AN: Thank you, reviewers who told me to come back.

Chapter 10: Realizations come at last

When they finally rose from bed, it was well after noon. Mr. Darcy kissed her passionately before leaving for his own chamber.

Mrs. Winters was already preparing Elizabeth's gowns while she waited for Elizabeth to wake. After a quiet good morning and a deep blush from Elizabeth, Mrs. Winters moved to help Elizabeth clean and dress for the day. Once her hair and dress were in place, she descended the stairs for the breakfast room. She found it quickly, and after noticing it was empty, she decided she would eat a quick bite before retiring to the library. She was glad none of the servants could see her. She felt angry at herself for sleeping so late.

Safely ensconced in the library, she picked up one of her new books and sequestered herself in a small sofa with her feet tucked under her. While she read, she heard the shuffle of papers in the study next door. She assumed he was busy with various business matters. With all the paper shuffling, he must be very busy, she thought. After another half hour, she decided to check on him. She tiptoed quietly to the door and listened. He was moving papers around his desk, not apparently finishing any task. She tested the latch and found it open. She slowly opened the door, wondering if she should announce her presence.

For five minutes, she stood there as he picked up one letter, stared at it without reading anything, and put it down in another pile. When he turned to make a new pile of the papers, she finally asked, "Is this what man's business looks like?"

He startled and turned around, with his hand on his chest. "I did not see you there, Elizabeth. How are you?"

"I am well. Is there some way I can help you?"

Elizabeth watched as his gaze flowed down her body. She shivered as she realized what he was thinking. Surely nothing would happen now, in broad daylight.

Mr. Darcy, once he had an idea, seemed unable to shake it. He walked over to her, pausing to lock the door to the hallway and to the library. "I am glad you are well, and there is one way you can definitely help me." He took her arm and led her around the desk. "It seems that thoughts of you have made me incapable of work, so maybe if I take you here, I will be able to focus."

"I doubt that. Fitzwilliam, how about I help you through these papers, and then you may have your reward. Perhaps that is what you need to accomplish your work."

He kissed her passionately, but she pulled away when his hands began to roam over her body. "No. You cannot touch until you have finished your work. Now, explain to me what these papers are about."

Once he saw she was in earnest, he sat down and pulled her to his lap. Picking up each paper, he read it quickly and explained what each one was. Most were from Pemberley, with ideas or questions about the running of the estates, or plans for the tenants. Others pertained to his investments in town. With each letter, Elizabeth began to realize how much responsibility her husband held. He was given the final say in many maters that would affect others. She was pleased to see how he debated each issue with himself, and he was pleased when she began to add her own insights. Together, they finished the stack in two hours.

There were three other stacks to attend to, but he claimed he had worked hard enough for one day. "You promised to reward me." He reminded her.

"Very well. Shall we retire?" Elizabeth began to rise, uncomfortable at the change in topic.

"No. I need you. Here." He allowed her to rise, but before she could walk away he grabbed her hips and pulled them close, resting his head against her belly. "I have longed for you for so long."

"Yes, a total of four hours. A very long time, indeed." Elizabeth laughed.

"Hearing your laughter soothes me. While we joined together four hours ago, as you put it, I had been longing for you for so long before we married, that I find I am insatiable now. Would you like to watch or feel?"

The question confused Elizabeth, so she did not respond.

He stood up and grabbed her hips, placing her gently on the desk. "Would you prefer to sit and watch me love you, or do you want to lie down and focus on the feelings I illicit in you?"

He did not move again. He stood there, staring into her soul as he waited for her to choose. He wished he knew what was going on in her thoughts. He was about to pull back when she softly whispered, "feel."

"Then lie down, love." He smiled as he gently helped her to lie down over the desk.

Elizabeth lied down and closed her eyes, not certain what he was about to do. She listened as he began to lift her skirts. Once he was fully ensconced under her flowing skirts, he lifted her legs so that they rested on the chair beside him. He then scooted his chair as close to the desk as he could fit, bringing her legs up and spreading them wide. He took his time as he decided how he wanted to do this. His breath sent shivers down Elizabeth's spine, and he watched as her core tightened in anticipation.

Elizabeth could hardly breath, such was her anticipation. When he began to kiss her legs, she felt she would burst. But she was not anywhere near bursting. His kisses were thorough and slow. He worked into a steady rhythm on her legs before moving to her core. She gasped as he suckled her center. He lapped up her juices as they flowed freely. He enjoyed administering these kisses and listening to his wife respond. She mewed and gasped in pleasure. She seemed to know that she should remain silent, but her soft utterances thrilled him. He took his time, slowly building her to an orgasm that he had to clamp a hand over her mouth to prevent her from shouting out. He kissed her through not one but two orgasms and did not stop until she cried that she could take no more.

"Now it is my turn, love." He whispered as he stood and placed himself at her core. Very slowly, so as to not injure her from too much attention. Very quickly she was writhing around him. It felt heavenly to be buried so deep inside her. "Find something to hold on to, dearest."

Elizabeth could hardly think as his words washed over her. She wondered what he meant. How was she to hold on? she lazily lifted her arms to the edge of the desk. He withdrew from her, just to the point before he lost contact with her body, and holding her hips, pushed in as far as he could. She whimpered as she attempted to regain her hold on the desk. He allowed her one more time to find her grip so as to not slide over the desk before he began thrusting into her with all the force he could muster. He leaned over her, allowing her to grab his arm to steady herself. He watched her as his thrusts brought him ever closer to oblivion. Just when he thought he could not hold out any longer, she gasped at the renewed pleasure she felt. He took a deep breath and pushed his ardor down as he once more watched her climax. He came seconds after her, and feeling completely spent, could do naught but collapse on top of her.

A quarter of an hour later, when he felt he could move again, he slipped out of her and took his seat. From this vantage point, he could see his seed slowly spill out of her, mixed with a small amount of blood. "I have injured you." He cried as he took his handkerchief to clean her.

"I had not realized." She muttered lazily. She accepted his hand, but she could not stand. Instead, she collapsed into his lap. A few minutes later, she declared, "I suppose my body is still adjusting to marital duties."

"I hope you will not always think of our passion as duties." He stroked her cheek fondly. "Did I hurt you very badly?"

"I did not even realize I was injured. I thought the pain was normal. I have not complained, have I?"

He looked away without speaking for a time. When he spoke again, he still could not look at her. "I acted so despicably on our first night together, that I am afraid you had begun to fear me. I hope you have learned since then that you are in control when we are together. If you told me no again, I would respect you."

Elizabeth nodded as she began to cry. He held her softly as he realized just how much he had hurt his wife, not physically, but emotionally. A pain that he had not been able to see beyond his own lust. When she finally quieted, she softly thanked him and nuzzled closer into his neck. His manhood began to throb back to life, but even though he had not done up his pants, he ignored it. Now was definitely not the time.

Eventually, she was able to speak. "I listened to Mrs. McIntire explain how you have run the house. I had no idea you used your home to teach orphans to work in similar homes. I also over heard you speaking to Stevens, I think his name was. That you would give your servants time off to care for family astonished me. It has made me realize how little I know of you. I believe you hid yourself from me, both in Hertfordshire and in Kent, and now, you are no longer hidden, but you expect me to know you already. I can hardly recognize the man I married with the man I knew before."

"I fear neither man was worthy of you. Perhaps I could begin to court you, so that you can get to know me better. I promise to hold nothing back." As he spoke, his manhood sprang up against her bottom.

"No, I am sure you will not." She laughed lightly as the action soothed the anxious air around them. "I want to be happy."

"I want you to be happy."

Elizabeth leaned back so that she could look at him properly. "I believe you." Emboldened, she leaned forward and kissed him tenderly. He allowed the kiss, and even parted his lips, but he allowed her to set the pace and the passion. He would not force himself on her anymore. When she broke away, she added, "I believe it is time to dress for dinner. We are going to your friend's house, is that right?"

He shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Yes, I nearly forgot. Mr. Wallace invited us to join his family. I believe you will like his sisters. They are more like Jane and Kitty than most women of the ton."

She climbed off him, and he helped her stand and right her clothing. He also refastened his breeches. He walked her to the door and unlocked it. "I will see you at seven, my dearest Elizabeth."