by Dee Jones
"Dad has nothing to do with this," she defended finally, hoping to sound as confident as she pretended to be. "This is between Daniel and myself and that's all there is to it. You're supposed to be happy for me, little brother. You're not supposed to be trying to talk me out of getting married."
"It's not Daniel I'm against, I like him and I think he cares a great deal for you, but I just don't like to see you hurt. Father has condemned you to living with a man you don't love and bearing children you don't want. Can you do that and not honestly say you'll never regret it?"
"I'm not going to sleep with Daniel, Jeremy," she announced, irritated by her brother's sudden change of attitude. One minute he was defending the man, the next he was tearing him apart. It was as though he didn't know what to think, just so long as somebody got the blame. “The marriage won’t be consummated. It will be a marriage in name only.”
"Did Daniel agree to this?" Jeremy asked, shocked and stunned by her news. He couldn't believe a man like Daniel Browning was going to let his wife - hell, his bride! - get away with not having sex. Jeremy frowned as he thought about Malinda. He knew without a doubt, he would never have agreed to a ridiculous arrangement like that.
"Yes he did agree, willingly in fact,” Julia answered; a tone of disbelief and disappointment echoed through her words. “He only wants the land, Jeremy. He doesn't want me."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Of course I am. Why else would he have agreed so eagerly?"
"What about you? Did you agree to the same conditions?"
"Who do you think made them?" Jeremy walked to his sister where she sat rigid in a chair next to the fireplace and leaned down, laying his hands gently on her shoulders, forcing her to look up into his eyes.
"If you agreed and you thought of the condition Jules, then why do you sound like your heart's breaking?" She knew how she sounded, but she couldn't keep the disappointment from her voice. Did she really want to keep the man at arm's length, or could she find her way into his bed, after all?
Saturday morning arrived with its usual hustle and bustle of farm life, but this day was by several degrees worse. Daniel had secured a marriage license and Louise had finished putting the final touches to everything the night before. Julia hadn't slept more than four hours the entire night and found small circles under her eyes when she looked in the mirror. Somehow, it seemed a fitting addition of her current mood.
As she sat staring into the oval mirror of her vanity, she began thinking of her dream wedding. She had spent many childhood years daydreaming of this day, as she and Heather Farnsworth planed and contemplated their day of glory.
They would marry in a double ceremony, so they could always share their joy together. There would be an orchestra and a huge buffet, catered by only the finest chefs brought over from Europe, just for this special day. They would decorate the entire town with tinsel and balloons, and the church bells would ring, announcing their marriages.
A team of white horses would carry them to the chapel in a coach of solid gold and when they walked down the aisle, their future husbands would smile and stand straight and proud, because they were going to belong only to that one man, forever and eternity.
Heather would be Julia's witness and Julia, Heather's. They would announce that they were pregnant on the same day and have their babies in the same room together; both boys named after their fathers. The one thing they always planned on, above all the else was that the men they were marrying would be passionately in love with them. Who would have imagined that Julia would be marrying in compliance with her father's will, or that Heather wouldn't be here to share her day?
"Oh, Heather," she whispered, as tears streaked down her pale cheeks. "Why did you have to leave me? I need you, so much." Julia laid her head on her arm and sobbed from too many years of loneliness and solitude. Her life was a mess, the man she wanted to love her, only wanted her land, and her best friend was dead and buried. Even her father was gone. God, what else could go wrong in her life?
Reverend Parker had agreed to perform the ceremony and Daniel had asked Harold to stand as his witness. Julia didn't have any friends left in Kentucky, most had moved on after graduating school or getting married, so she asked her mother to stand beside her. Louise had acted as though it was the greatest honor of her life to be her daughter's maid of honor.
The service was an elaborate affair, surprisingly so considering the short notice to make all the plans. There were flowers lining the walls of the small church, the pews were tied together with large satin bows in the color of the sky and the church choir leader was at the piano, playing a variety of reverent, romantic tunes. Jeremy had agreed to escort his sister down the aisle in the absence of their father and was dressed in the new black suit and waistcoat his mother had ordered for him. Daniel stood at the end of the aisle next to Harold, smiling as she approached him in a manner that confused her. She tried to look happy, but found herself fighting the tears from her eyes. She wanted to be happy, it was her wedding day after all, but she couldn’t bring herself to be more than nervous.
Reverend Parker ended the wedding ceremony as he had so many before, announcing to those who watched that they were man and wife, but what followed nearly knocked Julia off her feet.
Daniel pulled her to him, smiling softly as he lowered his lips to hers. The moment they touched, Julia felt a knot tighten in her stomach. He took her in his arms and what she expected to be a simple act, turned out to be a soul searching, knee weakening kiss, filled with more passion than she could have imagined. Her arms wrapped around his neck voluntarily as he held her tightly to his chest. The tip of his wet tongue, forced her lips apart, then darted inside with such eager exploration, she was certain the skies had turned black and time had stood still.
He explored the depths of her mouth, as though he had found a rare and valued treasure. The tenderness brought a sting of tears to her eyes and her back arched voluntarily into his embrace. She was lost and she knew it. If he chose to push his rights and take her to their wedding bed, she knew he wouldn't find any opposition.
When he released her several moments later, she felt a sudden rush of disappointment wash over her; she had hoped for more, had wanted to feel more and learn more. But as his eyes searched hers, she became painfully aware of the guests who sat watching them and felt the color steal into her cheeks. Daniel chuckled and pulled her against him, hugging her tightly.
"You're priceless," he whispered against her ear, sending waves of goose bumps across her flesh. When he released her again, it was with a soft groan of reluctance.
He continued to hold her, keeping her within a few feet of him the entire day. His arms would wrap around her waist whenever he came near and she found his touch stimulating and arousing. Her cold heart was beginning to melt and he knew it. His attention on her was keen and alert, and whenever another man came within three feet of her, he was there. He acted the part of the doting, adoring groom and made everyone think he had married her for love alone and not for what her father had given her.
As the evening came to a halt, Julia felt herself falling into a pit of despair. She knew everything he did that day was for the sake of those watching. She also knew when it came time to go upstairs, it would be to separate rooms and separate beds.
Julia was ushered to the winding staircase by a gentle hand on her arm. When she glanced around she saw Daniel holding onto her. Why should that surprise her? It had been his hands she felt all afternoon. He walked up the first four stairs with her and stopped suddenly. She glanced behind them and saw the group of females gathered below the staircase.
"What's going on?" she whispered, hearing his chuckle against her back.
"You're supposed to throw your bouquet," he told her softly. "It's tradition." Julia felt the color rise in her cheeks again, as she turned her back to the crowd as he handed her the flowers. At least it gave her a moment to collect her thoughts. Daniel was still next to her, his hand on her the small o
f her back, as he leaned down and kissed her cheek.
"Smile Princess, people are watching." Julia turned to face him, realizing her mother and brother, along with Harold and his wife Margie were standing at the bottom of the stairs watching them. She smiled shyly and tossed the flowers across her shoulder. A squeal from the crowd announced the bouquet had been retrieved, but she could hardly think as Daniel knelt down on the step below her.
"Shall we see whom she marries?" he asked, aware of the sudden shudder his touch caused as he pushed the hem of her skirt up across her knees. Her eyes locked with his and she barely noticed her dress being lifted, or her leg being braced on his strong knee. Several men in the hallway below them whistled and clicked their tongues as Daniel slid the garter from Julia's slender leg. He deliberately took his time removing the satin and lace band, sending wave after wave of electricity traveling along the inside of her thigh. He stood, tossed the garter across his shoulder and without breaking his stride, picked Julia up and carried her up the stairs.
A moment later he was kissing her as she felt herself being carried down the hallway and listened as a door closed. She registered the sound of a key turning and frowned. Oh God, she was locked in the room with him! Panic stole through her and she began to struggle in his arms as he carried her to the bed and laid her on it. Daniel frowned as he leaned across her, trying to figure out the sudden change in her mood.
"You agreed," she whispered, trying to keep her voice steady.
"How can you say that after the way you just kissed me? You don’t honestly expect me to carry through with that ridiculous agreement, do you?" His voice was a soft growl and she became suddenly aware that the top of her gown had been unfastened and pulled off her shoulders. She quickly pulled it back up and held it tightly across her breasts, barely considering how or when he had loosened the buttons.
"I didn't realize what I was doing," she told him honestly, but then decided a lie wouldn't hurt at this point. "I had too much champagne, I wasn't thinking clear."
"That might have worked if I didn't know you haven't had anything except punch all day," he accused. He remained next to her on the bed, pinning her to the mattress with his long leg across hers.
"Tell me the truth, Julia," he demanded; his tone level with just a hint of irritation or anger - she couldn't tell which - shining in his eyes. "Do you want me to make love to you or not? No conditions, no agreements, just you and me and nothing else. There's nothing outside that door and nobody to hear us. Do you want me as much as I want you?" Oh God, did he mean it? Did he really want her?
"I don't know," she whispered, more in answer to her silent question, then to his spoken one. Daniel stood up next to the bed, still looking down at her. His eyes were steady, his stern expression masking his thoughts. He turned and headed for the connecting door that led to the next bedroom. Suddenly she became aware of where he had taken her.
This was her parents’ old room. Her mother had this one and her father the one next door. Her mother had insisted they shared separate rooms because Victor snored to loudly and kept her awake at night; though she knew he had forced her to abandon him to the attached room.
Julia sat up in time to see Daniel step across the threshold dividing the two rooms. He looked at her again, this time the emotion that echoed in his eyes was undeniable. He was angry and worse, he was hurt. She didn't know how to turn this around. She did want him, but she felt like one of the town whores she had heard about. He had bought her like a common tart, or maybe she had bought him, she just didn’t know which one.
"When you can make up your mind Princess," he told her, his voice quiet and steady. "You know where I’ll be." He stood there for a moment longer watching while Julia’s brows pulled into a frown of confusion. "Good-night, Mrs. Browning," he told her at last, receiving a look of shock. "Enjoy your wedding night."
With that said, Daniel shut the door, leaving her sitting on her wedding bed alone, tears of regret and sorrow anointing her face and neck.
Daniel slipped into Julia's room quietly, pulling the door closed behind him. He deposited his clothes at the foot of the bed and crawled in between the sheets behind Julia. His arm wrapped around her tiny waist, pinning her to the mattress. The warmth of her body next to his brought a sudden rush of memories from the night before and he could feel the result of their encounter grip hold of his erection.
Julia shifted slightly in the bed, feeling an odd warmth press up behind her that seemed to embrace her very soul. She frowned slightly as she tried to focus on what it could be, but after spending most of the night pacing the floor, fighting the urge to go to her husband, she was completely exhausted and unable to think.
"Wake up Princess," Daniel whispered against her foggy confusion; his lips brushing her ear, nibbling gently on the tiny lobe. Julia frowned. Her mind was in a spin, her heart skipped a beat and her stomach knotted with anxiety.
"What?" she moaned lightly then moaned as his lips moved down her neck. She smiled softly, closing her eyes to the sensations stirring to life, but before the content feeling had a chance to find a home, another thought began to echo in her mind. She was in bed with a man!
"Daniel Browning!" she snapped, trying to pull out of his embrace, only to have his arms tighten their grip. He turned her quickly to her back, covering her mouth with the hard pressure of his lips. His kiss was filled with anger and desire; a strange mixture she was quickly becoming accustomed to.
"Be quiet," he ordered, against her mouth. "Your mother's on her way up with our breakfast and unless you want her to know we slept in separate rooms, I suggest you start looking like a woman who's recovering from a very passionate night."
"And how do you suggest I do that? I've never had a passionate night." Daniel smiled at her in a mocking way that made her blush; the look in his eyes told her the fault for her lack of experience was not his.
"Then perhaps we should do something to rectify that little problem," he whispered, pressing his lips against hers before she could object. Julia struggled against the steel grip of his arms, but as he moved to lie across her, pinning her to the mattress, she suddenly lost the will to fight. Her arms wrapped around his neck and her lips parted for his invading tongue.
He had a unique way of making her forget the world outside of his arms; a way of making her want to explore the erratic emotions burning to life within her veins.
Daniel groaned low and savage, like a beast on the prowl. He knew his time was limited. He had heard Louise ordering Mrs. Lester to prepare a breakfast tray when he started downstairs a few minutes ago. He hurried back up unseen and went straight to Julia's room, striping his clothes off and laid them on the floor, along with his suit from the day before. The illusion was perfect and would make anyone who sat the disarray of clothing think he had spent the night with his bride, instead of tossing restlessly in another room.
The knob to the door jiggled softly and Louise quietly pushed the door open, peeking into the dark room. She looked across and saw Julia wrapped inside her husband's embrace. Daniel’s torso was naked above the blankets and the groan of pleasure that escaped his throat made the older woman think twice about interrupting. She backed out of the room silently, closing the door and leaving the lovers alone.
Daniel heard Louise enter the room and heard her leave again, giving him free clearance to continue his present assault on his young bride. His kiss eased in pressure, but continued with its exploration as he teased her tongue with the tip of his, darting in and out of her sweet mouth with a heated fever. His hands brushed her hair away from her shoulder; his fingers slid beneath the thin strap of her nightgown and slowly pulled it down. Julia didn't argue; her mind was so intent on his kiss, that she hadn't felt her gown slide down her arms or across her breasts.
The sensation of warmth against her bare breasts brought a sharp inhale to her lungs, but her objections were absorbed quickly by Daniel's mouth. He wasn't willing to let her go just yet and was determined she knew who was
in charge this time.
Julia thought of struggling and actually found the strength to do so, but the effort was less than halfhearted. His hands moved up her back and around to her exposed breasts, teasing and pinching the hard nipple until she surrendered with a moan of pleasure.
His mouth left hers as his lips traveled across her cheek and down her neck. Julia arched against him, his hand still massaging her firm breast. She had never felt anything so wickedly wonderful before and she surrendered to the sensations that engulfed her. When Daniel's mouth replaced his hand on her breast, Julia gasped in surprise then quickly moaned in delight. The feel of his hot, wet tongue against her was like salve to a weak and tired soul.
Julia wound her fingers in his hair and pulled him closer. His mouth covered as much of her breast as he could while his free hand began toying with the opposite side. His teeth grazed her flesh so tenderly tears sprang to her eyes and she heard herself cry out to him, calling his name through the searing passion that was ripping her apart. He quickly left her breast, bringing with it a groan of regret to escape her throat followed by a gasp of delight when he gave her other breast the same torturous treatment. He nibbled and bit, sucked and teased, until her nipples throbbed in his mouth, aching for more.
This was pure hell, he thought as he burned a path of hot kisses along her flat stomach. He knew she would come to her senses soon and push him away, so his time was limited. The thought of that made him pick up his pace, covering her delicate skin with small bites and wet kisses as he traveled further south down her slender body.