A light breeze moved the curtains in my room. Outside there was the drip, drip, drip of rain from the eaves of the house. That wet morning scent filled the air, and the dim light of the day, the sun hiding behind the clouds, began to peek into the room. It had rained nearly all night, and was promising to do so all day. I loved days like that; lazy, sleepy days that make you want to slow life down and enjoy.
I looked over to my side at the pillow next to me. It was empty, but what a wonderful night we’d had; just the two of us, soaking up the beauty out there at the ranch together. I thought back to the warm flesh beneath me, the cautious movements in the dark, the sounds of heavy breathing breaking through the silence of the night; it was incredible. I’ve never experienced anything like it before or at least not in that way. The exhilaration of being out there in the middle of nowhere, in the pitch black of night, it was something I could never have imagined.
When he first asked me, I was surprised at his suggestion and I was hesitant. I wanted to, but I was almost scared. I wasn’t sure I was ready. I was afraid it would be too awkward, or maybe I’d end up getting hurt. He convinced me though. He explained it was something he wanted to do for me, and what a wonderful and moving experience it would be. And of course, it would be something we could share together. Eventually I gave in, but I made him promise if I didn’t think I was ready or it felt uncomfortable, he wouldn’t push me.
He was so right. It was such an incredible experience; I’m not even sure I can describe it. It was so stirring, so exciting; turning over all control to instinct, muscle and flesh; not knowing what it would be like; being transported to a place I could never go on my own. There isn’t anything like that. The chill of the night air surrounded me, darkness enveloped me, but against me there was this warm, muscled strength, and I just let go and went with it. I’ll admit it took faith; complete trust to let go like that, but when I looked up at the stars and found myself being moved so gracefully, slowly, and confidently, words fail to explain what it did to me.
The moon was full, and by its light I could see J.B.’s silhouette almost gliding. Every so often, when the angle was right, the moonlight would glimmer against his skin. It made me appreciate him even more, for doing something so wonderful, just for me. Of course there is no doubt he enjoyed it as much as I did, but this was for me; it was something he wanted me to experience with him.
I stared up into the sky until the stars began to disappear. It got darker and my view clouded over. Still we didn’t stop. I could feel the moisture against my skin. We kept going. Soon we were soaked thoroughly, and yet we continued, gently, boldly, moving together through the night. The contrast of the wet chill upon my skin and the warmth of the body beneath me was exhilarating.
Then it came in a torrent. It began with a flash; a sudden downpour. The feeling was overwhelming, almost panicking. I couldn’t take it any longer. I screamed out at him, my voice sounding muffled, and small. And just as he promised, he didn’t push me any further, but we did move more quickly trying to rush to an end. The rapid movements in the dark quickly carried us home, to the warm, comfortable ending that waited for us. I pulled up; moisture dripped from my hair; trickles ran down my chest and between my breasts; my back was soaked. I paused a moment to look into his eyes before moving nearer to him and kissing him gently.
“Thank you.”
He smiled and brushed my wet hair back.
“You’re welcome.”
His voice was a whisper.
I shuddered as his warm fingers touched the cool skin of my face.
We continued on, more slowly. We were almost there. Just before we finished, there was one final torrential blast which engulfed us and took my breath away. Then a flash of light, and I could clearly see and even feel the end near as my racing heart started to calm. Moments later all would be warm and still and tranquil. I kept thinking, “A little more; a little further.”
I saw the shadow looming ahead of me. Another small flash. Another tiny blast. We were there. It was over, but what an experience!
When we pulled up the horses beneath the light of the barn, we led them in, and brushed them down. They were as wet as we were, and happy to be back in their stalls. We went inside, and he poured two cups of hot coffee.
“Well, what’d you think?”
“Oh, my goodness! It was amazing! It was just like you said. No, it was better. I was kind of scared at first. I mean, riding horses in the dark sounded kind of dangerous. I kept thinking they might walk off into a gully, or trip in a prairie dog hole. I couldn’t see a thing, and if I couldn’t see where I was, how could they? But then, I seemed to get over it, and started trusting that they knew where they were going. That’s when I started to take it all in.”
He smiled.
“I told you, they’d be fine. There isn’t anything like being out there in the great wide open, on horseback at night.”
“The rain spooked me a little. But even that kind of got my blood pumping. It was the lightning that broke me, though. I’d have stayed with it if it hadn’t been for that. You do this all the time don’t you?”
“Yeah, but I never enjoyed it like I did tonight.”
After we had warmed up a bit, he drove me home. Momma was still up when he walked me to the door. She opened it and peeked out.
“I was starting to worry about you two. That storm moved through here, and rumbled the walls. I was afraid it would catch you out there in the open.”
I smiled at her, and winked at J.B.
“Well, we got a little wet, but we had a good time anyway.”
He was on my mind all night, drifting in and out of my dreams. I don’t know what took me so long to find my gentleman cowboy, but I wasn’t about to let him go. Someday, he’d be right there, next to me. His head creasing the pillow alongside me. There was no doubt in my mind. All he had to do was ask. And that’s just what he did, two months later.
Whispers in the Wind Page 30