Finally out of his clothes, he lurched toward the bed and almost fell on top of her. His wife went into whoops. He lowered his tone to one that promised retribution. “Laughing at your husband, my lady?”
Still giggling, Eugénie scrambled away, but he caught her foot. She might know more about ships, but he knew more about this. Will ran his tongue from her ankle to the tender spot behind her knee, pausing to suckle the soft spot. Eugénie gave a moan. Lying down was much better. “Not laughing now?”
Her breath stuttered as he moved his mouth higher, flicking her pearl with his finger as he tasted her essence.“Non.”Her breath quickened. “Oh, William.”
His member throbbed as if he hadn’t had her in days, but tonight she was going to beg. “Yes, my love?”
She wrapped one leg around him as he held the other wide. “I want you.”
Dragging his tongue over her engorged nub, he dipped it into her belly button. “How much?”
Eugénie arched into him, crying out as he took one nipple into his mouth and sucked, while rubbing his shaft between her legs. “Talk to me, Eugénie.”
She wiggled, attempting to get both legs around him.“Extrême-ment!”
Her eyes opened wide, she gulped air as he switched to her other breast, idly caressing the abandoned one. A sheen covered her body.Godhe was going to burst.
“William, s’il te plaît!”
He positioned his member at the opening of her sheath and slid into her inch by slow inch, as she clenched tightly around him, bringing him to completion. This hadn’t turned out at all as he’d planned. He’d meant to teach her a lesson, show her he was in charge, but now Will was more deeply in love with Eugénie than ever. She could spend her life laughing at him, and he wouldn’t mind.
“Stay with me, love.”
“William, I—I cannot. I need . . .”
This time, Eugénie really was going to die. Tremors rushed through her body, and William began to thrust again. She hooked her ankles together, encouraging him. Waves crashed against the hull as the storm inside her rose once more. Their bodies were slick, and she anchored herself to William as the contractions began, threatening to separate them.
Deep in her soul, Eugénie suddenly knew she would kill anyone who tried to keep them apart, and he must feel the same about her.
She arched into William as he thrust into her. He groaned and shuddered. His warm seed filled her, making her wish they had already conceived a child.
Eugénie took his head between her hands, possessing his lips as he had possessed hers. She broke the kiss. “I love you.”
The corners of William’s lips tilted up. “It’s about time.”
“Oh, you.” He captured the fist she had planned to pummel him with. “I did love you before, I just love you more now.”
William rolled off her, drawing her against him as he lay on his back. “When you left yesterday, I was worried and furious, and hurt, because you didn’t trust me to take care of you and your family.”
“But he would have—”
He touched a finger to Eugénie’s lips. “Hear me out. All I could think of was losing you, or someone hurting you. I couldn’t have borne it. I must have your trust, Eugénie.”
She turned and stared at him. It had not even occurred to her he would feel betrayed by her actions. “But I did trust you, my love. Iknewyou would come after me, and when I sawSwift Wind, I had no doubt you would be on her. I locked myself in my cabin so that Uncle Yves could not use me against you, and I stayed there.” She chewed her bottom lip. She may as well tell him the rest. “I would rather have stuck my dagger in him, but I had a feeling you would wish to kill him.”
Both of William’s arms came around her and his chest rumbled as he laughed. “You were right, my bloodthirsty vixen. I was more than happy to shoot him.”
And because her husband needed to hear it again, she said, “Bon, and from now on, I will always allow you to protect me.”
William kissed her, a lingering, tender kiss. “That is all I ask.”
Nathan lay next to Sidonie, happy that he’d regained enough strength to make love to her properly. Now they lay side by side, hands clasped together, allowing the cool breeze from the port-window to waft over them. “How are the girls doing?”
“Better since Will arrived. He saved us. Not only from Shipley and Howden, but from melancholy. He is very good with the children.” She told him about Jeanne’s doll going overboard. “But it is nothing compared to how happy they’ll be to have you back, my darling.”
“Do they know I’m alive?”
He felt Sidonie nod. “Yes, but Will would not allow them to come with us.”
