by Tessa Bowen
“I can either crash against the rocks or you can get on the ship.”
With those words, he bent to one knee, right there before her and her mare. Her eyes widened when he retrieved a small red box from his back pocket. She stared at the velvet square. It was obviously a jewelry box, one that could only fit a ring inside it.
Her horse sidestepped and made its way back to the paddock. Now she had nothing to hold her up but her own two feet.
“Are you…?”
“Proposin’? Sure am.”
That he would use his country speech at a time like this both charmed and enraged her. How could he be so casual—so comfortable? She feared she was about to have a stroke at the tender age of twenty-five. When he flipped the lid on the box, she forgot her anger. A band of colored jewels blinked back at her—a fat sapphire cushioned between two emeralds and framed by pearls. They were her colors—the colors of a mermaid.
“It’s a mermaid ring,” she croaked.
“It’s the color of your scales, with a few pearls thrown in.”
Lorelai laid a hand over her racing heart. “You really can’t keep your head around me, can you?”
“I think we’ve both lost our heads—and our hearts. That’s the way it is with love.”
The ring mesmerized her, the gems were deep and rich and magical, catching the sunlight, coming to life with sparks of fire. Had he just used the word love? He was kneeling beside her with an engagement ring in his hand. Lorelai had never been so high in her life. No amount of pills had ever taken her to this height. She was so high she couldn’t feel her feet. She was so high, she couldn’t come down to earth.
“I already spoke to your father, asked his permission formally. He was all for it. I may be a country bumpkin, but he was always a fan. Besides, I’m almost as rich as he is. So it looks like I made the cut.”
His scamp’s smile was a blur before her.
“You spoke to my father...?”
“That’s how it’s done, Lorelai—we spoke for some time. He told me you’ve carried the torch for me since you were in bobby socks. He said it was about time I showed up.”
Lorelai blinked. “I should be embarrassed, but I already told you the same thing—more or less.
“That’s one of the things I admire most about you, you wear your heart on your sleeve.”
“Yes, I made my feelings plain.”
“And I was a goddamned idiot.”
“What about five days and all that…?”
“It’s been thirty-eight days in total. Five days of bliss, thirty-one days of hell while we were apart, and two days of driving.”
“You made it in two days too?”
“Drove like the wind to get to you. I don’t care about days or time anymore—or how long you’ve been divorced.”
“Dallas tongues will wag. They will say I jumped out of the frying pan into the fire.”
His green eyes glittered along with the gems he held. “But we won’t be in Dallas, we’ll be in Montana. Isn’t that what you want?”
Her voice broke. “Yes.”
“We’ll be in the place you dreamt of as a girl.”
She searched his kind and earnest face. “We’re going to be wild romantics then?”
“I don’t think there is any other way with us, do you?”
Her ponytail swung side to side as she shook her head.
The jewelry box dipped a bit. “Are you turning me down? I guess I deserve it.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Your ponytail is swinging side to side, not up and down. Side to side means no…doesn’t it?”
Suddenly her life force and all she was made of—all that she loved him with—returned to her. It was as if a bolt of lightning ran through her, restoring her energy. She woke from her dream state with a loud yelp of alarm and launched herself at him, clutching him by the shoulders. The fear of losing him again was so real—as real as the possibility that she would wake from this dream.
“Jeb!” she exclaimed.
The box flew from his fingers as she came to her knees. She nearly knocked him off balance when she shook him hard. At the same time she bobbed her head furiously, so that her ponytail swung high and then low.
“Yes! I’m saying yes!”
“Ok, now that ponytail is sending a different message entirely. I never could read your ponytail.”
She stopped shaking his shoulders to lay a good punch to one of them. “Put the ring on me!”
“The ring is lost in a haystack. You weren’t so careful with the goods, darlin’.”
“It’s right there!” she laughed. “Stop teasing!”
Jeb retrieved the box, smirking at her as she pushed her hand out, greedy fingers spread wide.
He slid the glorious ring on her finger and bent to bestow a courtly kiss to her hand, but Lorelai beat him to it. She launched herself at him again, flattening him in the hay as she kissed him with a fiery fervor. She knew she was holding him so tight around the neck she was probably choking him. She better ease up soon, but she couldn’t get enough of his taste. His arms came around her back as he laughed into her mouth. His ring felt hot on her finger, and so did his hands on her. His chest was hot too, pressed against hers, thumping with his quickened heartbeat.
She sat up and straddled him, ripping at the snaps of his shirt and the buckle of his belt.
“Whoa, missy—what are you doin.’?”
“Having my roll in the hay—we never did you know?”
“It was a roll in the clover.”
She yanked his underwear and jeans off, attending to his boots next with frantic jerks.
“Jesus, woman—slow down.”
“I want my roll in the hay,” she grunted. “I’ve waited thirty two-days.”
“We should probably try it in a bed.”
She stood over him, her hungry eyes roving over his naked body. “I can’t wait for a bed.”
“You’re a force to reckon with, Lorelai.”
“I want you. And you want me.” She focused her gaze on his already stiff manhood. At her words the impressive length of him thickened even more.
“Maybe we should do it right. Wait for our wedding night…?”
Lorelai went for her boots next and then peeled off her tight riding pants. She shrugged out of her habit, revealing her seafoam lace lingerie beneath.
“My Lord…” Jeb uttered in admiration.
The bra came off and was thrown in a pile with her panties. She stood as naked as he was, placing a foot on his chest to hold him down when he went for her. The position spread her legs for his viewing, and he fell back on the hay with a groan, staring at the place that wept with excitement for him.
“For the hundredth time, I’m not a little girl, Jeb. You don’t need to treat me as though I’m precious.”
He rebelled and reared up to clutch her ankle, kissing the arch of her foot adoringly. “You are precious, sweetheart.”
“I’m a woman with a woman’s passions. I’ll show you what a woman I am.”
With that, she picked up her habit and threw it on, while the rest of her was gloriously naked.
His eyes took on a feral glint at the kinky sight. “What are you up to, Lorelai?”
“I’m going to ride a Jackson Mustang. On my own this time.”
“Fuck…”
She loved when she drove him to cursing. Confidently, she took her position, sitting astride him. She raised her arms, going for her ponytail.
“Leave the ponytail,” he entreated thickly.
She smiled down at him. They were both ready. He was as hard as a rock against her slick flesh. She raised her hips, then lowered them, and he was deep inside her. Jeb sucked in a breath while her head lolled to the side. They both had to take a moment to accustom themselves to the power of their union.
She started to move over him with a graceful rocking of her hips, but soon the feel of him drove her out of her mind with lust. She rode him faster until she w
as galloping wildly once more across that open field in Montana. She cried with the pleasure of it, keening and wailing, her nails digging into his naked chest, while Jeb moaned and panted, holding her hips tight as she took him.
She opened her eyes, fighting through the thick haze of her desire to look at him. His eyes were a clear leaf green—almost electric, singeing her with their bold heat.
“Am I your woman, Jeb?”
“Yes, baby—yes.”
Lorelai arched her neck, smiling in triumph as she jockeyed him hard.
“Christ, you might kill me.” Jeb struggled for breath, his hands spreading the jacket open to cup her jutting breasts. “Your passion…it scares me, but I can’t live without it.”
“I’ve loved you since I was seventeen. You’ll just have to deal with it.”
“I’ll deal with it. Still…you might kill me.”
She slowed her pace and arched a fine brow. “Too much for a broken-down cowboy?”
“Are you aimin’ for another spankin’?”
“Maybe…”
Jeb took control then, plucking her off him. Lorelai yelped in surprise when he positioned her on all fours, coming to kneel behind her. The short riding habit exposed her rear, which she hiked in the air for him, ravenous for anything he would give her. What he gave her was a good hard smack. Lorelai trembled with lust, falling into a submissive position, resting her weight on her elbows, hoping for another searing slap of his palm. Instead, he buried his face between her legs and kissed the swollen damp prize that she offered to him, licking it thoroughly, even sucking. Lorelai was just about to climax when he pulled back only to thrust into her, burying himself to his base, holding her by the hips so that she didn’t crumple in a heap from the power of his intrusion.
“Jeb,” she sobbed.
“Are you still my woman, Lorelai?”
“Yes!”
He overwhelmed her with his prowess. He held the reins now. And Lorelai’s head spun with the strength of the man behind her—he was just that— a man. A man who had handled bucking broncs. He’d handle her nicely. He would show her so much, teach her so much, for now he was schooling the naughty out of her. Gently, but firmly, he gripped her ponytail in his fist, deepening his thrusts.
She released an ecstatic wail. “Now it’s you who is killing me.”
He eased up a bit. “I think we’re killing each other.”
“With pleasure…”
“Does this please you, sweetheart.”
“Yes, Jeb—yes, it all pleases me, but I want to look into your eyes again.”
All she had to do was ask and suddenly he’d maneuvered her into his lap. He sat back on his haunches and let her take him again. This time, she moved slower, properly chastised, returning the love she saw in his gaze. They stared at each other as they moved as one. It was only when they reached their peak, that they broke eye contact to kiss, crying out into each other’s mouths as they shared an earth-shattering orgasm.
They fell back on the hay together, covered in sweat and straw. They faced each other, still staring deep into one another’s eyes as they recovered. Jeb waited for his breath to return, then he began picking hay out of her ponytail. His gaze was very tender.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked quietly.
“I was thinking about how you’re going to drive all the sadness and loss of my past away.”
Lorelai smiled. “I will, Jeb. And you’ll do the same for me.”
“We have a second chance. Do you like your ring, honey?”
They held hands now. Lorelai admired the precious gems.
“It’s the most beautiful ring in the whole wide world.”
“A ring for a mermaid…” He let loose a sudden hoot of laughter.
Lorelai started. “Why are you laughing. Is it my hair? I’m sure my ponytail is crooked, to say the least.”
“I’m laughing because there’ll be two fancy ladies living at Jackson Ranch now. The Baroness will be on chicken feed duty while the Dallas beauty queen will be elbows deep in a crowning ewe.”
Lorelai gave him a good hard pinch. “I was born to be more than just fancy.”
Jeb’s laughter faded and he kissed away her frown. “I know darlin’. I’m laughin’ because I’m happy as a lark.”
“Me too—I’m so happy.”
“My brother told me if I just gave you what you wanted, you’d be content.”
“I like this brother of yours already. But Jeb, do you think they’ll like me? Not just your brother, but Abigail and Daphne too.”
He took her into his arms. “They’ll be crazy about you, because I’m crazy about you. Well, Ducky might be a little jealous.”
“Does she really quack.”
“She sure does—just like a duck.”
“Will you teach me to ride western when we get to Montana.”
He gave her bottom another smack, this one of the playful variety. “I don’t think you need any lessons, miss.”
“I’m serious. I want to ride and be wild with you.”
“I have a feeling every day with you will be a wild ride, Lorelai.”
Epilogue
Jeb leaned back in the tub, knees drawn up, looking very proud of himself. He’d made love to his wife two times today already. Once in the morning in bed, the second time under their tree after they’d ridden fast and hard together. Now it was bath time and oh, how he admired the sight of Lorelai in a bathtub. She was in her element after all, hair wet and slicked down her back, perfect high breasts staring him in the face.
She seemed to enjoy the sight of him too, giggling at his appearance. Their clothes lay in a pile on the drenched wood floor, every stitch, save Jeb’s cowboy hat, which he still wore tipped back on his head to reveal his mussed curls.
The antique clawfoot was big, but not so big as to contain the water they displaced together. Each time she slid forward to give him a kiss, more water splashed on the floor. They’d made quite a mess of the bathroom, but they only had eyes for each other.
John’s voice sounded from the other side of the door. “Christ—are you two at it again? Maybe you shouldn’t neck in a bathtub. We’ve got Noah’s goddamn ark out here in the hallway.”
“That’s what happens when you take a bath with a mermaid, brother.”
John snorted. “She must have one big tail.”
Lorelai sunk lower in the tub, stifling her next round of giggles. “Splish, splash,” she tittered.
Then the silken whisper of the Baroness joined in as she chastised her husband gently. “They’re newlyweds, let them be. Come away from the door.”
Both Jeb and Lorelai jumped in alarm at the outraged quack that sounded next
“She really does quack just like a duck, doesn’t she?”
“Told you.”
“And you pipe down too, dearest,” the Baroness cooed to her squawking daughter. “Uncle Jeb won’t forget you.”
The two listened to the family make their retreat.
“We should be in galoshes to get through this mess,” John grumbled.
Ducky continued to quack noisily. “My, but she is possessive.”
“Wonder where she gets that from.”
“If you stop teasing me, we can put her down for a nap and get a little necking in ourselves.”
“I’m into that plan.”
Lorelai sighed. “They are very much in love.”
“They’re not the only ones.” Jeb grinned and adjusted his hat low over his eyes. “Yep, the Jackson brothers tamed a fine pair of fillies—we domesticated you two real nice.”
“Domesticated!” Lorelai gripped the brim of his hat and tossed it across the room. “You plan on keeping your little lady down on the ranch, baking pies and crepes, wearing aprons and setting tables, do you?”
“You do make a mighty fine crepe.”
“As much as I like cooking for you, I think I’ve found my calling. I want to be a veterinarian.”
Jeb’s playful expres
sion turned more serious. “I thought having a family with me was your calling.”
“It is, can’t I have both?”
“You can have whatever you want. You never need to ask my permission.”
“I want to take care of animals, as well as you.”
“And our children? I want you to have my children, Lorelai. Lots of them…will you?” He looked rather bashful. “Maybe it’s too soon for that. I just want to make some cousins for Ducky and the other baby on the way. I don’t mean to pressure you. We can wait if you want, I just—”
Lorelai silenced him with a wet fingertip pressed to his lips. She wore a secretive siren’s smile. “I’m already carrying your child, Jebediah Jackson.”
Jeb’s eyes went as wide as his jaw. “You’re not foolin’ with me, are you?”
She didn’t answer just continued to smile at him in that mysterious way she so often did.
“Lorelai! Is it true!”
She let out another giggle. She plugged her nose and sunk down, submerging herself completely. Jeb stared at her under water. She still held her nose and she was still laughing. He could tell because bubbles were coming out of her mouth. Her glorious long hair floated behind her, looking like amber seaweed on the ocean’s floor. She was being a naughty mermaid. If she was jerking his chain, he’d give her a good spanking.
Jeb grabbed the edge of the tub and shouted at the surface of the water. “Are you pregnant!”
She left him on tenterhooks only a moment longer, then she dropped her fingers from her nose, holding her breath. Her smile widened. It was a proud glowing smile. It nearly turned the bathwater to liquid gold. She blinked and nodded, laying a hand across her belly.
Jeb almost did a back flip out of the tub. He raised his face to the ceiling and let out a loud “Whoop!”
Lorelai broke the surface, taking a deep breath of air as she smoothed her sodden hair back from her face.
He clutched her face in his hands, growing serious once more. “Truly?”
“Truly.”
He didn’t have time to catch his breath before his wife sealed their lips together, pulling him under the water with her. She wasn’t dragging him to his death. She was leading him to a new life. She was also kissing him and placing his hand over her belly, where their first child now grew. The cowboy had indeed domesticated the sea temptress. His ship wouldn’t be torn to shreds against the jagged rocks.
