A/N Thank you to all who have left a review. They mean the world to me. Feel free to send me ideas of what you would like to see or know about this pairing. I'd like to do a post for each month for at least a year into their relationship.
I don't own...
August 24, 2013
John took a good long look at himself in Anna's mirror. He was waiting for her to finish getting ready for the party he was escorting her to. Her company had landed its first major spread in a magazine that was published all over Europe and Anna had asked him to the wrap party. He really didn't want to go. It wasn't that he wouldn't do anything for her, because he knew he would, but this? He knew he wouldn't fit in with all her fashion house colleagues. He expected to be uncomfortable and out of place. He much preferred to spend the evening just the two of them. John sighed deeply. He felt old and decidedly 'un-fashionable'. His only hope was that he wouldn't utterly embarrass himself or Anna.
"Brooding again, Mr. Bates?" Anna teased as she came out of the bathroom looking unbelievably young and gorgeous.
He turned toward her with a serious look on his face, "Anna, what are you doing with a man like me?"
"Well, first I'm taking you to a party, but later this evening I'm planning on bringing you home for a marathon session of rampant sex," she laughed.
John shook his head, "I'm serious. Why are you with me? I'm much too old for you. You are so young and beautiful and trendy. And I'm so," he spread his hands, searching for a word, "not."
Anna approached him and placed her hands on his chest. She stood on her tiptoes to kiss John's cheek and he reluctantly dipped his head to make it easier for her.
"John," she scolded him.
"Why don't you just go without me? I won't mind. Really. I'll just wait here and read, watch 'Match of the Day' and rest up for that sex marathon. I quite like the sound of that. Honestly, wouldn't you have a better time without me trailing along behind you and holding you back?"
Anna rolled her eyes, "Holding me back from what exactly? Having a bunch of boring conversations with self centered male models who probably haven't even ever read a book much less had a conversation about one?" She glared a challenge at him, "No, John. I would much prefer to sit all night at a table with you. I've finally found someone I really care about and who cares about me. Would you deny me the chance to show him off?"
John's shoulders slumped, his final chance of getting out of the evening clearly slipping away. He kissed her now and sighed, "No love, I'd not deny you anything. I just wish I was giving you something more to show off than a middle aged, limpy alcoholic with absolutely no fashion sense. We're horribly mismatched you know."
A flash of anger coursed through Anna at John's last words, "I know what's brought this on you know. You're only feeling this way because you've just come back from your mum's house. You always get so down on yourself after you've spent time with Vera. I try to be understanding, I really do, but I have to be honest, it gets to me sometimes that you're so willing to discount everything I say and feel about you because she says the opposite. Does Vera's opinion really matter to you so much more than mine?"
"Of course not," John protested quietly.
"Well obviously it does, or we wouldn't be having this conversation." Anna sat heavily on the bed and began putting on her shoes.
John made his way across the room and sat beside her, "I'm sorry love. Just ignore me."
"I'm not going to ignore you. I hate when you cut yourself short. The man I'm looking forward to showing off tonight is kind, intelligent, funny, and chivalrous. And he will more than likely be the most devastatingly handsome and sexy man in the room. He also happens to be fifteen years older than me and a veteran injured in the line of duty, a fact that makes me inordinately proud by the way. He's honest and honorable and has overcome some difficult things in his past, although it seems he hasn't forgiven himself for them. So if you want to stay home fine, but I'll be very, very disappointed."
John looked at his shoes in silence for a moment, "I'll tell you one thing about this bloke you're showing off tonight. He'll be the luckiest man in the room, that's for sure."
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Anna gave the address to the cabbie and she and John rode mostly in silence, both still thinking about the conversation they had just had. Eventually, John reached over and took Anna's hand and placed it on his thigh. He was greatly relieved that she didn't pull away.
He knew she was right; he had just returned from another trip packing up his mother's house. It was a task that was more than likely to put him in a funk at the best of times, but Vera had been insisting on 'helping' him so that she was assured of getting her share of the spoils. The time he was being forced to spend alone with her was taking its toll on his patience and self-esteem. In the years they had spent apart John had forgotten just how spiteful his soon to be ex-wife could be. The temptation to return to his former self was strong and he was having a hard time fighting it without Anna by his side.
He turned to her and apologized again.
She smiled and patted his leg, "Let's just have fun tonight, just the two of us, alright? We can ignore everyone else and just concentrate on each other."
"Absolutely," he replied with far more confidence than he felt.
The car pulled to the curb and John helped Anna from the back seat. He leaned in to pay the fare and then turned toward the building chuckling suddenly.
"What's so funny?" Anna asked.
"I know this place, but I never made the connection before. Your boss' name is Mary."
"Yes."
"Lady Mary Crawley."
"Yes."
"I work at Grantham Accounting. For Robert Crawley, The Earl of Grantham, Mary's father."
"See," Anna said triumphantly, "we have more in common than you think."
When they entered the party, John shed his jacket and helped Anna with hers. He took them to the coat check and by the time he had returned to Anna's side, Mary had already found her and the two were deep in conversation.
As John approached the pair Mary looked up, "Uncle John! What are you doing here?" she kissed his cheek, lightly squeezing his arm, "I didn't know Papa had invited you."
"He didn't," John answered, "Anna did."
"Anna did?" Mary looked confused until the penny dropped, "Oh my god, Anna is Uncle John the new bus stop beau you've been so excited about?"
"Uncle John?" Anna responded.
"Yes, John is Papa's best friend. We've known him for ages. He's the one who saved Papa's life over in Afghanistan."
Anna turned toward John, "Is that true? You never said…"
"I never guessed the Mary you worked for was Robert's Mary. Though I suppose I should have."
"Papa's here somewhere," Mary said, looking around the room, "probably either at the bar or dancing with Mama, I imagine. He was rather dreading being here this evening but Mama insisted he come. I'm sure he'll be thrilled to see you."
"I'll go find him at the bar. What can I get you ladies?"
"I'll have a champagne, Uncle John."
"The same, John, thank you."
As John moved off, Mary turned to Anna, "I can't believe it. Uncle John is your bus stop knight in shining armor. Although now I think about it I don't know why I'm so surprised. You said your man was chivalrous and rather quiet. That's Uncle John to a tee. He's Sybil's godfather, you know."
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Later in the evening, Anna pulled John into her office and closed the door.
"What's the matter, Love?" John asked, "Have I done something?"
"You've done nothing, and that's the problem," Anna said lightly, "we've been here for hours and I've not had one kiss."
"It seemed a little awkward," John apologized as Anna moved closer and wrapped her arms around his middle.
"Awkward, why? You've kissed me in front of complete strangers at the bus stop. I'm beginning to think it's you who's ashamed of me, not the other way round."
"Ah, so you admit you're ashamed of me," John teased.
"No! That's not what I meant…"
His eyes twinkled, "But you just said…"
"Oh, shut up and kiss me already."
"With pleasure." He held her more tightly and leaned down to kiss her.
As their lips made contact Anna sighed with pleasure, "I've missed those lips."
John laughed softly, "It's only been a few hours."
"Mmmm, and that's a few hours too long. I'm quite smitten with you I'm afraid."
"The feeling is very mutual, I assure you."
They spent several minutes holding one another and continuing to kiss. John had to consciously keep his hands from roaming her body, very well aware that time was passing and sooner or later they would be missed. He had no desire to be the topic of gossip, no matter how good natured it might be.
"We'd better get back," he whispered into Anna's neck.
"John?"
"Yes, Love."
"Do you dance?" Anna asked nervously playing with the collar of his shirt. She didn't want to offend him in any way, but she couldn't get the idea out of her head. "It's fine if you don't. Never mind, I shouldn't have asked."
"Anna, you can ask me anything, remember?" John chided her, "We've agreed to be honest with one another."
"It's just that I don't know with your knee and all, but I don't want to open a can of worms. We've been having a lovely time this evening, haven't we?"
John smiled that half smile Anna couldn't get enough of, "We have actually. It's gone much more smoothly than I expected. All thanks to you no doubt. And I have to admit, you 'showing me off' makes me feel a sense of pride I've never felt before. You're an amazing woman, Anna Smith, and by far the best thing that's ever happened to me."
Anna reached up and placed her hand on John's cheek. It was the most tender gesture he had ever felt and he turned his head to kiss her palm.
"So, to answer your question," he declared, "no, I do not usually dance. But if you pick a slow enough song, I would be happy to sway back and forth with you in my arms tonight. In front of the entire world if need be."
"You don't have to…"
John kissed her again, "Nothing would give me greater pleasure, I promise."
"Truly?"
"Truly."
When they went back into the main room, John wasted no time asking Anna to dance at the first opportunity.
Rob and Cora watched as the couple seemed completely lost in one another.
"Who would have guessed that Bates and our Anna would end up an item, eh? The old dog."
"Don't tease him about it Robert," Cora cautioned, "he deserves someone who looks at him the way Anna does. We should support them in any way we can."
"Yes dear. You're right as usual. But it's an excellent opportunity for some good ribbing gone by the wayside. I hope you'll give me full marks for my restraint. And you might have the same talk with Mary."
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John took Anna's key from her hand and opened the door, stepping aside to let her through first. He had barely put the keys down when she took his hand and pulled him toward the bedroom.
"Come on you," she flashed him a sultry smile, "I've big plans for the two of us."
John shook his head, laughing, and followed her willingly. He shut the bedroom door and began to take off his jacket but Anna stopped him.
"No, let me. Tonight I intend to show you just how much I desire my ancient, limpy, alcoholic beau."
She slid her hands from his chest to his shoulders and brushed his coat to the floor.
"Anna," John whispered helplessly enthralled by her.
"Shhhh," she silenced him with what was probably the deepest, sexiest kiss of his life. He barely had time to concentrate on the kiss before he felt her hands tugging at his shirt and releasing it from his trousers. He thought she would remove it immediately, but instead she ran her hands underneath and around to his back. Feeling her fingers pressed into him by his loosened but still in place shirt practically drove him mad.
"Good god," he managed to mumble against her lips.
"You like this?" she asked as she raked her nails over his back and then began to work on his buttons, dragging her fingernail down his chest as she revealed it inch by inch. She could feel him growing hard against her and she smirked, "Never mind, I can tell."
"You naughty girl," he whispered.
"Mmmm," she purred, pulling him toward the bed, "you haven't seen anything yet."
She unbuttoned his cuffs and slid his shirt off his shoulders, nibbling on his neck as she did so. He could feel the stubble on his face scratching against her own smooth skin.
"Should I shave again for you?" he rasped.
"I can't wait that long," she whispered in his ear as she fumbled with his belt. She had it undone in no time and was making equally short work of the button and zipper. The only place she allowed herself to linger was when she ran her hands over his backside and pushed him more firmly into her own midsection.
"Anna, please," John moaned. He took her face in both his hands and crushed his lips against hers as she slid his trousers down his legs. When she began to carefully remove his shorts, he could do nothing but close his eyes and try his best to remember how to breathe.
When he was completely naked she turned from him and brushed up her hair, exposing her neck.
"Can you unzip me?" she asked with mock innocence.
John nibbled her bare neck, "If I can remember how."
He slid the zipper slowly down its track then placed his hands on her hips and stood behind her, pressing himself into her and already enjoying the feeling of being this close. She smiled wickedly as she turned and pushed him toward the bed.
"You just lie back and enjoy the show."
John did as he was told saying, "Keep this up and we're likely to have more of a sprint than a marathon."
Anna stepped out of her dress and unhooked and discarded her bra. She walked to John's side of the bed and bent to remove her stockings. He was sure she was shimmying much more than necessary for his benefit and he wasn't about to complain. Standing before him in just her panties she said, "Would you like to do the honors?"
"I believe I'd like that very much."
He rested his hands on her hips again, this time hooking his index fingers into the waistband of her knickers and sliding them down her shapely legs, all the while nibbling at her now bare hips.
"Remember when I said I was the luckiest bloke in the room?" he murmured against her skin, "I grossly underrepresented the situation."
Anna threw her head back and laughed, knowing full well what she was doing to him. She knelt by the bed and began to massage his injured knee.
"Did you really get this saving the Earl's life?"
John couldn't believe how calm he felt with Anna touching his scars. He didn't feel the least bit awkward or embarrassed. He just felt, 'incredible' was the word that came to mind.
He ran his fingers through her hair as he answered, "That's what they tell me. I really don't remember. I saw he was in danger and I went after him, but the next thing I remember is waking up in the field hospital."
Anna crawled her way up his body and pushed him gently back onto the bed, stretching out beside him. She ran a finger over his lips, down his chin and finally traced his collarbone, "I was incredibly proud to be the woman on your arm tonight. I always am."
As she finished speaking she shifted her leg over John's hip and straddled him.
He held her in place for a moment, asking, "Are you already ready, Love?"
"I was ready the moment I pulled you into my office," she smiled.
They both moaned as she lowered herself onto his hardness.
"Do you feel that John? How perfectly we fit together?" She took his hands from her hips and placed them on her breasts, "and how perfectly my breasts fit in your hands?"
John could only hum in response.
"Or when you slide your hand over my thigh and around to my bum, isn't that perfect too?"
He nodded and acted out her words.
"We are perfectly matched, you and I. And I don't want you to ever forget it or doubt it again, do you hear me John Bates?"
John cupped Anna's neck and brushed her cheek with his thumb, "Yes Love. I mean...no Love. I mean...Jesus..." he sighed as she began to move.
Neither of them lasted very long and soon they were side by side trying to catch their breath. Anna ran her hand through the hair on John's chest, making small circles, while he played with the fingers of her other hand.
"I love you, John," she whispered and he felt the truth of her words in every cell in his body.
He rolled to kiss her softly, "I love you too."