He’d always relished going into work, building up his business, keeping his father’s dream alive. But right now he almost resented the fact that it would take him away from his wife. It was a stunning conclusion to reach, that he’d rather be with Ellie than doing what he’d been doing for the last decade of his life.
Stunning, yet gratifying at the same time. With a greater appreciation for the woman in his arms, Zach did as instructed and drifted off, content for the first time in a long time.
Chapter Nineteen
“Do we really have to go to this thing?” his wife grumbled from the side, and Zach smiled at her petulant tone.
“Yes, honey, we really do,” he said, yet again, and heard her sigh in defeat. Shooting a glance to the passenger seat of his car, he took in her appearance and swallowed hard. His wife was incredibly beautiful, beautiful and sexy, and he’d been on his best behavior for the past two weeks with regards to her. But it was getting increasingly difficult to be so.
“I don’t see why,” she huffed as she crossed her arms over her chest, and he removed his eyes from the picture she presented to concentrate on the snowy and icy roads instead.
“You know full well why. It’s a necessary evil.”
“But you don’t even like these stupid dinners,” she complained with a pout, and he tried to keep his smile in check. Sometimes she was still so young. He often forgot that Ellie was only twenty-two, but at times like this her youthful manner was apparent.
“No, but everyone I associate and have dealings with are there. I need to make appearances at them as well.”
“But it’s two days before Christmas,” she moaned.
“Hence why we’re going to a Christmas ball,” he said teasingly and heard her huff again.
“And it’s snowing.”
“Which is why we’ll be inside where it’s warm.”
“What if we get snowed in?”
“The snow’s not forecasted to be that heavy, and besides, even if it does come down stronger we’re going to a hotel, they’ll have room for us for the night.”
“We could have just stayed at home, all cozy and warm in front of the large fireplace in the sitting room. You’ve got work to finish up before Christmas Day as well, and that important meeting in the morning,” she continued to say in what he suspected was an attempt to get Zach to change his mind and concede to her wishes. Ever since he’d told her that they had another charity dinner to attend she’d been trying to find reasons why they shouldn’t go.
He could admit that the alternatives she’d been coming up with all sounded a hell of a lot better than attending the function, but he couldn’t keep putting things off to spend time one on one with his wife, he’d been doing enough of that as it was.
“We won’t stay late,” he temporized and heard her sigh more softly at his words, obviously recognizing that she wouldn’t be getting out of it.
“Nobody talks to me,” she finally said, and he looked over at her in concern.
“That’s because I didn’t introduce you to anyone last time,” he said apologetically, and she shrugged.
“I tried even without you introducing me, but they still ignored me,” she said sadly, and he felt his brow furrow.
“Really?” he asked. He’d thought that she’d just kept to herself, new and uncomfortable with the situation. If she’d tried to be friendly it seemed odd that anyone would ignore her overtures.
“Yeah,” she said, and he could hear the despondency in her voice. “The women all looked down their noses at me. One of them even came up to me in the ladies’ room at one point,” she said, and he remembered when she’d disappeared between courses during dinner. He’d noticed her coming back and seeming slightly unsettled but had been too busy trying to ignore her to think on it.
“What happened?” he asked.
“She told me how this wasn’t my place and how I’d soon realize that being a diversion meant that I should just accept my place at home in your bed and not bother to sully the whole event with my presence,” Ellie said with another sigh, and he snapped his head around to look at her in surprise and concern.
“What?!”
“Zachary! The road!” she screamed, and he focused back on the slick roads to correct his course before speaking again.
“Who said that?!” he demanded and heard her sigh with relief that his attention had been refocused.
“I don’t know. Just some woman,” she replied. “I didn’t like her.”
“Understandable,” he mumbled. “So they really wouldn’t talk to you?” he asked in concern. Why would they shun the wife of one of the people that everyone was constantly trying to get an in with?
“No,” she said again. “The only people who would were Oscar and Clive,” she explained, and his frown deepened at that.
“Stay away from Oscar,” he cautioned, even though he knew that he didn’t need to.
“I plan to, don’t worry,” she replied before lapsing into silence again. Zach took the opportunity to think over this latest development and tried to figure it all out. Had it been his fault that Ellie had been shunned? Perhaps his ignoring her had been a cue to everyone else about how to treat his wife. If that was the case then he felt even worse about his ungentlemanly and unchivalrous behavior at the time.
“How busy will you be tonight?” she asked carefully, and he chanced a quick glance at her before answering.
“Not too much. There are a few people that I need to speak to about some things, but apart from that I’ll be all yours,” he teased with a quicksilver smile and had the satisfaction of hearing her laugh softly.
“Uh huh. I’ll believe that when I see it. When you get focused on work you’re completely lost in it. You have absolutely no concept of the passing of time either. If I didn’t announce at night that I was heading to bed I don’t think you’d ever realize that it had gotten that late,” she teased, and he smiled at that.
Things had changed between them since her father’s funeral. Although he’d started to go back to work for the long hours that he’d always kept, their nightly routine had altered. He’d return home to have dinner with his wife then she’d take herself off to do her own thing while he headed to his study to continue with the heavy workload that he always had in front of him.
Ellie was right, he’d most likely stay there all night if she didn’t come into his study, ready for bed, and announcing that it was late and she’d come to say goodnight. The action and words, and vision she always presented, would be enough to snap him out of his concentration and get him eager to leave his paperwork.
As soon as she’d leave his doorway he’d promptly make his way up to his own room, get ready for bed, then join her in her quarters where they’d spend time talking to each other before parting ways for the night.
Zach hadn’t stayed in his wife’s bed since the night of the funeral, he knew that he couldn’t keep testing his restraint the way that he had that night, but that didn’t make it any easier to leave her. He’d given her a few more kisses, but he hadn’t pushed things between them. Instead he’d ended up in his big bed completely alone and wondering how much longer he’d have to wait before she finally accepted him.
He was hopeful though. Very hopeful. He’d seen a change in Ellie during the time that they’d spent together. She’d been softer, more welcoming, more accepting of him and his presence. At times she almost seemed eager to be with him. He knew that she was starting to care for him but he could still see the doubt at the back of her eyes. Could still see a distrust that lurked there.
It was frustrating, but he knew that the end result would be worth it. After his revelation the night he’d almost gotten carried away, Zach had steadily fallen even further for his reluctant bride. She was everything that you could want in a wife, and everything that he’d ever pictured in the perfect woman for him.
He knew that if they could find their own way together then they had a good chance at having a successful and happy mar
riage. It would just take a little bit more time. Just a little longer to get her to see him and his true self. A little longer for her to trust him and remove all of her doubts.
He’d already planned on using tonight as a way to do that. He’d show her how he could really be, how they could be together. He’d planned to make sure that his wife felt special and cared for. Treasured and protected. Very much the opposite of the way that she’d felt after their last foray into society.
“I promise to keep track of time,” he assured solemnly and heard her laugh at that.
“It’s fine, Zachary. I do understand the value of hard work, you know?” she said, and he smiled at that. She never complained about the hours that he worked, never put up a fuss about the amount of time that he spent taking care of his business. She was always so understanding about it all. When he’d questioned her about it she’d explained that she’d grown up with a man who’d taught her the value of hard work and how important it was to do everything that you could to support your family.
Malcolm Kincaid had pressed home the importance of working for what you got, and doing what it took to succeed in supplying your family with everything that they’d need. Although the amount he supplied was nowhere near the financial level that Zach did, it had left Ellie with an understanding of the long hours that a man could end up being involved in with his work.
Ellie herself had worked long hours, and Zach knew that a strong work ethic was something that was ingrained in her. It was also something which she respected. Respected and had a high level of appreciation for. The fact that he worked hard was an asset in her eyes.
“I know you do, honey. But I do promise that tonight I’ll be looking after you first and foremost.”
“If that’s true, can’t we just turn around?” she asked once more, and he finally laughed at her determination.
“Trust me, honey. I’ll make sure that you enjoy tonight,” he declared. “And besides which, there’s no point turning around, we’re here,” he added as he pulled up to the front of the hotel and looked over at her with laughter in his eyes.
With a weary sigh that quickly got replaced by a stoic smile, his wife nodded at him and he reached over to kiss her gently before exiting the driver’s seat, passing the keys off to the valet, and making his way to her side of the car to help her out.
As she did so he took in her legs and almost groaned at the vision they made. She had the sexiest shoes on that he’d ever seen. Red strappy things that accentuated her dainty feet and pulled attention to her stunning calves.
After she was finally standing upright again, he took in the rest of her and smiled. Underneath the warm coat that she had on, he knew that she was wearing a crimson sparkly dress appropriate for a Christmas function. It wasn’t overly tight, but it hugged her in all the right places. It was actually a very modest dress with a long flowing skirt, sweetheart neckline, and capped sleeves, but on his wife the thing looked scandalous. Especially when combined with her fiery curls and her bewitching green eyes.
When he’d placed a diamond and emerald necklace around her neck earlier in the night he’d been sorely tempted to allow her her way and stay at home, but he hadn’t wanted to just sit in front of a fire, he’d had a much less innocent plan in mind. Which was precisely one of the reasons that he was so resilient to her wheedling about staying at home. If they’d stayed he wouldn’t have been able to hold back from her again.
Pushing all carnal thoughts out of his mind, he instead smiled at his wife, pulled her against his side, and led her into the hotel and the night ahead. Reaching the coat room, he gently removed her coat from her and couldn’t help but admire the view from behind. When she turned her head to look at him with a soft smile on her face he shook himself out of his stupor and handed the garment over to the woman at hand.
With another smile, and an arm held out to her, he walked with his wife towards the large double doors of the ballroom. Standing just inside, he took in the scene while his hand rested lightly on her lower back and tried to search out the men that he had to deal with tonight. If he could get business out of the way as quickly as possible he’d be able to spend the rest of his time concentrating on Ellie.
Just as his eyes landed on the first man that he needed to talk to he heard a distinctive sound coming from the side and looked over at his wife in surprise.
“Did you just purr?” he whispered down into her ear half in amusement, half in bewilderment at the fact.
“Your thumb,” she said breathlessly, and he finally turned his head fully to look at her face. Slowly she turned her head towards him, and he found his breath catching at the look there. “You’re doing that thing with your thumb,” she said even more quietly before she closed her eyes and arched slightly into his hand.
Stunned at the reaction, his brain processed the fact that he’d been subconsciously rubbing small circles into her lower back with the thumb of the hand that had been resting there. He vaguely remembered something similar happening before between the pair of them but couldn’t hold onto the elusive memory when his wife’s eyes opened yet again to bore into his.
“If you don’t stop that soon,” she whispered up at him as she licked her lips and started to blush bright red, “I’m not going to be able to control myself.” Taking in her flushed face and her rapid breathing, Zach scanned her thoroughly, as though judging what she really meant and whether or not she was being sincere.
When her eyes flashed he couldn’t help but be affected by the look there. There was desire, but there was something else as well. He’d seen desire on Ellie’s face before, but at the time that’s all that had been there. This time, however, right now, there was something more. Something that he couldn’t be sure about, but very much suspected was a deeper emotion. An emotion like love? Possibly. Hopefully. He sincerely hoped so because he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that if she made one more move towards him he wasn’t going to be able to stop this time.
Almost in answer to his thoughts she immediately mouthed ‘I want you’ at him, and Zach’s restraints broke. Without any further thought, without any planning, without any more analysis, Zach sprang into action. All he could think at that moment was that he hoped to hell that he was right about love being there in his wife’s eyes because he was taking her to his bed, and he didn’t need any regrets in the morning.
“To hell with the damned dinner,” Zachary said gruffly before he grabbed Ellie’s hand and yanked her with him back out of the ballroom that they’d only just entered.
Struggling to keep up with his sure and determined steps, Ellie just rushed after him and wondered where he was going. Though at least he was thinking enough to recognize that they needed to go somewhere. A few minutes ago she’d have been happy to have had him right there. His thumb had been working its magic again, and she’d found herself melting under its effect. Well, it and the man beside her.
The past two weeks had been amazing. She’d wondered if things would go back to the way they’d been before her dad had died, but they hadn’t. They’d gotten better, in fact. No longer lost in her grief, she’d been more open to accepting her husband’s presence and getting to know him. She’d certainly done that as well. Every night they’d shared dinner together, followed by several hours talking in her room before he left her alone for the night.
The action had surprised and disappointed her. She’d wanted him to stay and continue to hold her, but she could respect his behavior, his manner of respecting her. Even though he hadn’t made any physical advances towards her, with the exception of a few restrained kisses, it didn’t mean that she couldn’t feel the tension between the pair of them. She knew it was there, and she knew just as well that he was controlling it. Just as she had been.
She’d wanted to get to know her husband, like he’d suggested. Wanted to care for him. Wanted to try with him. And they had. They’d both been making an effort to show their true selves to each other. It had been enlightening to say the least. T
he man she’d married had been a stranger, but the Zachary that she’d gotten to know was a wonderful man. A remarkable man.
He was kind, respectful, intelligent, hardworking, principled, ethical. He was strong and yet gentle at the same time. He was interesting and cultured. Refined and yet utterly masculine. He had every quality that she could ask for in a spouse. He was also incredibly handsome with a body that proved that at least some of his time was spent focusing on his physical health and not just sitting in a chair.
The man she’d gotten to know over the past three weeks since her dad had died was a completely different man to the one that she’d thought he was. A man that she couldn’t reconcile to The Beast that she’d first married. She didn’t completely understand their unorthodox beginning, but she’d pushed it aside, instead focusing on what she did know, on the information that she’d gathered firsthand herself.
And what that information totaled up to was a man that she had somehow, against the odds, fallen in love with. A strange turn of events surely, but one that was true nonetheless. She loved him. She’d come to trust him, to believe in him, to respect him. She’d been tempted on many occasions to question him about his actions at the start, but he’d asked her to put them behind her, and she was trying to. She knew that something else had to have been at play with it all though, the explanation that she currently had didn’t mesh with what she knew about the man.
Something else had happened. Something else had been at the forefront of it all. She desperately wanted to know what, but she wasn’t willing to upset everything again to find out. Instead she was working on letting it go and accepting the wondrous gift that she’d been given in Zachary instead.
A wondrous gift that she was about to receive even more of. She knew where this was headed and she couldn’t have been happier about it all. She wanted her husband completely, she wanted to finally have a real marriage with the man, and she was about to get all of that. An early Christmas present, one far superior to the jewelry that he’d given her earlier in the day.
Bonds of Matrimony Page 25