Black Wolf

by Lori Ann Robinson

  “Answer one thing for me, Nicolai,” she whispered in the space between their lips.

  “Anything, Myshka,” he vowed.

  “Do you love me?” Her breathy words were nothing more than a sigh across his skin but the weight they held spoke volumes.

  One large hand came up to cup the delicate curve of her jaw as he studied her thoughtfully. “Do I love you? Madam, there has never been a man on sea or land who has loved a woman to the depths of which I love you. How could you even ask this of me?”

  Adrienne felt powerful and invincible in those moments she’d been dueling with marauders; but never so much as now, knowing The Black Wolf wanted her. Not just for a turn in the sheets or to tutor the children of his manor, but well and truly wanted her. Forever.

  This knowledge wiped away any doubt she might have had as to her place in his life or his heart and it gave her courage to embrace him in hers. She was strong enough to take what she wanted and she wanted him.

  As these thoughts passed through her mind, his hand moved to fist in her hair, fusing their mouths together. Passion swirled through her, dark and decadent as she opened under him, accepting his tongue when it rubbed against hers.

  It was everything it had always been and yet it was more as heat rushed over them both, igniting the spark, which had never died.

  Her hand acted in kind, burying itself in the nape of his neck and pulling the tie loose he used to restrain his long golden hair. She threaded her fingers in the silken strands, holding him as tightly as he held her. Their mouths clashed together, starving for the connection that had been too long denied. Adrienne shifted her thighs together, relishing the throbbing sensation between which she’d once foolishly thought she’d never have again after her disastrous marriage.

  Her other hand tugged upwards at the back of Nicolai’s shirt, pulling it free from his britches as she skimmed over his muscular back. He answered with a groan, releasing his grip on her tresses in order to pull the shirt the rest of the way over his head. It dropped to the floor at their feet.

  Adrienne’s greedy hands roamed the hard planes of his back and chest, hungry for the warmth and solidity of Nicolai. His kiss deepened at her exploration, becoming more demanding and she gave herself over to it, surrendering to the passion.

  The feel of her hands fluttering so softly over his skin drove Nicolai nearly mad. Needing to feel her silken flesh under his own hands, he tore upwards at her shirt, freeing the freshly tucked garment as he removed it. It dropped to the floor to mingle with his.

  Her bare chest pressed fully against his, they moaned in unison at the contact of skin on skin so long denied. Placing his hands about her waist, Nicolai pushed away from the table as he lifted her against him. Adrienne circled his hips with her thighs and he strode with purpose to the bed.

  Laying her down, he stripped her of her britches before going to work on his own while she lay watching him. Her eyes were dark, hooded with lust and need.

  When he was as naked as she, he grasped his hard cock in one hand, giving it firm stroking motion as she licked her lips in anticipation.

  Opening her thighs, she held her arms out in silent invitation, unable to wait any longer. Nicolai moved between them with practiced ease and with a push, sheathed himself fully within Adrienne’s wet channel.

  Her cry of pleasure upon penetration was music to his ears. She was as ready for this as he. He began to move in earnest against her, rocking his hips into her slender frame, his strokes wiping away any remaining memory of their separation.

  Adrienne brought her knees up to ride high against Nicolai’s flanks, opening herself further to him and his thrusting manhood. Instinct took over, giving her the knowledge of how to work herself on his shaft and the resulting growl from deep in his throat encouraged her further.

  Nicolai rose to his knees between Adrienne’s legs while his hands kept a punishing grip on her hips. He pulled her roughly into his thrusts, grinding into her with possessive strokes meant to brand and claim. The primitive part of him which decided it was indeed a claiming of the most base sort, also determined that no matter what, she would be at his side for the rest of their days.

  Thinking of her swollen and ripe with his child drove another growl from him and his balls drew high. Never, in all his years had he wanted to see a woman full with his child, but Adrienne changed everything.

  Adrienne felt the change in Nicolai when his head dipped down, capturing the peak of one breast between his lips, suckling. Her body throbbed at the new sensation and a pull began deep within her mound that had her writhing under him.

  His manhood stroked her in all the right ways, hitting a spot inside she hadn’t even known existed until him. Each time he pushed deep, her eyes threatened to roll back in her head with ecstasy. She couldn’t contain the moans he was drawing from her and didn’t attempt to. Her keening cries as she climaxed around him echoed through the room.

  Nicolai covered her again, stretching out and pulling her legs high around his waist while he ground into Adrienne roughly. The muscles of her channel gripped his cock tightly and he savored the pleasure-pain sensation as her walls convulsed around him.

  Her nails dug into his shoulders as she cried out once more and this time there was no holding back. Her release triggered his climax. Roaring with triumph as his seed shot into her, flooding her depths with the life giving fluid, Nicolai knew every crewmember on board would hear his claim. Knowing they would acknowledge Adrienne as being solely his from this moment on heightened his pleasure even further.

  Up until now, he’d supported his weight on his arms to keep from crushing her, but in the moment he’d released into Adrienne’s body, Nicolai’s strength evaporated. Collapsing onto his elbows, spent, he savored the feeling of being buried within her depths. Their chests heaving between them, skin glued together by the sweat of their union, he found a peace deeper than any he’d ever known when he looked down into Adrienne’s face.

  Her mouth was open as she struggled for air and Nicolai couldn’t help but plant his over it, wanting the air she breathed to be his. Her fingers released their death grip on his shoulders to tangle in his hair as she broke the kiss and buried her face in his neck.

  Sobs began to wrack her body and he dug his arms under her, pulling her tighter against him as he rocked their still joined bodies in a soothing motion.

  He’d known she needed to evacuate some of the pent up emotions she’d been housing and understood without her saying that this moment between them was cathartic. It was as healing as it was monumental for them both.

  When her sobs died down, he released his hold on her, disengaging their bodies. Moving to lie at her side, Nicolai pulled her halfway on to his chest as he swiped the pad of his thumb under her eyes.

  “I swore I wouldn’t weep anymore,” she said on a hiccup and Nicolai smiled.

  “Ah, Myshka,” he said, stroking her from her hair, down her naked back and over the rounded globes of her backside. “Weeping can be good. It allows us to let go of that which we keep inside. You needed release and I’m honored you found it with me. Thank you for allowing me share your tears.”

  Adrienne loved the way his accent thickened when he was passionate.

  “Crying makes me feel weak,” she admitted, closing her eyes in order to avoid his.

  “There is no shame in weakness, Adrienne. We all have moments where we feel weakened. Emotions are not something to be ashamed of. We are passionate beings, you and I. You are far from weak,” he said, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

  “I felt powerful today,” she told him, as she toyed with the hair on his chest. “I felt brave and strong until I saw my father and Miles. Suddenly, I wanted to run and hide from in fear that they would force me to go with them.”

  “But they didn’t, Myshka. And they couldn’t have. I wouldn’t have let them but more than that, you wouldn’t have allowed it. You fought with the bravery of ten men and yet, when you were forced to decide the fate of y
our father, you showed him mercy even in the face of the pain and betrayal at his hands. Your friend Captain Mayweather was right. You would make a fearless captain someday.”

  The reminder of her lie caused her to giggle. “She didn’t exactly say that,” Adrienne admitted, sheepishly. She ducked her head to avoid his accusatory gaze.

  “Then what did she say?” There was amusement in his voice.

  Peeking up at him, she grinned. “Something along the lines of, ‘If you touch that wheel again, St. John, I’ll have the quartermaster tie you to the mast until we reach the next port’.”

  Nicolai laughed loud at that as he continued to stroke her. His Adrienne… Mischief really did follow her wherever she went.

  They reached Nassau two days later. On the final leg of the journey the wind had begun to gust, filling the sails and lifting the ship from the water as it flew over the sea.

  Adrienne was perched near the bow, enjoying the feel of the wind on her face and through her hair when the spotter in the crow’s nest announced the port of Nassau ahead. A smile curved her lips as excitement took hold. She was home. Never mind that it was Nicolai’s in name, he’d made a place for her there as well.

  Epilogue

  Nassau 1696

  She walked the beach near the manor house, one hand on her distended belly, the other holding on to Raul. The skirt of the dress she wore fluttered out behind her as she trained an eye on the horizon. Adrienne had given up the men’s britches in favor of her ever-expanding waistline that trousers wouldn’t accommodate though she kept her sword firmly at her side. She’d been abducted from this very stretch of beach and had vowed she would never be caught unarmed and helpless again. Nicolai was due to return from a short voyage today and she watched for the approach of his ship.

  He hadn’t officially said as much, but she suspected he was nearing the end of his days a pirate. He’d begun to search for land in the neighboring islands for which he would build another house, one that was hidden and few would know about so that he may retire in peace.

  Adrienne hadn’t kept her promise regarding never venturing out to sea again, as she learned that Cooper had been right. The sea invaded her blood making her pine for the pitch of the deck beneath her feet. Up until her pregnancy had made itself known, she’d accompanied Nicolai on his shorter voyages, truly enjoying the life she’d once dreamed of having as a small girl. She was too close to delivering to chance going with him this time. He’d only been gone little over a week to scout property he was considering, however the time away had been agonizing for her.

  The sun glinted off the large ruby set in fine filigree gold on her finger. She and Nicolai had wed shortly after returning to Nassau. The babe within her was started that same night by her estimation and the anticipation of its birth within the coming months filled her with joy. A smile spread across Adrienne’s face at the thought of holding a living testament to the love she shared with Nicolai. Her life, once unsure and insecure, was now full of beauty and more love than she could have imagined.

  Seeing a flash of white in the distance, she shielded her hand over her eyes, straining to make out the approaching ship on the horizon. Her smile widened as it drew closer and she recognized the phony merchant’s flag on the topmast.

  “Run and tell Jude his master is home and ready the carriage to meet him at port,” she said, giving Raul, now six-years-old and talkative as any child that age, a gentle swat on his bottom. The boy took off running, his happiness as evident as hers at the return of The Black Wolf.

  About the Author

  Lori Ann Robinson lives at the foothills of the Northeast Georgia Mountains with her family, which includes some mischievous furbabies.

  She enjoys the outdoors, gardening, fishing (though she doesn’t get to go very often these days), collecting rocks, and antique books as well as spending time with the special people in her life.

  You can follow her on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/caribbeandreaming/?ref=bookmarks

  Twitter: @LucyMagilicutt2

  Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5989780.Lori_Ann_Robinson

  Or visit her sporadically, randomly updated blog at:

  http://loriannrobinson.blogspot.com/