Seger, Maura (27 page)

"I wouldn't be surprised if they started planning for it the day you moved in with me."

Erin giggled softly. Glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, she murmured, "How fortunate we are to have friends willing to take care of all that for us, especially since I know you are still feeling so weakened by your ordeal."

Storm winced. He had spent a good part of the evening trying to think of some way to convince Erin it was time to put an end to his convalescence. A discreet word with the understanding physician who served the Yokohama community had assured him there was no reason to delay the consummation of their marriage. Provided, of course, he could convince her he was able to do so. The ploy that had served so well both to keep her near him and to persuade her to follow a healthy regimen for a pregnant woman just might be about to rebound on him.

"Uh . . . about that..."

"Now, don't you give it another thought. Heavens, we've got all the time in the world now." Hesitating a moment, she added, "Would you like me to drive?"

"No! That is, thank you, but it isn't necessary. I really feel quite recovered."

"Don't be misled by an unusually good day. Why, the moment you start to exert yourself, all sorts of things might happen."

"I've been rather counting on that," Storm muttered. He kept prudently silent the rest of the way home. Not until the horses and carriage were led away by a beaming servant and he and Erin stood in the entranceway pulling off their shoes did the matter of his disability come up again.

"I believe," Storm said softly, "it is customary to carry the bride over the threshold."

He was about to lift her when Erin demurred. "Perhaps we'd better skip that. After all, we wouldn't want your strength to be taxed any more than it has already been today."

"Indulge me," Storm muttered. Gathering her into his arms, he strode into the house and headed straight for the bedroom.

"I just wanted to have a word with the new housekeeper," Erin cautioned.

"Later."

"You really shouldn't carry me all this way. You'll hurt your back."

"My back is fine."

"Perhaps you'd better take me to my room."

"That is where I'm taking you."

"I mean the room I used before we—"

"Forget it."

"But, Storm, you really are not being sensible about this. It was only a few days ago that you were almost killed. What kind of wife would I be if I tried to insist that you do your duty under these circumstances?"

"A good one. Go right ahead and insist."

Erin shook her head primly as he sat her down in their room. "I wouldn't dream of it. We've spent several chaste nights together. There's no reason we can't continue to do so for however long it takes you to recover completely."

"I can give you an excellent reason." Turning her around, Storm began to briskly unfasten her dress.

"What's that?"

In answer, he seized her hand and pressed it to him. The blatancy of his gesture shocked her even as his obvious need sent spirals of pleasure racing through her.

Nonetheless, Erin continued to insist that for the sake of his health they should put off resuming their intimacy. Storm listened to her patiently, removing her clothes as she spoke. By the time she finished, she was stripped down to her camisole and pantaloons and he was busy unfastening those.

"Now, wait just a moment," Erin protested a bit breathlessly. "You haven't heard a word I've said, have you?"

"Every one of them. You said you would love, honor and
obey
me. Isn't that right?"

"I wasn't talking about that. I was talking about—"

"That's right, isn't it?"

"Yes, but—"

"No buts. Let's see some of that obedience you promised."

"I knew that part was a mistake," Erin grumbled. She shivered as the last of her covering was tossed onto the floor and she stood naked before him.

Storm's quicksilver eyes wandered over her lingeringly. The enriching of her body by pregnancy enthralled him. Her breasts were fuller and heavier, the velvety nipples darker than before. Her waist was still small, but beneath it her belly swelled slightly. He reached out a gentle hand to touch her there, letting his caress drift downward to the dark nest of curls that hid her womanhood from his impassioned gaze. Thickly he ordered, "Undress me."

"Let me get a robe first. I'm cold."

Storm grinned. He knew perfectly well she was warm enough. Charcoal braziers kept the room at a comfortable temperature despite the frost-laden night. Gazing down at her, he shook his head. "No."

"You're so stubborn. If I do what you want, will you get into bed?"

"Absolutely."

"Then I suppose I'll have to. Hold still."

Storm obeyed with alacrity. As Erin slipped the jacket from his massive shoulders, he shrugged it off along with his waistcoat. Her small fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, but at last they too were undone. The breath caught in her throat when the hair-roughened width of his torso was revealed to her.

Erin inhaled deeply, letting her hands stroke the bulging contours of his chest and back. Bemused by the flares of passion darting through her, she was only dimly aware that Storm was urging her on to the buttons of bis snug-fitting trousers.

"The last time you did this," he muttered huskily, "you lost your nerve before you were through. Is that likely to happen again?"

"Wives," she informed him pertly, "are much more daring than mistresses."

Her actions proved that claim. Storm gasped softly as her fingers brushed against him enticingly. Freed from its confines, his manhood rose hard and urgent into her welcoming hand.

"Oh, my," Erin murmured. "It seems part of you doesn't realize you are still convalescing."

"It has a will of its own," Storm growled, drawing her to him. In the glow of the oil lamps, his skin was burnished copper, hers polished ivory. His huge, heavily muscled body seemed to engulf her. She looked so small and fragile next to him, the top of her ebony hair reaching barely to bis shoulders.

His big hands cupped her face, tilting it to him. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes glowed with inner fires. The moist ripeness of her lips beckoned his. A low groan broke from him. He was just bending toward her when she smiled tenderly. "Now, if you'll get into bed, I'll bring you a nice cup of warm milk."

"What?"

"You drank so much of it on the ship, I naturally assumed you were quite fond of it."

The pewter sheen of his gaze darkened. "Erin, there's something I have to tell you."

"Hmmm."

"I hate milk. If I drink any more of it, I will turn into a suckling whelp."

Indigo eyes widened in innocent surprise. "But then why did you insist on having it on the ship?"

"Because that was the only way to get you to drink it. You're supposed to, you know. Being pregnant and all." Hesitantly he added, "The fact is, I only pretended not to be fully recovered so that you would stay near me and take proper care of yourself."

"Really?"

"Yes, you see, I. . ." Storm broke off abruptly. Erin's enticing mouth was curved in a devilish smile. Her body began to shake from her futile effort to hold back the laughter his contrite confession sparked.

Grasping her shoulders, he stared down at her in disbelief. 'Tom
knew."

"I couldn't resist the urge to go along with the act." Erin giggled unrepentantly. "But there were times I really thought I'd give it away. All that milk!"

"Gallons of it, not to mention all those days of staying in the cabin to keep an eye on you." A pulse beat in the corded column of his throat as his hands tightened. "And those nights . . . those damned endless nights. I thought I'd go mad if I had to lie beside you once more without touching you."

Erin's eyes met his as her laughter abruptly died. Her soft fingers tangled in the thick mat of hair covering his chest. "There, at least, I can sympathize." She moved closer, and her ripening breasts brushed against him enticingly. "Do you think, husband, that we might conclude this discussion? After all, we have quite a bit of time to make up for."

Storm needed no further encouragement. He swept her into his arms and covered the distance to the sleeping platform in half a dozen rapid strides. Without releasing her, he set her on the mattress and came down swiftly beside her.

Warm male lips nuzzled her throat as he muttered, "Not only that, sweet. You will pay for allowing me to be so gullible."

Erin gasped softly as he nibbled at her lower lip, coaxing it open. His tongue traced the moist outline of her mouth before plunging inward in a slow, demanding thrust that made her writhe beneath him.

Cupping her breasts in his callused palms, he gently brushed his thumbs across the straining peaks. "Are you tender here?" he demanded huskily.

She nodded mutely. Her nipples, swollen by pregnancy, were ultrasensitive. The merest touch sent spirals of exquisite delight coiling through her. When he bent his proud head, his tongue lapping at her tenderly, she moaned deep in her throat.

"S-Storm ..."

Determined to draw out her pleasure to the utmost, he ignored her implicit plea. His hands and mouth awakened her to a firestorm of desire more intense than any she had ever experienced. His lips traced a burning path down the length of her body to the nest of curls between her thighs. Gently his knee nudged her legs apart, giving him access to the moist sanctuary where their child slept.

Despite the throbbing inferno of his own need, Storm forced himself to go slowly. The hot length of his phallus lying against her left no doubt that his desires were ready to burst all bounds. Yet Erin still could not persuade him to end his loving torment of her body.

His tongue traced the silken skin of her inner thighs upward to the unfolding petals of her womanhood. Reveling in the honeyed sweetness he unleashed within her, he brought her again and again to the peak of fulfillment, until her alabaster length shone with perspiration and repeated moans broke from her.

Only then did he at last lower himself to her, entering slowly and gently to be absolutely certain he caused her no discomfort. Natural changes wrought by her pregnancy made her even tighter than before. Storm gasped as moist velvet undulated around him, drawing him farther and farther into her.

Holding himself perfectly still, he allowed her to set the pace of their consummation. Her slender hips arched rhythmically against him as powerful inner muscles brought him swiftly to the edge of rapture.

Convinced at last that she could accept all of him, Storm slid his hands beneath her to grasp her buttocks and hold her for his deep but careful thrusts. Kittenish purrs broke from her as the world turned swiftly to shimmering fire and exploded around them both.

Barely had they begun the slow descent to earth than each realized that their celibacy of the last few days had an unexpected benefit. Storm grinned roguishly at her startled look.

"Did you really think you would get off this easily, my love?"

Before she could answer, he moved within her again, giving eloquent demonstration of his manhood's resurgent power. Driven to the edge of rapture and beyond, Erin cried out helplessly. Her hands grasped his massive shoulders as they began another, even faster ascent.

Storm's breath came in harsh gasps and his huge body shook with the force of his passion. Still he waited until he saw rapture seize her and felt the exquisite contractions of her body swept by ecstasy. Only then did he release himself, her name an exultant cry on his lips.

Briefly drained of strength, he slumped against her. Erin's hands stroked the sweat-dampened expanse of his back lovingly. Despite the utter satisfaction of her body, she could not get enough of his taste, scent, and feel. A thoroughly feminine smile curved her ripe mouth as she murmured, "I think I'm going to like being your wife."

Storm raised his head, blinking to clear his passion-fogged senses. The loving intensity of her gaze was matched by his own. "I'm delighted to hear it. But just in case you're ever in danger of changing your mind, I intend to keep convincing you."

"Whatever you wish, my husband," Erin murmured with uncharacteristic docility. At his surprised look, she added wryly, "Not that it's necessary. For I love you with all my heart and will for eternity."

Storm glanced away for a moment, embarrassed despite himself by the effect of her words. When he looked back, his quicksilver eyes glowed with a sheen she had never seen before. Smiling down at her tenderly, he murmured, "Is that all?"

Erin laughed, matching his teasing mood. "It's a beginning."

"So it is." Drawing the quilts over them both, he gathered her closer. She snuggled against him contentedly, their bodies gently entwining.

Night settled softly over the ancient land swept by the winds of change. But in their hearts the glowing sun of love burned on forever.

About the Author

Maura Seger is the fourth generation of her family to pursue writing as a career. Her first historical romance,
Defiant Love,
helped to launch the Tapestry series. Since then she has written three more:
Rebellious Love, Forbidden Love,
and
Flame on the Sun. A
Connecticut resident, Maura credits the support and encouragement of her husband, Michael, for enabling her to fulfill the lifelong dream of becoming an author.