Joan & Anthony's Bedroom

He smiled to himself and eventually rolled over, folding his arm behind his head while he wrapped the other around Joan.

"Will you sing to me again?" he asked, opening his eyes gently.

He smiled and took in her body. The dip of her waist that grew and curved at her hip, the bewitching diadem between her thighs and the spark in her eyes.

"Something to soothe my mind and calm my heart, " he mumbled.

Anthony smiled and as she sang he slipped into sleep. He found, quite to his surprise, that he was happy. Not merely happy in Joan's happiness but in himself. He couldn’t think why. He was constantly critical of himself but with the soft soothing sound of her voice -the condition simply existed within him.

And so morning came. A modest sun crept from it's home behind the hills and eventually shone it's light through the trees - still a little bare - and the clouds. Anthony awoke gentle and slowly. As he opened his eyes, he found himself with his head burrowed into Joan's shoulder, his arm tossed over her belly.

He kissed her shoulder with a sigh.

He laughed warmly as she pushed herself closer to him.

"We should do it today. This morning," he began as his hand gently touched her cheek, moving down her neck and to her chest.

"Wake the priest from his sleep," he added and moved his hand to between her thighs.

He smiled and with a warm, deep sigh moved so he was on top of her. His eyes - bright and clear - peered down to her, lingering at her lips before looking into her eyes again.

"Husband, " he corrected.

He began to caress her body with his hand, the smooth curve of her warm flesh was his own delight, "Tonight, " he said, kissing her ample breast - his tongue circling around her nipple, "Tonight when you come into this bed. You shall call me husband...and I shall call you wife."

He glanced up, looking mischievous while remaining sincere. He wished for her to be his, with no question. She was his now, in his bed - their bed...but he wanted more. Somewhere, in his heart, deep down; a burning ember of love bid Anthony to do it properly and commit. It filled him neither with dread nor worry...but hope. Hope of their lives. Lives in court and at home. He would rise in the King's favour and fulfil his ambitions - with her...and perhaps even their children by his side.

"We marry today."

He brushed his nose against hers and replied playfully, chuckling a little, "Well...I am very hard to resist. Not many have the will power."

Anthony caught his breath and moaned, his hand reached her neck, “You’ve grown bold,” he said with a smirk.

He squinted his pale eyes and smirked playfully, his hands moving up her body and cupping her bosom, "I'm not cruel. I shan't deprive you any more..."

Anthony smirked and licked her breasts as they brushed against his lips. He then rolled over, pinning her down. He moved from her breasts and moved to her womanhood - his hands coming to rest on her pelvis. He paused, biting his lips and glancing up to her mischievously.

He then chuckled and sat back up - leaving her tempting womanhood. He said playfully with a delicious smile, "Yes I suppose I can be."

Anthony laughed and mounted himself back on-top of her, kissing her hungrily and holding her cheeks in his hands.

"Or...we could agree,"he said as he felt himself harden,"That I am not cruel and allow the priest more time to sleep."

He paused and his smile faded - would she refuse him every time they were in bed now?he thought. He heard his brother complain about his wife but he hadn't consider that possibility. It never crossed his mind. Eventually with a sigh at her words he rolled off her, brushing his hand through his hair, "Is it too soon?" he asked.

He turned to her with searching pale eyes, "If it's too sudden - too soon...,"he trailed off - what could he say? He had been so intoxicated with golden dreams of their life together he hadn't considered the reality, he hadn't considered how it would be for - her fears or how they would be together when the sheen had worn. He had after all brought her away from court, her family and now they would marry. He had his youth but now her youth would be spent on him.