They were still panting, trying to catch their breath. This night was amazing, overwhelming, and sinful. From the moment they made passionate love downstairs at the dinner table, it was like a complete craze - they just couldn't stop loving each other, holding each other, giving and taking, kissing and caressing. During this night, Scarlett learnt about the intimate life more than during all those years since Charles took her virginity when she was 16. It was not only about her body, but about Rhett's body too. She was overwhelmed to find out that touching his member arouses her immediately. And that it arouses him too, of course. She didn't go further than that. Yet. But she knew that there is the whole life ahead.

Rhett was astonished too. He couldn't dream of Scarlett letting him do things he did to her. He couldn't dream she would ever touch his member, would be striking it gently. Well, if being honest to himself, he had dreamt, and of more than that. But he never hoped even one of these dreams ever came true. But here she was - his Scarlett, coming around him again, bringing him to the heaven and back. They both realized why they were craving for each other so much, why they couldn't stop making love. Both of them were terrified it was just a beautiful dream. And once they fall asleep, and then wake up - they will find themselves in the empty beds, thousands miles away from each other.

Rhett tucked Scarlett closer. She was smiling with a relaxed blissful smile.

- I think we should get some sleep. - Rhett said.

- I'm almost asleep myself. - Scarlett covered her mouth with a palm and yawned. - But before that, may I ask you something?

Rhett heard she got a little confused, shy even. Could she ask whether he loves her? Why would she doubt that?

- Of course, ..honey.

Scarlett smiled to herself. There was just a second-long pause before "honey". He was struggling not staying "my pet".

- How do you call it? Does it even have a name?

- "It" being...?

- This...mmm...pleasure. When I...and you...This thing. The peak. - Scarlett hated herself for blushing.

Rhett chuckled, but decided that it's not a good time for witty remarks and teasing. He wanted her to learn things about herself, first of all. Didn't want to scare her off.

- I think doctors would call it "orgasm". But usually one just says he or she is coming. Or wants the other person to come. - Rhett leaned over Scarlett's ear. - Like I want you to come every time we're together in a private way.

She hid her blushing face in his shoulder and sighed happily. Rhett suddenly became serious.

- And I'm sorry, truly sorry you never experienced that when we were living in Atlanta. Not until that night. I know you were close several times, but you never came and I can imagine what a disappointment it was for you. That whole thing.

- Oh, I was struggling it back! I know now how silly I was. But I thought it's the wrong thing, that I was enjoying our marital relationships. I was raised on very different ideas. And I just thought that I had had too much champagne, and it's all wrong, and I was going right to the hell.

- Champagne...It just relaxed you and you stopped worrying about things for a moment. Anyway, I'm sorry, Scarlett. I promised you fun, and you didn't get it.

- I'm sorry for being stupid about that all. We could have enjoyed our time in the bedroom long ago. And things would have been so different, right?

- If it still was just until Bonnie was born, that wouldn't have changed much. But I realize, you would think twice before kicking me out of your bedroom if you'd enjoyed our lovemaking as much as you did...tonight, for example.

- I regretted about kicking you out as soon as after several weeks. But you would be the last person I'd admit that to. If only I knew you cared for me...

- God, how two grown-up people could have been such fools?

- We will make amends, right? We still have so much time ahead. The whole life. You, me, Kat. - Scarlett looked in Rhett's face. - I wish it's always been you, Rhett. No Charlie, no Frank. I sometimes think -what if I went totally crazy and had given myself to a complete stranger in the library in Twelve Oaks? I know you would have been so tender, and delicate, and patient. You would never be clumsy or awkward, - she sounded sad now. - You would have never hurt me.

- Like they did?

- Oh, Rhett. I do not really want you to listen about my life with two other men.

- I do not want imagine you being with other men too. I do not want you to think it means nothing to me. But I want you to share...You can tell me anything you feel you want to tell. They were hurting you, right? Stupid fools.

- Charlie...After so many years, being a grown-up woman, I now realize - Scarlett's voice turned into a whisper now. - He merely raped me both times we'd been together. - She felt Rhett's arm tensed under her head. - Of course, I wasn't fighting, or screaming, but he knew I didn't want it, he knew that. It was all so horrible, humiliating, endlessly painful. I know he didn't mean it, didn't want to hurt me, or make it all like that. I think he was sorry about doing that to me.

- Had Frank Kennedy ever forced himself on you too? Did you have this misfortune to be married to three men who... - she felt his rage, at himself, first of all.

- No, Frank had never...Oh, Rhett, how could you even compare that. That night was...Our night..It was so wonderful, I wanted you, you know that! I couldn't be overexcited in the morning, of course, but not because of the night itself, but because I woke up alone.

- It will take me a life to beg you to forgive me for the things I'd done in Atlanta. - Rhett was serious and distracted now. His thoughts were far away. Scarlett knew he was thinking about the consequences of that night. The idea brought the tears to her eyes - their baby - she was sure it was the boy. Their son could have been 5 years old now. And Bonnie...Oh, it hurt too much. She broke the silence.

- So, Frank...he was trying to be kind. And it only happened once a month, or in 5 weeks. It was still painful. And I felt used and discarded. Every damn time.

Rhett frowned. - Let's stop here. I want to make them die, again, for what they'd done to you - they made you hate the marital relationships. They were intimidated by you in the daytime, and were treating you like a piece of a furniture at night. Charles Hamilton was just a boy, but Frank, God damn it! He had so much time to gain some life experience. To become the real man!

- Not every man in the world wants to gain this experience with...you know. Oh, yes, YOU know... - Scarlett sat on the bed. She was obviously annoyed. Then she looked at Rhett, drilling him with the eyes. - Can you tell me something? Be honest, will you? How many women you've been with? Besides me and...Anna. Besides those you were married to? Can you even count them? How many?

Rhett stretched his arm and stroke Scarlett's naked back gently. He saw goose bumps one it and was pleased she reacted to his touches like that even being angry with him.

-Why would I count at all, in first place. Do you think men make a kind of a list?

- Many? - he heard jealousy in her voice.

- It depends on what "many" implies here. Anyway, I do not know why you need this. I'm with you, and I love you. There could have been many in the past, but I want the only one in the future. You.

Scarlett stretched on the bed tucking to the Rhett again.

- Say that again, - she murmured.

- I love you.

She turned her head and kissed Rhett in the lips.

-I love you too, Rhett.

For several seconds they were looking in each other eyes just enjoying the moment. Rhett broke the silence.

- So, my dear miss O'Hara. You had those thoughts about being intimate with a complete stranger, with all those people in the house. Couldn't imagine your head holds such sinful ideas. But I have to admit I was thinking about it too. More than once.

- Oh, you had such dirty fantasies about me?

-Oh yeah, my dear, in many charming details.

- You're horrible. - she giggled.

-But if we pretend it all could have happened for real, that would have been a really bad idea anyway, you know.

- Why? Bad timing? We were all alone in the library, the girls had a snap time, the men were busy discussing the war. I think we had at least an hour, before anyone started wondering where we were. And the couch in the library was quite comfy. You were having a rest on it. Was it good enough for two? - Scarlett looked at Rhett seductively.

- Sounds like a plan! - Rhett laughed. - Perfect timing, you're right! But after my visit to Twelve Oaks, I was not back to Atlanta for more than a year. When I was back to ruin your reputation at Atlanta bazaar, you already had Wade. And our life experience shows that even after one pleasant encounter you would most likely get pregnant.

- Oh, I haven't thought of that. You're right. And when you're back...Well, our life experience shows that you would most likely marry me, for the baby. Right?

- That wouldn't have been for the baby only, even back then. - he admitted. - But we wouldn't be received anywhere. Well, it has its own charm, of course, but think only - you wouldn't have a chance to boast your new gowns. Torture! - Rhett was teasing her again. - The only way out would be to move to Europe and have a fresh start.

- Do you think it would work? Frankly? - Scarlett entertained the idea of how their life could have been if she had given her virtue to Rhett.

- I guess yes. If you had been brazen enough to give yourself to me on our first meeting, that would mean your feelings to...someone else hadn't mattered to such. So, it could have worked. - Of course, if Mr. O'Hara didn't kill me for what I had been doning to his daughter while he had been discussing southern gentlemen beating Yankee in one day.

Scarlett giggled. - I cannot believe we even discuss that.

Rhett kissed her temple. - I never dreamt we will ever speak about anything like that. I'm happy we do. And we should sleep now. I want to make proper

acquaintance with my daughter, starting tomorrow morning. I need to keep up with you. And overtake you at some point.

- Never happen.. - murmured Scarelett, almost asleep.