Rebel Temptress (Historical Romance)

by Constance O'Banyon

  "Adam, what do you intend to do with Landau? I know you spent a great deal of money on it, money which you most probably could ill afford."

  He smiled to himself. Honor had no way of knowing he was a very wealthy man. "What would you like me to do with Landau, Honor?"

  "I would not mind if you sold it. I am sure you could use the money from the sale."

  "Perhaps. We do not need to decide tonight."

  "Tell me about your parents, Adam," she said, hoping it would give her more insight into her husband if she knew about his family.

  His voice was soft as he spoke. "Honor, I wish you had known my mother and father, they were very special."

  "I know they must have been, Adam, to have raised children with the values and kindness you and Suzanne possess."

  "They would have loved you, Honor."

  "Have they been dead very long?"

  "Yes. They died in a cholera epidemic when I was nineteen. That was ten years ago."

  "You are twenty-nine?"

  Adam laughed. "That is right. We love one another and yet there are many things we do not yet know about each other."

  "I know all that is important about you, Adam. I know you are kind and honorable, and a very loving man."

  Adam resisted the urge to take her in his arms. He had the strongest urge to make love to her again, to show her again how good they could be together, but he knew now was not the time. He must be patient and wait for her to come to him.

  "Darling, my mother and father had a custom that they always practiced. Not one day of their married life did they go to sleep without first kissing each other good night, no matter if they were angry or not. My mother always swore it was the secret to a happy marriage. She often quoted this to me: Never let the sun go down on your wrath. Would you agree to starting our marriage out as they did?"

  "Oh, Adam, I think that is the most beautiful legacy parents can leave their children. Could we do that, please?"

  He touched her face softly. "Yes, but we must first make a vow to one another tonight that we will always kiss each other good night no matter what." He raised his head up and bent over her. "I vow to you, my darling, that I will always end our days together with a kiss," he said softly.

  Honor touched his face shyly. "And I promise, my love, never to let the sun set on my wrath."

  Adam's lips gently covered hers. He felt her lips tremble beneath his. When he raised his head, he looked at her beautiful face lovingly. "Good night, darling."

  “Good night, Adam,” she said softly.

  Adam turned his back to her, hoping he had taken the first step toward winning he confidence. Long after he heard her steady breathing that told him she was asleep, he lay awake, trying to stem the desire he felt for his wife on their wedding night.

  The next morning Honor awoke early. For a moment she did not remember where she was, then she saw Adam sleeping beside her, his handsome face resting on the pillow next to hers. His long black lashes veiled his beautiful blue eyes. His black hair looked even darker against the white pillow case.

  Honor studied every detail of his face. She had never seen him sleeping before, and he somehow looked young and vulnerable. Love swelled in her heart for him. How different he was from Jordan. He was kind and patient, and she had slept beside him peacefully, knowing she would be safe.

  The blanket had slipped down to his waist and she saw the scar on his shoulder where she had removed the bullet the night he had crossed enemy lines to come to her. Black curly hair covered his broad chest, and her eyes followed the line until it disappeared beneath the sheet. Honor swallowed a lump in her throat as she felt a tightening in her stomach, wanting to relive the feelings he had once caused her to feel.

  When she looked back at his face, she saw that he was watching her. Their eyes met and locked, and Honor could not look away. Her heart was pounding loudly, and she knew he was remembering also. Just when she felt she could stand it no longer, Adam smiled.

  "Good morning, Mrs. O'Roarke. Did you sleep well?"

  “Yes, I only just awoke.”

  “Come and lie beside me, Honor,” Adam said, holding out his hand to her. Honor hesitated only a moment before she gave him her hand and he pulled her over to him. Resting her head on his shoulder. Honor relaxed. Adam nuzzled her neck softy. “You always smell so good. I have tried many times to put a name to the scent you wear. It has haunted me for so long."

  Honor laughed. "I myself do not know what the scent is. Darcy makes up the bath soap for me, and no one else knows what she puts in it. It is the best-kept secret in the whole state of Virginia."

  Adam smiled. "Do you miss Darcy?"

  Honor turned her face up to his. "Yes. Oh, Adam, I miss her terribly."

  "I will send for her. Do you think she will come?"

  "Oh, yes, Adam. I would be so pleased if you allowed Darcy to live with us. She works very hard and will earn her own way, you will see."

  "I believe it will not make me a pauper to have one more mouth to feed," he said in a teasing voice. Then his voice deepened. "Do you have any idea how adorable you are?"

  Honor looked away from him, feeling all strange inside. "Adam, I am prepared to be a proper wife to you if you wish it. I would do anything for you."

  He frowned, knowing she was not yet ready for him to take what she offered. He knew how hard it was for her to offer herself to him, though, and he loved her for it. He cupped her face in his hands and looked deeply into her eyes. "No, Honor, I will not take you yet. I will wait until you come to me without reservations. You will know when the time is right, as will I."

  He saw tears swimming in her green eyes. "Oh, Adam, I love you so much. I do not know what I have done to deserve your love, but I am grateful for it, and I thank God every day for sending you into my life the night you invaded my home."

  "Are you aware that I fell in love with you the moment you fell into my arms that night?"

  She looked startled. "How can that be? I must have looked a fright, and I was . . ."

  He placed his finger on her lips to silence her. "It's true, Honor. I thought you were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Remember how it was between us, Honor—I had never felt that way with anyone else before. I knew I would never be satisfied with anyone other than you. I believe you also felt as I did, Honor. After that night I was in agony wanting you, but the next morning you acted as if you never wanted to see me again. I was hurt and confused."

  "I had to let you go, Adam, believing it was the right thing to do at the time, but I loved you." They were both quiet for a long time, just holding each other and communicating the love they felt for one another.

  "Honor, we should get up and dress. It is not long until Meagan's ship sails," he said, hating to break contact with her, but knowing there would be other times ahead for them. Last night Honor had slept peacefully beside him, but tonight her night would not be so peaceful, he told himself. He smiled inwardly. Tonight he would start his campaign to win her completely.

  * * *

  Honor said a tearful good-bye to her sister, and she cried against Adam's shoulder as the ship sailed out of port, knowing she would miss Meagan terribly and not knowing when they would see each other again.

  Later that afternoon Honor stood on board the ship that would take her and Adam to Boston. The large clipper ship moved smoothly over the water. She was sailing into the unknown. She felt Adam's hand tighten on hers and she smiled at him brightly. Boston would be strange and unfamiliar to her, but Adam would be beside her and wherever he was would always be home to her.

  "Why are you looking at me so strangely, Adam?"

  "I am waiting to see if you are going to be a good sailor. You told me you had never been on a ship before. It can be very unpleasant if you have sea sickness."

  Her eyes widened. "Do you think I will catch it?"

  He laughed delightedly. "Sea sickness is not something you catch. Some people just cannot cope with the motion of the ship and they
become very ill."

  "I do not believe I feel ill at all."

  "No, apparently not." The sea breezes blew softly and the invigorating smell of salt water filled Honor's senses.

  "Adam, did you come to New York by way of the sea?"

  "No, there was no time. I had to ride day and night to reach New York before you left for Paris."

  New York disappeared in the distance as the clipper ship sailed just out of sight of land. The sky was clear and the sun beat down mercilessly on Adam and Honor, who appeared to be the only passengers on deck.

  "I think perhaps we had best go below. You would not want to get sunburned, or get freckles on that pert little nose of yours," Adam teased.

  They were just starting down the companionway when they were approached by a man in a captain's uniform. He was a handsome man, and much too young to be a sea captain, Honor thought. His hair was a sandy color and his face was deeply tanned. He smiled broadly. "Mr. O'Roarke, it is indeed a pleasure to have you sail with us again. Does everything meet with your approval?"

  "I am sure my wife and I will find the accommodations satisfactory, Stan. May I present you to my wife. Honor, this is Stan Barrows, captain of the Yankee Clipper."

  Honor smiled at the man. "It is a pleasure to meet you, captain."

  He bowed to her gallantly. "I stand ready to serve n any way, Mrs. O'Roarke." Then he turned to Adam. "I had not heard of your marriage, and if you do not mind my saying so, your wife is indeed lovely."

  "I do not mind at all, Stan, and you could not have heard of my marriage because it only took place yesterday."

  "So you are still on your honeymoon. How nice for us that you decided to spend it at sea. Tell me, Mrs. O'Roarke, how do you like your husband's ship?"

  Honor looked at Adam in confusion. "I did not . . . I think it is very nice, captain, from what little I have seen of it," Honor said, trying to cover up her confusion. She had not known this was Adam's ship.

  "Do you take the helm this trip, sir?"

  "Perhaps. Honor might enjoy seeing how a clipper ship sails Firsthand. Now if you will excuse me, I will take my wife below. Send the first mate to me, Stan."

  "Of course, sir. I will attend to it right away."

  The cabin Adam led her to was beyond her imagination. It had polished oak beams, ceilings, and floors. There was a desk against one wall with a rather large bed against another. Honor's trunk and Adam's valise stood at the end of the bed.

  "Why did you not tell me that this was your ship? I was not aware that you owned a ship," Honor said.

  "I wanted to surprise you. As a matter of fact, I have three such ships, but this is the best of the lot. We were fortunate that the Yankee Clipper has been in port here in New York these last three weeks."

  "Adam, you have a great deal of money, do you not?" she said, frowning. She had believed it to be a hardship for him when he had purchased Landau

  He laughed as he pulled her into his arms, darling, I have a great deal of money. Do you mind?”

  "I am not sure; no, I do not think so."

  "Will you love me in spite of the fact that I an very wealthy man?"

  "I would love you whether you were a prince or a" pauper. It is all the same to me, and yet I am a little frightened." She looked down at her gray gown. To her it had cost a great deal of money, but to Adam it must look very insignificant.

  "There will never be the slightest cause for you to be frightened. I shall take the best care of you."

  There was a knock on the door and Honor moved out of Adam's arms. The steward came in smiling brightly. He was a man in his late fifties who had spent most of his life at sea, and twenty of those years had been spent sailing for the O'Roarke Export and Shipping Company.

  "Adam, my boy, it is good to look on your face again. What is this I hear about your being married?"

  Adam was plainly glad to see the man. "That's right, Case," he said, shaking the man's hand vigorously. "I am the luckiest of men because Honor decided to accept my offer of marriage."

  The older man whistled between his teeth as he looked at Honor. "You do not deserve this lovely lady. How can it be that this lovely vision chose you above all men? Surely she could have had her pick of anyone."

  Adam grinned wickedly. "Yet she chose me," he said, looking into Honor's eyes.

  Honor smiled lightly, warmed by the man's friendliness.

  "Honor, Case, here, taught me all I know about the sea. My father allowed me to take ship one summer when I was fourteen, and Case was a ruthless task-master."

  "But you learned about the sea, my boy, and now you can thank me for that experience."

  "I do, Case, at one time I even considered a life at sea. That was before I discovered my real love was the land."

  "Tell me, Adam, is this lovely lady the one you were mooning over for the last few years?"

  "She is one and the same," he answered, putting his arms around Honor and pulling her against him tightly.

  "I am right proud that you finally said yes, ma'am, and put Adam here out of his misery."

  "He is a hard man to say no to, Mr. . . ."

  "Call me Case. Adam's wife cannot stand on ceremony with me. Hell, er, excuse me, ma'am, heck, I practically raised him."

  Honor laughed, and the sound of her laughter delighted both of the men. "May I compliment you, Case. You indeed did a grand job raising my husband."

  Case looked pleased and was about to say so, but the look he received from Adam plainly dismissed him. He grinned. He did not blame the lad for wanting to be alone with his lovely wife.

  "I will leave the two of you alone now, being you are on your honeymoon and all. Anything you need, just call on old Case, ma'am."

  "Call me Honor, Case."

  The old man's face brightened. "It would be an honor, Honor." He laughed at his own wit and his laughter followed him out the cabin door.

  "I like him, Adam. He is something of a character, is he not?"

  "That he is, but better man you will not find anywhere."

  "Would you like to go on deck, Adam? I will understand if you do."

  "Not on your life, pretty lady. Why would I want to spend time with a bunch of old sea dogs when I can be with you?" He scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the bed, where he lowered his body down beside hers. "It makes me proud to introduce you as my wife. Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?"

  "I have never thought myself to be beautiful, it must be my being in love that makes me look beautiful to you."

  "Foolish girl, are you not aware that every man who looks at you loses his heart?"

  "How you exaggerate."

  "Not so. I have had to stand back and watch while other men looked longingly at you. Are you aware that half my troop of men who were at Landau were madly in love with you and would have done anything for a smile from you?"

  Honor gave him a coquettish smile. "Only half, Adam?"

  He picked up her hand. The wedding ring he had slipped on her finger only the day before glistened. "You have such power in these little hands of yours, the power to change me into a beggar. I have begged for your heart, Honor. I now beg for your body."

  "You have both, Adam."

  "I want all of you, Honor. I need you, you cannot possibly know how much." His voice deepened and Honor felt herself being drawn under his spell.

  His lips were only a hair's breadth away from hers. Honor moved forward to capture his mouth. Adam moaned as her lips opened beneath his. His body was on fire and he trembled from the intensity of it.

  Honor moved forward, trying to make contact with his body. There was the now familiar ache inside her, an ache that cried out to be satisfied.

  Adam smiled as he heard her sigh, then he raised his head and looked down at her with such intense longing that Honor felt her heart quicken.

  Adam sat up and moved off the bed, trying to beat down his passion. The time was not yet right. Honor must want him as badly as he wanted her before he would take he
r. He hoped he could complete his seduction of her before she rendered him mindless.

  "Come," he told her, holding out his hand. "I think we might find something to eat if we raid the galley. It is one of the advantages of being the owner of the ship, is it not?"

  Honor looked at him, feeling crushed. Did he not know she was ready to be a proper wife to him? How was it he could turn his desire off and on so easily while she trembled inside, wanting him to make love to her?

  23

  That night Adam took the helm. His arms were around Honor as his hands rested on the wheel. There was a full moon and the water shimmered in tiny ripples of silver as the ship cut through the waves.

  "It is as if you and I are the only two people on earth, Adam. I love the feel of the sea breeze blowing in my hair and your arms around me."

  His lips rested on her hair. "I like the feel of you in my arms."

  "Let us sail off to some deserted island and live for the rest of our lives, Adam."

  "Highly impractical, Mrs. O'Roarke, because we would not be alone for long. I would make love to you on some sandy beach and there would soon be children. The way I feel right now, I could use you to populate the whole island."

  Honor felt a thrill go through her. The thought of having Adam's children was a new idea to her. She turned around and placed her arms around his neck.

  "When do we start?"

  He grinned at her. "When do we start a family?"

  "No," she said indignantly. "When do we start for our deserted island?"

  "Alas, lass, I know of no deserted island that is habitable. Will you settle for a farm in Boston?"

  "It would be my first choice. I am anxious to see your home."

  "Our home, Honor. No longer will I live in that big house by myself, and each morning when I awake you will be beside me."

  "Tell me about it, Adam. What is Penrose like?"

  "You are just full of curiosity, are you not? I believe I will let you wait to judge for yourself. It might lose something in the telling."

  That night, as the night before, Adam kissed Honor good night, then turned his back to her and appeared to go to sleep.