Rating Warning!

I have already up'd the rating on this story to a 'T', mainly because of these past few chapters. This one may even require an 'M', but I will let you make your own minds up, if you think it's a step too far, then I will amend. I have tried to keep it as gentle as possible, in keeping with their relationship, but it is their wedding night after all! If I offend anyone, apologies...

Chapter Twenty Two

Their passions took over until they were a mess of tangled limbs. In the midst of their love making Frederick was able to rid himself of his remaining clothes and Anne of her drawers, until they were both uncovered and lay skin to skin. Anne was finding she was enjoying their coupling more than she could have imagined and was about to tell her husband she felt no pain – and that the other ladies must have been harmed in some way due to their husbands doing things wrong, when Frederick changed their positions. Parting Anne's legs he fixed himself between them, bracing himself on his elbows he gave Anne once last look of love and sympathy before he breached her innocence.

She cried out in both pain and surprise. Her eyes stung and watered, as her husband withdrew apologising over and over again. The thought had taken over her mind that she was now truly a wife and belonged to Frederick in every way, the contentment soothed away some of the pain and she was able to offer him a weak smile. "I love you Frederick. I will always love you. This is just a part of life – something every woman must go through to be able to call themselves a wife. I would go through it every day – I will go through it every day- if that is what it means to call myself Mrs Wentworth."

He kissed her, dropping his head to her heaving chest, he surged in again. It took her by surprise once more, as foolishly, she had thought it was over. However, although the pain was still there, it was not as before. "It will lessen my love, and soon there will be nothing, only pleasure. I am pleased to hear your declaration, but I would not have you endure daily pain to be my wife, for I would not be the man who deserved you if I should. I only put you through this now because I know it will never be like this again." he stroked her face and continued to make her his wife. He found it increasingly difficult to hold back when his whole body and natural urges were filling him with want for Anne, but he knew he must, this first time -for Anne's sake- he must remain in control. That said, the passion she raised in him was great and in between thrusts, his hands roamed her body greedily.

Still ever doubtful he was good enough as to deserve to be there with her, it seemed almost too good to be true to him. Like it was all a dream. He knew that although he might not be deemed good enough in the eyes of some, no man could care for her, love her, more.

The repetition of his movements had the initial sharpness of pain Anne had felt, begin to ebb away until it was nothing but a dull ache she knew would probably come to pass after a warm bath. In its place, something else was stirring within her. Frederick had spoken of pleasure and she now knew what he had meant. Although she had been warned it was not the place of the woman to find enjoyment in such activities, she found she was. The lustful need her husband awoke in her was building and threatening to take over. He was aroused too -beyond the obvious- his panted breaths, his words, his hands as they touched every part of her, they were all signs of how much he wanted her. She was conflicted. On the one hand she wanted to remain a lady and to treat such activities as nothing but doing her wifely duty, but on the other, she wanted her husband to know how much she liked what he was doing and the feelings he stirred in her.

Frederick could sense a change in her. Anne's body which had become so pliant, was tense again, he paused, "Annie? What is it?" She blushed and he smiled, despite what was happening between them now, he could still cause her to blush. "Talk to me Annie, I wish there to be no secrets between us, no misunderstandings. Not ever again."

At that Anne knew she must tell him how she felt. He was her husband after all, he of all people should be able to advise her. "I confess… I …" She closed her eyes, "I like what you are doing. What we are doing." She opened her eyes and found her husband straight faced, she dropped her gaze mortified that he should find her guilty of being wanton.

"You like it?"

She looked up at his voice and found his wide smile back and pointed at her.

"I … what you are doing… your touches and caresses, it makes me feel … pleasure. I find myself climbing towards something, some kind of release I want, but am afraid of. But that I do not wish you to cease." She hid her face with her hands. "You must think me absolutely wicked."

"Wicked?" he softly eased her hands away from her face so she was forced to look at him. "Annie, you are my wife, you have already given me the greatest gift a woman can bestow. Telling me that you enjoy my attentions could never make me think badly of you. It is the greatest compliment a man can receive. Remember we are alone here. Here in our chamber, in the one place -perhaps ever- we can truly be alone, with no one -not even the servants- to witness anything between us. I want you to feel and to enjoy. And when we do something you are not comfortable with, or you wish me to stop, you must tell me. I will never, ever, think less of you for being honest. I love you for your honesty." He repositioned himself thrusting once more deep inside her, slower this time wishing the night to last as long as it could, but knowing in reality he would not last many more minutes. She moaned at the depth of the intrusion. Her hand flying to her mouth to cover it up. He gently moved her hand away and kissed her. "Likewise, I wish -beyond words- to know when we, or I, am doing something that brings you pleasure. I wish that above all things."

"But it is not the lady like thing to do." she tried to explain, "We are taught: endure not enjoy."

He prevented himself from rolling his eyes, "I do not care my love. In this bed you are not just a lady, but Mrs Wentworth, and if Mrs Wentworth is enjoying something Mr Wentworth is doing to her, Mr Wentworth wants to know." He winked at her as his thrust gathered momentum again.

Anne shut her eyes and bravely put her hands on her husband roaming his skin, delighting in the sweat she found at the bottom of his back. Running her fingers through his hair, laying kisses on his chest and arms, showing him when her words failed her, exactly how much he made her feel. Frederick was only spurred on by her advances knowing she was aroused as much as he, only made him want her more. Grasping one of her legs in his hand he hitched her knee up further, holding it to him allowing himself to enter her more deeply still. He waited cautiously for her reaction, only to find her eyes beginning to roll and her body tremble and shudder as she found her own release. So over come at the sight of his wife finding completion because of him, he could take no more and with a final push he released inside her before collapsing once more on top of her. He was shaking and so was Anne. Although technically he had not been as innocent, he felt he could understand how Anne was feeling, for in his mind, this would always be the first time he lay with a woman, for it was the only time that mattered. As Anne came down from her euphoric state, he raised his head to look into her face. Her eyes were wide – a mixture of shock and worry.

"Anne?" he whispered, suddenly afraid she was not as sure of herself as he had imagined.

"What was that?" she whispered. "What happened to me?"

Unable to find the words to explain it to her, he held her, kissing her damp forehead. "It is the true sign you found my attentions pleasurable. That is the greatest accolade a husband can hope to achieve in a marriage bed." He sounded almost smug, and so tried a different approach. "It is just your body finding release the same way a man does, my love."

"So that will happen again. Every time?"

He bit back a smile. "I hope so. I mean, I endeavour to ensure it does. I want you to feel as much as I do Anne, the passions you stir in me are so much that after tonight, I do not know how I will ever prevent myself from touching you all the time."

"After that, I should not think myself capable of stopping you sir." she giggled.

To hear her laugh and be so content after all that had happened, only made Frederick smile brighter. He rolled over as delicately as possible so that they lie side by side. His hand resting on her hip as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He supposed now it was. Anne yawned and then attempted to excuse herself. Frederick waved her off, "No apologies are necessary my love, you must be tired. Here, let me rid us of these and we shall retire properly."

He was referring to the bedspread they were laid on. Anne was embarrassed at the evidence plainly visible showing she was no longer a maiden. In their desperation for each other they had not even ventured beneath the covers. The coverlet, unlike a simple sheet that could have been cleaned, was now ruined beyond saving, and would probably have to be disposed of. It was mortifying to Anne, but Frederick seemed indifferent to her plight. He dressed loosely in his breeches before going into the dressing rooms. He returned with a nightdress for Anne, only adding to her shame that a man should have gone through her things. However, feeling rather exposed lying naked atop of the bed now alone, she took it gratefully and slipped it over her head. Once attired she helped her husband strip the bed cover and bundled it into the dressing room for the maid to collect in the morning. Not a word was spoken between them, Anne too embarrassed to speak, and her husband mindful of her state of mind, unwilling to add to it. Once they were done, both went back to bed, this time beneath the covers.

Keen for the moment of strain between them to vanish, Frederick drew his wife against his side, holding her close to him. He leaned over and extinguished the candles, so that only the light from the dwindling fire existed in the room. He hoped the darkness would remind her of another time he held her as she slept, and would calm her. Anne shivered against the darkness and Frederick drew the covers up to her neck, stroking her arms until he felt her begin to unwind again. "I love you Annie. You can have no notion of how many times I have dreamt of this moment, only to awaken and realise it was all a fantasy. Now here you are." he brought her left hand to his mouth kissing the simple gold band which now adorned her third finger.

"I do know. It was the same for me." she confessed, before rising up and kissing him. "I love you Frederick. It feels so right to be here wrapped up in your arms."

"It is my wish for us to spend every night like this – together- in our bed. Do you think you could stand to share a bed with me each night?"

"I doubt I could sleep without you by my side. Especially given what we have just shared. The idea of then being left to spend the night on my own in a lonely bed away from you, is just too horrid to consider."

He tried to control his smile, he was so happy. "Then we are in agreement."

They shared one more kiss before falling asleep, the first of many nights to come, wrapped up in each other's arms, dreaming of the wonderful things life held for them. But with the reassurance that if anything untoward was to befall them, they would face it together. It was the only way they knew how.

ooOoo

The Wentworth's would always be known as being lucky and deserving as to have one of the most solid, trusting, love filled marriages in existence. Their closeness was coveted by many. It was obvious to all who ever knew them, they each worshipped the other equally, and were always adamant to put the feelings of the other one first. Selflessly wanting the happiness of the other before their own.

Their married life was far from perfect and tear free. They endured loses – people close to them, separation; when just a year later Captain Wentworth was called away and Anne was not fit to join him. These times were equalled with the gift of life, when they were blessed not once, but thrice over. When Frederick returned from his time away, desperate to see his wife, she presented him with his first born. A son. She was sure then their life was complete and could not have borne anymore happiness. However when two years later she delivered a little girl, the couple could not believe their fortune. Their house was filled with love and laughter.

When four years after that, at almost six and thirty, Anne delivered safely another beautiful daughter, they declared to give it no more thought. The would always be happier then perhaps even they deserved, even when those who knew them explained it was probably in recompense for the distress they both suffered for so many years apart, neither could be persuaded to agree.

Then again neither were of the mind to care.

They had each other, their beautiful children, and that, was all they needed.