Thirty-nine

Emma would have been lying if she did not admit to taking a little extra time with her appearance. She did not have a maid to help her, so it took longer to ensure that she was appropriately attired. She chose a more formal gown of sage-green silk, with a slightly lower neckline than she typically wore during the day.

The buttons in the back gave her trouble, and despite all her maneuverings, she could not wrap her arms to her back to button a few of the little rascals. So she put on a cream-colored, cropped spencer to hide whatever mistakes she made in the back. The spencer was clasped together with a stout gold broach beneath the bustline. If anything, she feared it might make her look even bustier, but there was little she could do about it.

She did not have to wait long before she heard the rapping at the door. Dare was dressed in his blue coat as usual, looking every bit the sea captain. He held a tray of food in one hand, and in the other, a leather logbook. His eyes lowered and his jaw dropped ever so slightly, before he trained his gaze back on her face.

He stepped in quickly and closed the door behind him with his heel, putting the tray of food on the small desk. “We must remain in here,” he explained as he took her key and locked them inside his small cabin.

A tremor of excitement coursed through her. They were locked inside. Together.

“This is for you.” He handed her the logbook with a hint of anxiety. “Forgive me, for I left you today without diversion. I found one of my old logs for you to read.”

“Thank you. That is very kind,” whispered Emma, pleased at his conscientiousness. “I am fortunate that your many years at sea provide me with multiple logs to read. I did find my Book of Prayers though, so I passed the time quite well.”

“Good. Very good.” He appeared relieved. He clasped his hands before him, then clasped them behind his back, as if unsure what to do with his arms.

Beyond the walls of the cabin, the ship seemed to have come alive, with loud voices and hints of something that might have been music.

“Your crew appears to be in a fine mood tonight,” she commented.

“Should be. Gave them a crate of smuggled wine to reward them for a job well done.”

“That is kind of you.”

Dare shrugged his shoulders with a guilty expression. “I wished to have time alone with you undisturbed. You are…beautiful.”

Emma looked away as heat crept up the back of her neck. “How is Mr. Stalk today?” She had to change the subject or die of embarrassment—or possibly sheer desire.

“Improved, thanks to you. He has returned to his regular quarters.”

“I do hope he will be able to keep his hand.” She did not know what else to say.

Dare nodded. “Would you care for supper?”

“Oh, yes, please. I am hungry.”

“I apologize,” he murmured and motioned for her to sit at the desk, while he sat on the bed next to her. He waited for her to begin to eat and so she did, listening to the sounds of the men carousing on deck, wondering what would come next.

Emma motioned for Dare to eat as well, and they shared their meal as they had the first night.

“Dare?” she asked, leaning close to him and keeping her voice low.

“Yes?”

“I know this will betray my lack of manners, but since we seem to have thrown propriety overboard, perhaps I could ask you a bold, rather impertinent question?”

Dare’s lips curved up ever so slightly. He was almost smiling, something she had never seen before. “I sincerely wish you would ask me a most bold, impertinent question.”

“Oh, now I fear I shall not amaze you.”

“You always amaze me.” His voice was a low rumble, his breath hot in her ear. Maybe this was answer enough.

“Do you feel for me any…special regard?” Emma whispered, not daring to look at him.

“Yes” came the simple answer, hot on her neck. “Ask me another question.”

“You prefer me asking questions? It is quite gauche.”

“Easier for me. Now, ask me another bold, impertinent question, only this time, answer it also for yourself.”

“So I am to both ask and answer my own questions?”

“Yes.”

“That does sound like a rather one-sided conversation.”

Dare’s lips twitched up again. “Perfect.”

Emma gave him a rueful smile. “I do believe you have found a way to engage in conversation without actually having to extend yourself in any way.”

Dare moved closer, so his cheek brushed against hers. “Want to court you but do not know how.”

Emma’s heart skipped a beat. “You are doing a fine job at raising my heart rate.”

“Good. Now ask me your bold questions.”

“Did you ask me to marry you because we stayed together at the inn or because you wanted to?”

“I asked because I had to.”

Emma drew back at this, but he caught her arm and drew her close to him once more. “Had to because we were together in the inn. Had to because I never before met anyone I wanted to spend my life with.”

The tension Emma had carried within her ever since meeting Darington melted and she rested her cheek against his once more. “I see.”

“May I ask an impertinent question?” he queried.

“Only seems fair.”

“Why did you refuse me?”

“Because I could not trap anyone into marriage. I could never do that to anyone. Especially not to you.”

“I see.”

But Emma could tell he did not see it all. “In truth, had I thought your heart was touched, I would have said yes.”

“And your heart?” His voice trailed off into such a faint whisper she could hardly hear him.

“Touched.” In a bold move, Emma placed her hand on his. “Very much touched.”

His eyes softened and his lips twitched, and then, gradually, the Earl of Darington smiled.

Emma’s jaw dropped. It was the first real smile she had seen from him. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen. Tension crackled between them.

“Emma.” Dare whispered her name with a breathless tone. “I am…forgive me but I am much distracted by your presence.” His eyes dipped toward her bust and then back to her eyes again.

“Are you?” She smiled in return. She usually was self-conscious of her curves, but with Dare, she only wanted him to notice her more.

“Yes. Quite. All I can think about is…is…”

“Is?”

“Kissing you.”

A warm tingle flushed though her, hot and tremulous. “I see,” she responded, for she could think of nothing else to say. “I think about it too,” she blurted out. And there it was, the truth. She had been lusting after the Earl of Darington.

He stood slowly, reaching out a hand. She took it and allowed him to help her rise. Slowly, carefully, allowing her time to voice complaint if she wanted, he drew her closer, wrapping his arms around her. They swayed slightly, moving gently with the rise and fall of the ship. She put her hands around his neck and hugged him close, feeling safe for the first time since leaving Greystone.

Suddenly, his lips were on hers, urgent and demanding. He pulled her closer and she wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight. She forgot to keep her footing in the rocking of the ship and lost her balance. Dare prevented her from falling, though they both tipped over onto the bed, her practically in his lap.

She knew she should resist, but the sensations he was drawing from her with his kiss made her press herself closer and return his kiss with such ardor that he pulled back for a moment, stunned at her response.

She froze, surprised by her own desire and shocked that she could do that with her tongue—or maybe it was his tongue. Either way, she had never even dreamed a kiss could be so intimate, passionate. Did he think her a complete harlot?

“Saints above,” he murmured and pulled her close once more. This time, he slowed the pace, taking his time, initiating an intimate dance between them. She followed his lead…until he did not move fast enough, and she pressed closer to him, lifting herself full onto his lap.

He moved his hand up her side until he caressed her breast. She pressed into his hand until he ran a finger underneath the material of her bodice, sending shock waves through her body.

“Oh!” She pulled back out of surprise.

“Forgive me. I forget myself.” He removed his hand at once and tried to stand, but she was still sitting on him and had no inclination to let him go.

She wrapped her arms around him once more and rested her head against his shoulder. “Perhaps I should ask your forgiveness, for the only thing I wish you to do is continue.”

“Truly?”

“Truly.”

It was more than enough encouragement. He leaned back, taking her with him until they were both lying on the bunk. It was a narrow bed, made for one person. She ended up on her back with Dare on his side beside her, his leg over her.

“I tried to leave you behind,” he breathed.

“Clearly that was not to be.”

“I shall never do it again.”

Emma drew him closer. This man was to be her husband. She knew that with a certainty. They had tried to part, but clearly their fate was to be together…though with the danger of Harcourt looming over them, she did not know how long their forever would be.

He leaned closer and kissed her again, his hand caressing her breast. The sensations he built within her were like nothing she had ever experienced. She felt like she might explode.

He unpinned the broach holding her spencer closed, revealing more of her ample bosom. He kissed down her neck until he pressed a kiss between her breasts in a manner that made her gasp. She wanted him to do more, much more.

“Buttons in back,” she gulped. Without further comment, he released her, so she could roll to her side and he could undo the buttons. When she rolled back he slowly pulled down her bodice, revealing her with a sharp intake of breath. She felt momentarily self-conscious, for she had never been so exposed, but the look of pure adoration in his eyes reassured her that she was safe and her natural endowments had never been more adored.

He kissed down one breast until he took her in his mouth and drew from her a gasp. This time, he did not stop but increased in pressure, which made something tighten in her core. He moved his attentions to her other breast, and she felt like she was in heaven. She had never experienced anything like it and never wanted it to end.

“Forgive me,” he panted as he came up for air.

“Only if you don’t stop,” she gasped in return.

“As you wish.” And he kissed her again.

She felt it was desperately unfair for her to be exposed while he was still wearing his coat, so she began to help divest him of it. He was wearing much too much clothing, for she knew the muscular chest hidden beneath his tailored coat.

He cooperated with her wishes, throwing off the coat and making short work of the waistcoat. His simply tied cravat was next and his shirt was quickly pulled up and over his head. He embraced her, rolling onto his back with her lying on top of him, skin to skin. She reveled in the warmth of his skin on hers. His long arms encircled her, and she snuggled on top of him. She had never felt so shockingly intimate as lightning coursed through her veins at his touch.

He slowly ran a hand up her leg, over her stocking, past her garters, sliding up her thigh until it rested in the crest of her bottom. Her breath came in short gasps.

This was where she belonged. This was where she needed to be. She could not stop him. She could not stop herself. She loved him. And more than that, she needed him. Needed him in a carnal manner she had never experienced before.

“Captain!” Someone banged loudly on the door.

Dare jumped and Emma scrambled off him.

“Yes?” he answered, scrambling for his shirt.

“Captain, lights ahead. Might be the Kestrel.”