So could a woman. She let herself relax into a doze so she could dream of them being together and accepted by their world. Surely that was possible....
CHAPTER36
The Admiral’s Inn was close and rather grand, as Chief Howard had promised. It was also spacious, and Cade was able to get a pair of connecting rooms for himself and Tam, plus separate rooms for Bran and Andre. Despite Tam’s claims that she was fine, she didn’t protest when he carried her up the stairs to their rooms.
Tamsyn’s room had a comfortable-looking four-poster bed, wide enough for an admiral and his wife. Cade set Tam on her feet while he pulled back the counterpane. “Shall I help you out of your gown and stays so you can relax better?”
“Please.” She turned so he could undo the ties of her gown and then unfasten her stays, leaving her in her shift.
As he peeled off her outer garments, she said, “You’d better invoke some stealth now. If anyone in our family should sense our activity, this would be considered a highly compromising position!”
“We’ve well and truly compromised each other, but yes, locked doors and stealth are desirable.” He lifted her and laid her gently down on the wide mattress, then removed her half boots before crossing the room to lock the main door to the corridor outside. Returning to the bed, he asked, “Is there anything else you need?”
“A glass of water?” she asked in a thin voice.
On the desk was a pitcher and a pair of drinking glasses, so he poured water for both of them. It had been a long day and the spring weather was getting warm.
He emptied his glass in one long swallow, then helped Tam sit up so she could drink also. As she swallowed, he admired the elegance of her slim neck and tried, without success, not to stare at the soft curves visible under the light fabric of her shift. “Now you need to get some sleep.”
She handed her empty glass to him and lay back on the bed with a tired sigh. “Will you lie down and hold me until I fall asleep? I . . . I need you close.”
“Your wish is my command, my lady.” He stripped off his coat and boots, then lay down on the bed behind her and drew her into his arms.
She gave a soft sigh of relaxation and settled back against him, drawing his upper arm over her waist. She was so delicate, yet so strong. She also had a deliciously shaped backside. Once again he told his lower self to behave.
Aloud he said, “I’m glad we have this private time together. I have no idea how we’ll manage in London. I have trouble imagining setting up a love nest where we can be together in secret. It seems . . . so undignified. You deserve better.”
“So do you. We must take it one day at a time, and we’ll start by telling Gwyn and Rhys. They might have some magical solution,” she said, her voice stronger than it had been. “But now that you mention it, since private time might be difficult to come by soon, we shouldn’t waste it now.”
He laughed a little. “Are you suggesting what I think you are?”
“No,” she said demurely as she rolled onto her back. “I’m suggesting what I hope you’ll suggest.”
There was a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, but he hesitated briefly. “Are you sure? You burned an immense amount of energy earlier.”
“Yes, but I’ve become stronger while you’re holding me.” She looked mischievous again. “It would be an interesting experiment to see if closer holding would restore my energy entirely.”
He couldn’t stop himself from laughing. “If you’re willing to participate in this experiment to increase our knowledge of how energy can be rebuilt, it will be my pleasure to assist you.”
“I’m sure we’ll find this very educational,” she said before she pulled his head down into a slow, delicious kiss. Energy sparked between them.
In deference to her fatigue, he started gently, but as they kissed and caressed each other, desire increased to a bonfire. Her shift was easily moved and her clever hands deftly unbuttoned his fall.
As she clasped him, she said, “Surely you don’t need to disrobe entirely when you’ll just have to get dressed again later. It would be a waste of time.”
He gasped as she squeezed him. “We wouldn’t . . . want to waste time,” he managed to get out.
She was ready, more than ready, and they came together with smooth fire. He dizzily sensed that no matter how many times they might make love in the future, each occasion would feel as rare and special as this joining did.
They culminated swiftly and held each other as the intoxicating waves of passion subsided. She said with a catch of laughter, “Our experiment suggests that this is a swift and delightful way to recharge one’s energy.”
He chuckled and drew her against him. “I rather think that now you have all the energy and I’m a mere shadow of my former self.”
“Further experiments will be needed,” she said with mock seriousness.
He drew her closer so that all her soft curves melded against him. “I can’t imagine giving this up forever. Maybe we should emigrate to the American colonies. They say that Boston is a pleasant place.”
“An appealing thought,” she said with a sigh. “But with the war resumed, we’re needed in England and will be for years to come.”
