The door swung open, and he swept in, giving her an easy smile. "Hey! Better today? You look like you feel a lot better."

"Yeah." She gave him a lopsided grin in return. "Just sitting here feeling kind of stupid about the way I acted."

He frowned. "Stupid for acting scared? I don't think so. It's perfectly normal to be afraid when you're seconds away from being killed!"

"Well, it's over now, and I just want to forget about it and enjoy the rest of the weekend," Anne told him.

"Sounds like a plan! But we have to get you out of here first."

The doctor arrived soon and released her to go home. She slipped into the restroom to change back into her clothes and then walked out of the hospital holding hands with Louis. He led her to the rental car, and they got in.

"So, what would you like to do on a lazy Sunday afternoon?" he asked as he drove out of the parking lot.

"Maybe we should swing by my parents', since I was asleep when they came by yesterday," Anne suggested.

"Sounds great to me."

Within moments they were at the Boleyns, where they found Thomas watching television while Liz did needlework. She gave Anne a warm hug when she saw her.

"Thanks so much for coming!" she exclaimed.

"Oh, that's fine," Anne replied. "I just wanted to stop in and say hello, since I was asleep when you came by the hospital yesterday." She looked over at Thomas. "Hi, Dad."

He nodded. "Hello, Anne."

"Why don't you stay awhile?" Liz suggested. "There's plenty of leftovers."

Louis and Anne looked at each other. "Sure, why not?" Anne replied.

They stayed several hours and ate microwaved pot roast and vegetables, and when it got dark, Louis drove Anne home. "Please come in with me," she begged after he'd stopped the car. "I don't feel like being alone right now."

Louis hesitated for just a moment, then followed her up to her apartment. Once there, he sat down on the sofa while Anne went into the kitchen and returned several seconds later with two wine coolers. She handed one to Louis, then turned the CD player on. 'I'll Make Love To You' by Boys 2 Men began to play.

"Is this a promise?" Louis nodded toward the CD player as he sipped his wine cooler.

Anne smiled. "Do you want it to be?"

"I - um - " He had to clear his throat. "You're a beautiful woman, Anne, and I'm very strongly attracted to you."

"How strongly?" Her voice was a throaty whisper.

Louis' face felt as if it were on fire. "So strongly I - I'm going crazy with wanting you."

"Show me." Her lips were on his, her fingers running themselves through his hair. Suddenly it was hot, much too hot, and he could hardly catch his breath. Anne's tongue was in his mouth, dancing with his own,while her fingers swept over his chest, unbuttoning his shirt and peeling it from his body, exposing his bare chest with its erect nipples, and now her fingers were on them, stroking them, teasing them. He groaned and instinctively lay back on the sofa.

Her hand was like a hot breath as it covered the bulge in the front of his pants, and her lips placed a trail of kisses down the front of his chest. Unable to take it anymore, he groaned again and involuntarily thrust his hips forward. Euphoria surged through him as her fingers unzipped his pants and tugged them and his underwear off.

The next thing he knew, her mouth had enclosed him, her lips and tongue bringing him the most exquisite pleasure. His breath came hard and fast as he struggled to hold back, then, realizing release was inevitable, withdrew from her mouth. She gave him a questioning look.

"I - thought you wouldn't want that - " he nodded toward it - "In your mouth." He gave a nervous giggle as he blushed deep red, and then her mouth was on his again, hungrily exploring. His hands found her breasts and he began to massage them as if he were rolling out dough. She moaned and slipped first her shirt, then her bra, off. Desire surged within him as he took one perfect little rosebud nipple into his mouth and suckled it. While he did that, she finished undressing. By now he was hard again, and she moved him into position and slipped him inside herself, and their mutual longing was satisfied, right there on her sofa.

Afterwards, they held one another tight until their breathing had returned to normal.

"I might have just got you pregnant," said Louis.

"You didn't," Anne assured him. "It's the wrong time of the month for that."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

She nodded, sweeping damp locks of dark hair back from his face. "Oh my darling Louis, you really do know how to turn me on!"

"So did I satisfy you, then?" He felt himself go limp with relief.

"Very much so. And did I you?"

"Oh, Anne - " He buried his face in her hair.

"You are staying the night, aren't you?" she asked him.

"I have nothing to change into, and I have work tomorrow," he pointed out.

"So do I." She bit her bottom lip. "I'm pretty sure some of George's clothes are around here somewhere. You look like you're about the same size as him, and I'll set the alarm for six tomorrow. That'll give us time to have breakfast together."

"Great!" He grinned.

She offered him the use of the shower, but gentleman that he was, he insisted she go first. "We'll shower together," she decided. So they did, lovingly washing each other off.

Afterwards, as she lay in his arms in her bed that night, she thought about how very long it had been since she'd shared her body, her life, with a man. After Henry had left, it had seemed no man would ever want her again, and then suddenly, Louis had been there one day - shy, humble Louis with his gentle ways had made her smile again, had brought joy into her life once more, and she couldn't thank him enough.