Moontide Embrace (Historical Romance) (50 page)

"This land belongs to you, Liberty. I give it to you as a
wedding gift." Her eyes danced with joy as her delighted
laughter mingled with the gentle sea breeze.

Before Judah could dismount and help Liberty from her horse, she had slid off the animal's back and was
running toward the lagoon. Raising her arms to the sky,
Liberty appeared to embrace the day. Judah came up
behind her and slid his arms about her waist, loving her
with all his heart.

"I am delighted to see joy on your face, Liberty," he
murmured. "The little girl I first met had such sad eyes. I
always wanted to be the one to bring you happiness."

Liberty looked up at him, her eyes softened by his
words. "I never knew you felt that way, Judah. I thought
you viewed me as a troublesome child."

He swung her around and rested his arms on her
shoulders. "Someday I will tell you how I really felt about
you. Are you happy, little one?"

Joy sparked in her blue eyes. "Oh,
oui,
Judah. I have
never been this happy before. I belong to someone, and
someone belongs to me."

Judah's heart ached at her admission. As he rested his
chin on the top of her head, he closed her eyes. Could this mean she was beginning to love him? He took her chin and raised her head so she had to meet his eyes.
"I am finding out it takes very little to make you happy, little one. Would that it will always be this easy to bring
joy to your heart."

She could have told him that having him near her was
all the joy she needed at the moment. Instead she asked.
"How many women can boast that they were given a beautiful paradise for a wedding present?"

For one wild, breathtaking moment, they stood staring
into each other's eyes, and Liberty was lost in depths of turquoise blue! He was pulling her to him, tugging at her
heart, demanding that she yield. Judah found himself
wishing Liberty would give herself to him completely. He
knew when he held her in his arms at night she always
held some part of herself back. Suspended in time, two
tortured souls reached out to each other.

Just when Liberty thought she could not stand it any
longer, Judah smiled at her. A wisp of hair blew across her face, and he tucked it behind her ear before he grasped her shoulders and brought her up on tiptoe. "If
we are alone here, perhaps we should take full advantage
of the situation," Judah suggested in a deep voice.

When his lips settled on Liberty's, she was lost. As he lifted her in his arms and carried her behind a clump of
flowering bushes, she shivered with delight. Gently he laid
her down on the soft green grass, while his eyes caressed
her face.

"Judah, suppose someone were to come upon us?" she
asked, although more aware of the look in his eyes than the threat of any would-be intruder.

His smile was rakish. "No one will come here," he assured her, while his hands moved up her leg, pushing her skirt to her waist. "You are so warm and alive," he said, pressing his mouth against the pulse beat in her throat. When his hands moved between her legs, his touch was sweet and gentle.

When he moved over her, she felt that an eternity passed before he slipped into her quivering warmth.
Liberty stared into his face, trying to guess what he was thinking and feeling, but his long sweeping lashes covered the glow in his eyes. Still, she could see by his expression
that he was moved by their coming together, and she
knew the trembling of his body came from touching her.

As he moved forward inside her, his eyes opened, and
she caught a glimpse of such intense longing it almost
took her breath away. "Liberty...
"
he whispered in an
agonized voice.

Liberty did not know what he might have said, because
his lips covered hers in a burning kiss. He touched her hair and then his hand slid down to rest against her arched neck.

A fire ignited within their bodies, its flames leaping
higher and higher, until they were both consumed by a
passion swept so strong neither of them could stop it.
Amid lovely wild orchids, that resembled brightly colored
butterflies, Judah took Liberty to his body, and she surrendered to him completely.

Liberty stared into the passion-laced eyes of her hus
band, and had to close her eyes against the bright glow
she saw there. She hugged him to her, knowing there was
a part of him that reached out to her. They never spoke of
love, but their eyes spoke of wild, unbridled desire . . . and then fulfillment.

Liberty's head was against Judah's shoulder as her heartbeat returned to normal. Glancing at his face, she
saw his eyes were closed. At that moment, she wished she
knew what he was thinking, but as always, his mind was
closed to her.

She suddenly felt that none of this was real and that she had been living in a fool's paradise, trying to forget
the real world that beckoned to her. This paradise did not
really belong to her—Briar Oaks belonged to her.

"What is the matter?" Judah inquired, catching the troubled look in her eyes.

"I was just thinking about Briar Oaks," she admitted. "I am going to have to go back soon, Judah. You must know I have to."

He rolled to his feet and helped her stand. She could not read his thoughts, but she heard his deep intake of
breath. "As soon as I fulfill a promise I made, I will take
you back, Liberty. When the time comes, you will not
have to face Sebastian alone. I will be beside you." He smiled and took her hand. "How would you like to go for
a swim in the lagoon?"

"But-"

"No buts, little one. You can swim, can't you?"

"Oui,
of course."

Liberty pulled back from him as he gave her a devilish
smile. "Do you come peaceably, or do I carry you?"

"Judah, no!"

His laughter filled the air as he lifted her over his
shoulder and ran toward the lagoon. She tried to wriggle
out of his arms when she saw that he was going to jump
in the water, but was unsuccessful. Cool water closed over
her head as Judah slipped her around and molded her to his body. Then his mouth closed over hers in a burning
kiss that carried them both to the surface. Liberty became
a part of the earth and sky, as Judah deepened the kiss.

Liberty felt him lift her onto the bank, and he hovered
over her, his golden hair dripping water in her face and a
slight smile on his lips. "The next time I ask you to go for
a swim with me, I suggest you listen."

She giggled and rolled away from him. "You have ruined my riding habit."

"It does not matter, I will buy you dozens of riding
habits. I will shower you with gowns and jewels that will
make you the envy of every woman who sees you."

She extended her hand to him. "Your wedding ring and
the ring Zippora gave me are all the jewels I will ever need."

He stood, and pulled her to her feet. "I have a jewel in
you, little one. I don't know when I have spent a day I
enjoyed more than this one."

Liberty agreed with him; this had been a perfect day.
Nonetheless, she was in a more sober mood as, while
their clothing dried, she and Judah ate the picnic lunch
Hayman had prepared for them. Later, as they rode along
the beach, the incoming tide moving in and out as their
horses kicked up a spray of sparkling white sand, the
laughter returned to her eyes and her spirits soared. For a
while Judah and Liberty were two young people without a
care in the world, and Judah became even more enchanted with his beautiful little wife.

They remained in their paradise when the moon rose
over the ocean, casting its silvery light against the moon
tide. It was a day Liberty would never forget; a day that had shown her yet, another of Judah's many faces. On
this day she had met Judah the carefree lover, and she
thought she loved him the most.

Just when Liberty thought her heart would burst from all the happiness she had experienced that day, Judah lifted her from her horse and carried her back to their secret cove. On a bed of orchids, his wonderful hands worked magic on her body, and again they scaled the heights of ecstasy.

"The end to a perfect day," he whispered in her ear. "You have taught me how to have fun and to really see
the beauty of life, Liberty. That is something I have rarely
had time for."

She brushed a fragrant orchid against his lips, realizing
the great responsibilities that had weighed heavily on his
shoulders. She wished she could always make him laugh
as he had today. But Judah was a man driven by some
hidden need, and he would never find complete happiness
until he had resolved whatever was preying on his mind.

As they rode back to the house, a bright moon lighting
their way, Liberty was still under the influence of their many hours together. There were stars in her eyes as
Judah lifted her from her horse, holding her longer, and
closer to his body, than was necessary.

"I had fun today, Liberty," he said, finally setting her on her feet.

"It was the nicest day I have ever had," she told him, her eyes shining earnestly.

Judah was about to say something more, when Philippe
spoke to him from the shadows of the front gallery. "I have been waiting for you, Captain. We have problems with the
Winged Victory,
and I thought you would want
to know." The first mate turned to Liberty and smiled at
her. "Begging your pardon,
Madame."

She smiled at him. "How are you, Philippe? I don't get
to see much of you anymore."

"I am just fine,
Madame.
I have been kept busy
modifying the
Winged Victory.
We are going to need all
the speed we can get out of her for the task that lies ahead."

Judah took Liberty's arm and led her toward the front
door. "I will just see that Liberty is settled in for the night, then I'll join you, Philippe."

When they were inside the house, Judah looked at Liberty apologetically. "I am sorry this came up. Don't look for me tonight."

She hid her disappointment. "What did Philippe mean,
that you needed speed for the task ahead of you? What
task?"

"Liberty, I told you that General Jackson asked me to do something for him. This is unofficial, and I cannot really talk about it, but there is a pirate by the name of
Abdul Ismar who is causing no end of grief to American
shipping. His latest venture was to capture an American
naval captain —Blackburn—his wife, and two daughters. I
will be making an attempt to rescue them. I hope you will understand that I have been wanting to meet Abdul Ismar for a very long time. He is the man who killed my father."

"Oui,
I do understand, Judah." Her eyes searched his. "I can see that you have to go after the man."

"Abdul Ismar is the worst of the Barbary pirates,
Liberty. I am told that he sells women into . . . slavery. I
fear for Captain Blackburn's wife and daughters if they are not rescued."

Liberty shuddered. "This will be very dangerous for you, will it not?"

His eyes danced as if he mocked the thought of danger.
"I once told you that I live a charmed life."

"I do not suppose you will allow me to go with you?"

Judah frowned. "No, that would be impossible." With
out another word, he turned to the door. "If I don't return tomorrow, do not be distressed. Time is getting
short, and I will stay with the
Winged Victory
until she is
ready."

Liberty didn't move for some time after Judah had gone. Then with a heavy sigh, she walked down the
hallway and up the stairs to her room. She would always
cherish the hours they had spent together that day. She
shivered, thinking it might be the last time they would
laugh as they had, for she feared for Judah, knowing he
would have no thought of his own safety when he came up against the man who murdered his father.