November 13th, 2003

Jing-Mei tied her long hair in a braid. She had to have the latest hairstyle. She pinned it into a bun on the top of her head. The ball was going to be such a grand affair.

"Jing-Mei, may I come in?" Mrs. Chen stood outside her chamber door. Jing-Mei went behind her changing screen.

"Come in, Mother." She said, "I am about to put on my dress." Mrs. Chen walked into the chamber.

"Your suitors are already lined up out of the house," She said.

"Oh I can't wait." Jing-Mei said as her nurse tightened her girdle. She grunted and began to put on the blue gown. "When will the fashion be comfortable?"

"Never sweetheart." Mrs. Chen smiled. Jing-Mei stepped out and twirled in her gown, "How gorgeous, Jing-Mei."

"You really think so, Mother?" She asked. Mrs. Chen nodded.

"I think so. Come on, Child. They're going to leave." She pushed her daughter out to the hallway. Jing-Mei walked down the staircase to the ballroom where all her suitors were waiting. "Now, men, this is my daughter, Jing-Mei Chen. You all are trying to win her heart. Tell her why she should choose you for marriage."

"Miss Chen." Price Henry from Morocco stood up, "If you choose me to be your husband, I can promise you a wonderful life of travel. You can see the orient or the New World. Your choice."

"Next." Mrs. Chen said.

"I am Price Garrett of London. If you choose me, I will give you the riches of the world. Anything that you need can be bought."

"Next." Mrs. Chen rolled her eyes.

"I am Prince Alexander of Ireland, You marry me and you will receive the finest of silks." He said. Jing-Mei's mind wandered. She couldn't be bothered with such men. They didn't do anything for her. She looked out the window and saw a man in her stables. He was very muscular. He intrigued her.

"I will be right back, Mother. Entertain these men." Jing-Mei rushed out of the palace. She walked to her stable. "Boy, who are you?"

"Gregory Pratt, Miss." He wiped his forehead; "I take care of your horses." Jing-Mei nodded.

"Are you new?" She asked. Gregory nodded.

"Yes, Miss." He said, "I reckon you shouldn't be out here with me. Today is your day to choose your husband."

"They don't do anything for me, Sir." She said

"Oh, I'm sorry." He said, "Do you need anything from me?" Jing-Mei nodded.

"I suppose it is against the rules for us to be talking to one another." She said, "If we're caught you could loose your job." Greg nodded.

"Yes, Miss." He said.

"And I suppose if I ever kissed you, we both would be in a lot of trouble." She said. Greg stared at her nervously, "I am attracted to the forbidden."

"So am I, Miss." Greg took her by her waist and pulled her close to him. He pressed his lips upon hers. Heat passed between the two of them. Jing-Mei groaned loudly. Her first real kiss was amazing. So amazing she didn't want to wake up.

* * *

Jing-Mei stretched in bed smiling. The morning sun spilled from the window onto her body. Greg looked at her as he buttoned his pants.

"What are you smiling about?" he asked.

"I had a Shakespearean dream that you were my stable boy and I was dabbling in the forbidden love." She said. Greg laughed.

"You shouldn't have read 'Merchant of Venice' before bed." He said walking over to the bed, "I'll be back late. I love you."

"Love you too." She kissed him and curled back up into a ball. Greg chuckled softly.

"Sleep tight." He walked out of the bedroom. Jing-Mei smiled softly. She loved having dreams like those. She hoped she could get back to the dream and finish it.

November 27th, 2003

Jing-Mei shut the car off as soon as she was in the garage. She was so tired. She pulled herself out of the car and shuffled to the house. She yawned and stepped into the house.

"Greg?" Jing-Mei called out. She stopped in her tracks and saw candles and rose petals all over the hallway. Jing-Mei smiled softly, "Greg?"

She followed the petals and candles. What was Greg up to? It wasn't their anniversary was it? She sure hoped she didn't miss anything. He would never let her live it down if she did.

"In here." Greg said from the bathroom. Jing-Mei arched her eyebrow.

"In the bathroom? What for?" She asked with a chuckle.

"Just come in here." Greg laughed. She shook her head. It better not be a gross thing that he's doing. Jing-Mei smiled as she walked into the bathroom. Even more candles and petals were strewn around the room. Greg was in the bathtub that was filled with bubbles ad rose petals.

"What is this all for, Greg?" She smiled looking at him.

"I thought we needed some alone time." He winked, "And I thought you needed a nice bubble bath." Jing-Mei nodded.

"Oh yes. It's exactly what I need." She smiled as she started to get undressed. Greg watched her carefully. He loved watching her expose her wonderful body. He would never get tired of it.

"How was work?" He asked her. Jing-Mei laughed slightly.

"I killed two people." She said looking at him. He frowned.

"Not on purpose right?" Greg asked.

"Of course not on purpose, but because of my stupidity." Jing-Mei peeled her panties off, "I don't want to talk about it right now."

"All right." Greg said watching her; "You have a perfect body."

"No I don't." Jing-Mei chuckled as she stepped into the bubbles.

"Yup. It's utterly perfect." He smiled watching her sink into the water. She smiled back at him.

"Thank you for this." She smiled happily. Greg shrugged.

"I should thank you. I'm bathing with a naked woman." He said.

"And that floats your boat huh?" She asked.

"My boat is certainly floating." Greg winked. Jing-Mei blushed slightly.

"You perv." She laughed splashing the water. Greg nodded.

"And you love me." Greg said dipping his hand beneath the water. Jing-Mei nodded and jumped when she felt his hand go up he leg.

"I love you with all my heart." She whispered. He smiled trailing his hand up higher.

"How much do you love me?" He whispered softly. Jing-Mei's heart thumped in her chest. She thought it would burst out of her chest. She moved her hips slightly closer to him.

"V-Very." Jing-Mei whispered closing her brown eyes.

"Good." Greg smiled as he touched her treasure. Jing-Mei's body shuddered, "Have you ever made love in a bathtub?"

"No…" She whispered, just loving the feeling coursing through her.

"Well, maybe I can arrange that." Greg said. Jing-Mei opened her eyes and smiled softly.

"Oh really?" She raised her hips, "We may get water all over the floor." Greg chuckled.

"We can clean the floor." He said.

"That's true." Jing-Mei got up ad slid over to Greg. He wrapped his arms around her.

"Have I told you that I loved you today?" He asked.

"Only about a million times." She said.

"Make that a million and one then." Greg whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too." Jing-Mei said softly feeling how excited he was. She smiled and raised her hips to feel him inside of her. Water on the floor didn't matter. They were with each other. They were making love.

Note: If you want to be updated when this and my other fics are updated or to participate in general discussion about them then join http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TAK_Update/