The Hart Remembers – Part Fourteen - Conclusion

“This is the life, isn’t it” Jonathan said to his wife with a sigh.

“Yes, darling, it was such a good idea of yours to come to the ranch. It has been too long since we were here” Jennifer said as she lay down and stretched out on the blanket that they had just eaten a picnic lunch on. Jonathan grinned at her as he sipped his champagne.

The horse ride out to the lake had been invigorating and exactly what they both had needed after the ordeal they had just been through. The picnic lunch had been Jonathan’s idea. He had wanted to get Jennifer to himself for a few hours. Maybe it was selfish but he couldn’t help it. He needed to make sure that she was ok, that they were ok.

Jennifer closed her eyes and sighed. This was the most relaxed she had been for some time. Jonathan put his glass down and lowered himself to the blanket on his side, resting on his left elbow. He drank in the sight of Jennifer relaxing. His hands itched to touch her so he lifted his right hand and traced his fingers feather light down her cheek. She opened her eyes and looked up at him. The desire in her eyes took his breath away.

He lowered his head towards her and touched his lips to hers ever so gently and then backed off. They gazed into each others eyes for a while not speaking but saying everything with just their eyes. Jonathan lowered to her once again to kiss her with more passion this time. The flame ignited and took hold, mouths opened and tongues duelled.

Jennifer lifted her hand to run her fingers through his hair. She loved his hair; it was so thick and soft. He gave an appreciative little moan indicating that she should continue. The kiss deepened even more and she found herself burning up as desire overtook her.

Jonathan felt himself stir as the heat rushed through him. He wanted nothing more than to make love to Jennifer right here, right now. He stroked his hand down her body coming to rest upon her hip. He applied some pressure which bought her into contact with his burgeoning manhood.

Remembering that they were outside Jennifer broke the kiss, much to Jonathan’s chagrin. He looked at her puzzled as she said “Darling, this may not be a very good idea. Remember that Max is going to be coming this way some time on his horse ride with Wayne”

Jonathan looked annoyed “Oh, yes that’s right, dammit….”

“Jonathan!”

“Well, it’s been so long since we’ve had any time to ourselves. I just really want to make love to you, it feels like forever since we did” Jonathan pouted a little and this made Jennifer laugh which caused him to pout a bit more.

“My poor darling, yes it has been quite a while and I am feeling the frustration just as much as you. But I think it would be wise if we waited to continue this tonight when there will be no chance of us getting interrupted.”

At that Jonathan cheered greatly. “Yes, you’re right, we can have time together later on when the others have gone to bed. I will chill another bottle of champagne and we can make a celebration of it.”
Jennifer grinned at him “Sounds wonderful, darling. I can’t wait”

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Dinner that night was a happy affair. There was a great deal of laughter and both Jonathan and Jennifer felt happy and content that their lives were getting back to normal again.

After dinner they played board games with Max who was quite proficient at monopoly in particular. Jonathan commented that Max would make a great business man one day. He had a good head for business. Max seemed very happy to hear this.

It was late before Max was finally settled enough to go to sleep. He had had a great day and was quite hyped up. Jonathan read a couple of bedtime stories hoping that he would fall asleep quickly. Jonathan had other things on his mind and he didn’t want Jennifer falling asleep because he had taken too long.

Finally Max was asleep and Jonathan quietly left his room and shut the door. He took a deep breath and headed for the kitchen. He knew Jennifer would be waiting for him in the bedroom and hoped that she was still awake.

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As Jonathan approached the bedroom door, champagne and two flutes in hand, he felt a momentary flutter of nervousness. How ridiculous, he told himself, it’s wasn’t like they were newlyweds or anything. But he felt a strange kind of anticipation about this night. Maybe it had to do with the fact that he could have lost Jennifer once again. He was so grateful to what ever God that was looking out for them. He wouldn’t have been able to go on without her.

He took a deep breath and quietly opened the door. The room was dim and he thought it was empty. He stood a moment perplexed as to where she could have gone when he heard her sigh and realized she was sitting on the window seat looking out at the moonlit night.

Jennifer had on a sheer white silk night gown and looked like an angel sitting there in the glow of the moonlight. She looked pensive so Jonathan quietly put down the bottle and the glasses then silently moved to stand beside her.

Jennifer knew the moment Jonathan entered the room. It was always the same when he was near, there was a sort of electric current in the air that ran through her, excited her. She didn’t turn to look at him though as the moonlit vista had her captivated. When Jonathan moved to stand next to her she said “Beautiful isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is” he replied and something in his voice had her turning towards him. But he wasn’t looking at the view out the window he was looking intently at her. His eyes were shining and he was smiling slightly. He looked at her with such love and it made her own heart swell.

Without another word he held out his hand to her and she took hold of it as he drew her up out of the seat to him. He took her in his arms and just held her.

Then he sighed contentedly and pulled back to look at her once again. He bought his right hand up to stroke his fingers down her cheek, almost reverently, and then slid his hand around to the back of her head into her hair and drew her slowly towards him.

Jonathan laid his lips softly against hers in a gentle kiss. It was a kiss that told her how much she meant to him. Soon the kiss turned passionate and her head was spinning from it.

As the kiss continued he slowly manoeuvred them towards the bed. When the backs of her knees connected with the bed Jonathan broke the kiss and slowly lowered them to the mattress. He then kissed her brow softly followed by her eyelids, one after the other. He continued to feather kisses down her left cheek and then down the right cheek, he lightly kissed her nose and then her chin.

Jennifer’s heart was beating wildly in her chest. There was an added element to Jonathan’s lovemaking tonight. He was loving her so tenderly and, she didn’t know what it was for sure, it just felt different, unlike anything before. She felt tears forming in her eyes. Of course it was different. The poor guy had nearly lost her twice in the last year and a half. He had to be feeling vulnerable. She felt like she couldn’t breathe and tried to gulp in some air.

Jonathan felt the change in Jennifer and stopped his ministrations on her neck to look at her. He was suddenly concerned as he could see she was gasping for breath. He sat up and pulled her up with him as she managed to gasp out “Panic attack!” She was by now hyperventilating and he rushed about the room looking for a paper bag. Finally he found one on the dresser and quickly placed it over her mouth and nose. She breathed in and out several times and finally felt like the attack was coming under control.

She moved the bag away from her face and felt mortified. “I’m so sorry Jonathan….” But he held up his hand to stop her.

“You have nothing to be sorry for” he said and she could tell he meant it by the tone of his voice. Then he grimaced and said in a joking tone, trying to lighten the mood “But I really need to refine my technique if my love making gives you a panic attack” he grinned his trademark boyish grin and she smiled weakly back at him.

“I don’t know what happened, one minute I was enjoying your kisses and the next I was thinking how it felt different, and then of course I told myself it would be different as you have nearly lost me twice already and….”

“Darling, please, take a breath, you’ll be hyperventilating again if you don’t” he said with concern. She smiled weakly at him once again as he continued “perhaps we should just go to bed and sleep tonight”

Jennifer could tell he was disappointed but thought that sleep was probably the best idea for now so she just nodded her head. They slowly climbed into the bed and she said to him “Can you just hold me please”

“Of course, my darling” he replied. Jennifer rolled onto her side and he realized she wanted him to spoon her so he settled in behind her and wrapped his arms around her. He felt her sigh and relax a little but there was still some tenseness to her body. He slowly ran his hand up and down her arm in a soothing gesture.

They didn’t speak again that night and after some time he felt Jennifer relax completely as if she had fallen asleep. Jonathan was asleep in just minutes after that.

Jennifer hadn’t fallen asleep though; she had just relaxed enough to make Jonathan think she had so he would go to sleep. Sleep was a long time coming that night for her as she was doing a lot of thinking and it was only after making a decision did she eventually fell asleep.

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When Jennifer opened her eyes the next morning she could tell it was quite early as the sun wasn’t completely up yet. She and Jonathan had shifted positions in the night and she was now cuddled up next to him with her head on his shoulder and his arm around her.

She lifted her head to look at him only to find he was still asleep. Well, this was certainly a welcome surprise she thought as she sat up a bit and rested on her elbow to study him. She didn’t get many opportunities to see him like this as he was usually awake and looking at her as she woke up.

He looked younger asleep and the lines that were developing with age along his face looked smoother. She reached out her hand and trailed her fingers across his brow and down his cheek. His eyes fluttered as he started to wake up.

She ran her fingers softly through his hair, gently massaging and he groaned. He was more awake now and as his eyes slowly opened and homed in on hers. He looked intently at her as the memory of her meltdown from the night before came back to him.

Jennifer could see the concern in his eyes so before he could say anything she lowered her head to his and kissed him with passion that made his head swirl. As the kiss ended she grinned at his dazed expression.

“Wow” he said grinning back at her “now that’s the way to wake up in the morning.” His expression turned serious as he said “Are you ok, darling?”

“I’m fine Jonathan, I’m sorry about last night….”

“No, no, you don’t need to apologize. You have been through so much this last year and half….” He began but Jennifer interrupted
“And so have you my darling. We’ve both had a lot of adjusting to do” she paused and smiled at him to let him know things really were alright “and because of that I have come to a decision that I hope will end any chance of anything like this ever happening again in the future.”

Jonathan looked intrigued “So are you going to tell me this decision or are you going to keep me in suspense” he joked.

Jennifer pushed her hand against his shoulder and made ‘hrmphing’ sound “Well I would if you wouldn’t keep interrupting” she said with an annoyed tone. Jonathan just grinned more which just annoyed her more.

She took a breath and steadied herself for what she was about to say. “Last night after you went to sleep…” she put her hand up to stop him when he was about to interrupt again “yes, I know you thought I was asleep, I’m sorry, I tricked you. I wasn’t. I just needed some time to think about things, which I did, and I came to a decision. I am not going to take any more of those sorts of stories that can get me into trouble. No more intriguing stories, you know, the kind I like. Trouble seems to find me no matter how careful I am and I don’t want that anymore. I don’t want to put you through anymore of that either. And then there’s little Max. He must have been scared while I was missing and….” She trailed off not knowing what else to say.

Jonathan didn’t say anything as he just studied her carefully. He could see she was deadly serious about this but he wasn’t sure she could give up those sorts of stories. It was as if they were a part of her.

When he took too long to say something she got impatient and said “Well, aren’t you going to say anything now. I couldn’t get you to be quiet a while ago.” She sat up and moved away from him. She leant back against the bed head and folded her arms in annoyance.

Jonathan bit back a grin knowing that if she saw it, it would tick her off even more. She was incredibly beautiful when she was mad and he was having a hard time stopping himself from hauling her into his arms and finishing what they had started last night. But he knew that it wouldn’t be appreciated at this time so he sat up and leaned against the bed head also.

“Well, my darling, if that’s what you think you should do, you should but….” He trailed off not sure how to continue. She turned to him, eyes flashing with temper, thinking he was mocking her. When she realized he wasn’t her eyes softened. He looked at her then, serious “Do you really think you can give up those types of stories? I mean, as long as I have known you there have been those types of stories. You seem to thrive on them. Don’t you think you will be denying a part of yourself if you give them up?”

Jennifer looked thoughtful. “Maybe, but I’d rather that than put any of us through this again. I don’t think I am up to it anymore” she said vehemently.

“Ok, my darling, you know I will support any decision you make and if this is what you want to do then so be it” Jonathan said.

Jennifer threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Thank you darling, I knew you would understand.” She kissed him again and soon the kiss turned passionate.

Jonathan broke the kiss a little breathless to say “I love you Jennifer and I only want you to be happy, you know that don’t you?” He was looking at her so intently and with so much love that she just nodded because speaking would have been impossible.

As the day came awake outside their bedroom window he lowered his head to hers in another fiery kiss to continue what they had started the night before.

And this time there were no interruptions.

The End

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That’s the end of The Hart Remembers but I do intend to write a sequel which focuses on Max’s view a bit more. I also have another couple of fictions planned out so keep an eye out for them over the next few months.