Harnessed Passions

by Dee Jones

  Julia's arms slid around his neck without her conscious thought as his tongue invaded her mouth. She held onto Daniel's broad shoulders for dear life. She couldn't help but be frightened when he had painted such a dramatic picture for her; but to feel this kind of gentleness, this kind of passion, was just too real to keep the memories of his story alive.

  She felt his tongue trace the soft flesh of her bottom lip, tugging and nibbling until she couldn't breathe. She heard a soft warning sounding in her head, ordering her to push him away. He was the enemy, the traitor, he was the reason she couldn't think or breathe. He was...incredible. He was doing such wicked things to her, that she could no longer think of anything except his arms and his lips.

  Daniel tilted her head a little further in order to deepen their kiss as his tongue burned to life the flames of desire that ran along her spine, traveling lower to her most hidden regions. God, he was magnificent. She had never known that wanting someone and hating them at the same time, could feel so wonderful.

  The urge to touch her was overwhelming, controlling his actions. He had to feel her, and taste every inch of her delicate body. He pulled the top of her bodice down, tugging her petticoat along with it, until her full round breasts were exposed to his eager fingers. She gasped against his lips, as he massaged the tender flesh, playing with the pebble hard nipple that begged for his attention.

  His tongue began to play havoc with her senses, thrusting in her mouth with an alarming rhythm that made her knees weaken and her head spin. His touch left her panting for air against his mouth as he slowly moved his lips across her neck to her collarbone then quickly clamped over one erect nipple. The feeling was pure pleasure as her veins turned to molted lava. She wanted to know more, she needed to feel…what? She had never gone this far with a man before.

  A soft knock at the door brought the couple slowly out of the stupor they had dove into, bringing with it a distance that was unwanted. Daniel stood there watching Julia, his eyes smoldered his desire, devouring her beauty. He didn't know what had caused them to separate; all he knew was the woman in front of him was looking at him with a hunger he hadn’t seen in a woman’s eyes in many long years; she was begging to him, alive with need and he desperately wanted to answer her calling. His desire for her had gone far beyond wanting; he had to have her, all of her and he didn't care what the outcome would be.

  Louise pushed the door open slowly, but seeing the two embraced and hearing her daughter's soft moans of passion, made her back out of the room quietly. She pulled the door closed, praying they hadn't heard or seen her, then tip toed quietly to her room, a maternal smile creasing her aging features. She knew they needed to be alone, and she knew they probably didn't notice that they had been spied on. She only hoped they would continue what they were doing until they were both lost in each other’s love to notice how far they had gone.

  Daniel and Julia stood for a long time, just staring at each other. They had heard a noise, but hadn't bothered investigating its source; it didn't seem important at the moment. The heat of their kiss had generated a number of fantasies and daydreams they couldn't walk away from.

  As he slowly began to pull her to him again, anxious to resume the passion and turn those dreams into reality, Julia found the strength to push away. She couldn't think clearly; she could barely breathe beyond short pants. All she could feel was a tingling sensation that seemed to control her mind and heart, but the warning signals in her brain were going off at an alarming rate. She needed some distance between them; she needed to put this man as far away from her as possible in order to regain her composure.

  Slowly she paced her way to the doors that opened out onto the veranda. Her legs shook and her head was swimming as she leaned against the wooden framework. It took a few moments for the cool evening air to register the state of her attire and she quickly pulled the top of her dress back up where it belonged, hiding her embarrassment in the shadows of the room.

  Daniel stared at her as she stood with her back toward him. He didn't attempt to follow her or to speak. He knew they both needed a few moments to collect their thoughts and reign in their emotions. He couldn’t help but worry that she was regretting her loss of control, as he mentally scolded himself for going so far.

  Julia on the other hand, was certain it was just the images of his warning for what was happening in the bunk house that controlled her actions and made her feel like her head was in a fog. But he had a talent that was unlike anything she’d ever experienced before; his tongue was a dangerous weapon and he knew exactly how to use it to slice through her resistance.

  "I think maybe we should talk," she heard him say, though his words were barely above a husky whisper. His voice was deep and shook slightly with emotion; his tone filled with such sincerity that she found herself turning and face him. Julia saw a mixture of emotions dance across his face; passions, desire, regret, fear; it made her frown as she thought about what had just happened.

  His face was slightly flushed - as she knew hers was - and as she glanced at him leaning against the edge of the desk, the evidence of his arousal made her flush hotter. She turned her head quickly avoiding the eyes that were studying her with just as much interest. If only she could look at something that was just as interesting, but all she could think of was the length of his legs, the breadth of his chest; the blue of his eyes. There was no denying it any longer, the man was the master of her heartstrings and he played them with a tune that made her weak with desire.

  "I owe you an apology," she heard herself saying, although the voice was shaky and didn't sound at all like her own. "I seem to have acted irrationally and I'm sorry."

  "You don't have anything to apologize for, Princess," he told her, trying not to touch her as he walked to where she stood. "I'm the one who acted like a love starved alley cat." Several seconds ticked by before either of them spoke again. The urge to hold her was so powerful; Daniel was forced to tuck his hands into his pockets to keep from reaching out to her.

  ""Umm..."..." she began, glancing around the room. Think of something to say Julia, she cursed herself, but nothing would come to mind. Being this close to the man, made her pulse race and her body long for things she couldn’t understand.

  "Right," he said, aware of the awkwardness. "We need to make some decisions." He knew of only one way to break this spell between them. He had to make her angry; he had to make her boiling mad with him; that would keep him at bay for the rest of the evening. It was the only way to bring a sense of order to their current condition.

  "What do you mean?" Julia was certain he was going to ask her if she wanted to go to his room or if she preferred him in hers. Either way would be fine with her, but the next words out of his mouth took her completely off guard.

  "Your father left me half of this land and I've decided I want it all," he lied, knowing he was on the verge of causing her to explode. "The only way I can get what I want, is for you to give it to me."

  "You what?" she asked, her temper waking with a start as she blinked her eyes repeatedly to comprehend what he had said.

  "Look Julia, I know you don't want the stables and you can't wait to get rid of it. I want what you have," he told her boldly, nearly adding exactly what it was he did want. "I can't have it unless you consent to give it to me."

  "And just how the hell do you suggest I do that, Mr. Browning?" Oh God, he thought, she was calling him Mr. Browning again. Maybe he went too far with his attempt to break their spell, he thought, but it was too late to turn back now.

  "The only way you can give me your share of the land - according to your father's will - is to marry me." Julia's mouth dropped open in disbelief and her eyes grew as round as saucers. Several moments passed before she closed her mouth, her jaw tightening as she ground her teeth together in frustration, her fists clenched at her sides.

  "You arrogant, self-center, egotistical..."

  "Watch it Princess," he warned in a deep voice. "Don't say anything, I'll have to make
you regret."

  "Bastard!" That did it. Now Daniel knew he had accomplished his task. The spell was broken and she was back to being the pig headed, stubborn woman he knew he could never resist. Better now before he took her to his bed, than suffer the regret and embarrassment come morning.

  "Listen to me," he began, staring at her full faced, no longer feeling the need to avoid looking directly at her. "You don't want anything to do with this land, right?"

  "So?"

  "So, by marrying me, you wouldn't have to worry about it. It would be my concern. I'd have the headaches that went along with it, not you. You could do whatever it is your heart desires."

  "Does your proposal also include my returning to Boston?"

  "No," Daniel said quickly, warning himself to think fast. He couldn't let her go once they were married and he knew it. He had to come up with some reason to keep her at his side. "If the news that you had moved to Boston without me ever got out, it would be grounds for any number of people to contest the will. We could lose it all, and the stables would be in probate for years to come."

  Julia thought for a few minutes. He did make sense, but damn it, she wanted to go back to Boston! She wanted as far away from this insufferable man as possible, even if it meant losing everything she inherited. At least her mother and brother would still have their inheritance.

  As though able to read her mind, Daniel quickly added, "Your whole family would lose, Julia. The entire contents of your father's will could be jeopardized. You'd be responsible for your mother and brother being destitute; the servants, the stables, your extended family and relatives. Are you willing to risk that?"

  "No," she admitted after a moment to mull his question over. She couldn't allow her family to live on the streets just because she was stubborn and selfish, but the thought of Daniel being homeless didn't discourage her much, or at least she told herself it didn't.

  "I won't marry you, Mr. Browning," she told him firmly. "There has to be some other way out of this mess."

  "If there were, Harold would have mentioned it. Trouble is it's a completely legal agreement. Your father made it very clear there would be no way out of the situation short of marriage...or death. And I'm not about to die just to accommodate you."

  "Nor will I give you the same consideration. But could you agree to have a platonic marriage, Mr. Browning?" she asked, pleased with herself for thinking so quickly. The look on Daniel's face was priceless. He hadn't counted on her coming up with a condition of her own.

  "By platonic, you mean we wouldn't share the same room?" he asked, feeling as though his plans were starting to backfire in his face.

  "I mean, Mr. Browning, that we wouldn't be sharing the same bed. The marriage would go unconsummated and unchallenged. Can you agree to that?"

  "You're asking a great deal, Princess. I could divorce you for refusing to share our marriage bed, or I could always just take what was legally mine."

  "But you won’t.” She had him there. “If you can't agree to my condition, Mr. Browning, then I can't agree to marry you. Also, even if we should marry, I keep my portion of the stables. I have equal say in the business and equal share in the profits. Agreed?" She had him, she knew she did. He would never agree to marry her now, or for that matter, ever ask her again. Hell, he'd probably avoid her like the plague from now on.

  "I thought you didn't want this land?" he asked with a narrowing of his blue eyes.

  "I don't, but as long as I have to stay here, I want to know what's going on and make certain you're not milking every last cent out of my half of the inheritance."

  "You don't give me much credit for integrity, Princess."

  "I haven't seen much of a display of it to judge whether you even know the meaning of the word."

  Daniel eyed the woman for a long moment, considering what she had said. If he were to force the issue and take her to his bed, there would be no way she could refuse. A wife would have no charge against her husband for taking what was rightfully his, but he knew he couldn't force her either. Not consciously at least, yet the thought was tempting, especially now. She looked so smug and proud for thinking up a scheme she was certain would work, but he was a man of many talents and even more surprises. A little wooing, a few whispered words of passion at just the right moment and presto! She'd be tethered to his headboard in nothing flat. A prospect in itself, that proved an intriguing pursuit.

  The only real drawback was he honestly didn't want her portion of the land. Hell, he didn't want his own for that matter. He was a lawyer; that was his life and what he lived for, but he could allow Julia to worry about the financial end of the stables. The urge to possess and protect her was too overwhelming for sane thought. He couldn't say no, regardless of the rules she made.

  "I agree to your conditions, Princess," he told her, relishing in the look of utter shock on her beautiful features. She hadn’t expected him to agree, and for that he was pleased. "I'll have your mother make the necessary arrangements in the morning, and Harold can draw up the papers to keep you as half owner of the stables. We should be married by the time the week is over."

  “What?” Julia gasped; certain he would have refused her conditions.

  “Is there a problem?” Daniel nearly laughed at the expression on the young woman’s face. “You made the conditions, I agreed to it. That’s called negotiations. Did you want to alter the parameters?”

  “No, I just thought….”

  “Yes?” he asked, edging closer to her, forcing her to back up against the doorframe as she tried to escape him. Julia didn’t answer; she could barely breathe.

  Daniel smiled a crooked grin at her, actually anticipating being married to this woman. The pleasure he was going to derive from crumbling her restraints was going to be as much fun as the conquer itself.

  “I’ll make you one promise, Princess,” he said barely above a whisper, a long finger gently tracing the outline of her jaw. “You and I are going to be very close, very soon. We will be partners and will have to spend many long, hot hours together. By the end of summer, I will have you begging me to make love to you. I’m making that my utmost goal.” Julia swallowed hard; her lips suddenly dry, her heart pounding wildly between her ears.

  Without another word Daniel turned and walked away from her, leaving her to deal with the array of emotions twisting in her stomach. If he was serious about keeping his promise, she was either going to be totally insane within a month, or completely satisfied. Neither idea did much to relieve her raging nerves.

  Chapter Nine

  Julia spent the next three days in complete and utter shock. She would never have believed that Daniel would agree to this ridiculous idea, let alone actually go through with it. He had announced to Louise and Jeremy the morning after their discussion that they were to be married by the end of the week. Louise of course was thrilled and excited beyond words, and immediately began issuing orders and making plans. Jeremy was confused and a little bit more than surprised, but let his own feelings go unheard for the time being.

  The house was in a literal uproar with wedding preparations. Flowers were cut, arranged and placed in expensive, colorful vases in every room. Multiple recipes were explored while breads were baked, cakes decorated and side dishes mixed together in abundance amounts. Beef, ham, chicken, and pork were slaughtered and prepared for the big day, while Louise ordered the printing of invitations which were hand delivered, while more than a hundred telegrams were sent. She had unpacked her old wedding gown, handed down through four generations - Julia being the fourth - and ordered an immediate fitting. It was altered within less than two days’ time, with three women working on it, practically around the clock.

  Much to Julia's irritation and amazement, the gown fit like a white satin glove, hugging her delicate curves and accenting all the right places. The three foot train flowed behind her, with the veil hanging delicately to her hips. Tiny pearls were stitched to the neckline and sleeves, since it was a tradition to improve on the
original design. The only contrast to the snow white gown was a small delicate broach Daniel had purchased and insisted on having attached on the bodice. Not at the neckline as the tailor would have preferred, but at the apex of her cleavage.

  The broach was a 14 karate creation in the shape of a crown; encased in a row of tiny sapphires surrounding a four karat emerald. The entire design was about four inches in diameter and sparkled as the light caught it. The stones had been part of a tie tack and cufflink set Daniel’s father had left him upon his death, with the exception of the emerald. That was a new addition. The whole design had been a symbol nobody understood, except for Daniel, who smiled when he saw the completed project. After all, he thought with a smile when he gave it to Louise the day of their wedding; a princess needed a crown.

  Louise didn't know about the agreement between Daniel and her daughter; it was their wish not to confide in her. The woman had been through too much already and neither Daniel nor Julia wanted to add to her distress, so they pasted on smiles and held hands whenever they knew anyone was watching and pretended to be passionately in love. Not that it had fooled Jeremy, though. He could see through the pretense and confronted Julia the first chance he had to get her alone, the day before her wedding.

  "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he snapped, pulling her into the sitting room and quietly shutting the door.

  "Don't start with me Jeremy; I'm not in the mood to discuss this stupid thing with you."

  "So you admit you're not marrying Daniel out of love? So why the hell are you going through with this farce?"

  "I don't have a choice. I made a bargain I didn't think he'd accept and Daniel called me on it. I have to go through with the plans."

  "Julia damn it," he cursed, his temper full blown, nearing the point of no return. "Why are you allowing the bastard to do this to you?"

  "Daniel isn't..."

  "Not Daniel," her brother interrupted. "I meant father. How can you let him control you? He's dead Julia, tell him to go to hell and live your own life." Julia knew she could never explain to her brother why she was marrying Daniel. Hell, she could barely explain it to herself. She couldn't let him know, that without this marriage both he and their mother could lose everything. He would never be able to marry his Malinda and Louise would never be able to return to Europe.