The Buccaneer
Page 33
"But you did it anyway. Why?"
Her answer was swift. "To save my father."
Lucian sank down on the bed beside her. "Now it's time to save our child."
And she did. A short time later with Lucian's encouraging words and his gentle touch their son slipped easily from her womb into his father's waiting arms.
Epilogue
Heaven was ablaze with burning torches, lively music, and a babble of laughter and merriment. The island was in the midst of celebrating the marriage of Catherine and Lucian.
"Randolph, stop fussing over your grandson and come dance with me," Lilith demanded.
The marquis held his seven-week-old grandson lovingly in his arms and was not about to relinquish him. "The boy is too comfortable to disturb." He tucked the light blanket around the sleeping baby and settled back in the bamboo chair to relax and watch the couples swirl about on the makeshift dance floor.
"Bah," Lilith said with a dismissive wave of her bejeweled hand. "You haven't let that baby be since his birth, and why? Simply because Lucian and Catherine chose to name the child after you."
"They chose wisely. Randolph is a superior name," he argued.
"Where are they anyway?"
"Who?"
Lilith shook a finger at him. "The newlyweds, Catherine and Lucian. I saw them dancing only a few minutes ago and now they're gone."
Randolph shrugged. "They have probably gone off to enjoy themselves, as you should be doing. Now go find someone to dance with and leave me and my grandson alone. I have a story to tell him of a beautiful woman with dark red hair."
"Doting old fool," she said and walked off, wiping a joyous tear from the corner of her eye with her lace handkerchief.
o0o
Lucian carried his wife of eight hours up the staircase, her numerous petticoats beneath her white silk wedding dress rustling in protest of being squashed.
"Do you think anyone will miss us?' she said with a smile, her one arm hugging his neck while her hand toyed with the braid that ran down behind his left ear.
"I don't give a bloody damn if they do." He marched down the hall and turned into their bedroom.
"What if Randolph requires more nourishment?" she asked, suddenly nervous of being alone with her husband. The last few weeks since their son's birth had been a constant buzz of people fussing around her. She and Lucian had barely had time alone together. And at night when he climbed into bed beside her she was already fast asleep, her ordeal and birthing having spent her strength.
"I doubt he will require any more milk tonight. He was a greedy little fellow an hour ago, drinking his fill, and he has slept peaceably through the night this last week. But just in case he proves hungry Zeena has arranged for an island woman to nurse him this evening."
He glanced down at her plump breasts protruding modestly from her gown. "I will be the only one to feed on your milk tonight."
She blushed like a virginal young lady.
He lowered her legs to the floor, his arm remaining around her waist to hug her closer and brush a brief, lazy kiss across her lips. "I'm going to make your whole body blush tonight, angel."
His promise excited her. Their enforced abstinence had not been felt until these past three weeks when she once again began to feel her old self and had become more aware of her husband, especially when he had paraded in front of her naked on more than one occasion.
He stepped back and casually slipped off his black brocade coat. He looked so elegant and handsome in black brocade. The dark material complemented a white silk shirt and a white lace cravat. But what added to his arresting features the most was his pirate braid woven with a black leather strip.
"I do favor undressing you, but," he emphasized, his shirt rolling easily off his wide shoulders, "I feel I would never survive the ordeal of ridding you of all those garments."
"Are you suggesting I undress myself, sir?" she asked, smiling and dramatically pressing her hand to her chest.
"Most hastily," he suggested, his hand ready to strip off his breeches. "Unless you want that lovely gown ripped from your body?"
"You wouldn't." She feigned shock.
"Ah, but madam, I would thoroughly enjoy tearing through the wrappings to reveal your precious beauty beneath."
"Lucian," she whispered, touched by his generous compliment, and walked over to him.
His arms went around her, his mouth came down on hers and they shared a kiss that tore at the very core of their souls and lasted until time no longer existed for them.
Finding breathing difficult, they parted, Catherine's head dropping to rest on Lucian's bare chest.
"I've missed the intimacy we shared so frequently," he confessed, his embrace possessive.
"As have I, dear husband." She kissed his chest, the taste of him ambrosia to her emotions. Her tongue sensually skimmed his flesh, unable to get enough of him.
"Catherine," he breathed through clenched teeth, attempting to pull her away from him.
She resisted, his taste too intoxicating to willingly abandon.
"Catherine," he said almost in a harsh reprimand as he yanked her away from himself.
Her eyes misty, her breathing erratic, she whispered, "I need you."
He swore, released her abruptly, and tore the fastenings on her gown as he stripped it off her. Her undergarments followed in quick succession, tossed to the floor with few not torn. He swung her up into his arms, her combs falling free, and her silver hair spilling down over his arm.
The large bed welcomed them both, Lucian parting from her for a brief second to shed his remaining clothes.
He joined her, her outstretched arms greeting him in a greedy embrace. "I love you," She whispered, her lips eager to sample his.
"Not as much as I love you." He took her mouth, claiming it in a fierce kiss. A kiss that possessed, conquered, and cherished.
Time for lingering and savoring would come later, now they needed each other fast and furious. And that's how he took her.
He entered her swiftly, her own movements urging his haste.
She cried out painfully.
He stopped. "Catherine?"
She shook her head. "Don't stop, I need you so much it hurts."
He eased his thrusts until she opened to accommodate him and then he lost himself within her.
They moved like lovers long separated and recently united, their climax quick, explosive, and simultaneous.
Lucian, after regaining his breath, slipped off her and onto his back beside her.
Catherine, unable to relinquish their intimacy so soon, slipped over him, spreading herself atop him. Her head rested on his chest, one leg gently nestled between his two and her hand roamed his chest and belly.
"I wish a long sensual night with you, angel. I want to linger and explore. Taste and pleasure. I want to pursue love to its fullest, but only if you feel up to it. I do not wish to cause you pain."
Catherine laughed softly, reaching down to cup him fully in her hand. He swelled in her palm. "Remember when I suggested you let me pleasure you with pain?"
"You lack the experience," he challenged.
She lifted her head to stare directly into his eyes that pooled with passion. "I could learn."
His reply tested. "I can teach you much."
Her answer said it all. "I have a lifetime to learn."
He captured her face in his powerful hands and followed her custom of stating things simply, yet so meaningfully. "I love you."
o0o
They loved the night away, until, depleted of strength and energy, they slept.
As morning broke over Heaven, Catherine gently slipped from Lucian's sleeping embrace and climbed out of bed. She walked to the open window, standing to the side where she couldn't be seen, though the island's occupants hadn't stirred yet and probably wouldn't for several hours after last night's wedding celebration.
She still desired her privacy. She ached to watch the sunrise and offer a small prayer of gratitude
to the heavens above.
She had managed to accomplish the impossible — she had found Heaven on earth and a loving soul to share it with.
Warm arms circled her naked waist and eased her back.
"Lucian," she sighed, feeling the length of his hard flesh rest against her.
"I thought our lovemaking would leave you in an exhausted sleep for hours."
"I needed to watch the sun rise."
He caressed her neck with his lips, his voice soft and filled with emotion. "When the sunlight touches your skin, it reminds me of that first time I saw you naked in my cabin. You were bathed in sunlight, an ethereal beauty . . . an angel."
Catherine turned, her arms reaching up to drape around his neck, her lips drifting toward his. "I am an angel. I'm Lucifer's angel."
-o0o-
Titles by Donna Fletcher
Single Titles
San Francisco Surrender
Untamed Fire
Rebellious Bride
The Buccaneer
Tame My Wild Touch
Playing Cupid
Whispers on the Wind
Series Books
The Wedding Spell (Wyrrd witch series)
Magical Moments
Magical Memories
Remember the Magic
The Irish Devil
Irish Hope
Isle of Lies
Love Me Forever
Dark Warrior
Legendary Warrior
The Daring Twin
The Bewitching Twin
Taken By Storm
Highlander’s Bride
Return of the Rogue (Sinclare brothers’ series)
Under the Highlander’s Spell
The Angel & The Highlander
Highlander’s Forbidden Bride
Bound To A Warrior (Warrior King series)
Loved By A Warrior
Short Stories
based on characters in Donna’s books
One Night of Love & the Hobgoblin – The Irish Devil
Halloween Magic – The Wedding Spell
Christmas Love – Return of the Rogue
o0o
About the Author
Donna Fletcher is a USA Today bestselling romance author. Her books are sold worldwide. She started her career selling short stories and winning reader contests. She soon expanded her writing to her love of romance novels and sold her first book SAN FRANCISCO SURRENDER the year she became president of New Jersey Romance Writers.
Drop by Donna’s website www.donnafletcher.comwhere you can learn more about her, read her blog and enter contests.