Spring fancy

'Is it because I haven't asked you to marry me that you won't call it off with him?' he asked.

'No, Joseph. It's the thought of canceling all the social obligations, all the commitments that scares me to death. I'd look like a fool, and that I could handle, but so would my mother and Paul, and they don't deserve that.'

'What other social commitments?'

She sighed and rolled away from him slightly. He wouldn't have it and pulled her back where she'd been. 'Tell me,' he ordered.

She told him succinctly, listing everything she could think of: invitations, postage, caterers, personalized napkins, champagne, limousine, unity candle, photographer, jeweler, tuxedo rental, bridesmaids' dresses, bridal gown, registration book, ring bearer's pillow, garter, gifts for her attendants, organist, the singer and even the special stem glasses for the nuptial toasts. When she finished almost breathlessly, the hand that had been squeezing her shoulder fell limp onto the mattress.

'Oh, my God,' he muttered.

She laughed, and it was such a relief. 'See, I told you.'

'You mean everybody goes through all that when they get married?'

'No. Only the stupid ones.'

'You mean you don't want any of it at all?'

'I always thought the perfect wedding would be to get married with only my favorite relatives and my best friends present, maybe in some pretty garden or field someplace when the lilacs are in bloom. Then maybe a quick dinner at my mother's house and slip away to the North Woods and sleep in a tent in two zipped-together sleeping bags for one solid week, with nothing but bears and raccoons and porcupines for company.'

His arm came around her again, caressing her naked back, her spine. 'Mmm…' he murmured against her hair. 'Sounds perfect. Let's do it.'

'Jo-Jo, be serious!'

'I think I'm getting more serious by the minute. You and I find more in common the longer we know each other.' He yawned all of a sudden.

She closed her eyes, wholly content, curled up against his warm naked limbs. 'Jo-Jo, I can't marry you,' she said lazily. 'Besides, you said you haven't decided yet.'

'Did I?' he murmured disinterestedly.

'Mmm-hmm.'

Her hand fell still in the midst of fanning across his chest. Beneath her fingers the rise and fall of his breathing became long and measured. The lights still burned. But neither cared. Their limbs grew liquid and their eyelids twitched. A gentle snore sounded through the room, and Winn's eyes flickered open. At the sight of his relaxed lips and face she smiled sleepily and curled up tighter into her pillow, her fists beneath her chin and her forearms pressed against his warm ribs.

His snoring grew a little louder, and she nudged him. 'Roll over, Joseph.'

'Wh-' His eyes flew open, disoriented.

'Roll over.'

He rolled onto his right side, and she right behind him, circling his belly with an arm and pressed her body securely against his naked backside. There was no spot on earth she would rather be.

* * *

In the morning they awakened almost simultaneously and smiled at each other with the unaccustomed joy of greeting the face of the one each loved first thing in the day.

'I like sleeping with you.' He lifted both arms above his head and posed like Charles Atlas, everything bulging and quivering from chin to waist.

'That's because I don't snore.'

'Did I?'

'Just a little.'

His arms hauled her close. 'Mmm… I'll have to make up for it some way, won't I?'

'And also for the extra charge on my light bill.' He glanced back over his shoulder. 'Oh, did we leave it on?'

'Mmm-hmm.'

'You just wanted to check and make sure it was me with you if you woke up in the middle of the night with your hand on anything important.'

'Yup!' she agreed, and they both laughed as he rolled her beneath him and braced up on both elbows.

'Come with me today,' he urged.

'Where we goin'?'

'To the auction in Bemidji.'

'Ohh, the auction. I'd forgotten.'

He smiled into her eyes. 'Will you come?'

She twisted one of his curls around her finger and smiled up at him very naughtily, then purred, 'Try me, big boy.'

'Oh, for shame!' he teased.

She looped her arms around his neck. 'Well, you can't blame a girl for getting to like it, can you?'

'Winnifred Gardner, I'm shocked.'

'Yeah, I can feel the shock absolutely growing on you.'

'Oh, that. Well, you can't blame a boy for responding to the off-color innuendo of a fiery little sexpot who-'

'Fiery little sexpot!'

'Fiery little sexpot who keeps a cup in her kitchen with the nickname Killer on it.'

'You take that back, Jo-Jo Duggan, or I'll make you sorry!' She yanked the curl.

'Ow! Watch it, Killer, you're askin' for it!' He got her by both wrists and showed her who was master here.

'Yes, Mr. Duggan, I am,' she simpered.

He kissed her finally with a mock show of uncontrolled passion, writhing around as if he were swimming on top of her. She was laughing beneath his mouth, and her words came out muffled.

'Are you going to ravish me?'

'You bet, and you're going to love it.'

'Am I supposed to fight you or cooperate?'

He mellowed. His squirming turned to undulation. He was assaulting her mouth, chin, throat, then breasts with breathtaking tenderness. 'I never did care much for unwilling females.'

'Have you had many… unwilling ones?'

His stubbled jaw was like a steel brush against her tender breast, and she loved it. 'None.'

'And what about the other kind? How many of them?'

He reared up, meeting her eyes. 'My share. Does it bother you?'

She had a flippant remark on the tip of her tongue, but instead she cupped his face in both hands and spoke earnestly. 'Oh, yes, Joseph Duggan, I hate every one of them for having you before I did. And I have no right.'

'You have every right. After last night.'

Tears sprang into her eyes, and her soft lips parted on a quick indrawn breath, not quite a sob, not quite a sigh. It had to be said. Feelings this strong simply must be voiced.

'God help me, Joseph, I love you.'

'Then God help both of us, not just you.'

This time when his body slipped inside hers, it was with great tenderness. Their coupling was totally different from the first time. It was rich with slowness, unfrenzied, almost studious. They watched each other, both faces and bodies, and loved with eyes, as well as the physical parts that joined. They neither spoke nor called out, for their union was not meant to ease, but to blend their spirits. And so it did. Only Joseph reached a climax, but it mattered little to Winn. This she could give, yet be the grateful one when it was over.