Harnessed Passions (65 page)

"Aren't you going to open it?"

"Why? I already know what it is."

"It may be important. Harold said you should
see them right away."

"I'll look at them later, Julia. I've got to
finish this before the horses get back."

"Aren't you ever going to talk to me?" she
demanded, standing up from the hay with caution. She didn't exactly
cherish the idea of fainting just now, when she found the courage
to finally confront her husband. Daniel tossed the pitch fork down
with anger and turned on her, eyes blazing, his jaw set in a firm
rigid line. Julia knew she must have hit a sore spot by the look he
shot her.

"Talk Julia? Every damn time we talk, you
start accusing me of things I haven't done. One minute you're as
passionate as a she-wolf in heat and the next you're colder than an
ice burg. I can't keep up with you anymore, and frankly I'm tired
of trying. You talk if you must, but don't expect me to comply.
I've had enough!"

Julia's eyes filled with tears, her throat
constricted with pain and her lip quivered with unshed sobs. She
turned and ran from the barn, hearing Daniel's angry curse echo
through the twilight behind her. She couldn't believe he would say
those things to her, especially now that she was carrying his
child, but then he still didn't know about that, did he? She hadn’t
had the chance to tell him.

Her feet carried her closer to the house,
her heart pounded furiously within her chest as tears streamed down
her cheeks. If that was how he wanted it, she'd just make him learn
about the baby on his own. She sure as hell wasn't going to tell
him now.

Just as the light from the back door began
to shine through the night's darkness, a strong hand caught hold of
Julia, pulling her to the ground. She tried to call out, but before
the words could escape, a tight, hard mouth closed over her's,
silencing her cries. The smell rose up around her and Julia became
instantly aware of who was pinning her to the ground. Her wrists
were caught in a band of steel and held above her head; her legs
trapped beneath the weight and power as her lips suffered the
painful assaulted.

"I'm tired of playing your games," Daniel
growled, the light stubble of his beard chaffing her cheek and neck
as his mouth traveled across her delicate flesh. "This time, we do
things my way."

A moment later Julia felt the night air
brush her legs as Daniel tugged the hem of her skirt up. Her
drawers and petticoats were quickly pushed aside, her bodice torn
by his eagerness and bellowing temper. Somehow, in a mere span of
seconds Daniel had her positioned beneath him, the tip of his
engorged penis pushed into the opening of her tight vagina causing
her to cry out for him to stop, but her pleas were silenced with
the pressure of his mouth again.

This time, his kiss was filled with passion
and desire, and her fears quickly dissolved. His hands touched and
teased her in ways she had grown to know and adore. She opened her
eyes, staring in the deep blue depths of his turquoise eyes as he
rose above her, feeling the man's regret as he stopped thrusting
against her.

"Julia," Daniel whispered with a deep tone
of agony, causing chills of anticipation racing along her spine.
"Forgive me Princess," he pleaded, releasing her wrists and pulling
reluctantly out of her. Julia knew he wanted her, she felt the heat
of the moment building inside her as desperately as it had
overtaken him. Just his apology and sincerity of his words had
melted her apprehension and burned a flame of arousal white hot
inside her soul. She slid her arms around his neck and pulled him
back down to her, her legs circling around his hips, to keep him
from moving off of her.

"I love you Daniel," she assured him as she
kissed his lips with as much passion and need as she could express.
She heard his growl of desire as he stretched out across her again,
thrusting into her hard and deep. Julia gasped, the feeling of him
filled her was a sensation she would never grow tired of. The
thought of anger faded; the smell of sweat and hard labor
disappeared, leaving in its wake the deep need and urgent wanting
they had long denied each other.

Julia began to purr as he moved inside her,
causing another growl to escape Daniel’s chest. She loved the feel
of him; the touch of his calloused hands as the caressed her
exposed breast, and the taste his lips against hers. He bathed her
face and neck in hot kisses, nipping and suckling along the path
back to her lips. His mouth began grinding a rhythm that matched
his hips, leaving her breathless and moaning with her building
passion.

The heat of his calloused hand against her
breast made her need deepen, and she lifted her hips to meet him,
thrust for thrust. The demand was growing as was the need for
release and when he pinched her nipple between his thumb and
forefinger, she knew she was lost. One thing she noticed about
being pregnant; everything seemed more sensitive, but it was a
feeling as pleasurable as the passion itself.

Daniel continued to tease and pinch the hard
pebble of her nipple, massaging and caressing her breast before
capturing it in his mouth. He sucked hard, causing a jolt of pain
to travel along her torso that soon vanished when he began nibbling
at the soft skin. It was such an array of sensations that Julia’s
mind couldn’t keep up and her body took over, sending her over the
edge of release. She cried out her as the waves of orgasmic
pleasure washed across her, but the words were silenced by the heat
and pressure of his mouth against hers, as he joined her. His hips
continued to grind against her, harder and deeper, his chest
heaving a deep growl against her lips. The heat was intoxicating
and she rode it out with him for several long moments before she
found herself able to breathe again, panting for air as he released
her lips, laying his head against her shoulder.

This was what they needed; solace in each
other’s arms, absorbing and enjoying the love and release that they
could only find together. It had been a brief, urgent encounter,
but one that left her smiling, eager for more.

"Oh my God, Julia," Daniel whispered, his
tone filled with regret and shame. She knew he was going to
apologize for making love to her and right now that was the last
thing she needed to hear. She needed to know things were going to
be alright between them and the angry battle they had been waging
had been breached. She wrapped her arms around his neck tighter and
kissed his cheek.

"I love you so much," she told him, hearing
the soft growl escape his throat.

"How can you say that?" he scolded, lifting
off of her slightly. "I just raped you. How could you possibly love
me after that?"

"You didn't rape me Daniel,” she smiled.
“And I don't explain my heart, I only accept the feelings and the
contentment you bring."

"God woman, there's times when I swear
you're mental."

"If this is crazy my darling, I don't ever
want to be sane." Julia reached up and pulled him back down toward
her, kissing his lips with the love that flowed through her veins,
feeling at last the man's surrender.

"Tell me Princess," Daniel demanded a few
breathless moments later, as the burn of desire began to awaken his
sedated body. "When exactly did you become so damn certain I
wouldn't hurt you? I really wanted to, you know?"

"I know, but the minute I looked into those
beautiful blue eyes of yours, I knew you'd never do anything to
cause me harm. You know, Daniel, as much as I love your unique
lessons in love making, I really wish you'd take a bath first."
Daniel frowned, quickly realizing she was teasing. He leaned down
and bit her lip.

"I thought it didn't matter to you?"

"I never said that," she insisted, wrinkling
her nose with the stench that filled the air, making her remember
where they were.

"No, you didn't, but you didn't argue until
after you got what you wanted."

"That's different. I was
simply...preoccupied." Daniel laughed, lifting her up from the
ground and adjusting his breeches.

"I'll have to keep you preoccupied from now
on. I think it's the only time we don't argue."

"Exactly how do you plan on accomplishing
this task of yours, Mr. Browning? I am after all, a married woman
you know." Julia's smile was wicked, knowing their standoff was now
a part of their tormented past. She adjusted her petticoat and
drawers and pulled the few remaining buttons of her bodice across
the swell of breasts, and gazed into the eyes that always seemed to
melt her resistance.

"I don't care about your husband, Madam.
It's you I want." To prove his point, Daniel quickly swept her up
into his arms and carried her up the path to the house.

The rest of that night and far into the next
morning, Daniel proved to his young bride just how much he really
did want her. Time and again he brought her to the edge of ecstasy,
only to reward her with showers of kisses and an endless supply of
caresses. When at last they emerged from their private love encased
cocoon, Julia was happy and sedated, but still the holder of her
secret. She promised herself she would tell Daniel about the baby
the very next time she saw him. If only he'd quit touching her,
long enough for her think straight.

The annual sales were inching closer while
Daniel and Julia worked themselves into a frazzle, preparing for
the forty-two buyers already committed to attending. Julia's secret
remained between her and Louise, not so much out of choice as it
was necessity. They both knew if Daniel found out, he'd prevent
Julia from helping and force her to stay up at the house - no doubt
in bed; so for the sake of a successful sale, her condition
remained a secret.

Mornings proved to be the worst on Julia,
who had to run for her chamber pot the minute her head lifted from
the pillow. She prayed Daniel wouldn't come in unexpectedly and
find her kneeling in front of the wooden stand in their wash
closet. She'd thanked the lord when it was over and she could dress
and go downstairs to fill her stomach before the waves of nausea
had the chance to take her over again.

She learned to eat light, since heavy meals
had a tendency to make her tired and she kept a biscuit or several
of Mrs. Lester's cookies in her pockets as she worked. The days
were growing increasingly difficult, her clothes were getting
tighter and it was proving harder to find an outfit to hide her
increasing size, than keeping the news from Daniel. Julia only
hoped they got this sale out of the way quickly so she could tell
him. She knew he'd be happy once things settled down enough for
them to enjoy her condition together, but until then the days
continued as always; eat, work and sleep occupying every spare
moment they had.

Julia arranged for an appointment with Dr.
Stewart, knowing she needed to be under his care as soon as
possible. She sent a message to Margie to set up the meeting,
begging her to keep the visit quiet from Harold, who would
undoubtedly tell Daniel. The next morning her red haired friend
arrived at the ranch, filled with questions and concerns. Margie
found Julia in the stables brushing one of the mares they planned
on showing to the buyers. Her hair was in disarray, with stands of
dark satin hanging down her shoulders, escaping her tightly bound
braid. Her clothes were dusty and smelled as though she'd been
rolling in the soiled hay, rather than raking it and her heavy
boots were caked in mud and manure. Margie frowned when she saw
Julia's appearance, her disapproval etched on her delicate
face.

"Good God Julia!" Margie snapped, grabbing
her friend by the arm. "Just look at you. You look like a common
street rat. What on earth are you doing here? Does Daniel know
you're down here working in your condition?" Julia quickly silenced
the woman, placing a dirty, smelly hand across her mouth.

"Shhh," she scolded, looking around for any
uninvited ears. "Let's go to the house." They walked up the path
toward the house, Margie spitting and wiping the dirt and sweaty
smell from her lips with a lace handkerchief. Julia couldn't help
but smile; this wasn't the sort of life Margie would ever be able
to accept.

"Now, tell me; why all the secrecy?" Margie
insisted, looking back to make certain they were alone. Julia
stopped short of the back door and sighed. The walk up the small
incline to the main house seemed more difficult today and her legs
felt as though they would buckle underneath her at any minute. She
was exhausted beyond reason and in desperate need of something to
drink.

"Daniel doesn't know yet and I don't want
him to worry," Julia explained, slipping the biscuit from her
pocket and taking a bite of it.

"Why on earth haven't you told him? He has a
right to know, unless...he shouldn't, for some reason?" Margie
narrowed her eyes with suspicion causing Julia to nearly choke on
her mouthful of food.

"Of course he should know!" she defended
herself, swallowing her biscuit before she suffocated on it. "I
just don't want to give him anything more to be concerned about
until the sale is over. He's been working himself into an
exhaustion getting this place and those horses ready for this
weekend. If I told him now, he'd worry more about me than what he
was doing. I don't want anything to cause him further grief, so
I've just decided to keep quiet until Sunday. By then the sales
will be over and he'll be able to take some time off and
relax."

"I still think he should know. It's not fair
keeping this kind of news from him. I'm sure it hasn't been very
easy for you either, has it?"

"Actually it hasn’t been hard at all.
Fortunately Daniel's out of the room when I wake up or he'd see me
puking my guts out and I’m dressed before he comes up from the
stables for breakfast."

"Well surely he's noticed your weight gain.
I noticed it right off. How on earth have you been able to keep
that from him?"