Captive Bride

Chapter Thirty-six

THEY had been married six months, six blissful months. Christina still found it hard to believe Philip was hers. She wanted to be near him every minute, to touch him, to hear his sweet words of love filling her heart with happiness.

"Have you forgotten the wager I made you last night?" Philip asked when she came into their bedroom carrying a breakfast tray. "I believe the stakes were a morning spent leisurely in bed—and I won."

"I haven't forgotten, my love, but you were still sleeping when I awoke. I thought you might like something to tide you over until lunch."

"More likely you wanted something to tide you over. The way you've been eating lately, I'm beginning to think you care more for food than for me," he teased. He took the tray from her hands and set it on the black-marble table in front of the couch.

"That's not true, and you know it," Christina said, pretending to pout.

"Well, you shouldn't have carried the tray up yourself. In the future, let the servants earn their wages."

"You know very well, my lord, that the servants are not allowed to come near your bedroom when the door is closed. You gave the order yourself, the second day of our honeymoon. A maid came in to change the linens and found us still abed. Your rage scared the wits out of the poor girl."

"And with good reason," Philip chuckled. "But what kept you so long? I've been up for almost an hour and was about to come after you. When I win a wager, I expect to collect in full, not just half measure."

"Every time we've played poker these last months, I’ve lost. I'm beginning to think you let me win intentionally when you taught me the game back in Egypt."

"You wouldn't wager with me then, if you'll remember. But now that the stakes are well worth winning, I prefer to win. Then again, perhaps you prefer to lose."

"You'd like to believe that, wouldn't you?" she teased, reclining on the velvet couch.

"Isn't it so?" he asked, sitting beside her.

"My love, you don't need a deck of cards and a game of chance to get me to spend the morning in bed with you —or the entire day, for that matter. You should know that by now."

"I spent so many months thinking you hated me, Tina, that now it's hard to believe our happiness is real," Philip said.

He took her face in his hands and looked at her with glowing warmth in his eyes. "No man has the right to be as happy as you've made me by giving me your love. I can't believe you are really mine."

Christina came into Philip's arms, clinging to him tightly.

"We must forget about the eleven months we were separated," she whispered, "forget about the doubt we once shared. We were both fools not to speak of our love then. But I know now that you love me as I do you. I will never, never leave you."

She leaned back and looked at him, a spark suddenly coming to her eyes. "And if another woman should ever capture your fancy, let me inform you now, Philip Caxton, that I would fight for you! You told me once that nobody takes what is yours. Well, no woman will ever take what is mine!"

"Such a spitfire I have married," he chuckled. "Why didn't you tell me you were going to be a jealous and possessive wife?"

"Are you sorry you married me?" she asked.

"You know the answer to that. Now tell me what kept you so long downstairs. You're not trying to avoid my bed, are you, my sweet?"

"That I will never do. I just stopped for a few minutes to see Philip Junior. He was trying to walk again without holding onto anything. He's so cute when he does that. Emma also gave me a letter—from Kareen."

"And I suppose you want to read it right now? Go ahead," he said.

She smiled and quickly opened the letter. After she had read it silently for a few minutes, she started to laugh. "Well, it's about time."

"What is?" Philip asked.

"Kareen is going to have a baby. John must be so happy, and I imagine Johnsy is, too. She was so upset when we left taking away her baby, as she called Philip Junior. She'll be glad to have another one in the house."

"That's good news, and I'm happy for them. But it's about time we enlarged our own little family." Philip grinned devilishly. "And we can start working on it right now."

He picked her up and carried her to their big four-postered bed still tousled from the night's sleep. He kissed her tenderly, his lips soft, pliant, moving ever so slowly over hers. He kissed her throat, her shoulder, and lowered her onto the bed.

His smoldering green eyes were alight with anticipation. He slipped out of his velvet robe and helped Christina take off her dress. She opened her arms to him, and their bodies entwined closely. He kissed her again, with the fiery temper of love.

Suddenly he raised himself on one elbow and smiled lazily at her.

"I rather like the idea of having a big family," he said. "You won't mind having another child so soon, will you?"

"You should have asked me that question a month ago. I have no choice in the matter now. In eight months there will be an addition to our family," Christina grinned.

"But why didn't you tell me sooner?" he asked joyfully.

"I was waiting for the right moment. I hope we have a girl this time."

"No, that won't do. We'll have three or four boys first— then you can have the girl you want."

"But why?"

"Because if our daughter looks anything like you, my sweet, she's going to need all the protection she can get."

"Well, let's just wait and see. I'm afraid we won't have much say in the matter."

"I suppose this is why you've been eating so much lately," he said. "Well, this time I'll be around to watch you bloom with motherhood."

Christina frowned slightly, remembering how big she'd grown with Philip Junior. But Philip smiled.

"It's our child that will grow within you. And in my eyes you will be more beautiful than you are now—if that is possible. I love you, Tina."

He kissed her then, passionately, and their bodies molded together. The ardent flames of love possessed them, and Christina knew this was the way it would always be between them. She knew her love for Philip would never die.