Page 70 of The Swan Syndicate
Once she had her arms through the sleeves, he scraped his knuckles along her back as he slowly tied the strings. Then he lightly brushed her hair away, barely touching her skin.
She shivered, and he dropped his smile as she turned around. Her gaze seared him, and her voice took on a lusty tone when she asked, “How does it look?”
This one fit better and had a higher neckline which pleased him more than he would admit.
“Like it was made for you.”
“Take it off.”
He couldn’t hold back a smile as he turned her around. Since she started it, he took his time, and when the dress fell to the floor, he lifted her into his arms rather than let her step out of it. She wrapped her arms around his neck, light goosebumps erupting over her soft skin. He dumped her on the bed then unbuttoned his jacket.
She didn’t stay where he put her. Instead, she yanked off her undergarments then brushed his hands away as she tugged off his jacket, untied his shirt, then rolled it up his chest until he helped her pull it over his head.
Her fingers were already working the buttons of his pants, occasionally slipping down to stroke him. He pushed her back on the bed, then sat down to take off his boots. Her arms wrapped around him, and she pressed her breasts against his back.
It was all he could do to get his pants off.
Then she was pulling him down. “Take me to the moon, Teddy. I don’t want to come back down until we’re late for dinner.”
23
Stella fussed with the rose-colored dress. She loved the lavender one but didn’t want to have to deal with the lower neckline. And while her sewing skills would pass muster on letting out the waist, the seas had been rough on their travel north. She’d taken her motion sickness pill last night and that morning, but she didn’t want to chance getting sick or continually stabbing herself with a needle during the unpredictable sea.
At breakfast, Jamie said the seas should calm by afternoon, and he was almost right. She’d kept busy in the galley most of the day, which kept her mind off the rocking motion of the ship, though there was one moment the ship took an unexpected dip that sent her and several cooking pots rolling across the floor. If only she’d hit her head. She could use some unconscious time.
Beckworth had slept in with her after a long night of lovemaking but had still risen too early for her liking. He’d brought her a pot of coffee, gave her a toe-tingling kiss, and whispered, “Sleep in. We’ll be going over plans once the storm calms.”
Then he was gone.
Once the seas had calmed to where she could walk across the galley without stumbling about, she’d made her way topside to stroll the deck and breathe in the fresh salt air. She found Fitz working the lines on the starboard rigging and stopped to lean against the railing. Though the sea still churned, the rain had stopped and the clouds were thinning, otherwise she would’ve never gotten close to the railing.
There had been a raging storm during the middle of the night the first time she’d been forced to cross the Channel with Beckworth to escape Gemini. They didn’t have the coin for a cabin and had shared a tarp-covered spot on deck along with several other travelers. She chuckled. They’d spent more time wet than dry, and during the storm, one of the makeshift tents had collapsed. When Beckworth went to help, she’d heard a woman cry. Worried about Beckworth and acting like a naive idiot, she’d tried to help. She’d only managed several steps from the relative safety of their tent when a rogue wave hit the ship. She fell, sliding toward the railing that was barely waist high as the ship heaved to port. She’d held onto the deck by her fingernails until the ship righted itself. It was an experience she would never forget.
“I’m surprised to see you on deck.”
She glanced over, pulled from her musings, to find Fitz leaning against the railing watching her.
“I thought some fresh air would do me good, and it seemed safe enough to come on deck. I didn’t mean to disturb your work.”
He nodded. “There’s nothing better than the sea air to clean the head and settle the belly. And you’re not bothering me. Some days it feels like I could work the rigging with me eyes closed.”
“I believe that. How long have you been sailing?”
He gave it some consideration. “Since I was a wee lad of ten. Jamie and I grew up in the same village, not far from where Finnand Maire lived. The two of us sneaked onto theDaphnethe first time Finn took her for a sail. It was a small cargo run to Dublin. He caught us not an hour from shore and threatened to throw us overboard if we didn’t work for passage. I don’t think either of us slept a wink during the entire round trip. We even helped move the cargo, though neither of us could carry much of a load.”
He chuckled. “One trip was all it took for the both of us. We were lucky it was Finn’s ship. Not all captains are as kind as him. When it was time for the next sail, he sent us a message asking if we wanted to join. Neither of us has looked back since.”
“Didn’t you have family in Ireland?”
He nodded. “Still do. Jamie finds a way to get us back once or twice a year to see them. We both have many brothers and sisters, so our mams don’t miss us too much—one less mouth to feed. But we send them money and letters.”
He leaned close. “I don’t think they like us working for the English, but they don’t seem bothered taking the money.”
She wasn’t sure how to respond, but when she noted the spark of humor in his gaze, she shook her head. “Family. I left mine a long time ago.” She looked out to sea, wondering what her mother would make of her life. She’d most likely shake her head, wondering what she’d done to make her child so rebellious. Nothing at all like her brothers.
“Are you ready for this evening?”
She appreciated the change of topic. “As ready as I can be. Weren’t you supposed to be in meetings?”
