So here we have another episode. Thanks for still wanting to read them and for all your thoughtful reviewing!
It was puzzling how much it apparently excited his wife when he got angry. Smoothing his hair and rearranging his clothing before dabbing at the sweat on his brow with a pristine handkerchief, Bates wondered how this had escaped his attention before.
It all started innocently enough, in as far as anything involving the under butler could be considered so. Thomas…Mr Barrow…had kept riling him. He knew the drill by now, and rarely took him seriously any more. He shot Barrow a barbed remark now and then, to the delight of all others present. Usually that settled it. Only this time the insult had involved others, at this Bates' temper got the better of him. His arm and fist flexed involuntarily, his eyes flashing with a steely anger as he set the man right, rising with confidence to his challenge to take the conversation outside. Anna had raised her brow in silent encouragement as he began to give Barrow a piece of his mind. Yet when he half rose, his pose threatening and his voice deadly calm, he saw her breath hitch as she watched him. It never came to fisticuffs with the under butler. Bates had proven enough by not flinching for a second. Thomas had backed away, saved literally by the bell.
As he sat back down, Anna's hand was on his arm, her thumb secretly caressing the skin of his wrist, taking advantage of his turned-back sleeves. Her gaze smouldered with feeling. He was glad no one else seemed to notice; he was painfully aware of her caress. He jokingly kept up his glare, his gaze slowly softening until he gave her a small wink. She blushed and smiled. All this time with her, and he was still walking on air seeing her so because of something he had done.
A little later, he went to fetch a cup of tea from the kitchen. Habitually he also brought one for Anna. He nearly dropped the saucers holding their cups when a small hand caught his sleeve and pulled him into a quiet room off the main hallway. Shutting the door behind him, his wife leaned against it. He set down the cups on a nearby table.
"Come here, John…" she breathed as she turned the key and their gazes locked.
He felt heat rising in his blood at the sound of his Christian name on her lips, said so rarely outside their cottage. He came to her, letting her pull him in by his lapels and kissing her, responding to her passion as he pressed her up against the door. She opened her lips to him with a soft moan, sliding her hand in his hair and mussing it. They kept kissing passionately, tongues tangling, his hands wandering from her waist to cup her breasts. She melted against him as he groaned feeling her respond, the sensitive tips of his long fingers teasing her nipples into pebbles against the silky fabric of her uniform.
He moved his mouth down her neck, kissing up to her ear, his breath on her skin as he whispered, "We should not be doing this here, my love."
She giggled softly, making him smile as she slipped away and hopped on a nearby table. "Is this better, Mr Bates?"
"Stop tempting me, you naughty girl," he growled, slowly approaching her.
"Why?" she rasped. "I love it when you get all worked up." He felt himself harden at her words and tone of voice. Anna knew exactly how to drive him wild. She reached for him, pulling him in between her opened thighs. He kissed her parted lips and knew he was lost. There was no way he would be able to control himself. At least she had locked the door, even if discovery would still prove awkward.
Reflexively almost, his hands went to her behind pulling her flush against him as her tongue slid against his. She rocked against his hardness, moaning into his mouth. He needed to have her desperately.
Sliding his hands up her thighs he slipped back her skirt, pulling her underwear aside to stroke her folds. Christ, she was wet. His length strained almost painfully at his trousers as he watched her head fall back and her lips open in soft gasps as he caressed her. Pulling away reluctantly he freed himself of the confines of his trousers and underwear, her gaze following his every move as she bit her lip. Her eyes full of desire locked with his as she lifted her hips, cueing him to pull off her underwear. He complied then pulled her close to align them.
He kissed her again, languidly, pressed against her heat. "Take me, John…" she breathed wantonly, his desire making him rough enough to fill her with one deep stroke. "Oh yes, yes..." came her hisses over and over as he thrust into her, barely able to hold back. Her thighs wrapped around him, pulling him deeper into her heat, giving her the friction she needed. He groaned, speeding up, knowing she was as close as he was. Her hands twisted into his shirt and she buried her head at his neck, her hot breath rushing over his skin in a series of soft cries until she clenched around him. He bit back a moan as he felt himself erupt, the pleasure nearly blinding.
Panting heavily, they kept holding each other close as they came down. At long last she looked up to him. "I mussed you." She smiled tenderly, brushing his hair back.
He smiled gently, his eyes sparkling. "This was worth everything, even arguing with Thomas," he whispered, kissing her softly.
Her arms wrapped around him again as she splayed her hands on his broad shoulders. "Passion suits you, you know."
His hands caressed her back. "Only when it is with you, my darling." He chuckled. "I'm afraid your tea's gone cold."
They shared a mischievous grin.