Chapter twenty-two: A thousand years

Thomas shakes his head, watching as Kate and Polly go from room to room, excitedly talking about each room. He really can't believe his luck, Kate loves the house. She already has plans to knock out a few walls to extend the house a bit more. As long as she's happy, he's perfectly content to let her do whatever it is she wants. Besides, this house has been dark for years. It could do with a bit of cheering up.

"And," Polly points out with a smile. "since I have my own place, you'll be the woman of this house. And trust me; these men need someone to get them in order." Polly shoots him a pointed look. "I've had my fill of them."

"You did a good job, Polly." Kate assures her.

"Thanks to whiskey." Polly laughs as she reaches for Tommy, smoothly taking him out of his arms. "Right, now this little boy is going home with me."

Kate goes slightly pale, clearly not wanting to let her son out of her sight. "But, but," she stammers. "his crib is…already-

"Relocated to my place." She states. "Now, neither of you are going on a honeymoon. So, this lad will be sharing a room with me, for the next two weeks."

Kate begins shaking her head. "I've never let him-

"Listen to me." Polly states firmly. "You two, haven't seen or touched each other for years." Thomas inhales as he feels the fight leave Kate and a familiar tension fill the room. "You don't need a baby in that room tonight."

Kate exhales as he places a hand on her shoulder. "Thanks Polly."

"Don't mention it. I'm just glad to see this one no longer walking around as if he wants to kill anyone who looks at him wrong." Thomas rolls his eyes at Polly's quip. "Now, Finn is coming with me and Arthur is crashing on John's couch. The house is all yours for two weeks."

Kate exhales before nodding. "Alright. I'll let you, but, please, call me if you need-

"Kate, relax. I had two babies of my own." She smiles sadly. "I can handle him. Now, I'll bring him by first thing tomorrow afternoon." Kate starts to protest, but Polly cuts her off. "I was young and married once. Trust me, it'll be late afternoon."

Kate kisses Tommy on the forehead, stroking his dark mahogany hair before letting Polly walk away with him. She exhales as Thomas wraps his arm around her waist. She looks up at him. "I can't recall a single time when I was away from him for more than an hour." She sniffles. "God, I'm almost shaking."'

"It'll all be fine." he kisses her neck. "Because…Mrs. Shelby," she squirms as he swoops her up in his arms. "one of these days…you will be busy, running around, chasing our children for years."

"Is that so, Mr. Shelby?"

He nods. "Yes." He locks the front door of the house before moving up the stairs. Kate shifts slightly, tugging at the string of pearls around her neck. "Are you sure you're happy with all of this? This house?"

She nods. "Perfectly happy with it. After all the bustle of London, it's just perfect. "

"Really?"

"Yes." Thomas steps inside his room and sets her down on the ground. He doesn't break eye contact with her as he steps forward to kiss her. Kate moans as she caresses his face.

He pulls away to caress her face lightly with his hand. Kate inhales as she reaches up to unpin hairpins from her hair. It's longer than it was during the war. It now reached below her shoulder blades. Thomas smiles faintly, but he steps away from her as he removes his coat. He watches her, a smile on his lips as he unbuttons his vest as she sets her hairpins on the night table by his opium pipe. Kate stills as she runs her finger over the pipe and he pauses, trying to read the look on her face.

Sensing his eyes on her, she glances at him. She steps back towards him, a faint smile on her face. "Not tonight."

Thomas nods. "Thank you."

She smiles as she steps towards him, turning her back towards him. "Can you help me with the buttons?" he nods as he undoes the pearl buttons. Kate exhales as she grips the metal footboard; she can feel his eyes on her as her back is revealed to him. He kisses her neck, causing her to moan. "Thomas."

He kisses her neck one more time, before stepping away from her. She blinks in surprise before turning towards him as he pulls his shirt over his head. He glances at her and stares at her for a second, before removing his undershirt.

She pulls her dress down to expose her shoulders and letting the dress pool around the waist. Thomas glances at her, but then again, he diverts his gaze, causing her to speak. "I don't know," she croaks out. "why this… feels so awkward between us."

Thomas stills as he looks at her, holding his shirt in his one hand. "Well," he drops his shirt to the ground. "it'll be the first time; we'll be seeing each other completely naked."

God, she hadn't even thought of that! "I'm not a fool Thomas." she says softly. "You're holding back. I can feel it Thomas."

Thomas exhales as he steps towards her, running a hand through her hair. "I don't want to hurt you."

"You could never hurt me." He stares at her. "It's been three years since we've been together. Thomas, please."

He cups her face in his hands, kissing her deeply. The moment their lips met, the fire burning in their souls merged and collided in an inferno of pleasure. Kate parted her lips, begging him to deepen the kiss, which he does. God, she wanted this man for so long, so many years. She wanted him now. She wants the ties that bound them together to be secured. She wants him imprinted on her very soul.

His grip on her waist is hard as he steps on her dress, pulling it down around her hips. She hears it tear slightly, but he doesn't apologize, nor does she care. Her shoes fall off her feet as Thomas falls drops down onto their bed with him on top of her. He grabs her undergarments, pulling them down her legs, his breathing spiraling almost out of control. He caught her face in another kiss, coaxing multiple whimpers from her mouth as she clung tightly onto him.

He broke the kiss as she reached for his trousers. Her hands were shaking so badly, she couldn't undo the button. He stills her hands and set about the task for himself. She inhales, her heart pounding in her chest as she grabs the hem of her slip, pulling it up over her head as Thomas discards his remaining garments. He stares at her, lust, adoration, love and desire all his eyes as he surveys her. She holds his gaze as she throws her slip to the floor, laying back on one elbow, with her other hand held out for him to take.

He doesn't hesitate. He's on top of her, instantly between her legs. She kisses him as the feelings they held for each other grew into a huge bubble and burst. With every breath, sigh, kiss and touch, the emotions grew into something that frightened and fueled the two of them. It was almost primal; a need to claim each other. Thomas parted her legs and got between them. He used his knee, as an anchor before grabbing her hips to enter her, hard. He's not gentle. They've both been denied each other for so long and the urge to declare themselves as one is too strong.

Kate cries out as she clings tightly to him, wanting him to stay this way. She wants him, to make her his wife. She gasps out as his tongue invades her mouth, causing heated sensations to ravish her body. She wraps her legs tightly around his hips, as if she could forcibly join them together. Tears filled her eyes, but they weren't tears of pain; they were tears of relief. It had been three, long years since she'd felt him inside her and it might as well have been a thousand years. For so many nights, she thought she'd never experience this again. Now, her husband was back with her again and they'd have so many years together.

She moans as he breaks the kiss. "F**k Kate, just as I remember." She can feel him trembling as wipes away her tears. No, it's not just him. They're both trembling; completely overwhelmed with the realization that they now belong to each other completely.

"God, I love you so much." He kisses her deeply and Kate moans, swearing that she can feel him growing inside her from just a kiss.

He withdraws slightly and thrusts hard inside her, causing her to let out a cry against his lips as he hit that spot deep inside of her. Her muscles tightened, fighting to keep him locked inside her. "I need," he gasps as he withdraws slightly, only to pound hard inside her. "f**k… I need you."

Kate nods, latching onto him, her hands exploring his body. She gripped him hard, wanting him to stay inside her. He gripped her face, his hands tangling in her hair for a moment before locking his hands under her shoulders. He moved forcefully inside her, as if determined to assure himself that she belongs to him now. She grabs a hold of his shoulders as he drives himself deep inside of her.

"God!" she cries out. "Thomas, please!"

It's almost too much for her, the passion and the way her body comes to life for him again. He silences her begging with a hot, feverish, open-mouthed kiss as he pins her to the bed, holding her in place with his body. God, his hands ever everywhere on her! She was gasping for air, her mind spinning in a fevered blur. Three years or not, Thomas still remembered every inch of her body, remembered how she reacted and he played every remembrance to his full advantage. He knew she was close, for he firmly gripped a hold of her hair, locking her in place as he covered her mouth with his. She moans, clenching tighter around him as she bit his lip. He cursed, before shouting as they both came together, her cries of pleasure echoing in the empty house.

She held onto him, clinging to him for life as her body held onto him, reluctant to let him go. Thomas's arms buckled and he collapsed on top of her, breathing hard. She ran shaking hands up down his sweating back.

"Now," he breathes against her breast. "I can die…a happy man."

Kate slaps his shoulder gently. "Don't…you dare."

He kisses her breast before looking up at her. "I don't…intend to." he props himself up on his elbows and gazed down at her. He shakes his head in wonder before smiling at her. "You're so perfect. The most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life."

"You," she allows her gaze to roam over him. Neither of them had truly taken a moment to admire each other's physical form. "are a magnificent specimen of the male species yourself, Mr. Shelby."

"Magnificent?" he chuckles as he carefully pulls out of her. "A man could get used to that." he exhales as he pulls the sheet on top of them.

She snuggles next to him as he rearranges the sheet before holding her to him. One arm was locked around her shoulder, pressing her breasts against his chest. He kisses her as his hand grips her hips, pulling her lower body up onto his as her intertwines her legs with his, determined to hold onto every inch of her. She smiles as wraps her arms around his neck, breathing into his chest.

"Did I hurt you?" he asks. She shakes her head. "Are you sure?"

She looks up at him as she recites her letter. "Take me with a forceful passion," he nods in remembrance. "having the sole purpose of making me your wife branded on your heart. I may cry, but do not stop, for my tears will be happy, for we will finally be together again."

He nods. "I know, I'm holding you, but…I still can't believe it."

"Hmm," she kisses him, nibbling at his lips, causing him to groan. "maybe….we need to try again, to reassure you."

"Kate." he exhales deeply, his tone deep and seductive as she bucks her hips against him. "You little…hoyden."

"I want you." she gasps as his hand moves between her legs, cupping her entrance, causing her to be flooded with heat and moisture. She knows that she'll be sore tomorrow, but that's another day. She wants him, as much of him as he can give her. "All of you. Tonight."

"Be careful what you wish for Kate. I might take you so hard that you won't even remember your own name when I'm done with you. Do you want that?" she nods. He grips her wrist tightly as that dark possessiveness comes out of him again, causing her to shiver. "All you will remember is you are my wife. You will be exhausted tomorrow morning, but there will not be an inch of you that has not been claimed by me." she inhales rapidly, her body already becoming aroused by his word. "Do you want that?"

"Yes." She holds his gaze, as she firmly demands. "Make every inch of me your wife."

He does.

MeriemDjez: That's her father. I've always hinted in my previous works at what kind of a man he is. Now, we get another glimpse at the kind of man he is.

CrazyLooneyToon: I know, that was a great line, wasn't it? I took it out several times before deciding I needed to leave it in to lighten the mood.

Idcam: Grace will get her just desserts. I know, those two, unfortunately, won't get their chance until I finish 'Missing You' as they're in 'A man I loved,' which came in at third.

TheHoodedAssassin: She's lucky Kate was there, otherwise Thomas might have strangled her with his bare hands! As to her father, well, their business connection will be revealed in the epilogue. This one is done after that!