Claire opened the wooden door and stepped inside, quickly followed by Jack. Once inside, Jack shut and bolted the door.
“Quick Claire, there’s shutters on all the windows, help me get them closed and bolted. I don’t think she’s a big threat but you just never know with wild animals.”
Together they hurried around through all the outside rooms in the house bolting all the shutters until they were convinced they were tucked away safe and out of harm’s way.
Jack grabbed Claire in his arms and pulled her to him. He briskly rubbed her back trying to get her warm.
“Claire, I’m so, so sorry. I never meant to put you in that kind of a situation. I just didn’t think. I’m so sorry.” Jack could feel her body trembling harder. “Are you okay?”
“I think so,” Claire replied. “It’ll just take me a while to stop shaking.”
“Here, sit down on the sofa and let me get you a blanket to wrap up in.”
Jack sat her down and ran to the bedroom, grabbed a blanket and ran back into the living room.
“Drop that soggy towel and get this around you.”
Claire didn’t hesitate. She let the towel fall and for a fleeting moment, Jack caught sight of Claire’s nakedness. His body responded. Air left his lungs as though someone had just hit him square in the gut.
She was beautiful. Perfect round breasts with delicate pink nipples standing perkily at attention. And he could tell her hair was it’s true color. He wanted to bury his face there and taste the essence of her.
“Jack!” Claire exclaimed.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” He quickly wrapped the blanket around Claire. “I got momentarily distracted,” he said flashing her a grin.
“I could tell.” And if you’d drop your own towel I could enjoy the view, too. Claire smiled.
“Now a good stiff drink – oh, no, can’t do that. How about another glass of wine or oh, I know let me make you some hot cocoa. That sounds better.”
“Thank you, Jack. The cocoa does sound wonderful.”
“Cocoa it is.” Jack hurried to the kitchen and grabbed the cocoa mix from the cupboard and began mixing the concoction.
“I really am sorry, Claire. I just didn’t think. That cat has shown up before a few times. She almost seems tame, like she’s somebody’s pet out for a stroll. She’s never made any threatening moves or anything like that. I think she has this thing for the chlorine in the water.”
“It’s okay, Jack, really it is. We’re safe inside now and that’s good.”
A few minutes later, he handed Claire a steaming cup of the rich liquid.
“Here you go. Drink this. It’ll warm you up. And while you’re doing that I’ll go slip on something other than this towel before I freeze.”
Jack turned and headed for the bedroom.
Claire took the cup holding it in her hands for a few moments to warm them. Finally, she took a small sip of the hot, steamy brew.
“This is so good and warm. I don’t think I’ll ever get warm again,” she said as a few minutes later Jack, dressed in jeans and shirt, walked back into the room.
Walking over to Claire he handed her a pair of his jeans and a long-sleeved shirt.
“Here, you can change into these while I get a cup of cocoa,” said Jack.
He walked into the kitchen and poured himself a cup before returning to the sofa in front of the fire.
“This is scrumptious, Jack,” said Claire as she returned from donning the clothes and still sipping on the cocoa. “How’d you learn to make cocoa this wonderful? I make cocoa but it’s not this good.”
Claire took another sip.
“Ah, my dear, an old family secret,” he said as he moved over so Claire could sit down next to him. “Remember the English nanny I told you about?”
“Yes.”
“Well, she used to make it for me at special times.”
“It’s bloody hell marvelous, then.”
“It absobloodylutely is!” Jack grinned.
“Abso what?” Claire laughed.
“Absobloodylutely. That was another one of her words.”
“I’d certainly like to meet that lady someday. She sounds abso whatever it was marvelous.”
“She was. She died a few years back.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Jack. Was she still with you then?” asked Claire as she took another sip.
“No. She’d retired by then. I went to visit her as often as I could though. She had no family except me. I was the only person at the funeral besides a few people from the retirement home where she lived.”
“Oh Jack, I’m sorry.”
“Me too. She was a good woman. She was more of a mother to me than my own mother ever was. Now, how about you? Have you stopped shaking yet?”
“Yes, I believe I have. Do those things come around here often?”
“Actually she’s the only one I’ve seen this close to the house. I’d seen evidence long before I ever saw her but finally one day she just came out and sat there watching me.” He took a sip from his cup.
Continuing, he said, “I did the same thing we did and she just saunters up and drinks out of my hot tub like it was a normal thing for her to do. Don’t know why she’d come that close to humans. But I don’t want to take any chances. I’m really sorry I put you in that situation, Claire.”
“It’s okay, Jack. You had no way of knowing she’d show up. No harm done. And what was the digging in the snow with my foot for?”
“Oh, apparently if you do stuff like that and act nonchalant about them being there, they just think you’re some other kind of animal and don’t pay a whole lot of attention to you. At least that’s what the books say.”
“Well, I’m glad of that.”
Claire finished her cocoa.
“If it’s okay, Jack, I think I’ll call it a night. I think I could use some rest after meeting your friend out there.”
“Okay, I could use some sleep, too.”
* * *
Jack lay awake for hours listening to Claire breathe. He reached out several times to touch her but drew his hand back for fear of waking her. His fingers itched to caress her hair and feel the tender flesh of her breasts. He longed to hold her body against his, to feel her softness press against his hardness, and to taste her on his lips and tongue.
Claire rolled over in her sleep and nuzzled her head underneath Jack’s chin.
Jack’s heart pounded harder inside his chest. He could feel her hot breath against his skin and he felt his need harden. Claire’s hand splayed across his chest sending shards of ecstasy through Jack’s spine. This was what torture felt like – but it was a blissfully sweet torture.
If he could just kiss her lips, maybe that would help relieve some of his torment.
Jack bent his head and kissed the top of Claire’s hair. Strawberries and almonds filled his nostrils. He could hear his blood rushing through his own ears.
Sleepily Claire turned her face upward to Jack and he bent his head to her lips. He was lost in the warm sweet softness of her. Her lips parted and he deepened his kiss. He could get used to waking up like this.
Claire’s arms encircled him, pulling him closer. Even in her semi-sleep, her body had needed him, wanted him, like she’d never wanted another person in her life. It was an odd feeling. She felt safe. She felt wanted. She felt she belonged in Jack’s arms.
She’d never felt that way with Ralph. Ralph was kind, attentive and saw to her every need but there was no intimacy. No feeling of really belonging. Why hadn’t she realized that before? And why did she feel that way with Jack?
Jack could feel the rise and fall of her ragged breaths, and his heart pounded in his ears. He wanted this woman like he’d wanted no other.
He had to feel her naked skin against his and reached between them to unbutton the night shirt he’d loaned her.
“Claire, honey, I want you so damn bad. Are you sure you wanna do this?”
“Yes, Jack.” She wanted him, needed him and at
the same time felt guilty for it.
“All I can offer you is the time we have here.” His fingers released one button.
“I want this Jack,” Claire murmured.
“When we leave there’ll only be memories of what we’ve shared. You’ll go on with your life. I’ll go on with mine. No strings. No expectations. Are you sure that’s what you want?” Jack unbuttoned another button.
“Yes, no strings.” Please Jack, please make love to me, give me fireworks.
The last remaining button came undone as Jack pressed his lips to Claire’s. Slipping his hand inside he cupped Claire’s breast and she moaned deep in her throat. Teasing her ripe nipple with his fingers, he felt it harden even more. He needed to feel himself buried deep inside her. He needed to get this woman out of his system so he could go on with his life.
Claire had never felt so alive. Her senses tingled with anticipation. She wanted Jack’s hands all over her at once. She wanted to feel his mouth on every part of her and she wanted to feel Jack’s body hard against hers. She’d never done anything like this and it felt so good.
She wanted Jack and all the pleasures that he could give her. A lifetime of pleasures she’d missed out on.
But it was more than that, it was simply Jack, she knew she had fallen head over heels, fast and furiously in love with Jack with no reasonable explanation.
She fell in love with him that first morning - the moment she saw him coming out of the bedroom. She had no explanation other than the heart wants what the heart wants and for her that was enough.
Claire’s lips brushed against Jack’s chin. Could it really be love? She didn’t want to think about it. She had to marry Ralph. Ralph had always been her security blanket.
She couldn’t be in love with Jack. She’d only known him a few days. No, it couldn’t be love. Or could it?
Jack’s hand slipped down between her legs and caressed her sex. Claire’s breath came in quick gasps and deep from within her throat a soft, sexy purr as she let herself enjoy what he was doing. Jack deepened the kiss even more and his fingers played around the opening to her passion and up to the nubbin that would drive her wild with desire.
Jack slowly drew away, brushing his lips slightly against hers for a few moments before pulling away completely.
“Claire, honey.”
“Uhmm.”
“I want to watch your face while you cum.”
“I – I don’t …”
Jack’s fingers stroked at her center.
“Jack, I …”
“It’s okay, Claire, just relax and let go. I’m here to hold you. Feel what I’m doing to you.”
She felt him stroke her again.
“Relax,” he said, “and let the sensation take over, honey. I won’t hurt you.”
Jack took her nipple in his mouth and flicked it with his tongue as his fingers continued their massage. Claire arched her breasts toward him, her hands on his shoulders. Jack felt her stiffen beneath him and lifted his eyes to watch.
Claire tossed her head from side to side as exquisite sensations of pleasure flooded her body, building to a scorching heat, her eyelids fluttered, her lungs begged for air, before she exploded in a myriad of multicolored fireworks.
“God, you’re beautiful.”
Jack kissed her lightly on the lips. It was still dark outside but Jack caught the sparkle of a tear running down the side of Claire’s face.
“Honey, are you okay? We can stop if you want. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I don’t want to stop Jack. I’ve just never felt anything so beautiful and yet so intense before.” She reached up and ran her fingers down the side of his face. “Thank you for that.”
Jack kissed at her tear and ran his tongue upwards and kissed her eyelid.
“Sweetheart, this next part could be a little painful for you, but I’ll be as easy as I can. You can tell me to stop any time and I will. I won’t want to, God I won’t want to but I’ll stop if you say so.”
“Okay,” whispered Claire.
Jack placed a long slow kiss on her mouth and then slowly kissed his way down to her breasts. He took one nipple in his mouth and sucked.
Claire’s intake of breath told him she was enjoying it. He flicked the nipple and took small nibbles before moving to the other one.
Jack rolled on top of her and kissed his way down to the patch of hair below.
“Spread your legs wide for me, honey, I want to taste you.”
Claire did as she was asked. She could feel the embarrassment flushing in her face.
Jack spread the petals that covered her entrance and licked at the essence of her. Her fingers dug into the bed covers and she moaned aloud. She felt nothing but intense pleasure.
Jack felt the blood throbbing in his cock. He needed to be inside her. He wanted to bury the length of his shaft deep inside and slam into her as hard and as fast as he could.
But he knew for Claire, this had to be gentle. He had to make her first time a treasured memory instead of something she’d regret. He didn’t want her to regret giving him such a gift.
She was making him lose his mind but he held himself in check.
He continued licking at her core and tasted the sweet juice of her being. He took her to the top of the mountain and held her suspended there. Then he crawled on top of her and positioned himself to enter.
“Sweetheart, put your legs around my waist.”
Jack felt her legs sliding up and around and could feel the warmth of her crotch against him.
Slowly, he began to enter her. Just a little at first, giving her time to adjust to his size.
“God but you’re tight. And you feel so damn good.”
Claire could only moan. She was already lost in the sensation of him.
Jack withdrew a bit before pushing further into her. He continued with small withdrawals and pushing in for as long as he could stand it. He wanted to give her plenty of time to adjust and relax before he buried himself into her. Then he felt it. The resistance as the tip of his penis touched her maidenhead. He lay still for a moment, holding himself tight against her entry.
“Claire honey, I’m sorry,” Jack said as he bent and placed his lips on hers covering any sound she could make as he pushed the final thrust filling her with his need.
A muffled sound came from Claire’s throat. She clutched at Jack as he held still giving her body time to adjust to his size and the pain he had just caused.
“It’ll be easier now,” he whispered into her ear, kissing the delicate shell inside.
Slowly he began a rhythmic pace and Claire’s pleasure increased. She raised her hips to meet his thrusts wanting to absorb every inch of him.
Jack raised himself enough to see her face as he continued his thrusts, barely able to keep his own climax under control.
Then he saw it, those first subtle indicators as Claire’s eyelids began to flutter and he knew her climax was close. He bent and suckled at her breasts, biting, teasing, pulling until he felt her muscles tighten around his penis and he could stand it no longer.
As Claire’s climax burst around him, his own matched it with intensity and forcefulness. Jack groaned and thrust deep and hard into her again and again.
Claire screamed out in pleasure, her arms encircling him and her hands clutching at his back.
When they were both spent, Jack fell beside her and both drifted into a deep, exhausted, peaceful sleep.
* * *
Jack awoke early next morning. Slipping out of bed, he finished his shower and went to make breakfast. He was starving.
A smile played across his lips as he thought of sex with Claire. It had been wonderful. He’d never had quite such an intense orgasm as that before. Maybe it was just the idea of having had a virgin for the first time in his life.
He certainly didn’t understand this Ralph guy. With a woman like Claire, he’d never let her out of his bed.
She was gorgeous, but watching her climax – she was even
more beautiful in the throes of passion.
The thought of waking up next to Claire every morning ran into Jack’s brain and just as quickly he pushed it out again.
Jack finished making breakfast and placed it on a tray and took it into Claire.
“Wake up, sleepyhead,” he said as he sat down on the side of the bed with the breakfast tray.
Claire rolled over and opened her eyes.
“Mornin’,” she said a little embarrassed as the night’s activities surfaced in her still groggy memory.
“I made you some breakfast,” said Jack as he waited while she sat up and pulled the sheet up around her.
“Thank you.”
Jack sat the tray across her lap and climbed back into bed beside her before taking the coffee pot from the tray, pouring two cups of the steamy liquid and handing one to her.
Claire took a sip.
“This tastes wonderful.”
“Good. I wasn’t exactly sure how you liked it.”
“Black and hot is always good.”
“Well, dig in while the rest of this stuff is hot, too.”
After breakfast, Jack retreated to the kitchen with the breakfast tray. Claire finished her shower just as Jack was finishing with changing the bed linens. With a towel wrapped around her, Claire returned to the bedroom to get dressed.
Jack walked over to her and took her in his arms.
“Hmmm, you smell nice.” He held her close for a moment. “Claire, would you drop the towel for me. I want to look at you in the light of day.”
Claire hesitated. Indecision played through her brain. She didn’t regret last night with Jack. It was surreal but in a good way. He had been a very attentive lover, so tender and being sure to take care of her needs.
But now, there was Ralph to think about. But she didn’t want to think about Ralph. She wanted to be in the here and now with Jack. She wanted to explore all those feelings that had come rushing in last night. Were they real or was it simply in the moment?
“Claire, honey, you’re so beautiful by the light of the moon. Please, let me see how beautiful you are in the morning light.”
The Wrong Wedding Page 9