Author's note: This chapter covers the Butler's wedding night and is therefore very...suggestive. You can skip this chapter without missing anything pertinent to the storyline if you would prefer not to be exposed to the adult themes.

Chapter 15: Bliss

Scarlett looked at her reflection in her mirror. She didn't look any different than an hour earlier when she had meticulously appraised herself in her wedding dress, but as she stood there waiting for Prissy to finish packing her overnight bag, she felt completely changed.

Scarlett Butler.

She smiled widely, then bit her bottom lip with excitement at the thought.

"Oh my dear," Melanie said, waddling through the door. "You were the most exquisite bride I have ever seen." She walked up to Scarlett and put her arms around her. "I can't say I've ever seen a more romantic sight than you and Captain Butler taking your vows," she smiled, looking Scarlett over.

"I'm so happy Melly!" she beamed.

"I'm very happy for you, dear," Melanie smiled weakly and looked away. "Prissy, take Miss Scarlett's things down to the carriage." She instructed as she walked over to sit on Scarlett's bed. "I'm very sorry that Miss Ellen wasn't able to be here today, and I-" she said nervously, easing her large figure down to sit on the bed. "But, well, I guess I need to talk to you about your duties," she said, now unable to meet Scarlett's eyes.

Scarlett bit her lips together and grew pink to the roots of her hair but took a seat next to her sister-in-law.

"Tonight, Captain Butler will want to….Oh, dear…. Well, you will need to, um – to share a bed. That is -" Melanie pulled out her handkerchief and began to fidget with it. "He'll touch you, and it will be uncomfortable and….and rather – well, unpleasant." She pulled at the handkerchief until Scarlett thought it would rip in two, but she continued quickly, her voice a jumble as she tried to force the words out, "But it is a wife's duty, and you must allow him such things until there is a baby."

Scarlett stared at Melanie, who continued to avoid her eyes, preferring to examine her handkerchief as if it were suddenly the most important thing in the world. "I-" Scarlett tried to start. "I guess I hadn't really thought about that," she said hesitantly. "I – well, thank you, Melly," she said honestly.

"Of course, dear," Melly said, chancing a glance at Scarlett. "Now then, let's see you off."

The two walked down the stairs together, "I'll see you tomorrow afternoon," Scarlett said, kissing her sister-in-law goodbye. "And if you need anything at all, send Prissy to the National Hotel."

"Room 215," Rhett provided, wrapping his arm around Scarlett's waist.

"I'm sure Prissy, and I can manage for one night," Melanie said meekly, embarrassed to be the cause of so much attention.

"Alright, well…I guess we should be going," Scarlett turned to her father and hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Pa," she told him again. "Tell mother I am praying for her speedy recovery," she added as Rhett handed her up into the carriage. "Goodbye!" she called happily, and Rhett clipped the reigns.

R&S&R&S&R&S&R&S&R&S&R&S&R&S&R&S&R&S&R&S&R&S

Scarlett felt dozens of eyes upon her as she and Rhett entered the National Hotel, "Why shouldn't they stare," she thought to herself. "We're the most handsome couple I've ever seen, and when was the last time anyone saw a lady in as fine a dress as my wedding gown? Let alone a couple, both dressed impeccably," she smiled happily, knowing that everyone who set eyes on her and Rhett must be pea green with envy.

Rhett opened the door to his hotel suit and bowed gallantly, allowing her to pass before him. Walking into the sitting room, Scarlett noticed that the room was clean and everything was in place, but it seemed much lived in. As if Rhett made himself at home even though it was a hotel room.

"Do you always stay in the same room?" she asked him, running a finger along his crowded desk.

Rhett walked in behind her and sat her bag down, "When it is available, this is my preferred room, yes."

"Do you have a preferred room in every hotel?"

"Only the ones I've stayed in," he said, sitting down in an overstuffed chair by the window.

Scarlett nodded her head absently and grasped the back of his desk chair in her hands behind her back, looking at him nervously.

Rhett smiled kindly at her and held out his hand, "Come here, love."

Scarlett rushed over, happy that he had broken the awkwardness.

He pulled her onto his lap and ran a hand over her hair, "I'm sorry your wedding wasn't everything you'd hoped for-"

"Oh, but Rhett!" she tried to interject.

"No, no, don't try and play the patriotic lady with me. I know that if you could damn this war and have an ostentatious affair, you'd do it in a second."

She leaned her head on Rhett's shoulder, remembering that she didn't have to pretend with him. "It was rather pathetic, wasn't it?" she asked, giggling.

Rhett laughed, his chest reverberating deeply against Scarlett's body, "There was a moment just before the Meads showed up when I wondered if a wedding was legal with only relatives to serve as witnesses." He suddenly became very serious and gently tilted Scarlett's chin, forcing her to sit up and look at him. "Tell me what you want, darling. Anything it is, I'll give you," he huskily vowed.

Scarlett smiled at him slyly. Anything she wanted? "You once told me we were only at the beginning, do you remember?" she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Rhett smiled dashingly and put his hand at the back of her neck, and pulled her face close to his, "I seem to remember you're not being very pleased with my words, yes," he said in a low voice.

Scarlett tried to stop the smile that crept onto her lips but could not avoid the shallow blush at the memory of their improper actions the day he'd brought Melanie home from the depot. "Rhett," she said in a breath, "I want you to show me what you meant."

His eyes roamed her face quickly, taking in the memory of how she looked at that moment. She had a light pink blush, but her eyes set directly on him, unabashed. For the rest of his life, he would remember how she had fit so perfectly on his lap and how the late afternoon sun streaming through the window behind them had made her satin wedding gown glow and her eyes shimmer. She was the most bullheaded, conniving wench he'd ever met, and he could not imagine his life without her. After traveling the world and making ungodly amounts of money, he knew that all he needed was this beautiful creature looking at him just as she was.

Pulling her fully against himself, he captured her lips in a fierce kiss, demanding that she open up herself to him as he laid his vulnerable soul before her. She moaned softly against him, wrapping her arms tighter around him and running her fingers through the hair at the base of his neck. The blush spread to her chest, and then the warmth pooled lower.

His mustache tickled her as he only pulled back far enough to say, "I've loved you more than I've ever loved any woman, and I've waited for you longer than I've ever waited for any woman."

Her breath hitched, and his lips were on hers again, demanding. She felt like he was consuming her, and she couldn't trace where he ended and she began.

He put his hand under her and pulled her tightly against him. His other hand wound itself through her hair, forcing pins to trickle to the ground.

She broke away, gasping for breath, doubting her corset was to blame for her lightheadedness. Rhett did not pause in his attentions but immediately moved from her lips to her neck, "You are mine, part and parcel, and I plan to examine every inch of you." He picked her up suddenly as if she weighed nothing and carried her through a set of French doors into the bedroom.

He placed her gently on her feet next to the bed and studied her face. He searched her eyes, then smiled as if he'd found what he was searching for, "I love you, Scarlett," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

She smiled, her heart growing in her chest, "Don't stop, Rhett," she said, feeling tears prickle in her eyes. "I don't think I could live another day if you stopped loving me." She closed her eyes, expecting him to kiss her again, but he pulled back. Her eyes fluttered open, and she cocked her head to the side questioningly.

Rhett had a strange look on his face for such a moment, and he said thoughtfully, "No, I think you'd be just fine. And that's why I love you. Because you'd set out determined to get me back. You have the spirit of people who would not know defeat, even when it stared them in the face. You would get me back. I know you could. There has never been a man you couldn't get once you set your mind upon him." He had pride in his voice, and he laughed at himself for turning so serious. "But I promise not to test it," he smiled, then covered her mouth and expertly parted her lips, sweeping her away with feelings she had once feared she would never again experience.

Their tongues mingled, and Scarlett felt emboldened like never before. Rhett moaned, and she was flush with excitement and a sense of feminine power. She realized instinctively that she wielded a power over him, and the thought was intoxicating. With her newfound courage, she pushed his suit coat down his arms.

Once free of the garment, he wrapped his arms so tightly around her, she felt like there was no world outside of them. There was no war, no sick mother and sisters, no pregnant Melanie O'Hara or gossiping old hens. There was Rhett and Scarlett, who didn't need anything outside of one and other.

Startling her, Rhett spun her around and went to work on the line of satin buttons down her back. "What was I thinking picking a dress with so many damn buttons?" He placed a kiss between her shoulder blades, and Scarlett had to catch her breath, embarrassed that she was practically panting. She closed her eyes, and her head lulled backward as she savored the feeling of his strong hands on her. He finished with the row of buttons at her back and pulled her stays out of her corset quickly. Pushing the whole pile of fabric down around Scarlett's waist, he was pleasantly surprised when she spun in his arms and pulled forcefully at his necktie. When it had come loose, she threw herself at him and attacked his mouth with her own. Pulling his shirt out of his pants, she broke apart from him only long enough to pull the shirt over his head. When his face was revealed, he was grinning like a fool. Her passion was exactly what he had always fantasized it would be when he finally had her.

The cuffs of his shirt got caught, and she could not pull his hands out. Rhett tugged at them forcefully, ripping the fabric and sending a diamond cufflink flying somewhere. He did not seem to notice and did not hesitate to push her back on the bed, covering her body with his. He pulled at the tangle of fabric around her, and she breathlessly tried to assist him, kicking the skirts away from her legs and pulling her chemise down after her gown.

Naked before him, Rhett ran his hands the length of her body and began kissing down her stomach, fulfilling his promise to examine every inch.

"Rhett!" she exclaimed breathless, digging her fingernails into his hair. When the tight, coiling in her belly became almost more than she could bear, he slid his body along hers, and they were face to face again.

"Oh God," he moaned into her hair, grabbing hold of her bottom and pulling her flush against him, "Oh my God…Scarlett."

They moved wildly, and Scarlett wrapped her legs around Rhett's waist as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Her back arched, and she let out a surprised cry at the feelings welling up inside her that made her body twist and flex uncontrollably.

Suddenly, the storm passed, and Rhett laid his forehead against hers, gasping for breath. After catching her breath, Scarlett began to giggle, and she couldn't keep the wide grin off her face as he rolled off of her.

He looked down at her adoringly, "I promise, that was still only the beginning, darling," he said, tracing her hairline with a finger.

"Oh, Rhett – that was…" a confused look crossed her face, and she looked to one side and then the other briefly, "Did you just take me to bed?" she asked, puzzled.

Rhett laughed loudly, "It would appear to me that yes, we are in fact, in bed, my dear."

"No– well, it's just…" she sat up and pulled the coverlet over herself timidly. "Well, Melanie said it would be unpleasant, and that definitely wasn't unpleasant!" She said, only to be mortified by her own words when he began to laugh again.

"Well, that's just fine, Rhett Butler!" She said angrily, "If you're going to sit there and laugh at me, then I'll-"

She stopped suddenly when Rhett pulled her into his arms, "Scarlett, you're priceless," he said smiling. "Miss Melly is just one of those traditional ladies who thinks it is her duty to 'grin and bear it,' and not enjoy what they can with their husbands."

Her eyes fell to the floor, and her brow crinkled deeply in thought.

"Darling," he said, pulling her chin up, and forcing her to look at him, a question on his face.

"I've done something else wrong, haven't I, Rhett?" she asked, biting her lip.

"What in the world are you talking about?"

"Ladies don't do that. I knew I was acting scandalously, but it felt so natural like my body was doing exactly what it was supposed to."

"Oh darling," Rhett said, placing a kiss in her hair. "Don't ever feel like you have to explain anything we do together to anyone. What we just did-" his voice broke off, but he forced himself to continue and open up a new place in his soul to her. "I've never felt anything like that before, Scarlett. I've always been in control, never let myself get carried away, but with you..." He put his hand on the side of her face and looked into her shining green eyes, "You were meant to be with me, Scarlett. That's why it felt the way it did. Like it was the most natural thing in the world."

Unable to form words to express what she was thinking and feeling that "I love you" would not properly satisfy, she pulled his lips to hers again and boldly pushed him back down on the bed.