He blinked. “What?”
She tried not to wince. Be brave, she told herself. “It’s true. How is a girl to resist? You’re so dashing, and mysterious, and larger than life.”
A slow grin spread across his lips. “That is your secret, wife? That you love me?”
She nodded her head. “Don’t make fun. It was difficult to say those words.”
“I’m not poking at you at all.” And then he swooped down and kissed her long and slow, his tongue stroking across hers until she forgot all the words she’d been going to say.
After several seconds, he lifted his head. “The truth is, in this regard, you’re far braver than me.”
“I beg your pardon?” The combination of the kiss ending and his unexpected words left her confused.
“The truth is, I’m also in love with you and have been for some time. I was just too afraid to admit the truth.”
“Oh,” she whispered, tilting her chin to better look into his face. “Do you really mean that?”
“Every word.” Then he slid a hand up her spine, cradling her head in his hand. “Are you willing to forgive my sins? It’s all right if you don’t. I can’t seem to forgive myself.”
That almost made her smile. “Be kind to yourself.”
His eyes widened for a split second before he gave her a tender smile. His hand slid around to hold the side of her face. “I put your family in danger.”
“I know,” she sighed. “I’ll have to think long and hard about if, how, and when I share this all with my sisters. But,” she reached up and used the tip of her finger to trace the profile of his nose, “the truth is your decisions have put us all on the correct path. My sisters are all going to be married to titled lords. My family business restored. My father’s death avenged in the only way we can.”
He stared at her, his lips parted as he brought his other hand up to fully cup her face. “I love you so much, Emily.” And then he kissed her. When he lifted his head, he murmured, “And I need you. I meant what I said when I told Eliza that she didn’t understand the power of your gift to comfort. I can’t be without you.”
That was easy. Because now that he was part of her life, she couldn’t be without him either.
He kissed Emily again, basking in her warmth, her floral scent, the softness of her body, and the way she fit against him like she was meant to be there.
A knock sounded at the door and she jumped in his arms, but he held her firm.
“Yes,” he called.
“Your water, me lord,” a sailor replied.
“Me lord?” she whispered, a smile about her lips. “And water?”
“Come in,” he called as he winked at her and eased his way back. Then he looked over at her. “And a bath for my bride.”
The door opened as several men dragged in a tub and several buckets of hot water. “You managed a bath on a ship?”
He winked again. “Not easily.”
“That’s what you said about the dress.”
He reached up and trailed his thumb over her cheekbone as the buckets were dumped into the small wooden tub. “True. Understand that I will, as your husband, go to great lengths to see to your comfort. I will put you first, Emily. I swear it.”
She gave him a tender smile. “I believe you.”
Relief coursed through him as the men left again, closing the door behind them. He placed his hands on her arms and spun her so that he might begin to undo her dress. “What are you doing?” she asked, stopping mid spin.
“Getting you ready for your bath.”
“You’re going to undo my dress again today?” She allowed him to finish spinning her and spoke over her shoulder.
“Of course. I am your maid for the remainder of the journey.”
“You’re a very large maid.”
He chuckled. “Will you need help bathing, my lady?”
She sucked in her breath, but he held her arms firm as he dipped down and placed a kiss where her shoulder and her neck met. “Brandon,” she started.
“You’ll like it, my love, I promise.”
He could feel her pulse fluttering under his lips. He smiled at her nervous excitement. “It’s just that it’s…the middle of the day.”
His hands slid to the buttons and he began to undo them. “Well…” He kissed just a touch higher even as he undid three more buttons. “I can leave you to bathe and then I can return later when it’s darker.” He began to slide the garment off her body. “The only problem that poses is where I might take a bath.”
“Oh,” she said again, turning to look at him.
From this stance, behind her shoulder, he had an excellent view of her cleavage, pushed up by her corset, and he nearly groaned in need.
But he kept the sound in. She was new to this and deserved his patience.
He removed her skirts, and then her petticoats, and her corset.
She sat on the bed and he watched as she wiggled her pantaloons and stockings down from under her chemise.
When she stood in nothing but the sheer garment, her pretty feet, ankles, calves, and arms exposed to his view, she gave him a stern glare. “Turn around.”
He grinned but did as she bid. “You don’t want me to bathe you?”
“I don’t know,” she answered. “But I’ll climb into the tub with some measure of privacy.”
He heard the rustle of fabric and the sound of the water. Then she began to soap. He could hear the scrubbing and the lather. After a few minutes had passed and he was warring with himself whether or not to peek, she called out, “You may turn around.”
He did, to find her folded into the tub. The water, cloudy with soap, came to just above her nipples, exposing
