Andrea Kane (35 page)

She complied instantly, draping her skirts about them, encasing their bodies in an intoxicating, erotic cocoon.

Rem watched her eyes as he entered her, driven nearly crazy by the sexual awakening he saw there. “Deeper,” he commanded, seizing her hips and pulling her down to envelop him. “So deep that we’re one.”

“Oh …” Sammy quivered as she caught the motion, rising up only to sink down again, taking him as far inside her as she could.

“Samantha …” Rem slid his hand around her nape, tugging her mouth down to his. “Kiss me.” He arched up and into her. “Now move with me.”

It was heaven and hell combined, a heightening of the senses that was beyond bearing. Their lips moved feverishly in conjunction with their bodies, each frenzied thrust taking them deeper inside each other, bringing them closer to the shattering brink. Sammy’s thighs clenched convulsively around Rem’s, her untutored body desperate, pulsing with its need for release.

“Please, Rem … I can’t bear it.”

“I know. God … I know.”

The carriage hit a bump, driving Sammy forward, burying Rem still deeper inside her.

“Rem!” It was a sob, a plea, a celebration.

He worked his hand beneath her enveloping skirts, between their straining bodies, and found her. Ardently he stroked her swollen flesh, his opposite palm digging into the small of her back. He pulled her into him, hard, simultaneously raising up to bury himself to the hilt. His mouth ate at hers, his fingers burned into her aching depths, and Sammy catapulted over the edge, her blind cry of release silenced only by Rem’s devouring mouth.

Rem followed her into the blistering pleasure, unable to stop himself even if he willed it. Samantha’s inner muscles contracted around him, possessing him sweetly, totally, rendering him mindless, hurling him into his own excruciating release. He poured himself into her, burning explosions of sensation that hammered through him like gunfire, heaving his body into hers again and again, flooding her with the endless flow of his seed.

Sammy tore her mouth from his, unable to remain silent, sobbing his name with each exquisite spasm of her body. Instinctively she arched, taking all of Rem’s scalding climax, watching his face as he gave it to her.

They floated, suspended as one, for a few magnificent moments. Then they drifted back to earth.

Sanity returned slowly.

Rem’s head fell back against the seat cushion, his arms tightening reflexively around Samantha. She was shaking uncontrollably, her face buried in his shoulder, and he absorbed her hard shudders, dragging great gulps of air into his lungs.

The carriage rounded a curve, jostling its dazed occupants back into reality.

Sammy lifted her head.

A tender smile touched Rem’s lips, his expression one of weary amazement. “You’re unbelievable.” He wrapped a wave of sable hair around his hand. “Utterly, astonishingly unbelievable.”

“
We’re
unbelievable,” she corrected breathlessly, tracing his lips with her fingertip. “Utterly, astonishingly unbelievable.” She brushed his mouth in a kiss of infinitely poignant beauty.

“When will you marry me?”

“Rem …” Indecision warred on her face.

“Don’t even think of saying no,” he warned, ominous clouds erupting in his eyes, darkening them to near-black. “Not after what just happened in this carriage. Not with my body still buried in yours. Not when my child could be growing inside you. I mean it, Samantha. ‘No’ is not an option.”

“Rem, I love you so much,” she said in a broken whisper.

The darkness dissipated as quickly as it had come. “Marry me, then.” He tugged her head back to his chest, his hand shaking as he stroked her hair. “Let me talk to your brother tomorrow … please.”

Sammy could feel Rem’s anguish as tangibly as if it were her own. It was deep and devastating, involving far more than his plea for her to become his wife, far more than the unwilling love he had yet to admit. And she knew what her answer must be; the only one that would permit her to grapple with his pain and help him heal.

The only answer for either of them.

“Yes, Rem. I’ll marry you.”

D
O YOU WANT A
big church wedding?” Rem murmured, working the tangles from Sammy’s hair with his fingers.

The window curtains remained drawn, but Sammy’s gown was rearranged, Rem’s breeches refastened as the carriage made its seventh trip around Hyde Park.

“Would you mind terribly?” She twisted around to see his face, simultaneously scooping Aunt Gertrude’s hat off the carriage floor.

A corner of Rem’s mouth lifted. “You never did explain that unusual headpiece.”

“It’s Aunt Gertie’s. She generously offered to lend it to me.

“I see. Did you select this particular one?” Eyes twinkling, Rem stroked one of the garish plumes.

“Not exactly. Actually, I didn’t request any hat at all. I merely asked Aunt Gertie if she wished to chaperon us on our carriage ride through Hyde Park, given that today is Cynthia’s day off. She misunderstood.”

“I see.” Rem lifted Sammy’s disheveled tresses and pressed his lips to her nape. “In that case I’m terribly grateful. I would have found a chaperon very inconvenient on this particular ride.”

Sammy shivered. “Rem, I don’t think we can risk another seven trips around Hyde Park. Besides, we were discussing our wedding.”

“So we were.” Reluctantly, Rem resumed his task, threading sable strands free of each other. “I asked if you wanted a grand church ceremony.”

“And I said yes, unless, of course, you object.”

Rem chuckled. “Would it matter?”

“Of course! If it makes you unhappy, we won’t do it.”

“How very biddable you are, imp … just like the night we attended the opera when you ignored my instructions to go home and instead hid in my phaeton and rode with me to Shadwell.”

Sammy went white. “How did you find out?”

“A better question is, when were you going to tell me?”

“I wasn’t. I would never lie to you, Rem,” Sammy added hastily, seeing his jaw tighten. “I just didn’t want to upset you.”

“Why would I be upset? Just because those ruffians might have killed you?”

“You’re angry.”

“I’m protective. I want you safe.” He cupped her face between his palms. “Don’t endanger yourself again.”

“I won’t.” She gazed up at him and sighed. “You’re going to be a terribly domineering husband, aren’t you?”

“I think you’ll manage to keep me in my place. Samantha …” Rem’s tone turned sober. “You have a loving heart and a vibrant spirit. I never want to squelch either. But remember what I said about disenchantment being inevitable?”

“I remember.”

“Not everyone in the world is a fine, decent human being. You’ll meet very few worthwhile sorts in that particular section of Shadwell.”

“I met Cynthia.”

Rem groaned, rolling his eyes to the heavens. “I give up. I’ll just have to follow my first impulse and keep you in bed throughout your waking hours.”

“You’ll get no argument from me there, my lord.” Sammy’s smile was beatific. “So you see? I really am quite biddable when your demands are sound.” Her loving taunt triggered a thought in her own mind. “Speaking of which, I had a messenger take Stephen’s necklace to him at Anders Shipping this afternoon. So that makes two of your demands I obeyed.”

“Samantha.” Rem’s jaw went taut, his expression dark. “I don’t want you anywhere near Viscount Anders, is that clear?”

“Rem,” Sammy sighed, “I’ve told you I feel absolutely nothing for Stephen—”

“I don’t trust the man. He’s scum. Stay away from him.”

Taken aback by Rem’s lethal tone, Sammy nodded. “All right.”

“I’m sorry, imp.” Rem softened, tenderly tracing the smooth curve of her cheek with his knuckles. “I just want to take care of you, to keep you from getting hurt.” He raised her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “I want you to promise me something.”

“Anything.”

“Promise me that no matter what events might occur, you’ll tell me about them. Even if you don’t want to alarm me.” He swallowed. “Even if they’re dangerous.”

“Like when those ruffians followed me in Shadwell?”

“Precisely. Or any other situation that might cause you harm or pain. Promise me. It’s the only way I can keep you safe.”

“I promise.” Sammy kept her gaze fixed on his. “But I want you to make the same vow.”

“What?”

“I’m pledging myself to you, Rem, as your soon-to-be wife. Now I want the same pledge from you.”

Rem’s lips twitched. “Do you anticipate rescuing me from danger?”

“Perhaps.”

“Very well.” Seeing how serious she was, Rem sobered. “I offer you the same vow.”

“You’ll tell me of anything that threatens you with harm or pain?”

“I will.”

“Good.” Sammy readied herself for the battle that would momentarily ensue. “Tell me about your past.”

Rem started. “My past?”

“Yes, the years before I met you.”

“Women, you mean?” Rem kissed the tip of her earnest nose. “I told you, imp, you have no competition. My feelings for you are unique. I have no intention of going to any other woman’s bed—”

“Not the women.”

A cautious light dawned in Rem’s eyes. “What is it you want to know, then?”

“About your years at sea. About your career in the Royal Navy. About whatever pain has caused you to be afraid to care.”

Shutters descended. “That part of my life is over. I’d rather not discuss it.”

“You gave me your word.”

“Why is it so important to you?” Rem held up his hand to ward off her reply. “Never mind. I know the answer. You want to know everything about me. Well, sweetheart, it’s just not that simple. There are things you wouldn’t—couldn’t—understand.”

“Try me.”

“You’re too sheltered to understand and too beautiful to be tainted with that kind of ugliness.”

“I’m already being tainted by it. It’s keeping me away from you. As far as sheltered …” Sammy inhaled slowly. “I’m not nearly as sheltered as you suspect.”

Rem inclined his head. “What does that mean?”

“This last war with America … did you spend most of it at sea?”

“Only a small portion of it.” Rem had long since memorized this particular reply. “I wasn’t as experienced in American waters as some of our other captains. So I served sporadically, whenever I was needed. The rest of the time I helped train new officers so England’s navy would remain strong.”

“You were a hero,” Sammy stated emphatically. “I remember reading about you.”

A smile touched Rem’s lips. “What does my service during the recent war have to do with your sheltered existence?”

“Scandal reaches everyone, whether at home or at sea. I merely wondered how much of the Barrett horror story you heard firsthand and how much you learned later.”

“I know bits and pieces,” Rem answered vaguely.

“You needn’t protect me. I know every last horrid detail, including some I doubt you know.” Sammy lowered her eyes. “My brother Sebastian is an immoral criminal who has spent the past three years in Newgate for murder.”

Rem wrapped his arms about her. “I wasn’t certain how much Drake allowed you to learn.”

“Drake would have preferred I be exposed to as little as possible. Unfortunately, it was hardly his decision to make; not with all of England buzzing with the ugly scandal. I was fifteen … hardly an oblivious infant. It was horrible; worse than that.

“In any case, you know all those sordid details already. Here’s something you don’t know; something Drake did manage to keep quiet.” Sammy drew a slow inward breath. “Sebastian also tried to kill Drake. He was involved in a plot to sink Drake’s ship and annihilate not only Drake, but his entire crew. All to possess the coveted title of the Duke of Allonshire.”

“Damn,” Rem swore softly. His reaction wasn’t grounded in the shock Samantha assumed it was, for none of what she’d just disclosed was a revelation to him. He’d been privy to Drake’s brush with death, just as he’d been privy to every sea-related incident that had taken place in British or American waters during the War of 1812. But never in his wildest dreams had he imagined Samantha knew the extent of Sebastian’s cold-blooded depravity.

“Thank heavens Drake survived … although his ship did not,” Sammy continued, her voice quivering. “But no one knew Drake was alive … not for weeks. The missive that reached Allonshire proclaimed him and his entire crew to be missing at sea and presumed dead.”

“I remember. The
Times
carried the story.”

“Perhaps it carried the story, but it couldn’t express the torment I experienced. No newspaper could convey my sense of desolation, the sheer terror of realizing I was utterly alone. My mother had died when I was a child, my father was ailing, near death, and my brother—the only brother I ever loved and who loved me—was gone forever. Sebastian didn’t give a damn for me, or for anyone else, for that matter. My sense of loss, my pain, were unendurable. How I wished I’d gone down with Drake and his ship.” Sammy raised damp eyes to Rem. “Now does that sound to you like a sheltered young girl who has never known anguish?”

Rem felt a rush of protectiveness so powerful it hurt. “I wish I’d been there.”

“I know.” Sammy brushed aside her tears, taking Rem’s hand in hers. “But it’s all behind me now, and I didn’t resurrect it to elicit your sympathy. I had a reason. Two reasons, in fact. First, so you’d see my life has not been merely a gilded fairy tale. And second, so you could gain the same all-important insight I did and apply it to your past as I did to mine.”

“And what is this insight, my magnificent dreamer?”

“That out of grief comes joy. That you can never lose faith in love or life.” Sammy smiled through her tears. “From the vestiges of my suffering came my life’s richest blessings. Not only did Drake return to me, but he brought his bride with him. Alex is both mother and sister combined, as well as the most loving and nurturing of friends. And do you know what else? She and Drake had unknowingly conceived Gray during their fateful trip. Seven months later, he was born. They named him in honor of our father, Grayson.” A twinkle. “Actually, Drake couldn’t dispel his customary arrogance completely. Gray’s entire name is Drake Grayson Barrett. But we’ve always called him Gray. And now we have Bonnie, too. So you see, joy can be born of tragedy. For me … and for you.”