Claire lost her breath in that instance and drew him down to her, his kiss slow, thoughtful, his tongue tracing the soft fullness of her lips, leaving her mouth burning with fire. He left her, and she groaned. He shirked out of his pants and lay beside her, the hard press of his manhood, heavy, forceful and throbbing against her hip making her pulses leap. He reached for the strap of her shift and slowly drew it down her shoulder. Claire shivered. Gently his hand outlined the circle of her breast, holding it firm, his head bent, his tongue caressed her sensitive swollen nipple. He tore his mouth from her breast. She gasped. His hands touching pleasure points as he leisurely slid her shift from her. Naked now before him, his eyes expressed his desires. An unbelievable ache filled her down there, her nipples rising in response. Claire licked her lips. He might be the Black Devil, but he was her husband. And he had every right to make love to her, just as she had every right to receive him.
Their mouths meshed in a fiery web of passion, Claire clung to him, giving free rein to her own hunger. It was the purity of a spring awakening, and the ache of absolution all merged into one. Claire closed her eyes, writhing and then his body came down to spread her thighs, and she cared about nothing except the heated iron that entered her. She arched toward him unconsciously unleashing a rousing melting sweetness. Her hands involuntarily reached to his lower back, the heat of his flesh hot and tingling beneath her fingertips. He pulled back and stared at her, raw tension in his eyes. She protested when he stopped, feeling cool air brush her wanting body, she looked at him questioningly.
“Your maidenhood,” he rasped. “We did not complete last time. It will only hurt for a second.” He plunged into her, filling her completely this time. Claire cried out, scrambling away. He stopped, holding her pinned to the ground, his forehead touching hers, his breath fanning her cheek.
She heard the tender agony in his restraint. “It will hurt no more.” He moved on her then slowly, rhythmically, and she edged around the feel of his manhood. He must have sensed the awakening flames in her, surrendering completely, humbly draining all doubts and fears. A tremor inside her thighs and groin vibrated with liquid fire.
She clawed into his backsides, grasping for an elusive flame, and this time with her heart beating for the man she loved.
He plunged. She melted around him. He thrust hard and fast. She screamed in her climax, reached before him, continuing after him, exploding in a downpour of fiery sensations so intense she nearly fainted.
Lying as entwined lovers they drifted off to sleep. She was floating in languid contentment when she felt him place something between her breasts. She opened her eyes to see a scarlet hibiscus and reached up with her palm to caress his handsome face.
She felt alive for the first time in her life. Felt, in fact, as though she could control her own fate. Now that she was loved she experienced an innate freedom from the chains of abandonment that for years restrained her. She was edged with emotions so raw, so beautiful, she’d wanted to weep with joy. Despite what the future held, Claire held no regrets.
Her only distress was for his safety. She shoved it from her mind.
For this moment in time, on this idyllic Paradise, Claire decided nothing would come between them. She would make the most of any time they shared. She would enjoy the man and the stolen days to follow. She would discover what she could about him, learning every detail.
So thinking, Claire let her fingers trail down his face, loving the hard chiseled angles, amazed by its symmetry. Devon roused himself, and sat up. He took a handkerchief from his pocket, dipped it into the water then spread her legs apart.
“What are you doing?”
“Cleaning my seed and your blood from your thighs.”
“It’s not decent.”
“I’ll determine, my darling what is decent and not decent,” he smiled wickedly. He spread her thighs and bent over her.
She felt the heat rise in her cheeks.
He laughed, sweeping her into the circle of his arms. She didn’t struggle and was startled to see the tenderness in his eyes when they touched hers. There was still amusement within them, but it was a gentle humor now. His eyes had never seemed so green, so like the sea. His hair was tousled and a rakish black lock fell over his forehead. She tried to imagine the youth he must have been. Yet now he was a pirate, leader of pirates, cast into a world of battles and struggle for power. He had grown powerful, so powerful everyone feared him. She wasn’t supposed to be here. She should be on a ship running in the opposite direction. She was hopelessly entangled, with no way out. And the worst of it was she no longer wanted a way out. In his arms, something wondrous happened.
Safe. Sound. Secure.
He captured her lips and they made love a million different ways. .
Claire rose from slumber and slipped from his arms. Too late. He grabbed her, and growled when she eluded him. Claire dove into the lagoon. “I dare you to come in,” she laughed, splashing water on him. He dove in and surfaced behind her. She did not imagine his controlled blaze of desire. She had no doubts at all. Impishly she turned to swim out of his reach but he caught her ankle in his hand, grabbing her knee then her thigh. He brushed the sensitive skin at the inner curve with his lips.
Claire gasped, “That’s not fair.”
“Pirates don’t have to play fair.”
He dragged her to shore and kissed her long and thoroughly. “I should teach you a lesson my vixen, but the sun’s gone long in the day.” He glanced at the sky. “While we’ve still light, I’ve something to show you.”
They dressed, and he helped her with her buttons. He took her hand. She turned her palm up and gently curled her fingers about his. He led her to the sister waterfall. When she looked confused, he grinned and urged her on. They picked over a rocky ledge then edged behind a curtain of cascading water. Sun filtered through the veil of water. He turned her to face a small cave, and there before her eyes laid an incredible sight. Claire stared at piles of gold, silver, and jewels. She had been swimming here for days and never dreamed it existed.
“There is the wealth of twenty kings here,” she whispered.
“This is all yours.”
Claire stood speechless. He picked up a strand of pearls and placed them in her hand then grasped a fistful of gold pieces letting them fall through his fingers.
“I was alone, considered the worst of criminals, a man condemned to die, and in stepped a beautiful woman, and I−a filthy wretch, had nothing to give, but my name and heart. In my darkest hour, I awaited execution. I could not believe my luck when the King decreed to save my neck for his greed. Nor could I fathom when fate brought me a half-world away and my eyes beheld you. Because I was half out of my mind with loving you, but terrified of the depths of my feelings.” He shook his head. “You were ever present in my mind, Claire, my biggest obstacle, knowing that to survive by picking up piracy, I would earn your scorn. I compromised, keeping your purifying influence alive in my memory, vowing to keep my hands as clean as possible in the unfortunate trade I embarked, and always maintaining the elusive hope of ever seeing you again. Everything I have done, and all that I have, and all that I am, is for you.”
“Don’t you understand, it’s not about the riches. It’s about you, Devon. All of this means nothing as long as I have you. I love you.” She dropped the pearls into the chest. Her eyes filled with tears.
“Ah Claire, how long I’ve wished to hear those very words from your lips.
