Page 40 of The Lyon’s Lass

Unable to wait another second to touch her he sat next to her and brushed her hair back from her face. God, she was the most beautiful creature.

All his life he’d thought nothing would thrill him like seeing the sun rise on the sea, but she took his breath, like the ocean never could.

Her eyes blinked and opened. Then she frowned.

“I am dreaming of you yet again.” Her brows creased. “You normally don’t smell of the docks and horses in my dreams.”

He couldn’t help but laugh.

“Aye. You are just how I dream of you. Warm and soft and in nothing but your shift.”

She tilted her head, studying him.

“I don’t dream of you with a beard. Not because I don’t like your beard, but because when you left you didn’t have one.”

“I’ll shave it off first thing.”

She sat up, the covers falling away from her. He looked down at her full breasts. Fuller than he’d remembered.

She reached out to touch his face and gasped.

“You’re really here.”

“I am. I should never have left. I should have returned sooner. I should have asked you what you wanted. I should have done everything different.”

“You’re here. You’re back.” She fumbled to her knees and wrapped her arms around him. Then they were kissing and it was as if he’d not been gone for months at all.

She was in his arms. They needed to talk, but for now, he was pleased to be kissing her. Holding her.

Then she started pulling at his shirt and he realized their reunion was going to be carnal in nature. Thank the heavens. He’d missed her body as well.

He helped her with his clothes and kicked off his boots so his breeches could be shoved off. When he was naked, he pulled back the bedlinens so they wouldn’t be in the way when he ravished his wife, but he stopped.

When she shifted to make room for him, her thin gown pulled taut against the front of her body. Against breasts he was now certain were bigger than they’d been before, and more importantly against the small, round swell of her belly.

“Maisy…”

“Yes. We are having a baby.” She smiled as he ran his hand softly over their child. His heart expanded with all the love for her and their family. And then a shadow of regret dimmed his happiness.

“I am so very sorry for leaving. I have been miserable every day since I left and was too mutton-headed to realize I could just come home. To you. Can you ever forgive me?”

She nodded. “I wanted you to stay but didn’t feel I could ask it of you. You married me, planning to go back to the sea and I didn’t think I had any right to ask for more. But I’m asking now. Please stay with me.”

“Always. I love you. I’ll not be away from you ever again. If I do sail again it will be with you by my side.”

“Perhaps we can wait for a few more months. I’ve only just stopped losing my stomach in the mornings.”

“Anything you want, love.”

“Right now, I want you.”

Epilogue

Five years later – London

“Land ho!” Their littlest sailor shouted from atop his father’s shoulders. Maisy couldn’t help but smile. And not only because she was looking forward to having her feet on solid ground for a little while.

Watching their son and her husband together was more than Maisy had ever hoped to have in her life. And soon, their family would grow again. It was early days, but after this stop in London, they would sail for home until after the birth of their second child.