Comfort and Joy

By the time the horses were cared for it was late in the afternoon. Jack and Bridgid were double dog tired. The house was completely decked out for the Christmas holiday and it did feel quiet comfortable as they stepped inside. Homey may be the best word as the tree in the living room brought the soft scent of pine to every room.

"Perhaps we should go out to sup, Siren. Toiling in the kitchen would be an unnecessary drain on your …." he paused

"Libido?" she finished his sentence for him which happens on occasion.

He smiled at her to acknowledge that the word she chose would do for what he was trying to convey.

"There’s always room for jello." she added, teasing him. It brought back a memory of her trying her best to make a Floating Archipelago in the Shape of the Galapagos for afters one night. What a disaster. Luckily he seemed to ignore her jello comment. "Anyway, I have something for supper. I managed to get my hands on two of the biggest lobsters you’d ever want to set eyes on and they aren't the spiny type but they're the ones with the claws. It’s no bother for me to prepare them, Jack. You can relax."

"If you so wish, Siren. I could catch up on current events by watching a bit of that flaming contraption you refer to as a television."

"You really don’t seem to have much difficulty with it, Jack. It is a magnificent modern invention if I must say so myself."

"Yes, yes." he rumbled as he retired to the sitting room to fumble with the remote. He’d be happier with it in the summer when the Cricket was on, perhaps.

Bridgid fetched the package from the fridge she’d gotten from Coff’s earlier. Thank goodness the fishmonger had dispatched the two huge critters for her before he wrapped them up. She hated dropping them alive into boiling water even though it was supposed to be the best way to prepare them.

It only took her about a half hour or so to get dinner on the table but when she called Jack she got no response. In checking she found him fast asleep in the chair. It was amazing how he reminded her of a little boy as he slumbered. His face was peaceful and even with his earned battle scars he still appeared to be very relaxed. It would have never happened during a time of war when he was out to sea. If a sailor got more than a few hours sleep a day it would be by the grace of God.

Seeing him like this warmed her heart. He was relaxed and comfortable. This perhaps was one of the best gifts she had to offer him.

"Jack." she whispered "Hungry, Jack?"

He stirred, opening one eye at a time. "Famished" came his reply. He was up in a flash. "You astonish me. I was no sooner seated when you summoned me. If only a man you would have been a fine steward, Siren."

"If I were a man, I’d be captain of a ship, not a steward. In fact I’d be captain being a woman too."

"Perhaps it is better we not get into a discussion about how times have changed."

Taking her by the arm he turned her so he could touch her face. His fingers stroked the line of her jaw before he ran the pad of his thumb over her full lower lip. "Suffice to say, I am pleased you are who you are and we are where we are. At times I do not ponder my thought but let it not spoil the meal at all events. I do love you, Bridgid Morgan, as you are."

Maybe it was the way he touched her or it could have been the sincerity in his voice. Whatever it was, she grasped his hand and held it against her face. "I love you too, Jack." Kissing the palm of his hand she smiled up at him. "If we keep this up we won’t get to dinner. It’s not so good when it’s cold so let’s eat, huh?"

If there was one other thing besides her that Jack was passionate about, it was a good meal. From the looks of things she’d managed to prepare one for him today.

Jack looked down at the table then up at her. He got that wicked look in his eyes again but she wasn’t quite sure what was on his mind this time. Was it food lust? Passion for her? Her question was sort of answered when he grabbed one of the lobster’s claws, tore it off and cracked it open with his bare hands. He pulled the hunk of sweet meat from its red capsule with the tips of his fingers. Dipping it in the warmed butter he held it up to her mouth. The moment she parted her lips to accept it he fed her then kissed her.

"Are you still hungry?" she asked huskily?"

"I am." he replied in that red velvet voice of his. The way it sounded brought those butterflies to her belly again. He never failed to do that to her.

"The food can wait, something else can not." Jack purred

Taking her hand he led her up to the stairs slowly, kissing her as they went.

"These moments between us are the ones I live for, Jack." she spoke as they began to ascend.

He didn’t reply. When she tugged at his hand to head toward the shower he pulled back and shook his head ‘no’. There was a pressing issue he wanted her to attend to and it resided below his belt and above his knees. Don’t think she didn’t notice either. Jack Aubrey had no reason to conceal it.

Stopping at the doorway of their room, he kissed her deeply, passionately. Their mouths remained welded together as they disrobed each other. He walked her back to the bed and eased her back as he fell atop her. Damn she loved the feel of his weight. Bridgid never did favor a man who was lean and wiry, she like them strong and big. Jack Aubrey fit the bill perfectly. His arms were heavy with muscle and his chest was broad. He may have been big and well fed but the bulge of his strength overshadowed the extra flesh of his appetite for food.

He moved off of her to lie beside her and she turned to look into his sea colored eyes. Green at times but grey blue others when his blood was up they appeared as blue as the South Pacific.

Running a hand up his ample thigh, she let out a sigh at the feel of his tightening lower region. The soft downy hair on his belly stood at attention along with a few other things from her gentle loving ministrations.

"I was watching you ride. You have a fine seat, Siren." Was that a hint? She took it as one and slid up his body to straddle his hips. Leaning forward she trapped his manhood between her belly and his as she flattened her ample breasts against his chest.

"Have I told you how much I appreciate your bluff bow, Siren?"

"Many times." she replied. "Have I told you how fond I am of your sword?"

"No." he hummed, his voice rising a bit as she wriggled to enjoy the silky skin pressed against her tummy. Placing his meaty paws on her hips he lifted her just enough for things to spring into place. He lowered her down, slowly. The full bosom he admitted favoring became a nice warm place to put his hands. Molding, caressing they picked up the rhythm of the couples slow love making.

He filled her deeper with each gentle gyration of her hips. Her lips formed to speak his name…Aubrey….. but she didn’t make a sound. Her eyes were closed and she was lost in his love. Lost that is until he brought her around with the feel of a twitch in her depths.

"Bridgid." he groaned as he leaned forward to clamp onto her with his teeth. Sinking them lightly into her shoulder his body tensed like the spring in an over wound clock. There was a long moment of euphoria until the dammed up tension was freed with a flood of release. He took her with him into the depth of joy that came with making love to a soul mate.

Bridgid lay on his chest for some time. The sound of his breathing as it became slow and deep lulled her into a sleep that lasted until the next morning.

It had been a long time since they both slept for so many hours. It must have been this place. The Glen seemed to bring peace and comfort to quite a few people who came.