by Dawn Brower
She nodded and that was all the encouragement he needed. Slowly, painstakingly so, he pushed himself inside her. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he realized that with some women it was unavoidable on their first time. She lifted her hips, giving him a better access. Donovan pushed in a little bit more until he was fully seated inside her heat. Sweat pooled on his forehead. He leaned down and kissed her. “Are you all right?”
“Yes,” she replied. “Full. Is that it?”
“No, love. It’s the beginning.”
With those words he rocked in and out of her. Slowly at first to allow her time to adjust to the new sensation, then faster and faster until he didn’t know where she began and he ended. It didn’t take long before she was meeting him stroke for stroke. His climax hit him so hard the world went black for several heartbeats. It was more amazing than he could ever have imagined, and his first thought was he couldn’t wait to do it again.
He rolled over and pulled the sheet over them. In the morning, they’d talk and he’d ask her formally to marry him. He’d intended to do it before things went sideways. Not that he was complaining, but a proposal, at the very least, should have come before lovemaking...
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Good morning,” he whispered in her ear.
Heat filled her at the memory of the night before. She was sore in places she’d never been before, but in a nice way. If she’d known making love was that pleasurable, she’d have begged him to do it years ago. Now, in a way, she understood what he’d meant. They had missed out on a lot by her pushing him away. She wished she could go back and make different decisions, but as that wasn’t possible, she’d move forward instead. She would not push him away ever again.
She opened her eyes and turned into his arms, sliding her fingers down his back playfully. “Is it?”
“What?” he asked, apparently confused.
It felt so good to tease him and wake up so light-hearted. They had their whole lives lying before them. All they had to do was seize it and not let anyone take it away from them ever again. She wanted to capture this moment in her memories forever. It hadn’t been exactly as she’d imagined it. She’d seen different scenarios in her mind and prayed they’d have a good reunion. In some ways, this was far better than she could ever have imagined because it had a fairytale feel to it. “Good?” she retorted. “I think it could be a lot better.”
“Minx,” he said and chuckled. “I think we’re nearing shore and probably should get our lazy selves out of bed.”
“Don’t be silly,” she said. “My crew would have informed me if we were.”
“How?” he lifted a brow. “By, say, knocking on your door and yelling ‘shore ahead?’”
“Well, yes,” she replied confused herself now. “How’d you know?”
That was a very specific thing for him to say. He shouldn’t know that unless he had prior knowledge to her sailing habits and her commands. She was suddenly very suspicious.
“Darling,” he said cajolingly. “Don’t think so hard. It’s not that hard to deduce when someone just did that before you woke up. You were out and snoring quite prettily. I hated to wake you, but I thought it must be important for them to notify you.”
“It is,” she said sheepishly. She was starting to feel horrible for making a bad assumption, but he had somehow ended up on her ship and she didn’t understand how. Later, she’d quiz him to see if they could figure it out. “I need to dress.” She rolled out of bed and looked around for her clothes. They were all over the room. What had she been thinking the night before? She stood and picked up her tunic, slipping it over her head. As she leaned down to pick up her trousers she noticed Donovan watching her through a hooded gaze.
“What?” she asked.
He had his arms upward, tucked under his head. A slow sensuous smile formed, then he winked at her. “Don’t mind me,” he replied with a wicked tone. “I’m enjoying the view.”
She wanted to pick up one of her boots and throw it at him, but refrained. “Maybe later you can return the favor.”
“Sweetheart,” he said wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. “You’re keeping me naked for your pleasure. I don’t think a favor needs to be returned.”
“I’m not doing any such thing.” Her mouth dropped open in surprise. “I’d never...”
“No?” He gestured toward his body. “Do you see any clothing on me?”
She frowned. He did have a point. Billy was supposed to bring his trousers by when they dried. “Ah,” she said sheepishly. “About that...”
His laughter filled the cabin. “As I said...”
She might throw her boot at him yet. “I am not keeping you naked for my pleasure, not that I didn’t, um, enjoy...”
“You’re blushing a pretty pink, love,” he teased. “Are you sure you have to leave?”
Damn her responsibilities. She really did want to climb back into the bed and love him all over again. Duty called though, and she would have to take him up on his generous offer later. “I really do, but don’t worry. You’ll have something to wear soon. But, um, some of your attire was too badly damaged. I’m afraid you’ll have, um...”
“Tell me,” he replied. “I promise not to be upset.”
“Uh, good,” she said, biting her lip. “Because you don’t have anything to cover your, um—chest.”
“So you’re saying both my shirt and waistcoat are unsalvageable?”
“Right,” she said. “But I have something at the cottage you can wear. When we leave the ship, you might be a tad uncomfortable, but it won’t be for long.”
“Do I want to know why you have men’s clothing at your cottage?”
She shook her head. “We’ll talk later. I have to go now.” She kissed her palm and then blew the kiss at him. “Love you.”
With those words she rushed out of the room carrying her boots. She’d put them on when she reached the deck and was far away from the temptation he presented.
DONOVAN STARED AT THE door. She left in a hurry. Did he say something that had made her uncomfortable? He didn’t think so, but it was hard to be sure. A knock echoed through the room and then the door pushed open. The boy who had come by before walked inside.
“Pardon me, my lord,” he said. “But I have your clothing.”
“Shirt and all?”
“Aye,” he said. “Well, not yours. I had to find you a new one. Luckily, we found one in the cargo hold. I was able to wash it, but it’s coarse and nothing like your lordship is used to.”
“That’s fine,” he said, a little relieved. He didn’t relish the idea of walking around shirtless. The sun could be harsh, and he’d rather not deal with painful red skin. Though he did like the idea of having Estella brush her hands over his chest on a regular basis. “I’ll take whatever you have.”
“I polished your boots too,” he said. His grin lit up his whole face. “They’re a fine pair of Hessians.”
Donovan never paid his boots any mind. They were boots... But he supposed, for someone who had grown up poor, they’d appreciate a fine pair of Hessians. They were well crafted, and Donovan could understand why he’d admired them. A loud crash echoed throughout the room.
“Thank you,” he said. “What’s going on?”
There was a lot of noise coming from outside the cabin. If he’d been inclined to sleep more, it would have been impossible. The stomps of boots on the deck reverberated back tenfold. He was rather curious and glad Billy had come by to bring him his clothing. He started to dress immediately, waiting for the lad to reply to his question. After he pulled up his breeches, he turned toward him and lifted a brow. “I promise I’m not a spy out for your deep dark secrets. The captain and I are to be married.”
Not a lie entirely. He fully intended for them to wed as soon as possible, once he asked and she agreed. As far as he was concerned, it was inevitable. Why not tell the world?
“So you know what we are?” Billy asked.
“I do,” he told him. �
��Smuggling is dangerous.”
“Not if you’re smart about it. Captain Estes is brilliant and has kept us safe.”
Good for Estella, but no matter what the lad believed, it was still dangerous. He hoped she didn’t plan on continuing her smuggling business. He’d hate to lose her all over again to it. He wanted a future, and that wouldn’t be much of one if she kept doing illegal activity. That would be one of their major discussions and decisions no doubt. First, he would ask her to marry him, and then they’d work out what they wanted for their future. He could be patient as long as, in the end, she was his.
“I see,” he said. He didn’t see the point of disabusing the lad of his notion. He was clearly in hero worship with Estella. Donovan didn’t see anything wrong with that. “So have we anchored?”
“Aye,” he nodded. “The shipment is being unloaded now. The crew will dispense with it and then report back to captain.”
Donovan nodded. It was as much as he expected. He hated it, but understood all the same. She was doing this for more than herself. A lot of people suffered from lack of money. It might help if some of the laws were changed, but he didn’t see that happening anytime soon. There wasn’t much to be done until there was a forward movement for a positive change. He could do his part and take an active role in parliament. It would be far better than his previous lifestyle. He had to make better choices all around and that could be a start. Why not be a political activist? He’d have to figure out what was going on in that world and then make a stance. He could do it...
“Don’t you need to help them?”
“Captain said that you were my priority.”
Donovan finished dressing. He sat down, pulled on his Hessians, and then sighed. He could go out there and help. Would that be overstepping? He didn’t want to make her angry. Perhaps it would be better to stay where he was and wait for her to return. He tapped his fingers on his knee. To hell with that, he wanted to see her, and he would.
“Let’s go watch them unload,” he told Billy. “I’ve been cooped up in this cabin too long.”
He left the cabin and didn’t stop to see if Billy followed behind him. The sun had risen already, and most of the crew had already disembarked, leaving the deck nearly empty. There were two people left on the deck. One was Estella and the other he didn’t recognize. Maybe it was time to introduce himself. He headed toward them with purposeful strides until he reached them. When Estella noticed him, she smiled warmly. The other gentleman didn’t seem too happy though.
“DONOVAN,” SHE SAID, her lips tilting upward. “I didn’t expect you so soon.”
She’d never tire of seeing him and having him walk in her direction. He was so bloody handsome, and all hers. This man was her everything. The one male capable of capturing her heart and keeping it forever. Though she’d willingly give it to him over and over again. She loved him that much.
“Didn’t see any reason to wait,” he replied. “Who’s your friend?”
Estella frowned. Was this a bit of male ego coming out to play? Was Donovan jealous? More importantly, why did that make her heart flutter in her chest? She loved him so, so much. Her heart fairly burst with happiness.
“This is my first mate, Leeland,” she gestured toward him. “The cargo is unloaded, and we were discussing the particulars. We’ve finished though, if you’re ready to leave.”
“I am,” he said. “I’d rather not see any more of this particular ship any time soon.”
“It wasn’t all bad...” She was caught off guard by that statement... He had enjoyed himself last night, hadn’t he? She wouldn’t ask... At least not now with other people around. Perhaps when they were alone she’d feel more comfortable broaching the subject. He had wanted her to stay with him, so he must have found some pleasure. She hoped he wasn’t having any regrets though.
“No, it wasn’t,” he said, then smiled warmly. “Why don’t you lead the way.”
She wrapped her arm through his and led him off the ship. They had a dock close enough so they didn’t need small boats to travel to and from the ship since this part of the cove was deep enough to accommodate them. The caves inside the nearby cliff made it easy for them to hide their stores, and the secret passages led them to topside and made escape easier.
“My cottage isn’t far from here,” she told him as she led him toward it. “It was my grandmother’s. She left it for me, and it’s the only thing that is mine outright. I won’t have access to my full inheritance for another six months.”
“Is that why you started smuggling?”
She nodded. “The duke gave me very little to live off of. Luckily, I had saved up most of my pin money for a long time. I had a feeling something like this might happen. To make a long story short, I managed to acquire enough funds to buy the ship. The rest was fate and a little luck.” She was rather proud of all her accomplishments.
Her home wasn’t much, but it was hers. It was on the edge of a cliff. The scent of sea air greeted her each morning along with the crash of waves against the shore. They reached the cottage, and she pushed the door open gesturing for him to walk inside. “Welcome to my humble home. Make yourself comfortable while I change into something more presentable.”
“I rather like this attire.” He winked. “But I can see how the locals might not. I don’t suppose you have anything to eat. I don’t know the last time I ate.”
She laughed. “I won’t have much, but I’m sure I can find you something. Why don’t you wash up and meet me in the sitting room in a little bit.”
Estella showed him where he could do as she suggested and then went to change. She slipped out of her captain clothes and into a blue-green dress. All of her gowns were designed so she could dress herself. Most of the time she didn’t miss having a maid to assist her. Really, nothing about her old life appealed to her—except the part where she missed out on a life with Donovan.
After she finished dressing she headed to her small kitchen. She found a loaf of bread a few days old and a little stale. She could toast it and cut up some cheese for a snack. She didn’t have any milk, but she had plenty of wine. Would that be a bad idea for someone who had taken so heavily to drink? She pondered it for a few moments before the sound of carriage wheels caught her attention. She peered out a window and frowned. No one she knew used a carriage...except... Damn. It was the duke. She didn’t want him to see Donovan, so she went out the back door and walked around to the front of the cottage. She caught him before he could knock.
“What are you doing here,” she said vehemently. “Haven’t we said all there is to say to each other?”
“Not quite, my dear,” her wicked stepfather said. “There is so much we have yet to agree on.”
“If you’re here about my inheritance...”
He waved his hand flippantly. “Not at all. That’s a trifle thing compared to my fortune.”
Then why wouldn’t he leave her be and let her have access to it. Was this all about controlling her? What did he have to gain by continuing to pull on her figurative puppet strings?
“Why don’t you tell me why you came for this visit so we can end it before it begins.”
“Always in a hurry,” he scoffed. “Fine. I’ll dispense with the preliminaries. You’re to be married at the end of the week. I’ve had the bans read for the past two weeks and everything is set.”
“Come again?” she said, shock filling her voice. “I’m not marrying anyone you’ve chosen for me. I thought you understood that three years ago.”
He laughed maniacally. “It’s cute you think you won that little argument. I let you have your fit, but it’s time to fall in line and do as you’re told. I’ll have someone pick you up tomorrow morning to return home. Don’t do anything foolish,” he warned. “You won’t succeed. Think of how nice it will be at home, and Annalise will be happy to see you again.”
With those words, he stepped back into his carriage and gestured for the driver to leave. Estella stood there in silence, plannin
g her escape. She had to run and hide. If she wasn’t here, he couldn’t force her to marry. She had her foot raised to do that when she remembered her promise to Donovan. He was relying on her to keep her word.
She couldn’t do anything without first discussing it with him, so she turned around and walked back inside—only to find him waiting for her. He’d heard every word, and let her handle it. There was no way he could have avoided listening. Her cottage wasn’t large, and it had thin walls. She’d lived there long enough to understand all of the structures faults. She couldn’t have possibly loved him any more than in that moment.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“You didn’t run,” he said quietly. “I was poised to go after you, but I am glad it didn’t come to that.”
“I thought about it,” she admitted. “But I realized I’ve already given up way too much for that man, and I refuse to let him destroy my happiness ever again.”
Donovan had been so afraid she wouldn’t stay. He’d held his breath and prayed she would. He was so happy she’d chosen to honor her promise to him. Now he would have to do the same. This was a decision they had to make together. He wasn’t going to lose her to some other man—especially her evil stepfather. “What do you want to do?”
“Is running still out of the question?”
He chuckled. “Not entirely,” he said. “I have an idea if you’re willing to listen.”
She nodded. “Please. I’m willing to try anything as long as I don’t have to marry the duke’s choice. If it’s the same man, he’ll make a rotten husband. I don’t understand why the duke hates me so much.”
He wanted to take away all of her worries. It killed him to see her so anxious. The duke was a right bastard and evil as could be. Why would he treat someone under his care so horribly? If he could find a way to make it happen, he’d see him pay for his mistreatment of Estella. She was a wonderful, strong, independent, kind woman. She deserved far better than the duke.