Bobbi Smith - Captive Pride

Faith hugged her mother quickly. “Thank you.”

“Your happiness means everything to me. Now, go and be with your man,” Ruth whispered.

With stars in her eyes, Faith gave her mother one last kiss and then flew to Matt’s side.

“We’ll be back sometime tomorrow,” Matt told Ruth as he helped Faith with her cloak and then ushered her from the room.

“God bless you both,” she called out as they climbed into the waiting carriage, and she watched as the coach rumbled off down the street.

Candles flickered mellowly, casting unsteady shadows upon the walls, as the words being spoken in hushed adoration echoed in the unheated chamber. Matthew and Faith were unaware of the chill in the room, though, for they were wrapped in the fire of their love. Standing slightly apart, they repeated their vows. Their gazes were solemn upon each other, and their hearts were pounding in excited anticipation as Matt slid his signet ring upon her finger, claiming her as his for all eternity.

At that moment, for the first time, Matthew regretted the fate of the Kincade fortunes, for he would have loved to present Faith with his mother’s diamond-studded wedding band on this, their wedding night. The band, which had been in the family for generations, was to have come to him as part of his inheritance. It hurt him now that it had had to be sold to pay his father’s debts. How proud he would have been to be able to present Faith with such a fabulous token of his love…

Matthew focused on his beloved then, and though she wasn’t wearing a white lace gown or carrying a bouquet of fragrant flowers, he knew Faith had never looked lovelier to him. Her hair was down, framing her face in a soft torrent of raven curls and emphasizing the wide glory of her sparkling eyes. It was from his heart that he had pledged his life and his love to her. He longed to take her in his arms and never let her go.

Faith smiled as they were pronounced man and wife. She had never quite believed that this moment would ever happen, and she felt as if she were in a dream from which she hoped that she’d never awaken. With Matthew as her husband, her life was perfect.

As she gazed up at him, her pulse quickened. He was now and forever her husband. They were bound to each other for the rest of their lives. The thought brought comfort as well as excitement. He was so strong and so handsome, and she loved him so much. Surely, as long as they had each other, they would be happy.

Tenderly, unable to resist another moment, Matthew bent to Faith and kissed her with gentle promise as he murmured in a low tone just for her, “I love you…”

The thrill of knowing that they would soon be man and wife in more than name only left Faith breathless. It seemed an eternity to her before the papers were all signed and their business finally concluded. When at last Matt whisked her from the small chapel and back into the coach, he drew her across his lap and held her close.

“We’ll be at the inn soon,” he promised, kissing her softly.

“I know,” Faith returned, looping her arms about his neck and hugging him tightly.

Suddenly serious, Matt loosened the loving grip she had on him and held her slightly away. “Faith?”

“What?” She was surprised by his move.

“You’re not sorry, are you?” His eyes were dark with the worry that was besieging him.

“Sorry? About what?”

“Sorry about not having a proper wedding…sorry about having to run off like this…” His gaze searched hers for the answer.

“Matthew!” she scolded lovingly, reaching up to caress the leanness of his cheek. “If you’ll remember, this was my idea. I was the one who proposed it. I love you, and I couldn’t bear for us to be apart another minute.”

“Ah, Faith!” He turned to press a kiss to the palm of her hand and then growled as he crushed her to him. “I love you so much.”

His lips sought the sweetness of hers in a fervent kiss of love and need, and Faith gave a low purr of satisfaction deep in her throat in knowing that he did love her. That was all that mattered.

It was long after midnight when at last they drew up in front of an inn. After one last heart-stirring embrace, Matt tore himself away from Faith to secure them lodging for the night, leaving her safely ensconced in the carriage while he tended to it. At first the innkeeper, a bony scarecrow of a man named Carson, was not overly pleased to be roused at such a late hour, but when he discovered that his customer was an English lord, he immediately hurried to see to his needs. While not the fanciest of inns, it was clean, and Matthew chose the best room the tavern had to offer. He directed that a hot meal be sent up to them as soon as possible, along with a bath for his wife. After paying for the room, he went back out to escort Faith inside.

The room on the second floor was spacious. By the time Matt and Faith entered, a small fire had already been set in the fireplace and several lamps lighted for their convenience. Brightly colored scatter rugs adorned the dark, highly polished hardwood floor, and the bed had been turned down, its wide softness beckoning the lovers to test of its comfort.

“Matthew, the room…It’s lovely.” Faith murmured her approval of the cozy interior. A faint blush pinkened her cheeks as her gaze lingered on the bed and she tried to imagine the intimacy of sharing it with Matthew this night.

Matt smiled warmly as he noticed the direction of her gaze and read her thoughts. He was about to take her into his arms for a passionate kiss when a knock at the door interrupted him. His smile twisted to a wry grin as he called out, “What is it?”

“Your meal, m’lord” came the innkeeper’s answer, and Matt regretfully moved away from Faith to open the door to admit him.

A table was set for them, and the finest fare the tavern had to offer was served along with a bottle of its best wine.

“I’ll have the bath up directly,” Carson related as he scurried from the room.

“That will be fine.” Matthew couldn’t wait for him to be gone, and he closed and locked the door with great relish. “Now, my sweet…”

Faith saw the flame of desire in Matt’s eyes, and she didn’t hesitate to go to him, wrapping her arms about him and nestling against the warm width of his chest. “I love you, Matthew Kincade. I always have and I always will.”

Matt stood still, cradling her against him, content for the time to just cherish the closeness and lightness of the embrace.

“Let’s dine before the food grows cold,” he suggested as he felt his senses begin to stir. There was nothing Matt wanted more than to make love to Faith, but he wanted their first time to be perfect. He deliberately postponed the ultimate, knowing that anticipation always heightened the satisfaction.

With all the gallantry of a gentleman at court, Matt seated her at the table and poured a glass of wine for her before taking his own chair. They said little as they sampled of the inn’s fare, each eating sparingly, for their thoughts were far from food. It was not food they craved, but a far more important nourishment-the nourishment of the soul from love’s embrace. Across the narrow width of the small table their eyes met and held, and Matthew lifted his wineglass in toast to his bride.

“May we be this happy always.” He spoke in a low, intimate tone that sent a shiver of expectation through Faith. There was something innately sensual about the way Matthew lifted the glass to his lips. Faith suddenly wished his lips were tasting of hers instead of the full-bodied wine.

Faith remembered every touch and kiss they’d ever shared, and she longed to experience the fullness of his passion. His body was a mystery to her, and she was eager to learn everything she could about pleasing him. Her mother had told her very little of what to expect on her wedding night beyond that there might be some pain. In spite of that, she was to submit completely to her husband’s will. Faith smiled to herself, for submitting was hardly the word to describe what she was feeling in giving herself to Matthew. She wanted him. Her body craved closeness with him in the instinctive way that had existed since the beginning of time. Her need was a deep, heart-stirring drive for possession that eclipsed every other emotion she’d ever experienced.