~V~V~
Barnabas was a generous lover. He made sure that Josette knew the most exquisite pleasure before he joined their bodies as one. She gave him her most precious gift when he took her virginity. She had been surprised by the sharp pain that accompanied their joining. She had gasped as her nails sunk into his shoulders. He soothed her with his tender words until the pain had faded. Then he took her to the heights of ecstasy as he tenderly made love to her. Their bodies moved together gracefully, until they discovered the greatest pleasure two lovers had ever known.
"Barnabas, what we just shared, it was so beautiful," she whispered to him in the almost-darkness.
"That's because we love each other so much," he murmured as he tenderly kissed away her happy tears.
"I do love you," she said as she curled up in his arms.
"What happens now?" she quietly whispered.
"We'll enjoy the rest of our honeymoon. We'll make love many times... then we'll go home and enjoy the rest of our lives together," he told her.
"And nothing will ever keep us apart?"
"Nothing will ever keep you from me, Josette. You're mine forever," he whispered as he kissed her.
Xxxooo
A single candle lit the darkness as Barnabas held his new bride in his loving arms. "Go to sleep, Josette," he whispered to her tenderly. "We've had a long day... and we both need our rest."
Barnabas blew out the candle upon the bedside table and drew Josette into his tender embrace. "Good night, my love," she whispered to him. They snuggled together under the quilts as sleep eventually found them.
In the morning, golden sunlight poured into their hotel room. Josette awakened in the arms of the man who had her heart. "Hello, my darling," Barnabas whispered, his lips meeting hers in a tender kiss. "Did you sleep well last night?"
"Very well, thank you. But I am starved," she said as she stretched her arms languidly in the bed beside him.
It all seemed like a dream, being married to Barnabas and sharing their love with one another. It couldn't be real, could it? Had she finally found true happiness with this remarkable, handsome man?
"I am starved as well," Barnabas said huskily. "But not for food. I need you..."
He rolled over on top of her, kissing her neck. Josette shivered with the passion he evoked in her. "Breakfast can wait," she murmured as she threaded her fingers into his thick dark hair.
Xxxooo
It was hard to believe they had been married for seven days. Josette loved the passion and the intimacy between them. They were having breakfast at the Collinsport Inn when Barnabas announced that it was time they went home that day. "So soon, Barnabas?" Josette asked him with disappointment.
"I must return to the family business," he told her. "And our parents will be wondering what happened to us. We did not leave a note, nor did we let anyone know our plans to elope."
"I guess you are right," she said with sadness in her eyes. "But I am afraid."
"Afraid of what, my dear?" he asked as he took her hand in his.
"That what we have will change once we return home. I don't want to lose you, Barnabas."
"How could it change, Josette? I love you so much."
"Something isn't right back at Collinwood..." she spoke with fear lurking within her eyes.
"You mustn't worry, my darling. All will be well. We are married now, and nothing can separate us," he promised her.
Xxxooo
When Barnabas and Josette returned to Collinwood together, Angelique was overcome with jealousy. She had never seen two people more in love, and it made her sick. She vowed she would do whatever it took to tear their love apart. *Barnabas, you will be mine,* Angelique was thinking as she formed her scheming plans. She'd make Barnabas pay for rejecting her. Josette would suffer greatly for taking the man that Angelique had loved ever since their brief, passionate time together in Martineque.
"I can't believe you're married, Son," Naomi said as she hugged Barnabas so tightly. "Your father and I were worried about you... but when we realized Josette was missing, too, we figured you may have decided to elope."
"I hope I didn't worry you too much, Mother," Barnabas said as he kissed his mother's cheek.
"I can forgive you, Barnabas... after all, you've given me such a lovely daughter-in-law," Naomi said as she smiled at Barnabas's new wife. "Now that the two of you are married, we must complete the new house at once. Soon you'll have a house full of children of your own, and you will not want the rest of the family under foot."
Barnabas laughed softly and assured his mother that he loved her and always wanted her nearby. "We did however enjoy our quiet-time alone on our honeymoon," Barnabas stated. "How soon until the new house is finished?"
"A couple of weeks, I think," responded Naomi. "But don't worry, dear. Even when your father, Sarah, and I move into the new house, we shall leave Angelique behind to see to your needs."
*I'd love to see to his needs,*Angelique was thinking as she stood in the shadows. She'd wait a couple of days, then she'd make her move. Barnabas would be hers!
Xxxooo
Joshua, Naomi, Sarah, and Jeremiah Collins had moved into the new estate of Collinwood, leaving Josette and Barnabas to remain at the Old House with their servants Angelique and Ben. Barnabas spent a great deal of his time handling the family shipping business in Collinsport while Josette saw to the many tasks around the house. Josette especially liked tending the rose garden. With Barnabas away quite often on business, Josette became lonely.
One day as she walked into the garden to water the roses, she saw Barnabas in another woman's arms. Barnabas stood in front of the ceramic bench as Angelique was feverishly kissing him.
"What in the world is going on here?" Josette demanded, her voice sounding nearly hysterical.
Barnabas broke away from Angelique to see his beautiful wife staring at him in a state of shock. "Josette, this- this is not how it looks," he stammered.
"Then what IS it?" Josette cried out.
"I did not mean to kiss her. I don't know what overcame me. I- I-," he said as he moved his gaze onto Angelique. The lovely blond servant had a look of smug satisfaction upon her face. Obviously she had intended for Josette to catch him in her arms. Strangely, however, he did not remember kissing Angelique. He wasn't sure what had happened, but it made him sick. The last thing he wanted was to hurt Josette.
"Josette ~ beloved, please listen to me. It's you that I love! It's you that I want!" he implored her as he rushed to her side and tried to take her in his embrace.
A sound of hurt tore from Josette's lips as took a couple of steps backward to avoid Barnabas's touch. "Don't lie to me, Barnabas! What's going on with you and Angelique? I want to know EVERYTHING!" Josette insisted.
"We're so sorry you had to find out this way," Angelique finally spoke up in a voice that was sickening-sweet. "We never wanted you to know..."
"You never wanted me to know what?" Josette demanded of her husband as tears shown in her eyes. "WHAT? Barnabas, TELL me."
"I- I had an affair with Angelique in Martineque... before we were married," he said as he looked at her shamefully.
"I'm so sorry, Josette. Forgive me! She meant nothing to me..." he implored her.
*You're going to regret those words!* Angelique inwardly fumed as she looked at Barnabas with an expression vicious anger. *I'm going to make you sooo sorry."
"Ohhh my God!" Josette said in a sob. "I can't believe it! You've been lying to me ALL this time?"
"No, darling! No! I love you. Only you!" Barnabas told her. "And that's not a lie!"
He reached for her as he longed to kiss away all her tears, but for the first time ever, Josette pushed him away. "Stay away from me, Barnabas!" she cried out. She turned away swiftly, running back into the house. She rushed up the staircase to her bedroom and threw herself down on her bed. Her heart broke into a million pieces as she thought of Angelique and Barnabas making love. All this time, he hadn't told her. Josette Collins had been living a lie.
