The Honeymoon - Chapter Two "I've got a pretty good imagination"
Vernon pulled the coach up to the front of the large resort hotel, nestled in the majestic mountains. Jack and Elizabeth looked around in awe upon departing the coach. Jack placed the last of their suitcases on the cart as Elizabeth said good bye to Vernon.
"I'll see you folks at the end of the week. Have a wonderful time here," Vernon looked around, "don't see how you won't like it here, looks pretty nice."
Jack approached, his hand out, "We will, thank you for everything Vernon."
Jack took Elizabeth's arm, "Let's go get our room key."
Elizabeth nodded and looked around the grand lobby of the huge hotel as they entered. Several shops and restaurants were within view down the grand promenade. Elizabeth couldn't help notice several women in split skirts and boots carrying fishing poles. Other women carried parasols and wore formal attire accompanied by men in fine suits. "This is quite the place," she mumbled.
Jack smiled at the desk clerk, "Hello, I'm Jack Thornton, we have a reservation…"
"Yes, Mr. Thornton…" the clerk looked through some paperwork, "Ah, yes, Mr. Thornton and…" the clerk looked at Elizabeth.
Jack turned, "Oh, Elizabeth Thatcher…oh, no, I mean Thornton, Elizabeth Thornton!" He blushed and reached for Elizabeth, who tried not to smile at Jack's blunder. "We were married yesterday," Jack told the desk clerk. He turned back to Elizabeth, "This is my wife, Elizabeth…she's my bride," he blushed looking at the desk clerk.
The desk clerk smiled, "Well, congratulations to you both. I hope you will enjoy your stay with us and please let us know if we can do anything for you. In your room you will find brochures on a variety of amenities you may enjoy during your stay," the man handed Jack a pen and Jack signed the register.
He turned and took Elizabeth's arm, "Any amenities you would like to enjoy during your stay Mrs. Thornton?"
She looked at him out of the corner of her eye, "I'll take my husband's amenities, thank you…"
Jack chuckled, "I don't know if they have a brochure on that, but that can definitely be arranged…"
Jack unlocked their door and put his arm up, "No, no you don't," he scooped Elizabeth up into his arms and carried her into the room, "I think I can carry my bride over this threshold too." He kissed her.
"Oh Jack, you're so romantic," she touched his face as he gently put her down, "Look at this room Jack!"
Jack continued looking at her, "Hmm?" He followed her to the large glass doors that opened to a balcony overlooking the mountains, "Just beautiful."
"Yes, amazing scenery," she looked out over the valley.
"Yes, that too," he touched her back.
She smiled and went back into the room, to the bed, "I've never seen such a big bed!" Jack stood at her side and they both stared at the bed for a moment. "Okay, well, I guess we'll wait for our luggage…"
She couldn't complete her sentence before Jack pulled her into his arms, "I love that we're here, and I love you."
She held his face, "I feel the same way Jack, and we're going to have a wonderful time."
Jack's hand went to her blouse, "You said I could see what you are wearing."
Her eyes opened wide, "Now? Well…." She melted as he kissed her and he unbuttoned the top button of her blouse. She put her hands gently on his chest and sighed. "Jack…maybe we should…wait…"
The loud knock on the door interrupted them. Elizabeth turned away and buttoned her blouse and Jack walked to the door and let the bellman in with their luggage.
Jack returned his attention to his wife, "Where were we?" He wiggled his eyebrows.
"Jack…" she unbuttoned her blouse and slipped it down her arms, revealing her thin, white chemise trimmed in a delicate ribbon of lace and fastened with tiny white buttons up the front. "This is a chemise."
Jack looked at her lovingly, but looking in her eyes, he walked to her and lifted her blouse back on, "It's pretty just like you, and I'm sorry you must think I'm awful. I don't mean to be, you just fascinate me. Please don't think I'm some kind of animal…"
"A bull?" She interrupted.
Jack choked and looked away, "Well, okay, I deserved that one."
She touched his face, "Jack, I'm pleased that you …that you admire me," she carefully selected her words, "we have a lot to learn about each other."
Jack sighed, "How did I get so lucky?" He gave her a quick kiss.
As they unpacked, Jack asked, "I'm hungry. I'll get changed and go to the lobby and see what our dinner options are while you get dressed, okay Mrs. Thornton?"
"Sounds good to me," she walked to him and pulled him to her, "my darling husband." She kissed him passionately.
"On the other hand, we could always just stay up here," he grinned liking her attention.
"Oh no, we'll have a nice romantic dinner, maybe a little dancing, and then a romantic walk, how does that sound?" She rubbed his neck.
Jack could barely speak, "Yeah….sounds good…sounds great." He quickly pulled some items from his suitcase and rushed to the bathroom. "Elizabeth, come look at this!"
The bathroom was huge with porcelain tiles, a long counter with a marble sink and a huge claw foot tub.
"Oh my goodness, how grand," she said.
Jack walked to her, "Nice bathtub…."
"Yes," she felt a twinge of nerves, "I'll give you some privacy." She backed out and closed the door.
Jack shook his head and chuckled softly before turning on the faucet.
Elizabeth chose her evening attire and put away the rest of her clothing. When Jack emerged from the bathroom he looked so handsome Elizabeth gasped.
"What?" he placed his hand over his tie, "Do I look all right?"
Elizabeth nodded, "Jack, you're so handsome…how did I get so lucky?" She mimicked him and ran her hands over his shoulders and kissed him, "and you smell really good."
Jack blushed, "Thank you, hmm, they don't have any Gardenia Surprise, I checked. They do have something called Charming Carnations, smells real nice. Would you like me to help you in the bathroom?" he smirked.
She tapped his shoulder, "No, I can manage. You have things to do."
His eyebrow shot up, "Kissing my wife is always my priority."
"As it should be, but we're going to have a nice romantic evening," she pushed him, "Now go downstairs and make our dinner reservation."
"Oh, yes Ma'm," he replied.
"Oh, I don't mean to sound like I'm giving you orders," she apologized.
"No, you aren't. I like when you tell me what to do."
She pulled on his belt, "I'll tell you what to do later if you want."
Jack rolled his eyes, "Okay then, I'm going to make those reservations now."
Elizabeth giggled as Jack went out the door. She went into the bathroom and prepared for the evening.
Jack got to the lobby and tugged his collar, controlling his emotions before entering The Chateau Restaurant, which appeared intimate, with deep red tablecloths, brass chandeliers and a small orchestra setting up in the corner of a dance floor. "Perfect," Jack said as he looked for the maître d. He then headed to the front desk.
In their room, Elizabeth pinned her hair up, put on new silk stockings but struggled with the buttons up the side of her dress which was deep pink, very fitted with embroidered white flowers flowing down the skirt. The cap sleeves had tiny beaded flowers dangling from them. She jumped when Jack came into the room. "Oh, you startled me," she looked at him.
Jack stopped and gazed at her, "Wow you look just….just beautiful."
"Can you help me? I can't button these top few buttons," she held the side of her dress as Jack walked closer.
He couldn't help look and admire her. She raised her arm and he hesitantly buttoned each tiny button and upon the last one, he leaned forward and kissed her skin and slid his hand around her, keeping her close. As his kisses became more intimate, Elizabeth raised her hands to his face and he looked into her eyes, "You're so beautiful, you have the prettiest blue eyes."
After several passionate kisses, Elizabeth pushed gently on his chest, "What time is our reservation?"
"Hmm, five minutes ago…" Jack smiled.
"Then let's go," she replied.
She went into the bathroom, adjusted her dress, applied perfume and came back into the bedroom. Jack was looking out the door at the mountains; she admired his strong presence. "I'm ready, are you?"
Jack nodded and escorted his wife downstairs. The maitre d greeted them, "Mr. Thornton nice to see you again, and this must be the lovely Mrs. Thornton." The gentleman smiled and nodded at Jack.
They were guided to a small table along the wall and Jack couldn't help notice the attention Elizabeth garnered from the other guests.
"Jack, this is so lovely, thank you," she said. "Do you know the maitre d?"
"You're the lovely one Elizabeth, and apparently everyone else thinks so as well," he said as the waiter popped the cork on the champagne and Elizabeth jumped. "Here's to my elegant bride, the most beautiful woman in this room, or any room."
Elizabeth bit her bottom lip and clinked her glass to Jack's. After taking a sip, "I never knew being a bride would garner me so many compliments."
"You deserve every one of them," Jack smiled and turned as the music began, "would you care to dance Mrs. Thornton?"
They were the only couple on the dance floor but swayed slowly to the soft music. Jack couldn't help complimenting his wife again, "You sparkle in this dress."
"I think it's the beads that are sparkling Jack, but thank you. You're always handsome in a suit and I'm looking forward to you showing me the great outdoors tomorrow."
"What would you like to do first? Fishing or should we start with a nature walk?"
"Whatever you decide will be just fine with me," she smiled. "As long as we're together."
Back at their dinner table, the food was served and Jack stabbed a piece of potato and offered it to Elizabeth. She took it from his fork and licked her lips, "Delicious."
She did the same back to him. "Very good," he smiled. As their meal ended, the waiter placed a covered dish on the table and Jack smiled.
Elizabeth's eyes grew wide, "Oh, a delicious dessert?" her shoulders raised in anticipation. She removed the cover and there sat a small velvet box, she looked up at Jack, "What's this?"
"Open it," he said watching her expression.
She opened the box revealing a pair of sapphire earrings, sparkling in the candlelight. "Oh! Jack!" Her hand went to her chest, "They're just beautiful!"
"Not quite the color of your eyes, but close….well, nothing matches the blue of your eyes," he continued to watch her expression.
She embraced the small box against her, "Thank you…what a lovely surprise," she reached for his hand.
"Better than dessert?" He smiled.
She nodded, holding back her tears.
After several more dances, where they held each other close, Jack and Elizabeth walked the entire length of the hotel lobby, window shopping in all the various specialty shops. "Jack, look, I should come back and purchase a pair of those split skirt pants, they would be perfect for hiking and fishing wouldn't they?"
"Yes, we could get them now if you like," he held her hand.
"No, I'll come by in the morning," she stepped closer to him, "but thank you for offering and now I'd like to walk outside wouldn't you?" She kissed his cheek.
"Yes, I would," he kissed her and pulled her close. They heard someone's disapproval groan and looked to see two older ladies looking at them quite disapprovingly. The ladies eyed Elizabeth as if she were a floozy and Jack didn't like it. "She's married!" he stated boldly. The ladies gasped loudly and gave the newlyweds an even more shocked and disapproving look, shaking their heads to shame Elizabeth and giving Jack a disgusting scowl. Jack quickly added, "To me! She's married to me!"
The ladies gasped, mumbled and hurried down the hall. Elizabeth put her hand to her mouth, "Oh Jack!"
He looked at her, shaking his head, "Can you believe that? They thought…" He started to laugh at the way Elizabeth playfully exaggerated the swinging of her hips and touching her hair, "Well now you look like a floozy!"
Elizabeth took his hand as they laughed and hurried to the door that led to the patio.
"It's so breathtaking here," she said in the glow of the flickering lanterns.
"Come with me," Jack took her hand and they stepped off the patio onto the grass.
"Where are we going?"
"I have an urge to do something," he continued walking around the building, holding on to her hand, finally stopping at a darkened alcove. He gently pushed her against the building and kissed her.
"Jack…" she held onto his shoulders as his kisses traveled to her neck. "Jack wait!"
He pulled back, "I wanted to relive a very wonderful night we shared, is that okay?"
"Yes, it is," she unbuttoned his jacket and slipped her arms around him, "And now, it's perfectly okay," she bit her lip and slid her fingertips into his waistband.
Jack growled and kissed her. "I hope those women don't come back and see how you're seducing me Mrs. Thornton."
"They're just jealous, that I have this handsome man kissing me," She pushed her little sleeve down, inviting Jack to kiss her skin. Jack's eyebrow shot up and he kissed her shoulder fervently.
Elizabeth giggled at his playful kisses and she squeezed the muscles of his back, "I remember the night we did this so well," she sighed against him, kissing his ear and his neck.
Jack reached for a button on her dress, "It was difficult to stop…"
"Jack, don't you dare!"
"I guess we can go upstairs, eventually," he kissed her again and moved his hand to her waist, then her hip.
She leaned back against the wall, "Can we go now?" Her eyes were dreamy and her eyelashes fluttered.
Jack swallowed, took her hand, "Let's go."
They hurried up the stairs to the door of their room and once there Jack took the key and placed it in the lock but turned and pulled Elizabeth into his arms and kissed her passionately, lifted her into his arms and kicked the door open. Elizabeth laughed, "You're a bull once again I see."
"Always, with you in my arms," he put her down and they looked at the room.
"Oh my, this is so lovely, who did this?" Elizabeth's mouth hung open. The room had numerous candles of various shapes and sizes burning, vases of flowers on every surface, champagne and glasses on the table near the balcony and the bed turned down revealing gold colored satin sheets.
Jack ran his hand down his tie several times, "Do you like it?"
She looked at him, "You did this?"
He nodded, "When you were getting dressed, I talked to the front desk clerk and asked if they could do something special…romantic…you deserve the best Elizabeth."
Elizabeth's eyes filled with tears as she looked around the room, "Jack…it's so romantic," she went to him, "It's beautiful and thoughtful and I'll never forget this, thank you." She slid her hand around his neck and kissed him. She began pushing his jacket from his shoulders and he let it fall down his arms onto the floor. He picked it up and placed it on a chair, taking her hand, led her to the balcony. He sat on a chair and tapped his lap and she gently sat. He reached around and held her and they kissed. "How does it feel to kiss a married man?" he whispered, a sly smile on his lips.
"Hmm, better than I ever could have imagined," she kissed him, "and I've got a pretty good imagination," she ran a finger over his lips.
"Glad to hear that," he kissed her shoulder and reached for a button, "I can't wait to see what you can imagine." She held his tie as he unbuttoned two buttons of her dress. He moved his hand and pressed the front of her dress, kissing her skin. "I love kissing a married woman…"
"I can tell," she smiled, putting her head back, "and it feels so good."
He reached up and removed a clip from her hair and then unbuttoned two more buttons and she suddenly stood. "Jack…"
"What?" he didn't understand why she got off his lap. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No, of course you didn't," she leaned against the door, breathing heavy, and entered the room.
Jack followed her, "Elizabeth…"
She practically jumped against him, "Jack, I love you so much," she unbuttoned his shirt and ran her hands over his chest, unable to control her need for him.
He touched her dress, pushing and pulling it, "I love you too…"
"I should change," she whispered, kissing his ear.
"Don't bother," he picked her up and sat her on the edge of the bed. He crouched down and untied her shoes, "Stockings?" He glanced up to see her nod and reached under her gown. He smiled when she raised her skirt above her knees, giving him access to her stockings.
As he gently rolled the first stocking from her leg, he kissed her leg. Elizabeth gasped softly watching him, her heart pounding every time his lips touched her skin. He did the next even slower with more determined kisses. She ran her hand softly through his hair, feeling like she could faint with his every touch. He stood up, holding his hands for her to take but Elizabeth pushed his hands away and unbuttoned his trousers. He exhaled, gripped her hands and pulled her up. She turned to walk to the bathroom, "Wait..." He walked up behind her, unbuttoned the remaining buttons of her gown and pushed it down. Her hands instinctively went to cover herself. He kissed her back, "I'll wait right here for you."
Elizabeth looked over her shoulder at him, as she stepped out of her gown, raised it to cover herself and walked to the bathroom.
Jack took several deep breaths, "I'll pour us some champagne," he said as the door closed. He popped the cork and poured, drinking some in an attempt to calm himself.
Elizabeth hung up her dress and opened the drawer where she earlier put her pink lace negligee. She slipped it on, applied some perfume and opened the door.
Jack had two glasses ready, when he saw her, "Wow, you look amazing."
She walked toward him, her negligee hugging her body, and kissed him passionately. She took a glass, "Here's to you, the most handsome man in the world and the only one I would ever want to be with," she drank it down never taking her eyes from him as he drank from his own glass. She took his hand and led him to the bed and pushed him onto it, climbing next to him.
Jack watched her, fascinated by her movements, appreciating her boldness and the way her hands clasped his shoulders and the way she moved against him. He touched her but she brought his hand to her lips and kissed each of his fingers slowly and completely. Jack felt a rush of heat at her actions and was mesmerized by her seduction. As she moved over him, her hair fell over them and he pulled it back and kissed her. She moved slowly against him as his hands moved to her waist and then to her hips. She kissed his face, his lips. Jack's hands moved to hold her face and their kisses became more intense. She gripped his hands and intertwined her fingers with his. "I love you Jack," she whispered into his ear. His fingers gripped her hands tightly, "I love you too," he whispered. Their movements continued, loving…unrushed…totally absorbed with each other.
Later, Elizabeth awoke and reached for her husband. She slid over to him and curled herself against his warm skin. Jack woke up, smiled and pulled the sheet up over them.
As the sun came up, Elizabeth woke first and stayed snuggled against a sleeping Jack. She studied his face, the masculine scruff he developed from not shaving. She loved his strong shoulders and admired his chest, his skin so smooth covering his muscles. She glanced up at him, noting he was asleep, she lifted the sheet, peeking at his body.
Jack opened one eye and contained a laugh at her peeking under the sheet at him. He closed his eye when she glanced up at him, but his upturned mouth gave him away.
"Good morning," she said, as she put her arm across his chest.
He began to shake with laughter, "Good morning."
"What's so funny?" she asked, hurt that he thought her peeking at him was humorous.
"You…you're just adorable," he kissed her forehead and she snuggled closer.
to be continued...
