by Dee Jones
"What do you mean now? Has he done something you don't understand? Did he hurt you in some way? If I can help, please tell me. Do you want me to speak with him?"
"No mother just please stay out of it. Everything is fine, it was just a rocky start."
"It's not because you didn't know what to expect is it? You knew it would be uncomfortable at first didn't you?"
"Mother please, this isn't the sort of subject I want to discuss, especially with you."
"Julia," Louise felt the sudden stab of pain, as her daughter turned her back on her again. "I know I should have discussed the facts of life with you, but there just never seemed to be the right time. I suppose all that's too late now. Daniel introduced you to the subject better than I could have explained it."
"No he hasn't," Julia snapped, the embarrassment of discussing her love life with her mother burned inside her and she wasn't able to contain it any longer. "I haven't had that discussion or the lessons alright? Daniel and I got married in order for him to have father's land, that's all. We haven't consummated the marriage and probably never will with that woman in the way. If you really want to know who's been sharing Daniel's bed, then why don't you ask him? Or better yet, ask his new mistress."
Julia stormed out of the room, tears streaming down her face as she ran up the stairs, throwing herself on her bed. It was impossible to hold back the pain any longer. Seeing Daniel so intimate with Sharon Farnsworth had made all the fantasies of passion dissolve right in front of her. He may have shared her bed, he may have declared his love to her, but that didn’t mean he wanted her body. Her father was proof that you didn’t have to be in love to screw another woman; it was just a physical connect. One she knew her husband was not getting from her.
Dinner that evening was eaten in complete silence. Julia and Louise answered only the questions asked, never adding anything extra or offering any topic of conversation. Daniel and Jeremy exchanged several confused glances before falling into a similar silence. It was useless to carry on a conversation with yourself.
Thompson served their meals than left only to return with another course. By the time desert was dished, Julia had a headache the size of Kentucky. She pushed Mrs. Lester's bread pudding aside and excused herself, leaving the other three alone. Bridge had filled the tub for her and she slid beneath the scented water, closing her eyes. She tried to block out the visions of her husband with that woman, but every time she tried to focus on something else she would see them again; laughing and smiling like secret lovers.
Nearly half an hour passed by before Julia found enough energy to wash her hair and get out. She draped herself in a large bath sheet, combed the tangles from her hair and brushed her teeth, before walking back into her own room. The lamp on her vanity had been lit suspending the room in a soft glow of shadows. She dried off and pulled on her flannel night gown, then sat down in front of the mirror to finish her hair. The image of Sharon Farnsworth appeared before her and she began to mentally compare herself with the woman.
Her reflection appeared slightly older than her twenty-two years. Her eyes appeared to be ringed in dark circles, even though she knew it was only shadows from the lamp. Even her long hair felt drab and lifeless compared to its condition just a few days ago. She just didn't know how to compete with a woman as attractive or experienced with men as Sharon was. She didn't know the first thing about making love let alone what it took to please a man or how to keep one happy sexually.
Julia tossed her brush down on the vanity and hid her face in her hands; it was hopeless, she didn’t know the first thing about how to satisfy a man like Daniel Browning. Now that he had found another woman to share his desires, she would never be able to win him over; and she would never share him. She would not be the other woman to her own husband.
She was considering offering herself up as a sacrifice to a volcano god when a soft knock sounded at the door. Before she had a chance to answer, the door opened and Daniel stepped through. He looked more handsome than she had ever seen; the dim light from the lamp fell across him, accenting the broad lines of shoulders and chest, his long lean legs and firm buttocks. His face and long hair was etched in silhouettes, making his firm jaw and straight narrow nose appear to be carved from marble. His blue eyes sparkled in the dim light and he smiled softly, showing her his straight white teeth, his long fingers wrapped around a delicate crystal glass.
"I thought you might like some brandy," he told her softly, handing her the glass in his hand. "Would you like to talk?" Julia accepted the drink, but sat it down instead of tasting it. Nothing had a taste anymore, not even her once desired brandy.
"I'm just tired Daniel," she lied, retrieving her hair brush from the vanity. "I think I'll call it a day and turn in." Daniel stepped up behind her, taking the brush from her hand and began pulling it gently through the long damp strands of dark satin.
"Your mother said you two had an argument," he told her. "I'm not prying, but I happen to know this pretty little head of yours fits very nicely on my shoulder." Julia smiled at the man's tenderness. She had feared her mother may have told him what they had been fighting over, but as he continued to brush her hair she realized he hadn't a clue.
"Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?" he whispered, bringing her eyes up to stare at his through the reflection in the mirror.
"I'm not at all attractive," she argued shyly, feeling the heat of his stare on her face. "I'm clumsy and short and I've got the figure of a boy." Daniel chuckled softly, his hands falling in a gentle massaging action on her shoulders.
"Where did you ever get an idea like that? You're gorgeous, and if boys looked anything like you, I'd have had a strange tale to tell my mother."
“Do you really think I'm pretty?" she asked, not really listening to the man's teasing. Daniel nodded seductively his eyes locking with hers.
"You're more beautiful than any woman I've ever known."
"Even Sharon Farnsworth?" Julia bit her tongue as Daniel's hands stopped their movements, his eyes held hers through the mirror's image.
"What are you talking about? Why on earth would you want to compare yourself to that woman?"
"I saw the two of you together today," she admitted, knowing she could no longer lie to him than she could herself. "I know I haven't any right to interfere, if you want to have her company. It's just that...I would have thought you had better taste." Julia pushed his hands away and stood up, going to the bed and sitting on the edge. She glanced back to Daniel and saw the stern look dance across his face. She had discovered his secret and worse, she had insulted his choice in lovers.
"If you don't mind Daniel," she whispered, forcing back the tears. "I'm tired. I'd like to go to bed." Daniel didn't answer her; he just stood staring at her through the shadows.
"Who told you I was having an affair with Sharon Farnsworth?" he asked, his tone even and low, but his actions rigid and still.
"Nobody had to tell me, I saw the way you were looking at each other. She could hardly keep her hands off you."
"Well, since you know all about it, perhaps I should tell you the whole story," Daniel walked very slowly toward the bed as he relayed his tale to her.
"It all started quite innocently at first," he began. "Just a man and a woman; nothing out of the ordinary, until one hot summer's night when I saw her walking naked in the moonlight like a wicked seductress; I was under her spell before the sun rose the next morning. I don't know how it happened, it just did. There she was, her long seductive body begging to me, pleading for me to take her. Our eyes met and it was love at first sight. We tried to fight it, but we knew it was hopeless. There was no denying the urges any longer, I had to have her. I snuck into her room after midnight and took her, there and then.
"I couldn't resist, she was too tempting, too inviting. One touch and I was lost, forever her love slave, but I felt guilty. I knew I couldn't hurt you like that, so instead I told her I had to let her go. Although she pleaded with me to stay, I knew I
had to go back to you. I left her alone, bathed in the love and passion we'd shared one last time. I came home knowing you'd be asleep, but instead I found you waiting for me. You were drunk, I told you to go to bed, but you told me you knew all about us. You followed me to her house and stood outside the
"I begged you for forgiveness, but you wouldn't hear of it. You pulled a gun on me; you said if you couldn't have me, nobody would. You shot me dead, right through the heart, but when you saw what you'd done you knew the law would hang you, so you turned the gun on yourself. There we were, dead on the floor, all over a torrid love triangle. Our head stones read simply, died for love." Daniel finished his story and leaned across Julia not touching her, yet holding her prisoner with his eyes.
"What a pity you never asked me if I even wanted her. You just shot me without a trial, without a defense, you sentenced me to die never knowing my side of the story." With those words Daniel turned and headed for the door separating their two rooms.
Julia sat in stunned silence. She couldn't believe what she had heard. She was so certain Daniel had been lovers with Sharon until he told her that stupid story. Now she wasn't certain whether she was alive or if she had indeed shot and killed both of them. She glanced to the door where he gone stood and found it closed.
Without thinking she went to it, threw it opened and jumped back in surprise. On the other side leaning against the frame was Daniel. His arms folded across his chest, his eyes dancing with emotion as they locked with hers, his mouth in a firm straight line as he stared at her.
"Do you want her?" she asked softly, her eyes lowering from the intent stare of his.
"Would it matter to you if I did?" Julia glanced up. He wasn't going to let her off the hook without a confession.
"I know...what I mean is...well, you're a man and..."
"And you're a woman. Well, at least we have our genders right."
"You don't have to get rude. I just wanted to know. After all, you are my husband. I should know what to expect in case anyone should ask." Julia started to shut the door, but he caught it before it slammed and opened it wide, following her as she paced her way back into the room.
"What would you tell them if they did ask? Would you tell them that since I couldn't get the love from my wife the way most men do, I had to go hunting for my comfort elsewhere? Would you tell them every time I come near you, you push me away and hide behind a lame excuse about my marrying you for your land? Perhaps you'll just explain how we were forced to marry. You could blame it on your father and say it was his fault you never got the proper courting most women do, but then again knowing you as I do, you'd probably just accuse them of sticking their noses in where they weren't welcome and hide behind your virginity the way you have with me."
Julia's mouth fell open than snapped closed only to open again. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't think of a good response; everything he said was true. She did deny him; she did push him into another woman's arms. It was her fault he was having an affair. She had to accept the blame as her own.
"I'm sorry Daniel," she whispered, feeling the full burden of guilt. "I never realized I sent you to her. I won't interfere again." She stepped further into the room, turning her back to him. He reached out and took hold of her arm, jerking her around to face him.
"You just don't get it do you?" he snapped and Julia saw the anger and lust on his face. She tried backing up away from him, but he held her firmly in front of him. "I haven't slept with Sharon Farnsworth; in fact, I haven't slept with any woman in months, unless you count the times I've held you at night. And if you must know, it's you I'm in love with, it's you I want to sleep with and it's you I want to make love to."
Daniel pulled her up against his chest as his mouth claimed hers in a move so quick; it nearly knocked her off her feet. She reached up instinctively and held onto his strong broad shoulders to prevent herself from falling as he wrapped his arms around her slender waist. A second later and she found the floor gone from beneath her feet as he lifted her into his arms. He carried her to the bed, tossing her on top of the covers with savage delight.
"Daniel I...," she began, trying to think of something to say to calm his anger and lusty revenge.
"Don't," he warned, ripping his shirt open and throwing it to the floor, ignoring the scatter of buttons that danced across the carpet. "I'm tired of taking no for an answer. It's time you became my wife and it's time you knew exactly what it feels like to have a man between your legs." Julia began backing up on the bed, but was stopped short by the cold head board.
"Going somewhere?" he asked, crawling on the bed with her. A second later he had her pinned to the blankets his arms imprisoning her wrists above her head, his long lean leg thrust between hers.
"Daniel I don't think..."
"And I want you to keep it that way," he told her, kissing her with such savage tenderness it stole her breath away. "No more thinking Little Princess, no more excuses. I want you, only you. I've wanted you since I first saw you. I'm in love with you and you're in love with me, nothing else matters."
He lowered his mouth to hers again in order to keep her silent and slid her wrists into one hand as he worked with haste in removing her clothes. Julia squirmed against him, but found her own strength no match for the brute power of her husband's as he pulled her nightgown over her head, before restraining her hands again in a firm grip.
A moment later and they lay together on the soft bed completely naked. Their bodies pressed together in heat and passion, with only a sheet of desire between their nakedness. She knew she should feel embarrassed but she didn’t; the feel of his hard body against her was erotic and she found her heartbeat pounding rhythmically against her chest.
Daniel chuckled against her lips, sending shivers traveling along her spine. He knew her resistance was exhausted and he was anxious to demolish it completely. He led the fingers of his free hand slowly across her cheek, down her neck and chest, finally coming to a halt at the soft, firm mounds of her breast, all the while kissing her speechless. His hand covered the tender flesh squeezing the hardened nipple gently between his thumb and forefinger, offering a pain-pleasure sensation that had her gasping, then moaning into his mouth.
Julia couldn't help but sigh her surrender; she would let him play and she would enjoy his touch just so long as she didn't allow things to get out of control. She knew he would stop if she asked; he had so many times in the past.
"Touch me Princess," she heard him whisper as his lips moved to her ear. He pulled her up tight against him, belly to belly, breast to chest, thigh to thigh. Julia gasped again, a mixture of fear and shock. He couldn't mean for her to actually touch...that part of him? It was sinful, it was wicked...it was him!
"Touch me Julia," he ordered again, his hand still caressing and teasing her tender breast.
"I can't," she whispered, her embarrassment was minimal to the feelings his skillful fingers were creating.
"You can," he assured her. "I'm here for you. Touch me, know me. I know you want to."
"No I don't."
"Liar," he smiled against her ear, moving his lips across her neck. He bit and teased the soft flesh beneath her ear, until goose bumps ran over her entire body, settling in the lower most regions of her desires. Julia could feel his arousal against her thigh as his fingers began to caress her labia. He teased and touched her until she could no longer think of anything but the erotic feelings he was burning to life inside her. It felt so good, so wicked; she did want to touch him, but he shouldn't have known that.
"Now darling," he ordered softly. "I have to know you now." Julia didn't understand for certain what he meant, but she didn't much care. The only thing she did know for sure was he wanted her, and God help her, she wanted him too.
"Yes Daniel," she whispered, nodding her head softly. He slipped his long finger inside her wet vagina as his mouth covered hers again, absorbing the sound of shock as he teased another moan from her with the tip of his tongue.
She couldn't believe he was doing this again, but the thought of how it felt, how it now felt brought a surge of desire up inside her so strong she had to know more. Her leg lifted to a bent position as his mouth left hers and traveled across her sternum, stopping momentarily to bath her breasts in hot kisses. His mouth traveled further south, licking and tasting her flat stomach to her navel where the tip of his tongue began to circle the small indent, teasing and tasting until she moaned.
Daniel knew she had no real idea what was about to happen and wanted her to be overwhelmed with need when he entered her. As her legs parted, allowing him further access to her body, he smiled. His lips moved across the dark curls as his fingers parted her labia for his exploration. His tongue began to caress her sweet body, tasting the salty warning of her pending orgasm. He knew it was a matter of seconds before she found her release and he wanted her to explore it to the final depth.
“Reach up and hold the headboard,” he ordered her as he released her hands and positioned himself between her legs. Julia opened her eyes and stared at him, biting her lower lip as his tongue darted out to lick his lips.
“Hold on tight and don’t let go; if you do, we’ll have to start all over again.” He warned her with a wicked grin as she found the thin bars that traveled parallel across the headboard, holding the posts upright.
Daniel slipped his hand beneath her as his finger began a slow thrust in and out of her. She closed her eyes when he leaned back across her; this was wicked and wrong, but it felt so wonderful and erotic she couldn’t resist. As his tongue found her clitoris again, she found her breath escaping her lungs in short shallow pants. She had felt this before and though he insisted it was not sex, she was eager to experience the sensations again.
Within a very few moments, Julia was crying out, clinging to the headboard as her body exploded against his mouth. He slipped two fingers inside her as his tongue continued to tease her, causing her head to roll from one side to the other. Without warning, he lifted her hips higher off the bed as he buried three fingers inside her and smiled against her quivering body as she growled savagely in the silent room.