A/N: With thanks to luvsdamovies who gave me some much needed direction with this chapter - you're awesome.
"Sybil's engaged?"
Anna stared at Mary a little incredulously as they began to round off at the office, letting the surprising news sink in. She did have to wonder why Mary hadn't said anything sooner and instead just dropped it rather casually into conversation, as if it were not even a second thought. If it was any of her siblings, she would be bursting, near enough going up to strangers in the street to tell them. Instead, Mary looked absolutely unflappable.
"Yes. Last weekend. She called us all individually, practically screaming down the phone. I think my eardrum may be perforated," Mary pulled a face, her flat tone seeming to mask annoyance, perhaps even a touch of resentment. "At a festival, of all places. I just hope the ring is real, and not plastic. God forbid that she should have to buy her own."
Anna laughed, closing down her laptop and checking her phone for a moment before shrugging on her jacket.
"That seems very Tom and Sybil to me. At least they stand out from the crowd, well, in a manner of speaking."
Mary was still shaking her head at the apparent indignity of it all.
"And I'm sure Sybil is ecstatic about her ring, no matter if its diamond-encrusted or fluorescent orange."
"Well, we shall see," Mary wrinkled her nose. "I shall be having words with Tom Branson if it doesn't pass inspection."
She gave a little upward curl of her lips, and Anna smirked out of Mary's vision. That was her way of showing that she really did care, besides all outward displays.
"It is rather soon, isn't it?" Anna remarked as she shut the windows in the office. "How long have they been dating, about seven months or so?"
Again, Mary did not seem in the least bit stunned.
"That's Sybil. Terribly impulsive. She was a month early when she was born, and she's never wanted to wait for anything since. Mama said that she wants to be married by the beginning of autumn." Mary's voice rose several subtle octaves. "I have money on it that she won't even wait that long, that they'll take off in the night and we'll only know about it when they need someone to tow them back home."
"As long as they're happy."
Anna made the most important point emphatically. Nobody could have denied that the couple were incredibly happy; even Robert had seemed to have now come around to the slightly roguish but well-meaning young man who had captured his youngest daughter's heart, and who had done the same to him in exchange. Perhaps they did have the mindset of teenagers, both idealistic and believing they could do anything and be indestructible. Looking at things from further away Anna could see it differently, but she couldn't berate them. They truly did seem to be two sides of the same coin, and they would learn their lessons like everyone else. They'd do so together and she didn't see how their love could ever fail. It gave her a warm, deeply pleasant feeling inside – one which she had become quite accustomed to once more, happily.
"And it's so exciting," she continued, gathering her thoughts into order after her brief daydream. "Just think, you'll get to be maid of honour twice."
She smiled a little slyly on saying it, but didn't expect to look up and see a curious grin pass over Mary's face.
"Oh, I certainly will be for Edith. But I doubt for Sybil. She'll probably get one of her hippy friends with dreadlocks to take over." Her nose wrinkled even further, and a hand crashed against her forehead. "Oh my lord, I don't even want to think about the dress…if there even is one."
Anna's eyes widened and then she let out a chuckle.
"Well there you go; that can be your sisterly responsibility, to offer sartorial advice."
The compliment made Mary rather pleased with herself, and as she glanced down to admire her outfit, still pristine after a long day, Anna took a glance at her watch and then again at the screen of her phone. She was probably being a bit unreasonable; he had been working on the other side of the city today, talking to authors who seemed like they might have something serious to offer rather than a pastiche of the latest bestseller. He'd phoned as she was finishing up lunch, adding onto the time somewhat, but that was one of the perks of being your own boss. Even though she tried to argue that he would have had a tiring day, he still promised her that he would stop by to pick her up when she finished. She wouldn't lie, the thought got her through some very trying calls with clients that afternoon.
Now it was almost half past five, and she was starting to teethe bits of skin from her lips. Perhaps she would head to his office instead, assuming that he'd gone back there. An unsettling sensation rose in her stomach on thinking about that, which was silly but something she hadn't quite relinquished completely. She was lingering now, double and triple checking things, and she sensed that Mary was starting to get antsy.
She was just about to offer an apology when voices and footsteps could be heard ascending the staircase. Anna exhaled and a thankful smile was on her face prior to their arrival.
Matthew still held John in conversation when they stepped in, and Anna bit back a laugh seeing his eyebrows lift almost above his head when he was denied the chance to cut in once again. Poor Matthew, he had so much boundless enthusiasm that it was hard for anyone to get him to stop talking once he had begun, especially someone as polite as John. This afternoon he appeared especially unstoppable. Anna decided she would take the initiative, clearing her throat discreetly but a little louder than normal. The flow of Matthew's talking stopped, and he met both of their eyes with a smile.
"Hello, ladies," John rumbled from behind Matthew, greeting Mary with a nod of the head and smile and then fixing his gaze firm upon Anna. She coloured a little at his attention, returning it full pelt. If it wasn't for Mary walking across the room and breaking the connection but temporarily, she would have forgotten that anyone else was there with them.
"Hello, Bates," Mary replied, not waiting for Anna to emerge from her reverie. "This is quite the treat for us."
"Well, I was on my way over…"
Matthew bounded through again. "And I was doing the very same thing, and what do you know, we ran into each other. They do say great minds think alike."
"Something like that," John remarked almost under his breath, and Anna tried hard not to giggle. Luckily, Matthew just stayed grinning, too enraptured by Mary's sway to notice.
"Well, it's certainly very nice indeed," Anna smiled sweetly, watching John's expression soften as she kept her eyes on him. "I'm sure you had lots to catch up on on the way."
Her eyes twinkled as John shook his head lightly, then smiled encouragingly when Matthew turned towards him.
"Oh, just talking shop. All frightfully boring," Matthew laughed, patting John on the shoulder lightly. "You know, John, I wish I would have followed in your footsteps. It would have saved me a damn sight of time."
Anna cringed a little at his words, and as she did so Matthew's face shadowed too.
"Oh, of course I don't mean to say what you do is easy," he flustered. "Not by any means. Just that it'd be delightful. Doing so much reading, manuscripts instead of case notes."
John wasn't put out by it, gesturing to attempt to calm Matthew down. "It's fine. I'm glad for everyone's sake that I'm not doing your job."
"Well, things are quite hectic right now. Mary will tell you, it's lucky that I see her as often I do."
"And sometimes that's too much," Mary added, dry as anything, but Matthew picked up on her playfulness.
"I'm glad to hear it's all going so well," Anna broke in.
Matthew smiled graciously. "It is. Well, for me anyway, I wouldn't like to be in my clients' positions, but you know…that's not to say I can't make time for friends. If you have any matters you need dealing with, I'm on the other end of the phone, happy to help." He turned again to John, who looked a little alarmed to be singled out. "John, if you ever have any trouble."
Unaware of what he had said, Mary soon rectified matters with an icy glare at her other half.
"Oh, god! I'm so sorry, that was stupid of me."
"It's quite alright," John replied, tapping Matthew on the back and giving him a reassuring look that tempered Mary's. Anna stifled another laugh as Matthew looked incredibly ruffled, fishing for the right words and gradually smiling when he saw that everything really was okay.
"Come along," Mary marched over to Matthew, the air of mortification not quite gone from him, grabbing onto his hand. "Before you put your foot anywhere else."
Matthew's eyes were wide at John and Anna before he was pulled into the adjoining room, mouthing his apologies. Anna was finally able to let go of her giggles, placing a hand against the warm breadth of John's chest and silently pleading him to come nearer, though he did so automatically.
"God, he doesn't half go on," John exclaimed, the look of exasperation soon leaving his eyes when her hands dropped, meeting in a circle around his middle. "I think I got about ten words in edgeways the whole way here."
"Awww," Anna cooed, smiling as his large hands began to stray up and down her back. "Are you feeling underappreciated?"
His lips pouted for a moment before he broke into a grin so gorgeous that it made her heart do somersaults. As he held her closer to him she felt herself enveloped, melting away, moving into him. She marvelled at the feeling, always so thrilling. One of his hands travelled up to catch at the back of her neck, and she leaned back, ready to fall apart right then and there, him always waiting to catch her.
"There were times when I thought this day would never end," he rasped. Goosebumps sprang up on Anna's skin, roused and then soothed away by his wondrous touch. Gently, he tucked his thumb underneath her chin, lifting her face up to him. A second afterwards, he dipped his own, delighting her with a swift but utterly enthralling kiss. "But it was all worth it to see you."
Anna pursed her lips together, savouring the taste of him, her fingers running a trail down his sides. "The very same here," she giggled as she heard a happy sigh escape from him.
They were seemingly unable to untangle themselves apart, but Anna didn't mind much. She realised there was nothing much better on this earth than being hugged by John, having his strong arms wrapped around her, making her feel like nothing else mattered. She would have been perfectly content to stay, had the urge not overwhelmed her while he stroked the ends of her hair softly. Raising herself up onto her toes, he realised what she was angling for and adjusted himself accordingly. The kiss she captured was longer than the one he had claimed from her, and she delighted to feel him surrendering to it, going loose in her embrace.
"I have something for you," he managed to whisper in a strangled breath against her hair when they ceased, the backs of his fingers stroking her cheek through it.
"Oh, do you now?" She couldn't help the salacious tone her voice had taken, and felt him chortle against her.
"It's only something little."
"Well, I'm intrigued now."
Her hand ran into his hair again, she was unable to stop herself doing so. Anna beamed as she stole another kiss from him, his lips tasting sweeter to her than they ever had before and proving irresistible. She parted her mouth a little more, needing more of him.
"Thank god we're not that undignified."
Their eyes flickered open and they turned around slowly, hands still pressed against each other. Anna's cheeks flushed to find that Mary and Matthew had caught them in the midst of a kiss that had been growing in passion steadily. She stumbled a little on her feet, her newly released hands clasping behind her back as she didn't know what to do with them. Mary's eyes, sparkling with a grin, raked over to John, threading a hand to fix his hair that Anna had left unkempt.
"Umm…we thought you'd gone," Anna stuttered out, her voice still a little hoarse.
"You hoped we had," Mary shot back, her lips thinning out as she looked to her side at Matthew who was smiling adoringly at her. "Well, we were going to, but it would have been rude. And there is something that we have to share."
Anna and John stood awaiting, his free hand having sought out hers, laced together behind her back.
Mary eyed Matthew at a little distance, then brought her hand out from the loop of his arm. Anna could see the size of the diamond sparkling from where she was standing.
"Sybil's not the only one who got engaged."
She remained straight-faced for a moment, then her crimson lips split into a smile. Matthew turned a little pink, his gaze held firmly on his fiancée as she held out her hand into the air. John smiled at the couple, while Anna's mouth hung open in shock.
"I…wow, Mary…I didn't see that this morning. I don't know how, you could barely miss it."
"Matthew took it to get resized," Mary corrected, and Matthew just nodded, lost in a daze. "I was simply bursting to tell you. But I thought it would be most fun like this."
"Well," Anna breathed, "it's certainly something." She wasn't sure why she felt a little deflated.
"Congratulations Mary. And Matthew," John went forth, bracing Matthew's hand and shaking it firmly, leaning in to whisper aside to him. "You're a braver man than I am, Gunga Din."
Mary made an apparently insulted face at him before laughing and turning towards Anna, who wore a watery smile on her face. At once, Mary rushed to hug her, and she was startled by the display, nearly being knocked onto her side.
"Oh Anna," Mary whispered, clinging onto her, "It's so wonderful. I'm ever so happy."
Anna smiled genuinely, even though she was still rather surprised. "And I'm happy for you."
Loosening her grip, Mary was still grinning as she stepped away. "I'll tell you everything soon, I promise."
"Well, we're going for some drinks later," Matthew piped up from underneath the doorway, John still standing by him. "We'd be thrilled if you could both join us to celebrate?"
Before Anna could make to speak, John intervened. "If you don't mind, we might give it a miss. It's just been a long day for us both." He was at Anna's side now, his arm curled around her waist as he glanced down for her approval.
She nodded at him, smiling, and then turned to Mary. "I'm sorry, Mary, but I do feel tired. You know how it's been today."
"Of course," Mary exclaimed; apparently, nothing could throw sand onto her fire. "Another time though? We'll double date."
"Love to."
As Mary and Matthew left, giggling like schoolchildren, Anna stood staring into space, lost in thought. She only stirred when she felt John's hand move in waves against her back, and she craned to see his eyes on her, soft and slightly worrisome.
"Alright?"
His fingers were brushing against hers now, seeming reluctant to take any more from her. Swiftly, she bridged the gap, holding them tight.
"Never better."
They walked along and down the streets away from the office, Anna cradling the little gift bag containing the miniature wooden carvings of a hippo, an elephant and a bear close to her chest, her eyes enlivened by John's smile, vibrant against the day that was still shining and bright.
The strange and sudden sadness that had taken hold of her lifted almost as soon as they stepped outside. She really had no idea where it had come from, and why it should have struck her at the announcement of such happy news. If there was one thing that was certain, it was that she couldn't fail to be cheered by John; by his news and conversation, by the way he stopped to let her have her say or to otherwise have her silence. She felt deliriously happy simply by the way he looked at her inbetween all the spaces, with eyes that were open and smiling and felt more like home to her every day.
He was going far and beyond the call of duty this evening, just having said something that made her laugh perhaps a little too loudly in the echoing air. He grinned widely at her uncontrollable giggling, before he moved in front of her, stopping both of their tracks.
"Anna, there's something I want to ask you."
The smile on his face brightened briefly before it dimmed, and then he was hidden from her as he bent towards the ground. Anna felt her heart leap in her chest, but she wasn't entirely sure whether it was a good or bad thing. Everything seemed to still to a halt.
"Anna," he seemed to breath her name deliberately slowly, full of emotion. "Will you do me the honour…"
"Oh god, John."
She wanted to scream at him to get up as he lifted his head towards her. Then, with an impish grin, the rest of him followed as his body sprung back up, and then she had to be the one to look up at him, full of anticipation.
"…of having dinner with me?"
"You silly chump!" she exclaimed, aiming a soft swipe against his arm. Now John was the one to laugh with abandon. She could have smacked him clean in the face, if she didn't want to kiss it so badly. "But we went out the other night."
He was smiling at her now, taking her hand softly.
"I mean, at my place," he clarified the request, his eyes hopeful but not beseeching. His thumb stroked over her skin gently, and she keenly watched the path it took. "I still owe you for last time, you know, before I went away."
There was only a second of stillness between them, before it faded to nothing, a forgotten memory.
"I have to make it up to you."
Anna's smile dissolved, her head tilting to the side. "You don't have to."
"I want to."
There was such rawness in his voice, she felt her heart fissure. Her fingers reached up to cover his, as best they could.
"How could I possibly say no to such an offer?"
She smiled again, feeling her heart grow lighter as she saw his come to life in his eyes.
It seemed that it was now her turn to make him happier than he could have been before.
A few hours later, Anna was on his doorstep. John had been eager for the night to go ahead, and so had she, and now that she had freshened up and changed her clothes, she felt brighter and really quite excited. She moistened her lips, clutching a bottle of wine and clicking her heels softly together as she waited for him to open the door.
She was drifting off into a dream world with the amount of time it was taking and a part of her thought she was still dreaming when he appeared behind the door, tea towel slung over the shoulder of his shirt. It was quite an ability he had, to always be able to take her breath away, no matter what the occasion.
"M'lady," he smiled that little half-smile, stepping to one side and making the way completely clear for her.
Anna bobbed her head, chuckling lightly as he bowed before her, taking her hand to kiss it and then trotting back into the kitchen, leaving her just a little dazed. She hung her jacket carefully at the bottom of the staircase and took in a breath, looking around her for a moment. It had been a little while since she had found herself here, though it didn't feel like that long at all. Her gaze travelled up all the way to the top of the stairs, and she smiled to herself thinking about that first morning, when she had strutted down the steps as if she was queen of the palace.
She began to move through the hallway, peeking her head just a little into the doors that she passed. Though she had been to his place a few times, everything still felt quite new to her. The thought suddenly occurred to her why that was; before, she hadn't spent too much time outside of the bedroom. A blush exploded in her cheeks, and she made a note to herself that she would pay more attention from now on.
The scent of cooking lured her to the kitchen, as well as the sight of John slaving away, preparing everything so diligently. She was set admiring the broadness of his shoulders, the ripple of muscles underneath his shirt as he worked. She could have happily done just that for the rest of the evening, her appetite not seeming that important all of a sudden.
"Something smells nice," she announced, and he turned to face her with a proud smile.
"Just an old favourite I rustled up," he said modestly.
The grin on his face grew as he watched Anna move forward, her mouth opening as she looked out beyond them both, completely stunned at what she beheld.
"Seeing as it's a fine night, I thought we could eat outside."
His words whirled about her as she stepped down, going into the edge of the garden. Not too far in front of her was a low table and two large, padded wicker seats, shaded by a balcony covering. The table was already laden and decorated with woven leaves and flowers, and a circle of tea-lights ran around the centre. There were yet more little lights glowing softly, stretching out across the decking, and beyond that strings of fairy lights cast a warm glow over the lawn and the day that was beginning to dim. It looked like a little hideaway, a paradise almost; not overstated or showy, but truly magical.
Anna grew warmer the longer she looked and the more little touches and details that she noticed. She could feel the weight of his stare at her back, only adding to the contentment she was experiencing. When she turned to see him again, his gaze was endearingly shy.
"Oh, John, it's so pretty," she sighed, her hands rubbing over her arms as a breeze met her. He had walked down to her now, and she eased herself into his waiting arms, bringing a hand up to smooth the hair above his ear. "You didn't need to go to so much trouble."
"It's no trouble at all," he whispered in a honeyed voice, his hands splayed at her back. His head dipped to brush against her cheek, and for the sweetest of moments Anna expected there would be more to follow. "As long as you like it, it's worth it."
She remained smiling as he pulled away from her, standing amidst the little wonderland he had created. "I like it very much," she intoned sweetly, levering herself to place an appreciative kiss on his cheek. "I don't feel I've made much of a contribution. You've thought of everything."
His brow furrowed, his eyes drifting to the side as he held her.
"Maybe not everything," his voice trailed away a little guiltily. "I'm not that great at making desserts."
"Oh, I see," Anna uttered. "So you thought you would sweeten me up?"
John chortled, attempting to bring her closer, frowning when Anna unfurled herself from his grasp and bounced over the grass, apparently annoyed with him. By the time she had reached the door her pretence had fallen away completely and she was wearing a radiant smile instead.
"Well, I'll have to see what I can rustle up."
Anna sighed happily, curling herself on the comfortable sofa like a cat. They'd devoured their courses of dinner, including the trifle that she had cobbled together in record time, despite John being draped around her waist for the entirety of the preparation, trying his best to put her off with whispers and little kisses the whole while. They spent more time afterwards sitting underneath the canopy, talking and laughing and watching the lights twinkle before their eyes. It was such a wonderful evening. They didn't notice that the night had become chillier until Anna had shuddered violently with it n a split second. John had been up, offering to fetch some blankets for the both of them as the hours began to darken quickly but Anna stilled the waving of his arms, pulling herself lazily onto her feet. As beautiful as it was out there, she rather fancied a change of scenery. She felt that the stars could wait for some other nights, and it was nice enough where they were now. As it turned out, she considered with a smirk, it was even nicer.
Things were feeling relaxed and, she thought, really quite domestic between them already. It was though they had slipped into a routine they had known for years in the space of just hours. Anna had gone from sitting herself somewhat staidly and upright to sprawling her legs out the length of the sofa, her half-empty glass of wine resting against her thigh. John had joked that she didn't leave much room for him, but squeezed onto the other end before he could complain, delicately lifting her feet into his lap and making her laugh and squirm as the tips of his fingers lightly tickled her soles. She was also laughing at the idea of him pushed onto the floor, his long legs tucked beneath him, glancing up at her like a chided schoolboy. As it was, there was more than enough room for the both of them to sit together and Anna couldn't have been more content.
John's hands massaged her feet gently, but with a little firmness too. Anna began to sigh pronouncedly as his thumb ran over her toes, giving each one a little press. Lounging against the arm, she glanced at him with a soft smile, which he returned wordlessly.
"They don't put you off?" she asked with a little rise in her voice.
"Not at all," he replied, with a smile in his. "They're lovely, just like the rest of you."
"Charmer," she trilled, her breath catching when he glided a finger down one of her soles. She wrenched her foot away momentarily when the sensation got too much, adjusting herself on the cushions. John lifted his hands away and then laughed when Anna shoved her foot back in their direction, craving for more attention soon enough.
"You know, I don't think I'll have to eat for another week," Anna patted her tummy, still happily full. "You should go into cooking if you ever get bored, it seems a shame to deprive the world of your talents."
He smirked at the way she was arching her brows at him. "I think Rob has got that covered. I wouldn't want to step on his toes."
"Aww, you've got such a bromance going on," she giggled.
"Are you jealous?" he teased, depriving her of his touch for a moment.
"Not at all."
"Good," he replied, and his hands, when they landed back on her, began to wander, circling the bones of her ankles and then drifting up her bare calves. Anna whimpered, feeling chills run all over her, in places miles away from where he was currently paying attention.
Her body went a little limp against the sofa and she would have contently sunk into oblivion, if not for the niggling question chasing round in her mind. Looking up at John, he seemed completely blissful as he concentrated upon her.
"What do you think about Mary and Matthew getting engaged?" she asked him idly, not really sure why she should be bothered by anyone else when he was enough to ever keep her occupied.
"I can't say I've given it a lot of thought," he mused, taking one of her dainty feet into his palm again. "Good luck to them both. They seem happy about it all, and who could ask for more than that?"
"Hmm," Anna replied, curling her legs back closer to her, making him jump a little. "I don't know why, but I've got a funny feeling about it. I mean, it is awfully soon. She was going on about Sybil and Tom rushing into things, yet they've known each other far longer."
"Well, I suppose there's that," John conceded, studying Anna's pensive expression, trying to get behind it. "But then it's their call. If they're both sure about it."
Anna frowned deeper, threading a hand through her hair.
"I can't help thinking that Mary thinks she has a point to prove. Her younger sisters both engaged before her, it was bound not to sit well with her. You know as much as I do she doesn't like to be outdone. I really hope I'm wrong but I just don't know if it's right. Poor Matthew will be heartbroken if it all falls apart."
She was sitting up now, looking at John, who had a worldly-wise gaze in his eyes.
"If it goes right, then fantastic," he began, running his fingers over the fabric of the sofa. "And if it doesn't, then that's the way it is. It'll be tough, but I'm sure they'll both be able to deal with it. Life gives us enough of our own problems without worrying about anyone else's."
His words seemed a little harsh, but Anna knew they were true. His face softened as she reached for her glass, worry still evident in her expression.
"Besides," he laughed, relaxing back onto the sofa, "who's to say that there is any right way to go about it? I certainly don't think I can."
Anna's curiosity was piqued again, as was her underlying feeling of sadness. Of course, it wasn't that she wanted him to feel like his one past endeavour into that territory was suitable, but his rather flippant reply seemed to hide a multitude of doubts and insecurities when it came to the future. She wondered at how much damage had really been caused, not just to his heart but to his whole confidence.
Her eyes lifted to find him gazing down into his lap.
"I think there is," she announced confidently, making his eyes dart towards her. "A right way." She smiled as she watched the corners of his mouth slowly quirk up. "I don't know if it can be seen to be so, but I think you'll feel it. It'll be like everything fitting into place, but being tipped upside down at the same time."
He began to chuckle, and Anna felt that familiar warmth spread through her again. The feeling that was right, but also sent her spinning.
"You still believe that then? That things can go right?"
She averted his gaze for a moment, a little shamefaced. How could she preach about the feelings of others and whether they were going about things the right way when she certainly hadn't done so on her first attempt? The circumstances were entirely different, she told herself. But really, were they? She'd gone along with things though they'd never felt right, hoping it would all change. She had got it as wrong as it was possible to be. Her hand went up to her mouth to suffocate a laugh; they both seemed to be hopeless at it. As she looked back up at him, her eyes were shining.
"More than anything."
John's smile changed again, the pure joy shifting into some deeper acknowledgement. It sent shivers right up Anna's spine, in a good way. His eyes beckoned for her to shift over closer to him and she did so easily, stretching herself out languidly. John brought his knees apart to fit her snugly against him, her back pressing into his chest, his arms draping around her shoulders. She angled her head to rest perfectly in the crook of his neck, and he laughed as she wriggled to get completely comfortable, making happy little noises as she did so.
He pressed a series of butterfly kisses to her head, marvelling at how she felt like silk beneath his lips.
It didn't pass him by that all of this felt very right, indeed.
Her eyes opened slowly, and Anna made to stretch her limbs out, when she realised that she was lying on something much warmer than the sofa. A little smile crept up on to her lips when she felt John's solid and reliable weight beneath her, his arms still curled around her waist, holding her in place against him. She moved her head very carefully and the beat of his heart sounded strong against her ear, consuming all of her thoughts. His chest was the perfect pillow, his body so comfortable and wonderful laid out against hers that it was little wonder that she had dozed off.
A little regretfully, she lifted his strong hands from where they were upon her so she could sit up. Rubbing the side of her hand across her eyes, she brought her feet noiselessly down onto the floor. She still felt a little sleepy, held in a happy haze from the food and the wine as well as the sheer ecstasy that came from being with him.
She made a little whimper as she flexed herself, hands braced against the edge of the sofa. Her hair fell about her face as she craned around; it must have looked a mess. Any concerns she had about herself faded quickly when she caught sight of John's sleeping face, his chin propped against his chest which slowly rose and then fell, hair flopping over his forehead. Her heart fluttered as she thought how absolutely adorable he looked, completely unaware of anything. Towering over him for the only time, she held her hair to her so it wouldn't wake him up and left a kiss upon his forehead.
It was tempting to carry on, but instead she smiled lovingly at him and then walked away with soft steps, circling the sitting room floor. She studied the walls and the large window with keen eyes, just about tracing her own reflection in the pane. Then her attention was drawn to what nestled in the corner of the room, and she went over to take a closer look, trailing a fingertip down the collection of CDs in the rack.
"Checking out my tunes, are you?" A gruff voice sounded in the silence. "I believe that's what the kids say nowadays."
Anna bit her lip to stop her giggles from emerging. "I'm rather impressed. I expected that you might have vinyl and a gramophone," she answered cheekily.
"I'll have you know I have an iPod and everything," he intoned, stretching out the span of his arms as he got to his feet.
"How thoroughly modern."
She scanned the titles curiously, coming across many of the standards she'd expected from their previous conversations about the subject. Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, U2. A few compilations of Northern Soul and Ska. Nothing that correlated with her own collection, until her finger stopped on one CD. She pulled it out of the rack and turned around with sparkling eyes.
"Who doesn't love some Kate Bush? The woman's one of a kind," he smiled at her selection, arms folded against him.
"I had a bit of an obsession when I was in college." Anna flushed as she turned over the CD in her hands, hardly believing she was about to reveal what was in her head. "It's still one of my life's ambitions to go up onto the moors and dance to Wuthering Heights."
His eyes widened, seeming delighted by the thought and charmed by her blushes. "One day."
Anna tilted her head to the side, trying to imagine him dancing with her. She put the CD back, trailing through the rest. Soon, another surprising choice caught her eye as it rested near the bottom of the pile. Turning around again, she quirked up her eyebrows, waiting for a response from him.
"I bought that one for that song about The A Team," he offered, looking at the case in her hands. "Turns out it wasn't about Mr T and the gang, but I still liked it."
She let out a tuneful laugh.
"I've got to say I haven't really listened to it that much."
"Well, we can solve that."
She bent down to put the CD into the player, flicking through the songs until she found the one she wanted and turned up the volume a few notches. John began tapping his foot and nodding his head a little to the beat, and she laughed softly as she went over to him, her arms held against herself.
"That's quite decent, actually."
"You should trust me, I have good taste." A smile came onto her face as she reached out, her hands landing lightly, a little tentatively, upon his sides. She leaned in closer for a moment. "I'm with you, aren't I?"
The look he gave her almost broke her heart for a moment. He chose not to say anything, instead taking up one of her hands and kissing the back of it before holding it firm in his own. They both swayed naturally to the music, keeping their eyes on one another. Anna began to giggle again as she went from side to side, her hand entwined with his.
"Are we dancing?"
"You are, you know how bad I am at it," he laughed, his burr reverberating in her ears. "I can follow your lead."
Anna chortled, shaking her head and staring up into his gaze that made her feel incredible. Her movements stilled sharply when John took her face in his hands, deftly but so gently too. They both took in a breath at the same moment and Anna's heart started to thud rapidly against the walls of her chest as the light mood altered in a flash.
His thumb rubbed circles on her cheek and then he swept her slightly messy hair back.
"You'll never know how lucky I consider myself to be with you," he said, every word wrought from the depths. "That you're willing to stick all this out. And now you're stuck with me."
She touched her hand to one of his, her lips curved into a soft smile at his anxious eyes.
"For good and proper."
His face broke for a moment to match hers, unable to contain his joy at her words. His hands made their way down her sides slowly, fingertips drifting over the flare of her hips. Anna gulped, glancing up at him. His eyes seemed lighter and more shadowed at once, and she was sure she could see the traces of tears barely hidden there.
"Oh god, Anna. I've missed you so much."
"I've missed you too."
Her voice shook with sheer emotion and her limbs trembled as he came closer, surrounding her, leaving her feeling overpowered. Sensing it before she was even aware, John soothed her with his touch, caressing her shoulders and whispering words she didn't even hear. His hands upon her were all she was aware of, the tips of his fingers pressing softly into her skin through the layers of her clothes. She fought to think of something else, but it was a battle that she didn't care about losing.
He inched nearer and nearer, until there wasn't even breath between them. She was stealing his own to keep her afloat on this sea they had sailed into. The powerful charge rose up within her; the heat in the room was enough to scald her, her pulse alive in her throat. Now his hands were barely grazing her arms. Hers were instead grasping onto him at his back.
He had led her to this, but she was more than happy to follow. She knew her eyes were pleading, begging with his, the words set to music making the tears sting at them both.
'We'll play hide and seek to turn this around, all I want is the taste that your lips allow…'
His fingers snaked into her hair again, and then she was finally able to taste him, properly, after what had seemed like several eternities. Their lips were set in a slow dance, a discovery, the pace set down to him. He kissed her with sweetness that made her feel she could disappear, and then with craving so intense that she couldn't possibly ignore. It was though he wanted to seek out every bit of her like he'd never encountered it before. He kissed her like it was the first and the last time he would ever do so.
She was holding onto every sensation, holding onto him. She was trying so hard not to cry.
Her hands ran the length of his chest as they broke apart softly, and she looked up to find that his eyes were saying everything that she felt and so much more. Even after so long, the connection between them had rekindled. It burned stronger than ever; right now, it was close to engulfing her. He smiled at her and she smiled back, with a little nod of her head. They never had to speak at moments like this. What they didn't need to say said so much more.
Their fingers mirrored positions on one another, and Anna pushed herself forward. While her body was gentle upon him, her lips were anything but. She was kissing him greedily, passion tumbling from every pore. She needed to leave him in no doubt whatsoever of all of her feelings for him, how at this very second they were deeper than they had ever been. John answered her kisses and all of her fevered appeals with equal ardency, and then slowed them down. Together they found the pace that would sustain them.
Sinking back onto the sofa, they continued to be lost in each other's embrace. Clothes were loosened, kisses were collected. Everything seemed to happen in a haze and yet Anna knew nothing else. They were stretched out against each other once again, both aware where they were headed, yearning to reach the destination. John lavished kisses upon her face and neck, his hands working wonders upon her body.
"I've missed you, Anna."
His lips were pressed beneath her earlobe, trailing further.
"I need you so…oh, christ."
His words were cut short when Anna lifted herself from where she lay beneath him, nipping at his collarbone and roaming over his chest. Her lips travelled up over his jaw and arrived at his lips to kiss him deeply once more, her light irises shining into his dark ones when she ceased.
"I need you too," she breathed, running her fingertips from his temple. He was searching her face breathlessly, and she teethed her lip, unable to stop her smile. "And I love you."
Anna felt his heart beating fast as her palm lay over it, and her expression crumpled at the emotion held in his.
"I love you," he repeated, so steadily. He kissed her, once for each word said, the next more sincere than the last. Anna held a breath as his hands caressed her, delving lower, making her feel so alive. "I love you above everything else, until there's nothing else. You're all I've ever wanted."
She smiled, holding in her tears as his promises lingered in her head, letting them transform and leave her in a far happier form as they made love there on the sofa.
Anna stared up at the ceiling, the bedsheets burrowed around her ankles leaving her bare skin exposed to the air. She felt perfectly alright, better than that. John's body against her side gave her all the warmth and comfort she would ever need. She snuggled in closer, the curve of her body moulding to his. Her fingers were dancing over the hair on his chest, while his were settled protectively upon her thigh. Both sighed a little at the persistence of the other's touch and the recent memories of their lovemaking, which had resumed when they took the trip upstairs. Anna laughed to herself thinking she felt far from tired now, yet at the same time she had no inclination to move for a very long time.
Too soon, she felt a draught move along her and frowned when she saw John sitting up.
"I don't want you to be cold," he answered her quizzical look, the sheets bunched in his hands as he made to bring them back over them both.
"I'm not," she replied, her hands pulling him back down to the mattress and to her insistently. She smiled as she rolled onto her side again. "I just need you close to me."
"That I am happy to oblige."
He dropped a kiss on her shoulder before lying back with her again. One hand trailed up and down her back and the other linked with hers in the little bit of space that was left between them. She had missed being with him like this so much and now she never wanted this moment to end, wished it could stretch on beyond her.
"I just want to stay here forever," she heard herself say in a funny, dreamy voice and John let out a hearty chuckle, his hand moving down to her waist.
"I certainly wouldn't complain about that."
He moved his head back a touch on the pillow, looking at her with a bit of concern.
"That was alright for you, wasn't it? I mean, it wasn't too much?"
She chuckled. "No. It could never be too much."
"You are a naughty girl," he rasped, and Anna giggled impishly, before he turned serious again. "I just didn't want to feel like I was coming on too strong, that you think I only missed you because of that."
He said it with a certain shyness, and she was compelled to raise her head to kiss his lips swiftly.
"You're amazing, Anna. And you should know that, every second." He laid another soft kiss upon her neck, and she let out a groan. "I just don't want to put you off, in any way. You will tell me if this is going too fast, won't you? As soon as you say the word, I'll put the brakes on."
She could see he was still being serious so she shuffled forward, kissing him deeply before returning them to their previous comfortable position, laying against each other, her hand pressed firm upon the left side of his chest.
"What did I say?" she asked him, only partly lightly.
"For good and proper."
Her heart soared almost to the ceiling when he repeated her earlier words back to her, wrapping his arms around her.
In her mind, body and soul, there was no question that's what they were now.
A/N: The song I soundtracked their swaying and kissing to in my head is Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran. I think it goes well with the build-up of emotion between them and I imagine things getting heated as I listen to it...completely of no interest, I also think Everything Has Changed (his duet with Taylor Swift) sums up Anna and John pretty accurately at this point in the story.