"It'll be good this way, Becky. You'll like it. Please. Let me get it in you." He lifted her up and with exciting, agonizing slowness, he impaled her.
Becky felt herself being stretched as he pushed up into her. The pleasure was intense. He moved her hips slightly, and adjusted her seat on him. He was all the way in. Becky fell forward against his chest as they moaned in unison. He lifted her up once and let her feel the way she could take a stroke.
She quickly caught on. Her hips began moving up and down, as she learned how to ride him.
He tried to stay still as she took her pleasure, and in return, gifted him with herself. It was almost impossible as he watched her face. He reached out and sipped at her breast. He molded and shaped them with his hands. Her beauty was engrossing. A barrage of feelings rushed through his veins.
He felt himself swell larger as her strokes brought him to completion. His world splintered around him. "I love you, Becky." He grabbed her hips and pumped himself into her, until he gave her everything he had to give.
Becky heard his words and felt his liquid warmth spew into her womb. "Jake, I love you, too," she answered as his words and his pleasure pushed her over the edge and she fell against his chest and shimmered in his arms.
Late that afternoon, they took a drive to the river. Becky brought the basket of food her aunt had prepared for them. She sat next to Jake on the buckboard, her hand resting on his thigh. His strong hands held the reins. He maneuvered the wagon down to the river, just outside of town, and lifted her to the ground.
They strolled down to the bank hand in hand and spread out a blanket. Becky set the picnic basket down.
They enjoyed the light fare, and the serenity of the flowing water in front of them.
Becky looked around and sighed. "You're spoiling me already, Jake. Taking me on a picnic on our wedding day." She smiled and picked up his hand. She stroked it with her fingers.
"I wish I could spoil you, Becky. But I'm afraid I've just sentenced you to a meager, miserable life, a life of work and drudgery." His voice sounded hoarse, strangled. He stared off across the river, and a frown broke his countenance when he saw the big house in the distance.
Becky heard the agony in his voice and moved to soothe him. She came to her knees in front of him, and smoothed the hair off his brow. "Oh, Jake, how can you think that? Why would you think that?"
His jaw hardened. "I know you think you love me--"
"Think I love you? Of course I love you. I've always loved you." Her words rang sure and true.
"You could have had so much more. You should see that house up close--" His voice was tortured.
"I've seen it up close. I've been in it." She gripped his hand. He had to understand that he was everything she wanted.
"You've been in it? When?" He hadn't known that. He thought if he could just keep her away from that big house, marry her before she had a chance to see what she would be missing out on, then it would be too late, and she would be his.
"Mrs. Bolton invited my aunt and me to see the house they were building. But we knew it was for Kyle. Nothing was said about that. Kyle had already asked me to marry him several times by then. I know it was just the Bolton's way of trying to get me to accept his suit. Aunt Beth thought it would be rude not to go. So we did." Her voice was very matter of fact.
Tension gripped him. "What did you think?"
Becky paused. "Well, it
was a beautiful house. It has gorgeous wainscoting in the front rooms, and a lovely porch with breezes blowing in off the river. But, I didn't want it. I couldn't wait to leave and get back to--" Her voice stopped as she looked at him.
He gripped her by the waist. "Get back to--?"
"Get back to you. To your house. To my house. Oh, Jake, I've only ever wanted to be with you. I love you so much, I've wanted you to be mine forever. No amount of money, and no house, no matter how big, could ever change what I feel for you. You don't know how miserable I was, at the thought of not having you for my own."
Relief rushed through him. He clutched her to his heart and smiled into her eyes. "Then be happy, sweetheart. Because I belong to you and you belong to me."
Epilogue
Four years later, Becky sat in Jake's lap on a chair in the kitchen. Night was falling, and the moon was already shining through the blue gingham curtains at the window. A bouquet of wildflowers sat on the kitchen table, their aroma scenting the room.
Their baby son was fast asleep in his crib, being the angel that he was, when he was asleep.
Supper was finished, and the dishwater was growing cold, like it did many nights.
Jake stroked her back and kissed the lips that continued to fascinate him. "I missed you today, Mrs. Cooper." He ran his hand up her side and enfolded her breast in his hand.
"I missed you, too," she whispered back. Her mouth settled on his and teased him in a long, slow kiss.