The promised wedding night. But I decided to keep it in this fic and just up the rating. I think a 'T' is justified. If anyone disagrees, let me know and I'll up the rating.

He could feel the warmth of her hand through the layers of his jacket and shirt. His hand rose to cup her cheek as he gazed into the darkening blue eyes. After tracing the line of her mouth with his thumb, he was drawn to replace his thumb with his lips. He tasted her lips again, drinking her in, desire stoked by knowing that tonight he could taste all of her. He pulled her even closer, wanting to feel her soft curves against his own hardness.

She gasped. This, all of this, was as she had imagined but more, much more. He was stronger than she'd imagined. The heat between them burned hotter. Her desire was more insistent. There was every danger that she would be carried away completely by her feelings for this man. When he caught her bottom lip between his and sucked lightly, she didn't think she would mind at all, not at all.

His hands were on the back of her dress, fumbling with buttons as he struggled to learn the nuances of women's clothing. He had never undressed a woman before. Abigail preferred that he came to her when she was already in bed with lamps blown out. A button popped off in his hand. His mind clouded with the thought that he would gladly tear them all away from her dress. He growled low in his throat. This was not right. He struggled to gain control of himself again. Putting his hands on her shoulders, he pushed her back and pulled his lips away from hers. But not willing to retreat fully, he rested his forehead against hers.

What was happening? What had gone wrong? She opened her eyes to see her husband, soon to be lover, with his eyes closed. "Charles? Have I offended?"

His eyes popped open, "No! No! Not at all. It is I who should apologize to you." He continued at her confused expression, "I am in danger of taking my own pleasure only and giving none to you."

She smiled. Dear, sweet, frustrating man. She took his hand in hers, placing it on her chest so that he could feel her racing heart, "There is little danger of that, my love."

He nodded his thanks and stared down at his hand on her breast in wonder at the effect he was having on her. "But still, I am not an animal. I have some control. I wanted this night to be perfect, but I am afraid…"

She covered his mouth with her fingers. "We are neither of us perfect. I think that might be too much to expect, but there will be more times. We will learn, will we not?"

Distracted by the caress of her fingertips on his lips, he closed his eyes again and spoke softly to cover the hoarseness of his voice, "Then guide me. I have not undressed a woman before. Show me."

She looked at him, confused. He had been wed before after all. Surely he had…

He shook his head to dispel her question. Bringing his first wife into a conversation with his second on his wedding night was not something he wished to do.

She thought about it for a moment. Perhaps he had not. Davey would help with her buttons at times, but had she ever seen all of him and he all of her? Only in moonlight and almost always shrouded by sheets and blankets. They had loved but because they were married and it was expected. With Charles, she did not think she could have resisted her desires married or not, expected or not.

She turned her back to him and said, "They are only buttons, Charles. Smaller than the ones on your clothes maybe, but just buttons."

He chuckled. Only buttons, but buttons that would reveal her body to him. He worked the first few loose with care and then asked, "Do all your dresses have so many of these small buttons?"

She laughed softly and leaned back at the brush of his warm breath against her neck. "Not all, but some do. Perhaps I should have worn one with fewer."

"I only thought that perhaps I might have to help you with them every night," he said, leaning forward to kiss the bared skin of her upper back.

She shivered under his touch and sighed, "Yes, please."

Emboldened by the huskiness of her voice, he kissed her again as he worked more buttons loose as quickly as he was able. Finally, he could slide the dress from her shoulders only to be confronted by another piece of armor. He grunted in surprise. "How many layers are there?"

She turned to him. He would never be able to deal with this piece of clothing without more skill. She reached behind her to loosen the laces just a little and then pressed the busk together, causing her corset to fall open.

He smiled his appreciation. That was a skill he needed to learn, and he told her so as he drew her close for another kiss. His lips trailed quickly from her lips to the curve of her neck. He was fascinated at how soft she felt now that the armor wasn't in the way. He caressed her back and sides and his lips dipped lower to her upper chest, making a slow but determined path toward the top of her shift. She was saying his name. He could feel the vibrations on his lips through her chest, and it excited him even more.

She pushed gently at the curly head that was worshipping her chest. As much as the sensations he was causing were nearly causing her knees to buckle, she wanted to feel more of him as well. "Charles, Charles," she repeated his name only to realize that instead of drawing his attention, it only made him murmur in appreciation. Finally, she said in the most authoritative voice she could manage while in this state, "Mr. Breghert."

He lifted his head to look at her, distracted finally from his goal by the tone of her voice. Was she unhappy? Had he gone too far? Her cheeks were flushed and her lips swollen. He couldn't resist bending forward to soothe them gently with a kiss.

"Mr. Breghert, please," she said, "if you do that… You are far over-dressed sir. Would you leave me at such a disadvantage?"

He smiled, passions still enflamed, but he felt more in control of himself, enough to tease. "Mr. Breghert is it? And sir? I would have thought the words we spoke entitled you forever to Charles, at least while we are alone."

She returned the smile, but lifted her hand to his buttons, "You seemed distracted, Charles. I thought perhaps Mr. Breghert might attend."

He watched as she began to loosen the buttons on his waistcoat and leaned forward to speak low in her ear. "I think that you will find that you have the full attention of both Charles and Mr. Breghert."

Her hands faltered on the buttons, betraying her excitement. Her hands trembled. There was a certain note in his voice when he spoke so lowly that she could feel to her toes. He noticed. Frustrating, wonderful man.

"Should I do that?" he asked. She nodded and lifted her hand to stroke his cheek. The pleasure of her hand caressing his whiskers made him close his eyes and hum before continuing the task at hand.

He worked loose the buttons of his waistcoat and shirt faster than she ever could have, revealing a broad chest. Her hand trailed down his neck to trace along the line of his collarbone and then down to curl in the smattering of hair directly over his heart whose pace nearly matched her own.

Enough. They had explored enough. She was right. There would be other nights; more times this night if he was capable. It was time. He leaned down to cover her lips with his and pressed forward insistently. The bed behind her was his goal.

His kiss had changed. He was not as nearly out of control as he had been earlier, but there was no more exploring. He was ready. She was ready as well; more than ready if she admitted the truth. As she stepped backward, knowing that the bed was behind her to safely catch them both, she reached down to the buttons at his waist. When she had unbuttoned the two at the side, the flap was pushed forward by his hardness. The back of her hand brushed him when she sought the single button in the middle.

He growled again low in his throat when he felt her touch on him. His mind clouded again and instinct took over. He lifted her shift and her to lay her back on the bed. With quick movements, he had his trousers pushed down to his ankles and was kneeling between her legs. He opened his eyes to look into her blue ones again and when he had found himself, pushed into her warm depths.

It felt like welcoming him home. She watched as his eyes nearly closed for a moment and then opened to gaze into hers. Their gazes held. Her eyelids dropped at times as her pleasure built, but still she could feel his eyes on her. When his eyes closed, she was fascinated by the pleasure washing over his face. His eyes opened again and she found herself in their hazel depths.

His thrusts became erratic, and she could feel herself nearing the very top of pleasure. With one final push forward, they cried out as they found their peak together; together as they would always be.

Reviews are welcome as always. More to follow soon, but I need a little break. Writing smut is hard. (pun not intended at all)