Rebel Temptress (Historical Romance) (34 page)

The sun was setting on Honor's wedding day when she kissed Meagan good night, and Adam told her he and Honor would accompany her to the ship the next day.

Adam led Honor to his suite of rooms on the fifth floor. When he opened the door, the aroma of flowers filled the air. There were flowers occupying every available space. Adam lifted her in his arms and carried her into the room. He kicked the door shut with his foot and smiled down at her.

"Alone at last," he said as his lips covered hers in a searing kiss that left Honor weak and trembling in his arms.

Adam crossed the room and sat down on a couch with her in his arms. "Mr. and Mrs. Adam O'Roarke. Mrs. Honor O'Roarke," Adam said, trying out Honor's new name. "Nothing and no one can stand in our way now, Honor. You belong to me," he said in a passionate voice.

"I am going to like belonging to you," she whispered.

"You had better, because you are mine forever now. Are you tired? You have had a very full day."

"Yes, a little, and you?"

"No, but I confess I would like to go to bed with you."

Honor looked away from him, hoping she would not react to him as she had to Jordan. Would panic take over her reasoning? Would she flee from Adam? Would she destroy him as she had Jordan?

"I will give you time to dress for bed before I come in. You will find all of your belongings have been unpacked by the maid."

He stood up and placed her on her feet, knowing what she was feeling.

When Adam entered the bedroom a short time later, Honor was standing in the middle of the room hesitantly, as though undecided what to do. Her long white cotton nightgown fit snugly about her throat and hung down to the floor, concealing her body in its generous folds. When Adam approached her she took an involuntary step backwards, her eyes were wide with fear.

"Honor, I am your husband, and as such I intend to sleep beside you, but nothing will happen between us unless you want it to. I told you that, and you said you trusted me."

She nodded. "I do trust you, Adam, but I am not sure I want to sleep beside you."

"Nevertheless, you will sleep with me, Honor," he said, lifting her into his arms and placing her down on the bed.

The covers had been pulled aside earlier by a maid. Adam blew out the lamp and the room was bathed in darkness. Honor felt the bed shift as he lay down beside her. Adam took care not to touch her for the moment.

"Honor, will you mind if we sail for Boston tomorrow after we see Meagan off?" he said, deliberately making light conversation.

"No, not if that is what you want," she said, beginning to relax just a little.

"I am anxious to show you your new home and to introduce you to all my friends."

"Will they like me, do you think?"

"They will love you, and who could help loving you? Surely not I."

"How will Suzanne feel about our marriage, Adam?" Honor asked, remembering how Suzanne had convinced her to return to Jordan.

"Honor, I know all about what Suzanne said to you at Landau. She confessed to me just before I came here. She was very sorry and told me she hoped I could convince you to become my wife. She is very fond of you, and once she saw that I would not be happy without you, she gave me her wholehearted support."

"Adam, we have known each other for a very long time, and yet I do not know very much about your private life. You only told me you are a lawyer and you have a farm outside Boston."

"Yes, that is correct. I also have a house in town, which is most convenient when I have a difficult case that I am working on. I have two young associates whom I am training to take most of the cases that come to my firm, thus leaving me more time to spend at Penrose." His arm went around her and he pulled her to him slowly so her head was resting on his shoulder.

"You are not actually a farmer, but more a lawyer?" she said, thinking how strange it was to know so little about the man she loved and had just married.

"Yes," he told her as his hand drifted over her arm caressingly. "I am a lawyer by profession, and a farmer by choice."

"Where will we live, Adam, in the country or in Boston?"

She felt his hand move over her hair as he wound a strand of silver around his finger. "You would prefer living in the country, so that is where we will spend most of our time, but sometimes you will have to suffer the city, for when I stay in Boston, I will insist that you be with me."

"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.