the length of her soft neck, his breath warm against her; her body melting against his warmth.
Anna eased into each kiss and gentle nibble he afforded her, allowing her head to fall back and relax into his hands as they combed gently through her hair. John made his way slowly back to her lips, playfully outlining the shape of her tiny mouth with the tip of his tongue. She smiled into his playful kiss. Allured by the way his lips were now ghosting over hers.
His slow advancements compelled her body to burn heavy with desire, wanting more than ever to experience the sensation of his bare skin against hers. Having already removed his tie and unbuttoned the collar, Anna need only work the remaining buttons of his shirt. Pulling it un-tucked from the neatness of his pants, her hands slid open his shirt as she caressed his bare chest with wonderment for the very first time. She smiled boldly and ran her fingers up and over him in small circles.
He paused his kiss to enjoy her reaction. Closing her eyes and smiling wide, Anna embraced his body walking her fingertips lightly as she reached around to touch his bare back. There was something very intimate about the warmth of her skin against his. Those broad shoulders excited her when she slid her hands up and over them to remove his shirt.
Her body tingled as each moment became more erotic to her. John leaned down to kiss her lips again, this time with more urgency. Their passion intensifying with each new discovery, but suddenly pulling back, he stopped them. Breathing slightly heavier than before, he whispered, "I never asked, would you like some wine?"
Anna looked quite serious in that moment, her voice sounding distressed. "Yes. That's probably a good idea." Overwhelmed suddenly by her emotions, her head already spinning, her heart pounded anxiously.
Having waited disciplined and respectful for so very long, and now finally their wedding night was upon them, Anna could not escape her inexperienced tension. She had never been with a man before. Even though John was tender and careful with her, she still tensed with all the nervous energy of a virgin bride.
He knew her well enough to recognize her nerves and hoped the wine would help put her more at ease. John poured the wine, his hair falling slightly above his brow. She admired his gentle face and strong masculine arms, then rather quickly, stole the glass away from him, drinking the wine all at once and surprising them both.
John laughed when she grabbed the bottle and poured herself another full glass. "I thought for a moment you were going to drink straight form the bottle," he teased.
"Well, at least not on our wedding night," she giggled. Pacing the floor and drinking more wine, John watched her lovingly as she boldly swallowed her courage. "
"You're incredible...and to think, you're all mine," he gave her an assertive look of desire. She felt a flash of excitement run through her as his glare intensified, "god Anna, you're beautiful."
She quickly finished the final drops of wine and turned toward John while confidently removing her robe, tossing it to the floor. Her back and shoulders were now exposed to him except for two thin straps holding the nightgown to her delicate body.
John's expression ignited in that moment. Swiftly and unexpectedly he swept her off the floor, her legs quickly over his left arm and her back cradled in his other. Anna gave the appearance of being quite shocked but then smiled at him exhilarated.
Assuredly John moved the few steps toward the bed, barely limping with her in his arms. Then gently he fell into the bed with her, pulled his hands up to her face, and pushing a few strands of hair behind her ear he professed, "thank you for marrying me Anna."
She smiled sweetly, "you need never thank me; we are husband and wife, as we were meant to be."
"You're trembling, are you still nervous my love?" he asked, softly caressing her cheek with the back of his hand.
"I'm not," she assured him. "I'm just...overwhelmed." And with that, Anna pulled John's head toward her lips, gratified his mouth with hers and indulged him as deeply as she had ever kissed any man.
She drew a heavy breath as his mouth left hers; moving to kiss her neck, then nibble her ear. John slid his hand under the strap of her nightgown, slipping it down her shoulder slowly, revealing her naked breast. Gently, he traced the line of her arm back to her shoulder, then down her chest slowly before meeting her eyes seeking permission. She smiled and then John moved to encounter the softness of her breast with his fingertips for the very first time.
Anna closed her eyes, enjoying every slow progression to her body. He returned to her welcoming lips, kissing ever so tenderly. Pulling up lightly on her nightgown, he slid his hands under it to capture her thigh in his gentle but firm grasp, all the while captivating her mouth deeper and with more intensity.
Anna wildly ran her fingers through his hair, holding on to him with overwhelmed anticipation while he continued exploring her body with both hands. She helped him remove her nightgown, finally unveiling her nakedness to him. He paused, slowly admiring her body with his gentle eyes.
As this, Anna felt uneasy as uncertainty crept up once more until he spread his warm hand over her stomach and spoke softly, "look at me." Her face grew pink, her modesty overwhelming her confidence. "You Anna are divine. I don't deserve you."
Anna quickly resolved herself to discredit his degrading statement. "You can't possibly say that to me, not now in this moment. You have earned every once of my love for you. And tonight, my love is my body, don't deny me my offering."
John smiled at her, "my wife is tenacious."
She matched his smile, "yes Mr. Bates, and my determination will persevere."
"And so will your stubbornness apparently."
Confusion washed over her features, "what do you mean?"
"Anna, you are my wife now. I need to hear you call me John. Please."
She smiled biting her lip, "I will try to remember. I promise."
He kissed the tip of her nose quickly and playfully.
Then once more, he slowly began caressing and admiring her body. Sliding his hand slowly upward, between her breasts, his eyes following the movement of his caress until he reached her neck and enveloped her head again in his hand.
His eyes met with hers in a different way this time, where he gave a serious glare. "I love you," he whispered, his hand assuring her of what he meant against the back of her head.
She pulled herself against him, feeling his desire for her through the only thing still separating them. Ready to acquaint herself to him more intimately, Anna slid her hands down and unbuttoned his pants, reaching to discover what had remained unfamiliar to her throughout their long courtship. John closed his eyes and pressed his head into the mattress, rolling his head to the side as he took pleasure in her first touch. Trying to discern how to best gratify him, John was gracious with her, allowing her time, and yielding to Anna's generous exploring hands.
As the night progressed, his desire to join her body with his intensified with every moment and he rolled Anna over onto her back. Holding himself up with one hand, John leaned down to kiss her while delicately making his way toward her inner thighs with his other. She quivered and whimpered slightly against his neck while he carefully pleasured her with his hand until she was ready and aching to receive him.
And then finally, he repositioned himself slowly and sought her eyes with his before slowly entering her. Joining them at long last, finally making her his wife, and he her husband.
Anna slightly bit John's bottom lip as they moved in the most intimate way possible. Tears gently escaped her now closed eyes, running down the sides of her face. He never stopped watching her expression while they captivated each other's body.
"Anna" he paused for a careful moment, "please look at me," he begged, needing to know she was all right.
She opened her eyes and met his gaze again, tears still streaming from the intensity of her love for him.
He kissed her tears before she finally answered, "don't stop John, don't ever stop loving me."
"I could never.."
And with her affirmation, and at last calling him John, his deepest desires were fulfilled as they continued loving each other, long into the night...