Yeah, about that M rating... ;)

The ride home was a tense affair. Elizabeth felt almost claustrophobic in the closed carriage. Every inch of Darcy that touched her side as they rode was felt. Even through the thick woolen blanket that the young men delivered for her seemed not to exist. She felt all of him and somehow she needed more.

It seemed an eternity of silence until they reached the house. Darcy sat still and stony next to her, his hands clasped tightly on his lap and his gaze resolutely out the window. Elizabeth was familiar enough with him now to know this current demeanor had nothing to do with her - or, perhaps, it had everything to do with her. She was equally impressed by his restraint and devilishly curious to see how long he would remain a gentleman if she began to touch him again. The thought sent a new thrill through her.

"Sister! Oh, dear sister, you are absolutely drenched! Fitzwilliam, you look as if you took a swim, you poor things!" Georgiana cried, rushing into the foyer. "I had the maids each prepare a hot bath for you. You must be chilled to the bone!" She grabbed Elizabeth's hands and she trembled at the cold skin there. "Please make haste. I would so hate to see you both catch a chill." Georgiana hugged Darcy while still holding onto Elizabeth, causing the three of them to stand closer. She turned to look at them back and forth. "Do not worry about a thing, and don't even think about returning downstairs for the remainder of the day. I shall have supper and tea delivered to you."

Elizabeth chanced a look to Darcy and caught his eye, causing her to immediately blush, but thankfully Georgiana took the color to mean her sister must be ill. She hurried them both upstairs and wouldn't leave until they were both safe and sound in their bedchambers.

Elizabeth sat in the steaming water, no longer chilled, but obsessively gazing at the plain wooden door that led to Darcy's chambers. Once Hannah had finished washing the wilderness from her hair and skin, she left to prepare the bed for a night's rest, including fetching some extra warmers from the kitchen.

Alone, Elizabeth began to recall everything that transpired in that cottage. The hot water did nothing but increase her desire to feel Darcy's hands and mouth on her once more. Her fingers glided over every place they touched, over her lips and neck, across her chest, and inching up her leg. With her breath now ragged, Elizabeth almost touched the epicenter of her carnal craving when Hannah walked back into the washroom, ready with her thick winter dressing gown.

Elizabeth shook her head. "Please, I am stifling." Her face was crimson, and not entirely from the bath, and she knew it. Quietly she added, "I would prefer the silk."

Hannah quirked up an eyebrow but did not reply. She quickly fetched the brand new silk robe that the Laurents delivered as a thank you gift to her many weeks ago. It had remained untouched until now.

The material was delicate and creamy against her skin, which did absolutely nothing for her present state of mind, but it felt luxurious. She followed Hannah to the chair in front of the fire to have her hair brushed and dried.

"You're very quiet, ma'am. Are you alright?" Hannah asked, nearly done with the task at hand.

Elizabeth pursed her lips, her hand caressing the silk on her thigh. "I hardly know." After a few moments, she looked up and turned to Hannah in her seat. "Have you never married, Hannah?" She winced immediately. "Forgive me, I must remember to think before I speak."

Hannah chuckled and quickly braided the now dry hair. "You know that I prefer our candor, ma'am." She then blushed. "I am actually being courted now, to be honest."

Elizabeth blinked and then grinned. "You sly devil, pray, what is his name?"

Hannah grinned back, sitting across from Elizabeth. "John. He is a blacksmith in town. When he was younger, he needed to provide for his younger siblings and mother after his father died in an accident. In his own words, the years flew by and before he knew it, he was old and gray and his brothers and sisters were all married."

Elizabeth smiled softly. "And what is your excuse for not marrying before now?"

Hannah smiled sadly. "I was lucky enough to love another when I was young, but he died from influenza. I never thought to marry until I met John."

Elizabeth nodded back slowly. After a long minute, she asked, "And do you love John?"

Hannah thought a moment before replying. "I can see myself growing to love him. He's a good man, kind and fair. He shall provide for me, even though it's unlikely I will bear him children given my age. I do think I shall be happy with him."

The two women sat in silence for a long time before Elizabeth could not help but blurt out, "And what of lust?"

Hannah gave her a wide and confiding smile. "I don't believe that lust is something that develops over time or potentially unfolds. It is simply whether or not two people connect - mind and body. Whether the soul or love plays into lust eventually, is another story entirely. But -" She stood and gathered her grooming tools before turning to Elizabeth. "I think it's very likely." She curtsied, making it obvious that she would take her leave immediately. "Good evening, Mrs. Darcy. Please ring for me if you need anything at all." And then left.

Elizabeth sat by the fire for several minutes, absentmindedly destroying the braid Hannah crafted in thought. Suddenly brazen, she stood and walked carefully to the shared door and slowly opened it. Her timing, depending on the viewpoint, was absolutely impeccable or devastatingly embarrassing.

Darcy had just stood from his bath, his back to her, as Parsons draped his dressing gown around his body. For a few seconds, however, Elizabeth witnessed the entire naked backside of her husband, which did absolutely nothing to cease the constant fervor plaguing her.

She gasped, causing both men to turn. Poor Parsons turned completely crimson seeing Mrs. Darcy standing there, but Darcy's heart only pounded seeing her. "You may go, Parsons," he said quickly, and his manservant more than happily left the bath and bedchamber in record time.

Darcy tightened the belt of his dressing gown before walking slowly to Elizabeth. His eyes raked across her face before asking, "I trust you are well?"

Elizabeth nodded back. Shyly she answered, "I should be very well indeed, I think."

Darcy couldn't help but grin before taking her hand and leading her into his bedchamber. They stood facing in front of the fire, hands clasped. Sensing her hesitation, Darcy raised her knuckles to his lips and kissed the delicate skin there before mimicking the action on her other hand. An act that she should be well used to given he did so every night before bed, but it ravaged her now instead.

Leaning up, Elizabeth eagerly kissed him. She knew not what spurned her toward him or her new fascination with touching him, but she did not want it to end. Whatever inside her drummed a beat in time with her heart - and they both screamed more.

Darcy opened to her, wrapping his arms around Elizabeth tightly, kissing her back with equal fervor. If what happened in the cottage was a dream, whatever this was must be heaven, and he never wished to leave.

Elizabeth could feel the dampness of his hair and skin against her. Breaking free from his lips, her eyes strayed downwards until finding purchase on the bare bit of chest. Unbidden, she kissed the remaining droplets of water from the bath found there, and Darcy sighed. Spurred by his response, Elizabeth nuzzled the hair and mouthed at the hollow of his throat.

With a shriek of surprise and then a turrent of giggles, she abruptly was swept into his arms and he kissed her once more. Darcy walked them both to the bed, and laid her down there before leaning his weight against her.

Somehow, Elizabeth was not nervous at all. His weight was heavy and delicious, and as they kissed, she felt something stir against her thigh. Again the pulse within her grew. Instinctively, she began to push the dressing robe off his shoulders, eager for more skin, but Darcy caught her wrist gently. "Be patient, madam," he murmured, kissing the delicate skin there. "There is much to accomplish and all the time in the world." His other hand grasped her ankle and slowly massaged her calf.

Elizabeth flushed at this, but she gave him a pointed look, attempting to appear unaffected as his hand teased up her leg. "I would argue, sir, that the time for patience has passed." She had begun to pant as his fingers grazed the inside of her thigh. "Do you mean to say you are no longer eager to bed your wife?" At her final word, his thumb brushed lightly against her center, causing Elizabeth to gasp and arch against him.

Darcy swallowed hard in an attempt to keep his composure, but if Elizabeth was keen to tease him and react to his touch in this way, he could not promise he would not take her then and there. "I will always be eager to watch you lay here with me, wife, practically begging for my hand."

Elizabeth shot him a look but it did not last as his forefinger circled through her curls. She could not catch her breath. "Then I implore you, sir, to make haste and have me already."

Darcy bit the inside of his cheek so hard he tasted blood. His finger continued to trace her entrance and he marveled at the heave of her chest. In fact, he had to touch her there. Reaching his free hand up, he slowly opened her dressing gown revealing her naked breasts. Darcy steeled himself to remain soft and slow, but nothing could prepare him for the sight of her laying like this, needy and hot for him. His voice was hoarse, "Why would I hasten this moment?"

Elizabeth's head shot up and she glared at him playfully, hands clenched on his shoulders. "Sir, forgive me if this seems crass, but, I beg you, take the plunge if you will!"

Darcy had to bite his bottom lip hard to stifle his chuckle. Obeying, he slowly inserted his forefinger inside of her, causing her to gasp into silence. Deliberately slow, he began to pump into her. "So very stubborn," he murmured affectionately. After a few moments, he inserted a second finger. He looked at her face, drunk on her expression. "So very wet." Darcy then kissed her neck, sucking and biting into the soft flesh there and then licking it with an apologetic kiss.

Elizabeth blushed crimson at his crude words, but could not help moaning at the feeling he built inside her. She felt him hard against her hip, and she knew what was coming, but if it felt anything like his fingers, Elizabeth wasn't sure if she'd ever leave his bed.

Darcy raised his head, breathing heavily. He casually brushed his thumb across her clit, watching her. "Elizabeth," he murmured, his voice deep and raspy. He brushed her clit again when he said her name and he watched her shudder. "Elizabeth, I wish to pleasure you to a point you may not yet know. A pinnacle of sorts. Do you understand?" He whispered this into her ear.

A pinnacle - yes - the pressure building within her must have a peak. "Please," she whispered back as his thumb remained in place, now drawing circles, all the while his fingers continued to pump in and out of her. "Yes, please. I beg you," she said again.

Darcy almost lost it then and there. He could feel her body tensing. He kissed her ear and then nipped her lobe. "I shall give you anything you wish. I am yours." Elizabeth moaned again as his hand picked up pace. "I wish to pleasure you, but I also wish to prepare you for what is to come. Do you understand?"

Elizabeth opened her eyes to find his own locked on hers. "Yes," she breathed. "I wish for it to happen." She gasped and arched again. "Please, Darcy. Please - have me throughout."

A growl grew audibly in Darcy's chest and he picked up the pace. Elizabeth kept her eyes on his until the moment her climax came, up until the remaining waves faded. Elizabeth wasn't sure if she was even breathing, let alone still pinned to the bed. She felt floaty and warm, a buzzed feeling of rapture.

Regrettably, Darcy sat up on his heels just for a moment to remove his dressing gown. Elizabeth's eyes fluttered open just then to view Darcy and all of his glory. She swallowed hard, unable to digest what she was seeing.

Darcy slid the remainder of her dressing gown open and he took his time looking her over. He grazed her abdomen before cupping a breast. "By God, Elizabeth. You're the most beautiful creature I have ever seen."

She blushed and Darcy was delighted to see it spread across her naked body. Sliding up her torso until flush against her, Darcy gave her a single, chaste kiss. He brushed aside some rogue hair from her face. "Are you sure?" he whispered.

Elizabeth answered by opening her legs to him and hooking a foot across the back of his thighs as naturally as if they did this every day. "Quite sure," she whispered back. And she arched up and kissed him again. With her distracted, Darcy nudged his way deeper between the apex of her thighs, and slowly he entered her.

She hissed; she had not expected the sting. A question in his eyes, but she nodded to him silently to continue and so he pushed forward.

Darcy groaned once he was fully inside. Having needed a moment to collect himself, and also making sure Elizabeth was alright, he began to move gently at first, before increasing to a steady pace. "Lizzie," he murmured again and again into her neck. "Lizzie."

The burn of the initial penetration faded somewhat for Elizabeth, and beyond the pain she could feel the rise of her desire once more. It was a heady feeling for it to return so quickly, but instead of consuming her this time, she focused on Darcy.

Racking her fingernails down his back, her hands caressed the hard muscle there, spurring him on. The pain was less now, and the pleasure was almost forefront. "Darcy," Elizabeth cried, unsure of what she was feeling.

Darcy suddenly gathered her in his arms and pulled himself off her body, only sit down on his heels once again and mold her around him. He cupped her face in both hands, kissing her, still moving within her, but now allowing her freedom to move as well. The new angle revived Elizabeth further, and her hips gyrated on their own accord.

With their breath ragged and hard, Darcy could only manage to kiss her lips one more time, before he went over the edge, exhaling hard into her chest. He remained stationed there, nuzzling the damp skin there, spent.

Elizabeth felt him tense below her a moment before witnessing his own climax. She cradled his head into her chest, and even though she did not reach said pinnacle a second time, her body was more than pliant to finish the act and melt into the bed.

Darcy once again pushed her onto her back, his body hovering over hers. With his pupils blown wide and his hair adorably tousled, Darcy took his time studying Elizabeth's face and her fine eyes before kissing her once more.

Abruptly, he stood and walked in all his glory to a wash basin by the fire. Elizabeth watched, admiring his physique a moment while his back was turned, but quickly averted her gaze and blushed. Her mortification grew still when Darcy brushed a warm and damp cloth between her legs. Horrified, she saw blood on the linen.

Seeing her reaction, Darcy tossed the cloth on a nearby table and climbed back into bed beside her. "Do not be alarmed, my love," he murmured, gathering the covers of the bed to warm her and him. She flushed more still at his endearment. "The pain and subsequent injury should only occur the first time." He cupped his hand around her cheek and traced his thumb along her jawline. "Tis only pleasure from here."

Elizabeth could hardly believe it but she felt her body blush deeper. Now that the act - for lack of better word - was complete and her body spent, witnessing his care over her only sent an anxious wriggle through her. She sat up, making sure to cover her chest with the sheet and coughed. "And how can you know this, Mr. Darcy?" she teased. "Have you bedded many a maiden?"

It was Darcy's turn to cough and flush, sitting up next to her, but the sheet was low on his form, only beginning at the sharp angle of his hips. Elizabeth had to focus everything on keeping her eyes on his face. He coughed again, embarrassed. "In an effort to remain transparent, I have some youthful indiscretions I would rather not detail." He faced her once more and gave her a tender kiss. "As it is in the past, I much rather focus on our future together."

Alarm bells sounded in Elizabeth's head, and she quickly gathered herself and stood. Her brain working in overdrive, she clumsily fetched her dressing gown from the floor while attempting to hide her naked body from view. Darcy watched her with a quizzical brow, but said nothing. Successfully donning her robe, Elizabeth gave him a tight smile. "I fear I am rather tired from the, erm, dramatics of the day." Quickly she walked to the adjoining door. Pausing a moment when she caught the sad look in his eyes, she curtsied and said, "Good night, Mr. Darcy." And she fled.