"Well, I was just looking," she glanced up at him, quickly looking away feeling embarrassed.
"What is it you want to see?" He gently held her shoulder, "I mean…do you have a question?" Jack felt awkward, but felt it was important in the growth of their relationship to be as open as possible.
She laid her hand on his chest, "I don't know," she moved herself tighter against him, "you have... an interesting body," she said barely above a whisper.
He smiled, "Oh…well, thank you." His brow wrinkled, unsure if he liked her description.
She sat up, "Okay, I was just looking at your body…all right!"
Jack tried not laugh, "That's fine. Heaven knows I've been looking at yours."
She looked down at him all wide eyed and pulled the sheet against her, "Jack that's not proper."
Jack laughed and pulled her down and rolled over her, "I don't have to be proper. I love you…and I'm your husband."
She pressed her finger against his lips, "I love you too and you still need to be proper." They kissed and playfully rolled across the bed, when Elizabeth got close to the edge she squealed.
"Hey, have I ever let you fall?" Jack asked looking into her eyes.
"No…never," she said staring into his eyes, "you're always there to catch me."
Jack smiled and pulled her against him, rolling back to the middle of the bed. Their playfulness became more intimate and before long they were tangled in the sheets.
Jack lay still on his back, arm out to his side, "Elizabeth?"
She rolled closer to him, on her tummy, propped up on her elbows, "Yes?"
He touched her hair, "I'd never be improper with you. I'm just teasing you. I'll always respect you."
She looked into his eyes, "I know Jack, thank you…can I tell you, I've never been this happy."
"Me too, but I don't think I can walk," he said.
She did a double take, "What?"
"You're wearing me out," he smiled sweetly.
She shook her head, kissed him quickly and rolled to the edge of the bed, pulled her negligee over her head and walked around to the foot of the bed. "Okay, then you stay here and rest. I'll go downstairs and get those clothes I need for our hike," she tickled his foot, "hope it doesn't take you long to….recover." She giggled and went to the bathroom.
Jack looked and whispered to himself, "she thinks I'm kidding!"
Elizabeth emerged wearing a blue skirt and blouse, noting Jack still sprawled across the bed. "Jack Thornton, are you going to stay there all day?"
"Can you help me?" he put his hand up, reaching for her. She grabbed his hand but he pulled her onto the bed.
"No, just stay here and I'll go," Elizabeth blushed.
"I'll go with you, don't want anyone else getting my tiger," he ran one finger down her blouse.
She grabbed his finger, "That's nice coming from the bull who kicks doors open."
He shrugged, "That's what husbands do…or so I hear."
She rolled her eyes, "I'm going downstairs, if you care to join me…" She left the room shaking her head.
Jack rolled over and eventually dragged himself out of the bed and prepared for the day. He entered the lobby and found Elizabeth in the clothing store making a purchase. "Find what you need?"
"I'm glad to see you're out of bed and yes I did," she smiled.
"I'm hungry, shall we go get breakfast?" He offered his wife his arm.
They went into a small restaurant at the end of the hall and ordered breakfast. The waiter brought pancakes and tiny cornbread biscuits. Jack ate while Elizabeth looked at the brochure for their hike. "I hope we can make it to these trails and to the pond."
"Sure we will," Jack sipped coffee, "look at that!" When Elizabeth turned he stabbed one of her pancakes with his fork and shoved it in his mouth.
"What?" She looked back to see Jack smiling, chewing, "Very funny. I would have shared if you'd ask. I'll have to go upstairs and put on my new outfit."
"Let's go," Jack wiggled his eyebrows, "I'll help you."
In the room, Elizabeth quickly opened the package and unbuttoned the split skirt and lay it on the bed. Jack sat on the edge of the bed and motioned for her to stand in front of him and he began unbuttoning her skirt, "So many buttons…."
Elizabeth took over and shimmied out of the skirt.
Jack watched and grabbed her waist and tickled her, she fell forward onto him, "I love the way you shake that skirt off."
"Jack! We have plans…"
"I know," he kissed her and helped her up and folded his arms across his chest.
"Now what are you doing?" She asked.
"Waiting for you to finish," he smiled.
She shook her head at his antics, picked up the package reaching for an item inside.
"What's that?" Jack asked.
"Oh, this goes underneath, I'll be right back," she ran into the bathroom.
She emerged wearing the split skirt and Jack once again motioned for her to come over. He inspected the back, "Want to make sure you buttoned it up right," he held her waist, her hips and ran his hand across her bottom.
"Jack Thornton!," she giggled and spun around, "Do they look good on me?"
Jack nodded, "Yes, they look good on you...very good," he stood, rubbing his neck, "everything looks good on you," he mumbled.
They picked up their knapsacks, filled with supplies and food, and headed outside. A gentleman escorted them to a small buggy, "This will bring you down to the stables, look for these markers that are highlighted in the brochure and have fun."
They began on the trail and the sun was bright and air cool, "Perfect day," Jack said. They rode for a while before Jack could tell Elizabeth needed a break. Following the markers they went off the trail toward the pond and found a spot to do some fishing. Elizabeth laid a blanket on the ground and Jack brought the poles over and sat down. "Did you ever fish?"
"Do you even have to ask?" She said.
"Well, I thought maybe one of those fancy college boys brought you on a fishing trip," Jack leaned their poles against a tree stump. "Come on, we have to find worms first."
"Worms?"
"Bait," Jack pursed his lips.
Elizabeth looked at the basket, "Maybe we could use something in there."
"Fish don't eat picnic food," Jack said, extending his hand to her, "come on."
"Maybe they'd like picnic food," she mumbled as she took his hand and they went to dig.
Jack found a good spot, crouched down and began to dig, "Come on, you have to help."
Elizabeth took the small jar and held it out at arm's length for Jack, "Here, you go, fill it up."
Jack soon hit the magic spot, "Look at all these beauties," he began lifting worms from the dirt and sliding them into the jar.
Elizabeth squirmed at her close proximity to the creepy crawlers and finally dropped the jar on the ground.
Jack just looked at her, "Okay...guess we have enough."
Elizabeth quickly moved to the blanket and held the fishing pole like the fish were magically going to jump out of the water and attach themselves. Jack shook his head and chuckled and decided to sit behind her. She didn't move as he sat intimately close to her. "Now, before we fish," he whispered in her ear, "you have to put a worm on the hook, like I told you."
Elizabeth licked her lips, determined to prove she could do this. "Okay, first, I have my hook ready," she glanced over her shoulder, "are you watching?"
Jack practically rested his head against hers, "I'm right here."
Elizabeth felt like she was being tested, "Okay," she raised the hook, "Here's my hook, all ready for the nice worm," she cleared her throat looking at the jar of worms. She picked up the jar holding it in front of her face, "Oh which one should I select? They all look like they could work, I suppose I have to have the magic touch and select just one for my very own."
Jack contained a chuckle in his throat and kissed her ear, "You're a cute fisherman."
She tapped her finger against her lip, peering into the jar, "Hmmm, how about this one," she closed her eyes and reached into the jar.
Jack felt her shudder as she pinched a worm between her thumb and finger, "It won't hurt you…" he said encouraging her, as he rubbed her waist.
"So I'll just take you in my fingers and bring you out here…oh slippery," she giggled and the worm fell back into the jar. "Oh dear, let me try again…maybe I need to use more fingers."
Jack smiled and kissed her neck.
She reached into the jar, the tip of her tongue out, and pinched a worm. "Nice worm…come on out…I'll be gentle," she put the jar down, "it isn't so bad is it? It's smooth and slippery."
Jack kissed the back of her neck and slid his hand further around her waist, "Hmmm, smooth and slippery."
"Okay, let me hold you a little tighter now…stay in my hand while I get the hook all ready," she held the hook carefully as the worm slid across her palm. "No…no…don't move…stay right here in my hand."
Jack's lips found their way to the other side of her neck.
"Oh, that's so nice, now look, I have it safe and warm in my hand Jack…"
"Hmm hmm," He kissed her ear, moving his lips across her earlobe.
"Now don't move! Oh you're tickling my hand moving that way…," she leaned back onto Jack.
Jack's hold tightened and he continued to kiss her, closing his eyes for a moment as she talked about the worm.
"Oh no, you're not going to get away from me…I'll hold you tighter…."
Jack began to move his hands.
"Jack! It feels good in my hand. I'm not afraid…"
"Good…" Jack continued with his kisses.
"Oh, I like the way it moves…so smooth feeling…"
Jack tugged her against him as his hands explored her.
"Oh, it's a shame we have to kill it…"
Jack sighed, "What …do you want to do with it?" He was consumed in kissing her neck and touching her.
"Oh Jack, I almost have him….."
Jack buried his face in her neck…
"Oh Jack!"
"Hmm," Jack tried to say her name.
"Jack, look. I'll have to use both hands!"
Jack fell backward on the blanket with a thud.
Elizabeth looked over her shoulder at him, "Jack?"
Elizabeth put the worm back in the jar and took the jar back to where Jack dug up the worms.
Jack stayed on the blanket, staring up at the sky, listening to Elizabeth talk to the worms.
"Go on, back into the ground my little worms," she emptied the jar and went to the picnic basket where she took a chunk of bread and returned to the blanket.
Jack watched her as she put a piece of bread on the fishing hook. Finally he sat up.
His silence concerned her, "I'm sorry, I just feel bad for the worms…" she said softly.
"Come here," he pulled her to him and kissed her sweetly, "only you can make worms so…so…romantic."
"With my hands?" she asked.
"Yes, with your hands, you're beautiful, magic hands," he kissed her hands before she pulled away.
"Jack..not here..." she cast her eyes down.
Jack respected her not wanting to become too intimate and decided to show Elizabeth how to cast her line. They were content to sit on the blanket fishing, talking and nibbling on the treats from the basket. When her fishing pole began to move, Elizabeth jumped to her feet, "Jack! I caught a fish! I caught a fish!"
"Okay, careful, reel it in…"
Elizabeth yanked the pole over her head and a huge fish flew out of the water, "Oh my goodness!"
Jack's mouth hung open, "Look at the size of that thing!"
The fish began to flop around on the grass and Elizabeth screamed, "Put it back! Put it back!"
Every time Jack tried to pick up the fish, Elizabeth pulled the pole moving the fish. Jack was bouncing back and forth trying to catch the flopping fish while Elizabeth screamed. Finally Jack grabbed the line, "Stop!"
"Jack! The fish is huge!" she yanked the pole and the fish flopped again.
"Stop moving the pole and stop screaming!" Jack threw himself to the ground, securing the fish. Elizabeth dropped the pole, Jack removed the hook and threw the fish back into the water.
He turned to her, "That was amazing."
"I guess he liked picnic food!"
"I guess so. I never wrestled a fish before! Okay, we're done fishing," Jack said, still feeling shocked at her catching such a big fish.
Elizabeth sat on the blanket, patting the spot next to her, "Come sit down, let's just be together."
"Okay," Jack was happy to oblige. He sat down and took her hand, for several minutes they didn't say a word, just glanced at each other and twisted their fingers together. "It's so peaceful here," Jack finally said.
"Yes, it is," she replied softly, lifting his hand to her lips and then sliding it to her neck. She moved closer to him and they kissed sweetly, together lying down on the blanket. "Hmm, I love when you kiss me Jack."
"And here I thought you were you kissing me!" He grinned and he pulled her into an embrace. "Nothing sweeter than the taste of your kisses, Mrs. Thornton."
"I love that too, you calling me Mrs. Thornton," she brushed the back of her hand across his cheek. "I'm so happy…" she responded to his kisses by running her hands down his back.
He moved over her slightly, touching her face as he kissed her again.
"Jack…" she was gasping for air as his leg moved across her own and his lips kept covering hers.
"Hmmm, can we go back to the hotel?" He slid his hands under her and he gently tickled her side.
"I love being out here with you….alone."
"Me too, but can we go back to the hotel?" He continued kissing her and he reached for the buttons on her blouse.
She rubbed his arm, as he unbuttoned two buttons and kissed her neck. She pushed his hand away, "Would you like to take a walk?"
"Not right now," he continued kissing her skin as he moved his hand from her waist to her hip, "Want to take a swim?"
"A swim? In there? With the fish?" she pushed Jack away and sat up.
Jack cleared his throat, "They won't bother us."
"What do you wear to swim?" she asked softly.
He glanced down her body, "Nothing…"
"Oh Jack, I couldn't do that…" she buttoned her buttons.
He tilted his head, "Why not?" He reached for her buttons, unable to control himself.
"Someone might see us," her eyes were wide as she pushed his hand away.
"There's no one around, but okay, let's take a walk and we can head back."
Elizabeth quickly got up and headed to the horses. "Jack look at these flowers," she went off the trail.
Jack packed up the horses and followed her, "Nice…but wait, don't touch those other leaves!"
"What?"
"Poison Ivy!"
Elizabeth drew her hand back and rushed to his side, "What? Poison?"
"It's a plant, could give you a terrible rash."
They continued walking, Elizabeth glued to Jack's side, searching their surroundings with her eyes. "There must be animals and bugs here too, right Jack?"
"Sure, but it's okay, they won't bother you."
"I think I've had enough nature for today," she held his arm firmly.
Back at the hotel, Jack watched her walk around the room, "Is everything okay?"
"Yes, I'm sorry I'm not more of an outdoorswoman."
He took her in his arms, "That's okay, you're a terrific indoor woman," he kissed her and began unbuttoning her split skirt.
Elizabeth didn't stop him and proceeded with her own unbuttoning of his trousers. "I think we both have the same indoor idea right now."
"Hmmm, yes we do," he pushed the skirt down her hips as he backed up to the bed and sat on the edge. He pushed the skirt to the floor.
Elizabeth unbuttoned her blouse and removed it, she pulled the tiny ribbon of her chemise and unbuttoned the tiny white buttons. Jack removed his shirt, watching her. When she finished, he pulled her onto the bed. Their movements became hurried, like a hunger only to be fed by each other. Jack repeated her name over and over as he touched her and she moved around him. She grabbed his hand, kissed it and firmly placed it against her skin. "I love when you touch me Jack," she smiled. As he touched her, her hand grasped the sheet and she bunched it in her hand, moaning his name before she clamped her hand onto his back as he breathed into her ear.
"Jack…"
Jack pulled the sheet up over them, "Elizabeth, I love you."
She smiled, feeling her eyes fill with tears, she only nodded.
"Hey, what is it?" Jack asked softly, tenderly touching her face.
"It's…it's….I love you Jack and I love being with you," she said as tears slid from her eyes.
"That's …why are you crying?"
"I guess I'm surprised."
Jack thought before he spoke, "I think when couples are meant to be together, they're supposed to enjoy….be happy being together. If we didn't love each other….it wouldn't be as special." He shook his head, "Don't ever stop loving me Elizabeth because I need you. I want to love you, protect you. I want to be everything you need."
She ran her fingers over his face, "Oh Jack, you are everything I need. I feel so much closer to you, being your wife. You're part of my soul. I love you." She kissed him.
"I love you," he licked her tears from his lips, "my salty girl." They giggled softly and held each other as they drifted off into a restful nap from their outdoor adventure.
