“There’s an aft crew cabin like this but larger,” he explained. “Gibbs and my friend Matt will already be there. Andre, would you like to join us? There’s more space there and we can ask you about being gifted while we eat. There are more bunks there as well for resting up.”
“I’d like that.” Andre glanced at Cade and Tamsyn. “That will leave more space for you two.”
What a very thoughtful young man Andre was. As soon as he and Jem left the cabin, Cade drew Tamsyn into his arms. As she leaned into him, he held her tight, needing to feel her warmth and softness and healing strength. They breathed together for long moments and he felt her restoring his strength and sanity. Then, because they were alone, he kissed her while backing against the door so no one could interrupt them.
Tam kissed him back with sweet enthusiasm, her mouth and body equally soft. When she pulled back a little, she whispered, “I can feel myself getting stronger. Or am I imagining that?”
“I feel it, too,” he agreed. “Sharing energy to accomplish a particular task has interesting effects.”
Tam bit her lip thoughtfully. “We’ll have to talk to Gwyn and Rhys about this.”
“And Bran since he’s the expert in analysis.” He smiled down into Tamsyn’s eyes. “For now, let’s eat and then renew our acquaintance with the bunk bed.”
“The sooner the better!” Tam gave Cade a shy glance. “Even though we now have two bunks, I’d like to share one with you again.”
“So would I!” Cade crawled into the lower bunk as he had the night before.. Tam joined him and latched the railing to hold them in place. She felt so utterly right in his arms. He wondered if they’d ever be able to fully consummate their love.
He hoped so, but for now, this was enough.
CHAPTER30
It was dusk when theSea Swandeposited her passengers at the pier in a tiny fishing hamlet. As the cutter temporarily moored at the pier, Captain Jones said, “I’d meant to leave you near Brighton, but as you know, we needed to sail farther west.” He gestured at one of the hills that bracketed the small harbor. “This is at the western edge of Littlehampton. There’s a nice inn up the High Street, the King’s Arms. A good place to get dinner and spend the night. The owners can set you up with horses or a carriage tomorrow.”
“Thank you for getting us here, Captain,” Tam said as she gave him a bonus payment.
He glanced at the bills. “I should be paying you for keeping me and my ship from being captured by the French!”
“But you did get us here safely.” Cade smiled. “Perhaps we’ll meet again if we should need a talented smuggler in the future.”
Jones gave a booming laugh. “I’ll welcome that if it happens! But for now, I have customers in Cornwall waiting for my cargo.”
As theSwanset off to sea, Cade took Tamsyn’s carry bag and added it to his own. As the three of them walked along the pier to the shore, Tam said feelingly, “I’ll be glad to sleep in a proper bed tonight! A bunk bed is just not the same!” The mischievous slanting glance she gave Cade made him smile.
The narrow street that ran up the hill was lined with small, neatly kept stone cottages. There were no people in sight, but a snoozing hound in the street raised his head to study them, then went back to sleep.
The King’s Arms had a weathered signboard hanging out into the lane. As Cade and Tam and Andre approached, a well-dressed man emerged from the door and turned to look down toward the pier.
The man stopped dead in his tracks and the last rays of the setting sun illuminated his dark hair and familiar beloved face.Bran!
CHAPTER31
Bran gave a whoop and surged forward to Cade with a rib-crushing hug. “Damn, I’m glad to see you! I wasn’t sure if I’d ever lay eyes on either of you again!”
They weren’t usually so affectionate, but Cade hugged his brother back with all his strength. He felt the pain and anxiety that Bran had endured, and now this rush of relief. The embrace reminded him of when they were small children escaping certain death at the baby farm. Cade had known how to fight, but Bran was the one who created hope. They had become true brothers then and forever.
“It’s a great relief to see both of you.” Bran released Cade and pulled Tamsyn into his arms. “Tam, you’re a miracle worker!”
Not afraid of tears, she hugged him back and said in a choked voice, “How did you find us?”
He grinned. “I was taking a quick trip to Portsmouth, and it was time to stop for the night. I had a feeling that there was someplace I should be. And it was here.”
“That’s how intuition works,” Tam said with amused understanding.
Moving out of Bran’s embrace, she caught Andre’s arm and pulled him forward. “Bran, meet Andre Jameson, a gifted young gentleman whose remarkable grandmother was instrumental in freeing Cade and getting us safely back to England. Andre, this is my brother Bran Tremayne.”
Bran turned and caught Andre’s hand. “Welcome! Are you a new addition to the Tribe of Tremayne?”
Andre smiled as they shook hands. “Perhaps not a full Tremayne but maybe a cousin? Meeting your brother and sister has been remarkably interesting.”
