An Arranged Marriage

by C. M. Bryden

  Jake leant forward to kiss her nipples that were standing out with her excitement, feeling her shudder as a shiver ran through her body as his mouth suckled on them, before he moved down to her waist, defining it with his hands, committing her shape to his memory, until he wanted more, much more than touching, and then it came to the point where he stopped kissing her body and pulled her even closer, as near to his body as he could get, kissing her waiting mouth, exploring and tasting its honeyed sweetness, allowing her to do the same to him in return.

  Jake continued to caress her, sure he would explode if he didn’t enter her soon and then, with Jane’s full co-operation, he did just that.

  Jane felt as though she was falling into a bottomless chasm, a deep and dark abyss, until suddenly, she was soaring up to the light, as Jake made love to her and all her senses were satisfied, every fantasy and dream she’d ever had of making love with him, her pirate, were suddenly fulfilled.

  Later, with Jane dozing, Jake left her side, only to open the bottle of champagne cooling in an ice bucket, and to fill the two fluted glasses by its side, which he then carried across to the bed, along with a silver dish full of luscious ripened strawberries.

  Jane felt him return to the bed and opened her eyes; sated and dreamy from their lovemaking, her lustrous hair tousled as she looked at him from under her lashes, liking what she saw. She wanted to reach out and touch him, to sweep his hair away from his face so she could see him. She did reach out, placing her hand on his cheek in a loving gesture that wasn’t lost on Jake at all. He took hold of her hand and kissed the palm, loving the way she looked. If Jane looked this good in the mornings, then being married to her was going to be a joy!

  Exactly Jane’s thoughts, as they sat together, naked, under the covers, feeding each other strawberries as they sipped champagne. For the first time, Jane realised that Jake, for all that he’d been a fabulous lover, had failed to tell her that he loved her!

  He didn’t know how to say those three simple words. Three little words that mean so much to a woman were left unsaid. It was this omission that was to prove the stumbling block in his relationship with his new wife.

  Jane felt disappointed and let down, not at his prowess as a lover, but without those few words, their lovemaking had become just an act of sex. As she sipped her glass of champagne she wondered if that was how he felt. Was it just sex to him? Would his lust for her turn to love, given time?

  Jake though had had no such thoughts. He was more than happy with his bride. As far as he was concerned arranging to marry Jane, as part of his saving Andrew’s company had been his most inspired deal ever. The most successful piece of bargaining he’d ever done. And now, all he had to do was to consolidate his position as her lover and husband, which he fully intended doing, just as soon as they’d drunk the remaining champagne!

  The theatre show they went to later was memorable, as was the dinner at an Italian restaurant, where from the welcome they received, it was obvious Jake was a favoured customer. The waiters were attentive and charming and, when Jake told them it was their wedding day, there was even more champagne drunk. By the time they finally returned to the Dorchester they were more than slightly intoxicated and definitely in lust!

  Jane was the first to undress: jumping naked into the huge bed, this time, to Jake’s delight, she took command. For someone who hadn’t wanted to get married, Jane was certainly enjoying her honeymoon! As for Jake, he was unable to believe she could be so wanton, or so forward, enjoying their lovemaking: their joint passion secretly pleasing them both.

  The next morning, Jane woke to find Jake already showered, dressed and pouring coffee from the breakfast trolley just delivered. Seeing Jane awake, he started dishing up the food, bacon, eggs, hot rolls, croissants, all freshly baked, making her realise how hungry she was. Jane laughed. It must be all the exercise from having sex that had given her an appetite! She made up her mind that today, she would talk over her role in their marriage and find out just exactly what it was Jake expected from her, as his wife, in return for helping her father! And, what she could expect from him, as her husband?

  Her feelings for him had changed dramatically since they’d married. She’d enjoyed their lovemaking, just as Jake had. But what she wanted to know was, why had he’d been in such a hurry to marry her?

  Jake was perfectly happy, and far from worried about his marriage. He had the woman he wanted in his life, what more could any man want?

  Had he known the direction of Jane’s thoughts, he could have saved himself a lot of heartache by being truthful, telling her how much he loved her, but Jake, being emotionally naïve, he didn’t know how.

  If only he’d known, it was his naivety that was going to get him into trouble and in a big way! If only!

  Chapter Nine

  Jane had been agreeably surprised when Jake told her they were going to Paris for their honeymoon. It was a city she knew well, and the hotel he’d chosen was perfect, small yet charming, with a romantic décor and a view from their room overlooking the Seine.

  On their first evening in the city of love and romance they went to an intimate little restaurant on the left bank for dinner. It was an old-fashioned place, its atmosphere redolent with nostalgia for the past, as a musician played an accordion while they dined. Jake could see from Jane’s face; he’d chosen their honeymoon destination well. (All thanks to a tip off from his new father-in-law that Paris was a city Jane loved.) But even though he was in the most romantic city in the world, with the woman he loved sitting opposite, Jake found it impossible to open his heart and say what was inside him.

  It was a magical night, tailor made for lovers, with the sky full of glittering stars. The river turned to silver from the reflection of the moon as they walked slowly back to their hotel. Taking in the atmosphere, Jane asked Jake why he’d brought her to Paris.

  ‘Because I couldn’t resist it,’ he’d replied, surprised at the expression on her face, ‘I thought you would like Paris? It’s supposed to be the most romantic city in the world! Also, I asked your father his opinion, and he said it was one of your favourite places.’

  Jane didn’t answer. What could she say? Her father had not only arranged her marriage, but also she’d found he’d even had a hand in arranging her honeymoon! Whatever next would he arrange? Would it be how many children she should have?

  Jane felt bruised and mentally confused: knowing that when she’d married Jake she was merely adding another business acquisition to his portfolio. As far as she was concerned, she was quite sure he didn’t love her. He might lust after her body, just as she lusted after his, but enjoying great sex in no way proved he loved her. She could see he desired her, he’d made that more than obvious, but to her mind that wasn't good enough, especially knowing she wanted more than sex, she wanted his love!

  ‘I should thank you, for marrying me.’ Jake said, as he placed his arms round her waist drawing her into a close embrace: looking down at her with his heart beating so loud he was surprised Jane couldn’t hear it.

  Jane looked up at him, a streetlamp shining on her face, her eyes wide open and expectant, and then she spoilt the moment.

  ‘Why should you thank me? I was only doing what I’d been asked to do by my father!’

  For a moment, Jake just looked at her, unable to comprehend her comment, his eyes showing his hurt at her remark; suddenly she felt mean and childish.

  ‘It’s true! You told my father you wouldn’t help him if I refused to marry you, so I was more or less ordered to go through with it. I had to consider the workers at the factory. If the factory closed down there would be no jobs for them and I couldn’t have that on my conscience now, could I? Marrying you was the only way I could see of getting out of the dilemma my father had created.’

  Jake looked as though she’d hit him full in the stomach, all his breath knocked out of him by her blunt words; to add insult to injury she quietly carried on with her tirade.

  ‘Jake, you married me in re
turn for bankrolling the company and to get your hands on my father’s business. I’m not stupid! I expected that if I married you there would be sex involved! Especially as you are a real heterosexual man and I’m a red-bloodied woman!’

  Jane desperately wanted Jake to tell her he’d married her because he loved her, not because she came with the business, but because he wanted her for herself. But that didn’t happen, even though he’d had been shaken by her outburst. But Jane wasn’t finished yet!

  ‘I knew you’d want to have sex with me in return for helping my father. I suppose I saw it as being a reasonable exchange. I just hope you haven’t been disappointed?’

  Jake looked at her, aghast at her words. He couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. So, she’d willingly taken part in their lovemaking because her father had ordered her to marry him? He’d thought she’d participated because she wanted him as much as he wanted her, but apparently not! She’d given him the impression she’d enjoyed every moment as much as he had. He’d even thought she might have fallen a little in love with him, but obviously that wasn’t right either! Was she now telling him she would only stay with him until the company was on a firm footing? And what then? Would she then file for a divorce! Well, that was never going to happen; he didn’t intend losing her, even if she didn’t love him. Somehow, he would make her change her mind and fall in love with him! But how that was going to happen he was at a loss to know. For once, his ego had taken a big tumble from which he couldn’t see any way of getting over.

  All he knew was that he had to convince Jane he’d fallen in love with her the first time he’d set eyes on her. But before he could tell her, she’d broken away from his embrace and was quickly walking away, making her way back to their hotel. What he didn’t know, and couldn’t see, were the tears streaming down her face.

  As for Jane! Why, she thought to herself, had she berated herself and spoken to Jake as she had? Why couldn’t she just have been satisfied knowing she loved him? Did it really matter whether he loved her or not? Perhaps given time he would fall in love with her, until then, she would try to act, as any good wife would!

  Jake caught up with her and, in silence and with no physical contact, they made their way back to their hotel, each deep in their own thoughts. Jake’s thoughts were that he intended to let his body do the convincing. If Jane’s reaction to him the previous nights had been for real, then he did have something she wanted, or had that been just pretence as well?

  Jane undressed in the small en suite bathroom, no wanton stripping and leaping into the bed for her that night. She came out wearing a demure nightdress, a sexless number Jessie had tried hard to persuade her not to buy.

  Turning back the bedcover, she climbed in, pulling the covers up to her chin, making it obvious there would be no sex that night! (This is universally known as the angry arse treatment!)

  Jake, meanwhile, had stripped down to his Calvin Klein’s and was already sitting on the edge of the bed when Jane appeared wearing her virginal nightdress. He smiled at her as though nothing was wrong, hoping she would respond in a way that would save the situation from deteriorating any further but, from the frosty look she gave him, he knew it wasn’t going to be as easy as he’d thought, trying to convince her of his true feelings. All that mattered was that he loved her and, quite frankly, he didn’t give a fig for her father’s business. That had just been a front to get her to marry him!

  Jane ignored him, her buttoned up, high-necked attire successfully giving out its “keep out, forbidden territory” sign.

  Jake got the message, but that didn’t stop him wanting to rip the bloody thing off to reveal the body he’d worshipped the night before. He was unused to having a woman unwilling to sleep with him, especially as all his previous conquests had been more than willing, without him even offering marriage!

  Sitting on the bed in his underwear, Jake was in a quandary as to what he should do next. But Jane already had her back to him, pretending to be asleep. But really she was waiting for him to do or say anything that would make her feel loved as his wife, and not as a piece of bargaining material, but Jake misread the situation and her signals, and therefore, he failed to respond.

  For a man, intelligent enough to be successful at making millions of pounds in business deals, when it came to professing his love to the woman he’d married, Jake Adams was tongue-tied and inordinately stupid and, moreover, he was sadly lacking in the romance department.

  With Jane under the bedcovers, feigning sleep, Jake knew the chances of him making love to her that night were going to be quite slim, possibly non-existent. He truly believed he wouldn’t be holding her in his arms that night and therefore, the three little words he wanted so much to say, were to remain unsaid!

  For several hours neither of them slept. They tossed and turned until, exhausted they finally did fall asleep, gravitating quite naturally into each other’s arms and, from then on, it didn’t take long before Jane’s high-necked and demure virginal nightdress lay on the floor, quickly to be joined by Jake’s underwear. It started with a kiss, which soon led to them caressing each other, to the point where there was no return. But even then, at the height of his passion, Jake still couldn’t say what Jane wanted desperately to hear until finally, she realised if she wanted to have Jake in her life, and her bed, then she would have to forget hearing the words she’d thought to be so important and instead, concentrate more on his actions. Maybe in time he would be able to tell her he loved her, until then, she would just have to be content with having him as her husband!

  With their honeymoon in Paris over, the newly-weds returned to London, to live in Jane’s flat. Jake didn’t care where he lived as long as it was with Jane. His apartment had merely been a place to sleep when he wasn’t travelling. He’d decided it was better to rent it out but so far, they hadn’t talked a great deal about their future together. It was early days as far as Jake was concerned, unlike Jane who wanted to know where she stood in their relationship. Perhaps that’s a woman thing, wanting the security of knowing all the ends are neatly tied up but for Jake there was nothing to discuss. As for Jane, she intended continuing with her career, until the day came when Jake admitted he loved her and then she would think seriously about their future together, along with the possibility of them being parents!

  Chapter Ten

  The newlyweds spent their first weekend together collecting Jake’s possessions from his Chelsea apartment, then moving Jane’s belongings around to give them more room. It seemed odd to both of them to be sharing a bed with a comparative stranger, even more so for Jane, as her bedroom had once been her refuge. Getting to know her new husband was proving easier than even she had expected. Jake might not know the rudiments of courtship, or how to say the words of love Jane wanted to hear but he was easy to live with. Their sex life was good and frequent. Unable to take their hands off each other so far they’d made love in all the rooms. By the time Monday morning came round and work beckoned for them both, Jane had found her love for Jake growing. They’d even managed to establish a routine of sorts. And, from the look on his face, even Jake was finding married life to his liking, even if at first it had seemed strange for him to be living with someone else, especially a woman! He’d suddenly gone in one great leap from being a fully-fledged bachelor, to a married man with responsibilities. A difficult enough transition for most confirmed bachelors, but even more so for Jake, who hadn’t lived as part of a family since he’d been sent away to his all boys boarding school at the age of eight, and then at eighteen he’d gone to university, where he’d lived in a male only hall of residence. From there, he’d gone to America on a scholarship where once again he’d lived in an all-male hostel, until finally, on his return to London, he’d moved into his own apartment in Chelsea. It was somewhat different for Jane. She’d lived at home with her parents, until she left for university and even there she’d shared a house with three other girls, before moving into her own flat when she first started work.
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br />   It must have been a week or so later, before Jane turned her attention to her father, whom she hadn’t seen since her return from Paris. They’d spoken often on the phone and he’d sounded fine, which was itself an improvement as to how he’d been previously, but so far she hadn’t seen him in the flesh.

  Before her marriage, she’d worried constantly about him and then more so, once she knew of his financial problems. It was his health that was her biggest worry. She’d seen him looking more and more haggard as the days had passed, ageing, almost overnight, as he became a shadow of his former self. Rightly so, she’d become quite concerned, which was the main reason why she’d agreed to his outlandish request that she should marry Jake. When she did see him, a week or so later, she was completely bowled over. To her surprise his health had improved enormously. He’d changed, and for the better. She’d even remarked to Jake on how much fitter her father was looking. All due, Jake told her, to the company’s finances being sorted out and the business once more on its way to being as financially successful as it had always been.

  Jake knew from his past experiences of stepping in and helping companies with financial problems, just how much money worries are the killer ingredient for making anyone ill and, unfortunately, Andrew wasn’t the exception. It always amazed Jake just how quickly someone’s health problems could be cured merely by an injection of money. It always improved what had once been a disastrous situation, turning it into a good one! So Jane was pleasantly shocked when Andrew called into her office to see her, amazing her, when she saw him in the flesh. Even after such a short time, there’d been a tremendous transformation in his health, all due, as she thought, to her new husband!

  It was as Jake had told her; an injection of money had certainly been the biggest part of Andrew’s cure! He’d finely been able to relax, especially now he was no longer beset with financial worries and all thanks to his new son-in-law being a multi-millionaire. Unlike Jane, who had no care that Jake was worth millions! She knew she would have fallen in love with him even if he’d been penniless!