Page 79 of Devil of the High Seas
Dominic’s smile was wide. “I think we can find a ship for you.”
Roberta laughed as she embraced Josephine. The redhead who’d won over her older brother murmured in her ear, “It seems you finally have your very own pirate.”
Josephine chuckled. “I do, don’t I?”
Adrian and Gavin shook hands, he asked for a moment alone with his twin. He caught one of her hands in his, helping her down the sandy path to the shore until they were far enough away from the others to speak with some privacy. Adrian’s face was filled with both joy and sorrow. He cleared his throat.
“It’s going to be different, isn’t it? When you were going to marry Griffin, it all felt as if nothing would change. You would be close by. But this isdifferent. You love Gavin, don’t you?”
She nodded. “Desperately.”
“I can feel it.” He touched his chest. “Here. Knowing how happy you are makes it easier to let you go.”
She wiped away a tear on her cheek. “I am, but I will miss you.” For so long, it’d been just the two of them against the world. But as with all things, time brought change, and this was one thing that they hadn’t been ready for.
“You know,” he said with a wry grin, “I kept my promise to you.”
“What promise?”
“The one I made before you left. I said you would marry Castleton, sail the seas, and have the life you always dreamed of. I never said it would be Griffin. After all, Gavin is in fact the Earl of Castleton since he isn’t dead and the title will revert back to him. I simply didn’t say which Castleton you’d marry.”
Josephine laughed at her brother’s cleverness.
But her laughter died as a new realization made her pause. She hadn’t once given a thought to the fact that she was married to theolderof the Castleton brothers. Gavin had lived seven years without that part of his life and likely no longer thought of it either. Would they have to return to England to let him resume his life as the earl and handle the estate?
“What’s wrong?” her brother asked.
“I’d actually managed to forget that he is the earl and not Griffin.” She stared down at the white sand, her hopes fading so quickly.
Adrian lifted her chin. “Talk to him. I imagine he hasn’t thought about it either. Perhaps there is a solution. His brother and Vesper will be returning to England. If it was me, I’d have Griffin handle all the immediate affairs of the estate, leaving you and Gavin here. No one said you had to live in England. He will be the earl wherever he lives. It’s not uncommon for titled lords to let others help them with their land and property while they live elsewhere. I’m sure Gavin would much prefer that sort of arrangement.”
“You are quite brilliant.” She threw her arms around his neck, hugging him.
“I always was the smart one—ow!” He winced when she punched his shoulder. “Go back to your husband, feisty wench!”
They both burst into laughter.
When they walked back up the beach, Gavin was waiting for them. He held out his arms to Josephine, and she buried her face against his chest.
“Everything all right?” he asked in a soft voice.
“Of course. I was just speaking to my brother about…well the fact that you are now the Earl. Griffin assumed the title after your father passed and you were assumed dead. But now that can all change. I was afraid of what that means for us. Adrian suggested that you resume the title, but have Griffin remain at the house in Cornwall with Vesper and run the estate for you. That would you and I free to be here.”
Gavin was silent a long moment. “I hadn’t honestly thought of that. I’ve been a pirate so long, living this wild life that I hadn’t given a thought to it. I believe your brother is right. Griffin and Vesper could stay at the house in England and you and I can remain here and we could visit once or twice a year to see how things are. I’m sure your brothers will also make journeys frequently. Is that a life you could be content with?”
“Content? No…blessed I believe is the word I would use,” she said. “I will miss seeing my family as often as I was expecting, but this life…this place here with you and Jada and the others…it’s the home I truly want.”
“Good.” He seamed to relax at her words. “Are you ready to retire for the night?”
“Yes.” They quietly slipped away from the crowd and walked to their new home. Everything inside smelled new. The wood gleamed and the furnishings, while still sparse, would do well enough for now. They had a large bed in their shared bedchamber, and a gossamer-thin nightgown was laid out upon the blue coverlet.
Gavin chuckled as he lifted up the shimmering cloth, his hands visible through the fabric, which left very little to the imagination. “It’s lovely, but you won’t be needing it tonight.”
She held still as he slowly unlaced her gown. She trembled as his fingers touched her skin, feeling so much like the first time they had been together. Soon she was bare, and his hands explored her body, cupping her breasts and her bottom, curving around her hips and shoulders until she could have melted into him. Then he turned her in his arms and kissed her. There was something wonderfully wicked about kissing a clothed pirate while she was completely naked.
“I can feel you smiling against my lips,” he said with a chuckle. “What on earth are you thinking about?”
She curled her arms around his neck and nuzzled her nose along his jaw. “I was thinking of how wicked you made me, to enjoy moments like this.”
