Chapter Six

Jessica woke up when she heard Seth moving around in his bedroom. She pulled on her robe and went into the kitchen to get the kettle started. It was still raining outside.

"Morning Jess," greeted Seth as he went into the bathroom. The shower started almost immediately.

Jessica took out eggs and whisked them in a bowl with onions, cheese, salt, and pepper. She put four slices of bread in the toaster for when everything was just about cooked and sliced some tomatoes. She went into her bedroom and gathered her toiletries so she could shower after Seth.

He didn't take too long and she was soon showering. The water wasn't very warm but she was able to get in and out quickly. They were soon sitting at the table eating breakfast, chatting amiably.

"I wish there was a fireplace," commented Jessica. "On a rainy day like this it would help dispel the chill in the air."

"Or you can put on more clothes," suggested Seth. He immediately noticed she wore a pair of Bermuda shorts and a short sleeved pink shirt when she came out of her bedroom. He had been cooking up breakfast and almost burned his fingers.

"I didn't bring clothes for winter." She stood and went to the window to look out. "It looks like the rain isn't coming down as hard."

Seth began clearing the table and Jessica went to run water in the sink. Cleanup didn't take long but she was restless.

"Do we have an umbrella?"

Seth shook his head, no. "You aren't going outside, are you?"

"I was thinking about it. Remember when we were kids and we would run outside and play in the rain?"

Seth looked askance. "I never did that."

"You didn't play in the rain? Jump in puddles?" She shook her head at him. "You missed out. It was the most fun. Let's go outside, Seth."

"Jess, it's raining and muddy outside," complained Seth.

Jessica looked at him with imploring eyes and smiled when he sighed. "Put on your old fishing shoes so your new shoes won't get muddy."

Seth grumbled but did as she ordered. It wasn't cold despite the rain. Seventy-four degrees according to the outside thermometer. Jessica grabbed his hand as they walked off the porch. Within ten minutes they were soaked from the rain and she was jumping from puddle to puddle.

"Seth, come on, give it a try," she urged. She gracefully leapt from one puddle to the next.

Seth carefully placed his foot in a puddle before putting his other foot down gently. "I'm having a lot of fun now, Jess. Thanks for the pleasure." His sarcasm flew over her head.

"Seth, you're doing it all wrong!" scolded Jessica. She ran toward him and jumped in the very puddle he was standing in. Water splashed over his feet and up his legs.

"Jess!" Seth jumped out of the puddle but Jessica was relentless. She kicked water at him until he started kicking water back at her. She shrieked and jumped away hoping he would follow. He did. She ran beneath a tree and around the trunk but he went around the other side and caught her.

Muddy water was in her hair and all over her clothes matching how he looked. He held her against him and smoothed her hair away from her face.

"There's retribution due for what you've done, Jess."

She had an impish grin on her face. Was he going to kiss her? "I can't get any wetter, Seth." Her grin grew into a smirk until Seth took one arm away from her waist and held out his fist, a fist filled with mud.

Her eyes grew wide. "Now Seth…"

"About that apology you were about to give me," prompted Seth. "On bended knee."

Jessica knelt down on the ground. "Seth, my dearest friend, I got carried away and didn't intend on getting you muddy I just…" Seth was waving his hand in a 'come on' gesture and Jessica decided to get even. She gathered mud in her hand and spread it all over his shoes before crawling behind him.

Seth whirled and tossed his handful of mud at her and it hit her on the back. She shrieked again before grabbing another handful and tossing it at him, only her aim wasn't as good and it hit the branches of the tree causing a shower of mud and water to cascade down on Seth.

Jessica covered her mouth in shock. That wasn't what she intended at all. The sight of Seth though had laughter bubbling out of her mouth and tears running down her face.

Seth stood there bemused. With mud covering her from head to toe, hearing Jessica laugh harder than he ever heard before caused him to wonder if he ever heard a sweeter sound. He bent over and scooped up two handfuls of mud.

"Oh no!" Jessica took off running, slipping and sliding along the wet ground with Seth in pursuit. Just as Seth pulled the back of her shirt to stop her from running, she slipped and fell. She gave a yell and then lay on the ground quietly.

Seth was immediately on his knees by her side. "Jess, let me check you over."

She made a choking sound and turned her head away. Seth tried unsuccessfully to turn her over. He was so focused on getting her to turn over that he didn't notice her taking her hands and smashing her hands on his cheeks. She tried to take off running but Seth was quicker. He pulled her down and pinned her.

The rain wasn't more than a constant drizzle now. Seth was staring down into her eyes. Jessica became aware that he was on top of her. Tension rose up between them as neither of them spoke. She couldn't think of anything to say. She wiggled a little to try to get from underneath him and he arched an eyebrow at her. She wiggled again and he placed one hand on her hip to keep her still.

Her blue eyes stared into his eyes while she tried to figure out her next plan. He lifted his hand and she stared at it, resigned to him putting mud on her face. She closed her eyes tightly but instead of smearing mud across her cheeks, he leaned down and kissed her. He sat up and helped her into a sitting position.

"You're a sight," he commented.

"I'm a sight? Look at you!" She began to laugh. He was covered in mud and with his fastidious nature, it filled her with glee.

"Amusing, is it?"

Jessica nodded yes. "I've never seen you dirty, not like this."

Seth was quiet. He stood and held out a hand to her. She took it and he started walking away, arm in arm with her. He left the road and walked a pathway toward the water. Lake Gunnison is huge. When they were close, he took off running and leapt into the water. He came up and swam a few feet away so the muddy water was left behind.

Jessica went up to the edge and stuck a toe in. The water was icy cold. She wasn't paying attention and Seth grabbed her leg and pulled her in. They splashed each other for a few minutes until a truce was called. Seth dipped his head in the water several times to clear out the mud.

"Jess, I'm not sure those old pipes in the cabin can handle the mud, better rinse off here." Seth dipped himself over and over in the clear water.

Jessica went beneath the surface several times until Seth told her the mud in her hair was gone. Their clothing had mud stains but nothing that wouldn't come out in the wash. They climbed out of the lake and Jessica ruefully removed her shoes and socks. She rinsed the shoes in the lake and stood barefoot on the ground.

Seth was pointedly not looking at her. Had her clothes become transparent in the water? She looked down but she was fine. She didn't realize that her clothing was clinging to her, outlining her figure.

He cleared his throat. "Let's get back to the cabin. The rain is letting up and people will be coming out soon."

The rain stopped just as they reached the steps to their cabin.

"Seth, go inside and shower. I'm going to use this five gallon bucket to soak our clothes in. It was supposed to be for the fish." She placed her shoes on the porch to dry out and dropped her socks in the bucket. She tiptoed inside on her bare feet and filled the bucket with soap and water.

Hearing the shower, she went into her bedroom and pulled on her robe after removing all her clothing. She put the mud stained clothes in the bucket of soapy water.

The bucket was heavy so she left it on the floor. Seth came out of the bathroom, clean and happy once again. "Your turn, Jess. I saved you some hot water."

Jessica smiled her thanks and went inside the bathroom. She couldn't help laughing as the tepid water rained down on her. She soaped up several times and washed her hair before dressing and exiting the bathroom.

Seth was making sandwiches for later and chilling them in the fridge. He had put his muddy clothes in the bucket and put the lid on it.

"Admit it, Seth. Didn't you have fun?"

Seth looked at her scornfully. "You must think that mud was full of minerals and you were at one of those health spas."

"You know what we need?" she asked.

Seth looked at her impatiently. "I'm going to need a truss from rolling around in the mud."

"I was going to say a nap. Too many early mornings and late nights." She took a blanket from the closet in her room and tucked it over the sofa. "Wake me in an hour for lunch."

"Now you wait one minute, woman. I get the sofa, you get the loveseat." Seth hurried over to the sofa and sat down.

"It's roomy enough for both of us." She sat at the opposite end and pulled her feet up. She got up again and got another blanket. Seth had stretched out and put his feet on the arm of the sofa. "Really Seth, tuck your feet under you."

Seth sat up and crossed to her side of the sofa. With a little maneuvering, he positioned her so she was tucked up alongside the back of the sofa and he turned on his side, facing her. He threw the covers over them and wrapped an arm around her.

Jessica wasn't sure she would be able to fall asleep. He smelled fresh and clean and she was nice and warm in his arms. She felt herself becoming drowsy and her last thought before sleep claimed her was that she needed to find out what those kisses meant.

Seth watched her as she fell asleep. He knew her curiosity was probably beginning to grow. They were definitely more affectionate and that pleased him. She moved in her sleep and snuggled closer to him. He thought about her laughter, the pure joy reflected on her face. He also thought about how good she looked in wet clothing. Her shirt clinging to her and the cold water had her poking out her shirt in an alluring fashion. It was good to know she didn't wear a padded bra.

He meant to only sleep for an hour but the unexpectant muddy and wet exercise he had that morning tired him out. Jessica's body was warm and soft and it lulled him into a deeper sleep than normal.

During his surgical internship and residency Seth trained himself to sleep and wake with almost immediate situational awareness. As soon as he opened his eyes he knew Jessica was still asleep. He watched her eyelids fluttering and knew she was dreaming. There was a slight smile on her face and she was clutching his shirt. He wondered what her dreams were and hoped he was in them.

He knew the instant she became awake. Her body stiffened and her breathing seemed to stop. She was going to pull away and try to leave the sofa when his arm tightened around her waist. "Don't run," he whispered gravelly. He felt her body relax again slowly. "It was the best sleep I've had in ages," he stated.

"For me too," remarked Jessica. She kept her head on his chest so he couldn't see her face. She knew it was red. This was the second time she slept lying next to Seth. She hadn't been this close to a man while she slept since she was married. It wasn't a sexual situation but it was certainly intimate.

"What are we doing, Seth?"