Blissfully Taken (Blissful, #4) (3 page)

Jenny’s heart contracted in pain. She
turned to Dan and then tried to make a break for it, but he held
her tight.

“
There’s no mistake. I
proposed to her under the same tree you did twenty years ago.” He
looked down at Jenny with his devastating brown eyes. “I was lucky
she said yes.”

“
It’s not right,” Mrs.
Hayes insisted.

“
Now come on, Harriet.
Let’s invite them in and sit down to a meal like civilized
people.”

Dan snorted. “What’s going on
here?”

“
You should know that
Kelly called and explained what’s been going on between the two of
you,” Mrs. Hayes replied. She looked at Jenny with distain. “It’s
not right, young lady.”

Dan pulled Jenny to him protectively.
“Don’t talk to my fiancée that way, Mother.”

Mr. Hayes took control of the
situation. “Let’s walk into the dining room and sit down. Dinner’s
on the table and we can discuss this like the reasonable people we
are.”

When Mrs. Hayes protested, he grabbed
her arm and forced her to follow him down the hallway. Jenny
seethed inside. Kelly was on the warpath where nothing was
sacred.

They spent an uncomfortable dinner
discussing mundane things instead of the elephant in the room. Once
dessert was served, Dan cut to the chase. “Look, the reason I came
with Jenny tonight is to let you know of our wedding plans and to
get Gammy’s ring.”

Mrs. Hayes visibly tensed. “You can’t
have it.”

“
Mom, you can’t be
serious,” Dan objected.

“
No harlot is going to
wear Gammy’s ring. It’s not right!”

Mr. Hayes put his hand on his wife’s
shoulder and squeezed. “We are not going to debase ourselves by
calling people names, Harriet.” He looked at Dan and said, “We are
opposed to the lifestyle you have chosen. We are not comfortable
with it and cannot condone it, Son.”

Dan said defensively, “What lifestyle?
Jenny and I are going to get married just like the two of you. I
don’t see the problem here.”

Mr. Hayes cleared his throat. “We know
about the threesome. Frankly, I find it disgusting.”

Mrs. Hayes whimpered as if the mere
thought of it harmed her in some way.

Jenny was proud of Dan. There wasn’t a
moment of hesitation when he answered, “What Ryan, Jenny and I
chose to do as grown adults has no bearing on you. However, things
have changed recently and Jenny and I are getting married. I would
like the ring Gammy promised I could give to my wife.”

“
You can’t have it!” Mrs.
Hayes snapped.

Mr. Hayes patted her shoulder to quiet
her. “Son, are you telling me that you plan to have a traditional
marriage… no extra partners involved?”

“
Yes, Father.”

Mr. Hayes sat back in his chair,
digesting the news while Mrs. Hayes stared daggers at
Jenny.

“
Mother, stop it. This is
your future daughter-in-law and the woman I love. You will treat
her with the same love and respect you give me.”

Mrs. Hayes huffed and jerked her head
away angrily.

His father let out a long sigh before
speaking. “Gammy specifically gave you the ring. Whether we agree
with your choice or not, I do not see how we can deny her wishes.”
With that, he got up and left the room with Mrs. Hayes trailing
behind him, protesting loudly.

Jenny tried to leave again, but Dan
grasped her hand and said smoothly. “Don’t run scared, Jenny. You
and I know this is right. Give them time to adjust.”

“
But Dan, they know
everything.” Jenny buried her face in her hands. “They know about
the ménage.”

“
While I admit it is
disconcerting to have my parents know intimate details about our
sex life, what does it matter? We are adults and have nothing to be
ashamed of.”

Somehow, Dan made the awkward
situation manageable and she appreciated the way he handled his
mother. He remained respectful without compromising himself or
Jenny.

“
Even though I want to run
away, I will stay with you,” she said with determination. Dan
leaned over and gave her a gentle, lingering kiss.

“
Must you?” Mrs. Hayes
complained as they reentered the room.

Jenny noticed that Mr. Hayes held a
small wooden box. He hesitated for a moment before handing it to
Dan. “Are you sure, Son? You wanted to marry Kelly once.” He looked
at Jenny and said, “I’m sorry to ask this in front of you.” Then he
turned back to Dan. “Are you positive Jenny is the one you want to
spend the rest of your life with, especially given her sordid
past?”

Dan asked coolly, “What sordid
past?”

Mrs. Hayes piped up, “She enticed you
to join in that unnatural lifestyle.”

“
Actually, that was Ryan’s
idea. Of the three of us, Jenny is the one who was enticed,
Mother.”

“
What’s wrong with you?
Why would my son need to fuck another man?” Mrs. Hayes
cried.

Dan clinched his jaw as he
stood up from the table. “You have been listening to that
vindictive bitch. Kelly has no idea what happened between us, but I
can assure you it did not involve homosexual acts. Even if it had,
what business is it of it yours, Mother? I
am
a grown man.”

He looked at both of his parents.
“Kelly assumed you were fools. I am shocked you played into her
hands so easily.”

Mrs. Hayes turned purple. “Kelly is a
dear. How dare you try to make her out as some kind of monster! I
love that girl. I could never love this…” she pointed at Jenny,
“jezebel.”

“
Now, now, Harriet. Let’s
not say anything we’ll regret,” Dan’s father said
evenly.

Jenny had enough. “I am not a whore,
Mrs. Hayes. I love your son. I love him more than life itself. I
was honored when he asked me to marry him under the same tree that
Mr. Hayes proposed to you under. I felt honored to become a part of
this distinguished family, but I will not be insulted. You are
mistaken about Kelly, but unlike her, I will not throw around
insults.”

Jenny got up to leave, but
Dan gracefully took her arm and walked her out announcing behind
him, “And that’s why I love this woman.” Jenny had never felt that
powerful before as she headed to the front door. She knew with
certainty that nothing was going to stop their marriage. Kelly’s
worst had just been a bump in the road.
Nothing to worry about.

“
Son,” Mr. Hayes called
out. “Don’t forget this.” He walked over and handed Dan the small
box.

“
Thanks, Dad.” Mr. Hayes
opened his arms and the two hugged. It warmed Jenny’s heart to see
it. He then gazed kindly at Jenny. “Welcome to our family.” He put
his large arms around her small frame and gave her a stiff hug.
Although it wasn’t full of the warmth he’d given his son, Jenny
appreciated the token gesture.

“
Thank you, Mr.
Hayes.”

“
Dad to you soon,” he
said.

“
Oh god, do you have to
say that?” Mrs. Hayes complained from the hallway.

“
Get used to it, Harriet.
You know our son. Once his mind is set, nothing can stop
him.”

Jenny glanced at Mrs.
Hayes and saw her lips pursed in an ugly frown. “Good-bye, Mrs.
Hayes.” Jenny
almost
said mother, but figured that would be pushing it. Although
she would have enjoyed being friends with Dan’s mom, having at
least one member of his family accept her was enough.

They left the house and headed to the
car in silence. Once inside, Dan announced, “I want to take you
somewhere, but it means a late night for us.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “Not like
we are going to get any sleep on that tiny couch.”

“
Excellent.” When he
turned towards the mountains, she knew exactly where he was headed.
Jenny smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder.

They made it to the cabin after
eleven. The area was bathed in the eerie glow of a full moon,
giving it an otherworldly appearance. Dan got out of the car first,
insisting on opening the door for Jenny. “Now I can do this
properly, the way I wanted to.”

Jenny gasped at how cold it was and
wrapped her arms around herself.

Dan walked her under the ‘shadow’ of
the pine tree and got down on one knee amongst the snow. He opened
the small wooden box and took out the ring. Jenny saw the glint of
its diamond in the moonlight. With white vapors escaping with each
word he asked, “Jenny Marie Cole, would you consent to be my
wife?”

Her smile was so wide it
hurt. “Yes, Dan, I more than consent. I am
happy
to be your wife.”

Dan took her hand in his and slid the
ring on her finger. She giggled with joy when he stood up and
pulled her to his chest. “You make me a very happy man, Miss Cole,”
Dan said, picking her up and heading towards the cabin.

“
No, Dan.”

He stopped in his tracks. “What do you
mean ‘no’?”

Jenny saw visions of Mrs. Hayes
standing in the doorway and it killed any feeling of passion. “I
don’t want to do it here. Not in your family’s cabin. At least not
until your mom accepts me.”

He set her back down on the ground.
“Don’t let her change anything between us.”

She looked up at Dan and smiled.
“Nothing can change how I feel about you, but I don’t feel
comfortable here.” She headed back to the car and tilted her head
when she looked back at him. “So, now what are you going to
do?”

He moved up behind her, growling in
her ear, “I believe I’m going to have to get a little creative with
you.”

Jenny shivered in delight. “I happen
to like the sound of that.”

He smiled mischievously as he walked
around to the driver’s side. “Damn, Jenny, you’re in for a ride
now.”

“
I can’t wait!” Jenny
looked down at her hand with the diamond winking back at her
playfully.
A lifetime of this…

Dan did not head back to the city;
instead he made a left at the crossroads heading further into the
mountains.

“
Where are we going,
Dan?”

“
Trust me.”

After twenty minutes on a bumpy road
they came up to a large pond surrounded by snow covered pine trees.
The moon shone brightly on the icy pond. It was spectacular and
serene.

“
This place is
breathtaking.”

“
My secret spot, Baby.
Haven’t shared it with anyone before.” He leaned over and kissed
her on the lips. “A perfect place to take my fiancée.”

He got out of the car and motioned her
to follow. The two stood before the small mountain lake and drank
in its pristine beauty despite the bitter cold. Dan snuck a hand
around her and pulled her to him. “Will this do, future Mrs.
Hayes?”

“
What? Here? On the snowy
ground? You on bottom, buddy!”

He chuckled. “Not on the ground, my
love. On the hood of the car under the stars, in the presence of
God’s glorious creation.”

“
But it’s
freezing!”

“
True, but the hood won’t
be.” Dan walked to the back of the car and pulled out a blanket
from the trunk. He unfolded the large fleece and laid it over the
car.

Despite the covering, Jenny shivered.
The thought of her naked skin being exposed to the harsh winter air
was not sexy. “I don’t know, Dan…”

“
What? Are you chickening
out on me?” he scoffed.

Dan used the “chicken”
word. He
knew
what that did to her. “No, I am not chickening out.” Jenny
started unbuttoning her shirt as proof.

“
That’s more like it,” he
encouraged, stripping off his own shirt.

The two walked over to the car and Dan
helped her sit on the edge of the hood. His hands caressed her
shoulders and then snuck behind her back. She felt him unhook her
bra and it fell away from her breasts. The chilly air had an
immediate effect on her nipples. “Oh, lovelies…” Dan growled, “have
you missed me?” His warm lips encased one nipple while his fingers
tugged and teased the other.

Jenny threw her head back, bracing
herself against the car with her elbows. “They have missed you,
Dan. Very much…”

He pushed her down as he kissed his
way up to her collarbone. She resisted, but Dan was insistent in
his pressure and she gasped when she finally gave in and felt the
warmth of the blanket. “Oh, now that is nice,” she
purred.

She relaxed on the hood and did not
resist when Dan pulled at her jeans. He removed her panties next
and let them fall to the snowy ground. Then Dan spread her legs
open so that he could admire her femininity. She found the bitter
cold on her clit sexy.

“
You are perfection,
Jenny. Your Cherokee skin, that dark little mound, those pink
inviting lips…” he bent down and took a long, hot lick of her sex.
“There is nothing as perfect as you.”

“
You, Dan,” she
whispered.