Anna whimpered softly as she was pressed up against the kitchen wall and John was kissing down her neck.
"Do you know how much I missed you when you went to London?" He asked, moving his lips to a different section of skin and kissing again.
"I missed you too." She blushed slightly, her fingers combing through his hair.
He finally stopped kissing her neck after a few minutes, and they rested their foreheads against one another's.
"I love you." He smiled, his hands caressing her sides through her dress.
"I love you, too." She breathed. "So much."
He kissed her softly and slowly for a while, her hand finding its way to his neck and resting against it as he drew her closer to his chest.
When they parted again, she cuddled against him gripping his shirt and taking in his scent.
"You smell like you did on our wedding day." She smiled against the material.
"And you're even more beautiful now than you were then." He charmed, lightly stroking her hair as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
"Do you want a cup of tea?" She asked, her hand still resting against his chest, rubbing gently.
"Go on then." He caressed her cheek lightly.
She filled the kettle with water and placed it on the stove, before getting two teacups from the cupboard and setting them down on the counter.
John gently wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, and pressed up against her back as she prepared the drinks.
"You're gorgeous, Anna." He hummed into her ear after moving her hair out of the way, running his hand up her thigh beneath her dress. "Absolutely gorgeous."
"I'm glad you still think so." She smiled slightly. "I don't really see it anymore. Not with the scars all over me."
He turned her in his arms and she looked down at the floor, before he hooked his finger under her chin and brought her head back up.
"Listen to me," He rubbed her bare arm gently. "These," He stroked his thumb over a small scar. "Are just a sign of how much of a survivor you are. They show how brave you were, and every time I see one I'm reminded of what a strong woman I married."
"It's scarred me mentally as well." She shuddered slightly. "I still can't go into the boot room alone."
"Yes, but I can do this now." He leaned and pressed a kiss to her jawline. "That's definitely an improvement." He whispered, kissing down her neck.
Her head fell backwards and she moaned softly, her hand holding the sink for balance.
"I'm taking you to bed tonight." He murmured against her skin.
"Oh, are you now?" She giggled. "You'll be lucky."
"I'm always lucky." He raked her earlobe through his teeth. "Because I have you by my side through everything."
"I want you to make love to me." She whimpered.
"Do you?" He smirked lovingly.
"Now." She breathed shakily.
"In here?" He kissed her neck slowly before pulling away.
She sucked her lower lip and nodded.
"I want to try it." She said softly.
"Come here." He smiled, kissing her forehead.
He took her hand and led her over to the kitchen chair, before sitting and letting her sit on his good knee.
"You know that I always want to make sure you're comfortable when we have sex, right?" He looked at her as her eyes were full of innocence.
"Of course I do." She replied, her hand lightly stroking through his hair. "And I trust you more than anything."
"You're beautiful, Anna." He kissed her cheek softly. "You're an amazing wife, I have no doubt that you're going to be an amazing mother in the future, and I couldn't be more blessed to have you.
So, why don't we try it on the settee instead? You'll feel more comfortable then, and I can be sure that I won't hurt you."
"Alright." She agreed. "I think that might be better, but what about your cup of tea?"
"Oh, I think that can wait for a few hours. Don't you?" He smirked, letting his fingers undo one of the buttons at the top of her dress.
"Definitely." She breathed, her eyes now dark with desire for him. "Especially since I've been away from you for a week."
He took her hand again and let her get off of his knee before leading her into the sitting room.
"Let me make a fire so that you're warm afterwards." He sighed, sitting her down on the settee and kissing her hairline.
Anna watched with love and compassion for her husband as he began to light the fire, and it wasn't just the fire in the furnace that he was igniting. She felt a stirring deep in her belly and her breathing changed considerably.
When he'd finished making the small fire he closed the curtains and walked over to her, joining her on the settee and cupping her cheek.
They smiled at one another for a few mere seconds before moving closer and letting their desires take over.
Anna whimpered against his lips as she removed his collar and tie.
The next article of clothing to be removed was his shirt, and she slipped it from his shoulders before taking in the sight of him.
Then she started to leave slow, warm kisses over the soft skin of his chest, her hand getting lost in the forest of small curls that covered it.
"My darling girl." He groaned, leaning into her so that she lay back against the arm rest.
"Touch me." She breathed. "Please."
"I haven't touched you since-" He trailed off. "The incident."
"I know." She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling annoyed at herself for keeping him at arm's length for so long. "But I feel like I can handle it now. I just need you to go slowly with me."
"I'll go as slow as you need." He promised, hovering above her on the small settee. "But maybe we should remove your dress and corset first, just so you're a bit more comfortable."
"You're right." She replied, feeling his hands move to the back of her dress again, slipping each button from its hole and letting it open.
When her dress was completely open, she sat up slightly as he pulled it over her head and dropped it to the carpet.
"This can't be comfortable for you, sweetheart." He let his hands caress the dips in her sides, forced into shape by the corset she was confined in.
"It pinches really badly, but there's nothing I can do." She sighed, wincing as it tightened.
"Let's get it off." He suggested, beginning to pull on the strings.
She sighed in contentment every time the tightness became looser, and he smiled at how he could cheer her up by simple things.
Storm clouds had been hanging over their relationship for so long, and when some days were worse than others they would threaten to return. However, whenever he heard a soft giggle from her lips, or saw her smile unknowingly as she worked on a dress for Lady Mary, he committed it to memory and used it to help her let the sun back in when darkness claimed her.
Her corset was soon removed, and he kissed her chin softly.
"Touch me, John." She whispered, cupping his cheek. "I'll be fine."
"Stop me if you feel uncomfortable." He told her, feeling rather unsure about himself.
She nodded, and felt his hand move slowly up her stomach through her chemise, up her torso and then rested softly upon her breast.
Her breath hitched slightly, and she tensed up.
"It's me, Anna. I promise." He soothed in a hushed tone. "You're safe."
It took a few minutes, but she finally breathed out and opened her eyes to look up at him.
"I'm so proud of you." He leaned to kiss her gently.
She smiled against his mouth as his lips grazed hers a few times, and she felt his desire against her.
He stroked his thumb gently over the swell of her breast, pressing slightly firmer when it came to her nipple and she smiled and groaned in satisfaction.
"John..." She gasped as his hand left her breast to move lower.
This chapter is getting a bit long, so it'll continue on from this point in chapter two! Hope you're enjoying it so far!
