Page 122 of The Moonstone Pirate
Draco laughed. “Not Imogen. She hasn’t a mean bone in her body. She will welcome me with open arms.”
James slapped him on the back. “You glow when you speak of her. She must be a treasure. Now I had better wash up and dress like a gentleman if I really am to meet her today.”
“Don’t bother,” Draco said, suddenly removing his shirt and boots. “It’s too late for that.”
“What do you mean? And what in blazes are you doing? I was going to have a boat lowered to row you ashore.”
“Don’t bother. I’ll swim to shore. Just toss my things in my cabin. I’ll collect them later.” He motioned to his discarded attire.
“As you wish.”
Draco then pointed to the beach. “Do you see that little whirlwind in nightclothes running down to the beach with Parrot, her hair undone and no slippers on her feet? That is Countess Imogen.”
James shook his head and laughed. “She’s waving frantically at us… Well, it’s probably your attention she’s hoping to grab. Now that is a wondrous sight. One of the most wondrous I’ve ever seen in my forty years at sea. Give me that spyglass. Let me have a good look at your bride. Gad, she’s beautiful. And look at the smile on her.”
“Just keep looking at her smile and nothing else,” Draco warned.
“I’m going to knock you overboard if you utter another stupid word. So, are you going to jump in and swim to her, or waste more time scowling at me?”
Draco chuckled and waved back at Imogen. “Blessed saints! She’s going in the water. I had better stop her before she drowns.”
“Do you mean she can’t swim?”
“I have no idea.” He dove in, splashing headlong into the cool cove waters and swimming toward her as fast as he could. Even if shewereable to swim, there were strong currents hidden beneath the water’s surface that might pull her under before she reached his ship. He wasn’t about to take any chances with his new wife.
Lord, hiswife!
As little as three months ago, had anyone claimed he would be married, he would have called them fools. But here he was, a happily married man, and deeply in love with his wife, no less.
To his relief, Imogen remained on the beach, her prim nightgown and cotton robe hiked to her knees as she waded into the water. Dear heaven, he hoped his crew was not watching too closely. She had beautiful legs and a glorious body that he had explored in thorough detail on their wedding night, and oftentimes thereafter.
He had no intention of allowing his men too familiar a glimpse of his exquisite butterfly.
He continued to swim toward her, his strokes powerful as he glided through the water. She was hopping up and down, cheering him on. “Imogen, stop!” he called out to her when she waded deeper into the water.
He was not worried so much about her jumping in as what would happen when she gotoutof the water wearing those skimpy, wet clothes. His entire crew would feast their eyes on her gloriously wet body, every luscious curve on display, as the fabric turned sheer. He would have to kill every last man if they dared stare.
“Devil take it,” he muttered. “Imogen, wait there! I’m coming to you.”
To his relief, she had only waded up to her thighs and no further.
He let out a breath when he reached shallow water and closed the small distance between them. “I missed you, Butterfly.”
“Welcome home,” she whispered, laughing as the light breeze tossed her lustrous tresses in disarray, causing the long strands to loosely curl around her hips and bottom.
He lifted her in his arms and kissed her soundly while the waves swirled around them and gently broke upon the shore. “Good to be home, love. I thought I’d surprise you, but you are up early.”
“I couldn’t sleep. I knew you were coming home today.” Her smile took his breath away. “There’s to be a full moon tonight.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Is the moonstone lore still important to you? You married me before we kissed under a full moon. Do you think they will shine for us tonight?”
“I know they will.”
He kissed her again, knowing they would too. Her body felt soft against his, her breasts cushioned against his hard chest, and all the love in her heart flowing into him. Her lips were sweet as cherries, and he could not resist kissing her again and again.
This was not the way he intended to introduce her to his crew, but he was too hungry for her and did not care.
Imogen suddenly broke off their kiss.
