PASSION UNLEASHED
Serena heard the pound of horses’ hooves and jumped to her feet.
“There’s a man to see you. Tall, dark haired, handsome,” Laura said.
Serena felt her throat constrict.
“Should I tell him to go away?” Laura asked.
Serena shook her head. “No, I’ll see him,” she replied, going outside. Jasper stood there, his dark hair tossed by the breeze, and his eyes flashing.
“What is it?” Serena asked, alarmed.
“I had to see you. You never told me what you found out about Daniel.”
Serena bit her lip. “He’s… he was killed years ago. I have been holding on to a dream.”
“I see,” Jasper said, grateful for her honesty, knowing how much it hurt her. He moved closer and took her hand.
“This is a church. You cannot…”
“Come with me,” Jasper said. “I want to show you something.”
“What is it?”
Jasper led her to an arbor outside the church. The view was spectacular.
“What do you want to show me?” Serena asked.
Jasper roughly pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips to hers. Serena struggled against him, pushing hard against his chest. Then, as his kiss deepened, she went limp in his arms and stopped struggling. She felt the old familiar blaze of heat surge through her body as every part of her ached to become one with the man who crushed her so hard against him.
“Oh Serena, I love you,” Jasper groaned. “And I’m not going to let you go.”
“But you are to be married to Molly and I…” She couldn’t go on with an excuse, knowing that Daniel was in Heaven and would want her to be happy. She dropped her eyes from his handsome face, blushing.
Jasper raised his head, hooked two fingers under her chin and made her look up at him. He gazed deep into her eyes, hazy with desire.
“What did you want to show me?” Serena asked weakly.
“This,” he said. “How much I want you…and how much you want me…”
“But…” Serena began, and Jasper silenced her with another ravaging kiss.
“I knew about Daniel already and I am so sorry, Serena. My heart aches for you. All I want to do is to protect you from any more hurt. I can make you happy again. If you would only give me a chance.”
“But what about Molly…”
“Serena, Molly called off the engagement. She recognized the food at the Darrot’s farm and, though Petula tried to distract her so that I could talk to you, she spotted us together and went back and told her mother…and mine.”
“I’m sorry, Jasper.”
“I’m not sorry, Serena,” Jasper said, going down on one knee. “Please, my love, will you marry me?”
“But Mrs. Riley…your mother… what will she say?” Serena began.
Jasper stood and pulled her into his arms. “Never mind Mother. She’ll come around. First tell me what your answer is.”
“Yes,” Serena said weakly. “I will!”
“And now for the best piece of news. Trent and Patsy have been arrested for a variety of different crimes, including trying to steal your property and sell it.”
“You mean I can return to Sweet Haven?”
“Yes! Mother, Petula, Jeremiah and I went over and organized the tidying up for your homecoming.”
“Did you say Mother? Your mother?”
Jasper nodded. “She never disliked you. She just wanted me to marry someone like Molly. But now that you have your fortunes restored, Mother has nothing to complain about.”
“What about Nathan?”
“I am looking forward to teaching him how to call me Daddy,” Jasper said. He dropped onto his knee again and held out the ring. “Serena, my dear, beautiful, desirable Serena,” Jasper said. “I love you so much. Will you marry me?”
“I love you, Jasper Riley! And yes, yes, yes…I will marry you!” Serena said, holding out her hand. “Oh yes!”
“Is it terribly irregular for a man to move into his wife’s house?” Serena asked as Jasper carried her over the threshold at Sweet Haven.
“Only if he doesn’t proceed to ravish her when he does,” Jasper laughed. He set her down and looked at her – his eyes burning with a light she knew all too well. “You are the most beautiful bride a man could ask for,” he said, his eyes taking in every detail of her attire – the veil on her head and the modestly cut blue wedding dress that subtly accentuated her body.
He carried her to the bed he had specially made for them, and hungrily devoured the sight of her as she sat up and began to unpin her hair.
“May I unwrap my prize?” he asked, his voice thick with desire; his lips trailing fire down the side of her neck as he unbuttoned her dress and slid it down her shoulders.
“Oh Serena,” Jasper moaned, sliding his hands over her trim waist.
She watched him undress, his large hands impatiently pulling off each item of his clothing. Her eyes caressed him as she breathlessly reached out to stroke his firm chest.
* * *
Outside, the moon slid over the horizon and the sun came up. “Is it daylight already?” Serena asked as Jasper covered her body with his and looked down into her eager face.
“Is it? I don’t know,” he said. “All I can feel is love light.”