CHAPTER 1

"So Candy, tell me what it's like being married for six whole months," Candy's best friend Biddie Cloom inquires.

"Biddie, I can honestly say it's been the most wonderful six months of my life. Each day just keeps getting better and better. Are you sure you don't mind Molly and Christopher staying the night with you? I feel kind of guilty making them leave their home, but I have special plans for Jeremy and me tonight and they are definitely not included," Candy giggles.

"Why Candy Pruitt, I mean Bolt, what are you planning to celebrate your anniversary?" Biddie asks.

"I can't tell. That's my secret," Candy blushes.

"Well, I'm sure I can guess. Let's see, there's going to be a delicious meal, a lot of flirting, and then going to bed early so you can have lots of sex," Biddie guesses.

Candy's mouth flies open, "Biddie Cloom!"

"Oh don't look so surprised, Candy. But I am right, aren't I?" she laughs so hard she snorts.

"Let's just say, I hope you're right," Candy laughs along with her.

Looking all serious, Biddie asks, "Candy, it looks like with the way my life is going, I may never get to experience sex. Will you tell me honestly if it's as good as I think it is?"

Candy sighs, "I don't know, Biddie. That's really a private matter." She looks at the eagerness on Biddie's face and gives in. "I'll tell you this much, okay. I never thought I would enjoy sex as much as I do. I always heard how awful some women thought it was and how painful it was. But I haven't found any of that to be true. I think it's because Jeremy is such a loving man. He's like a gentle little lamb at the beginning and as time passes he is like a ravenous hungry bear devouring me, but still in a gentle way. He really knows what to do to make me feel good."

"Oh my! I. . ." Biddie says.

Candy interrupts her, "Now Biddie, you can't tell anyone what I said. If Jeremy ever found out I told you that. . .well let's just say, he wouldn't be happy. Promise you won't say a word?"

"I promise I won't mention it to anyone. Cross my heart and hope to die. Corky better hurry up and pop the question because I want to be devoured, too," Biddie blushes as she laughs loudly.

Candy gives her a hug, "It'll happen, just give him a little more time. I better be going. I have lots to do to get ready for tonight. Thank you Biddie for keeping the children. I'll send them over around five."

"Think nothing of it. I enjoy their company. Have lots of fun tonight and you be sure to feed that hungry bear," Biddie cackles as Candy leaves the dormitory for home.

By the time Jeremy arrives home around six o'clock, Candy has the house cleaned and a delicious meal on the table ready to be eaten. Candy, dressed in Jeremy's favorite dress, is lighting the candles as he walks in the door. Jeremy stops and looks aghast. She looks at him and says, "Welcome home, sweetheart. How was your day?"

"Uh, rough. It was a rough day. I'm beat, I think I'll just go to bed." He starts for the stairs, but stops and asks, "Candy, what's going on? Is there a special occasion that I don't know about?"

Tears sting her eyes as she mumbles. "Well, not to you, obviously." She bends over and blows the candles out.

Jeremy walks up to her and hands her a small box beautifully wrapped. "Happy six month anniversary, Candy. I didn't forget anything. I'm sorry, I was just teasing you. Please forgive me?"

"Oh Jeremy, you did remember! Thank you," she says excitedly as she kisses his cheek. "So, are you hungry? I made all your favorites."

"I'm starved. I didn't eat much at lunch cause I wanted to be able to eat this special meal I knew you would prepare. It looks and smells delicious. Do I have time to run upstairs and wash up?"

"You most certainly do. I'll lay this right here," she says as she lays her gift on the table beside her plate. "I'll open it after we eat."

Jeremy goes half way up the stairs, then stops, turns around, and comes back down to take Candy in his arms. He gives her a tender kiss on the lips. "You are so beautiful. I love you. Now, light those candles again. I'll be down shortly."

"Thank you. I love you, too. Hurry and wash up before the food gets cold." She watches him, admiring his backside as he bounds up the stairs taking two steps at a time and she sighs, then she relights the candles.

Pushing his plate back from him, Jeremy says, "Candy, you really outdid yourself tonight. That was delicious."

Candy smiles, "Thank you. I'm so glad you enjoyed it."

"I really did. You know, if you keep feeding me like this, I'm going to get fat."

"Oh Jeremy, I'd love you even if you did get fat, which I highly doubt will happen. You're so active, always running everywhere. Would you like to have dessert now or later? I made your favorite."

"Chocolate cake?" he asks.

Candy answers, "Yes."

"Let's have it a little later. I'm stuffed right now." He takes her hand in his, squeezing it and adds, "Maybe you'd like to open your present now."

"All right." She picks up the gift and slowly unwraps it. "Jeremy, you didn't need to get me anything, but I'm so glad you did," she giggles. She opens the box and gasps. "Jeremy?"

"Do you like them? I thought they would look beautiful on you," he says.

"I love them." She takes the pair of gold earbobs out of the box and puts them on her ear lobes. "How do they look?"

"Beautiful and sexy, just like I thought they would."

Candy rises, comes around the table, and bends down to give him a kiss on his cheek. Jeremy pulls her down on his lap and says, "You can do better than that." He then places his lips on hers and they have a sweet tender kiss that turns into a deep passionate kiss. "That was much better," he grins.

Candy reaches down and takes a small box from her pocket. "I got you a little something, too."

Taking the box from her, he opens it while she is still sitting on his lap. "I was going to get you a Saint Christopher medal to keep you safe on your journeys since you'll be going on your bidding trips again soon. But I saw this and I knew it was the correct one to get. This is Saint Gummarus. He is the patron saint of lumberjacks and woodcutters. Hopefully he will keep you safe and I won't worry so much about you being up there on that mountain doing your job." She continues to keep talking, "I know you can't wear it around your neck, because it may get hung up on a tree limb or something, but maybe you could keep it in your pocket. I. . ."

Jeremy gives her a big kiss on the lips so she'll stop talking. "Thank you, Candy. I will keep it in my pocket. I didn't realize that you worry about me being up there. I'm sorry."

"I know you're careful and all, but ever since we got married, I seem to worry more about you getting hurt. If anything ever happened to you, I don't think I could stand it. I love you, Jeremy."

"Nothings going to happen to me. I promise to be extra careful from here on out. All right?"

She nods her head and lays her head on his shoulder. He kisses her forehead. Standing she says, "Let me put these dishes in the sink to soak. I'll do them tomorrow. Then we can go on upstairs."

Jeremy chuckles, "Who are you and what did you do with my wife? My Candy would never let her dishes soak until morning."

Candy laughs, "Well, since this is a special night, I thought I'd put you first."

Jeremy grabs some dishes and takes them to the sink. "I appreciate it, but come on, I'll help do the dishes. I know you, you'll be thinking about a sink full of dishes instead of us. I want to have your undivided attention."

"Thank you," she replies. When finished with the dishes, they lock up and then go upstairs to have a most romantic night of lovemaking.