A/N: This is for adults only! Since it's first time cottage smut it doesn't fit in with the theme of my other fic so I decided to create a separate fic. Please let me know what you think, I'm a bit apprehensive posting this but I hope it's ok. If feedback is positive maybe more chapters would be added as I get over my smut writing fears. I'm doing my best to keep it in-character and I hope I succeeded (after hearing Anna twice volunteer to be John's mistress, I think she would indeed have her way with him and that influenced how I wrote her in this).

John was trying to fight the urge to grin like a fool. If someone saw him grinning happily while polishing Lord Grantham's riding boots they'd think he'd gone soft in the head. But he was finding it impossible to help himself. Tonight was going to be his first night in his new home. Their new home. After the long weeks of waiting, the cottage was in good enough shape to move into. There had been some large repairs, a hole on the roof and patching some plaster, but those were now done. All other improvements were cosmetic and that was being left up to Anna. John knew he would be kept busy, Anna had already been discussing painting the parlor and bedroom in their spare time. They both had the day off tomorrow (Carson was quite accommodating in his scheduling), but Lady Mary had insisted Anna take the afternoon off to begin putting her own touch on their home. John had to work, but Anna said she was rather glad he did so she could surprise him and have dinner waiting for him when he arrived, just like a real married couple.

A real married couple. Though they had been married for some time, this was the first instance when John felt like an actual, proper husband aside from their wedding night. He was going to his home, to his wife, to his bed. He couldn't wait. After all their troubles, it seemed like their real married life was now just beginning.

Other thoughts occupied John's mind. These past few weeks had been torture for him, having Anna sit beside him, holding her small hand, and giving her sweet goodnight kisses. It simply wasn't enough. Oddly, they had not discussed their physical life together. Perhaps each knew that it was impossible given that they still lived in Downton and thought it best not to discuss it. Still, part of John worried that Anna wasn't interested. Oh, she had been very responsive on their wedding night, but he knew that men were usually the more interested party when it came to relations.

He told himself that he wouldn't pressure her into anything, that he would be quite happy to just hold her. And he would have been, truly. But even as he told himself this, his imagination went from holding her to undressing her and stroking her warm, soft skin. A solace from the memories of cold gray prison cells and hard steel bars.

When his day ended and he was walking towards home, he kept rehearsing a script in his mind. Now Anna, I know we have been apart for a time and need to get used to each other again. I don't expect you to immediately take me in your bed and I don't want to put any pressure on you. I will abide by your wishes as just being in the same space as you is enough to keep me happy.

John stopped at his front door and took a deep breath. He turned the knob and entered. "Anna," he said, again being unable to stop from grinning, "I'm home!"

"Are you alone?" she called.

"Yes, of course. Why? Where are you?" he asked, hanging up his coat and leaning his cane against the wall.

"I'm right here," she said.

He turned and suddenly his brain stopped working. His wife stood in the entranceway to the parlor. She wore her stockings and garter, nothing else.

"Welcome home husband," Anna said quietly and then without further ado, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. He felt her trying to get as close as possible and he bent his knees a bit and lifted her into his arms, his hands beneath her bottom supporting her and her legs wrapped around him. His brain struggled to function and he could only think to begin his speech as Anna started to kiss and nibble his earlobe.

"Anna," he said shakily, "I know that we have been apart, oh god, but I don't want there to be pressure. I..." He stopped. No, that wasn't right. What was he supposed to say?

"John, shut up," Anna said and licked his neck. "Make love to me."

Those words made the blood that hadn't flooded south reach John's brain and help to get it functioning once again. "Yes, of course," he said. He began to move towards the stairs.

"This won't hurt your leg will it? I can walk. Set me down."

"No, no this is fine," John said, barely aware that he even had legs. He carried her up the stairs with the ease of a young man.

"I've been waiting for this," she said, still kissing his face wherever she could. "I didn't want to talk about it, afraid I would jinx it, but I've been so ready. I think about this all the time when I'm sitting beside you, holding your hand."

They entered the bedroom then. John looked around briefly. Anna had their room all set up, a rug on the floor, their brass headboard polished, the bed made with a quilt John had never seen, two nightstands each with a lamp.

"Like it?" Anna asked.

"Very nice," John said and then collapsed onto the bed with Anna. She squealed and started to laugh.

"You said you think about this all the time?" John asked, starting to kiss her neck.

"Mmm," Anna moaned in agreement.

"What do you think? Tell me," he said.

"No, it's too embarrassing! You'll think me a harlot!" she laughed.

"Not hardly. Tell me, I want to hear what you think," he growled, sucking gently now on a patch of skin.

"I thought about feeling you on me like this, your weight. I remembered how you kissed me on our wedding night and made me feel so good."

"More," he demanded.

"I'd think about your mouth on my skin. My throat, my shoulders, my breasts," she said and then groaned when he took her nipple into his mouth and bit gently before running his tongue over it. "And I'd think about your hands, how they seemed to be everywhere, touching me."

"Where did you like to be touched most?" he asked. He rose to his knees then, unbuttoning his shirt and tossing it onto the floor and then undoing his trousers. He didn't remove them, choosing instead to lift her leg and start to roll her stockings down her legs. "Don't want to ruin these," he murmured. He removed them slowly, keeping the garter on her leg, and then ran his hands up and down Anna's legs. "Show me. Take my hand and put it where it felt the best being touched."

Anna felt her cheeks redden, but at the same time felt bold. She could see the outline of John's arousal and the thought of being this free with him from now on, telling him her innermost desires and having him respond and not judge her was deeply arousing. She took his hand and folded his fingers down so only his index finger was pointing out. She sat up just a bit and took his finger into her mouth, wetting it.

"Christ Anna," John growled, his eyes watching her intently. Then she guided his hand to her center, to the little nub that caused her to lose control when he massaged it. John smiled like he knew it all along. She released his hand and he began to move his finger in gentle circles. Anna's body shuddered and she closed her eyes, letting the sensations wash over her. "I know something that would feel even better Anna."

"Hmm? What?" she purred. His finger stopped and she opened her eyes. John smiled wickedly and moved himself down to kiss the inside of her thigh. "John!" she squealed, clenching her legs together.

"What? Relax," he encouraged.

"Is this...is this what you want? You don't have to," she said, unsure as she had not experienced this before.

"Yes, this is what I want. I regret I didn't do it on our wedding night, but I thought there were many more nights to come. And now there are and I will explore you fully. Believe me, this will give me as much pleasure as it gives you. One of my regrets in prison was that I hadn't tasted you properly, that I didn't have that memory."

She thrilled at his words. Tentatively, she began to open her legs again and John smiled, stroking her thighs, helping her to relax. She watched as he peppered her inner thigh with kisses, then met his eyes as he parted her with his fingers and lowered his mouth. Anna gasped, the sensation new and overwhelming. She let herself fall back, feeling her chest beginning to rise and fall as her breathing increases. He lapped at her,his tongue broad and tasting all that he can. His tongue circled around her entrance and moved slowly back up and down before he finally narrowed his focus on her sweet bud and closed his lips around it, suckling gently.

"John! God!" she shouts, the sensation seems almost too intense. He is relentless though and continues his ministrations. Anna clutches at his hair, tugging it a bit but oblivious to this. John doesn't mind. The taste of Anna, the sounds she makes, it is all too perfect. Anna is calling out and then her back arches and her hips rise. He uses his hands to hold them down and Anna is falling apart. She cries out, but isn't even aware of the noise, her eyes closed tight focusing on her pleasure. Her body trembles, John can feel the muscles of her thighs quivering. She slumps into the bed, exhausted.

John moves back to her breasts, licking them and suckling her nipples as she recovers. She runs her fingers through his hair and pulls him up to her. He is smiling, looking quite smug and pleased with himself. "Enjoy yourself?" he asks. She can't help but laugh and then pulls him down for a kiss. She can taste herself on his lips, his tongue. It is strange, but exciting at the same time.

"Tell me more," he said.

"John! I've told you all," Anna said, but smiled and looked away. She was teasing him.

"Don't try and be coy now," he teases back and nuzzles her neck. "I want to know just what a naughty creature I've married."

"No, then you'll just regret it."

Anna watches as John's eyes suddenly become serious. "Never," he says, "I'll never regret it."

Anna puts her hands on John's face and brushes her thumb against his lip. "Very well. I think about touching you too. Running my fingers through the hair on your chest," she said, following her words with the action, taking note that he groans when her fingers pass over his nipples. "Looking at you. Seeing you aroused and hard for me."

"God!" he growls and hurries to remove his pants. He kicks them down and Anna lets her hand snake between them for the briefest moment, wrapping her fingers around him. He hisses.

"Feeling your heat, knowing that you want me," she continues. She is moving him towards her now, putting him in position. "And John?" she all but whispers.

"Yes?" he says, barely able to keep from thrusting and taking her quick and hard. Anna takes a deep breath. She is no lady and she has heard this word used by male servants when they don't know she is around. She knows it is not polite, but it is appropriate, it is what she feels and what she thought. She feels shy though and so she pulls him down to her, to where she can whisper in his ear.

"I think about your cock. Deep inside me, filling me and making me feel so good. So close to you."

"Good christ Anna!" John cries and enters her. He is as gentle as his fraying patience can stand, remembering that she still needs time to adjust. But she whimpers and brings her legs up. He pulls back and plunges forward again.

"Yes, more! Oh John!" Anna groans. John's thrusts are deep and Anna is aware of the sound of their bodies coming together, their breath gasping, and their sounds of pleasure. John couldn't believe he was this lucky, to have a wife so willing to share herself with him, her body and her mind. He was pleased he had brought Anna to climax already because he was not going to last long. He felt Anna's fingernails scratching down his back and then to his bottom, which spurred him on.

"Anna, I can't hold back," he panted.

"Yes, darling, let it come. Please."

John erupted with a low rumble in his throat. His hips hitched against her and she watched his face, the look on it making her nerves sing. She was so pleased that she could give her husband that pleasure. John's arms weakened and he lowered himself to rest on her. Anna stroked his back and nuzzled his hair, placing soft kisses at his temple. He caught his breath for a moment before raising his head to look at her. He seemed in awe, his eyes full of affection, and he caught her lips in a passionate kiss, their tongues dancing together.

He moved off of her then, flopping onto his back and starting to laugh. She couldn't help but laugh too. Not because of anything particularly funny, but just out of the joy of being together like this, having been able to experience this again.

Anna went into his arms, snuggling against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her. Wickedly, Anna let her hand drift lower and ghosted her fingers along his length. John's hips moved automatically and he laughed. "Anna, no! I'm too sensitive."

"But now you know what a salacious woman you married Mr. Bates, you have to get used to me wanting to touch you in such a manner," Anna laughed and lightly cupped her hand against his groin.

With a playful growl John suddenly rolled them over so Anna was once again beneath him. He attacked her neck with kisses, tickling her and making her giggle. "I always figured. I could see it in your eyes. Made me feel like I was a lamb playing with a wolf."

Anna threw her head back and laughed. "Oh yes, that's me all right. You must know by now I was never interested in your mind, just your body," she said and capped the remark by squeezing his buttocks. They laughed together again and Anna ran her hands up John's back and threaded them through his hair. "I've been waiting for this," she said, smiling lazily but more serious than before, "I mean, not just this, making love, but this, being free to talk and laugh and love. To be together. Properly, as man and wife."

"Me too. A new beginning." He kissed her cheek. "I never thought it would happen, but it has." He kissed her again.

"Well, now I say it's time that I serve my man his supper after his long day at work. All right?"

"Yes, fine," he said, moving to let her be free to get herself out of bed.

She began to put on her robe. "Now, Mr. Bates, I want you to eat a healthy supper because I have plans for this evening and tomorrow involving you and this bed. You'll need your strength." She turned back to him just before she left the room and raised an eyebrow.

John smiled. "Baa," he said in his best lamb imitation.

Anna laughed and then, just as she started to walk down the stairs, playfully answered back with a wolf's howl.

End.

a/n: I know there are some 'tense' issues here (past/present tense) but I wrote it how it seemed to flow and read the best to me. I hope that's ok. :)