Harnessed Passions (22 page)

"Don't try so hard," he whispered, his
finger moving at a steady rhythm. "You'll get there soon enough,
just don't fight it." Julia's frown deepened, she didn't know what
he was talking about, but less than a minute later her head rolled
back and her body arched toward his mouth, pulling him deeper into
her moistness. Daniel quickened the rhythm of his wicked dance,
inserting two fingers into her, deep and hard. She called out his
name in a soft scream, her fingers entwining in his hair as her
legs locked around her shoulders.

He continued to allow her to ride out her
first orgasm, his tongue tormenting her into feeling it deeper as
his fingers prepared her for the joining of their bodies. Julia
panted and writhed beneath him, until he could bear no more and
rose above her, his penis throbbing against her lower abdomen.

"Oh God Julia," he groaned, pulling her
against him. "Do you have any idea what you do to me; knowing how
badly you want me?" Julia wrapped her arms around his neck. It was
useless to fight him. She wanted him, she needed him and now she
was his. She knew very little about sex, but she knew what had just
happened to her was much more than she had ever experienced
before...and she liked it.

"Daniel," she whispered, her thoughts
suddenly confused and cluttered with questions as her head lay
against his shoulder, her lungs panting for air. "What if I get
pregnant? I don't think I'm ready to be a mother." Daniel chuckled
against her neck as he slipped his fingers out of her and lifting
her legs around his waist.

"You're not going to get pregnant, my Little
Princess, until we’ve had sex." Julia blinked. What did he mean,
until they had sex?

"What was that then, if it wasn't sex?" she
pushed away from him, putting an unwanted space between them.
Daniel's eyes crinkled, though the amusement never reached his
lips, or his voice.

"That my love was just the beginning.
There's so much more for you to experience."

"Like what?" God, was she serious, he
thought? Just how much of all this, did the girl really know?

"You haven't had me yet," he said softly,
hoping not to frighten her.

"I did Daniel. I felt you."

"You only had my fingers sweetheart. You're
still very much a virgin until I make love to you."

Julia's eyes widened as he pulled her
tighter against him, allowing her to feel his hardened arousal
pressing against her wet tingling flesh. She gasped in horror;
suddenly aware of what he intended to do. She pushed herself free
from his embrace and rolled him off her, scrambling out of bed and
pulling the blanket that lay on the floor around her naked
body.

"You can't seriously mean..." she stuttered,
glancing down suddenly. Her eyes grew even wider and her mouth
dropped open, at the sight of this man next to her. Arousal had
never meant this, did it? He was huge! There was no way on earth,
she would ever be able to accommodate all of...that!

"Julia honey it’s alright, I promise," he
told her softly, reaching out for her, but she backed away,
standing far enough away from him that he couldn’t touch her. "This
isn't very fair, Princess," he accused, his voice soft, but his
eyes determined as he followed her out of the bed. He stood before
her, stark naked with the full evidence of his need for her
throbbing in front of him.

"Stay away from me," she warned, her voice
near hysterical. She continued to back away from him, until she met
with the dresser against the wall.

"And if I don't?" he threatened, coming
closer to her. "You're my wife Julia. I can easily take what you
won't give me."

"But...you won't?" Her voice shook; she was
scared, not angry, just scared. He could see it in her eyes; he
could see it on her pale face. Damn it, he cursed silently. He
shouldn't have been so anxious to have what she knew nothing about;
he should have taken more time and gone slower. Her reached up and
ran a large hand through his hair, pulling it back from his
handsome face in an attempt to regain his composure.

"No Princess," he told her gently, reaching
out and pulling her reluctantly against him. "I won't take anything
from you that you won't give to me freely. Just relax, you're safe
for now." His hands cascaded across the thick folds of blanket she
had encased herself in as he caressed her back.

He knew he would never have her, if he tried
to force her. He had to be patient. He had to give her time to get
used to this new treasure she had just discovered; she had to come
to terms with these feelings on her own and he had to be patient;
even if it killed him.

"Daniel I'm sorry," she whispered against
his chest. Daniel groaned. Patience was going to be damn hard to
come by.

"Don't worry about it."

"But I honestly thought..." she began, but
was stopped short by the look of warning on the man's face as he
pulled away from her. He was still in danger of taking her and she
knew it. He kissed the tip of her nose before turning back to the
bed and gathering his clothes, pulling his pants up across his
tight buttocks.

Julia diverted her eyes, but found the sight
of him too overwhelming to ignore. His back was to her, which meant
she could admire the strong span of shoulders that tapered down to
a slender waist and long powerful legs, without being caught. This
man had wanted her. That thought itself did more to her than the
sight of his naked body. No man had ever wanted her before, at
least she didn't think they had; not in the same way Daniel
did.

He turned, catching her emerald eyes
admiring him and grunted verbally. He knew this waiting game could
try the patience of a saint and he was no saint. Knowing what she
felt like in his arms, knowing what she tasted like was going to
drive him crazy within a week!

Right now, he thought, he had to get the
hell out of this room. The best place for him to be right now was
down at the stables where he could work up a sweat and try to get
his mind off her. He turned around and headed for the door, then
stopped short and looked back across his shoulder to her. His eyes
locked with hers and he decided to play one last ace, before he let
her off the hook.

"I’ll give you ten minutes to get dressed
Julia, and come downstairs or I will be back and there won’t be any
escape for you again. We'll have breakfast together before I go to
the stables."

"But what about your job in town?" she
asked, aware of his urgent, husky tone.

"I told Harold I wouldn't be back for a few
weeks. I promised your father I’d stay on until the sales are
finished." He walked back to her and pulled her against him again,
kissing the confusion from her lips. His hand slid under the
blanket and tugged it off her, leaving her standing naked in front
of him. Julia gasped and tried to pull the soft cover back around
her, but found his resistance overpowering her.

"You're my wife, Julia," he told her
sternly. "If I decide to change my mind - which I might if you keep
undressing me with your eyes - I will have what only you can give
me, and you won't be fighting for long, I promise you that. I told
you I would make your dreams come true and I meant it. Next time
we’re together, you will be the one begging me, not the other way
around." His promise held both desire and warning as he bent closer
to her.

"Don't lock the door on me either,
Princess," he told her softly, reading the warning in her eyes that
said she would do just that. "I don't want to have to break it down
to get to you." Julia closed her eyes against the intent images
dancing before her as he kissed her lips again, this time
reaffirming his promise through the pressure of his mouth. He
turned and left her alone in the room in such a rush that Julia
found herself grasping the dresser to prevent herself from tumbling
over.

She couldn't believe everything he had said;
how could she possibly give herself over to him? Didn't he know she
would never be able to handle all of him? He would rip her in two
if she tried.

Julia hurried through her dressing and
morning ritual to prevent him from keeping his promise, then tried
to walk as casually as possible down the stairs, though her legs
shook and felt like rubber. She turned the corner of the dining
room only to come face to face with Rally Overton. She frowned at
the look of male arrogance in his eyes, nodding as he tipped his
hat and left. Julia glanced back to Daniel, who didn't seem to
notice she had joined them.

"Good morning darling," Louise greeted, as
she stood and embraced her daughter. "How are you feeling?" she
asked smiling with maternal concern. Julia blushed and nodded.

"I'm fine mother, I'm just hungry."

"Then come and eat," Jeremy offered, holding
out the seat next to the end of the table where Daniel was sitting.
She glanced to her new husband and frowned; he didn’t even look up.
His attention was fully on the papers in front of him. Obviously,
he didn't intend to keep his threat after all. Once he was out of
her bedroom, he forgot all about her. Julia sat down in the chair
Jeremy offered and accepted her breakfast from Bridget, refusing to
look at the man she was tied to for life.

"What are your plans for today, sweetheart?"
Louise asked her, as she began to nibble on her toast.

"I thought I'd go into town and do some
shopping," she told her mother. Shopping always made her feel
better and right now, she wanted to feel anything except the
emptiness Daniel's silence was giving her.

"Wonderful, I'll go with you. We can have
lunch with Margie and see the new baby before we take in that new
dressmaker's shop afterward. Daniel?" Louise said, bringing the
man's attention away from the papers in his hand. "Do you mind if
your wife and I go shopping, for a few hours?"

"Of course not; go and enjoy your selves."
He glanced at the woman next to him and smiled gently. "Why don't
you stop by and see Margie? I know she offered and I think the two
of you could be good friends, besides she wants to show off my new
godson."

"Mother already suggested that," Julia said,
nearly snorting the words out. She was suddenly aware that he
hadn't been ignoring her at all; he just didn't notice her. She
doubted that he had even known she was in the same room or on the
same planet!

"I'm sorry," he told her gently, laying a
tender hand over hers. "I didn't hear. I promise to pay more
attention." Did he really think that was going to soothe her mood?
Julia didn’t answer; she just rolled her eyes and returned to
eating the toast in her hand.

Daniel did as he promised; he laid the
papers aside and carried on a conversation with Jeremy and Louise.
As for Julia, she could barely think; his hand held hers, playing
with her fingers and massaging her palm until she was dizzy and
thinking only of the way those fingers had felt a short time
before. If he intended to keep this sort of attention up, she would
lose her virginity in a matter of minutes and no doubt on this very
table in front of her own mother!

"Will you need some money?" he was asking
her, pulling her out of her private torment. Julia blushed as his
eyes met hers; he knew exactly what she was thinking and he smiled
his acknowledgment.

"What?"

"Will you need any money?" he asked
again.

"No. I have my own."

"Then enjoy yourself. While you're out, stop
by the bank in town and sign the papers they have for you."

"Why?"

"I've set up an account in your name so
you'll have your own money. You can make a withdrawal if you need
more, or I can give you some bills now. Which would you
prefer?"

"I have my own money, Mr. Browning. I don't
need yours." Louise cleared her throat and Jeremy coughed back his
coffee at hearing her remark. Daniel smiled as he rose from his
chair and bent over her, gently kissing the stubborn pout from her
lips.

"I never said you needed my
money,
Mrs. Browning
," he answered, reminding her she was no longer a stranger to
him - or at least she wasn't supposed to be. "I only made a
suggestion."

"I have money Daniel," she reaffirmed, with
a blush. He lifted her chin with his forefinger and thumb and
stared into her defiant eyes, smiling at the hint of passion that
edged the lining of her demeanor.

"Don't forget to stop by the bank,
Princess," he told her with authority. "Tell Margie hello for me,
will you?"

"Of course." Julia accepted another kiss
from her husband and watched him leave room. He was magnificent,
she had to give him that much, and if he kept treating her with
such tenderness, she was going to give him even more.

When Julia looked back across the table she
noticed Jeremy eyeing her with interest. He was the only one who
knew she hadn't shared a bed with Daniel and she knew she could
trust him to keep her secret. If only she could confide in him and
tell him what had happened. She did need a friend. How could she
tell anyone, the man she married wasn't in love with her and he was
only keeping her happy to satisfy curious onlookers? God Heather,
she thought sadly, I need you.

Two hours later Julia and Louise were on
their way to town, just as planned. Turner Stables were close
enough to Mayfield one could walk there in less than an hour, but
by horse and carriage it took a little more than twenty minutes,
and it was less sweaty and dusty. However, it did allow for very
close confines, which at present were thankfully silent.

The sun was high in the sky and warm against
her skin, as she slid her hat from the top of her head, much to her
mother's arguments. She leaned back against the leather seat and
closed her eyes, feeling the sun radiate across her pale skin.

The past few weeks had been emotionally
draining and for a brief few moments Julia relished in the warmth
and quiet of the country surroundings. She tried to clear her mind
and soak up the tranquility, but it was difficult with her insides
jumping like a sack of frogs. She couldn’t stop thinking about her
earlier encounter with Daniel; his threats or his promises.