Author's Notes: Reviews are very much appreciated and inspire me to update faster.

Chapter 27

Jack and Samantha exchanged glances across the table as they sat uneasily through dinner with her father. Following the meal he would be leaving for Calais and they would finally be alone. Although the newlywed couple were very polite and were gracious about the toasts her father offered them, they were very anxious to be alone. Phillippe and Samantha's maid sat at the table in honor of the occasion as well. Now and then Phillippe would offer Jack a sympathetic expression.

Although the meal seemed to go on forever, when they finally moved to the dessert course, Phillippe rose from the table. Walking to Jack he whispered in his ear that he was going upstairs to oversee the special requests Jack had made earlier in the day. Jack nodded and thanked Phillippe, as Samantha sat uneasily wishing her father would hurry and take his leave.

Sitting near Samantha, Jack felt a combination of anticipation and concern. While he was anxious to consummate his relationship with Samantha, he was worried about hurting her. On the one hand he couldn't wait to make Samantha his in every way but he was almost dreading it at the same time. Taking a drink of champagne he watched his wife and was rewarded with a smile. Jack wondered what she was thinking as they sat waiting.

At last Samantha's father stood up from the table and requested the coach be brought around for him. While kissing his daughter good-bye, he gave Jack a meaningful look as he requested, "I'd like you to walk with me to the coach."

"Of course," Jack replied. Turning to Samantha, he whispered, "I'll be back in a moment."

"I think I'll go upstairs while I wait for you," Samantha murmured.

Reluctantly, Jack followed his father-in-law outside and inquired, "Was there something you wanted?"

"I-" the older man started to speak and trailed off in a stammer.

The sudden awkwardness of Samantha's father's demeanor made the nature of his concern obvious and Jack interjected, "I love Samantha and will look after her always. You needn't worry, I plan to be a very uh- indulgent husband."

Jack's words had the desired effect and Samantha's father smiled at his reassurance. While the man was not the wisest of men, he cared deeply about his daughter and Jack was willing to offer him as much comfort as Jack could as the man about to take Samantha's virginity. When the coach lurched off into the night, Jack turned back to the house and headed inside with a nervous exhilaration coursing through him.

While Jack saw her father off, Samantha went to the master suite where they would sleep. The room was filled with candles and vases of roses filled the room. A carpet of rose petals lead from the doorway to the bed and a single long stemmed thorny blossom adorned her pillow. Draped over a chair was the filmy white nightgown her maid had laid out for her and Samantha hesitated. On the one hand Jack had seen her naked already and the gown would be in the way, on the other hand Jack had seemed slightly nervous at dinner.

As Samantha debated, there was a knock at the door and called out, "Come in."

The door opened to reveal a maid who looked to be about Samantha's age and she smiled shyly. "Mademoiselle? Pardonnez, Madame Viscomtesse, I meant to say. Phillippe said I should help you change for the night. He thought perhaps your ladies maid should have the night off."

Given the lectures about sin and closing her eyes and thinking of England she'd been treated to earlier by her maid as she dressed for the wedding, Samantha gratefully accepted, "Thank you. I'd like that-"

"Marie," the maid supplied. Stepping into the room she looked around and declared, "Tres belle! Phillippe told the Viscomte wanted the room to be very romantic."

Samantha smiled and allowed Marie to help her out of her gown and into the nightgown. As Samantha changed, Marie prattled on about how lucky Samantha was and gossiped about the goings on of the house. By the time Marie left, Samantha decided to talk to Jack about elevating her to her ladies maid. However, sitting on the edge of the bed and picking up the rose, Samantha thought with a smile, it might be a couple days before she got around to it.

Standing outside the door, Jack hesitated about if he should knock or not. After several moments, he knocked once and opened the door. Walking into the room, his breath caught. Amid the soft glow of candles, Samantha sat on the bed in a sheer white gown holding a rose and a carpet of petals lead to the bed. Although he'd dreamed of seeing her this way many times, his heart raced as she looked up at him.

"Samantha," Jack breathed softly.

Looking at her husband, Samantha realized he was slightly nervous. Rising from the bed, Samantha sat the rose down on a side table and walked to Jack. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she drew his mouth to hers. At first their kiss was light and tenuous, then it deepened and Jack held Samantha tightly. As they kissed, Samantha untied Jack's cravat and pulled it off. As the fabric fell to the floor unheeded, Jack slipped his shoes off and Samantha removed his frock coat.

Pulling away from Jack, Samantha moved to the bed and invited, "Join me."

Jack removed his waistcoat as he approached the bed and began to unbutton his shirt. When his shirt was partially unbuttoned, Samantha reached up and pulled him down onto the bed. Their lips met as Samantha's hands moved over the remaining buttons of Jack's shirt. Sliding her husband's shirt off, Samantha tossed it away from the bed. Jack's mouth trailed from her lips to her neck.

Moving his lips over the column of her throat, Jack whispered, "My Samantha."

"Take everything off, Jack," Samantha commanded gently.

Jack complied and removed his pants as Samantha requested. As she watched, Samantha felt flicker of desire in the pit of her stomach. For so long they had engaged in their game and tonight would be a culmination of years of mental foreplay. Just before the duel, Jack had said the board had changed but the game remained the same. When Samantha killed the doctor it was another level of the gave still.

Each level drew her closer to Jack and tonight she would become his in every sense of the word. Rising up slightly, Samantha removed her nightgown and cast it aside. There would be no more barriers between them, Samantha decided. Whether they ever went back to Atlanta or stayed in France, the one thing she was certain of was that she belonged with Jack.

Joining Samantha on the bed, Jack drew her into a tender embrace and explored her mouth with his. Both of them trembled slightly at the first electric contact of their bare skin. Samantha moaned softly against Jack's mouth as his fingers splayed across her breast tracing a sensual pattern that brought her nipple to a rigid peak. Slowly he moved his lips down her neck, his breath hot and sweet on Samantha's sensitive skin.

"My Samantha," Jack purred sibilantly as he moved his mouth from one breast to the other, tracing his tongue over her other rosy peak.

When Jack's fingers brushed over the soft curls between Samantha's legs she gasped softly and pulled Jack's mouth back to hers. Whimpering as his fingers teased her wetness, Samantha arched underneath Jack's touch. Pleasure mounting, Samantha cried out as Jack stroked her to a searing climax. For several moments she clung to him as she trembled from his caress.

Almost uncertainly, Jack gently covered Samantha's body with his. Although the feeling of her wetness against his arousal had made Jack almost painfully hard, he was concerned about continuing. Samantha could feel Jack's desire for her pressing against her and could sense his hesitation. While she knew their first time might not be too comfortable, she wanted to feel him inside her. Gazing up at Jack, Samantha tilted her hips slightly to position him at her entrance.

"I love you, Jack," Samantha reassured him as she wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him firmly inside of her.

Jack's eyes went wide with shock as Samantha took matters into her own hands and drew his arousal inside her. Her face registered some discomfort but her gaze never left his face. Gently, Jack caressed Samantha's face and took in every nuance of her expression. Time seemed to stand still in the silence as their eyes remained locked, adding to intimacy of their union that had been so many years in the making

"It's better now," Samantha murmured encouragingly.

Rising up on his knees, Jack pulled back slightly but remained joined with her. He moved his hand between them and began to gently stroke her clit. Tenderly and almost tenuously he skimmed her arousal with his thumb. After several moments Samantha began to pant as Jack's touch renewed the feeling of urgency within in her.

"Jack, please," Samantha urged.

Slowly Jack moved over Samantha and held her tightly as he began to move within her. Although Samantha still felt a little tender, the sensation of Jack stretching and filling her was wonderful. Jack's movements were lethargic and unhurried but as Samantha began to meet his thrusts, he increased their tempo slightly. As they coupled, Jack slid his hand between them and coaxed Samantha to the edge. His cries mingled with hers as they climaxed.

Kissing Samantha tenderly, Jack rolled onto his back pulling her with him...