Innocence Lost

Chapter Twenty-one

"Why don't we stop and rest for a few hours," Bordon said after several hours in the saddle.

"Good idea," Anne said. "I need to feed the baby and I'm so tired that I'm about to fall off this horse." She followed Bordon as he turned his horse toward a clearing bordered by several large bushes.

A short time later, Anne sat on a blanket she'd found in Gabriel's pack. She'd just finished feeding the baby, who was asleep contentedly on a second blanket near her. Bordon had tied the horses to a nearby tree and was now building a small fire.

"How's the baby?" Bordon had finished with the fire and had sat down next to Anne.

"He's fine," she said. "He'll sleep for a couple of hours, at least."

"I've missed you terribly," he said, taking her hands.

"I've missed you, too," she said, leaning against his chest.

"I'm so sorry about what happened to your husband."

"Thank you," she said. She sighed loudly. "It's going to be very hard for me now, without a husband. I don't know how little William and I are going to manage."

"I know how you can manage," he said quietly. "Anne, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

"Do you mean it?" she asked.

"With all my heart," he said. "I love you, Anne. I thought you knew that."

"You'd be willing to raise another man's child?" Anne had to make sure.

"I'll love any child of yours," he said. "Never doubt that."

"Then yes, James," Anne said quietly. "I will marry you."

He took her into his arms, giving her a lingering kiss. "You've made me the happiest of men. I cannot believe my good fortune!"

"I'm the lucky one," Anne said. "Truly."

"We'll get married as soon as we reach the fort, then, " Bordon said. "Unless that is too soon for you."

"The sooner the better,” she said. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him down on the blanket on top of her. "Isn't it about time we got better acquainted?"

"I couldn't agree more," he said. He bent his head to kiss her more urgently as his hands began exploring her body for the first time. After a few minutes of this, both were impatient for more.

Though already hard, his erection stiffened even more as he felt her urgent hands rushing to unbutton his breeches. Its insistent throbbing was almost more than he could bear.

"Hurry, James," she whispered raggedly. "I've waited so long to become yours."

Bordon gladly obliged her, reaching down with one hand to throw her skirts up to her waist. They both understood that time was of the essence, as a rebel patrol could come upon them at any time.

"Take me now," she said, reaching out to guide him inside of her.

He quickly positioned himself between her legs and entered her swiftly.

Anne gave a small sigh of satisfaction as he completely filled her for the first time.

Their first tog together was fast and furious, both too eager for the other to savor the experience.

"I love you so much," he said as cuddled close to her afterwards He reached out to gently stroke her hair as both experienced the afterglow of their lovemaking. "And I promise to make love to you properly once we're safely behind closed doors."

"I love you, too," Anne said, kissing him gently. "And I'll hold you to that promise."

"A promise I fully intend to keep," he said. "We won't come out of my quarters for a week!"

"I can hardly wait."