Eden could see the love the two had for one another and she was so happy to see how much Aidan adored his lovely wife. Eden couldn’t wait to get to know her better.
Cabe cleared his throat. “We need to discuss what is to be done with the prisoners we took.”
The room went silent, and Aidan spoke up, “They deserve justice to be served. They were part of a kidnapping and they shouldn’t be allowed back in England. Ever. But Katarina? If I ever see another sight of her, then I will kill her. And I don’t want that on my hands. I don’t want her on English soil. We need to send them to somewhere they have no influence over anyone. Or they need to be put to death.”
No one spoke up, until Cole said, “I agree with Aidan. They need to be brought to somewhere and be warned to never return. Or they can have the option of death. It is only fair.”
Cabe turned to the brother’s and nodded. “Does everyone agree?”
The others nodded. “Very well, we shall give them the option then.”
Aidan spoke again, “I will go with you Cabe.”
Cabe nodded again, “Let’s go then. We can have Blake take them far from here, and we can set sail back to England.”
Aidan nodded, and the two men left together after Aidan pulled Rhia in for a quick kiss.
Eden snuggled back into Cole’s arms, and he spoke this time. “Do you girls all wish for a bath?”
Lily, Persephone and Eden all cheered, “Yes, please!”
Cole laughed, “I will have water brought here then.”
Burk reluctantly left, as well as Brooks. Cole had told her where his cabin was before he left. He also told her that he would not go a single moment longer without her in his arms and he refused to sleep without her again.
Eden had giggled and she had quickly agreed with his wishes. She was more than happy to comply with them.
Eden loved that Cole thought of their wellbeing and took such good care of them.
The girls got everything ready, and when the tub was brought in, they helped Persephone first, then Lily, Rose, Rhia and finally Eden.
She loved being clean and wanted nothing more than to find her man. She refused to sleep another night away from him again. She asked Rose where his cabin was, and she pointed the way.
Eden wrapped herself in a towel, she made her way to the cabin.
Rose let her know that she would find another room to sleep in so Aidan wouldn’t interrupt them, and Eden smiled gratefully at that. She needed to be wrapped up in his arms tonight. It was necessary to her.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Cole
Somewhere in the Ocean, Nov 1812
Cole made certain Eden was taken care of. After the terrors of the last few days and everything that had happened between them, he knew she needed a minute.
Their earlier encounter had been so passionate and raw. After finally finding her, Cole took her hard and fast.
She had wanted it too, and had brought them both to release, again. Cole hadn’t minded it.
He was just so grateful he had found her. So beyond happy that she was back in his arms, where he would never let her stray too far from again.
He shook his head to clear it from those thoughts and went up to speak with Cabe.
Cabe had done so much to help them, and Cole was beyond grateful to his friend, and his friend’s crew.
They had gone above and beyond to help him get his beloved back. Cole noticed Cabe was behind the wheel of the boat and he smiled.
Cabe looked cross, and Cole knew the reason. Rose had given him the cold shoulder, and though Cabe had his reasons for her staying behind, she was still cross about it.
Cole also knew that Cabe would deny his feelings for Rose, until he pulled his head out of his ass.
After speaking with Cabe, Cole needed to see Eden and hold her while they slept. It was what his body craved and desired above all else.
He went to their cabin and opened the door, not calling out or making noise in case she was asleep. She wasn’t.
She was standing with her back to him, braiding her waist length hair and looking out the small window to the sea.
She was dressed only in a small bit of fabric, that clung to her in places because it was damp from her bath earlier.
Cole sucked in a breath at the sight of her, and quickly divested himself of his shirt. He had put it back on after she had bandaged him up, and now it was just a nuisance.
He let it drop to the floor and took his boots off as well.
He made his way to his beautiful woman and came up behind her.
He put his hand on her hips from behind and nuzzled his face into her wet hair.
She shuddered and he smiled. He kissed her shoulder softly and moved one of his arms up the front of her body from behind and cupped her face in his hand.
He turned her face to look at him and took her mouth in a possessive kiss. She sighed as he kissed her, and he deepened the kiss and turned her in his arms.
She went on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. He lifted her into his arms, and she wrapped her legs around his waist.
He brought her to the bed and ripped the towel away from her body. She blushed, and he loved that she was still shy about their love making and kept going.
Taking his pants off, he let them fall to the floor. He put her on the bed, where he climbed up her body, and lay down on top of her.
He cradled her head in his hands as he kissed her, and she kissed him in return, tangling her tongue with his.
She ran her hands through his hair and down his back, and he let out a growl into her mouth when she reached his buttocks. “I need you inside me Cole. Please. I ache for you.”
Cole took her mouth again in a blistering kiss and lined his hard cock up with her opening and surged into her.
She let out a gasp, and her eyes rolled back into her head. He sat up and pulled her leg around his hip as he thrust inside her tight, wet heat.
He could feel her clamp down around him, and he surged in and out. And he could feel his release begging to come. But he held it at bay.
Needing to feel her, to be inside her longer. As he fucked in and out of her, faster and harder, she let out little cries, and whimpers.
He leaned down and took one pink nipple into his mouth and she clasped his head to her breast, her chest heaving with breath and her breasts bouncing as he took her hard.
He pulled out of her, rolling her to her front, and pulled her hips high. He palmed her tight ass in his hands and drove his cock right back into her wetness.
He saw her hands clamp on the bedding as she put her head down on her arms and cried out into the pillow. Cole growled as he pounded in and out of her, feeling every bit of her wet sheath as it tightened and released, getting tighter with each pass the closer she grew to climax.
He reached around the front of her body and lightly touched the small nub at the top of her sex, and she screamed out his name, and he felt like his cock was being strangled from how tightly she clamped down on him.
His release barreled out of him, and he let out a harsh cry and spilled his seed deep inside her womb. He hoped it would take root. He let her collapse to the bed, her legs shaking as he pulled his still hard cock out of her warmth.
He gathered her in his arms and drew her body tight against his. He cradled her and tried to get his breathing under control.
“If I was too rough,” he began, worried that she was hurt in some way.
She shook her head in his arms, and turned slightly, so he could see her face. “You weren’t too rough with me Cole. I told you this earlier. I thought I would never see you again. That the last time I got to kiss you was the last time I ever would. And for days, I fretted and cried. I finally got you, and you were going to be taken from me. So, no Cole. You weren’t too rough, because I want you and need you. I need to feel you move inside of me and know that you are here with me. That this isn’t a dream I made up. Take me how you will my love.”
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Cole leaned forward and kissed her. Hard. “I love you Eden. When you didn’t show up at the theater, my heart stopped beating. I thought I would never be happy again. I was dead inside until I found you. I am never letting you go, ever again.”
Eden snuggled deeper into his arms, “Good, because you aren’t getting away from me either. You are mine Cole St. Andrew, and only mine.”
Cole kissed her neck, and pet down her body to soothe her. “I know love, just as you are mine. Knowing that I never have to compete for your love, and knowing that after all that wasted time you are finally mine? It is the best feeling in the world.”
Eden kissed his arm, and he smiled into her hair. He took a deep breath, breathing her in. He wanted her scent ingrained into his lungs forever.
She was his entire life, and he had almost lost her forever. He held on tightly and listened as her breathing evened out, and she fell asleep in his arms.
Holding her, and feeling her naked skin against his, Cole shut his eyes, and thanked whatever God was out there listening to him.
Listening to her breathe, Cole was finally able to relax himself. These past weeks, he had barely slept.
He was too worried over her, and it was hard for him to relax enough to sleep like he should have.
Having Eden in his arms and knowing she would never be leaving his side again; he was finally able to breathe again.
He rolled them, so she was next to the wall, and his back was to the door. She sighed but didn’t move. And Cole shut his eyes and slept.
When they woke the next morning, it was early still. Cole could feel Eden wiggling in his arms, and he looked down at her face, and smiled. “Good morning, love.”
Eden smiled up at him, “Good morning.”
He leaned down and kissed her softly, and she nuzzled into him. He loved waking with her in his arms and vowed it would always be so.
He had been too long without her in his arms, and he hated it. She wiggled against him again, and Cole let out a groan.
Eden went still in his arms, “What happened? Are you all right?”
Cole shook his head, “I am afraid you woke the beast.”
Eden blushed from head to toe, and Cole smiled. He rolled her gently to her back and climbed on top of her. He held her face in his hands while he kissed her.
They were both breathless when he pulled away, and Eden whimpered softly. “Cole, please. I need you.”
Cole wanted to smile, to beat his chest in triumph, that this woman wanted him, like he did her. But he lined his hard cock up with her tight entrance, and pushed inside.
Eden’s eyes rolled back in her head, and she clawed at his shoulders. Cole kissed her softly, all over her soft skin, as he lazily drove his cock inside her wetness.
She felt wonderful, tight and hot, surrounding his length, and he wanted to savor the feeling. Eden had different ideas. “I need more Cole. Faster, please. Please!”
Cole did as she asked, and drove into her faster, and harder. Her breasts moved with every hard thrust, and Cole watched with fascination.
Her nipples were tight peaks, and Cole leaned down and sucked one into his mouth.
She let out a moan, and Cole moved to the opposite breast. Her hands clawed at him as he moved even faster inside her, his release begging to come forth.
Cole was sweating, and he needed her to come first. So, he touched the tiny nub peeking out of her sex, and she arched her back under him, and called out his name.
Her sheath tightened around him, and he finally let his come flow into her. He collapsed on top of her and held her to his chest.
When he looked down at her, her eyes were shut tight, and she was breathing hard like he was.
Staying connected to her, Cole rolled them softly, until Eden was lying on his chest.
Her hair had come undone from its braid and was across his chest, his neck, the pillow.
He loved the soft locks, and he breathed in the scent of her. She lifted her head, and he smiled at her. “Do you wish to sleep longer love?”
Eden nodded, and put her head back down, “I was awake, and now my body is tired again.”
Cole chuckled, and ran his hands through her hair, and down her naked back, until once again, she was asleep in his arms.
Cole very gently untangled himself from her arms, and he cleaned himself up with a wet cloth.
He hated washing away their combined passion, but it needed to be done. He needed to speak with Cabe again this morning, and he didn’t want to have people talk.
Getting dressed, Cole put a blanket over Eden’s sleeping form, and walked from the room and into the early morning sun.
Cabe was at the wheel, as Cole had come to expect. Cabe looked exhausted, and Cole would bet his entire fortune that he knew why.
After all, hadn’t he thought just last night that he had had a hard time sleeping without Eden in his arms? Rose was still upset with Cabe, and barely speaking to him.
And Cole knew how hardheaded Cabe was, so Cole felt sorry for the man. Cabe would deny his very happiness, because he thought that because he wasn’t a whole man, that he didn’t deserve a woman.
Cole rolled his eyes and wished Cabe would stop being idiotic. Rose wouldn’t wait around for a man who didn’t want her, even though he very clearly did.
Cole couldn’t be too hard on the man, since he himself had been an ass, and had never spoken to Eden over stupid fears.
Cole shook his head, and Cabe saw him then. He nodded his head, and Cole walked up to him. “I have a question for you,” Cole said as he walked up beside Cabe.
Cabe gave him a side eye and nodded again. “Go ahead.”
Cole smiled, “Will you marry Eden and I? I had wanted to wait until we got back to London, but I don’t want her reputation sullied, and I refuse to sleep without her again.”
Cabe let out a chuckle, and then coughed. Cole smiled again at the slip, and Cabe nodded. “I can do that. I don’t have a license on me, but here on the sea, those don’t matter much.”
Cole nodded, “All right.”
Cabe turned to look at him. “When do you wish for this to happen?”
Cole looked around the ship, “Tonight? Under the stars?”
Cabe smiled, “That is quite perfect isn’t it?”
Cole laughed, “I think she will like it. It will be romantic.”
Cabe grinned, “I like it, a wedding under the stars. Sounds like something you would do.”
Cole laughed as well, “It does, doesn’t it?”
Cabe rolled his eyes, and smiled, “Very well. I will perform it for you.”
Cole clapped his friend on the shoulder. “Thank you Cabe, for everything. If it wasn’t for you Eden would be lost to me forever.”
He looked down and swallowed. Not wanting to think of how tragic that would be. Cabe touched his shoulder, “You are welcome Cole. I don’t know what I would have done, were I in your same position. But I get it. When I received that note from Blake, it was shocking, and I was ashamed that my ship was responsible for taking three women away from their lives. I am just glad I was able to help get them back. It was the least I could do.”
Cole shook his head, “Cabe, you are too modest. Truly. You are too hardheaded to figure that out. But, again, I am grateful to you.”
Cabe looked at him for a moment, and then away. “Cole, I know what you mean when you say I am hardheaded. I know I am. But I don’t want to curse her life with a man like me.”
Cole gave Cabe a once over. “A man like you huh? A man who is the captain of a ship like this? One who owns and commands the respect of the men on said ship and the others you have? The one who has worked hard to make himself into a new person? One that would make her happy. And who shouldn’t judge what he doesn’t know, or fully understand. Rose is the best woman there is, and if you truly believe she would fault you for something so minor, you don’t deserve her.”
Cole turned and walked from Cabe. He wanted nothing more than to punch th
e man right in the jaw. He was foolish and would ruin his sister.
Cole had to put the thoughts away from later contemplation, because he had his wedding to prepare for.
Finding Aidan, and his sisters, Cole told him of his plan, and his family all nodded, and would do what they could to help him in any way they could.
Chapter Thirty
Eden
Somewhere in the Ocean, Nov 1812
Eden awoke much later in the morning, alone. She sat up in the small bunk and looked around for Cole.
Not seeing him, she stood on shaking legs. He had worn her out yesterday. They had made love several times, and she was a little tender, and her body felt it down deep.
She sighed and was so happy to be back in his arms and in his bed again. She smiled thinking of him, and how after all the years she had pined for him, he was hers.
Eden saw a pot of water, and a cloth. She wet it and washed between her legs and all over her body.
Seeing her dress, and underclothes, Eden donned them, and pulled her hair into a tight braid.
She knew there wasn’t a soul on this ship who would fault her for wearing her hair so informally.
Walking up to the deck, she only saw the men who worked on the ship, and the ship’s captain.
She knew he was a friend of Cole’s, and she was almost certain his name was Cabe. He spotted her and called for someone to take the wheel.
He walked over to her side, and she had to look up at him, like she did all the other men in her life.
She smiled, “Hello, have you seen Cole around this morning?”
Cabe gave a slight tip of his lip and nodded. “Yes, he is with his family. They are having a discussion. Might I take you around the ship until he is finished?”
Eden’s eyebrows drew down in confusion, but she brushed it away and nodded. “Thank you, that would be lovely.”
Cabe held his arm out to her. “I am Cabe James. It is a pleasure to meet you Eden. I have heard a lot about you.”
The Marquess Who Adored Me Page 26
