by tani shane
The priest went through oft heard words and finally said, “Steven Philip Hart and Jessica Leah Cantrell, have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?"
Steven and Jessica both mumbled, “Yes”.
"Will you honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives?"
Steven released his hands that were so far clutched before him and took Jessica’s one hand while her other held the bouquet of white orchids. She glanced at him in surprise and was struck by the strange look of sincerity in his eyes.
“Yes,” they answered in unison.
"Will you accept children lovingly from God, and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?"
Steven and Jessica both gulped their eyes searching each others. He nodded at her ever so slightly and they said yes again.
The priest went on unperturbed. “Since it is your intention to enter into marriage, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and his Church.”
Steven turned to face Jessica and took both her hands in his even as she clutched her bouquet. His eyes held hers with every strange emotion he had ever felt reflecting in them. He cleared his throat and began his marriage vows.
“I, Steven Philip Hart, take you, Jessica Leah Cantrell, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.”
Jessica gazed at Steven, her eyes bright with unshed tears. A muscle twitched in his jaw and she felt a strange emotion pass from him to her. It was almost as if he meant all that he had just said. Her mouth was dry, her throat parched. This was it. This was the moment in her life she had waited for so long. How could she lie?
“I, Jessica Leah Cantrell, take you, Steven Philip Hart, to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.” When she finished, she felt breathless because she saw Steven smile ever so gently at her.
"What God has joined, men must not divide" The priest declared. “Do you have the rings?”
Sean and Lynn both presented the rings to the priest who blessed and gave them to Steven and Jessica.
Steven took Jessica’s left hand and slipped the ring on her finger. “Jessica Leah, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
Jessica fought the butterflies that were suddenly floating in her stomach and placing the wedding ring on Steven’s ring finger she whispered breathlessly, “Steven Hart, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
“By the power vested in me, I declare you, husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
Steven raised Jessica’s veil with fingers that trembled because of the strong emotion raging through him. His wife! Jessica was his wife! He bent down and pressed his lips to hers gently.
Jessica’s eyes closed and when she felt Steven’s soft kiss, tears rolled down her cheeks.
Steven sucked in sharply as he felt the tears hit his cheeks. He moved back to regard Jessica with an unknown emotion. He suddenly gave her a cocky grin and whispered. “Chicken?”
His question caught her off guard and a soft laugh escaped her lips. She shook her head, blushing terrifically and hastily accepted his kerchief to wipe her cheeks. He laughed then and they turned to face the guests who were clapping, whooping and crying happy tears.
***
“You make a very becoming bride,” Steven remarked as he took a seat beside Jessica in the car that would take them to Jeff’s home where they were to have a small luncheon party.
She managed polite thanks, her heart pounding so loudly that she was sure it could be heard all the way to the next block. She still could not believe she was married. Married! Wife to the man who sat next to her. She stole a quick glance at his exceptionally handsome face.
He caught her peeking and grinned broadly making her heart skip a beat. “Like what you see?”
“N..no,” she stammered caught off guard, “I mean yes.” She looked into his blue eyes and blushed deeply. “You are looking very handsome.”
He laughed throwing his head back. “Are you saying that to please your husband?”
Her heart leapt in her mouth at the sound of that word. Husband. He was her husband. She drew in a sharp breath. “I don’t say things I don’t mean.”
His blue gaze was suddenly serious. “Then, I must thank you for the compliment.” He leaned towards her and kissed her. The gesture was so gentle and tender that she felt close to tears. She closed her eyes firmly to stop them but they flowed down her cheeks unchecked.
“Hey, don’t cry. Did I do something to hurt you?”
She shook her head vigorously feeling him cup her face and brush away her tears. She opened her ashamed eyes to find the blue depths gazing at her with a tenderness she had not known existed. It took her breath away and she licked her lower lip nervously. “I..I’m sorry for being so..silly.”
“Don’t be,” he ordered, taking her in his arms. He cradled her head on his wide chest and gently caressed her back. “It’s all right, Jessica. I understand your fears. But don’t be afraid. I may not have told you this but I don’t intend to consummate this marriage till you’re ready.”
His confession surprised her. Since sex was the basis of their marriage, she had not expected this generosity from him. He drew back to make her face him. “But I can’t promise to wait forever, Jessica. I have my needs and when I have such a beautiful wife I would not want to seek my pleasure elsewhere.”
A pang of guilt hit Jessica. He had sensed her anxiety and was being honest with her. She had to be honest with him too. She touched the heavy wedding ring on her finger timidly. “I have made a commitment to you with this marriage, Steven. You will not be disappointed.”
His deep gaze held her own earnest one and he admired her sense of loyalty. He had come across it once before when she had been engaged to Warring. Now she was relying on the same virtue to see her through this relationship. He bent his head and kissed her lingeringly. When he finished the kiss and looked into her haunted eyes, he felt the strange possessive emotion he had felt before. Somehow he knew she was made for him. The feeling was so strong that it threatened to consume him and he absently shook his head to clear it. It was probably the exertion of the day. He sat back releasing her so abruptly that she wondered if she had done something wrong.
Jessica chose to remain silent and lay her head on the back of the seat mentally preparing herself for the party later in the evening. She hoped things would work out slowly and the initial awkwardness would disappear. In any case, she intended to give her best to her marriage. That was the only way she could actually remain sane.
Chapter Twelve
After the luncheon, Steven headed with few of his closest guests to his apartment for a drink session before the reception party later that evening. Jessica chose to remain at Jeff’s place where she would dress up and join her husband later. Cheryl had insisted she rest a while because she was looking a bit too pale and tired. Jessica had welcomed the suggestion. Being around Steven was proving to be emotionally exhausting for her. On one hand his mere touch made her skin sizzle and on the other, she felt she was cheating herself.
She developed a dull headache that she presumed was the result of too much excitement and chose to down a couple of aspirins and take a quick nap. It was late afternoon when she woke up and began mechanically dressing up for the party.
The evening gown that she wore was a deep, midnight blue velvet creation with a sparkling of sequence all over. It was halter necked and left her back open to the small of her waist. The soft velvet clung to her shapely figure and a deep slit that ran to her thigh gave her a very seductive look. She chose jewelry studded with diamonds that lent deep highlights to her chocolate colored hair. Sh
e chose to wear her hair in a stylish chignon and wore high-heeled shoes to give her a few extra inches. When she looked in the mirror, she was aware she hardly looked like a new bride, shy and full of giggles. Her make was light and done up in subtle shades of copper and brown for a mature, sophisticated look. She was sure that was the way Steven liked his women.
***
“No, stop! Don’t move!” Niki yelled on top of her voice just outside the front door of Steven’s penthouse. “Steve has to carry you over the threshold. Steve, Steven Hart! Will you please get over here quickly?”
Steven arrived making his way through the throng of guests who had already arrived. He looked so dashing and charming in his tuxedo that Jessica once again felt a familiar tug at her heart. He grinned at her and she blushed visibly. “Don’t bother, you’ll get your jacket wrinkled,” she mumbled.
Steven’s arm went about her waist and before she could react, he swept her off her feet and into his arms. “Sorry, darling, it’s tradition,” he drawled before landing a sound kiss on her lips. She laughed unwittingly and let him carry her effortlessly over the threshold amidst loud cheering and applause from their family and friends. Once inside, he made his way to the lounge and set her down gently. He kissed her again, this time so tenderly that a collective ‘aw’ rose from the guests.
He drew back, keeping his arm around her and then began mingling with the guests accepting their best wishes. Jessica somehow forgot her earlier skepticism and began enjoying the reception party. It felt perfect for her to be next to Steven as his newlywed bride.
She met Steven’s brother Sean for the first time at the party. Although he had been Steven’s best man at the wedding, she had not had the time to meet him personally. He had been out of the country for a while and although Niki had spoken about him often, Jessica had never met him. His resemblance to his older brother was incredible. He had the same honey gold hair and deep blue eyes, the only difference being the absence of the harshness and cynicism that Steven often sported. He also did not have that very appealing cleft in his chin that made Steven look so devastating. Almost equal in height, Sean was on the slimmer side with a lighter tan and an easy going manner. He looked so easily approachable that after speaking with him for a few minutes, Jessica felt she had known him a lifetime.
The party was in full swing by early evening and with toasts flowing freely, Jessica drank much more than her usual quota of champagne. She drifted in and out of conversations with people, ate only sparingly and ignored the wild headache that was beginning to turn vicious. She finally sank into Steven’s arms for their first dance as a married couple.
Her eyes closed in an effort to shut out the world and relished in the feel of his warm hands on her naked back. When they had danced at Niki’s party she had been too tense to actually enjoy herself but tonight was different. She was glad Steven was a good dancer and let him guide her vaguely through the other couples on the dance floor. She laid her head against the firm wall of his chest listening to the reassuring thud of his heart. When the dance ended, she was disappointed but put on a bright smile and accepted Sean’s arm for the next dance.
She lost track of time dancing with one partner after the other. Jeff claimed her for one of the dances and she laughed gaily as he teased her about something or the other. She drank champagne freely letting it go to her head and telling herself that it was treating the headache by dulling her senses.
It was well after two when the guests finally left while the family left well after three in the morning that too on Steven’s insistence. He was properly teased for it but he didn’t mind it and gave sporting answers. When he finally closed the door on them, he went in search of Jessica who seemed to have disappeared long ago. He found her out on the terrace, stretched out on a lounger. She seemed asleep, the moonlight throwing silvery shadows on her vulnerable form.
Steven knelt beside her and traced a delicate line down her cheek with his finger. The caress was feather light but she sat up startled. She stared at him vacantly for a moment before breaking into a sheepish smile. “I..I’ve had too..much to drink. I..forgot who you were.”
He smiled back and she failed to see the affection in his eyes. “You’ve had a long day. Come. I’ll take you upstairs. You can take a hot shower. That’ll make you feel better.”
“Y..yes,” she agreed haltingly and let him support her to her legs that buckled as soon as she tried to stand on her own.
“Whoa!” he exclaimed, his strong arms sweeping her off the ground. “I think we will make better progress this way.”
She giggled, her arms coming about his neck. “My head’s..all..fuzzy. I..don’t know..if I’m awake.”
“I’d pinch you if my hands were free but I guess this will do for now,” he chuckled, bending his head to give her a quick kiss. He strode up the stairs that led to the upper level of the penthouse with long steps and kicked open the second door there. “Here we are.”
He went in and Jessica felt him lowering her on the edge of a sprawling bed. With an effort she looked around to inspect her whereabouts. They were apparently in the master bedroom that was done up in shades of midnight blue and cream and supported with contemporary furniture. Her head began reeling suddenly and she sat up with a jerk. “Wh..ere’s the bathroom? I’m..going to be sick!” She instantly felt herself being transported to a door in one corner. Once inside she threw up disgustingly, all the while aware of Steven’s hand soothing her back.
Later as she washed her face, she felt much better. The fuzzy feeling had subsided leaving only a feeling of sheer exhaustion coupled with a raging headache. “C..can I take a shower now?,” she asked.
“Of course,” he said, directing her towards a shower cubicle next to the bathtub. “Do you need help with anything?”
“N..no,” she replied quickly then smiled apologetically. “I’ll be fine. Thank you.”
He nodded moving to the door. “I’m shutting this door but don’t lock it. I want to be around in case you fall asleep in here.” She smiled and he went out closing the door behind him. Right away, he heard a dull thud and his hand rested against the door. “Jessica? Are you all right?”
“Y..yes. I’m fine, thanks,” she stammered praying he wouldn’t come in and find her sprawled out on the bathroom floor where her legs had given away. To her relief she heard him move away. She stood up holding on to the washbasin and after what seemed ages, managed to weasel out of her gown. She removed her jewelry, slipped out of her undergarments next and then entered the shower cubicle gasping with delight when the hot spray of water hit her tired skin. She released her heavy hair and let the water flow through it, relishing in the feel of it massaging her scalp. Ten minutes later, she felt much better although she noticed her eyes were red with sleep.
She found a massive terry towel robe on a nearby rack and put it on since she had no intention of once again wearing her elaborate gown. She thought she could ask Steven where her clothes were stored and search for her nightdress.
When she came into the room, he was lying back on the bed supporting the back of his head with his arms. He had removed his jacket and left his shirt unbuttoned to the waist, exposing his bronze muscular chest that was sprinkled with dark blond hair that arrowed beneath his trousers.
Jessica drew in a shaky breath as he sat up when he saw her approach. She had never seen him looking so informal and now his bare chest and tousled hair caused her heart to beat a nervous tempo. She was aware he was performing a close scrutiny of her robe-clad figure and was glad its massive size hid her completely to her knees.
As though comprehending her discomfort, he rose to his feet smiling easily. “Well the shower seems to have done you some good. I’ll take one myself.” He had to pass her to go to the bathroom and when he was next to her, he winked at her wickedly. “By the way, you look very sexy in my bathrobe.” She blushed, hearing him chuckle all the way to the bathroom.
It was after he had gone that Jessica realized she had for
gotten to ask him the whereabouts of her clothes. She looked around for the closet and when she found one behind a door, she found they held only Steven’s clothes. Since there weren’t any other doors to discover, she decided to lay off the matter until morning and slid into the welcoming sheets of the bed with the robe on. When her head touched the soft pillow, she decided there was no place on earth like a comfortable bed. With a sigh, her eyes closed and within seconds she fell into a deep sleep.
Steven entered the room with a short towel tied around his waist to find his bride fast asleep. He stood next to her smiling to himself. Child-like with a hand curled near her damp tresses he was suddenly aware she already meant something special to him. He sat down next to her to place a kiss on her damp forehead. She smiled in her sleep and he felt compelled to kiss her lips.
Jessica sighed dreamily. She was having a wonderful dream. She could feel sensuous lips caressing her face and her hands crept up to lead them to her lips. They responded by laying a kiss on her mouth before moving to her sensitive neck where they laid tantalizing kisses. It made her gasp, sharp arrows of desire running through her. Her hands reached out to touch bare skin upon muscular shoulders, her nails digging in them as a tongue licked out at her sensitive ear lobe.
The dream changed suddenly and she felt a hand push aside her clothing and cup her breasts. She felt the hot hands on her soft skin and a cold film of sweat broke out above her upper lip. She felt the hands spreading against her stomach and then going down. No! No!, she screamed in her dream seeing Jake Wallace and then Adam. They were going to rape her! Ty, Ty, where was he? Help me, Ty!
But Ty wasn’t there, it was Jake and Adam taking turns with her! Jessica began struggling in panic. “Adam, please!” she pleaded out aloud and the hands withdrew abruptly. Her eyes opened in confusion and she saw the impenetrable blue depths staring down at her. Her mouth fell open as she recognized Steven’s furious face. “Steven? I..I..thought…”