by Lydia Dare
She motioned for Etienne to come and help him. “You certainly know how to make an entrance, Mr. Hadley,” she said as casually as he had.
His knuckles were white, but he still smiled, looking more handsome than she’d ever seen him, despite the fact that he dangled over the ocean. “We Hadleys never do things the easy way.”
“Pull him up,” she ordered.
Both her brothers stood there looking at her like she’d lost her mind, until she tugged her slipper from her foot and advanced toward them, fully prepared to beat them both about their heads until they pulled Gray from above the murky depths. They fended her off with a snort and finally went to pull one very uncomfortable Lycan onto the ship.
“Thanks for letting me hang there,” Gray said to Armand, his voice dry and emotionless. “I thought you were on my side.”
“You should have shoved him over, Armand,” Etienne grunted. “Were you hoping for a sea burial so we could hide the body?” he asked.
But Gray didn’t appear to pay any attention to her brothers’ bickering. He strode directly toward Livi, and her belly flipped upside down. Her heart did a little dance that matched her belly’s ferocity. Gray didn’t wait for her to acknowledge him. He swept her into his embrace and pulled her to him, her body flush against the corded length of his. Gray’s lips lowered, taking hers as though he owned them. His kiss was fierce, his lips pressing hard against hers. But after a moment, a growl rose up from his throat and his lips softened, sliding gently over hers.
Livi could barely draw a breath as his hands slid down her sides to cup her bottom, drawing her even closer to him. The slipper she still held in her hand dropped to the deck as she wound her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
Gray’s tongue entered her mouth, invading her in the most simplistic of ways.
“Hadley!” Armand called. Somewhere in the back of Livi’s mind, she heard her brother, but she didn’t want to acknowledge him. But Gray lifted his head and looked down at her, that twinkle in his eye now heated and charged with passion.
“Hello, Livi,” he said, his voice gravelly and deep.
Livi pulled herself together enough to look around the deck and take in all the onlookers, the crewmen and that Irish priest. Bon Dieu, they were making spectacles of themselves. “I’d appreciate it if you’d let me go,” she whispered.
“Never,” he growled.
Etienne growled low in his throat, and Livi realized Armand was holding their brother back. “Let me go so I can kill him. He certainly doesn’t expect us to sit here while he mauls our sister in front of everyone.”
“Stop it,” Armand ordered softly. He would make a fine alpha one day.
“We need to talk,” Gray said quietly, paying her brothers no mind at all.
“Let me go, Armand. The coward left her at the altar.” Etienne still struggled to get loose. “And now he thinks he can lay claim to her in such a manner?”
“Heel,” Armand barked.
The events of that morning hit Livi like a wave, as cold as the sea water Gray had almost fallen into. “Talk?” she asked, still breathless from their passionate kiss.
“Talk,” he repeated with an enthusiastic nod.
But the memories stung. Livi raised her hand to slap him across the cheek, but he caught her arm in a gentle grip. “I promise to let you beat me to within an inch of my life, Livi, if you’ll give me a chance to explain everything to you first.”
What could he possibly say that would make everything all right? Livi dropped her gaze from his, turned on her heel, and stalked across the deck toward her cabin, wearing only one slipper.
“Livi!” he called after her. “Liviana Mayeux, don’t walk away from me!”
Livi heaved a sigh and slowed her gait. Not because he called her name, never that. No, no. Walking a deck with only one slipper was simply difficult.
“I was abducted, shot, and left for dead.” His voice finally halted her completely.
Left for dead? Livi spun around to face him. “I’ve never heard such rubbish in all my days.”
“It’s true.” Gray closed the space between them in only three steps, while her brothers, the crew, and Father Patrick still watched.
Bon Dieu! Didn’t they have anything better to do than to stand around gawking at her? Livi cast her brothers a scathing glare until the two of them turned their gaze away. “Who would abduct you? You have nothing,” she whispered, just loud enough for him to hear, standing as close to her as he was.
“I had you.” Gray tipped her chin up so she had to look into his eyes. “Honeywell wanted you and thought if I was out of the way, nothing could stop him from swooping in and playing your hero.”
Honeywell? Livi’s legs nearly buckled beneath her weight, even though she’d been on more ships than she could count in her days. “I beg your pardon?”
Gray reached for her hand and placed it on his chest, right below his shoulder. “If his aim had been better, I would be a rotting corpse inside a rather nasty inn.”
Livi’s mouth went dry. Had he truly been shot? She was at a complete loss for words and simply gaped at Gray.
He squeezed her fingers. “Luckily, we Hadleys heal quickly, but as it was, it took longer than I would have liked.”
“He shot you?” Livi breathed out. “He really shot you?” What if Gray hadn’t been a Lycan? What if he wasn’t able to heal himself? What if Honeywell’s bullet had hit Gray’s heart?
“I know what you must have thought. Wes told me everything.” He frowned. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there, Livi.” The sincerity in his gaze brought tears to her eyes. “Don’t cry, love. After everything today, I don’t think I can take seeing you cry.”
But she couldn’t help it. Livi threw her arms around his neck and held on tightly. “What if he’d killed you?”
“He didn’t,” Gray whispered in her ear, smoothing his hands across her back in comforting circles. “You won’t get rid of me so easily.”
Only he could joke about such a thing. Livi released her hold on Gray and took a slight step backward. She couldn’t stop looking at his handsome face. What if she’d never seen it again? “And then you jumped from one sailing ship to another. Are you mad? Did Lord Eynsford order you to chase after me?”
Gray winced, confirming her worst fears.
“You don’t owe me anything,” she said at the exact moment he replied, “I would chase you to the ends of the world, Liviana Mayeux.”
Because his pack alpha demanded it? Livi couldn’t bear to ask the question, but he must have seen it in her eyes because Gray shook his head.
“Don’t ever think that,” he growled.
“But you said…”
“I’m a fool, Livi. I only told you what I did so you wouldn’t back out. You understand pack rule,” he explained. “Dash did order me to marry you, but I was elated about the prospect.” A roguish grin settled on his face. “I’d never been so happy.”
He seemed so sincere. But Livi didn’t think her heart could take being hurt again. Grayson Hadley was not the sort of man she’d ever envisioned herself with. He was far from perfect, and he could tear her heart to shreds faster than any man on Earth.
“Livi!” Armand called. “Do you want me toss him overboard? Or are you going to keep him?”
Gray’s eyes never left Livi’s, but his voice rang out as he called, “I thought you were going to help me, Mayeux.”
“I got you this far, but you’re on your own now, Hadley,” Armand returned. “Just because I believe you doesn’t mean Livi will forgive you, and she’s my sister. I have to abide by her wishes.”
Armand believed Gray? The same Armand who was going to stay behind in England to kill Gray when he reemerged in Bath?
Gray lowered his voice once more. “Well, what’s it to be, Livi? Do you want your brothers to toss me back? Or do you want me to love you for the rest of our days together?”
Livi bit her lip as she studied the man she should have married that
morning. There was only one way to tell if he meant what he said. If given the chance, would he stand proudly beside her and say his vows, or would he flee? “You truly want to marry me?” she asked.
He smiled again, and she felt it all the way to her toes. “More than anything.”
“Father Patrick!” Livi called, though she kept her eyes trained on Gray, prepared to detect the slightest bit of hesitation on his part. “Would you mind marrying Mr. Hadley and me?” The priest ought to be good for something, oughtn’t he?
“I-I…” the Irishman stammered. “That is, this is highly irregular, Miss Mayeux.”
But Livi’s life was irregular, so why should her marriage be any different? “Are you incapable of performing the ceremony?”
“I-I…Well, I suppose I could.”
Twenty-Eight
Gray stared into Livi’s pretty blue eyes, trying to sort out what she was up to. Oh, he’d marry her. He’d happily marry her, but there was some nefarious plot spinning in her mind. He could see it in her eyes. Just as soon as he had her all to himself, he’d find out what it was. He glanced over at the portly priest. “I have a license, if you need it.”
The man tugged at his collar. “Do ye mean ta do this right here? Right now?”
“We should have married this morning,” Gray said. “But I was unavoidably delayed, so right now would be just the thing, Father.” He claimed Livi’s hand and turned her so they were both facing the priest.
“Liv!” Etienne Mayeux hissed. “Have you lost your mind?”
If the American Lycan didn’t shut his muzzle, Gray was going to send him crashing over the side of the brigantine. But before he could even growl, Livi said loud enough for all of the assembled onlookers to hear, “I lost my heart. Be happy for me.” Then she cast a look at the priest that could only be described as half smile, half grimace. “I don’t want any ‘obey your husband’ nonsense tossed in. We just want to say our vows, and you can save your condemnation for my brothers.”
Armand choked on a laugh. “Just because he’s wearing robes doesn’t mean he’s like Father Antonio.”
“Better safe than sorry,” Livi muttered.
The priest’s gaze flashed to Gray as though asking permission or perhaps assistance. Gray shrugged and said as loudly as Livi had, “Do what she says. I’m just happy she’ll have me.”
“But love, cherish, obey…” The man let his words die off.
Gray smirked; he couldn’t help it. “You don’t know her like I do. I’ll be the one doing the obeying, Father.”
“Can we get on with it?” Armand complained.
The priest glanced from one Mayeux brother to the other and apparently satisfied himself that neither was going to object to Livi’s demands. “Very well.” He pulled a small leather-bound bible from inside his robes. “I wasn’t plannin’ on performin’ a ceremony today. I need just a moment.”
“For the love of God,” Armand grumbled. “Just pronounce them man and wife and be done with it before someone shoots him again.”
“I’m tryin’ ta find my place.” Father Patrick scrubbed a hand across his jaw as he looked at the book in his hands. “What are yer names?”
Exasperated, Armand groaned aloud. “She’s Liviana Caresse Mayeux and he’s…” He glared at Gray. “Tell the man your name.”
“Grayson Francis Hadley.”
The priest smiled tightly. “Very well. Mr. Hadley, repeat after me. I, Grayson Francis Hadley, take thee, Liviana Caresse Mayeux, ta be my lawful wedded wife. Ta have and ta hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, ta love and ta cherish till death us do part, accordin’ ta God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.”
Gray sucked in a breath. After the night and day he’d had, Livi was just moments away from being his forever. He squeezed her hands in his and repeated his vows, staring into her beautiful blue eyes.
Father Patrick then turned his attention to Livi. “Yer turn, miss. I, Liviana Caresse Mayeux, take thee, Grayson Francis Hadley, ta be my lawful wedded husband, ta have and ta hold from this day forward. For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, ta love, cherish, and ta ob—” He glanced up nervously at her. “—honor, till death us do part, accordin’ ta God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.”
A look of victory flashed in Livi’s eyes. Then she repeated, “I, Liviana Caresse Mayeux, take thee, Grayson Francis Hadley, to be my lawful wedded husband. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and honor till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.”
The priest glanced back at Gray. “I doona suppose ye brought a ring with ye, Mr. Hadley?”
But Gray did have a ring. His mother hadn’t a multitude of possessions, but she did have an heirloom from her grandmother. A sapphire that was smaller than Gray would like, but it sparkled nearly as brightly as Livi’s eyes. Nearly. He reached into his jacket pocket and felt… nothing.
Panic surged through him. He’d lost his mother’s ring? Dear God. One of the few trinkets his mother had of any worth.
“You haven’t changed your mind?” Livi asked, anxiety lacing her words.
Gray shook his head fiercely. Heaven help him if she thought that. “No, no,” he tried to assure her. “I just seem to have lost the ring.”
“Jumping from the Madame Gracieuse?” Livi suggested with a frown.
Etienne bent where he stood and then rose back to his full height, his palm outstretched. “Looking for this?” he asked. “Must have fallen out after I helped you up.”
Gray heaved a sigh of relief as he retrieved his mother’s heirloom from Livi’s brother. “Thank you,” he muttered. And he meant it. Clearly, Etienne hadn’t been in support of the marriage, so that simple gesture did go a long way. Gray turned back to Livi and couldn’t help the boyish grin that must be spread across his face. He lifted the ring up for her inspection. “I hope it fits.”
Livi heaved a sigh herself as she stretched her hand out to him. “One way to find out.”
Gray slid the sapphire on her finger, and though it was a tiny bit loose, the fit was nearly perfect.
“It’s beautiful,” she said, gazing down at the glistening blue gem.
“Yes, yes,” Armand grumbled. “Let’s finish this, shall we? Father?”
“Oh, aye. Of course.” The priest cleared his throat. “All right, Mr. Hadley. Ye may kiss yer bride,” he said, his eyes still as wary as they had been when he’d began the ceremony.
“Oh, I fully intend to,” Gray said, and then he swept Livi into his arms and asked, “Where are your chambers?”
She pointed toward the stairs and he strode off in that direction.
Gray stomped down the corridor and then the wooden steps with Livi in his arms. He wasn’t at all certain what was proper for a newly married couple, but as they were newly married, he didn’t give a damn about propriety.
“Gray,” she protested, as he strode purposefully toward her lodgings. “What about my brothers?”
He quirked a brow at her. “I have absolutely no interest in inviting your brothers to join us.” A grin tugged at his lips at her bewildered expression.
“Join us?” She punched him in the shoulder. “What are you doing?”
He shrugged as well as he could with her in his arms. “Before we leave this ship, you’ll be my wife in every way. I won’t take the chance that anyone will find some loophole or some way to take you from me.”
Gray stopped at the last door in the corridor. She hadn’t halted him at any of the others, so this must be the one. He shoved the door open with one hand and tilted to take her through the narrow opening without putting her down.
Marie stood at the wardrobe unpacking some of Livi’s dresses. She turned and dropped the gowns she held to the floor in surprise.
“O
ut!” Gray barked.
Marie’s eyebrows drew together. “I beg your pardon?”
“Beg all you want,” Gray said. “But you must do so as you leave.”
Marie punched her hands to her hips but didn’t take a step toward the door.
“Fine,” Gray muttered as he began to slowly lower Livi to her feet, letting her slide down his body until her feet touched the floor. “But I plan to kiss my bride. Among other things.” He said the last against her lips, her gasp reaching out to tickle his nose and other parts of him that were certain to have her maid escaping the room in a trice.
***
Gray’s hands threaded into Livi’s hair as she looked up at him. His lips lowered to touch hers, softly at first. A moan rose up her throat, and she reached for the back of his neck as she stepped onto her tiptoes to get closer to him.
“Bride?” Marie squeaked.
“Do you think she’s aware of how close you are to being disrobed?” Gray asked of Livi, an unrepentant grin making him look boyish. Or as boyish as he could while he looked like he could, and would, ravish her at any moment.
“You plan to disrobe me?” Livi teased. “In broad daylight?”
“You can wager upon it.” He spun her away from him and began to work the fastenings at the back of her gown.
“You may want to go, Marie,” Livi said, holding her hair to the side.
“Well,” the maid started.
“Out!” Livi and Gray both snapped at the same time.
The maid bustled past them both and out the door. Gray kicked it shut with his booted foot. When Livi’s fastenings were undone, he leaned down to whisper in her ear, “I cannot wait another moment to see the birthmark on the inside of your thigh.”
Livi’s heart skipped a beat as he spun her back around and began to pull the few pins that secured her hair, letting them fall to the floor with delicate little clinks. He stepped back for a moment and shrugged out of his coat, unbuttoning his waistcoat as he sat down on the edge of the small bed. When he was free of his cravat, he jerked his boots from his feet and tossed them to the floor with heavy thunks.