Their lips met softly, Aramis enjoying the sweet taste of her after the bitterness of the day. Anne let herself relax for the first time in so long. She was always aware of what was going on around her, who was watching, the intrigue of court but in the here and now, she could stop acting, stop pretending and just be with the man she loved and loved her in return.

As Anne ran her hands through his hair, her fingers caught a couple of sparkling shards of glass left behind after his brush with death. "Aramis, were you hurt more badly than you've told me?" she asked softly "Please tell me the truth."

Aramis shook his head "I'm fine, truly. Just a few bruises and some small scratches. Nothing really." He ran his hands down her arms to elbows and held her there, looking at her.

Anne looked up at him through her eyelashes "Aramis, show me."

"Are you asking as my Queen or as...?"

"I'm asking as the woman who loves you." Aramis couldn't deny her anything so went to take of his leather jacket. Anne stepped closer, bringing her hands up to help him shrug his jacket from his shoulders. She placed his jacket on a chair close by as he undid the buttons at his wrists. Anne came close to him again, feeling the warmth of his body.

Aramis pulled the white linen shirt over his head. His muscles making a protest at the sharp movements. He heard Anne's small intake of breath as she viewed the smooth muscles of his chest and abdomen. Anne reached out and placed her fingertips on the marks that marred his flesh.

Anne circled him and as her fingers touched the blue smudges on his back, Aramis flinched a little. "I'm sorry..I'm sorry." Anne murmured. She gathered a bowl of warm water and a cloth from corner of the room. She made him take a seat as she dipped the cloth in the water, ready to bathe his wounds. Aramis gritted his teeth as Anne wiped the blood from the scratches on his back. "I'm sorry Aramis, I'm hurting you..."

Aramis sighed "Its fine...I'd rather you doing this than Porthos. You are far gentler than he would be and you're sorry for causing me discomfort. Porthos would be laughing and making it more and more 'uncomfortable' for me."

Anne sat behind Aramis, silently going about cleaning his wounds. A small tear trickled from her eye as she thought about what had happened and how close she came to losing him. She continued in silence until all the cuts were cleaned. "You're done. I don't think there'll be any permanent marks left. But promise me, Aramis, you will take care."

Aramis turned to look at her. "Anne, I promise you I will be as careful as I can. But I won't let anything happen to you or our son. I'll protect you both and give my life for yours if it comes to that." Anne looked at him with her eyes wet with unshed tears.

Anne and Aramis moved closer together. Both seeking to give comfort to the other. Aramis' deft fingers pulled at the pins in Anne's hair, sending the soft ribbons of her hair streaming down around her shoulders. He brushed her hair back gently from her face.

As Aramis looked at her, he searched for some evidence in her eyes, in her manner that she was having second thoughts about this, about them. He couldn't believe that this woman would be willing to risk everything, once again, for him. But he would give everything, anything for her.

"What's wrong?" Anne asked as she put her hand on his bare, warm chest.

"Nothing. Are you sure Anne? About this, about us? I can go, no one will ever know I was here."

Anne sighed "Do you not want me any more Aramis? Have I been replaced so easily?"

With those questions ringing in his ears, Aramis grabbed Anne and pulled her roughly to him. His lips came crashing down on hers. Aramis' tongue pushed past her lips again to sweep inside her mouth. Anne moaned into his mouth in response. It set the passion alight in both of them.

Aramis lifted her from where they were sitting all the while kissing her, tasting her. He had never felt like this with a woman, not even Isabelle or Sr Helene as she became known as. He paused for a moment, looking at her and said "No one will ever replace you Anne, not in my head and certainly not in my heart. Can you feel how much I want you?"

Anne nodded, to overwhelmed with sensations to form any words. She could feel his erection against her, despite the clothing that separated them. And she wanted to feel him inside her once again.

Aramis pushed her back up against the locked door. He continued to kiss her deeply while his hands roamed over her body. He could feel her heaving chest pushing against him. He linked his hands with hers and then raised them above their heads. He trailed kisses down the side of her graceful neck. He released her hands as he reached down to hold her again.

Aramis worked his way down her body, kissing her exposed flesh and gently touching her. Anne leaned back against the door, closing her eyes as she gave herself over to the man she loved. He knelt at her feet, sliding his hands up her soft calves to her thighs. He pushed her sleeping gown up around her hips to expose her. He ran small, wet kisses along the inside of her thighs. He heard her soft intake of breath as he made his way to his ultimate goal.

Aramis pushed Anne's legs just a little bit wider. He wanted to hear those sounds from Anne again.

Aramis could tell how aroused Anne was, he was vastly more experienced in this department than she was and he wanted to taste her. He ran the tip of his tongue along her sensitive skin. She was hot and wet. He licked his lips in anticipation and lowered his head. Aramis raised his eyes to look at Anne. Her eyes were closed and she was biting her lip. The tip of his tongue brushed Anne's clit and he was rewarded with a quiet squeak.

Aramis lifted one of Anne's legs over his shoulder to give him better access to her core. His tongue slid into her and he could fully taste her. Her juices were sweeter to him than any wine or honey he'd ever had.

Anne was trying to concentrate but what Aramis was doing to her drove all thoughts from her mind. She'd never experienced anything like this. Her only other partner was the King and he was almost as inexperienced as she was. She had been a virgin, of course, when she had married and while the King was not, he never did anything like this to her or made her feel the way Aramis did.

As Aramis was licking and sucking her delicate flesh Anne started to lose control. She managed to gasp out "Aramis" as her hands snaked their way through his hair. Aramis paused in his efforts to satisfy her. "Anne, my love, let go of yourself, I have you. Come for me."

Within seconds Anne could feel that delicious pressure building like once before. As Aramis lifted his head to look at her, he eased two of his fingers into her tight, wet core. He pumped his calloused fingers in and out with an easy rhythm, building Anne's pleasure even further. He heard Anne give a low moan and felt her muscles clench around his fingers.

Her face showed all of her contentment and Aramis withdrew his fingers slowly. He was delighted that he had fulfilled some of her desires but he wanted to be sure Anne was willing to risk everything. Aramis picked her up in his arms "My Queen, are you sure about tonight? What we will do?" He placed kisses up her neck to a spot just below her ear.

"Absolutely" she sighed.