Author's Notes: Reviews inspire me to write more and are tremendously appreciated.

Chapter 24

As Phillippe tried to absorb all Jack had told him, Jack went looking for Samantha and was pleased to find her alone in the salon. Her back was turned and she was looking out the window. For a moment he just watched her, enjoying the sight of her before slowly coming up behind her. When she turned her head towards him, Jack was upset by the red and puffy appearance of her eyes. Clearly she'd been crying and he was to blame, he thought miserably.

"What do you want?" she bit out.

Reaching out he took her hand in his and place a kiss on her palm as he murmured, "Forgive me."

Pulling her hand away from him, Samantha turned her back to him and said in a tight voice, "Don't apologize, Jack. Obviously you don't want me and that's fine. I mean the only reason we were getting married was for convenience."

"Convenience?" Jack asked in disbelief.

Turning to him, Samantha replied, "If you don't desire me physically, then what else are you marrying me for except some sense of obligation to protect me? That's a marriage of convenience, is it not?"

"My darling Samantha, you are anything but convenient," Jack drawled and moved toward her.

How dare he make fun of her! Samantha thought angrily. Jack rejecting her was hurtful enough, she didn't think she could bear him teasing her as well. A lump formed in her throat and she knew she wouldn't be able to keep from crying for long. Bad enough that Jack could probably tell she'd been crying, but she certainly wasn't about to let him see her cry. Samantha had to get away before she lost her composure.

"Don't mock me," she bristled and walked away from him.

Jack followed behind her and called out, "Samantha."

"What!" Samantha snapped, stopping but keeping her back to him.

"One thing before you run off." Jack placed his hand on her shoulder.

Slowly she turned around and prompted, "What is it?"

Pulling her tightly against him, Jack responded, "This."

Covering her mouth with his, Jack silenced Samantha's protests with a kiss. For a moment she remained stiff and unyielding in his arms, then began to respond as he continued to plunder her mouth. Gently thrusting his tongue against hers Jack kissed her until they both were short of breath. When he lifted his face from Samantha's she looked at him with a slightly bewildered expression and he lead her to a large settee and pulled her down on it with him.

"Jack, I don't understand," Samantha gasped slightly as his eyes met hers and his hand moved to cup her breast.

"When I told you about your restored virginity, I was afraid you didn't want me anymore because you considered me unworthy of you," Jack confessed. Then he added, "I went back to the Death Pavilion to talk to you, but you were asking Phillippe to uh- deflower you."

"Oh no!" she cried. "Jack I was just hurt and wasn't thinking clearly. I didn't really mean that. Phillippe refused and I wouldn't have gone through with it even if he hadn't."

"I know, when I spoke to Phillippe, he suggested that we're both suffering from pre-wedding nerves."

"He's probably right," Samantha agreed. Suddenly she demanded, "You didn't kill him did you?"

Laughing Jack replied, "No sweetness, he is very much alive."

"I'm glad," she smiled. Then her expression grew serious and she entreated, "Tell me what you would have said if Phillippe hadn't been there."

"I wanted to say, Samantha, that I am willing to wait. Forever if need be," Jack assured her. Then added, "But I want you very much and hope you will allow me to eventually consummate our marriage."

"You didn't mean that you didn't want me?"

Capturing her lips, he whispered, "I'll always want you my Samantha. In this time you are a virgin, in our time you've been with several men, but in both times I want you and I know in my heart that you belong to me and me alone."

"You're sure?" Samantha pleaded. She wanted to believe him but after her earlier emotional upheaval, craved reassurance.

"God yes," Jack groaned as he kissed her. Guiding her hand to where his arousal strained against his pants, he breathed softly, "I want you very much. But I understand if you wish to wait for while."

Wait for a while? Samantha thought dizzily. She didn't want to wait another day, let alone any significant length of time. Everytime Jack touched her, the world fell away and all she could think of was him. While restored virtue might mean she would want him to be a little more gentle than she might normally want him to be, it didn't change anything. Oddly the idea of giving her virtue to Jack meant more than it had meant giving it to Tom. After all the times Jack had declared they were the same, couldn't he see that he was the only worthy man?

Samantha pushed Jack so his head was resting on the arm of the settee and she leaned over him and kissed him. Although they had shared many kisses since their meeting in the museum, this was the first time she'd been the aggressor. Mating her tongue with his, Samantha mentally cursed the complicated fastenings of their clothing and the voluminous petticoats which stood between them.

Lifting her mouth from Jack's, Samantha panted, "After the wedding, no more waiting Jack. As far as I'm concerned we've both been waiting for many years."

"You mean you-"

"I've always wanted you Jack. Our mental dance scared me at times and the fact I wanted you terrified me. But Jack, I've always been yours. You're the only man who ever has been worthy. I'll gladly give you my virtue in this time and wish I could have back in our time."

"No marriage of convenience?" Jack ventured hopefully.

Turning his words on him, Samantha laughed, "My dearest Jack, you're anything but convenient."

Grinning, Jack pulled her mouth back to his...