~V~V~
Theirs would be a prearranged marriage. Even so, she had fallen in love with him the first moment she saw him. She had no other choice but to spend eternity with him as her father had said. She would be his.
The thought of their joining frightened her, because her mother had died when she was very young and hadn't explained what the marriage bed might entail. Still, when he kissed her, passion ignited and it overcame all her fears.
Tonight she had met him outside secretly in the garden so they could talk. If her Aunt Natalie found out, she'd be punished. It was worth the risk, because she wanted to see him.
"Did you like the new present I had sent to your room?" he asked her as he took her in his arms.
"Thank you for the jasmine perfume. It smells heavenly," she said as lay her head against his chest.
He inhaled the perfume as it mixed with the sweet scent which was distinctly Josette. "Anything for you," he said as he held her so close. "I can't wait until we are married."
"It won't be long, my darling," she whispered. "I'm so anxious to become your bride."
"Soon you'll be mine, forever and always..."
"No one will ever tear us apart," she said as she wrapped her arms around him tight.
~V~V~
The next day they worked on the wedding invitations together. As Josette sat at his side, he thought of how beautiful she looked. He couldn't believe that one day very soon, she'd be his completely.
"I brought you tea and cookies," said the servant Angelique as she brought them a snack upon a silver tray.
"Thank you, Angelique," said Barnabas. "This looks delicious."
He took a cookie from the tray and bit into it. He didn't know that Angelique had laced the tea with a powerful love potion. She giggled softly as she walked away.
Angelique waited in the hallway, hoping that the concoction she had added to the tea would cause mayhem. Josette took a sip of her tea and at just that same moment, Barnabas's uncle Jeremiah walked into the room. When Josette lay her gaze upon him, incredible lust suffocated her. She wanted Jeremiah with a force in which she could not comprehend. She glanced over at her husband-to-be, hoping he would never know of her scandalous and improper thoughts regarding his own uncle. Tonight when everyone was asleep in their beds, she would make her way across the house and confront Jeremiah.
"Hello there," Jeremiah said as he went to pour himself a small cup of the tea. He raised the cup to his lips and took a sip of the warm liquid. Staring into Josette's eyes, he thought he had caught a glimpse of his own destiny.
~V~V~
When Barnabas found his bride-to-be hovering outside Jeremiah's bedroom door in the middle of the night, he was horrified. "What are you doing, Josette?" he confronted her.
"I- I wasn't..." she stammered. "Barnabas, I must have been sleep-walking."
He looked at her suspiciously. Was the woman he loved sleeping with his own uncle? Had Josette and Jeremiah betrayed him?
"I don't think so," Barnabas said in a steely voice and walked her toward her bedroom. Once they stepped inside, he knew he'd have to do something drastic to keep the woman he loved from straying from him. Looking deeply into her eyes, he lowered his lips to hers in a passionate kiss.
Wrapping her arms around Barnabas, Josette melted into his embrace. Despite her strange attraction for his Uncle Jeremiah, it was he who had her heart.
Barnabas knew he couldn't wait another day to make Josette his. He swept her in his arms and insisted they were getting married that very night. "But Barnabas-," she protested.
"I won't lose you to Jeremiah or anyone else. I love you, Josette, and you are going to become my wife. Pack your things; we leave tonight," he insisted.
Once again, she tried to protest, but he kissed her until she quieted. He went to pack a few of his garments in a satchel, and then he was ready. When he returned to Josette's room, she was dressed in her wedding gown. She was such a beautiful sight that his heart skipped a beat.
"Josette, are you ready to become my bride?" he asked her with a handsome smile.
"I love you, Barnabas, and yes, tonight I am ready to become yours," she told him as she placed her hand into his.
"Let's go then," he said as they escaped together down the staircase and out of the house.
They took the carriage into Collinsport and that very night they eloped. After they were married, he had booked a room at a fancy hotel. "I want the honeymoon suite with the very best of accomidations," he told the hotel clerk. "Nothing but the best for my beautiful bride."
Josette smiled at him as she took his hand, and they went up to their room together. "Barnabas, it's so lovely," she said when she saw the huge four poster bed. He lifted her into his arms and carried her to it, laying her down upon it's surface.
She looked up into his eyes as her heart started to pound. Never before had she felt for anyone as she felt for Barnabas. Although she was nervous about their wedding night, she was also greatly excited. "You're mine now, Josette. No one is ever going to take you away from me," he stated.
"I'm yours forever," she agreed.
"Barnabas, should I put on my nightgown now?" she asked him quietly.
"I don't think you'll have a need for it, darling," he told her as he gently began to unbutton her gown. He undid each of the tiny buttons and parted the silken material of the bodice of her wedding gown. Josette was breathing harshly, making her breasts heave in her chemise.
"You're so beautiful," he whispered as he continued to remove her clothing. "I want you so very much, Josette. I ache for you."
"Please Barnabas," she spoke in a pleading voice. "I need to feel you against me..."
Barnabas's eyes darkened at her words. He stood only long enough to drop his garments to the floor. He then rejoined her on the bed. His lips met hers in a hot, erotic kiss. As they kissed, his hands roamed her delectable body. He took her breasts in his large hands and gently squeezed the lovely globes. He caressed them until her nipples were hardened and aching with desire. Then his mouth trailed to the sweet flesh of her neck. He sipped softly at her skin, then nibbled hungrily with his teeth.
"Barnabas please..." she cried out, thrusting her lower body against his in a great need of some relief. She didn't even know what it was she needed, but she was sure he could give it to her.
He kissed each of her breasts and nibbled softly upon her aroused nipples. "Are you ready to become one with me, Josette?" he asked in a voice overcome with passion.
"Yes please... make me yours forever," she whimpered.