A/N: Thank you all so much for reading, following, favoriting, and reviewing! We're starting to get some place... Much more interaction with Anna and John in this chapter. I hope you enjoy, and keep the comments coming...they spur me on. :) Also, I could not do this with downtonluvr who is very supportive/encouraging and is so helpful when I get stuck. Thanks, downtonluvr! And thank you all. Hope you enjoy! I STILL don't own, DA, dang it.
Anna had not been able to talk to John when he'd called her that morning. She'd been with a client and only answered the phone because she was afraid something important had happened at the clinic. She'd agreed to meet him tonight at her place to discuss what was on his mind, and now her stomach was in knots, twisting with concern that he was backing out of the plan. She prayed she was wrong as she had come to realize she was even happier with her decision to become a mother since he had agreed to be the father.
John would be there any minute. He'd said he was going through some music with Joseph after work and that he'd swing by afterward. It was already eight o'clock, and Anna would ordinarily be getting ready for bed or to read or something by now. But not tonight. She had way too much nervous energy. She'd cleaned her entire kitchen after dinner, and she was now moving on to the mirrors in the house. Anything to keep her mind off what John might say tonight.
Just as she had finished the mirrors and was contemplating cleaning her already sparkling toilets, her doorbell rang. She put the Lysol back in the cabinet under the sink, quickly washed her hands, and nearly ran to open the door. She wasn't quite sure if she'd dreaded this moment or looked forward to it.
She swallowed hard as she opened the door to reveal John on the other side, wearing the same button down and khakis as he had this morning, even if they did seem a bit more dishevelled from a day of wear. John also smelled a bit like slide grease and metal to her, giving away, along with the nearly imperceptible red ring on his upper lip, that he'd been playing his trombone at Joe's. Maybe it was simply hormonal, but the smell and indentation was a combination that she found very sexy. So much so, that John grinned and asked if he could enter as she just stood holding the door, staring at him.
"Oh, yes," Anna answered, straightening and holding the door a bit wider. "Please come in. Would you like something to drink?" She asked, knowing she sounded formal but so nervous that John was getting ready to smash her dreams that she didn't really care.
"I'm good," he responded as he walked past her and into her living room. She closed the door behind him and followed down the hall. John paced a bit in front of the fireplace, but took a seat in one of the arm chairs when Anna sat on the couch. He sat on the edge of the seat, leaning his arms on his legs.
"About this morning," John started, not quite sure how to begin this conversation. "I thought we'd have a little more time to work out the details. I was thinking it'd be longer before we'd actually, um, inseminate, however we decided to do it. But this morning it sounded like Dr. Randolph wants us to use the clinic, and um, the bed. And I need to know how you feel about that." John finished and held his breath, waiting for Anna's reply.
Anna immediately relaxed and exhaled when she realized he wasn't changing his mind about fathering the baby. She knew there were some things left unsettled, but he didn't seem to be backing out. She felt as if a great burden had been lifted from her.
"I, well," Anna started to answer him, immediately lowering her eyes and picking lint off her skirt. "I want a baby." She looked up at him. "So, I'm open to doing whatever it takes to get one." Oh, she only wished she was so nonchalant. The truth was that she'd had a crush on John for years, dreamt of being in his arms for years, and she wanted nothing more than to give herself to him.
"About what Greg said the other night," John said as he shifted in his seat. "Is it true that you never slept him?"
"It's true," Anna admitted, wondering where John was going with this.
"Pardon me if I'm being too forward, but I think we've kinda crossed a line since we talked about my ejaculations this morning," he muttered, averting his gaze for a moment. Finding her eyes again, he asked, "Have you ever slept with anyone, Anna?"
Anna couldn't make the words form on her lips, so she just looked at him and shook her head no. She hoped this wouldn't be a turnoff for him. She'd had her reasons to wait, and she had furthermore realized over the last few weeks that there was no one she wanted to go to bed with other than John Bates. If she was truthful, that "innocent" crush ten years ago had probably played a part in her remaining a virgin. No man she'd ever dated had ever lived up to John Bates, and she'd decided years ago that if she could be more attracted to a man fourteen years her senior than she was to her own boyfriend, the boyfriend was not a keeper. Although she didn't particularly realize it at the time, looking back, the fact that Greg wasn't John probably had a lot to do with that relationship not working.
John stood at her answer and began pacing in front of the fireplace again. He stopped long enough to look at her and said, "Then I think we should do this solely through the clinic. I don't think we should add sex into the mix. It will complicate things too much."
Anna felt her heart break. She certainly hadn't asked John to father her baby simply to have sex with him, but the fact that he didn't want sex with her hurt more than she would have imagined. Somehow, she found herself defending her choices to him and negotiating their plans.
"Is it a turnoff that I'm not experienced?" she asked, looking up at him from the couch, surprised to feel her eyes welling with tears and her lip start to wobble.
"No," he answered immediately, with conviction. "That actually is a turn-on for me," he explained as he walked to the couch and sat down beside her. "But I can't be the one you give yourself to, Anna. I can't be your first. I can't tarnish you for your prince charming. You've waited this long, and I'm not going to take away that special moment. It's a moment you'll never get back, Anna, and I don't want to steal that from you or from the man whose it's supposed to be."
Anna reached for his hands as a tear slipped down her cheek. "Sentiment like that, Mr. Bates, is why I do want you to be my first." She couldn't help the crooked grin that appeared on her face. "And this is not 1925. You would not be 'tarnishing me.' Plus, with that logic, my image will be sullied by being a single mother. No one's going to think, 'Oh, I bet she's still a virgin who used a fertility clinic to have that kid.' But I'm not particularly worried about what people think of me."
"Anna, you've waited this long and the moment needs to be memorable. In a good way - the best way. You need a man who can give you everything you deserve, not just a tumble in the hay in hopes of procreating."
"And you don't think you can be that man." It was more of a statement than a question. Anna let go of his hands and stood up, looking down at him. "Well, I do, Mr. Bates. I do. And since this is my body, my virginity, we're talking about, shouldn't I get a say in that decision?" John stood up beside her, taking in her features and the grit this petite woman encompassed.
Anna stared back at him, unable to read his thoughts. "Or do you not want to be that man?" she asked him.
Oh, how he did wish to be that man. But he didn't deserve to be. "Anna, if I'm truthful, I would love to be your first lover." Your only lover, he thought. "But I can't keep from feeling like I'd be failing you. And if there's a good chance that the insemination at the clinic will work, then I think we just need to try that."
"You're not listening, John," Anna told him, shaking her head. He was the most infuriating man she'd ever encountered.
"I am. I hear you. Loud and clear. You think we should have sex to increase the odds of the pregnancy. I think your first time should be with a better man. Apparently we're at an impasse."
Anna couldn't stand it any longer. She threw herself at him, locking her arms around his neck and pressing her mouth to his. As she caressed his lips with the tip of her tongue, she felt him yielding to her advances. His hands came up to steady her waist, and it wasn't long until his lips parted and he was kissing her back with matching fervor. He pulled her closer as he slipped his tongue into her mouth, and he felt her melt against him. She was running her fingers through the hair at the base of his neck, and he wasn't sure he could get enough of her. His right hand moved up her back and entangled in her blonde tresses as his left hand moved downwards to cup her bottom, pressing her closer to him. As Anna let out a moan and collapsed further into his embrace, he felt himself hardening against her. This was no kiss for show. This was a kiss for themselves and no one else. A kiss he was pretty sure that Anna was using to prove a point. A kiss that was accomplishing her goal.
Gently, John loosened his hold on her and began slowing the kiss as he took a step backwards, giving her two short, tender kisses as he put some space between them.
"Anna, I see what you did there," he smirked at her.
"Did it work?" she asked with a bit of sass, rubbing her fingers across her lips and basking in what she could only term the best kiss of her life.
John chuckled and grinned. "If we're gonna do this, let me woo you first. Let me take you out Friday night. On a date," he stated matter of factly.
"Really?" she asked, a bit gleefully.
"Really," he answered. "Be thinking of what you'd like to do. If the date goes well, perhaps there can be a second date on Saturday...and maybe things will move, um, 'fast.'" She couldn't help but beam at him.
"We have a gig Saturday night, you know," she reminded him. "Which is no problem for me because you playing trombone has always been an aphrodisiac for me." Did she just say that out loud? John raised his eyebrows but didn't make a comment.
"Let's just see how Friday night goes," he smiled. John leaned down and kissed her forehead and then headed towards the door. "I'll be in touch. Sleep well, Anna."
Two days later John found himself in the Crawley's backyard smoking meat with Robert. Cora had walked back inside a few minutes earlier, murmuring that it had been less than a week since Robert had gotten that smoker and that she was already sick of barbecue.
Robert sat down in one of the lounge chairs and took a swig of his beer. "Bates, how's life treating you these days?". John chuckled as he watched an airplane cross the sky from his vantage point on the matching chair next to Rob's. "How's your nephew?"
John had told Robert about the illness and his brother's request, but he hadn't told him that he and Anna had decided to have a baby in a partial effort to help save Declan's life. Even though Robert was his best friend, he wasn't sure he wanted to tell him that yet.
"About the same," John answered him. "We're still looking for a bone marrow donor."
"Well, Cora and I are wishing him our best. Let us know if there's anything we can do for you. We've both been on the national registry for a couple of years, or we'd get checked now," Robert let him know.
"I'm sure you would," John replied, folding his hands across his chest as he reclined in the lounger.
"How's Anna?" Robert asked him, catching John off guard. Robert noticed the furrowing of John's eyebrows in apparent confusion and elaborated, "It seems you've been spending more time with her lately. Like ditching me last Friday night for her."
"Ah, that," John smiled. "I was being a good friend. Friends help each other when they need it."
"I needed you. I had to eat ten pounds of meat by myself, nearly," Robert complained.
"I thought the Molesleys came over?" John responded, folding his hands across his chest.
"They did, but they don't eat much. Neither does Cora. I'm just saying it's been a long time since I've seen you turn down a good meal for a woman."
"It wasn't a date, Robert," John informed him with a chuckle.
"No? You didn't get dressed up and meet her out somewhere? You didn't pose as her boyfriend as you've been known to do on several occasions?"
"You've been talking to Mary, haven't you?" John asked, still not revealing much about his and Anna's relationship.
"When are you going to open your eyes and just ask her out?" Robert stated.
"What?" John asked, surprised by the question.
"Seriously. Anna has been making googly eyes at you since the first time she met you; you've just been too depressed to ever notice. But these last few months, since you've been 'pretending' she's your girlfriend, you've seemed happier. Why not ask her out and make it official?"
"It was convenient for her when she was trying to put off Greg," John admitted.
"But not now?" Oh, I'm plenty convenient, John thought. He didn't know how much of her plans for a baby Anna had shared with Mary or her family so he wasn't going to go there with Rob. But, he had promised Anna a date on Friday night and was a little rusty on the whole courting dance. He could use some ideas and maybe Rob would have some advice.
"Well, if you must know," John began, swallowing hard. "Anna and I have a date on Friday night."
"A real date?" Robert asked incredulously.
"Yes, a real date. Is that so surprising? Just a minute ago you were telling me to go for it."
"But I didn't think you would," Robert defended himself. "What do you have planned?"
"I was hoping you could help me with ideas. Anna is pretty much leaving the details to me, I'm afraid, but I'm a bit out of practice on this whole dating business," John admitted.
"I always enjoy the botanical gardens," Cora piped up, neither man realizing she had come back outside. She moved over to Robert's chair and sat on the arm. "It gives Rob and I a chance to walk hand-in-hand, enjoy nature, and slow down a bit. Sometimes we'll pack a picnic. Of course a nice restaurant is good, too, but you get more privacy and fewer interruptions if you're on a picnic."
"I was going to say bowling," Robert told them. "Or a movie." He shrugged his shoulders, his ideas sounding unimaginative even to him.
"And this is why you never get to plan our nights out," Cora told him as she patted his shoulder.
"Well, you've given me something to think about," John told Cora. "And you've given me nothing," he addressed Rob.
"You're welcome," Rob replied as he finished his beer and stood up to check on the smoker. "I hope you two are hungry because this pig is coming out." Cora rolled her eyes and shared a smile with John as she turned to head back to the kitchen. John rose from his seat as well and followed Cora into the house.
"Do you really have a date with Anna on Friday night," Cora asked over her shoulder as she began to pull plates out of the cabinet.
"I do," John answered her.
"I know Anna must be so excited. And probably nervous," Cora smiled. "You seemed to be oblivious but we all knew she had a crush on you years ago." John just shook his head.
"So everyone keeps telling me. I'm very flattered. But I'm a bit nervous, too. She's out of my league," he told Cora.
"Why do you say that? I think you'd actually make a good match. It just seemed like it was never the right time, you know?"
John wasn't sure how to respond. It was a real date this Friday, but it wasn't exactly spontaneous - more like a means to an end. Until now, since mentioning it to Rob and Cora, he hadn't thought how this might affect his and Anna's mutual relationships should this not end well. He'd be lying if he said, even to himself, that he had no feelings for Anna. He did. He just wasn't convinced that he was good for her. He only wanted the best for her, and he wasn't convinced that he was it.
If Cora noticed his brooding she didn't call him out on it. Instead she continued, "You know my favorite place at the botanical gardens is the fern dell. There's a bench near a little pond, and if you go in the evening when the weather is cooling off, there will be a little mist rising from the water. I bet Anna would like that, too."
God bless Cora, John thought. "Sounds nice. I'm not sure I'm much at packing picnics, though."
"What if you had the picnic catered? It could be a little nicer dinner that way. The fern dell would be a perfect spot. Then you could go for a sunset stroll after dinner through the gardens," she offered.
"Do you have suggestions for a caterer?" he asked, thankful for her experience.
"I do," Cora smiled broadly. "Beryl Patmore. I'll get you her number."
John stood near the entrance to the botanical gardens as he waited on Anna to arrive. They had agreed to meet there at six o'clock, allowing Anna time to arrive after leaving work. Mrs. Patmore was staking out the fern dell and setting up dinner as he waited. He couldn't believe how nervous he was about this evening as he looked down at himself, hoping he'd dressed okay. Weather was unpredictable this time of year - cool in the mornings and evenings but quite warm during the day. He was wearing the light blue button down shirt and the khakis he'd worn to work today, but he'd thrown on a sport coat to go with it. What did one wear for first date, anyway? It had been so long for him.
Before he could get lost any further in his thoughts, a horn beeped just in front of him. His eyebrows furrowed as he realized it was Mary, slowing her car to a stop about ten yards in front him. He noticed that Mary was not alone, though, and seconds after she put her car in park, Anna stepped out of the passenger side.
"I can trust you to get her home, right John?" Mary asked through her rolled down window.
"Yes, your Ladyship," he smiled. "I promise to get her home before midnight."
"Very well," Mary replied as she drove off, leaving the two of them standing there staring at each other. John took in Anna's appearance, wondering how he got lucky enough to have a date with this gorgeous lady. She was wearing a multicolored dress with sheer sleeves, and she'd traded her high heels from the other night for a more sensible pair of flats. Not that John knew much about women's shoes, but these shoes looked more comfortable for walking.
"Hi," Anna smiled at him as she made her way up to him.
"Hello," he answered back, his baritone sending thrills down her spine. She couldn't believe she had a date with him. A real date. She reached up for a hug when she made it to where he was standing. She had to stand a little taller on her tiptoes, and he had to bend over just a bit more since her flats accentuated their height difference. As his arms came around her back, pulling her to him, she couldn't help but feel like she was coming home.
"Shall we?" he asked as he released Anna from his embrace. He held his left arm open to usher her in front of him and into the gardens.
"What do you have planned, Mr. Bates?" Anna asked with a smile as she stepped in front of him through the gates. Once through, she moved over so they could walk side by side.
"We have dinner waiting for us ahead," he replied. "I hope you like beef stroganoff. I was unsure what you might want."
"As long as it's not Robert's smoked barbecue, it will be fine," she laughed. "Mary has brought leftovers to work for the last three days and forced me to eat with her."
"Well, I had thought about that, but I didn't think it was very romantic," John answered with a grin. Anna tried to hide her giddiness that John was trying to be romantic. "Plus," he continued, interrupting Anna's thought, "Cora recommended a chef she raves about who has made our dinner. I thought this was a safer bet."
The two continued in silence as they made their way through the gardens, their hands swinging by their sides. Occasionally, their hands would brush and Anna was unsure whether it was intentional on John's part or not. As much as she'd like to reach out and take his hand in hers, she knew that he was easing himself into the idea of a relationship with her, and she didn't want to ruin what could potentially be a wonderful night by pushing him too hard, too fast. Instead, she chose to break the ice with more conversation.
"The gardens are beautiful," Anna commented as they strolled through yards of chrysanthemums. "And the lighting this time of day is perfect. This was a good idea," she told him as she looked over and up at him.
He smiled down at her and said, "I'm glad you like it. Again, I have to give Cora the credit for the idea."
"So," Anna asked with narrowed eyes, teasing him, "just how much does Cora know?"
"Not as much as you probably think," he chuckled. "Only that you and I are going out tonight...and that I have no clue how to date," he smirked. Anna smiled at his response.
"So, she doesn't know about the baby?" she asked.
"She probably knows about my brother's request. Rob doesn't keep anything from her and of course he was the first one I talked to after Jim called me. But Cora doesn't know that we're planning on a baby together." He paused to look at her for a moment as they continued their pace around the grounds. "Neither does Rob."
"So it's our secret?" she asked, looking at him out of the side of her eye.
"Mmmm," he replied, grinning at her.
"I kinda like that, Mr. Bates. That we have a secret that no one else knows about," she smiled. He couldn't help himself from smiling back nor from reaching for her hand. John entwined their fingers and rubbed his thumb along the back of her hand. She squeezed his grip in return as they entered the red maple area of the park, feeling her heart flutter at the sight of the crinkles forming by his eyes.
They continued through this two-acre field, hand-in-hand, towards a large Japanese maple in the middle of the garden. On its left side there was a family picnicking with their young children, and neither John nor Anna could keep themselves from smiling as the toddler ran circles around the tree.
"I've been told that maple is over a hundred years old," John informed her as they walked past it, towards a brook.
"It's striking. Strong. Mature. All things I'm attracted to," Anna replied, and John got the feeling that she wasn't just talking about the tree.
"I also find the tree alluring," he stated as they headed over a stone bridge. "Beautiful. Elegant. Magnificent." Their steps slowed in the middle of the bridge, and they turned to face each other still holding hands.
"Steady," Anna added.
"Grand," John said. They were slowly drifting closer to each other.
"Deep," she said as she began to lean in and upwards towards John's lips.
"Majestic," he breathed as he lowered his head to close the distance between them.
Just then a shriek erupted from one of the children behind them and interrupted the moment. They pulled apart, and Anna looked down at her feet. She heard John let out a sigh and took comfort that he appeared to be as disappointed as she was that their moment was broken.
"Well, here we are," he stated, as he cleared his throat. Anna raised her head to look ahead on the other side of the bridge. He heard her sharp intake of breath as she looked forward at the fern garden. There was a small table set up with a tablecloth, candles, and two meals, right next to a misting pond.
"This is gorgeous, John," Anna breathed. She had never had a first date, or really any date, that was as romantic as this one was turning out to be.
"Which is only fitting for my present company," he replied as he led her towards the picnic. Mrs. Patmore bid him a quick goodbye as she left the premises as soon as they arrived, only waiting this long to ensure that their meal stayed unadulterated by other guests or wildlife.
John walked around the table and pulled out the chair for Anna, scooting it in as she took her seat. He took his jacket off and hung it on the back of his chair before joining her at the table.
"I'm sorry it's not served in courses," he told her, "but I didn't want the main dish to get cold. So there's a side salad to go with the entree and some chocolate cake to share for dessert."
"It sounds scrumptious and smells delicious," she told him. "I can't wait to taste it." They both began eating and conversation lulled for a bit before Anna broke the silence.
"I had another ultrasound today. They think I'll ovulate Sunday or Monday. I go back Sunday morning for another ultrasound. They'll either do the insemination then, or I'll come back Monday for it."
John continued eating, not responding for a moment. "It's crazy how exact science can be about this," he finally said after swallowing.
"It is," Anna agreed and took a few more bites of her food. "Um," she started again after working up her nerve. "Dr. Randolph reiterated that it would be best for us to start trying on our own tomorrow." Anna knew her face was turning red and was thankful for the low light in the dell so that her blush was hopefully less noticeable. John didn't respond at all to her statement, and she wasn't sure if it was a good sign or not. "He did say to skip Sunday," she hurried on. "You know, to let you, um, recuperate." She began to worry when John still didn't say anything and just continued eating. Finally, she couldn't handle his silence any longer. "You're not having second thoughts, are you?" Anna asked him.
John put down his fork and wiped his mouth with his napkin. Placing the napkin next to his plate he reached across the table for both her hands. "Anna," he started. "This is a date. Our first date. While I know what precipitated this outing, let's just forget about it for tonight. We can talk about it tomorrow. Tonight, let's just be us. I get it. I need to do my job tomorrow." He paused to smile. "And Monday. But we both know it's not going to happen tonight, and I'm sure you obsessing about it does not increase our chances for a successful pregnancy." She squeezed his hands in agreement and he let her go. She picked up her fork and resumed eating, taking his words to heart.
Half an hour later they had finished their meal and shared the chocolate cake, their conversation turning to lighter topics. Although she knew he couldn't understand it, Anna felt like a teenager going out with the star quarterback as their forks occasionally tangled, fighting for bites of the decadent dessert Mrs. Patmore had provided. As soon as the last bite was gone, John looked at his watch, knowing that Mrs. Patmore, or someone from her staff, would be back soon to clear the meal and the table. The sun was almost set by this point and the gardens would be closing soon.
"I know the night is still young," John started, "but we're gonna have to leave soon. The gardens close at nightfall." He stood and put on his jacket, walking around to Anna's chair to help her stand. When she did, he noticed a little bit of chocolate on the right corner of her mouth. He couldn't help himself from placing a gentle kiss on the spot and licking in clean. Anna grabbed his shoulders to steady herself, not ready for his caress at all. It was over as soon as it started but it was one of the most intense feelings Anna had ever experienced.
"We'd better head out of here before they lock us in." John looked toward the entrance of the gardens, and as he pulled away from Anna, he saw Mrs. Patmore and a younger girl walking towards them. "Do you have anything else you would like to do this evening? It's only eight o'clock."
Anna was still reeling from his unexpected...kiss?...and wasn't sure she remembered how to talk. Pulling herself together she somehow formed an idea and a question for him. "What if you just come back to mine? We could have some after-dinner coffee and relax a bit. This has been such a lovely evening, and I don't want to ruin it by adding a bar or some other loud-and-crazy venue to it, but I'm not quite ready for it to end. This has been perfect," she told him.
"As you wish," he answered her, offering her his arm as they began to make their way back to the entrance of the gardens. "We'll have to come back another time when we don't run out of sunlight to explore the grounds."
"That would be lovely," Anna answered, excited at the prospect of spending more time alone with John. She took his arm and leaned into him as they made their way back across the stone bridge near the Japanese maple tree. Halfway across the bridge, John slowed his steps to a stop.
"I believe we have unfinished business in this spot, Miss Smith," he drawled as he turned her to face him. The mist was rising from the brook below and the light of day was almost gone. He wasn't sure if he'd ever seen anything more beautiful than the woman before him and the backdrop behind her.
John raised his hands to cup her face, caressing her cheeks with his thumbs and letting his fingers entangle in her hair. He gently tipped her head back as he lowered his face to meet hers. Her lips parted for him before he even initiated the kiss, and she moaned in relief when his mouth made contact with hers. Her arms snaked around his shoulders as she felt her knees go weak. His pressure was firm but gentle, and his tongue reached for hers with practiced ease.
Anna had been kissed before. She'd been kissed by several different men and even enjoyed the moments. But every kiss with John separated the man from the boys. Sooner than she wanted, he was ending their kiss and pulling her to him for a deep hug.
"As much as I'd like that to continue, I believe the caretakers would like to close up shop," John told her, releasing her from his embrace. She nodded and helped herself to his arm again, enjoying the scenery one last time as they strolled towards the entrance. There wasn't much conversation - just companionable silence. Yet, Anna couldn't remember a better night out in her life. She was beginning to realize there was no place she'd rather be than in the company of the man beside her.
Two hours later, John and Anna were sitting on her living room couch, exchanging stories of their childhood after their second cups of coffee. She was laughing at the antics of him and his brother, and he was learning just how much family meant to her. He knew about her parents' deaths, of course, but to hear stories of her treasured memories with them gave him a whole new insight on on her decision to have a baby of her own.
John checked the time a bit later and realized it was going on eleven. "I'd best get going. It's getting late," he said as he stood to take his coffee cup to the kitchen. Anna followed him with hers. "I need to let you get some rest."
"John," she called quietly from a few steps behind him. "We haven't talked about tomorrow, yet." He was standing in front of the sink where he'd just placed his coffee mug. She walked up beside him and sat her mug next to his in the basin. John didn't move. Although tonight had been lovely, this was the awkward part. Sex was supposed to be spontaneous, not planned. Anna moved her hand to rub his back through his shirt, and he felt as if she was searing his skin.
"Stay," he heard her whisper. He turned his head toward her with raised eyebrows, questioning if he'd heard her right.
"There's no need for that," he answered softly, not sure of her intentions but playing dumb lest he misread her request. "I don't need to mess up your guest bedroom."
"No. Stay with me. In my bedroom," she clarified.
"Anna," he whispered. "Aren't we supposed to wait until tomorrow? You know, for timing, and all?"
"Yes," she supplied. "But that doesn't mean that we can't just sleep together. You know, to kinda get used to it?" John closed his eyes, she was still rubbing his back and it felt heavenly. However, her touch combined with her pleas for him to stay with her tonight were bringing out desires they weren't ready for. She didn't know what she was asking. Then it hit him, she really didn't know what she was asking. "I was just thinking you could hold me, you know?" she added.
"I don't have anything to sleep in," John advised, neither one of them had moved from their positions.
"Do you need anything?" she asked. Then blushed. "I mean besides your boxers? You are wearing boxers, right? I was supposed to tell you that. It's better for the swimmers."
John smiled, finding her nervous chatter endearing. "I do have boxers, yes. Dr. Randolph gave me the low-down on that the other day."
"Then what do you say? Will you stay?" she asked again, trying not to beg. Truthfully, John knew that he couldn't deny her anything. He was surprised she hadn't figured that out by now. Or maybe she had.
"Okay," he nodded. A smile beamed across her features as she took his hand and led him to her bedroom. He stifled a groan at being dragged to this beautiful woman's boudoir, especially as he knew this wasn't going to lead anywhere tonight.
"You can get undressed in here," she told him. "I'll get ready for bed in the bathroom," she said as she entered the ensuite bathroom. Before he could reply at all, she was gone, the doors to the ensuite closed. He removed his shoes, socks, shirt, and pants, deliberating on whether to keep on or take off the undershirt. In the end he decided to keep it on, and began taking throw pillows off the bed in order to turn it down. He surmised from the position of the remote controls and a few personal belongings that Anna slept on the left side of the bed, so he slipped under the covers on the right side.
Anna emerged a few minutes later from the bathroom, wearing a modest cotton gown that was cut only a few inches below her neck and reached her knees. John still found it sexy, swallowing the lump in his throat and suppressing his more baser urges. You'll see it tomorrow, he reminded himself. Keep it under control tonight.
Anna smiled at him as she walked towards the bed and turned off the lamp. He felt the mattress dip, though only slightly, when Anna slipped into bed beside him. Without saying a word, she snuggled up next to him, fitting her body to his and reaching her arm around his waist. A yawn escaped her, and he couldn't help wrapping his arm around her and settling her against his chest. A sigh of contentment left Anna as he sniffed her hair, taking in her aroma.
"John?" she whispered. "Could I ask you something?"
"Sure," he told her, but he was a little suspicious about what she was going to say.
"Will you take off your t-shirt?" she asked, leaving John dry in the mouth.
"Why?" he choked out, not sure why she was asking this now.
"Well, you'll think me funny, but I've always been curious about your chest hair," she answered him. The little tuft that often was on display at the top of his shirts had driven her mad for years now.
"Now?" he asked "The lights aren't even on. You won't be able to see it."
"I know, but," she paused to sigh. "Nevermind. It was a silly idea." Did she do this on purpose?, John thought as he closed his eyes. Whether she realized it or not, she was becoming a master at manipulating him.
"Okay," he agreed, gently unfolding her from his side and sitting up to get rid of his shirt. She could see well enough in the moonlight as he pulled the cotton over his head, exposing strong arms and back muscles in addition to the chest hair she'd been longing to touch for years. She hoped he didn't hear her suck in her breath at the sight of his bare torso.
John laid back down and pulled her back to his arms, this time, her hand coming to rest in the fluffy fur of his chest, drawing circles in the hair covering his sternum. He began counting backwards from a hundred to try to control his urges at her touch. When she turned her head a bit and pressed a soft kiss on his collarbone, he knew he was done for. He placed his hand over hers on his chest and gently held it so that it could not move. So that it could not arouse him any further. Anna must have taken his hint as she relaxed further into his side and stilled her caresses.
"Goodnight, John," she whispered into his chest, hoping she never had to move.
"Goodnight, Anna," he replied as he placed a gentle kiss on the crown of her head, and then mentally changed his number to one thousand and began counting down again.