The Proposal: Chapter 3

"Keesha..."

Keesha opened her eyes at the soft voice. She looked at Jax for a moment and then glanced out of the window. "We've arrived?"

"Yes."

"I thought the ride was long."

Jax laughed. "Well, it must not seem so long when you sleep the entire way."

She slept the entire way? She actually slept soundly the entire way?

"Jax!" The little five year old boy ran up to the carriage the moment Jax stepped out of it.

Jax laughed, picking Jules up and holding him tightly. Agnes, Jules' maid and nanny, shook her head. She had never seen a man be so openly affectionate with a child-it went against everything she was raised to believe, yet it always managed to warm her heart.

Keesha tried not to stare in awe at the manor in front of her. It was not the actual estate itself, though it did seem large, it was all of the greenery surrounding it. The English countyside was absolutely beautiful.

"Jules, say hello to Lady Jacks." Jax placed Jules down on the ground.

Lady Jacks?

"You may call me Keesha if you wish."

Keesha had to bite back a smile as the little boy took her hand, bowing as Jax had taught him. "Hello Keesha."

Jax grinned. "She will be...staying here from now on."

"So I can stay?!" Jules exclaimed.

"Yes, so you can stay." Jax picked Jules up and headed to the front of the manor.

"Hopefully this will be adequate before your clothes arrive." the maid stated.

Keesha turned away from the window of her bed chamber. She had just bathed and felt completely refreshed. "Thank you."

"Is there anything else my lady?"

"No."

"I will help you change..."

"Actually, I can change myself, thank you." Keesha walked over to the bed. "I will be fine." she repeated, waiting. After a moment the maid left the chamber. "Help to change?" Keesha mumbled to herself.

Couldn't people do anything themselves...

Jax left his chamber, opening the adjoing door to his and Keesha's bath. He walked through the room, going over to her door, opening it without a thought.

Keesha froze. She thought she heard something. But now it was quiet. Without turning around she walked over to the dress on the bed. She shrugged out of the slip wrapped around her body, letting it fall to her waist.

Jax stared, his body immediately reacting to the sight of her bare back...the slip began to fall lower and Jax lowered his eyes quickly, leaving the room.

Jax came downstairs from his bed chamber, glancing around the front room. "Maggie?!" he called.

"Yes my lord." Maggie ran up from the servent's quarters.

"Where is my bride? I knocked on her chamber and she did not answer."

"Lady Jacks is in the library."

"No she is not." Jules grinned.

"Really...how do you know?"

"Well, we read in there for awhile...Jax, I can..."

"Tell me later Jules, can you. I need to know where Keesha is now. So you two were reading..." Jax wished he had been awake to see that-he could tell Jules took to Keesha instantly.

Jules thought. "Before Agnes came to take me for my piano lessons, I watched her leave."

"Leave where?"

"Out the front door of course."

Jax looked at Maggie. "You let her leave here alone?"

"I'm sorry my lord. I didn't know she left, she didn't say anything..."

"That's not the..." Jax snapped. He stopped and lowered his voice, remembering Jules was in the room. It was now 4:00, Jules' piano lessons were at 1:00-which meant Keesha had been gone for three hours now. "Did you see which way she went?" he asked Jules.

"Yes..."

"Well then why don't you come and show me, hm?"

Keesha finished the chapter in her book. She leaned away from the tree and stood. The sky was changing, it was likely getting late, and she needed to go back. She had not seen Jax since they first arrived-if being married to him was this way every day, she should be fine.

"Why hello."

Keesha turned. "Hello."

"Ah, American."

Keesha smiled. "Yes, and you are from..."

"Spain. The name is Garcia."

"Hello Senor Garcia."

"Senor? You have been to Spain..."

"K...Lady Jacks." Keesha remembered. She left out the fact she had never been anywhere until yesterday, realizing she had no idea of what Jax might tell people about how they met.

"Jacks? As in Jasper?" Garcia looked shocked.

"Yes, we were wed last evening."

"Really. Did he meet you in Australia?"

Australia That was why Jax sounded different than the other men here. Keesha rememberd hearing about the relatively new Bristish colony.

"I must remember to come by with my congratulations. Is he out of town?"

"No, he is at the...manor." Manor...How did she get herself into this.

"Hmm...that is odd." Garcia lifted Keesha's hand to his lips.

"Why is that odd?"

"I am just surprised he let you out here alone."

Garcia heard a noise and maintained his grip on Keesha's hand.

Keesha blinked. Why would Jax care if she came out here alone....

"I have been looking for you. It is time for dinner." Jax jumped off his horse.

"I knew you would be along." Garcia grinned. "You did not even bother to tell me you had found such a lovely lady to wed you. And very lovely she is. If I wasn't such a gentleman I would try and steal her away from you."

Jax pulled Keesha's hand away from Garcia's. "We are leaving now." Jax spoke to Keesha, yet maintained eye contact with Garcia.

"Jasper...Jasper...Jasper...I only jest. You take everything so seriously. How do you expect to keep her happy if you are so serious all of the time?"

Jax cut his eyes at Garcia. But he didn't say anything else. He hopped back on his horse.

"Goodbye." Keesha smiled at Garcia, gasping as Jax bent down, wrapping one arm around her. He swept her up off the ground effortlessly, securing her behind him on the horse.

"Goodbye..." Garcia smiled as Jax's horse galloped away.

"I assume you remember where your chamber is?"

"Yes..."

"Then feel free to go there." Jax walked past Keesha, going into the sitting room and heading to the bar.

Keesha turned, wondering what had just happened. All she did was speak to Garcia, yet obviously that made Jax angry. Very angry. And she had no idea why.

Jax finished his drink quickly. The rumors had been true, Garcia did move into the area. Closer to Jules.

Why now? The better question was how dare he?

Garcia had bedded Jax's cousin, Jasmine, and then disappered after she announced she was pregnant. And then, after five years, he had the audacity to write and say he wanted to Jules back?! Jax poured himself another drink. Garcia had wed soon after leaving England and Jasmine behind-so he was armed with a mother figure for Jules, something Jax did not have. And without a mother for Jules, Jax knew that it would not be long before some magistrate ordered Jules away. Jax finished his drink. But he had handled that-he had gotten married, and that should be that. But with Garcia he knew this was far from over.

However one thing was clear, Jax was not going to allow Garcia to use Keesha to get near Jules...he was not going to allow Garcia to get near Keesha at all.

That he had merely touched her hand made his anger rise...

"Why are you still here!" Jax barked.

Keesha blinked as she thought. She had no idea why she was continuing to watch Jax...yet for some reason she felt she should be there. "I will go..." she began.

"Wait a moment." Jax's voice dropped and Keesha stopped breathing.

"Come forward," he ordered as he walked over to the side wall, leaning against it.

Never show fear, she reminded herself as she walked over to Jax.

"We must establish some rules." "Yes my..."

"Jax."

"Yes...Jax."

"Better. Now, we are going to be clear on something. I will not have you disgrace the name just given to you when we wed."

"Pardon?"

"You are a Jacks now. And I will not have you...entertaining other men."

"Entertaining?!"

"Do not raise your voice at me."

"Then do not accuse me of something I had no intention of doing. Senor Garcia and I..."

A flash of darkness went through Jax's eyes. He didn't even like hearing that man's name come from Keesha's lips.

"...were merely conversing. There was absolutely no intent on my part..."

"Regardless of your intentions, you are to stay away from him. Understood?"

"Or?"

"What?" Jax's voice dropped so low Keesha could barely hear him.

"Or? Stay away from Senor Garcia or..." She crossed her arms in front of her.

Jax was speechless. No one had ever dared to question an order from him before.

"We are married so Jules may stay with you...that is all. I do not believe this...arrangement allows you to dictate whom I may or may not speak with."

"Really." Jax stated flatly. Yet, as he stared into her eyes, he had to admit that he found her calm anger rather appealing. In all actuality everything she did was rather appealing. To Keesha's surprise, light entered his eyes once more. "I have no say on who you speak with?"

"No."

"What about who you...entertain."

Keesha was very thankful she did not blush, or else he would probably be able to tell just how inexperienced she was. Even the word entertain, used in that matter, shocked her. Or maybe it was the way he said it...with that slow, somewhat raspy voice that seemed to call to her. "If I ever wish to...entertain...as long as I am discreet, would that not be my business as well?"

"All right then. You leave me no choice." Jax reached out, wrapping is arm around her waist and yanking Keesha to him. She inhaled sharply to the feeling of being wrapped in his arms. "If I am to have no say on what you do and with whom, I think it only fair that I shall be allowed to go first. I cannot have Garcia or any other man tasting the lips of my wife, when I have yet to have such a pleasure."

"I have no intentions of kissing anyone," she managed to answer.

Jax smiled and Keesha swore it must be because he had to hear her heart as it raced against her chest.

"And that includes Senor..."

Jax tightened his hold on Keesha's waist. "Quiet. I do not wish to hear that man's name from you. Ever."

"My point was only that you have no need to kiss me."

"Actually...my lady..." he breathed. "...I've had a need to kiss you since we first met. And that need only continues to grow."

"Perhaps that is the wine you have been drinking," she said absolutely serious.

"Perhaps," he smirked.

"May I please go?"

"Of course."

Keesha breathed a sigh of relief.

"After I kiss you." Jax murmered. He bent slightly as he lifted her so they were eye level.

The last time someone refused to let her leave when she had asked, she had never felt such fear. But now, with Jax holding her so close, even as he refused to let her go, she was not afraid. Even though she realized, logically, she should be. Yet, she wanted him to kiss her...though she had no idea of why...or even what exactly a kiss felt like. How could she want something when she did not even know what it felt like?

"Please..." she whispered, mainly to her own confusion.

"Please what?" Jax took her hand and placed it around his neck. He let his fingers glide gently down her arm.

Keesha swallowed. She took a deep breath and tried to concentrate. She broke eye contact, knowing she would never think correctly looking into those blue eyes.

"Please do not..."

Jax tilted her face back up and covered her mouth with his. Her lips parted as if instinctive to his touch.

They were even softer than he had been imagining, and the warm wetness of her mouth increased his desire unexpectedly. He cupped her face with both hands, pulling her even closer. Keesha's eyelids fluttered closed as she felt willed to give in his mouth's tender caress...her body was warming in a way which seemed strange, yet comfortable...

But...

Keesha tried to pull away, but Jax held her to him, refusing to allow her to retreat. He gently deepened the kiss, his mind immediately registering that the caution he used was just as much for himself as it was for her. Never before had a simple kiss had such an effect on him, and he was afraid if he was not careful, he would take things much too far.

Yet, perhaps he did that the moment he kissed her at all.

Keesha managed to pull away. "Jax..." she breathed softly against his lips.

A bolt of desire ran through his entire being at her quivering call of his name. And before she could finish her thought, Jax kissed her again, leaving caution behind and sliding his tongue into her mouth.

Keesha's eyes flew open and she tried to pull his hands from her face, desperately needing him... Her body began to tingle and her eyes closed once more. Her fingers lightly brushed against the back of his hair, but when his tongue met hers she struggled once again to get away.

"I'm sorry." Jax pulled back, yet maintained his hold on her. "I did not mean to frighten you." he managed to whisper.

"I am not afraid." Keesha reacted instantly, cursing herself as she realized what she had just said. But the truth was she was not scared-not of Jax anyway. But she was absolutely terrified of the way her body seemed to react to everything he did. Keesha subconciously ran her tongue over her lips, not understanding why the taste and feel of him still lingered.

"Bloody hell," Jax murmured to the innocently seductive move, his fingertips stroking her cheeks. He needed to stop this now.

Her eyes sparkled, and Jax gave up trying to do the correct thing-he kissed Keesha again and despite herself she returned his kiss, her mouth and tongue automatically following the lead his gave her. Kissing her left him in a far more intoxicated state than any spirit he ever drank...his head was spinning, his heart was racing, and even though he was breathless, he just could not let her go. Never before had he tasted anything as "Good," he repeated before kissing her again.

Keesha could barely hear him, she didn't want to hear him. She just knew that whatever was happening between them, she never wanted to stop. Jax pulled Keesha even further into his body. Soon the kiss grew so passionate, her body completely gave in and a small shiver went through her. Jax reacted with a deep groan and suddenly Keesha felt something pressing against her thigh.

This time Keesha was afraid and she pulled away from Jax again.

"What now..." he murmured, but as his eyes opened and he looked into hers while she stared at him in awe, he realized. "You have never...felt a man in this state before, have you?"

Keesha shook her head slowly. Jax seemed to be implying that what she just experienced was normal, and that made her feel a little better. She took a deep breath, still staring into his eyes. "No."

"No," Jax repeated to himself.

"Is it...do kisses always do that?"

"No. Well...when you are young. By my age however, it usually requires more than just kissing. You've never even been kissed before, have you?" he asked, though in a way he did not want the answer-in case he could be wrong.

"No."

"No." Jax repeated again. "Why?"

"Why?"

"Never mind."

"So....what happened...that caused..."

Jax realized he still held her and slowly dropped his hands from Keesha's face. "I don't know."

Keesha noticed how laboured his breathing was. "Are you all right?" she worried aloud.

"No."

"Is that my fault?"

"Bloody hell..." Jax walked away from Keesha. Was it her fault? That his heart was racing, that he couldn't think clearly, that he just now realized how impossible it would be to leave her alone, in her own bed...when right now all he wanted to do was take her upstairs, and lock the entire world out? Jax looked over at her, shaking his head as the pull to kiss her again intensified just by seeing her across the room.

"Bloody hell," he repeated. How come he could not control himself around her? "Is this your fault? Yes. Yes Keesha it is entirely your fault." He slammed a glass on the bar, pouring himself some whiskey.

Obviously her husband was very moody. And when someone was moody, it was best to leave them alone.

"I am sorry. It won't happen again."

"It what?"

"What..." Keesha didn't know. "...Whatever I did, I will not do it again. I see how uncomfortable it makes you."

Jax laughed and Keesha's confusion at the entire situation grew. "The only way that you can stop it is if you were not you."

"I am not following..."

"Of course not. Do not worry about me, I am fine."

Keesha nodded, and decided to leave.

"Keesha?"

"Yes, Jax?"

Now that he had kissed her, he was absolutely more certain than before. "I will not have you..." This time he couldn't even bring himself to say the word entertain. The thought made him want to kill any imaginary lover she might take. "...kissing Garcia...or anyone else."

Keesha sighed. Not this again. "I assume you may...kiss whomever you please?"

Jax smirked. "Only if she will have me."

She? So he already had someone in mind? Keesha cut her eyes as the thought of Jax sharing kisses...and other intimacies with anyone else made her skin crawl.

"That hardly seems fair." She tried to focus on the matter at hand.

Jax left the bar, walking over to Keesha. "My lady..." Keesha stopped breathing as Jax's voice deepened. He reached out, touching her lips with his fingertips. "...after today, I fear the only mouth I will desire upon mine...is yours," he admitted softly.

Instinctvely Keesha's lips parted slightly, and Jax traced their outline with his thumb. He gave her a small smile and then walked away, going up the stairs.