I Am Jessamine
Chapter 12

Jessie woke up to a soft tapping sound and she turned her head to see Gray asleep beside her. He came in when she had already fallen asleep. It was moonless and very dark, so Gray had left two lamps burning low. Very carefully she scooted down the bed and climbed off at the foot, grabbed Grays’ shirt and pulled it over her head. Stepping up to the door she whispered and asked who was there and had a little voice reply, “It is Gem.” And Jessie opened the door to see a tear-streaked face looking up at her with little pudgy arms holding a very angry-looking fluffy grey cat. Bending down she picked up the boy, took Rogue in the other arm and stepped back into the cabin with the quietly sobbing child.

Shushing him gently Jess held him close and he wrapped his little arms around her neck. Jess bent and let Rogue wander off with a very fluffed-up tail and a stiff arch to his back. The handsome cat had been waiting at the door to come in when little Gem had picked him up. Jess smiled at the insanity of the situation.

Walking quietly back to the bed Jess lifted the spare blanket and carried the child and blanket over to the chaise lounge. Sitting quietly with him, rocking and humming a nonsense tune, she felt his body start to relax so she lay him down and tucked the blanket around him. He yawned and mumbled softly, “Sweet dreams. Mama.” And Jess felt her heart constrict in her chest. Pushing his hair off his forehead Jess wondered how a bastard like Rancliff could ever sire such a beautiful child. Leaning over the boy she gently kissed his forehead and left him to sleep and was surprised when Rogue jumped up and curled himself into a ball beside the child. Whispering and scratching the cats head she said, “You’re all guff, beautiful boy.” His response was to yawn widely, lick her hand and promptly fall asleep.

Jessie crept back into bed, lay down quietly and pulled the sheet up. In his exhausted sleep, Gray threw his arm around her waist and pulled her to him so that her back was against his chest and her backside was cradled in his lap. Feeling comfortable and relaxed Jess dozed off and fell into a welcome, calm sleep.

“You use this to measure distance. See? Like this. If you put it against the ruler and you do a little mathematical work you can work out how far we are from where we want to be.” Jess heard Gray whispering and the little voice whispering back, “Are we going to aunt Felicity?”

“No, lad. My ship got damaged so I have to go back to Dublin so I can get it repaired. The ship would not hold if we sailed into a storm. Why the tears, lad? Do you not want to see your papa?” Gray sounded very concerned and Jess rolled gently over so as not to disturb them and she lay watching their interaction. The sun had not yet come up but the glow on the horizon told Jess it wouldn’t be much longer before it did.

Gray was sitting at the chart table with little Gem on his knee and the little boy was trying to wipe his tears away. Gray had his arm around the boy and then with his other hand cupped the child’s face and held him against his chest. The little boy mumbled something that Jess could not hear and Gray cuddled him closer and kissed the top of his unruly mop of hair. “I’m sorry, lad, but you have a father and as much as I like you, we have to tell him you never got to your aunt Felicity.” At this Gem started sobbing and wailed, “But he doesn’t care! He always shouts and tells the nanny to take me away!” By now he was crying uncontrollably and Jess got out of bed and walked over to them. Gray looked very uncomfortable and clearly at a loss as to what he ought to do.

“Come to me, baby.” Jess held out her arms to the child and he squeezed Gray around the neck, jumped off his lap and happily went into Jess’s open arms. She winked at Gray and blew him a kiss. Walking back to the bed Jessie comforted the child and wiped his eyes and nose then lay down with Gem and covered them with the sheet while Gray got back to his charts.

Jess lay him next to the window on his side and behind him, she lay leaning on her elbow and together discussed the sun that was about to peep over the horizon. Jess started telling him a story about a dragon and the sun and how the dragon had to fly across the sky pulling the sun behind him. Where she got the story from she did not know, but she had fun making it up and keeping the little guy entertained until they watched the sun rise and he fell asleep again. Tucking him in carefully and placing pillows at his back Jess got out of bed and stretched.

“You seem to have a way with us boys, mo gra,” Gray said softly looking up from his charts with a smile that stopped Jessie’s heart.

Sauntering over to him Jess ran her fingers through his hair and he sat up and looked at her with his crooked smile and loving eyes. Jess slid in between him and the desk and straddled his legs allowing her shirt to slide up an inch or so, but still keeping his imagination active as she gave nothing away.

Smiling at him she asked in a low husky voice, “Like what you see, Captain Murphy?” and he gripped her backside, sliding her further onto his lap where she could feel how much he liked what he saw.

“Aye, mistress Jess. The best view I have had all morning.” And they laughed softly together as Jess began to untie his cotton breeches and release his evident excitement. Lifting herself she placed his hard, throbbing member at the entrance of her very ready and hot mound and moved down just a little and then lifted herself again, but not quite relinquishing her tight hold on him. He gasped softly and she watched the agonizing ecstasy play across his face as his lips parted he closed his eyes briefly. Jess then began again teasing, testing, experimenting and enjoying the pleasure she was giving him. She then took him within her and she felt as though they became one. Where he ended, she began and where she ended, he began. Slowly she started saucily undulating her hips almost snake-like and Gray gripped her small hips. She arched her back as his mouth hotly found its way to her pert hard nipple, but she would not relinquish control, she held on until she could see he was in that place of pure pleasure and she moved that little bit faster and joined him in that same place where nothing else mattered but them. Moving and gyrating they reached their zenith, that point of no return, and Jess kept watching his face with passion glazed eyes and he never took those beautiful hooded eyes from her either, but when the heavens broke open and they soared breathlessly above the world they were crushed together to jointly appease their bodies. Their quiet gasps and breathing lost within their kisses to keep their passionate love making from waking the little boy in their bed, they slowly returned from that place of stars, fireworks and carnal release they stayed in each other’s arms and remained connected to one another for as long as they could. “I will never tire of this, Jessie. What we have is special and unique and it frightens me, but also excites me. You are my life and I love you more than I can express with words.” Gray said and kissed her deeply.

“Please don’t fear what we have, Gray. I have traveled very far, not expecting to replace you, but here you are and here I am. What we have is meant to be and it makes my world a better and brighter place.” She kissed him deeply then and held him close before gently releasing him and getting off his lap. Walking quietly over to the wash basin she said softly, “There is a saying I think may just make sense to you, I love you to the moon and back.” She smiled at him and felt her heart rate return to normal as he said, “That’s perfect because the moon is so far away no one can reach it so our love will be eternal.” Jessie considerately chose not to burst his bubble just then.

The rest of the days flew by as the damaged ship sailed slowly on towards Dublin. The weather got cooler and everyone brought out jackets, thicker stockings and neck warmers. Jessie scratched through the few trunks that had been pulled from the ocean, which were off the doomed ship. Gratefully she found that one of the trunks did belong to little Gem so she was able to dress the lad warmly which in turn allowed him to follow Gray around on deck. Jess laughed at the exasperated looks on Grays’ face when thrown a barrage of questions from Gem and she would step in and rescue him from the curious boy. At other times Tad would be there to rescue them both from little Gem. Jessie was grateful to the crew when they all played their part in keeping the inquisitive child busy and the saying that it takes a village to raise a child sprang to mind and rang so very true. Little Gem was benefitting from the knowledge of many.

After a couple more nights of a crying Gem knocking on the cabin door, they had finally made a small sleeping box for him and placed it next to the chaise lounge and the boy slept like an angel every night from then on with Rogue as his companion. Gray hooked up a rope and created a curtain-like structure obscuring their bed from the rest of the cabin and Jess laughed when he said that he did not want to be the cause of corrupting such a small child. Jess explained that such chivalrous propriety did not entirely exist in her time and elaborated by explaining about bikinis and topless beaches as well as nudist beaches. After a brief moment of considering this Gray frowned and said thoughtfully, “Just like the Greeks and Romans with their public baths except it is not just men, but women too.” Jess marveled at his logic, laughed and hugged him.

Willy joined Jess and Gray in the cabin on the odd occasion, but on a clear and only slightly chilly afternoon Jess asked Willy to join her for a snack at midday and he walked into the cabin and looked at Jess curiously.

“What is it, Lass?” he asked gently with narrowed eyes and a little suspicious.

“Come and join me, Willy. We haven’t had much time together lately and I miss you.” She said sincerely and cut slices off the salted pork and the wedge of cheese. She poured them each a glass of whiskey, which would ward off the chill, and Willy gratefully took a big sip.

“How are you feeling about setting foot on your homeland soil again after all this time?” Jess asked as she dished out the pork, cheese and some bread slices and set a plate in front of Willy.

“Funny you should ask. It’s been giving me nightmares for the last few nights. Everything I thought I had let go of has all come rushing back. To know that devil and his sidekick are still in Ireland after all this time makes my hackles rise. What about you lassie, how are you feeling about finally setting foot in the land where you were conceived?” he said changing the subject.

“Honestly? I am very nervous after everything Gray told me so I don’t know if I want to meet my mother and father.” The hurt was obvious in Jess’ voice and Willy frowned and cocked his head to one side.

“What did Gray tell you, lass?” Willy asked sitting back in his chair with a curious look on his face.

Knowing there was no way forward without the truth Jess began to tell him all Gray had shared with her. Willy did not interrupt her, but let her speak and he simply listened. Just like he always did for Jessie.

“What was your father’s name, Will?” Jess finally asked not wanting to dwell on her concerns about meeting her parents, if they were still alive.

“My da?” He asked with a serious frown. “What does my da have to do with anything?”

“I will make it clear soon enough, Willy. Please, just tell me his name.” Jess was feeling apprehensive now and Willy looked bewildered and said, “James Marshall MacLeod.”

Closing her eyes and with a sinking heart, Jess told Willy what Gray had said about his benefactor and friend. After she was done telling him Willy sat staring at her. The shock was clear on his face and Jess was worried he might get angry, but she knew Willy as well as she knew herself and he would process everything he had heard and think it over, let it stew for a while and then work it all out. Sometimes Jess wondered if she was related to the man they were so much alike.

Whispering he said, “He survived! Oh, Christ, Jessie, he survived and I left.” At first, Jess saw the hurt and then he started laughing. “He lived a full life and made something of himself. Good for him!” Will slapped the table and poured another drink and toasted his late father.

Jess smiled and toasted with him and then reminded him, “By rights you own everything that was his.” Willy looked up at her with a wry smile and shook his head. “No, lassie, he did the right thing. Gray needed a father and my father needed a son. They were there for one another and shared a mutual joy. I cannot begrudge either of them such a thing, that would be a mortal sin.” He said this sincerely and shook his head and smiled. Jess had never loved her godfather more than at that moment.

Just then Gray walked into the cabin and looked from Jess to Willy and back again and moved further in with a curious expression on his face. “I am not interrupting anything important, am I?”

Willy stood up and walked to Gray who glanced from Willy to Jess with a wary look on his face as Willy placed his hands on Grays’ shoulders and then pulled him happily in for a hug saying, “Thank you, Grayson. Thank you for being there for my father when I wasn’t. I will be eternally grateful for the part you played in making him whole again when I was not there to do it.” And the two men embraced as friends do and Jess felt very emotional at the sight.

Gray and Willy sat down and continued to chat and Jess quietly left them to it and walked out on deck to watch the sun moving towards the horizon and share in a few of the crews’ duties. Thinking over her conversation with Willy, Jess could only marvel at the man she called godfather. His acceptance of Grays’ part in his fathers’ life after Willy had left with Ben was nothing less than gracious and absolutely selfless. Jess then began thinking of why she and her brother, their mother, Ben and Willy could travel through time. Surely not everyone could time travel or there would be queues and major congestion and messing with history, it would be chaos and a total mess!

Then there was Rancliff and La Rue, which so far, made seven of them. Then there was the syndicate, made up of who Jess did not know, who wanted to control those who could time travel. Was it to prevent those who could travel from changing history in any way or did they want to use those who could travel for whatever reason they chose so that their power grew stronger? Jess knew, for sure, that she did not want anything to do with the syndicate because her gut told her something was just not right with that lot. Absentmindedly twisting rope Jess did not hear Tad and Gem when they approached her until Tad spoke and Jess jumped. “Goodness, you gave me a good scare.” She laughed and the boys giggled at her.

“Did you hear what I told you, Miss Jess?” asked Tad blushing brightly which made Jess curious as to what he was up to.

Eyeing him suspiciously she said carefully, “No, sorry Tad. I was deep into my thoughts. What is it you were saying?”

Looking everywhere else other than her face, Tad mumbled and Jess had to lean closer. She looked at Gem and frowned and raised her shoulders in a shrug. Sighing dramatically and rolling his eyes little Gem finally spoke up, “He is trying to tell you that we were scratching through the trunks and we found one that is full of ladies’ clothes and undergarments with ribbons and brushes and scarves.” Gem grinned and added conspiratorially, “Very lacy undergarments.” And Gem giggled and covered his mouth with his little dimpled hand. “We think the size of the clothes will fit you because you are so small and the clothes are too, but we do not know if the clothes are for a lady or a smaller girl.” Gem said quite seriously.

Jess began to laugh when she realized that Tad had been embarrassed to let her know he had seen ladies’ undergarments, but he also couldn’t help sharing the information because Jess was a girl wearing men’s britches and Tad had trouble acknowledging this. Besides, everyone knew that Tad could not help himself when it came to talking.

“We brought the trunk up,” he said turning and pointing to the trunk on the deck, “and we will put it in the captain’s cabin for you.” Nodding like a bobble head Jessie remembered seeing once in a taxi cab she laughed at the boys and then smiling she thanked the boys, said that they would be doing her a great kindness by getting the trunk into the cabin for her and she watched them tug, push and drag the trunk across the deck. She turned back to finish with the rope and Mr. Tora was beside her, “It be good for da lads to feel dey be doin’ sumtin’ important. It make dem be more responsible an’ min’ful o’ de people about dem.” He said nodding his head and smiling at Jess. “Ye be a very dif’ren lady, Miss Jess. I come from a place where de ladies be stron’ an’ dey hold da family in da palm o’ der ’ands.” He said and held out a roughened palm. “Dey take no guff, but dey has ‘earts so big dey can love many. But we be black folk, an’ ye be a white lady, but ye don’ act like no white lady I ever did meet. I know ye be from da Americas an’ all o’ dat, so maybe da ladies be able to speak der minds, but not here, Miss Jessie. Here dey be silent as da grave an’ day ne’er speaks out in public. Ye’s goin’ to be da spoon dat stirs da shit pot! If ye pardon da s’pression?” He laughed softly and Jessie giggled then asked, “Is this your way of warning me, Mr. Tora, that Dublin is not ready for the likes of me?”

“Me t’inks Dublin needs shakin’ up, but de English dey be dislikin’ an’t’ing dat be challengin’ der laws an’ such. Dey be real stiff wit der traditional t’inkin’ so all I says is be ye warned, Miss Jessie.” He smiled and tipped his cap and Jess thanked him for his concern and said she would keep what he said in mind when disembarking in Dublin.

Jess felt a band tightening around her chest as she thought of Dublin and the next step of her journey to try and replace Nick. Leaving Gray is going to be one of the hardest things she will ever have to do, but she saw no other way. He had to stay to oversee the repairs to O’Murchadha and take care of his business. Just the idea made Jess want to cry and she started to feel hollow inside. Why, oh why, Jess thought, did Gray come into her life now? Two hundred years apart but they replace their perfect love and there is no other recourse than to part again. If only I had the strength to deny my feelings from the beginning I wouldn’t be feeling this pain right now, Jess grumbled to herself. Tears sprang to her eyes thinking of growing old without Gray, without his love, his voice, without ever seeing his eyes again, him holding her. Without ever knowing how he lived the rest of his life. Jessie shook and worked very hard to hold back the pain and the tears. Was there any other way for them? Jess doubted it very much, but she sent out prayers regardless.

As she returned to the cabin after helping Mr. Tora in the galley Jess saw that the trunk had been taken into the cabin. Taking advantage of the fact that Gray was out on the deck with Willy, Jess decided to have a peek at the clothing the boys had giggled at. Lifting the lid she was stunned to see silks and muslin in blues, lilacs and ruby red. There were corsets, snow white stockings and ribbons by the handful. Dresses with ruffles and lace that looked like they belonged to a princess dazzled her. Taking each item out she lay them over the chaise lounge, chairs and over their make-shift curtain. Jess was staring at the array of clothing when Gray walked into the cabin and he stopped dead in his tracks with wide eyes. “What the hell? Where did all of this come from?”

Shrugging her shoulders Jess said that she did not know who the clothing belonged to and that the boys had brought it up to her after they figured it was lady’s garments and that the items looked small enough to fit her. “I wouldn’t know where to begin with all of this,” she said indicating around the room and Grays’ eyes followed suit, “unless you feel like helping a girl out?” she asked and smiled sexily over her shoulder.

Gray laughed and gave his crooked grin and with a twinkle in his eye said, “Well, you will have to start by removing the lads’ costume you’re wearing and we can begin with a blank canvas.” And he moved slowly towards her and Jessie’s tummy did a flip flop and the she stopped. “How would you know what goes where and how?” she asked frowning at him.

“Jess, I never claimed I was a monk.” He said reasonably with his hands on his hips.

Putting her hands on her hips she asked, “So how many women have you been with, Gray?”

“That’s an odd question, mo gra.” He replied looking just a little uncomfortable.

“No, it’s not. You know how many men I have been with. How many Gray?” she stood looking at him with a raised eyebrow and a question in her eyes.

“This is so inappropriate, Jessie. I know you have only ever been with me, but still, I don’t think of anyone else but you. Let us not speak of this anymore.” He turned to look at the dresses over the chaise lounge.

Jessie felt her face burn at his brush off and knew what was going to happen. The anger was going to build until she felt like she was going to explode and then she would explode. But Jessie didn’t want to be this way with Gray, but she also didn’t want him to think it was okay to brush off her questions like they were inconsequential. No, there had to be a better way than blowing a fuse and letting all hell break loose.

As Gray stood with his arm folded across his chest and the other holding his chin while he was perusing the dresses Jess walked out of the cabin and went looking for Willy. Finding him lounging on the forecastle deck while mending a sail Jess sat down next to him and watched him for a while as Willy watched her from under his eyelashes. He knew Jessie well enough to know her boiling pot was going to blow its lid so he remained silent until she spoke.

Finally, Jessie opened up and told him what had happened and how angry she was at being brushed off and told by a man that he no longer wished to discuss something that she felt was important. She ranted and raved for a while until she ran out of steam and then looked at Willy. He calmly folded the sail and set it aside and pulled her closer and she leaned against his shoulder.

“I’d like to ask a question without having you tear into me because of it, would that be okay?” he asked so kindly Jess felt crap for going off on a tangent.

“You can say anything you like Willy and I promise I won’t create a shit storm.” She said honestly and Willy laughed at her expression.

“Is it that important to you that you know how many women he has bedded? Now, before you answer that question just think about how it would be for you should the roles have been reversed. He was the chaste one and you had had a few lovers over the years? Think on that while I remind you what century we are in and how men were raised and how ladies are expected to conduct themselves. Now,” he said holding his hand up to her as she opened her mouth, “you must remember where you’re from and the changes that have occurred over two centuries. If you tell them now how women can vote, own businesses, raise kids on their own, buy houses, and cars, and be CEOs of companies, bankers, lawyers, professors, and doctors. How about women joining the military, navy and being part of the parliament that governs a country? They will burn you at the stake Jessie. Yes, women have much to look forward to, but right now is most definitely not the time to try and start a suffragette movement. It is still a bit soon for that.” He squeezed her arm and picked up the sail again to continue his repair work.

Jessie stared at the ocean and then mumbled, “I guess it is not that important, but dammit, it is hard to shut my trap! I’ve got an opinion and I am used to people hearing it.”

“Fair enough, but choose your audiences and your battles then,” Willy said calmly.

“I have to make allowances for what century we are in, so Gray must make allowances for the time I am from.” She said huffily.

“And he hasn’t?” Willy asked incredulously.

“Well, he lets me speak my mind, but only in private,” Jess said shrugging her shoulders.

“You walk around barefoot in lads clothing, you talk freely to all the crew, you enter their sleeping quarters at will and you stand in the galley, wearing a bandanna and sweating up a storm while helping Mr. Tora prepare food for them. You work side by side with the crew, you climb up the rigging like a monkey, you sing along to their bawdy songs and you laugh like a hyena at their crude jokes. I think Gray has done amazingly well for a man two hundred years younger than you Jess.” Willy raised his eyebrows and had that question mark look on his face. “You are so accustomed to doing just what you please that you have not once considered Grays’ sense of propriety. Yes, the crew loves and respects you because they have seen your selflessness and compassion and kindness. You have helped mend broken bones and busted lips, nasty knocks on the head and other ailments. Those are wonderful things to have achieved, but Jessie, a ship is small and there are only a few men on board, this is not Dublin, Belfast, Galway, or even London. You simply have to behave accordingly or you will draw undue attention to yourself and I know that’s not what you want. Now, would you like to ask that question again, Jess?” all while he was talking he concentrated on his stitching the sail and now he cut the thread and looked at her with a cocked head.

Looking over at him Jess felt shame flame her face and she closed her eyes and realized that everything she simply took for granted took almost two hundred years to achieve. Instead of behaving like a total brat she really ought to have been more sensitive and aware of Grays’ feelings and his sense of propriety. It just simply never entered her mind and made her wonder why no one ever said anything to her.

“Why did you not say anything before, Willy?” she asked quietly still felling ashamed.

“You were not ready to hear what I have just told you. Besides, even a blind man can see you have a temper and you wield it like a sword and shield. It does sometimes come in handy when you need to be fearsome so don’t lose it, but generally just be your normal, cheerful, ladylike self.” He laughed and she jabbed him in the ribs.

“Thank you, Willy. You always tell it to me straight and usually when I most need to hear it. I think I have some apologizing to do.” And she got up and retraced her steps back to Gray.

Jess walked in to replace Gray at his desk and he looked up and patiently waited for her to sit down and then speak. “I have just been up on the forecastle deck with Willy and he said a few things that have made me feel very ashamed.” She told him and began to relate the conversation and what Willy had said and how ashamed she felt for reacting so poorly to him when she couldn’t get her own way.

“I see. So, you got upset because I would not reveal how many women I had bedded before you and how it is I know how to dress a woman?” he asked and steepled his fingers under his chin.

“It is not important, Gray. I just want to apologize for any and everything that may have caused you embarrassment or made you feel uncomfortable. I forget that two hundred years are separating us and the things that have changed so much are things that I take for granted.” She apologized sincerely.

Gray stood up and walked over to the chaise lounge where Jessie, only then, noticed how he had set out stockings, ribbons, corsets, muslin and dresses in the order in which she was meant to dress herself. Standing up she walked and stood beside him and looked at the shiny, silk ruby red dress with the black fleur-de-lys patterns on it and the black lace around the sleeves and neckline. The stockings were snow white and the ribbons were red and black lace. The corset was white as was the muslin scarf and what looked like a sleep dress.

Turning to Jess Gray looked at her seriously, but his eyes blazed brightly, “I love you no matter what you wear, how you talk or even your opinions, but you don’t want to draw attention to yourself for all the wrong reasons, Jess. Willy is quite right there and I am grateful to him for helping you see that. As far as your temper is concerned, I believe it is an Irish thing. There are not many Irish who do not have a short fuse that ignites a stormy temper.” He stood looking at her and then smiled and proceeded to change the subject.

“There are three advantages to wearing dresses such as these and after I dress you I will tell you what they are. But, before that happens I will tell you that I have been with several women in my time, Jessie. At some point, “ he shrugged lazily, “I may have thought I could love them, but after what I found with you I know now that it was merely lust and a want to satiate a carnal need or desire if you will. If that is a problem for you, let me know now. I cannot imagine being with you if you no longer want to feel my touch.” Jessie chose to say nothing and merely shook her head no. She did not want to talk about it anymore because it did not matter. She belonged to Gray for however long they had together and he was hers. She knew she would never know another love like Grayson Iain Murphy. Hiding her hurt and her pain she lifted her chin and smiled at him.

Smiling his crooked smile he walked over to the pale blue dress and ran his fingers over the material. “I think that, perhaps, you will approve of my abilities at dressing and undressing a woman.” Again Jess never said a word and Gray waved his hand towards the chaise lounge and beckoned her forward, bowing slightly, and Jess moved closer.

Quietly stepping forward Gray unbuttoned her shirt and pulled it over her head and for the first time since their relationship had begun on a serious note, Jess felt self-conscious and struggled not to cover her breasts with her arms. Gray then stood in front of her and unbuttoned her britches and let them drop to the floor. Again he frowned when he saw her boy leg underpants, and shaking his head he bent down and pulled them off. “These are dreadful things.” He said scrunching up his face and he tossed them on the pile of clothes.

Turning to the clothing he picked up the sheer muslin nightgown type dress and pulled it over her head. She pushed her arms through the sleeves and it dropped past her ankles. Gray tied the small ribbon in the front and looked down at her and gazed at her hardened nipples that were quite evident through the material. “Hmmm, a little bit long, but we can fix that.” He said brushing his hand lightly over her breast. The heat started building up between them again and Jess felt her muscles quiver all over again. Traitorous body, she thought, but not angrily.

He turned around and then fetched the corset and showed Jess how to put it on. Fortunately, he was there to assist with tying it and Jessie felt like a wrapped gift. After it was tied he placed his hands around her waist and his hands almost circumvented her. His gaze lingered hotly on her, but he moved on. He then picked up what looked like a skirt and dropped that over her head as well and then tied it at the back running his hands over her backside and giving a gently squeeze and whispered on the back of her neck, “My god, mo gra, you have the tightest little backside I’ve ever seen or held in my hands.” Jessie felt her knees weaken, but still, he continued.

He then picked up the pale blue dress that was not as shiny as the red one, but it was beautiful none-the-less and he pulled it over her head and then made her slip her arms into the sleeves while holding on to the sleeves of the sheer muslin sleep shirt type piece of clothing and the cuffs came out the bottom of the sleeves and hung slightly over her hands. He pulled the dress closed at the back and did up the tiny little buttons. Once that was all done he made her sit on the chaise lounge and slowly he let his fingers take their time while he pushed her skirts up and then slowly slipped on the stockings that came to mid-thigh and he tied ribbons around the top of them lingering a little longer and leaving hot trails on her inner thighs.

Jessie felt like a very hot, very turned-on, trussed-up turkey, but she fought down the urge to fidget and tried to replace the elegance in what she was wearing. Gray was being so efficient, but he was driving all her senses crazy and he did everything in silence. Jess found him very sexy as she watched his hair fall over his forehead and eyes and she longed for the hands that were working over her and the delicate materials to just stop and bring her pleasure.

Finally, he scratched in the trunk and pulled out small ankle boots made of what Jess thought was leather, but later found out was made from the hide of a kid, the same material used for the gloves in the trunk.

Gray bent down and slipped each boot on and then did up the laces. Then stood back and put out his hands to help her stand up. Turning her around Gray pulled his hands through her hair and tied it with a blue ribbon at the nape of her neck. When he was finally done he said in a husky tone, “Now, let me tell you the benefits of wearing a dress like this. Firstly the corset pushes your assets,” he smirked saucily while leering at her little breasts that were pushed up and peeping over the top of the dress, “and allows other men to see what they cannot have while a lady sits straight-backed and untouchable. Secondly, feel how warm you are beneath your dress. It is warm, yes?” He asked and smiled at her.

Jess had to admit that yes, it was warm and snug in the dress. Standing in front of him with a raised eyebrow she asked, “So what is the third reason wearing this sort of dress is of benefit to me?” and stepped back when she saw Grays’ face. He was staring at her and his lips were pulled back in his signature crooked grin and his eyes were blazing. She continued to move backward slowly as Gray moved towards her. “Gray, what the hell is wrong with you? Why are you staring at me like that?” she asked with a giggly voice slightly nervously.

He reached out with his hand so quickly that Jess barely had time to react, but he caught the back of her dress and she squeaked as he spun her around and picked her up. He carried her to the bed and threw her down. As she bounced he grabbed the bottom of her dress and skirts and pulled them up and spread her legs, pushing himself between them, unbuttoned his pants and entered her with one swift movement taking her breath away and making her gasp out loud, “And there we have our third good reason why a dress is so much better than a pair of britches.” He laughed huskily and he proceeded to make her a believer.