Passion's Tide

by Sarah West

  “You can come out now,” Amber announced as she closed her door and locked it. She jumped when she turned and discovered Logan already sitting on the bed, having materialized seemingly out of nowhere. She swiveled around in search of his hiding spot. “How did you…oh, never mind.” With a groan she collapsed next to him.

  “Was that your cousin?”

  “Yes. She claimed she heard voices from in here, and when she didn’t find anyone else I could swear she looked disappointed. Is it possible she knew you were here?”

  “I would say it’s extremely possible.” Her dressing gown slipped down, revealing her bare shoulder and the top of her breast. Logan reached for her.

  “Stop it,” she chastised, slapping his hand away and tugging the fabric back into place. “Now what makes you say that?”

  Logan lay back with a sigh. “Because she was the one who told me which window was yours.”

  Amber reeled back. “She did? When? Why?”

  He laughed and rolled onto his side, resting his head on his hand. “She approached me when I was with my father and demanded to speak to me. I could hardly say no to my kid sister’s best friend.”

  Realization dawned on her as she remembered something from earlier that evening. “We were climbing into the carriage when she said she had forgotten something and ran back inside! What did she say to you?”

  “She said that if I loved you, I had better come to your room tonight.”

  Amber’s heart leapt into her throat and she suddenly couldn’t breathe. “You love me?” she asked, her voice trembling.

  He intertwined his strong fingers through her shaking ones and gave her an affectionate smile. “Ah, sweetheart, you didn’t know?”

  Tears burned behind her eyes. “I’d always hoped, but I wouldn’t let myself believe it was true. I thought it would make it easier when you left me. But when I thought you were dead,” her voice broke, “there was an emptiness inside of me, and I spent every day wishing I had told you how much I cared for you.”

  His face was sad as he spoke. “I’m sorry I ever caused you pain, Amber. But I’m here now, and I’m going to make it up to you, I promise.”

  She wiped away a tear. “How?”

  “By marrying you. When I was being held prisoner I had a lot of time to reflect, and thoughts of you were what made me strong, got me through it. I realized that a life without you in it was meaningless. The adventure I was living seemed so dull and lackluster when compared to the way my heart fills with happiness when I see you. I could give it all up, and start a new adventure with you, as husband and wife. Let me protect you, let me take care of you. Let me love you.”

  “Oh, Logan,” she breathed, melting into his arms and beaming with happiness.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  “How wonderful it feels to be loved by a roguish pirate, even if he happens to be naked at the time of his confession.”

  He looked down at himself. “I suppose I am thoroughly compromised. Now you’ll have to marry me.” He smiled at her. “And if you still don’t say yes I’ll have to carry you around town, kicking and screaming until you relent!” She shrieked as he swiftly threw her over his bare shoulder and began marching around the room.

  Amber laughed. “Put me down, you big ape. Of course I’ll marry you!”

  “You will?” He carried her over to the bed and laid her in the middle.

  “Yes, now come here before you wake the entire house!”

  Logan located his pants and slipped into them, then stretched beside her on the bed. “I’m glad you said yes, so I can give this back to you,” he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the ring that he had taken from her earlier that night. He slid it onto her finger.

  “I’ll come back tomorrow morning to ask you officially, but on one condition.”

  “And what’s that?” she asked, curling her fingers through his.

  “You still haven’t told me if you love me too.”

  She grinned wickedly. “Ah sweetheart, you didn’t know?”

  Epilogue

  Logan sat waiting in the carriage, impatiently tapping his foot. He was still wearing his silk suit, and in the midday heat he was beginning to grow uncomfortably hot. Where was Amber?

  It had been two weeks since he had approached her uncle to ask for her hand, and they had been wed this morning in a small ceremony. She had looked stunning in a blue dress with white embroidered roses to match the bouquet she carried, and the fresh flowers woven through her hair. Around her neck she had worn the opulent diamond necklace.

  But the wedding had been hours ago, and now he was waiting for her so they could begin the two-hour drive into the country, where they would be honeymooning in one of his father’s manors. What he hadn’t told Amber was that the estate and grounds had been the Earl’s gift to the couple, and though he longed for the Imperial Shadow he was prepared to settle down with her anywhere. He had finished loading their trunks onto the carriage when she exclaimed she needed to do one last thing, and darted back inside. That had been a quarter of an hour ago, and he was getting restless.

  Suddenly a shot rang out, the carriage rocking back and forth as the team of horses whinnied and bucked in fear. “What the hell?” Logan lunged for the door. Where was Amber? Was she all right? He wrenched it open and found himself staring down the barrel of a pistol.

  On the other end of the gun stood Amber.

  “Stay where you are, pirate,” she said with a vicious grin. “And if you so much as think about reaching for the knife in your boot I will shoot you without hesitation.” She had changed from her wedding dress into a pair of breeches, a billowing white shirt, and a tall pair of black boots. Her hair was tied back from her face with a red scarf, and a large gold hoop hung from her ear.

  “Who are you?” Logan asked as he backed up into the carriage, attempting to hide his smile.

  “My enemies call me la Tigresa.”

  “Ah, the tigress, I should have been expecting you. What do you want from me? I am supposed to be on my honeymoon.”

  She climbed up and sat across from him, holstering her gun in the leather baldric around her waist. “Yes, so your beautiful new wife told me. She also mentioned you might have a ship docked offshore.”

  “Did she? What else did she tell you?”

  “She mentioned that you were taking her to the country to celebrate, and that she was worried it was going to be a dreadful bore. So she suggested that I kidnap you instead, for a bit of fun.”

  Logan couldn’t help but laugh. “She would say that. Now, supposing I do lead you to my ship. Where are we going?”

  Amber smiled and climbed across the seat to sit on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him squarely on the mouth. “On an adventure.”

  About the Author

  Passion’s Tide began with the title. A cringe-worthy, heaving bosoms/throbbing manhood kind of title, one that so perfectly fit the romance novel genre that Sarah, then a Freshman in college, couldn’t help but write the story to accompany it. Having lovingly read hundreds (if not thousands) of the books herself, she thought it would be a simple process of putting pen to paper and creating a vivid story. Turns out, it was a lot harder than that. But over five years later, it is finally done.

  Sarah has a degree in Neuroscience and Behavior, and works doing research into brain aging and disease. In her spare time, she is an avid cook and photographer. Check out her blog at www.DashandaPinch.com, or email her at DashandaPinch@gmail.com. She loves to hear from readers!

 

 

 
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