Chapter Seven
A fortnight later, Gilbert is dressing for the dinner he and Anne are attending at the home of Doctor and Mrs Parker of Lowbridge.
Gilbert is wearing a dark blue suit that he bought to attend Charlie Sloane's wedding during the first summer of his engagement to Anne. He hasn't had much call to wear the suit since then, but he still recalls the flash in Anne's eyes when she had told him at Charlie's wedding that he looked especially handsome in it. Gilbert notices his wife is casting many heated glances his way.
"Is there something wrong with my attire, Anne?" he asks as he straightens his tie before the mirror above the little washstand in the corner of their bedroom.
"Oh no, there's definitely nothing wrong with that outfit," Anne replies in a low voice, as she walks slowly towards him.
Glancing up at Anne's reflection in the mirror, Gilbert's pulse begins to race a little. She is smiling at him with a sultry expression, one eyebrow raised speculatively as her eyes roam hungrily across his back and shoulders. Gilbert feels his skin growing hot as his wife draws nearer.
Anne is wearing a creamy satin dress with a pattern of tiny rosebuds which trail downwards from her bodice and then spread out diagonally across the front of her skirt. It reminds Gilbert so strongly of the delectable dress she used to wear at Redmond, that his mouth suddenly goes dry and he wants to kiss each and every one of those rosebuds.
He waggles his eyebrows at Anne as she approaches him with her hips swaying.
"You've been watching me like a hawk for the past five minutes," Gilbert says, his teeth flashing at her in a mischievous grin. "And I'm not used to you looking at me like that when I'm putting my clothes on."
"It's that suit, Gilbert," she purrs. "I don't think you realise what it does to me."
"I thought you liked this suit?' he says, looking down at his clothing for a moment. "You said so at Charlie's wedding. Should I change?"
Anne shakes her head, still with that mysterious smile on her lips. She is standing close behind him now and staring at Gilbert's face in the mirror. Her hands reach up to rest on his shoulders and Gilbert feels her hands slowly smoothing the fabric across his shoulders and then down his back.
"Oh no, don't change it," Anne says. "I do like it. Very much."
Her hands are gripping the muscles on Gilbert's broad shoulders now and she steps around him, turning him until they're both standing facing each other. Her eyes are roaming over his chest as her fingers glide along his shoulders until her fingertips are tracing a path down the lapel of his suit.
"Do you, wife?" Gilbert asks, raising one eyebrow and grinning at her.
Anne nods as her fingers begin playing with the knot of his tie and then her index finger trails downwards until she is grasping his tie firmly in her hand.
"Oh yes," Anne says, her voice so low it sends a shiver down Gilbert's spine. "I do."
She tugs on Gilbert's tie to draw his face closer to hers, abruptly wiping the grin off his face. Then Anne's lips are on his and Gilbert can feel her hot breath in his mouth as her tongue slides eagerly against his. Gilbert's arms are immediately slipping around Anne's body, and she moans as her hands slide over his back and shoulders.
His hands are pulling her hips closer to his body and he groans when Anne's lips begin kissing his Adam's apple gently.
"Did I tell you how beautiful you look in that dress?" Gilbert murmurs, his hazel eyes darkening as he caresses the soft skin on her shoulders. "It's going to be all I can do not to ravish you all night."
"And I'm sure I've told you before that I more than like that suit," Anne says huskily as her lips kiss a trail along the skin above Gilbert's collar. "Blue is a most becoming colour on you."
Suddenly, Anne pushes on Gilbert's shoulders until he steps backwards and the back of his legs hit the bed. Another push and he's sitting on the bed in front of her. Anne's eyes are locked with his as she lifts the folds of her pleated skirt and she deliberately places one knee and then the other next to his thighs until she is sitting on Gilbert's lap, facing him. Her silken arms slide around his neck and she lowers her head until her soft lips are covering his.
"Perhaps you won't have to wait to ravish me..." Anne whispers.
Gilbert moans softly, already feeling his body responding to her as his arms slide around Anne's waist, drawing her closer to him.
"Anne," he mutters hoarsely. "I don't want to be late to meet the Parkers."
She continues kissing Gilbert's lips, ignoring his half-hearted objection.
"We won't be late if you hurry," Anne says against his lips.
She kisses a soft trail along his jawline until her teeth are nibbling on his earlobe and Gilbert can feel himself growing hard.
Anne's hands are pushing on Gilbert's shoulders and he leans back with his hands still on her waist until Anne is lying on top of him, grinding herself against his hips.
"We've still got time, haven't we, dearest?" Anne's hot breath is in his ear, making Gilbert shudder. "I'm sure the Parkers won't mind if we're a few minutes late…"
When Anne's fingers begin unfastening the buttons of his trousers, Gilbert reluctantly places his hands over hers to stop her.
"I'm sorry, darling," he mutters regretfully, pulling her hands away. "William Parker is the most respected doctor in Lowbridge, and I'm going to be working closely with him. You know I want to create a good impression -"
The rest of his sentence is cut off by Anne's lips covering his again. Gilbert's fingers entwine with hers as she kisses him. After a brief moment, Anne abruptly draws away, leaning on Gilbert's hands and sighing as she slowly places her feet back on the floor until she is standing in front of him, although their fingers are still linked.
"Yes, Doctor Blythe," she laughs, staring at his trousers with her eyebrows raised. "I can certainly see that you want to make an impression."
"I want to show off my ravishing wife, too," Gilbert grins, sitting up, and pulling her hips closer to him.
"Are you sure we don't have time?" Anne's hands are gripping his broad shoulders as she steps between his knees.
"Please, Anne," Gilbert murmurs, even as he wraps his arms around her waist. Anne's fingers begin to run through his dark curls as he kisses the line of rosebuds on her bodice. "You know I'd like to continue this, but -"
"Yes, I know," Anne smiles as she finally steps away. "It's important."
"Anne -" Gilbert begins.
"Oh, I understand," Anne interrupts. "This is my first official outing as Mrs Doctor Blythe, you know. I suppose I can control myself looking at you in that suit all night. And it has taken me a very long time to style my hair -"
"Well, your hair does look rather beautiful tonight, darling," Gilbert says, reaching out to touch the soft curls at her nape, but Anne gently pushes his hand away with a laugh.
"No touching, Doctor Blythe," she smiles with her grey eyes dancing mischievously. "I want to make a good impression for meeting the Parkers, and it won't do to have my hair awry."
Half an hour later, as they drive out of Glen St Mary towards Lowbridge, Gilbert has his arm around Anne and she is kissing the side of his throat just above his collar.
The winding road to Lowbridge is dazzling as the moon rises, crossed by tree shadows with here and there the ferny rim of an inviting grove.
Gilbert knows Anne loves nothing better than a drive through such a bewitching landscape, but she has barely given any of the natural beauty around her a second glance, as she might usually. This evening, Anne seems much more interested in ogling her husband. And touching him. Anne is wearing a pair of creamy satin gloves that button up to her elbows and she is caressing Gilbert's jaw as she murmurs in his ear. Her gorgeous hair is pinned high on her head and her kissable throat is exposed above her coat.
"Shall I tell you about the first time I saw you in this suit?" she whispers, raising goosebumps along Gilbert's skin as her gloved fingers trail lightly along the side of his neck.
"I thought you said no touching, wife," Gilbert says, turning his head to her and smiling.
"I only said you weren't to touch, darling," Anne smiles. "I didn't say I wouldn't touch you…"
Gilbert's breath catches in his throat when he feels her lips and tongue exploring the corner of his jaw.
"I see," he mutters hoarsely.
Gilbert gasps when he feels her gloved hand slide beneath his coat and her fingers begin running along his thigh as she smiles into his eyes. Suddenly Anne leans in to him and Gilbert can feel her hot breath tickling his earlobe, sending shivers down his spine.
"Do you remember when you wore this suit to Charlie's wedding?" Anne murmurs, as she unfastens the top buttons of his coat and her gloved finger runs a trail down the lapel of his suit beneath.
Gilbert nods mutely since his mouth has suddenly gone dry.
Anne's deft fingers are unfastening his coat and pushing it aside so that more of his blue suit is revealed to her heated gaze.
"When you came to collect me from Green Gables that day and I saw you in this suit I wanted to strip it straight off you," she mutters huskily. "You looked so handsome…"
Her warm mouth is on his neck and he can feel her sucking on his skin. Trying to keep one hand on the reins, Gilbert's other arm tightens around her as he moans.
"Anne," he mutters, striving to control his body's response to her.
"Do you know that night was the first time you called me Anne-girl?" she whispers into his skin, with her teeth nipping at his jaw.
Gilbert shakes his head slightly.
"You'd been telling me about Diana's Aunt Josephine on the way, remember?" he says, closing his eyes and shivering as her lips move along his chin.
"Yes," Anne says, with her lips brushing across his lightly. "I was watching you from across the room, and seeing you in this suit was already making me feel very short of breath…"
"Was it?" Gilbert says breathlessly, straining to keep one eye on the road as Anne's mouth kisses a trail across his cheek.
"Mmmm," Anne hums against his mouth. "I remember feeling quite flushed. Then I saw you laughing at something with Fred and I thought I was going to faint at how handsome you looked."
Despite his efforts not to, Gilbert can feel himself hardening.
"I see," he mutters absently, as he feels Anne's hand sliding down his suit jacket.
"Mrs Harmon Andrews was so worried she asked if I was feeling quite well," Anne says, her fingers now gripping his thigh.
"Did she?" Gilbert gasps.
"Yes," Anne murmurs. "When I walked over to join you and Fred, I was quite desperate to get you alone."
"I seem to recall you asked me to get some air with you," Gilbert replies hoarsely as Anne's fingers begin rubbing tiny circles over the fabric covering his thigh. "I noticed you had the most delicious colour on your cheeks and your eyes were so gorgeous I don't think I even said good bye to Fred in my haste to accompany you outside."
Gilbert's skin grows warmer as he remembers the pink flush on Anne's cheeks that day and the heated look in her eyes. He had barely registered Fred's knowing smirk as Anne had grasped Gilbert's hand in hers and practically dragged him outside with her.
"You were the most handsome man there, you know," Anne says in a low tone. "I was almost frantic with wanting you."
Gilbert's breathing begins to come in short gasps as her lips cover his.
"Do you remember what we did next?" she whispers against his mouth.
He can vividly recall the look in Anne's eyes as she yanked him behind the Sloane's barn that evening. Anne had grabbed his suit roughly by the lapels as she abruptly pushed Gilbert up against the wall, before she had pressed the length of her body against his and her hot open mouth was upon his in a long and passionate kiss.
"Of course I remember," Gilbert nods faintly with his eyes darkening at the memory.
By now, Anne's hand is ghosting lightly over his growing arousal and Gilbert groans as his fingers curl around her wrist to halt her.
"Please, Anne…" he chokes out, still attempting to keep his other hand on the reins.
"But, do you know what I really wanted to do with you that day, Doctor Blythe?" Anne's hot breath is on his skin. "What I wanted you to do to me then?"
"Ahhh," Gilbert gasps and then holds his breath as he feels Anne's hand rub against him more firmly.
"Would you like a hint, dearest?" Anne asks, one gloved hand cupping his cheek as she whispers into his ear. "It was exactly what I want to do to you now."
Gilbert groans again. He is so tempted by the tone in Anne's voice that he very nearly stops the buggy in order to give his full attention to her.
"Please, darling," Gilbert pleads as he reluctantly draws Anne's fingers away from him, and his eyes are staring into hers intently. "We're nearly at Lowbridge now and I can't arrive at the Parkers looking like this."
Anne looks down admiringly at Gilbert's lap before she drops a chaste kiss on his cheek.
"No, I suppose not," she sighs with her forehead pressed to his cheek. "I guess we'll have to do something about that a little later then."
"Oh, yes," Gilbert grins, squeezing her shoulders again. "I definitely intend to do something about it later."
"Promise?" Anne raises her head with an impish smile on her face. Gilbert's breath catches in his throat at the desire he sees deep in her eyes.
"You have my word, Anne-girl," he replies huskily, delighted when he hears her sigh once more.
When they knock on the Parkers' front door at precisely seven o'clock, Gilbert has Anne's hand tucked firmly in the crook of his elbow. He has a polite smile on his face, even though his skin is still tingling from his wife's touch. Anne's hand is caressing the fabric on Gilbert's sleeve as she smiles up into his eyes.
The door is opened by a barrel-chested man of about thirty, with a thick beard of dark whiskers and his black hair slicked down to one side. The man grins at them both warmly while holding out his meaty hand in welcome. Gilbert likes him immediately.
"Doctor Blythe!" Doctor Parker exclaims ebulliently, shaking Gilbert's hand vigorously. "What a pleasure it is to meet you at last. It's not every day we get to host a Cooper Prize winner here."
"Doctor Parker, may I introduce you to my wife?" Gilbert says proudly, smiling into Anne's limpid eyes.
Parker turns to smile at Anne, flashing a row of large white teeth.
"Good evening, Doctor Parker," Anne says, and gifts him with her most bewitching smile. Gilbert can see that Parker is already under her spell.
"How do you do, Mrs Blythe?" Parker booms, shaking Anne's hand enthusiastically. "I must say it's a real pleasure to meet you."
Doctor Parker turns his head to Gilbert and grins with his eyebrows wiggling drolly.
"Oh, well done, Blythe," he whispers loudly and winks at Gilbert. "Won't you both come in, please?"
Then Doctor Parker turns and with a wave of his hand, ushers Anne and Gilbert down the hallway and into the large, homely living room just as a buxom, round-faced woman bustles in from the back of the house.
"Welcome, welcome," the woman smiles warmly, nodding as she rushes over to them with her blonde curls bouncing.
"Doctor and Mrs Blythe," Parker intones, and Gilbert feels a thrill run through his body at his colleague's words. "Please meet my wife."
"How do you do, Mrs Parker," Anne says politely, shaking her hand.
"Here, let me take your coats," Jen Parker says, looking them both over approvingly. "Aren't you two just adorable staring at each other like that? You remind me of when William and I were newlyweds."
As soon as the doctor's wife takes his overcoat, Gilbert is aware of Anne's fingers gently caressing the sleeve of his blue suit.
"I'm so glad you're on time," Mrs Parker continues. "We were worried you might get lost along the way."
At this, Gilbert gives Anne's hand a squeeze.
"We wouldn't dream of being late, Mrs Parker," Gilbert says with a charming grin at his hosts. "Thank you for inviting us."
"Oh, yes, I can see why you married him," Mrs Parker smiles at Anne. "We're all going to be firm friends, I can tell right away."
After seating their guests at the dining table, the Parkers both hustle off into the kitchen to bring the food in. Gilbert watches, fascinated as Anne unfastens the tiny buttons at her elbow on first one long creamy glove and then the other. She then proceeds to slowly remove them, and Gilbert's eyes are glittering as he watches the fabric sliding down the soft, white skin on her slender arms. Finally, Anne folds the gloves carefully in her lap before she turns her head to smile at Gilbert.
When he sees her grey eyes sparkling in the lamp light, Gilbert's breath catches in his throat and he can't resist reaching out to run his fingertip lightly along Anne's arm from her capped sleeve all the way down to her finely boned wrist. Anne sighs softly and shivers at his touch.
Raising his eyes to hers, Gilbert smiles wolfishly and he thinks his heart will explode with his desire for her.
"Later," he whispers, remembering his earlier promise to her.
"Later," Anne agrees, her eyes flashing.
Gilbert reluctantly removes his finger from her skin and turns to face the Parkers who are returning from the kitchen. Mrs Parker is carrying a tray of vegetables and her husband follows bearing a huge platter of baked trout.
"How are you two love-birds getting along?" Mrs Parker beams at them. "I thought you might not mind us leaving you alone for a few moments."
Throughout the meal, Gilbert is aware of Anne sitting demurely next to him, the creamy skin of her throat exposed above her dress as one minute she exchanges repartee with Parker and in the next she discusses shirring with Jen Parker just as effortlessly.
Gilbert's pulse is racing at the proximity of his wife and he is almost wild with desire to touch her. He burns to caress Anne's soft skin which is glowing alluringly in the lamplight. Gilbert can see the tiny pink enamel heart glistening at her throat and he yearns to touch it with his lips. He wants to press a trail of kisses along the line of rosebuds on Anne's bodice and then ravish her until she is moaning beneath him. But instead, Gilbert sits beside her, chatting and laughing amiably with the Parkers. His skin tingles each time he hears Anne's silvery laugh or feels her hand brush against his sleeve, which she seems to do quite often that evening.
Doctor and Mrs Parker are lively company and the conversation jumps across many topics until finally, Gilbert and Doctor Parker are discussing an article in the The New England Journal of Medicine when the clock on the mantel chimes nine o'clock.
Anne appears to be absorbed in asking Jen about her pudding recipe and her face is angled away from Gilbert slightly. Suddenly, Gilbert feels his wife's hand on his thigh, hidden from the Parkers' view by the tablecloth. His eyes widen slightly when he feels Anne's fingers sliding upwards and Gilbert stops mid-sentence when she squeezes the top of this thigh.
"Everything all right, Blythe?" Doctor Parker asks solicitously.
Gilbert reaches for the glass of water in front of him as he coughs loudly.
"Yes, thank you," he gasps before he downs the contents in one gulp. "I just didn't realise that was the time. I think Anne and I ought to be going now, Parker. We don't want to outstay our welcome on the first visit."
Doctor Parker throws his head back and laughs uproariously.
"No fear of that," he grins with his brown eyes twinkling merrily. "Jen and I have had a marvellous time with you both, but I understand why you'd be anxious to get home. That Lowbridge Road can be quite treacherous at night, can't it? Please don't let us keep you."
"Thank you both for your kind hospitality," Anne says, smiling as she she stands to leave. "It's been such a delightful evening. We'd love to have you at Four Winds soon."
In his haste to be alone with Anne, Gilbert practically sprints to fetch the buggy.
Doctor and Mrs Parker smilingly wave farewell to Anne and Gilbert from their front doorstep as if something is amusing them hugely.
Gilbert drives through Lowbridge as fast as he can and a few minutes later they are hurtling along the Lowbridge Road towards Four Winds. As soon as the buggy is past the outskirts of town, Anne immediately begins to place soft kisses on Gilbert's jaw.
"I thought I was going to expire with wanting you tonight," she murmurs. "You looked so divine in that suit, dearest, it was all I could do to keep my hands off you."
"You were driving me crazy," Gilbert says huskily. "I've wanted to kiss you all evening, you know. It was torture."
He draws her body tighter to him as Anne's lips finally find his mouth and Gilbert hears her soft moan when his tongue touches hers.
"I wanted you to do so much more than kiss me," she breathes.
"That's it," Gilbert declares suddenly, steering the buggy to a halt next to a ferny grove by the side of the road.
"Gilbert, what are you doing?" Anne giggles as he leaps from the buggy and runs around to her side of the vehicle.
"I'm finally doing something about it," he grins up at her. "I'm not waiting for you any longer, Mrs Blythe."
Gilbert reaches his hands around her waist and Anne laughs when he lifts her bodily out of the seat.
"Is it later now?" Anne smiles delightedly.
"Yes, it's later, wife," Gilbert chuckles as he grasps her slender hand in his and hauls her towards the ferns.
A/N: Thanks again for all your support, dear readers. I continue to be blown away by your wonderfully passionate reviews, and they mean the world to me. :)
I wrote a little one shot a while ago which was from Anne's POV about the day she first saw Gilbert in that blue suit, so I'm wondering if you'd be interested to read that, too? Please let me know and I might be brave enough to post it!
~ Much love to you all from FKAJ