The Siren's Call by Candace Osmond

Author:Candace Osmond [Osmond, Candace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781988159553
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

It’s funny how an eternity of assurances still can’t keep the anxiety at bay sometimes. Just hours ago, Henry had professed his love to me and asked to join our lives together. The ultimate act of true love. But, as I lay there in the early morning light that shone in through the tavern’s window, my head nestled into the warm crook of Henry’s arm, I fought with my mind. My worries. Concerned about our near future and what part Maria would play in it. Would I fail? Would my sister kill me instead?

When I managed to shake the crazy thoughts from my brain, the empty space filled with concerns for my baby. Would it be healthy? Would I carry it to term? What if there were complications during labor? What if I died in childbirth like so many women of this time did?

I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving this world without being wed to Henry. I wanted our lives to be joined just as our hearts and souls were. I wanted to offer myself to him in the ultimate way. To stake my rightful claim.

We laid in bed, Henry still sleeping soundly, and I carefully twisted a ring from his finger; thick and silver with the shape of a skull carved into its face. I mindlessly slipped it down over each of my fingers, as I gazed across his bare chest out the brightly lit window, until it fit securely around my thumb.

I sucked in a deep breath in an attempt to calm my nerves, but the air struggled as I inhaled. In my arms, Henry stirred, waking from sleep. I craned my neck and watched in admiration as he wiped his tired eyes and yawned, the warmth of his glorious body escaping the blankets.

“Good morning,” I said and kissed his chest.

His arm, wrapped around and under me, tightened. Pulling me closer. “Good morning, my queen.”

“About that,” I began and swallowed hard. “I think we should get married as soon as possible.”

Henry shifted and turned on his side, facing me. “Is everything alright?”

“Yes,” I told him, moving my still naked body close to his. “I just want to truly be your queen, and you my pirate king. I don’t want to wait. I think we’ve done enough waiting for one lifetime. Don’t you?”

“Yes, I can’t argue with you there.”

His searching fingers found my warm thighs and slid between them. My breath caught in my throat as he guided one of my legs to rest over his hip and my body shivered. His face nuzzled my neck, sucking and nibbling at the tender skin there.

“When do you propose we wed, then?” he asked between kisses.

My head tossed back in ecstasy and I fought to form words. “T-today?”

Henry came to a screeching halt and looked into my face. “Today?”

I rolled my hips, grinding our centers together. “I don’t want to wait, remember?”

“Well, then,” he replied with a pleasant grin and tugged at my leg. “I best make this swift. We’ve got a wedding to plan.

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