A/N: Dear reader, you've been warned that this chapter gets a little steamy/mildly smutty! Nothing terribly explicit by any means but definitely a rating increase. If for some reason you'd rather not read it, skip to the last few paragraphs which have a few details for the upcoming chapter or so. Happy reading!

She pulled away from him to look at him seriously. "You aren't getting rid of me so easily, Mr. Andrews. I believe I was about to be ravished prior to the being interrupted."

The glint in her eyes told him she spoke true. Thomas wasted no time and scooped Rose up and carried her bridal-style to the bed where he laid her down gently. He sat on the edge of the bed where his attention was drawn to her small slippered feet. He picked up a delicate foot and removed the slipper before kissing it from toe to ankle. Rose giggled at the feel of his lips on ticklish flesh. He gave the other foot the same attention but instead of stopping at her ankle he continued to kiss up her leg, stopping just behind her knee to suck lightly.

"Oh!" she gasped as he nipped her soft skin. "You torture me slowly, my love." her voice was breathy.

He sat up and smiled wickedly at her. "Torture? No. I cherish and adore you." Thomas moved in to kiss her softly while his hands trailed up her legs, bringing the long gown up with them. "So soft, so warm, and all mine."

She shivered at his possessive tone "Yours, all you want of me. Yours alone!" she found his slow movements maddening but delightful. He'd reached her thighs and squeezed lightly, another small gasp falling from her lips. Her shaking fingers worked the buttons of his shirt open to feel his flesh beneath her hands. Her hand snaked around his back letting her nails drag over his warm skin before trailing downward to skim the top of his pajama bottoms. He hissed at the feeling of her delicate hands running over his body and her small fingers untying the string that held up his bottoms.

"Someone is eager!" He chuckled.

Rose sighed longingly "I want you, Thomas. Take me, make me yours."

His heart stopped a beat at her words. "Oh, my dear Rose. Are you sure?" He had to know this was what she wanted, really wanted. God knows he wanted her, that much was evident.

She sat up and look into his eyes as she unbuttoned the small pearls holding her gown closed, opening it to reveal creamy white skin. "I am completely sure."

That was all he needed. He kissed her with a fury she did not know he possessed. He grasped the skirt of her gown from where it lay bunched at her thighs and lifted it over her head, leaving her bare before him.

Chest heaving and eyes full of need, Rose pushed his shirt off his arms and tossed it to the floor. "You're wearing too many clothes, dearest." she pressed her mouth to his neck in a searing kiss.

Thomas groaned and tore himself away long enough to slip out of his pants and rejoin her. She felt her wanting grow greater at the sight of his stark form before her, elegant and lithe. "Please, Thomas." Rose begged.

He moved over her, enclosing her in his warmth. Skin to skin, chest to chest . Thomas smoothed her hair back from her face and locked onto her eyes. "Darling it may hurt at first, but I promise to be easy and do everything in my power to make it enjoyable for you."

Rose nodded, returning his gaze. "I trust you, my love. Just being with you is pleasure enough. Please, Thomas, I need you."

Cradling her and never looking from her eyes, Thomas eased into her slowly. Her body was more than ready for him, made slick from his earlier ministrations. When he was met with slight resistance he stopped and made sure she was still ready for this, for him. Once again she nodded her acceptance. He kissed deeply, attempting to ease the coming pain as he thrust forward with a bit more force than before and buried himself fully inside her. Rose gasped, breaking the kiss and Thomas felt her tense around him. He didn't dare move until she was well adjusted to him.

Tears pricked in her eyes at the light sting she felt deep within. She knew Thomas was waiting on her to grow comfortable and all she knew was if he began moving, pleasure was sure to replace the pain. "I'm alright, Thomas."

He kissed her once more and withdrew a little and thrust back in slowly, establishing an easy rhythm. Once acclimated to the new feelings and confident in herself, Rose began to meet his movements with her own and moving in tandem with him. There was something building within her and she just could not catch hold of it. She wanted more but didn't know how to get it. A whimper slipped past her lips and Thomas immediately stilled.

"What is it love, have I hurt you?"

"No, I…" She squirmed beneath him unable to voice her want, her need, properly "More. Just more, Thomas, I need more."

His face relaxed into a knowing smile. "Oh my darling, I will get you there." he kissed her forehead and pushed himself up and grabbed hold of her hips to bring her with him. He began moving once more and Rose felt as though she would burst! The new position was creating sensations she had yet to experience. He was reaching that spot she had been desperate for him to find earlier and she could not help the moans slipping off her tongue. Every thrust sent a wave of pleasure through her and she felt a warm, tightening deep within her growing and growing.

Thomas sensed her growing closer and closer to her climax. It was all he could to do to keep himself from going over, he was determined she would have her pleasure before he got his. He hooked an arm around one of her sumptuous legs and drew it up so that her ankle was by his head where he nibbled and kissed the sensitive skin there, hoping to add to her pleasure.

Rose's moans had grown exponentially louder and took on a desperate edge to it until she was nearly crying out. She felt as though she were on a precipice, having climbed higher and higher until she could go no further. There was still something just beyond her grasp, a need that burned like fire in her veins.

Feeling her tighten around him and hearing her desperate whimpers, Thomas knew all his beloved Rose needed was a push to put her over the edge. He let go of her with one hand and slid his thumb down between them, pressing lightly on that bud of nerves that could bring so much pleasure. That was all it took to have her scream his name in the midst of her ecstasy.

Stars burst in her vision as she held on to intense pleasure coursing through her body in waves that sent tingles all the way to her toes. Seeing her like this, head thrown back and hands gripping the sheets, as she clenched around him was more than enough to bring Thomas over the edge right behind her, spilling himself before he collapsed on top of her completely spent. He laid slow, sweet kisses on her neck and shoulders as she came down from the clouds.

"Thomas?"

"Hmmm?" he hummed into her neck.

"Is it always like that? For everyone?"

He rolled off of her onto his side and she immediately mourned the loss of his solid weight above her. "No I don't believe it is that way for everyone. And before you go comparing yourself to Helen, I want you to know I had greater pleasure this one time with you than I ever did with Helen. I suppose it's because you love me as much as I love you."

"That is certain." She stretched and let out a sigh. "I hope it's always like this for us."

Thomas chuckled and drew her nearer. "Believe you me, darling, it can be even better than this. Just you wait until we are back to Ireland and in our own home." he nibbled at her ear, his lusty voice sending shivers down her spine and straight to her core. "I will have you screaming my name every night should you want me. I'll take you in the bedroom, on my desk in the study, in the library, and the dining room table for certain. That is if you're up to it."

She groaned as she felt her need building again at the images he put in her mind. "Dearest, you can take me anywhere you desire, whenever you please." her breath hitched as she felt his hand snake down her belly. "You could take me on bow of this ship if you wanted to." his fingers trailed lazily through her curls before a single finger dipped down into her slick folds. "Oh!" was all she could say as she bucked against his hand at the sudden sensation.

"Mmmmm my young Rose, you truly are a delight." he began rubbing her swollen little bud slowly with steady pressure. When she began moving of her own accord against his fingers he moved to slip them inside her, one, then two and continued to rub her with his thumb. With her sensitivity heightened from her first climax, it was not long before Thomas had her writhing through her next one.

Thoroughly sated and exhausted, Rose dozed off half covered in the silk sheets. Thomas thought she was more beautiful then than when she was dressed in her evening finery. With a rosy tinge to her milky skin, full, swollen lips, and hair draped over a pillow, she was more beautiful than any woman he had laid eyes on, be they real, painted, or sculpted by the masters.

Thomas eased off the bed and located his trousers, stepped into them and threw his shirt on as well, not bothering with the buttons. He took out his sketchbook and pencil having decided he could not pass up the opportunity to capture her image in the afterglow of their first time. With the sheet reaching only just above her hip and one arm resting on the pillow beside her leaving her bosom exposed, he thought that maybe he wouldn't leave his book laying around for just anyone to peruse. Drawings of dear Lissie and even his daughter and Rose together were one thing, but Rose depicted as his lover in all her delicious glory was something only he would be privy to. The thought of that cad, Cal even thinking himself worthy of seeing her in this way made his blood boil. But in the end, Thomas himself had the last laugh for only he had the privilege, the blessing to see Rose as she was now.

Thomas continued to draw his Rose and filled a few more pages. Just as he signed and dated the last drawing he felt a tremor beneath him. He looked up to see the chandelier shake just so and his heart sank. He knew, he just knew something was amiss.

A/N: …you know it was inevitable...