I shiftedanxiously in my spot, moving my weight to my knees so I could fullyembrace Henry in my arms, kissing his soft pink lips. “I alreadyhave. My heart’s been yours since the moment we met. Maybe evenbefore.”
Happily, hestood from the bed and helped me follow. Henry then knelt on oneknee at my feet and held the ring out in offering, smiling up atme.
“DiannaCobham,” he began, a slight waver in his voice. “Nothing wouldbring me more earthly pleasure than to have your hand in marriage.To spend the rest of my mortal life by your side. With this ring, Ivow to hold your heart in my capable hands, to protect it, keep itwarm, and always put it first. You are the shining light in myotherwise dark existence, and all I ask is that you let me stand inits radiance until we depart this world together.”
With a deepbreath, I wrung my trembling fingers through his messy blonde hair,smoothing it back from his face. “That’s quite the vow,” Isaid.
Henry took myhand and held the ring in his other, waiting. “A vow I do not makelightly. Dianna, will you be my wife?”
“Yes,” Ireplied finally.
Quickly, Henryslipped the ring over my finger where it fit so perfectly and thenjoyously jumped to his feet. Two hands slipped under my arms and helifted me in the air as we spun in a circle. I laughed loudly,giddy and drunk on the sudden burst of happiness as he set me downand took my mouth in a feverish kiss. Long, hard, and full ofdesire for me. Our warm lips pressed together as we hungrily drankeach other in. Pulling and pawing at what was left of our clothes.I stepped back as Henry’s anxious hands yanked the shift over myhead, revealing my completely naked form.
“Take me,Henry,” I told him, panting. “Make me forget the world exists.”
His chestheaved with quick breaths and his arousal was evident in the spacebetween us. My skin crawled with hot, prickly goosebumps as everyfiber of my being ached for his hands on my body. For him to takeme then and there and ravage me until there was nothing left but aspinning room and my trembling legs. His dark gaze pierced the airand he became hungry with desire. A low moan erupted deep fromwithin his body as he closed the distance between us, grabbing myhair in his fist and pulling my head back. His mouth hovered overmine.
“Gladly.”
Chapter Eight
It’s funny how an eternity of assurances still can’tkeep the anxiety at bay sometimes. Just hours ago, Henry hadprofessed his love to me and asked to join our lives together. Theultimate act of true love. But, as I lay there in the early morninglight that shone in through the tavern’s window, my head nestledinto the warm crook of Henry’s arm, I fought with my mind. Myworries. Concerned about our near future and what part Maria wouldplay in it. Would I fail? Would my sister kill me instead?
When I managedto shake the crazy thoughts from my brain, the empty space filledwith concerns for my baby. Would it be healthy? Would I carry it toterm? What if there were complications during labor? What if I diedin childbirth like so many women of this time did?
I couldn’tbear the thought of leaving thisworld without being wed to Henry. I wanted our lives to be joinedjust as our hearts and souls were. I wanted to offer myself to himin the ultimate way. To stake my rightful claim.
We laid inbed, Henry still sleeping soundly, and I carefully twisted a ringfrom his finger; thick and silver with the shape of a skull carvedinto its face. I mindlessly slipped it down over each of myfingers, as I gazed across his bare chest out the brightly litwindow, until it fit securely around my thumb.
I sucked in adeep breath in an attempt to calm my nerves, but the air struggledas I inhaled. In my arms, Henry stirred, waking from sleep. Icraned my neck and watched in admiration as he wiped his tired eyesand yawned, the warmth of his glorious body escaping theblankets.
“Goodmorning,” I said and kissed his chest.
His arm,wrapped around and under me, tightened. Pulling me closer. “Goodmorning, my queen.”
“About that,”I began and swallowed hard. “I think we should get married as soonas possible.”
Henry shiftedand turned on his side, facing me. “Is everything alright?”
“Yes,” I toldhim, moving my still naked body close to his. “I just want to trulybe your queen, and you my pirate king. I don’t want to wait. Ithink we’ve done enough waiting for one lifetime. Don’t you?”
“Yes, I can’targue with you there.”
His searchingfingers found my warm thighs and slid between them. My breathcaught in my throat as he guided one of my legs to rest over hiship and my body shivered. His face nuzzled my neck, sucking andnibbling at the tender skin there.
“When do youpropose we wed, then?” he asked between kisses.
My head tossedback in ecstasy and I fought to form words. “T-today?”
Henry came toa screeching halt and looked into my face. “Today?”
I rolled myhips, grinding our centers together. “I don’t want to wait,remember?”
“Well, then,”he replied with a pleasant grin and tugged at my leg. “I best makethis swift. We’ve got a wedding to plan.”
A long,blissful while later, we stood in the privacy of our room andhelped one another dress. I buttoned his shirt as his fingerstightened the strings at my chest. My long red, cotton skirt fellheavily to the ground and threatened to catch underfoot with every step I took. I cursed thegarment internally and prayed for the day this baby would leave mybody and I could go back to wearing my beloved pants.
“Are youready?” Henry asked me and took my hand in his.
“Yes,” I toldhim with the utmost certainty.
We left theroom and bound for the stairs, ready to gush to our friends thenews and beg for their help
