A/N: The M rated content continues in this chapter. This is probably the most difficult thing I have ever written and I hope it's not too much.

Thanks for the follows and the reviews, they are what drives me on to write more.

Disclaimer: John and Anna belong to Julian Fellowes.

Anna tightened the cord on her dressing gown as she stood by the boiling kettle. The smile had been permanently on her face since John had arrived that Saturday morning. She hadn't planned for things to happen that quickly between them, although she was glad that they had. It felt so good to be with John in that way again, there was no point in denying it. Michael and John were the limit to her experience with men, the latter obviously outshining the former by a great distance. As she watched the steam begin to rise from the kettle, Anna decided she wouldn't mind if John was the last man she ever shared such experiences with.

'You know, I just had a thought,' John announced as he appeared in the doorway. Anna looked up and felt her cheeks blushing at the sight of him. He was wearing a pair of black tracksuit bottoms he had obviously packed, but had neglected to wear a shirt. Michael had a nice body, she wasn't going to lie. He used work out, and would spend four evenings a week at the gym. But there was something about John's chest and his strong upper arms that affected her in ways she couldn't describe.

'Oh yeah,' Anna said weakly, 'what's that?'

'I might just kill the romance dead with it.'

'Don't worry,' Anna replied as she began preparing the tea. 'Just keep forgetting to wear your shirt and the romance will never die.'

'Deal,' John agreed as he moved to stand behind Anna, wrapping his arms around her waist. 'So long as you agree to wear nothing under the dressing gown.'

'You cheeky beggar,' Anna giggled, tapping John on the forearm. 'What was your thought?'

'Earlier, in the heat of the moment,' John began. 'We forgot something.'

Anna moved away from John to throw the tea bags away. 'No we didn't, it's fine.'

'Anna, I know it was pretty amazing what just happened,' John said with a smile. 'But not so much that I'd forget something like that.'

'I've sorted it,' Anna reiterated. 'I visited the doctor and he said...'

'Alright, spare me the details,' John winced as he sat down. 'So long as you're sure.'

Anna smiled at John as she joined him at the table, two mugs of steaming hot tea in hand. They sat in silence, exchanging shy glances although both completely comfortable in eachother's company.

'Why didn't Adam come down?' Anna asked, breaking the silence that had fallen between them.

'Well, he's got a match tomorrow...'

'And I'm the reason you're missing it?' Anna interrupted. 'John, you should have said.'

'Hey, it's alright.' John replied, covering Anna's hand with his own. 'Adam's fine with it, and it's the first thing of his I've missed in over fifteen years. In fact, it was him who convinced me to come down here.'

'Really?' Anna smiled, looking down at her and John's entwined fingers.

'And he didn't want to feel like a gooseberry.'

'Well, what just happened wouldn't have if he was with you.'

'Exactly,' John whispered, squeezing Anna's hand a little tighter. 'I love Adam to death and it's important to me that the two of you get along. But I am glad to have some time alone with you this weekend.'

'Me too.'

Their gaze met and John leant forward to meet Anna's lips with his. Anna brought a hand to rest on John's cheek as he deepened the kiss.

'You're so beautiful,' John breathed.

'Do you know what I'm thinking?' Anna replied as she rested her forehead against John's.

'If it's anything like my thoughts right now, I'd say last one back to the bedroom is on tea duty for the rest of the weekend.'

John paced Anna's living room, looking at the fast growing collection of gold discs that were adorning the walls. John thought he was doing alright when he had fifteen or so MOT's booked in for a week at the garage, but one million record sales was incredible. How this beautiful, multi talented woman had fallen for him was beyond his reasoning. He wasn't sure he would ever understand.

He was waiting for Anna to get ready. After spending the rest of the afternoon in Anna's room, much to John's delight, they had decided to visit a local restaurant for some dinner. Being pretty close to central London, and with Anna's status in society, John was a little nervous to find out if they would garner much attention.

'How do I look?'

John's fears were forgotten as he turned to see Anna in the doorway, wearing a white floral patterned dress and a little red cardigan. Her hair was resting on her shoulders and almost floated as she gave John a twirl.

'You look breathtaking,' John gasped, moving towards Anna with gathering speed. He took her by the hand. 'You always do.'

'Thank you,' Anna blushed. 'And tonight is on me by the way.'

'Rubbish,' John exclaimed. 'It's the gentleman's privilege to spoil the woman, on the first few dates at least.'

'Only if your sure,' Anna smiled.

'How fancy is this place, anyway?' John asked, stepping away from Anna. 'Is what I'm wearing okay.' Anna burst out laughing. 'What's so funny?'

'Nothing,' Anna replied trying to stifle her laughter as she took in John's outfit. 'You just never struck me as the type of person who would ask, does my bum look big in this?'

'Anna,' John groaned. 'Do I look alright?'

Anna tried to look serious as she gave John the once over. He was wearing a dark grey blazer, white shirt and a smart pair of black jeans. The look suited him, although she wouldn't admit that seeing him in a white t shirt with his overalls tied around his waist was her favourite outfit of his.

'You look gorgeous,' Anna replied as she brushed a lock of his brown hair from his forehead back into place. She took him by the hand. 'Come on, the table is booked for eight.'

'So you were in hospital for eight weeks?' Anna asked as she and John left the restaurant. 'I couldn't imagine that.'

'I was just glad to be alive,' John replied as they reached the pavement. 'And I needed to get Robert out of there. He is my best friend after all. And he had a young family. It didn't bear thinking about.'

Anna linked her arm with John's as they continued to walk the twenty minutes or so back to Anna's flat. 'It was very brave. So that explains the scar on your leg.'

'Yeah, it's part of me now. But it repulsed Sarah, Adam's Dad. Part of me thinks that was why she left me.'

'Was the break up tough?' Anna asked.

'Looking back, we were never compatible. It was only a matter of time, and it turned out she was never faithful to me. From the very beginning. I did what I usually do, fell head over heels and got my heart broken. Then I went back to Ireland and that's when Vera came back into my life.'

'Your wife,' Anna said, the words sticking in her throat. John picked up on this and covered the hand Anna was resting on John's arm with his own.

'She's my wife in name only, nothing else.' John reassured Anna. 'I never think about her.'

'And you don't know where she is?'

'Only that she's in Dublin. Other than that, no.'

Anna sighed. 'Did you ever love her? Or Sarah?'

John shifted uncomfortably before he stopped walking completely. Anna stopped as well and turned to face him. 'Sorry, I shouldn't have asked that.'

'No, it's alright.' John replied, the softening of his features bringing some relief to Anna. 'Do you want the truth?' Anna nodded, not entirely sure what he was about to say. She was taken aback as John took her hands in his own. 'The truth is no one has ever made me feel the way that you do. Not Sarah, and definitely not Vera. You bring out a side in me I never even knew existed. You walked into my life and instantly made me realise why my relationships in the past have never worked.'

Anna felt the stinging of a tear forming in her eye. She couldn't stop it from appearing. It fell down her cheek, causing John to be a little concerned.

'Are you okay? Is what I just said alright? Remember Anna, everything is on your terms. If I'm moving too fast or...'

'No, you're not,' Anna exclaimed as John wiped the tear from her cheek. 'No one has ever said anything as perfect as that to me in my entire life. It was beautiful.'

'Then they are all fools,' John smiled, moving his hands to Anna's waist. She gasped at the contact before wrapping her arms around John's shoulders as they gazed into each other's eyes. John's gaze moved from Anna's eyes to her lips. 'I'm going to kiss you now.'

'Well if you don't, I'm certainly going to kiss you.'

John laughed softly before placing his lips on Anna's. Grazing his tongue over Anna's bottom lip, she allowed him to deepen the kiss as their desire threatened to boil over in the middle of the street. Although deserted, in the back of John's mind a small voice questioned if this wasn't a little daring. People had recognised Anna in the restaurant, and they had made no secret of their relationship, holding hands in between courses, whispering to each other. However, when he had Anna in his arms like this, he was sure nothing else in the world mattered.

Unexpectedly, the sound of a camera flash was heard, followed by the screeching of car wheels and the revving of an engine. John and Anna broke apart, both looking over John's shoulder to see a car speeding off in the distance.

'What the heck was that?' John asked.

'Don't freak out but I think we've just been papped.' Anna replied.

'Papped?' John asked before it dawned on him what Anna meant. 'That was a newspaper?'

'Probably, I'm used to it.' Anna shrugged, rubbing her brow.

'But won't that picture have consequences?'

'Only if it gets to print,' Anna explained as they continued to walk. 'I don't care, really.'

'Anna,' John exclaimed. 'If that gets in the paper won't your record company panic? Getting snapped with Michael Groves, actor is completely different to getting pictured with John Bates, forty something car mechanic, single father of one.'

'Like I said, I don't care,' Anna reiterated, stopping them from walking again. She rubbed the top of his arm. 'I love you. I'm not ashamed of it, why should I be when the only time I feel alive is when I'm next to you.'

'I love you too.'

'If the picture gets in the paper, all that will really happen is that people will know I'm seeing you. That's all. The record company won't mind.' John nodded before looking off in the direction the car had just sped away in. 'John, don't worry.'

'I'm not, it's just I don't want to jeopardise anything in your career.' he explained. 'If this, us, stops you from achieving your goals then I won't blame you if...'

'John, excuse me for being so blunt but please do shut up,' Anna said, a hint of a smile on her lips. 'It was only a matter of time before we came out. Ideally, I would have announced it at my own speed. But, Adam knows about us, my Mum and Dad have an idea and as far as I am concerned that is all that matters. That is all the blessing we need. Yes, I'm a singer who has sold a few records but I'm still me. I deserve to feel like this, to feel the way you make me. And so do you. If we affect my record sales, then so be it. Alright?'

John nodded. 'Alright.'

'Good, and chances are they won't even print the picture. It was some big awards bash across town tonight, their bound to be more interested in that than me and what I am up to.'

'Well, you're lucky then that you are the only thing that is interesting me at this moment, Miss Smith.'

'Really Mr Bates? Please do tell me more.'

'How about we get back to your place, and I'll show you how much you interest me?'

John squinted as the mornings light hurt his newly awakened eyes. He frowned as he realised he was in a different place, but it soon disappeared when he remembered where he was. Taking in a deep breath, he looked to his right to see Anna, still sound asleep, facing him. The covers were at the bottom of the bed, the heat of their lovemaking from the night previously still filling the room. Smiling, John turned on his side to face her properly. All in that moment, he was certain there weren't many better feelings that waking up next to her. Staring at her for a while, he allowed a smile to play on his lips as Anna began to stir.

'What time is it?' Anna said, or at least that's what John thought he heard as her words were accompanied by the biggest yawn John was sure he had ever seen.

'Half nine,' John chuckled as he focussed on the clock that was mounted on the wall opposite them. 'Adam's football match is kicking off now.'

'Aww, go and call him then.'

'Anna, I can't, he will be playing, won't he?'

'Oh yeah,' Anna said as she stretched. 'Sorry, I'm not really awake yet.'

'I can think of something that might wake you up,' John whispered in her ear before wrapping his arms around her waist.' He began to place hot kisses on her cheek before moving down her neck.

'John, can you give me a minute to muster up the energy. You wore me out quite a lot last night.'

John raised himself up on his elbow and placed a hand on Anna's cheek. 'Then lie back and let me do all the work.'

He moved so he was straddling Anna, his knees either side of hers. Anna kept her eyes screwed shut, enjoying the feel of his breath on her neck, his hands making trails up and down her sides. Silence reigned as John explored her body with his hands. He wanted to feel every inch of her, to make sure she felt satisfied. Moving down from her neck, he ran his tongue over one of her nipples before holding it between his thumb and forefinger, delighting in the way it's appearance changed. Anna moaned her appreciation, apparently she was feeling much more alert as John took her nipple in his mouth.

'That feels wonderful,' she breathed. 'No one's ever touched me like this before.'

'By no one, I take it you mean Michael,' John replied, looking up at Anna from his position half way down her body.

'I didn't want to mention him by name, I thought it might kill the moment.'

'Not at all,' John said as he moved up so his eyes could look directly into Anna's. He entwined the fingers on each of her hands with his own. 'I've got you now, and I'm not letting go of you. He's in the past.'

'Definitely,' Anna replied, feeling heady at the feeling of John's weight between her legs.

'So, what else didn't Michael do?' John breathed.

'Do you really want to know?'

'A woman like you, with a body like yours, deserves to be made love to in every sense imaginable.' John replied, nipping at her neck. 'So here I am. I will do anything your heart desires.'

'He was such a selfish lover, we'd probably be here all day,' Anna teased.

'Well, I have no other plans.' John said, raising his eyebrows before turning his attentions back to her neck.

Anna laughed before running a hand through John's hair. She knew what she wanted. She looked at the ceiling as she tried to find the words. 'Well, he never...' Anna stopped and sighed. 'What I'd really like is...'

John stopped kissing Anna's neck to find her gaze. 'What is it? You don't have to be shy with me.'

'I'm not shy, I'm here naked with you, aren't I? It's just something I'd never thought I'd be saying out loud.' John nodded, and believed he knew what it was that Anna wanted. Wanting to relieve some of her nervousness, he happened upon an idea.

'I tell you what. I'm going to do something now, and if I do anything you feel uncomfortable with then tell me to stop and I will.' Anna nodded and John smiled at her. John brushed his lips against hers before moving down the bed, trailing kisses along her body before stopping just below her stomach. Anna's breathing was become sharper the lower John's kisses went. He kissed the skin just above her centre before looking up and seeing her head pushed back into the pillow, her eyes shut once again. 'Is this what you want. Am I close?'

'Yes,' Anna gasped.

'Michael never did this for you?' John asked.

'No, he never did.'

'But you did it for him?'

'Yes.'

'What a selfish...' John stopped himself from finishing the sentence, causing Anna to laugh a little.

'I thought I loved him, and did it because he wanted me to. He said the thought of returning the favour repulsed him.'

'Anna, how this repulsed him I don't know because I've never seen anything as amazing as the way you look to me right now. Would you like me to continue?'

'Please.'

John began to place kisses on her soft curls once again. He tested her with his finger to begin with, massaging the wetness around, tracing gently over the nub he found there. Anna moaned out loud at the contact, sending John's pulse racing, Moving his kisses ever lower, he parted her folds and allowed his tongue to lick where his fingers had just been, The noises emanating from Anna were indescribable as he continued to search out her core with his tongue. She was raising her hips off the bed to meet the rhythms of his mouth.

'Oh God, John.' was all Anna could manage to say as she continued to move her hips.

She had never imagined that this act of lovemaking would make her feel this good. She felt the pleasure building within her pretty quickly, her climax nearing with every movement of John's tongue. Grappling with the bed sheets she let herself go with one more erratic jerk of her hips, John's name escaping Anna's lips over and over again.

John suddenly felt her fingers in his hair and took this as his sign to stop. Anna sat up, her breathing still heavy and moved down the bed to meet John as knelt up. She wrapped her legs around his hips, his arousal clear for her to see. John wasn't sure she would want to kiss him but was taken by surprise as Anna met his mouth feverishly with her own, the desire to kiss him too much.

'Make love to me,' she growled, aligning them so John could join them easily.

'You feel wonderful,' John groaned as he pushed her back against the bed. 'That was amazing.' John began to move his hips, the need to move within her overpowering him. 'I hope you'll forgive me, I'm not sure how long I can hold on.'

'What you just did, I think I could forgive you anything.'

John laughed, his breath hot against Anna's neck as his thrusts became more frantic. Anna was whispering things in his ear he never believed a gorgeous young lady like herself would ever say to him, driving him on to reach his own end.

'You naughty girl,' John murmured in her ear as he calmed down, before rolling over onto his side. He took Anna in his arms and held her close to him. 'How ever was I meant to last, the things you were saying to me.'

Anna laughed and buried her head in John's chest, the memory of the words she just uttered leaving her seemingly embarrassed now their lovemaking was over. 'You bring out the worst in me, John Bates.'

John laughed out loud at her comments. 'If that's the case, then I hope to so for a very long time indeed.'