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

by Raven, Sandy

  Her tongue slid into his mouth and she tasted the sweetness of him. She explored the sharp edges of his teeth as they continued their intimate dueling. Her hands held onto his collar for stability as a wave crashed into the side of the ship, knocking them both off balance, forcing them to break apart.

  “Let’s take this to the cabin,” Ren whispered huskily.

  Lia nodded, and he motioned for his helmsman. Soon he was leading her back down to the main deck where he stopped to talk to Angus. Her lips still felt swollen from Ren’s kisses, and she self-consciously touched her fingers to them as she listened to Ren’s orders.

  “Send a tray down immediately, and unless this vessel is on fire and you can’t put it out, we are not to be disturbed.”

  “Aye,” said a grinning Angus.

  Lia caught a glimpse of the old sailor as he passed a wink to Ren. She was sure Angus was pleased that all was well between them.

  Ren led her back down the narrow stairwell to their cabin. He locked the door, then leaned against the table, bringing Lia back into his arms. He kissed her more, his hands roaming possessively over the small of her back and down to cup her bottom. Tearing his lips from hers, he nuzzled the sensitive, tender flesh of her earlobe.

  “You drive me to madness for wanting you,” he said. His breath on her skin sent another wave of desire through her, settling in her apex. Her entire body shivered even though the room was warm. Ren’s hands burned a path to her breasts, caressing them through the fine muslin of her dress and chemise. His fingers teased the peaks of her nipples through the material, causing her sensitive flesh to harden. A soft moan escaped her.

  He dropped his mouth to one breast and gently nipped at the tip. She couldn’t think, only feel, as his touch drove her insane. Ren’s lips moved to her other nipple and Lia’s head fell back as she offered herself up to him. The fevered passion he created within weakened her. If it weren’t for his arm supporting her, she surely would have collapsed.

  A knock at the door broke them apart. Breathless, Lia turned away from Ren and walked to the bank of windows for air. One of the lads carried in their tray and a bottle of red wine. She knew her face was flushed and her lips kiss-swollen, but that was not why she turned away. Ren had left wet spots on the light green front of her bodice. Even more embarrassing, she knew her nipples were now hard and noticeable under the wet material. She could feel them constricting further as the breeze blew in from the open window.

  A cork popped. Wrapping her arms about her, she turned back to Ren and watched him pour two glasses of wine. He came closer and handed her one.

  “We will have no more interruptions.” Ren’s eyes met hers, then roved downward to settle on the part of her anatomy she tried to cover with her arms.

  “Are you sure? The day is still young, the sun is still high.” She rambled, she knew, but never had a man caused her to feel so carnal. She’d witnessed some affection between her parents growing up, but never anything like this. Likely, her mother didn’t know about them.

  The feelings she had for her new husband were raw, primal. The act of love they shared was nothing like what she’d heard whispered about when she gathered with her friends and their married sisters. It was said to be sinful to desire the act. If those women only knew the primal way in which she wanted her husband, they would certainly be praying for her soul.

  Ren placed his glass on the table and took her hand, leading her to a chair, where he pulled her down onto his lap.

  “May I sit on the bench?” she asked, trying to stand.

  He held her firmly in place, and smiled. His white teeth, slightly uneven, gleamed against his tanned face. “No.” He grinned. “I find I like having you on my lap.” His voice got raspy. “Among other places.”

  Ren lifted the lid to their tray, and Lia took a gulp of her wine, then another, as he stabbed a piece of choice meat with his fork. He presented it to her to take a bite.

  “I’m not hungry yet, it’s still early.”

  “Believe me, you should eat it while it’s hot.”

  “No thank you. I think I’ll wait until dinner. Could I perhaps have more of those wonderful tiny oranges I had this morning?”

  He smiled. “Ah, you liked those? Picked those up in Morocco. You may have as many as you wish.”

  Lia finished her wine and set the glass on the table. She tried to stand, but Ren’s hold kept her in place.

  “Stay,” he said softly. It wasn’t a command. It wasn’t a plea. He was asking.

  He desired her, it was obvious, and she felt a passion with him that she knew was destined since time began. But she still needed to hear him promise her one thing—the single thing that would determine if they were to have a happy life together. They were words she had to hear before she gave herself to him fully. “I will stay with you always, be yours always, if you promise me you will not take our children from me. I need to hear you say the words.”

  He held her hand to his lips. “On my honor,” he whispered, as he placed a kiss on her palm. “On my honor, Lia, I will never separate you from our children.”

  She exhaled, releasing the fear and tension that had been building inside her for days, feelings keeping her from committing herself fully to this man who was now her husband. “Thank you.” She kissed his cheek, the stubble rasping her lips. Pressing her cheek against his, she said again, “Thank you.”

  He reached around her for the bottle of wine, and Lia breathed in the salty-sweet smell of his neck. Overcome by the urge to taste him, she placed a gentle, open-mouthed kiss on the curve of his neck. When she lifted her head, her eyes met his and she ran her tongue over her lips.

  Ren set the bottle down, without refilling her glass. His gaze never left hers. His thumb played over her lower lip. “You captivate me, Lia.”

  This was what her wedding night should have been. All sweet words and gentle hands. His tender kisses, and her quivering body. She felt his desire for her evident against her bottom. She reveled in the fact that he wanted her to be the mother of his children. As a noble, he could have chosen any one of many available young ladies from among the finest families in all Europe. He chose her, even though their meeting wasn’t the least bit conventional. He chose to marry her without anything or anyone to recommend her. He chose her knowing she came saddled with a young brother.

  And she was now choosing him.

  Ren unfastened the row of buttons along the back of her dress, then began to untie the binding that held her braid. His fingers slid into the hair at her nape and splayed on her scalp, first massaging, then pulling her hair loose to hang in thick, soft waves down her back. When Lia stood, she situated herself between his knees, he then lifted her dress and chemise from her, dropping them to the floor.

  Wearing nothing, she trembled as his powerful hands tenderly caressed her flesh. He stroked and kneaded, kissed and suckled her breasts. Every touch nurtured and coaxed the passion within her. He stood and quickly shed his own clothing, then backed her to the bed while his lips roved over the sensitive column of her neck. Lia groaned as his hands worked magic on her body, touching her in her most sensitive places. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the feel of his fingers as they nimbly moved over her, often dipping into her to draw forth moisture. Soon, she was near to bursting with the pressure he created in her. She grabbed the pillow under her head and pulled it over her face to muffle her cries, when his fingers suddenly stopped.

  “No!” Lia opened her eyes, and focused on his silver gaze. “Please don’t stop!” He took the pillow from her and slid it beneath her hips, lifting her. Lia held his gaze as he moved down and covered her with his mouth. She watched as he brought his tongue out to touch her sensitive bud. Watching his head move and knowing what he was doing magnified the physical sensations until the only thing she felt was a growing, all-consuming desire to shatter. She wondered if it was possible to die of ecstasy, because she felt so close to doing so. Her hips bucked upward in an unconscious desire to bring
her body nearer his. He placed his left hand on her belly, holding her steady. Occasionally he nipped her gently with his teeth, as fingers from his right hand moved deeply inside her, bringing her to the edge of sanity, where she begged him not to stop.

  Until her entire body exploded into tiny pieces. Like fireworks, except she was the display. Of color. Of shapes. Of life. She took a ragged breath, allowing time for her body to quiet. Ren’s fingers slowly withdrew from her, creating a tingling sensation over her sensitive walls, causing a groan to escape her.

  He moved over her slowly, trailing drops of fire with each kiss as he moved his way up her abdomen, then between the valley of her breasts, over her throat, and under her chin, until he reached her lips. He brought his mouth over hers, and she tasted her own musk as their tongues dueled in another passionate kiss.

  Lia wanted to give to him the pleasure he gave to her. Placing her hands on his chest, she shoved him, rolling him off her and over to his back. Straddling him, she began to return, measure for measure, everything that he’d just done for her. She thought if she could make him feel just a portion of the extreme bliss she did when he loved her in that manner, then maybe he might experience ecstasy too.

  She pulled her hair over to the side, as she began working her way down his body. Her tongue dipped into his mouth one last time before she went lower. Lia’s lips and tongue caressed the muscular curve of his neck. When she reached his chest, she paid homage to one of his nipples.

  His hand stopped her. “You don’t have to,” he said.

  “I want to,” she whispered as her fingers splayed wide over his muscular chest, playing with the curly black hairs abundantly sprinkled over it. “I am very attracted to your body. And that includes each hair on your chest.” She leaned down again and kissed him there. “And your back.” She kissed his chest again. “Your arms.” She lifted a tanned forearm and kissed it on the sensitive skin on the inside. “Your belly,” she whispered, then leaned over to kiss that part of him. She slid her hands down further, over his hips. “Legs.” Lia moved lower and kissed the inside of first one thigh, then the other.

  “And all parts in between.” She wrapped her hands around his rigid shaft. Her gaze met his once more before she lowered her head to take him into her mouth.

  Lia moved her mouth up and down over him, and swirled her tongue about the head. She lifted her mouth off and began to use only her tongue on the sensitive ridge on the underside of his shaft, bringing forth several drops of his sweetness. She licked them off, then took his enormous shaft back into her mouth again, taking him as deeply as she could. His groans of pleasure prompting her to continue.

  Soon, he moved with her, trying once to stop her. When she wouldn’t, he relented. She wanted him to experience the same erotic bliss he had created within her, wanted him to experience a release so powerful that the world would momentarily cease to exist for him—as he had done for her. Then he would truly be hers as much as she belonged to him.

  He growled her name as she felt his entire body shudder, climaxing before collapsing back onto the mattress. She lifted her head and their eyes met. His dark silver eyes were filled with wonder and awe. He reached out for her, pulled her over him and kissed her. He parted her lips with his tongue, and began the cycle of passion all over again, fanning the embers back to flame with each caress, and every playful touch.

  He rolled her onto her back and drove into her. Lia rose up to meet him, wrapping her legs about his hips. She moved with him, each of his deep thrusts sending her slowly back to that pinnacle of desire—that place he could take her only when he was inside her, loving her.

  Her body tensed once again, and she felt herself nearing another climax. The hair on his chest rubbed roughly over her tender nipples, as his body moved over her, and with each thrust the hair at the base of his shaft did the same over her sensitive nub. Her body coiled tighter and tighter as he continued to go faster and deeper. All these created an eruption within her, and she cried out his name as they shattered together.

  Ren collapsed onto her, their bodies sliding against each other. For a moment she was afraid he might have died because she couldn’t hear him breathing, until he heaved a sigh and rolled off her. He pulled her into the curve of his side, wrapping his arm about her.

  She pressed her ear to his chest, listening to his racing heart, and was satisfied that all was well when his heartbeat slowed to a normal pace.

  “Thank you,” he whispered.

  “What for?”

  He kissed her temple, hugging her close. “No one has ever done that for me before,” he whispered as his hand lightly stroked her side.

  “Not even your mistresses?”

  “Not even my mistresses.”

  “Then you wasted your money on them.”

  Ren chuckled in the quickly dimming cabin.

  “What is it you find so amusing?”

  “You, my duchess. You are a breath of fresh air in this musty old world.”

  Their voyage to England was made in under three weeks, propelled by good sailing winds and pleasant weather. Lia spent most of her days reading the books in Ren’s small on-board library. They dined together almost every meal, and he kept her on his lap each time. Lia never objected, as it gave them an opportunity to grow closer.

  Most days, Ren would allow her to sleep the morning away, especially after a passionate night of lovemaking. And in the afternoons he would escort her for a walk on deck in the unseasonably warm late-April sunshine.

  The day they sailed through the Strait of Gibraltar, Lia, sitting in the shade next to her husband asked him, “Were you planning to stop in Tangier?”

  “No, I have a wife already,” he said, smiling down at her, “I don’t need another.”

  Playing along with him, she said, “You could always start a harem of your own.”

  “You don’t leave enough for me to give to another woman,” he said. “Besides, I don’t understand how they make it work. Every woman I’ve ever known had a jealous side to her that was dangerous.” He shook his head, and Lia could understand his dismay, as she hadn’t understood the situation until she’d been forced to live in one. “Hakim has six wives, soon to have a seventh,” Ren said. “He said there were over thirty women—not his wives—in his harem. I cannot imagine that each woman gets the attention she needs. Then too, dealing with the arguments and demands on his time.... Why, it boggles my mind.”

  “He doesn’t have to sleep with them all. You do not understand, husband. The number of women in a harem is a sign of wealth and status. Most of Prince Hakim’s women were gifts, given to him by men looking to garner his favor, he hasn’t taken them all to his bed. That is why I was planning to run away if he had not asked for me within a matter of days.” She turned away and looked for Sea Witch off in the distance. “As you know, my time was running out.”

  “Strong as you are, you never would have made it.” He stared at the approaching land masses on both sides. “First you would have had to make it out of the palace without the guard being alerted. Then, trying to get passage to Italy on a boat would have been impossible for a woman alone.” His eyes softened when he turned to her. “It’s over now. You have your brother safe, for that we are thankful. But alone, you would never have made it.”

  She nodded, he was probably right. Though as she told him before, she would have died trying.

  The closer they got to England, the colder the weather became, and the sunshine she relished in the Mediterranean became a distant memory. By the time they reached London, her skin had lost its rosy glow, and her cheeks were more wind-burned than sun-kissed. The fact that she still glowed a radiant pink, was because of Ren’s lovemaking, according to him. During the voyage, they made love every day and every night, sometimes several times before the sun rose. Lia blushed when she thought of how many times she initiated their loving. The bed was no place for timidity—especially when she wanted to please her husband as he pleased her.

  A few
days later, off the coast of Portugal, as Lia peeled a tiny orange to share with her husband, she asked, “Why do you captain your vessel, when you clearly have a capable second?”

  “I enjoy it,” he said, “and I don’t often get a chance to do it anymore.”

  “And why is that?”

  Ren chuckled. “Hmm... Where to begin?”

  “As you told me in Morocco, the beginning is always a good place.”

  “My shipping interests are an extended family business I inherited from my mother. Before my grandfather would leave me a share of the company, I had to learn how it ran, from the bottom up. It made for an interesting education as I grew up knowing I was the heir to the dukedom, but also partly responsible for the success of an international trading company that I was educated and trained to lead.”

  Lia fed him several pieces of the orange, and each time his lips closed around her fingers, she felt a tingling sensation race up her arm. She was discovering more about this amazing husband of hers each day. And as she did, she sent up a silent prayer of thanks for his presence in her life.

  “My father inherited a massive debt from his own father, and a crumbling old castle that needed restoration before it fell in on them.

  “Though I believe my father grew to love my mother, he married her for the money she brought to the union. You see, my mother was young, beautiful, and had an enormous dowry. As the only daughter of a Scottish shipping tycoon, my grandmother wanted only the best for her daughter. Grandmother brought mother to England one year, to present her to Queen Charlotte. It was said that my father made an offer for my mother within the week. Later, when I asked, he said he couldn’t afford to lose her to someone who couldn’t appreciate her as he would.”