Anna took deep breaths, counting each inhale to ten before exhaling. Opening her eyes she checked herself in the full-length mirror. The dress hung like a waterfall on her. The straps at her shoulders supporting the sleeves that tied at her elbows to leave them billowing from shoulder to elbow and from elbow to wrist while leaving her skin exposed. The material swished over the floor as she walked and the silver-blue glinted in the light to send dazzles of color over the mirror. Anna pulled at the edge to check, for the hundredth time, that her heels really did match.
A buzzing at her door interrupted her and Anna dropped the edge of the dress. She moved to the hall, pulling down her coat and slid one arm through when she checked through the peephole. John stood on the other side, the blue tie of his tuxedo showing through the lapels of his black pea coat. She finished getting on her own coat, buttoning it to completely cover the dress so she would stay warm in the January air.
Anna took a few deep breaths before opening the door. John turned and smiled at her. If Anna had not kept her firm grip on the door she might have fallen over with how that smile lit her up inside. She returned it, beaming at him, and grabbed her purse.
"Ready?"
"Yes," She checked for her keys and essentials before smiling at him, "Perfectly."
"Not that I'm not overjoyed you're already ready but Mary warned me that women take forever and I shouldn't be surprised if I had to wait on your couch for an hour or-"
"I'm nervous," Anna walked into the hallway, pulling her door closed before locking it. "I always get ready quickly when I'm nervous."
"How nervous are you?"
"You know how some people would rather be an hour early than five minutes later?"
"Yeah."
"I'd rather be two hours early."
"Well then," John gave her his arm, "Allow me to escort you insanely early to your party Ms. Smith."
"If it's your pleasure Mr. Bates," She giggled at him, slipping her hand in the crook of his arm."
"It is."
They walked to the elevator and John pressed the button. He waited a moment before taking Anna's hand in his. Lifting it to his lips he kissed it and then replaced it back on his arm.
Anna thought her face might break if she kept smiling. "You're very sure of your seduction Mr. Bates."
"I did promise you that I planned the perfect seduction."
"Not sure you planned the way I shut you out." Anna's voice lowered and she swallowed. A slight pressure on her shoulder had her turning to see John's face.
"It just delayed it a bit, nothing more." The doors opened and he stepped back, waving his arms, "After you Ms. Smith."
Anna entered the elevator and waited for John to enter before pressing the button for the lobby. When she joined him she felt his fingers caress over the back of her neck. She froze, trying to bask in the sensation. A moment later he bent further, barely brushing his lips over the skin available to him. She sighed and he took her hand to turn her to him.
His hand came to her cheek, holding her as gently as an expert handles fine china, and he bent to kiss her. It was not like the kiss she forced on him in his office but like someone trying to touch a bubble without breaking the surface tension. She slid her own hand to his cheek, enjoying the tingle in her fingers of his soft skin under her fingertips.
He slid his tongue over her lips and Anna opened to him, pulling him closer with another hand on the back of his neck. He backed her into the wall of the elevator and pressed his advantage with a hand at her waist. She could barely feel it through her coat but she surged upward to take more of his mouth.
The elevator dinged open and John released her lips. He did not back away but spent a second stroking over her cheek before bringing the back of her hand to his mouth to kiss it. Tucking it back into the crook of his arm he led them from the elevator to the street.
Anna gasped, covering her mouth with both hands as John walked to open the door for her. He waved his hand toward the inside, "Your carriage awaits Ms. Smith."
"John," Anna stepped forward carefully, taking in the full length of the black limousine. "What did you do?"
"I thought that the owner of the newly reopening Cerulean Swan deserved to arrive in style." John took the pace toward her, taking her hand, "It's my gift for the evening."
"Is this the surprise Mary warned me about?"
"Mary warned you I had a surprise?" John paled slightly and Anna stopped.
"You do have a surprise?"
"Yes, I do… or I did but it's not a surprise if you know there is one." John shook his head, "I don't know why I told Mary anything."
"She didn't say what it was."
"Well it's not the limo, that's for sure. That's a gift, not a surprise." John guided Anna inside and slid in after her. "But if you want the limo to be a surprise then consider it a surprise."
"Well I was surprised," Anna leaned over to him, "But now I'm curious what surprise you have."
"If I tell you then it's not a surprise." John kissed her cheek before pushing a button, "We're ready to go now Andy."
"Sure thing Mr. Bates."
John released the button and turned back to Anna to see her pouting. "What?"
"I don't like surprises."
"You'll like this one."
"The last time Mary said that to me we got wasted on a cruise around the Mediterranean and I ended up food poisoned."
"So I won't take you on a cruise."
"That's not funny John." Anna swatted at him but John did not stop laughing. "I was puking everywhere."
"Then let me tell you it's not a cruise or poorly prepared seafood."
Anna narrowed her eyes, "Is it sea food?"
"No," John held up a finger, "And I won't play twenty questions with you so don't ask."
"Fine." Anna got comfortable on the seat, "Then I won't ask."
They drove to the Cerulean with bursts of conversation but as they drew closer Anna had less and less to say. She glanced at her hand, noticing it shaking when she pulled it to eye level. As she went to clench her fist John took her hand in his. He squeezed gently before setting it on his knee.
"It'll all be alright Anna."
"You think so?"
"Talbot closed the Scarlet just for this. He wouldn't put faith in something he doesn't trust."
"You and Henry've gotten close," Anna furrowed her brow, "Did he help you with the surprise?"
"He and Mary did. I wouldn't have thought it up on my own." The limo stopped and John put his hand on the door, "Are you ready?"
Anna took a deep breath, counted ten, and nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."
"Good," John kissed her on the cheek, "You'll be amazing."
He opened the door and a flash of light punctuated by a million following flashes blinded Anna for a moment. She glided over the seat, taking John's hand from outside the door, and waved to the gathered crowd of photographers, critics, and guests pressing to get inside.
Charles Blake strode over to her, took both her hands, and kissed her cheeks. "They're all ready for you to make a grand opening Ms. Smith."
"Thank you Charles." Anna smiled at him as he stepped to the side, whispered something to John, and then disappeared into the blinding lights again.
John took her hand and they walked up the rented red carpet to the front doors. Talbot waited there with a pair of enormous scissors, almost too obnoxious to be real, and beamed at them. He leaned over to shake John's hand and kissed Anna's cheek, "Better turn out than expected yeah?"
"It's something Henry," Anna called above the noise and followed him up the set of stairs to the small, temporary platform. She hugged Mrs. Hughes, shook Carson's hand, and greeted a grinning Tom. Turning to the crowd Anna approached the little podium and tapped the microphone once. It buzzed and the crowd dulled its roar.
Anna cleared her throat to the side, "Thank you all for braving the January weather to be here. I know this isn't what any of you expected to be doing a month ago but neither did I."
There was a short cheer and Anna waited before continuing. "I want to express my gratitude to Henry Talbot for forcing all of you out of the Scarlet to come back to the Cerulean," A ripple of laughter went through the crowd and Anna looked back at Talbot, "He's been a stalwart support to me from the moment the Cerulean opened it's doors for the first time and every day since he becomes more important and dear to me so I'd like to take a moment to thank him properly."
Anna stepped back and clapped, joined shortly by the entire crowd. Talbot stood, bowed slightly as he waved, and looked to Anna with tears in his eyes. They nodded at one another before Anna took her place at the podium again.
"I also need to thank Charles Blake, who conveniently disappeared, for his tireless efforts to have the Cerulean recognized for the landmark it is." Anna craned her head back to take in the building behind her, "In the twenties this was a fledgling jazz club, pun intended, and in the thirties it was a night club. The forties saw it endure the Blitz and the devastation that followed with open doors and open taps to show Hitler that they wouldn't be cowed by his efforts."
"Here, here." Carson bellowed and the crowd whooped with him.
"In the fifties some of the grandeur faded but it held strong until the sixties. By then the foundations had cracked but the council couldn't tear it down. It languished on, limping on as a shell of its former self." Anna paused, smiling to herself, "It's funny but some people talk about love at first sight with a person. I fell in love with this building the first time I saw it as a little girl and I haven't looked back since. I saw it for what it had been and could be again. It's been my goal, my dream, and my greatest achievement.
"So," Anna waved her hands at the Cerulean Swan, "Let it be opened again."
The crowd cheered as Anna and Talbot walked down the stairs to the doors. A huge bow, in cerulean silk, tied the doors closed. Anna held one end of the scissors and Talbot the other. They posed a moment for pictures before slicing through the fabric. It fluttered to the ground and for a moment Anna could hear nothing but the imagined sounds of life on the other side of those doors from the decades past calling out to her.
When sound hit her again Anna blinked away tears, beaming at the cameras as Carson took the large scissors and Talbot opened the doors. John joined her, Tom and Mrs. Hughes snaking past them through a side door, and Anna stepped into the Cerulean.
Anna basked in the compliments but felt the muscles in her face twitching from smiling all evening. Her stomach rumbled and she recalled the bit of appetizer she scrounged earlier before another person drew her into a conversation about possible investments. She searched the crowd for John, Mary, or Talbot but none of them seemed about.
A hand touched her shoulder and Anna turned to see Mrs. Hughes. "Mrs. Crawley's ready to sing now."
"Perfect way to close out the night I think." Anna went to walk toward the stage but Mrs. Hughes grabbed her arm. "I'll get up and tell everyone."
"No need."
"What?"
"Mr. Talbot is. She insisted."
"Why'd Mary insist on Henry doing it?" Anna shook her head, confused.
"She's a surprise for you first."
"What?" Anna frowned and then heard Talbot's voice over the microphone. She turned to the stage to see Talbot, looking rather dashing in his tuxedo with a scarlet tie and cummerbund.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I do hope you haven't indulged yourselves too much on the champagne and appetizers since you all have to drive yourselves home." The group laughed and Talbot flashed them a smile, "And since I'm here to announce a surprise that's coming to the Cerulean as of tomorrow I want you all as alert as possible."
Titters went through the crowd and those around Anna looked over at her. She smiled, feeling a flush rise in her cheeks since she had no idea what was going on. Her gaze went back to Talbot as he turned to motion someone to join him on stage. When John got up Anna covered her mouth with her hand.
"This man, John Bates, opened a contract with the Cerulean and the Scarlet Swans a few months ago as the owner and operator of The Bubble Room. If you haven't heard of it then you don't know what you're missing." Talbot paused again, "In celebration of the grand reopening of this historical site and this wonderful restaurant, it is the honor of Mr. Bates and myself to present to Ms. Anna Smith the newest line of alcoholic beverages distributed by The Bubble Room and made exclusively for the Swan franchise."
They both stepped sidewise as Mary rolled a table, draped in cerulean silk, forward. The three of them grabbed sides and counted to three before pulling back the fabric. Everyone gasped and then clapped at the sign depicting the label and the line of bottles in front of it.
Talbot retook the microphone, "Starting tomorrow night the Cerulean and Scarlet Swans will carry the 'Ugly Duckling' brand for vodka, champagne, red wine, white wine, whiskey, and scotch."
Anna could barely hold back her tears as John and Talbot congratulated one another. John met Anna's eyes over the crowd and for a moment he looked nervous. But she smiled at him, clapping with everyone else and smiling bigger than she had all night.
"And now, we present, to close off our perfect evening, Mary Crawley." Talbot handed the microphone to Mary before vanishing from the stage.
Anna watched John make his way to her as Mary sang into the microphone. Her voice sent a hush over the crowd and couples started dancing as Mary sang. John took Anna in his arms and she wrapped her around his neck.
"Surprised?"
"Pleasantly." She kissed him, "More than I can say."
"If you're mad about it in the morning it was Talbot's idea."
"We'll discuss it I'm sure."
They danced across the floor, John tilting his head toward the stage, "What's this song?"
"Heaven by Fire Theft." Anna smiled, glancing at Mary, "It was Matthew's favorite."
"Not hers?"
"No, her romantic song was always Starlight by Anna O'Byrne."
John shook his head, "Never heard it."
"She'll sing it for you anytime you like." Anna cringed, "Like non-stop driving through wine country in France."
"Oh," John laughed, "Brutal."
"Not as brutal as when Robert started singing Michael Jackson songs because he was smashed," Anna shuddered, "We couldn't get him to shut up for an hour."
"And he doesn't sing well when he's sober."
"Not at all."
John glanced down, "I don't think I told you how beautiful you look in that dress."
"You didn't."
"Well I wanted to say it at your door but since you already had your coat on I thought you'd think it was a line I was feeding you since I had no proof and then, when you had your coat off, there was a line of people to talk to you and I wanted the moment to be special."
"Did you?"
"Yes," John stopped them as the song finished, "You look beautiful Anna."
Anna stepped forward to put a kiss on his cheek, grateful for her high heels, "Thank you John."
"You never have to thank me for paying you a well deserved compliment."
"Not just that," Anna pointed around them, "For this."
"You did this Anna."
"You helped plan this party, you made me a line of drinks, you-" She faced him, "You never gave up on me, even when I pushed you away."
"Anna," He held both her hands in his, "I'll never give up on you."
Anna struggled to control her breathing and kept her focus on John's jacket when she spoke next, "You told me once that you didn't believe in taking a woman to bed until you'd seduced her properly."
"I did."
"That courtship is a serious business where both parties are victim and victor."
He stepped closer, bringing her hand to his mouth to kiss the palm of it, "I did."
"And you said that, when the time came, when neither us wanted anyone or anything else, that's when we would have sex."
"I did."
She looked up at him, "I want it now John."
His eyes widened, "Are you sure?"
"I wanted sex with you when I flashed you my panties over the bar," They laughed but Anna quickly became serious, "But now, I want you John."
John tugged on her hand, "Then you'll have me."
They collected their coats, leaving the party and the noise behind. Andy brought the limo around faster than Anna thought possible and delivered them to her doorstep in record time without collecting flashing lights on their tail. She still could not tell how they kept from sprinting across the lobby but they managed to make it to the elevator at a reasonable pace.
Inside though…
Anna was back against the wall of the elevator with John's hand at her waist and the other holding her neck to give him all the access he needed to her mouth. She clung to his jacket with one hand and the other flexed into the hair at his scalp. He moaned when her nails scratched there and she barely managed to hit the button for her floor with an elbow as the doors closed.
His hand moved up her back, gliding over the material of her dress, while his mouth sucked at hers. She thrust her tongue between them and he responded by taking it into his mouth, not losing hold of her. The ding of the bell in the background had John pulling her from the elevator and into the hallway.
They stumbled along, neither wanting to lose their hold on the other. When Anna did have to move herself away, digging in her purse for the keys, she felt him at her neck, kissing up to her ear before biting down. Her hands went to the door, holding herself up when she wanted to do nothing more than sink to the floor.
Fumbling the keys into the lock, she turned the handle and they managed to make it inside. He shut the door with his foot and Anna backed him against it. The lock flipped in place as Anna took John's mouth back.
Her purse and keys barely made it onto the hall table, wobbling on the edge a moment but she did not notice or care. His coat hit the floor with a satisfying thud and her coat soon joined it. When his hands trailed up her arms, skimming the silk of her dress and sometimes moving it over her skin, Anna shivered.
She pulled him toward her room, missing the light switch on the wall but barely caring when he backed her to the bed. Anna hit it with her knees and fell back as he put his knees on either side of her hips and continued kissing her. The duvet under her scratched with the sound of their clothing on it but Anna did not want to risk a moment away from him.
It was John who took a step back. Placing one lingering kiss on her, he tipped back to remove his jacket. He stepped over to drape it on the back of the chair in her room while she watched. Two shoes, right after the other, hit the floor with the socks following after.
In the dim light Anna stared at John, transfixed as he unhooked his collar, slipped off his tie, and carefully managed the cuffs of his shirt before slipping it and the waistcoat off. His large hands, almost too large for something as small and fine as the buttons on his trousers, moved them easily to strip down to just his pants. In a moment those were gone too and Anna felt her mouth go dry as he stalked back to her.
Anna lifted herself onto her elbows as John took a knee at the end of the bed. He stared at her as he lifted her right foot. He slipped the heel from her foot, placing it carefully to the side. The left foot soon felt freedom, followed by a quiet thump of the heel meeting the floor. He worked his hands up the outside of her dress, skimming over her, legs and up her chest to reach her neck again.
John took her face in his hands and made sure she looked right at him before continuing, "If, at any point, you don't feel comfortable I want you to tell me."
"How could I-"
"Anna," His tone grew serious, "Promise you'll tell me."
"I promise." Anna pulled his lips to hers, "For now, please don't stop."
He kissed her back as his hands slithered down to her hips. They held there a moment before he lifted to her sit on the bed. With him leaning over her Anna could almost imagine he engulfed her but she never felt safer.
One hand found the zipper at the back of her dress and the other skimmed to her breasts. The zip echoed over the room, a bass line to Anna's moans when John ran his hands over her. His hand at her breast continued his ministrations while the other pulled the ties at her elbows loose enough to push the top of her dress off.
Anna pulled her hands free, bringing them back up to John's face while she lifted her hips so he could finish removing her dress. He ended their kiss to pull the dress off her legs and place it with his clothes on the chair. When he returned Anna waited on the edge of the bed.
John kneeled down in front of her again and ran his hands up her legs to her hips, slipping under the elastic of her knickers. "You told me that you could count on one hand the number of times you've enjoyed sex."
Anna nodded, sending her head bobbing almost uncontrollably when John teased a finger over the top of her sex. He grinned up at her and pulled her knickers down farther. She raised herself on her hands so he could pull them the rest of the way down. Unlike her dress, which he showed care for, he tossed her knickers away without another thought.
"I promise, every time you have sex with me, you'll enjoy it."
"Will I?" Anna's tongue weighed heavy in her mouth, dry with anticipation as John brought his mouth near hers.
"Yes." He did not kiss her, just leaving his mouth near hers. "Do you want me to continue Anna?"
She nodded her head but he did not move, "I need you to say it, Anna. Do you want me to continue?"
"Yes."
"As you wish." He kissed her, pushing her back to the bed before moving back to his knees. "If you want me to stop, just say so."
But she did not want him to stop. He kissed down her body, paying careful attention to her breasts, even through her bra, and her stomach. His lips ran a wet trail down to her hips. There he left a ring of burning kisses while his hands smoothed up and down her thighs.
When he first kissed the top of her sex Anna let out a sigh. A moment later he spread her legs enough to fit his shoulders and took her nerve bundle in his mouth. She arched her back, her hands coming to the back of his head to press him closer. He responded with vigor, licking and sucking over her folds before plunging his tongue inside her.
Anna dug her fingers into his hair, tugging at it as her only means of communication. John ran the flat of his tongue over her before thrusting in again, moving like a man trying to lick her completely clean. She panted, unable to expand her lungs to pull in more air, and John brought his fingers around to touch where his tongue proved an enthusiastic participant in his perfect seduction.
With his fingers entering her Anna saw spots on her vision. One of her hands went to the bedspread, strangling it in her grip, as he added a third finger and curled inside her. She sat up on the bed, almost sobbing as she tugged his head to hers. His fingers continued inside her as Anna attacked his mouth. She located every trace of herself on him, sucking him dry in time with his final move of his fingers inside her.
Anna cried out his name, throwing her head back to the mattress. John kissed over her neck, riding through her spasms with slow massages, and waited until her body calmed. He drew his fingers from her and licked over them while she watched.
"Anna," John ran a hand through her hair, "I told you before, I love you, and I want you to know that's truer now than it was then. I'll always-"
"I love you too." Anna interrupted him, "I love you John."
He kissed her again, moving them up the bed and resting between her legs. She reached into her bedside table and pulled out a package. John caught sight of it and shook his head. Anna raised an eyebrow but John reached over her into the drawer, digging around until he found the package he needed.
Anna grinned as he tore it open and went to put it on. She stole it from his hand, rolling it over him herself. His eyes rolled back into his head as she touched him and then settled back.
He lined them up and slid slowly into her. Anna moaned at the feeling of him inside her and wrapped her legs around his waist when he went to pull out. His hand interlaced with hers, the other running up her back to unlatch her bra. They broke apart long enough for her to drop it over the side and John thrust in again.
The rhythm started slow, both of them getting used to the other. Anna immediately recognized that when she ran her fingers down his back he shivered. John found her breasts sensitive enough to send her into sobs of ecstasy when he kissed them. Their speed increased and Anna pulled his mouth to hers again.
She felt herself rising to the edge again and his hand rasped down her body to work at her center. She tore from his mouth, heaving in breaths as he kissed her breasts again. John sucked at them, taking her nipples in his mouth as he suckled there with enough concerted attention to send her spiraling over the edge for the second time.
With another few thrusts he finished, barely holding himself over her. Anna wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him to her and holding him there. He shifted a moment, pulling from her to remove the condom. She tugged the covers down, feeling the edge of chill on her body as John came back. He crawled under the blankets with her, laying next to her.
They lay on their sides, John running a hand over her arm while Anna played with his hair. He smiled at her, "I guess you've had you're way with me."
Both of them burst into giggles that had Anna burying her head in the pillows a minute before looking him in the eye. She leaned over to kiss his forehead before settling back on her pillow, "I just hope you don't live to regret it."
"I couldn't regret it." He took her hand, moving his fingers between hers. "No matter what comes I'm convinced that I'm now the person I was meant to be."
"I'm not the easiest person to be around." Anna bit her lip, "And I know I'm not worthy of you. You've done so much for me and I've been horribly ungrateful and sometimes sod all but you keep being wonderful. After everything I've done and been through there're a lot of people who'll say I dragged you into my troubles or that you're a fool for having stuck by me."
"Anna," John put a hand on her cheek, "I think you've waited long enough to be happy. Now that I'm here for you can that be enough? Even if its just tonight, can that be enough?"
Anna nodded, not willing to risk crying as the tears pricked at her eyes, "It's enough."
John leaned over to kiss her, pulling her closer in the process. "Then just go to sleep knowing I'll be here in the morning, that I love you, and you will always be loved by me. Can you do that?"
"I think I can." Anna settled on his shoulder, "I love you John."
"I love you Anna."