“Thank God for that.” Nathan hadn’t known quite what to think about Wivenly. He was reputed to be a little bit of an out-and-outer. “You seem happy with his and Eugénie’s marriage.”
“I am, but if I’d known how they met . . .”
“She does take matters into her own hands.”
Sidonie’s voice trembled. “To be honest, I was not much help. I do not know what I would have done if events hadn’t turned out the way they did.”
Nathan wrapped his arms around her. “Don’t worry. Everything worked out for the best.” He kissed the top of her head. “The galley followed us here. After the storm has passed, Will and I shall deal with the other uncle.”
“I’m glad the two of you will take care of him.”
He kissed her again. “Sleep now, sweetheart.”
Her breathing soon evened out and deepened, but Nathan was unable to sink into Morpheus’s arms just yet.
Earlier to-day, when theBelle Amiehad reached the galley, Henriksen had shouted that he’d seen Eugénie in a cabin down below. Nathan had caught a glimpse of a man dashing for the stairs, and followed. Yet before he’d reached the hatch, Wivenly had coolly dodged to the side as a knife whizzed past him, and shot Yves Villaret dead center in the chest. Nathan’s dagger, the one taken from him in the pirate attack, stuck out from the wood next to his son-in-law’s head, still quivering. Despite that, Nathan hadn’t expected to find Eugénie in the fellow’s arms, trying to climb him like a tree.
Fatigue washed over him. If anyone could handle his daughter, Wivenly could. At least she’d not been forced into marrying the old French count.
Will woke in dim light to Eugénie’s bottom nestled snuggly into his groin. A cool breeze ruffled the sheet they’d somehow managed to pull up over them. The ship had ceased the periodic violent rolling that had awakened him off and on during the night. Now it was almost like the gentle rocking of a cradle.
His shaft twitched as if to remind him of how one got a babe to put in a cradle. He stroked over Eugénie’s breasts down to the dark curls at the apex of her thighs, then rubbed lightly. A soft moan escaped her, and he grinned. “Wife?”
“Husband?” Her voice was soft, warm, and still a bit sleepy.
Need for her rose in him. “I want you.”
“Yes.” She reached behind, taking hold of his hard member. “I want . . . Ahhh. William.”
Keeping steady pressure on her nubbin, he slid into her. “That?”
She rocked back against him. “Yes.”
God, he couldn’t get enough of her. Will stroked slowly at first. When he was certain she was about to shatter, he thrust hard and deep, coming with Eugénie as she clenched around him. Allowing the movement of the ship to lull him, he succumbed to sleep.
The next time he opened his eyes, sun beamed through the port-window, and Eugénie was gone. He sat up. Where the devil could she be? “Eugénie?”
“I’m here. I had to use the chamber pot.”
Will’s heart thudded in his chest. He was fully alert now.
She came back to the bunk. “I couldn’t wait any longer.”
Damn, he felt like a fool. “No. It’s fine.”
She stroked his forehead. “After what happened, I understand. I had to look and assure myself you were here as well.” Eugénie climbed back in bed with him. “The storm has passed. The captain will spend the rest of the day repairing any damage before we go home.” A smile graced her countenance. “Unless something occurs, we have the day to ourselves.”
Will shifted over her. “That will be a pleasant change.”
“Yes, it will.”
A knock sounded at the door. “Milady?”
Eugénie groaned. “Oui, Marisole.”
“Mr. Wivenly wishes to see you and his lordship.”
“Very well.”
