I awoke the next morning feeling a slight breeze on my face. I stretched, sat up, and looked over at Jessie, who was standing by a window. He stood in his trousers, drinking what appeared to be whisky. He turned to me saying, “Morning sunshine.”
Then, my husband set the glass down and walked the few feet to me. He knelt down and placed a kiss on my lips. “How did you sleep last night?”
“Fine.”
“That is good. What would you like to do today?”
“I do not care.”
I really did not. I was married to a man who loved me, and lived far from my parents. I was happy.
“Want to know what I want to do?” he questioned me, crawling onto the bed.
“Hmm?” I was kind of afraid to ask. I expected the worst possible thing, but what I got was, “I want to show you the house.”
I let out a sigh of relief causing him to chuckle.
“What did you think I was going to say?” Paused. “This?”
Jessie roughly pushed me down onto the bed, imprisoning me between his arms. He knelt over me as it were, and kissed my lips. The kiss only lasted a split second.
“Yes,” I honestly answered.
“Well, I am not…at least for now.” Paused. “Come on.”
He got to his feet and pulled me up with him. Practically, dragging me, my husband led me through the manor, showing me every room.
* * *
“This here is my favorite part of the manor,” Jessie informed me, opening a glass door. Sunlight shown through so brightly that I had to cover my eyes as he pulled me through the opening.
I found myself standing outside in a woodsy type place. There were trees, a creek, a stone path, and birds singing. It was absolutely beautiful.
“It is a nice place do not you agree?” my husband asked, pulling me into his arms. It was then that I noticed how tanned he was. I removed the thought from my mind saying, “Yes, it is…did your family live here?”
This question seemed to startle him. It was not something he was prepared for. Either way he answered, “Yes, they did.”
“What happened to them…I do not mean to pry, but I do not know anything about you,” I told him. “I would really like to know more about you.”
“They were killed in a fire when I was fifteen years…I have pretty much lived alone ever since then,” Jessie answered, hugging me tightly. “Anything else you want to know about them?” The tone of his voice told me that it was time to quit talking of them.
“Not right now.”
We stood in silence for a moment. I was still dressed in my wedding dress while he wore only his trousers. “Can we take a walk down that path?” I asked, breaking the silence.
He smiled saying, “All right.” Paused. “But on one condition.”
“What is that?” I really did not want to know.
“You let me kiss you anytime I want to without putting up a struggle.”
What harm could a kiss cause? Do not answer that. I knew what it could lead to. Either way I agreed.
