Three chapters left! I have two endings to this. kinda like the movie. i will post both as i honestly cant decide which i wanted!

Chapter thirty-four:

Waking the next morning, it felt as though an endless dream had occurred. Once which she struggled to wake up from. Her body ached in new places. Her legs still trembled from the pleasures. Her skin tingled and felt hot and achy. There had been blood; Jack had taken her innocence away. Then, a small smile crept across her face. Jack had made love to her. The empty space within her stomach which had always been there now felt full somehow. The dull ache had gone and was replaced with a constant jittery flutter. Endlessly. Was this because of the aftermath of sharing so beautiful? If words were never needed to be spoken again then she know how committed he was to her. How much he loved her.

Kicking back the covers, she realised that she was without any clothes at all, but for once in her life, aside from when she bathed, she exposed herself to the coldness of the room. The fire had long since gone out in the grate. The maid had not yet come to light one. Jack was absent from the bed; perhaps working. Perhaps he had never come to her bed after riding back from the river. She had been far too exhausted to recall.

As she stood, goose bumps appeared across her skin; from her arms down to her legs. She noticed how her nipples tightened as they were exposed. How they were red from the attention Jack had given to them. The aches deepened as she walked to the window to inspect just what type of morning it was and as she glanced out to the gardens, she found a truly wonderful spring day. Trees in bloom, the breeze gently shaking the branches awake. Pale palette pastels painted the sky and the blossoms and the sun reflected from the window, causing a golden glow inside the room. Parting her lips, she inhaled slowly. Why did today feel so cleansing? Not caring that she was naked, she pressed both of her palms to the flat of the window and felt how warm the sun had made it. No one could possibly be walking through the gardens so early, even though the sun was up, it couldn't be too late. Feeling the aches of her body which she knew she would have to grow accustomed to, a warmth spread through her insides.

That was when she heard the door. It clicked open and then closed and she didn't feel the need to glance, knowing just who was the one approaching. She heard his breath. Knew the rise and fall of his chest. Knew how he would feel as he came to lean against her. Two hands came to the curve of her hip to rest and she leant back, fully trusting him and his presence. Her hair tickled against his chest as she realised that he, too was completely without clothes. Turning on a gasp in his arms, she was met by the sight of him and with a wonderful smile which was borderline seductive.

"Have you walked the corridor without anything to cover yourself?"

"I was bathing." He reassured her. "Were you enticing all of Boston by standing naked in the window?"

Laughing softly, she caught his hands settled at her waist and threaded her fingers with his own. It was silent for a minute or so, just the sounds of their breathing and with bright, shining eyes they just stood and watched the world go by. It was almost a daze as they stood, with the back of her pressed up against his chest.

"I was thinking about how I thought I had dreamt last night. How I thought I would wake up, in Pennsylvania and be how I was before I boarded Titanic."

"And now you're disappointed, right?" He kissed the smoothness of her shoulder and she laughed.

''No, I could never be disappointed. Not now.'' Not now that everything which she had felt for him before was now truly magnified.

Turning to face him, Rose found herself drowning in pools of blue. Those eyes which she had cherished from the very first moment were now upon her entire body and there was nothing which she could do to stop him from absorbing up the way he watched her move. It was intense and fierce. As she parted her lips to respond, instead she found her mouth was pressed to his. Suffused with pleasure, Rose groped for his hair, finding acute satisfaction in the slide of heavy silk through her fingers. As he felt her touch him, he gave a low mutter of encouragement. The pattern of his breath changed, roughened, his kisses turning hard and languorous. She felt a jolt of heat, her blood igniting, and then she could no longer withhold her own heart from beating. She reached up into his hair, touching his ear and then followed the taut skin down to the edge of his collarbone. His breath roughened, his tongue penetrating in silken demand. Supporting her with one hand, he cradled her face with the other.

''I had spent so long wondering just how it would be between us. But I have nothing else to compare it to. Is it always that way with a woman?'' Rose asked, rubbing her fingers through his damp hair. Jack exhaled, finding his breathing still couldn't calm.

''No,'' he whispered, pressing his lip to her head. ''It isn't for me.'' Jack allowed himself to steady his franticness. ''I have never felt this.''

The tender pull of her heart, caused Rose to sigh. Without him within her, she felt an emptiness and a longing for him to make her feel such a way again started right there in her stomach. How did she feel of him? Tender feelings started before she had shared her body, given him the most intimate part of her and now, she cradled him within her arms like a child. This was another facet to the man who she knew so well, yet knew very little. A strong need to know him in his entirety, to share literally every facet of herself with him even more and then some. It wasn't just intimacy but the need to join every part of themselves in such a binding way. It was the type of feeling one always dreamt of, and yet thought was completely a fantasy which belonged within the moving pictures, or a book of Bronte; the forbidden kind but no, this was here, within her own arms.

''Because I am now your wife?''

The ring upon her finger was yet another reminder of their bonding. Their love.

''Yes, you are.'' Jack moved that he could face her properly. With a gentle caress, his fingers touched her cheeks. ''Perhaps it is because we waited. Because I knew you as a person before we were intimate but then, I fear I would have loved you this much in a lifetime even without making love to you just because of your complete beauty, stubborn nature, crazy impulsive energy...'' Rose laughed, pulling at his hand as a pretend warning. ''It has been three weeks, but I want you to know that meeting you has been the best thing to ever happen to me. I will never have a fortune, never quite know how to be anything other than who I am.''

''I want to be with you. Nothing else.'' Rose cut him off, unshed tears shining within her eyes. ''You have done more for me than any human being ever could.''

''You have changed me, in ways I never thought could be.''

''And you freed me. Saved me. In every way that a person can be saved.''

There was the fire within her which Jack had sensed would burn so much brighter than he had already witnessed. There was something arousing about her spirit; if she loved as passionately, then he would love her more in return, if he didn't already. The obstacles which they would face, if they were to leave this society hand in hand would be great boulders. Life was never easy, not on the rails and certainly when accustomed to such a comfortable bed, lavish surroundings and warmth. There was no doubt in his mind that it would take a great deal of time to grow used to, but once you were, there was adventures waiting for them to experience – together, if that was what she wished for.

''It may not be easy, but I will have you.''

''Yes, you do. Damned if I could let you go. You jump, I jump, remember?''

In response, Rose caught his lips, sucking deeply in a way which told him that she wasn't ready to let go of him just yet. Midday must have gone some time ago and a new day had brought them both a new start. The tremble of her body, the falling ash in the fire tray and the sounds of the world coming to life all merged into one and Jack was between her legs once more, her legs wrapped about his waist and he throbbed against her stomach. Truth be told, his desire hadn't gone away. Why did he have the urge to be with her again? Just last night she had lain beneath him, in a way which had made her feel both powerful and vulnerable all at once but there was her innocence there, but now as she was beneath him once more, wrapped up inside her legs and arms, there was a flicker of confidence about her which hadn't been there before.

Jack felt her chest heave upwards against his, her hipbones grinding against his own and he didn't know if the dampness there was blood from her maiden loss or her own arousal. She hadn't bled too much, but it had been dark the night before beneath the stars on a pallet which felt like a bed of dreams to them both. Beneath the dancing firelight to the new morning, it felt a long distance and yet there was barely any time span. Time passed by quickly and slowly all in one passage. Her breathing upon his cheek was warm and ticklish.

''Does it hurt between your legs?''

''Yes,'' she whispered against his lips. Jack sighed against her cheek, when Rose lifted up her hips, catching him and soon he was enveloped without even expecting it. He shuddered, and this time it was he who clamped his mouth onto her shoulder to silence himself. The tightness pumped him once or twice, easier than the first time but still it was enough to tense his entire body. The sting of her stretching caused her to wince but after the first few movements, it eased away once more.

''Rose, this will be tender and-''

''Then, be slow. I don't wish to stop it. I wish to feel everything.'' Rose whispered into his mouth; the rhythm of her hips slowed until she almost stopped. Sucking in a shaky breath, Jack fought every instinct he had to move. ''Make love to me, Jack, love me...''

''I will.''

Jack was slow, moving within the narrow space with such care, perhaps even more so than the first time. He could read her expression, how she would wince if he caught a sore spot, how she would furrow her brow and how her eyes closed for a second or so when she was caught up in the moment. They knew each other intimately, in a way people who were married a lifetime never knew the other. With curious eyes, heavily beating hearts and a steady rhythm, they seemed to gain such entry into each other's souls that it was truly difficult to see anything but them.

The window which allowed light into the room seemed to be dimmer as time went on, as though it was ready to sleep along with the rest of the world. The silence helping the slow rhythm of their bodies. With shining eyes in the glowing dark, Rose never wavered her gaze, watching how Jack made love to her. Their voices were not needed, with joined hands, he pulled her body to her closer, tensing himself every so often for fear of hurting her.

Within those eyes, Rose found solstice, her safe haven and the place where she longed to be for the rest of her life. The beacon of light which exuded from him beckoned to her, and this time it was the power of the emotional pull towards Jack, how she felt for him and the beauty of his face which propelled her to push down onto him harder, allowing herself to take every single part of him within her and then, she felt the quiver of herself as the trembling started in her very soul before expelling out to her entire body. Jack felt it, the way her eyes were heavy and dazed, unable to focus just on him and so, he crushed his lips to her face, her neck and cherished her there as well. As the orgasm came, her teeth clamped onto his shoulder to steady herself and her pounding heart raised against his own chest and she writhed, feeling how in that second, Jack had finished with her and his shoulder was wracked with shudders so violent that he clung to her with his entire strength almost crushing her.

Entangled there with each other, with panting breath and racing hearts in the darkness, both felt the comedown. At some point the lamp had burned out leaving them in complete blackness. The bed duvet was completely wrapped about in a tangled mess, their limbs were numb and boneless. How many hours had it been? Five or six? It was difficult to cease a new addiction. Hard to stop. As though leaving his side would be worse than dying. As though she needed just that little bit more to stop the itch but then it would come harder. She shook, he trembled and their skin was sweaty and clammy but it stopped neither of them.

''I don't want to move,'' Jack whispered into her cheek.

Rose smiled, exhaling after feeling breathless.

Neither moved.

''We don't have to move.''

''But we cannot continue.''

''We have to eat. To sleep. To sit and perhaps read a book or to do something more productive.''

Laughing with amusement, Rose caught his lips again.

''Did you hear back from the senator?''

Jack's brow furrowed. ''We have finished making love and you wish to discuss this?''

''Yes. Because I have to know that much.''

Jack's brows pulled together. ''His letter just thanked me for the service which I provided to the men who I pulled from the fire.'' Jack paused, to push himself to a sitting position. The room had gone cold but they were both still hot. ''He wished to put me forward for a medal but I have refused such a thing.''

Rose pulled away to view his boyish face. ''You truly don't see the heroic behaviour of what you did?''

''Never. They were men with as much right to live as I have.''

''I know that. Others fail to.''

''Yes, and that's the worst part about it.''

''Oh?'' Rose saw how he didn't wish to speak more of it. ''I received a letter of congratulations from Molly just yesterday. I had written to tell her the news and she is settled back in Denver just this week passed.''

''Does she fare well?'' Jack asked, for the moment, not having such a care at the moment of intimacies with his wife.

''As well as can be.'' Rose hesitated for a second. ''She asked of you mostly, of your injuries and such.''

''I hope you told her how well I am.''

Rose smiled. ''Of course.'' Holding onto his hand, she exhaled before continuing, ''Charlie wrote me a letter to inform me of the gossips.''

''Oh, do go on.'' Jack raised his brows.

''To some it shocked them; others not so much. Rumours had flown of our fleeting courtship for some time but others had discarded it as silly whispers. Now, it appears that we are handsome couple out in our finest glory and parading our love.''

''But without an engagement ring. Sans any other religious notices. Sans the traditional setting of a wedding date. Society ladies must be seething over their tea.''

''It will always give the wifey's something to gossip about.'' Jack smirked.

''Hey, I am not that wifey, that you speak so ill of.''

''Yes, you are. And a damned fine one!''

These last few days had been spent at such ease with the other. With every touch, every glance, every moment, Jack had weakened her resolve until she had accepted without reservation that she was worthy and happy.

Resigned to their joined future, Rose made the effort to learn more about the issues that were important to him. She asked questions about his views of the Government, the current appeals and was secretly relieved when he showed no hesitation in sharing them with her. Discussing weighty topics with women was heavily discouraged, but then Jack was not a man to follow convention. Pleased with her interest, he debated a variety of topics with her, challenging and pushing her to explore all sides of a subject, then smiling with pride when she reached her own conclusions, even if they were in opposition to his own. A woman would need to have her own opinions and to debate her side or views. Rose was a fiery woman, one who needed to be charge of her own destiny.

It was those feelings of acceptance which made Rose sway even more so toward her making the right decision to marry such a man. Topics were never swept beneath the carpet and time wasn't measured when they were together. They lived in each other's hearts and together over the past few weeks that even a simple meal apart from him, she found painful.

Rose sighed. The simple fact was, she enjoyed his company and the times when business kept him away, she found she missed him.

"That was a melancholy sigh if I ever heard one," he murmured.

Lifting her chin, she met his gaze, made more brilliant by the moonlight bouncing off them.

"You look beautiful," she said.

His mouth tilted upward on one side. "I believe I am supposed to say that to you." The heat in his eyes left her no doubt as to what he was thinking. ''Why are so you thoughtful?''

''Sometimes I just consider this. Us. A life we have to create. It's unknown and its beautiful and terrifying.'' Rose watched him, how much of him was still unknown and yet she knew that everything which she could ever learn about him would never deter how she felt.

''Yes, that's the best part.''

Rose felt the stress disintegrate.

''In fact, Mrs. Dawson, I did have plans for us tomorrow afternoon which involved several things.''

''Which would be?''

''A carriage ride to the rail station.'' He kissed her left cheek. ''Boarding a train out West.'' He kissed her right cheek. ''And getting off wherever the hell we feel like.''

Exciting lingered in her stomach. Fizzling. Buzzing. ''Jack? So soon.''

''Yes, tomorrow.''

She squealed as he pounced atop her and she giggled until her belly felt as though it was bursting with so much happiness.

It was some hours later, the next morning when Rose regained consciousness from her slumber. Her body was heavy, trembling and completely weak. But today, her life was about to change. Drastically.

Hmm, thanks so much for your support on this story!