Caversham's Bride (The Caversham Chronicles - Book One) (14 page)

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, meeting his icy silver gaze. “They are the only clothes I have. What was I to do?”

“Stay in the cabin, as I ordered you yesterday.”

“I just wanted sunshine, and... to see you.” Her words hit her mark, effectively taking the gruff out of him.

“You should have waited for me. I would have taken you above. And you would have worn my coat, as you did yesterday, and every day before.”

She turned her face and stared out the bank of windows. He was right. She had worn his coat the past few days. He released his grip, and his hands traveled down to her waist. He leaned against the desk and pulled her to stand between his legs. The ship pitched, pushing her into him further. With her hands against his chest, she tried to back away, but he held her firmly in place.

Not wanting to argue when she was so close to rescuing Luchino and Maura, she buried her face in his chest and apologized. Taking another deep, steadying breath she half-heartedly pushed herself away from him, but another pitch of the ship prevented her from doing so.

Still, he held her close, refusing to let her go. His large hands began to move. One going up her back, the other down to cup her buttocks. The man confused her. His words were angry, yet his touch was sensual, demanding. A fluttering sensation grew and spread from low in her abdomen.

“I’ve discovered I have a possessive side to me, Lia, and I’ve never known an emotion as strong as this before.”

His deep voice held a barely-controlled, rough edge to it. Lia found it arousing to realize she could make him feel these things. Her own body’s reaction continued to surprised her.

“Have I done anything to give you cause to question my fidelity?”

“No.” He took her chin with his thumb and forefinger, forcing her to look up at him. What she saw in his eyes made her legs buckle beneath her. He wanted her again. Unmistakable desire burned in the depths of his dark silver gaze.

“You are a temptress,” he whispered into her temple. His hot breath sent erotic chills through her. “
My
temptress.” She melted into his massive frame, giving him her body, as his tongue traced a path around the shell of her ear. Leaning back, he looked into her eyes. “And I can’t get enough of you,” he whispered.

His lips thinned before he brought them down hard onto hers. He forced her mouth open and plundered it with his tongue. She found his possessiveness arousing. One of her hands reached into the V of his shirt to stroke the soft curls on his chest. Lia felt his groan in her mouth, as he continued his assault. His hand released her chin, only to move lower. He cupped her breast and began to squeeze it softly, his thumb playing over her nipple. Then did the same with the other.

His other hand was at the waist of her pantalettes, untying the simple knot, then pushing them down as low as he could without breaking the kiss. His fingers parted and found her.

Weakened with her own desire, Lia pressed closer to Ren. She kissed him back, and parted her legs, allowing him freer access. She moved her hips to meet the stroking of his fingers. She pulled his shirt out of his breeches and ran her hands over the firm muscles of his chest. Breaking away from his lips, she pushed his shirt up and brought her mouth down on one of his nipples. He smelled of oranges and spices, mixed with the salty freshness of the Mediterranean. It was an intoxicating combination she found arousing from the moment they met.

He began to stroke her with his fingers, and she groaned when she felt that now familiar tightness building within her. Her head fell back and his gaze held hers as his fingers continued moving inside her, over her sensitive flesh. She moved in rhythm with his hand, stretching, reaching, yearning, against him and toward her release.

“My beautiful Lia,” he whispered.

Arching her back, she held his gaze as he watched her crest wave after wave. Lia shuddered once more, then fell onto him, sated. Ren grasped the neck of the kaftan she wore and ripped it in half. The sound of the thin material tearing echoed in her ears as he backed her onto the bed.

She started to protest, then he whispered, “Shh...,” as he fumbled with the buttons of his breeches. Lia pushed them down his legs, then kicked her pantalettes off along with her sandals and lay back upon the mattress. She spread her legs, needing him to fill her. He entered in one swift, ardent thrust. She cried out his name. Lia wrapped her legs around him, wanting him as deep within her as he could possibly get. Their union was a wild, primitive mating, intended solely to provide release; to sate the tense, sexually charged aura between them. He moved quickly. Each stroke touched a certain place inside her that carried her higher and higher until her whole body tightened convulsively. She heard Ren growl her name as he, too, found release.

He rested on top of her while he caught his breath. When he attempted to back away from her, she pressed his buttocks with her heels, her inner muscles tightening around him—refusing to let him go. She wished they’d met under different circumstances. Perhaps then they might have had a conventional courtship, fallen in love, then marry as some of her friends had. As it stood, she would now spend the rest of her life in a loveless union, where her husband wanted only one thing from her. Heirs.

Admittedly, the physical loving was very satisfying. Still, Lia didn’t know much about this man. Well, except that he was a fine lover, who owned cargo ships, and was friends with Prince Hakim of Morocco. None of which recommended him as husband material. Yet this was the man she agreed to marry. Sailors were notorious for seeking the comfort of whores while in port. And this man in particular, as handsome and sexual as he was, was likely more guilty than most. Why else would he have purchased her, a woman trained to please men?

“As much as I’d like to spend the day in bed with you, I have work to do. There will be time for more play later.” He refastened the buttons on his breeches and tucked in his shirt. Shoving his feet into his boots, he turned to her, his deep warm gaze caressing her bare legs. “We will be in Genoa tomorrow night. Although we won’t be able to dock until I receive clearance, I will send a boat with several men to gather information. They’ll keep watch on your aunt’s house. You will need to give them directions.”

He reached for the latch on the door and added, “I will return this afternoon and take you for a stroll on deck if you wish.”

Lia suddenly realized what he said. Genoa. They would be there tomorrow. She could barely contain her excitement. She would have her brother and Maura back, perhaps as soon as tomorrow night. Naked, she ran to Ren and threw herself into his arms. “Thank you,” she said, kissing his cheek repeatedly. “Thank you, thank you.”

“All this for a walk above?” he asked as he stroked the bare curve of her bottom.

Her eyes met his, wanting to express her gratitude as best she knew how. “No.” She touched her lips to his once more. “Thank you for everything.”

He grabbed her buttocks and lifted her naked body against him, and she pressed into him and kissed him again.

“I must get back to the wheel. We can do more of this later, perhaps before your stroll.”

“I would like that very much.” Her expression softened. “I look forward to your return.”

With that he left her, standing naked in his cabin.

T
he next evening, the three ships were anchored and tied off, side by side just off Genoa’s harbor. Ren, his uncle Angus, and his two cousins, Cully and Flynn, sat at the table in his cabin watching Lia draw a detailed map which would lead them to the
Palazzo di Loretto
.

“It’s quicker to walk than take a hired coach. The streets are not very wide, and there are many steps.” Lia pointed to the map. “Take
Via Carolina
about half a mile, turn right on
Via Santa Lucia
. The
palazzo
is at the end of the street.”

On deck, Ren gave additional orders to his men and waited until their dinghy had been lowered and they were out of sight. He returned to his cabin to find Lia pacing his quarters.

“Someone will report back before morning to let me know what they’ve discovered,” he said. “There’s no use making yourself sick with worry just yet.”

“I can’t help it. We’re so close, I want to go and get them now.”

“That’s not wise. At least not until we know who or what we are up against.” He took Lia into his arms, and stroked her back. Her tears seeped through his linen shirt as he let her cry. He felt helpless to stop her as he didn’t know what to do or say to calm her. So he just held her close as her slight body shook from her deep, racking sobs while she vented her worst fears.

Lia might not have been completely honest with him at first, but she was honest in this, and she had begged his assistance. It was a desperate plea she made, and he had the resources and ability to help her. He knew that to have some semblance of normality in this unorthodox arrangement, he must retrieve the boy and their old nurse. She obviously loved them a great deal.

It wasn’t until after he’d heard her tale that first night, and she’d asked for his help that the proposed arrangement came to mind. To his estimation, this was a perfect solution to both their circumstances. A child for a child.

Surely saving their lives was a fair trade for the heir he needed from her. And, after she gave him a son, she could have freedom from his bed if she wanted. He could set up a mistress again and be content.

Yes, he had it all planned out. Once he had his heir, he and Lia could live separate lives if she so chose, though divorce would be out of the question. As would her taking a lover.

He tensed at the thought of another man sharing her bed, suddenly feeling sick to his stomach and angry enough to lock her away from all men for the rest of her life. He couldn’t fault Hakim keeping his women locked away in a harem—especially if his friend felt half as possessive about his wives, as Ren did about Lia.

She pulled back and turned her red-rimmed eyes to his. Her tears had stopped, but concern still marred her features.

“I don’t know what I’ll do if we are too late,” she whispered.

“Do not give in to despair, Lia. At least until we know.”

Leading her by the hand, he took her to the bed. “You need to rest if you can. We have a busy day tomorrow.”

L
ia slept fitfully, when she finally did sleep. She was sure her tossing and turning had kept Ren awake, which caused him to leave the room well before sunrise. Throwing back the covers, she stretched, then sat up. Morning light poured through the line of windows on the cabin’s back wall. Shocked by the late hour, she jumped from the bed. She dressed in the clothes she’d dropped on the floor the night before, eager to hear any news. Surely he would have awakened her if he’d heard anything. As she tied the drawstring on her pantalettes, she noticed a dress draped across the chair at Ren’s desk, a pale green, thin muslin gown with red, yellow, and white flowers embroidered above the hem and on the puffed sleeves. She lifted it and held it to her chest, smiling. On the seat, she noticed a neatly folded light cotton chemise, and beneath that, another pair of soft kid slippers. He had acquired more appropriate clothing for her trip into town. She was thankful he had the foresight to anticipate her needs. Heaven knows she had not thought of anything but Luchino and Maura’s well-being.

Immediately she removed the pantalettes and dressed in her new, more suitable attire. She wondered how it was possible that everything fit. It was as if Ren knew her exact measurements. She sat on the edge of the bed, and brushed and braided her hair, tying it off with the leather strap Maysun had given her. She stood, wondering if she should risk his wrath again this morning and go above deck, or wait for him to come for her.

For several minutes she paced the cabin, which grew smaller with each lap. Throwing aside any fear now that she had more appropriate clothing, she opened the door, intending to search him out. She wasn’t prepared for what she saw when she finally reached the deck.

The bank of windows in the cabin faced the bay, and she’d been unable to see the port. Before her now lay the city of Genoa. Reality hit her. Her ordeal was almost over. She would soon have her brother and Maura with her, possibly as early as this afternoon. She quickly spotted Ren on the deck of the ship tied alongside the one she was on.

Ren saw the flash of color on deck and quickly jumped from
Sorceress
to his lead ship,
Warlock
. Lia was a vision. The dress Cully bought that morning fit her perfectly, and the color made her eyes appear even more green, if that were possible. The bodice hugged her full breasts and exposed more than he liked with sailors about.

When he reached her, she managed a cautious smile. He could not return it though, for he wasn’t sure how she would react to the information he had.

“I am sorry, Your Grace, but I could not wait below any longer.”

“I was just on my way to see you. I have news.” He led her to the cabin where they could talk privately. He shut the door behind them and held the chair for Lia, then leaned back against the desk, holding her gaze.

“I have had men surrounding your aunt’s house since we arrived. They have also been asking questions around town. Evidently your aunt has been telling everyone that you have run off.” He paused to gauge her reaction thus far. Seeing none, he continued. “And, shortly after you left, your brother’s nurse was found dead in her room.”