***Merry Christmas Mashers! Hope you enjoy this new chapter!***

Chapter 6

Mary retired to her chambers as soon as they returned.

"Mary!" Francis called after her, stopping her in the hallway. She sighed and turned to him.

"Mary, could I have a word with you? I don't want to lose you, Mary. You can still call off this plan. I still don't believe the prophecy"

Mary shook her head. "No, Francis, it's not as simple as believing or not believing the prophecy anymore. Things have changed. I am tired, we can speak tomorrow."

Mary turned and walked down the hall toward her chambers, leaving a frustrated Francis in her wake.

Bash tried to go about his normal daily activities, but his mind was constantly on Mary. He knew he had to bide his time before he could go to her, but he also knew he couldn't take it much longer. With his father and mother still out of the castle, he had to preside over dinner. He left the table as soon as he could do so without raising suspicion or being rude. He made his way to his own chambers, only staying long enough to grab a small package from his desk. He quietly made his way down the empty hallway to the nearest entrance to the passageways.

He crept down the familiar passageway towards the door into Mary's bedchamber. The door creaked softly as it opened, revealing Mary standing by her roaring fireplace in her shift. The light from the fire illuminated her silhouette beneath the thin material.

Mary turned to face him and smiled shyly. "Bash," she breathed

When he heard her utter his name in that husky voice, he was undone. He stalked toward her, his eyes gleaming with passion.

Mary stood transfixed as she watched Bash approach. Her breathing became labored and her heart thundered in her ears even though Bash had yet to touch her.

"Mary," he said, as he reached for her, whispering her name as if it were a prayer. He pulled her to his body, lips crushing hers in the most passionate kiss they had yet to share. His hands threaded through her dark hair, holding her face to his. He could not believe he was able to hold her like this, to love her like this.

Mary's hands went to Bash's chest, she reached to unbuckle the leather tunic Bash had worn on his "hunting" trip. She pushed it off his shoulders and it hit the floor revealing the white shirt beneath. She pulled the shirt from his trousers and ran her hands under it to feel bare the skin of his torso.

Bash pulled back from their kiss. "We don't have to rush. We have all night, wife." He relished saying that word.

"We can go slowly later. Right now I want you so badly I can't think straight."

Mary grabbed Bash by the neck and kissed him aggressively. Bash responded in kind, ghosting his hands down her sides. He began to glide her shift up over her legs, reaching his fingertips under the hem to stroke her thigh as the fabric rode higher and higher.

Mary kissed down Bash's jaw, and nibbled his earlobe. "Take it off, Bash, I want to feel you."

He stripped the nightgown off her body, and lifted her in his arms, carrying her to the bed. He placed her on the sheets and moved to remove his boots and trousers. Mary moved to lean against the pillows at the head of the bed and watched as Bash crawled toward her.

Mary reached out to Bash, beckoning him to come to her. "I am yours, Sebastian, only yours."

Bash smiled at Mary's use of his full name. "No Mary, I am yours, completely."

Mary smiled at his devotion, a daring look in her eye, "Prove it."

Bash grinned wolfishly at his new bride. "As you wish, Your Grace, as you wish." And he descended into oblivion with the woman he loved.