These are the only two chapters I have written for this fic so far. There will be more, but I am about to go off on holiday to a place where there is no internet (!) for the next two weeks. So please bear with me and when I get back in mid September, there will be a lot more chapters to follow!
"I got your note."
He said nothing. Only smiled.
"You are a wicked man, John Bates?"
"How so? For telling my wife that I love her, and long for her?"
They spoke quietly, under the hubbub of the general conversation at dinner.
"You made me all hot and flustered reading that, Lady Mary thought I'd sat too close to a fire."
"But you liked it."
His eyes were dark with passion, mischievous and filled with desire. Anna's breath caught in her throat.
"Oh yes..." she breathed.
"Then I shall have to write to you again. I have leisure to do so for these days to come."
How could he sit there so calmly, tucking into Mrs Patmore's stew and dumplings, while Anna's hand shook when she picked up her glass of water?
"You will pay for this, husband."
"You could always tell me not to bother..."
"Don't you dare."
He chuckled to himself under his breath, before he was drawn into a discussion with Alfred about the sports results in the paper from that morning.
Anna sat and smouldered, wondering desperately how long it would be before they would have a place of their own.
…
The following afternoon, there was another note.
Anna had raced through her afternoon tasks, allowing herself an extra five minutes to change, in hopes that there would be. John had not disappointed her.
My dearest minx
I couldn't sleep last night for thinking of you. You've been in my dreams so many times while I've been away. I would turn to find you beside me, back in that beautiful room where we spent our first night together, naked and reaching for me, and my heart felt it would explode from beating so fast. I remember the taste of your mouth, your throat, and your stomach, and how soft the skin of your thighs felt wrapped around my waist.
Anna had to sit down, her knees were shaking, the heat between her thighs raging.
I would see you, beneath me, looking up at me with those wonderful eyes, so filled with trust and desire. I could hear the small sounds you made, each gasp and soft moan when we came together. I remember how sweet you were, how ready for me, how you moved...
Waking from those dreams was torture, but they were a beacon. A guiding light. Something I had to come back to.
Soon, my dearest love. Soon.
Yours always,
JB
Anna's chest felt tight, her hand shook holding the note. Her mouth was dry. How could he do this to her, with words alone? She would be undone by this before the week was out, but couldn't bear to tell him to stop.
…
The night was clear and so the courtyard was crowded. They sat close together, talking softly, but unable to lay a hand on each other.
"You really think of me like that?"
"And so much more..."
"How much more?"
Anna swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry, the palms of her hands damp.
"I could tell you, if you'd like..."
"Oh please do..."
"Not now."
A frustrated growl gagged in the back of Anna's throat.
"Locking up now!"
How she was able to stand on her way indoors was a mystery.