The happy couple entwined in a waltz seems innocent enough. At least, to all guests out of earshot. Maybe they think the flush of Mary's cheeks was a newly-married glow, or perhaps a bit too much champagne.

"Mrs. Crawley." He murmurs softly, his voice a growl in her ear.

She shivers. "Yes?"

"I want this to end."

She glances around. "What is it you want to end?"

He motions to the party around them, in their honor. "I may be a bit distracted with anticipation." He admits darkly.

She nearly stops dancing, but he moves her surely. How easily he takes the lead when she needs him to.

"Anticipation of what?" she breathes out.

"Making proper acquaintance with all of my wife."

Her throat nearly closes up. She forgets how to breathe. She feels faint.

His hand, once properly on the middle of her back, slides lower, reverently, to the small of her back. A chill from the base of her neck falls to that spot where his hand is. He gives her a shameless look, and she can't scold him. Not really.

"It seems like this has been on your mind quite frequently." She maybe wants to let him continue. Maybe.

"Yes, quite."

"Would you care to elaborate?" the words leave on their own accord, but part of her is happy she said them. She probably wouldn't have the nerve to say them if she thought them over beforehand.

"Well I do look forward to seeing you in a state of undress, Mrs. Crawley, now that I am at liberty to do so."

"Hmm. Just seeing?" she's being a shameless tart, and he loves it. His bemused expression beaming down on her makes her skin tingle.

"Oh, if that was not satisfying enough…" He leans in, lips brushing her ear. The look on his face is utter innocence, as if he's complimenting her dress or whispering other sweet nothings. "I would enjoy the feel of your skin."

"In what way?" she can't be witty and distant tonight. They have a lifetime for that. She needs to know the answer, so she can no longer dance around the question.

"It's no secret that tonight, I shall take you. And I will make you mine." She nods eagerly, and he spins her away from a couple that is nearly encroaching their private world. "But before, I would like to savor you."

She bites her lip, silent, her eyes bidding him to continue.

"I want to kiss every part of you." he places a small kiss under her ear. She wants to feel this kiss on her skin always. "I'm sure every piece of you is lovely. You aren't afraid of sharing all of yourself with me?"

She shakes her head fervently, drawing his body closer to hers.

"My mind might have wandered to those parts of you a few times during the war," he clears his throat. "It might have wandered there every single night. At this point it's a blur. It's just…you."

She doesn't know how to process this. "Please tell me you did not spend all your time on a battlefield fantasizing about such things with me."

"To be entirely honest, little else occupied my mind at the time."

She blushes. "Your engagement…"

He shakes his head. "I'm being honest with you. Some nights, you were the only thing to give me comfort."

"Well," She clears her throat, "I'm very glad to have been of use."

He closes his eyes and nods. "I'd like to share some of these thoughts with you, at least, more of them, soon."

"Luckily for you, we can act on them." She lets her eyes meet his shamelessly.

He stops twirling her, the dance has ended and all the other couples are politely applauding the musicians. She keeps her eyes locked evenly on his. They don't smile. They don't have to. They glow.

She kisses him, a little too inappropriately, but he doesn't want to feel shame and neither does she. He feels the slight wetness of her mouth and longs for more of it. No more teasing previews.

"The wedding night." She smiles warmly at him.

"The wedding night." He agrees, lacing his fingers through hers, pulling her away from the crowd and towards the dark, where a car is waiting to take them home.