Chapter 11

Boyd grimaced. Ships… He'd never minded when he was travelling alone, but as he stared at the tiny room with two built-in bunks, he mentally groaned. He wanted Annie in his arms, not in the bunk above him.

Annie stood next to him, staring at the beds as well. "It never occurred to me to wonder how people slept on a ship."

He tested the mattress with his hand, noting that it would, at least, hold his weight. "Most of the crew sleeps in hammocks in a common room."

"How big is the room?"

"Not that big, which is why they sleep in shifts."

Nothing on a boat was big. Except the boat itself. "Well, it's still better than sleeping in the carriage."

That was Annie. Always finding the best of every situation. He pulled her close, his hands sliding over the silk of her gown. "I'm not sure I agree."

"Why is that?"

"Because." He pulled her into his side, his lips dropping to her temple. "I liked having ye against me."

"Oh," she whispered, her arms circling his waist. "I like that too."

Something had shifted between them. It was surely the kisses, but now that Boyd had had a taste of her, he wasn't certain he could ever let her go.

And to hear her say that she liked being in his arms, it made a man ache with wanting. "Lass," he started, turning so that they were face to face, chest to chest. "I know this had been an extraordinary time, but I want ye to know that I am here for ye."

"I know that," she whispered back. "And thank you. My mother was always there for me, but my father, my uncle, each in their own way…"

He knew what she meant. Men had failed her.

Not this time.

He kissed her, a gentle brush that was meant as a promise. Boyd's future, which had been grey days ago, was crystal clear.

He wanted to be back in Scotland, standing on his land in the sunshine with Annie tucked against his side.

He'd farm his land and use his savings to build her the sort of home she deserved.

He was going to marry her if she'd have him.

Which was why, as he lifted his head and her mouth followed, he didn't hesitate to kiss her again.

Deeper, more intimately, his promise infused in every brush of his tongue. He belonged with this woman.

He slid his hand from her back down over her backside, growling in frustration at the layers of skirts that kept him from really feeling the generous curve of her ass.

She pulled back. "What's wrong?"

"There are some aspects of the breeches I miss."

She laughed then, a little giggle. "They were enlightening."

He brought his hand up to brush her cheek with his fingertips, marveling at the softness of her skin. "How's that?"

"The freedom of movement," she answered. "And they were warm too. I did feel exposed in them, though. Especially my backside."

He had enjoyed that particular aspect himself. "Will ye miss them?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. It's nice to be in a dress again."

His gaze slid down her shoulders, over her tiny waist, to the flare of her hips. He was going to enjoy buying her dresses.

All at once, he understood. The men who'd married, who seemed happy even though they'd lost their freedom. This didn't feel like a loss at all.

He'd gained something so much more valuable.

Love.

He loved Annie and having her next to him filled him with purpose, warmth, happiness. "Let me help ye take this off so ye can sleep."

Dutifully, she turned her back to him, his large fingers plucking at the thin ties.

She reached a hand back, pulling at the lace herself so that it gave. "How do women do that?" He held her hips as he dropped a kiss just behind her ear.

Her lashes fluttered closed, casting a shadow on her cheek. "Do what?"

"Bend like that?"

She shook her head. "How did you carry me up that rope ladder? Thank you, by the way. Thank you for everything. I hope I haven't been too much trouble. Boyd, I just want you to know that I understand what you've done for me."

"Ye haven't been hardly any trouble at all." He'd do ten times what he'd done to keep Annie safe. Didn't she understand that?

"Now I know you're lying," she replied, looking at him over her shoulder as the dress gave, slumping down her front. "I've been as much trouble as a person could possibly be."

He pushed the fabric down her arms, revealing her chemise and corset underneath. His body tightened like the strings of a fiddle.

"We were going to fight yer uncle either way. If anything, Annie, ye've given us several advantages."

"How is that?"

"We now have the evidence to remove him completely and we've been able to draw him out, take the fight to our ground, our way, instead of his."

He leaned down to kiss her then, her back coming to his front. He could lose himself in this kiss, but it was late, and Annie needed some rest. It had been a long day.

Reluctantly, he let her mouth go and then slid her skirts down over her hips so that she could step out of them. She turned back to him, her hands resting on his shoulders as she did so.

Still crouched in front of her, he pulled the corset string, the device loosening so that he could take that down over her hips as well.

And then, he raised the hem of her chemise to remove her boots and stockings.

The boots were easy. But as his hand slid up her leg to untie the ribbons on her thighs that held the stocking on place, he felt her shiver, her skin turning to goosepimples. His own barely checked excitement swelled, blood pooling in his cock, as he glided his fingers over her skin. He leaned closer, the perfume of her excitement filling his nostrils.

He paused, his eyes closing as he drew in another deep breath. Then, instead of undoing the ribbon, he moved his hand higher, pushing the chemise up her thighs, her silken skin making him groan with need.

Her legs naturally parted as she leaned back against the bunks. He wrapped his other arm about her waist to further support her, even as he brushed light fingers over her sex.

She jolted in his arms, her head tipping back as a gasp fell from her lips. Running his fingers over her slick folds, her heat welcomed him as she opened her legs wider, her hands threading into his hair.

There was no doubt in his mind.

This woman was his.

* * *

Annie's eyes rolled back as Boyd touched her in her most intimate of parts.

She'd never imagined a man's touch would feel so satisfying, so delicious. She ran her hands through his hair, holding the strands tight when he pressed against the bud of her pleasure.

"Boyd," she breathed out a ragged gasp. "Oh Boyd, Don't stop. It's so good…"

His answer was to lean forward, his tongue replacing his fingers. Lightning coursed through her. Quick and fierce, her body shivered with her need as pleasure, like she'd never known, swelled in her lower belly.

She wanted more, an ache so intense pulsing through her that she whimpered again.

Boyd understood. Even though she hadn't spoken any words, he increased the pressure on her bud of pleasure as he inserted a finger into her channel. His other arm was still wrapped about her lower back, his hand holding her hips in place to both support her and angle her so that he could lick at her core.

She gasped in several shallow breaths, her body tightening with a need so intense she could barely draw in breath as she held onto his hair like an anchor. The pleasure built so fast, so fierce that a loud keening cry fell from her lips.

And then she broke apart, shattering as a thousand tiny stars appeared behind her eyelids.

Her body slumped in relief, his arm still her primary support as he surged up, his mouth taking hers in a fierce kiss.

She felt the hard, long press of his staff into her hips, and she hooked a leg about his waist, drawing him even deeper into her cradle.

He still had on his breeches as he thrust against her core, making them both groan. Her body was still so sensitive and the fissure of pleasure that coursed through her was near painful but still so good.

She brought her arms tight about his neck as he reached down and hooked her other leg about his waist, his thighs spreading wider to support her weight.

With the shift, he rubbed even more deeply against her sex, their bodies moving together. He wasn't inside her, but she could feel the long hard length of him, her body tightening all over again.

Her small whimpers of need joined his grunts as they ground together, both desperate for what the other could give.

Another orgasm was rapidly building, her body arching into his, her head tossed back. He buried his face into her neck, his lips all over her skin as she broke apart a second time.

Just as her cry of satisfaction fell from her lips, she felt him stiffen, a deep groan falling from his throat.

He shuddered, his muscles relaxing in a way that made their embrace even more intimate, his head heavy on her shoulder.

"Boyd," she whispered, loosening her hands from his hair, to comb through the strands once again. "That was…"

"I know."

She shook her head even as he stood and then folded them both so that as he lay on the lower bunk her body was on top of his.

His eyes closed and she lifted her head up, to peer into his face. Did he intend to sleep like this? There was no room for her, other than on top of him. She started to slip off the side of the bed, but he held her fast. "Don't even think about it."

A smile tugged at her lips. "This bed isn't big enough."

"Ye sleep in my arms," he answered as though that explained everything.

Which, to her surprise, it did. She melted into him, her head coming to his chest. "You do make the best bed ever."

He chuckled at that. "Ye belong next to me."

"Do I?"

He stroked a hand down her back. "Yes. Which is why I think we ought to get married."

Her breath caught in her chest as she lifted her head again. Had she been sleepy? She was wide awake now as she attempted to understand that implication of his words. A marriage proposal from this man was a hope that she'd not even wished to make. "Marry?"

She was alone in the world, vulnerable. And this man was the safest harbor she'd ever known. He was also devilishly handsome, and he did things to her body she'd not even dreamed possible.

But none of that compared to the fact that she'd fallen in love.

"Yes. Marry. As my wife, I could keep ye safest of all."

She nodded, not that he saw with his eyes closed. She'd be a fool to decline, and Annie liked to think she wasn't a fool.

Still, her gut niggled. He hadn't told her he loved her, nor had he even mentioned a mild affection.

She turned her face toward the small porthole, stars twinkling in the sky. She knew all the reasons to say yes and the ones to say no. "I'd be a good wife," she murmured as much to herself as to him.

"I know ye would."

That was something. He'd said she belonged at his side, that she'd make a good wife. In time, perhaps, she could convince him to love her in return. Convince him to commit to her in a way no man ever had before. "My answer is yes."