Riding Wild

I'm Home

The soft breezes caressed Maddy's cheek as she lay on Jake's chest listening to his heartbeat and riding the steady rhythm of his breathing as his chest rose and lowered. She heard Sundown happily chomping on the vernal sweet grass, the birds singing their songs overhead, and the rustling of the giant oak tree's limbs. The sun peaked through the just opening buds on the tree warming her skin.

There was a sweetness of how Jake's arms wrapped around Maddy. To an observer, they would appear to be melded together. Arms wrapped around each other, legs tangled. A vision of love-making and soul connection. All the while, the beautiful calico mare, Sundown, happily grazing next to the couple. It was a scene poems are written to - sweet and loving.

Her mind traveled back to a time not so long ago when she felt unloved and unwanted. It was a tumultuous time in her life. She was on the verge of realizing her dream to write, sharing with someone that had entered her life when her marriage was falling apart around her.

She had not intended to fall so hard for that man, but she did. Once her marriage was ended in a nasty divorce, his attention fell away. Soon after, he simply stopped calling and stopped contact. She grieved long and hard. She grieved for her failed marriage. She grieved for the loss of a man who had held her hand through the worst of it all. But most of all, she grieved for herself. For believing in love and that love conquers all.

It was then that she decided that love was only a fairytale, contrived in romance stories like the ones she wrote. People believed those stories, but experience told her that it didn't really exist at all. She constructed walls so strong around her heart that it would take someone very special and strong to break through.

A tear slid down her cheek, and she let out a deep sigh. Here was this man - Jake - who treated her so gently. Maybe there was hope after all. Maddy was so unsure she could trust her own feelings. She did not want to hurt again only to have to hear goodbye again.

She lay in the crook of Jake's arms. With her free hand, she automatically stroked his chest. She wondered what his motivation was with her. Was she just a fling? Someone to enjoy for a short time? She didn't think so. He seemed a very honest man. A man that could be trusted.

I so want to open to you, Jake. Dare I? Or is this another huge mistake?

What Maddy didn't and couldn't know was that Jake was filled with questions himself. He had been hurt as well. A long time ago, and he had locked his heart away because of it. But this woman, Maddy, wound herself around him like no other woman had. He wasn't sure what it was, but something deep inside of him spoke to his heart to let her in. He needed her as much as she needed him.

Jake fell into her spell and began stroking her hair. He reached down and cupped her chin in his hand raising her lips to his.

Soft tender kisses and gentle stroking brought Maddy closer to Jake. She cuddled up closer to him and wrapped her arm around his neck. She opened her mouth to his taking in his tongue as their lips locked together. Closing her eyes, she let herself relax in his arms.

This. This is what she had longed for. This is what she craved. She felt Jake's arousal against her leg. Maddy pulled away from Jake slightly and she watched Jake's eyes as he gazed on her. Just as she was reaching for him, they were interrupted.

Sundown nudged Jake's shoulder. Jake let loose with a guffaw. "Ok, Sundown. I hear ya!"

Jake gave Maddy's shoulder a little squeeze. "Guess it's time to head back. Sun's gonna set soon, and I don't think Sundown's gonna be very patient anymore."

If he had noticed the tear that had slid down her face earlier, he didn't let her know. He did notice. He just decided not to give in to what his big protective heart wanted him to do. He wanted to let her know she was safe with him.