01 - Captured Dreams Read online

They were both breathing heavily when he ended the kiss. His lips began feasting on her neck.

  “Will you feel it now, Portia?” he asked, threading his fingers into her hair and drawing her head back until the long column of her neck was exposed. He scraped his teeth against her skin. “Let me show you what it feels like to fly.”

  “I am afraid,” she whispered.

  “Do not be afraid.” His lips moved downward as his hands slid over her bottom, pulling her intimately against his hardening manhood.

  Her full lips parted, and she drew a deep breath.

  “This will be my first time.” She looked into his eyes. “But ‘twill also be my last.”

  He was not going to correct her. Instead, Pierce kissed her lips hungrily and backed toward the small sofa near the hearth.

  Portia’s fingers were shy at first, but then grew increasingly eager as they moved beneath his jacket, feeling the contours of his chest beneath the fabric of his shirt. He tore his mouth free when they moved slowly down to the front of his pants.

  “I have never—”

  “We shall wait on that for a moment or two.” Pierce roughly turned her, placing her hands against the mantel. “You do not touch me until I have finished touching every inch of your beautiful body.”

  “Is that a rule of lovemaking?” she asked, surprised.

  “Oh, yes. Rule number one.”

  “Who made these rules.”

  “One of the ancients, I should think. Someone who knew how to prolong the act of love.”

  Quickly, he started to undo the laces on the back of the dress. When it was loose, he slid one hand around her waist, pulling her tightly against him.

  “I’m not sure these rules will be fair.” She drew in her breath sharply as his hand moved lower, rubbing the fabric of her skirts intimately against the juncture of her thighs.

  “You have made me suffer since that first night at the Black Pearl.” He parted the dress on the back and pressed his lips against her exposed shoulders. She was wearing no corset, only a chemise of some kind. “You made me suffer again in my office the next day. I have been dreaming of doing this to you ever since. Is that fair?” He pulled down the dress over her arms.

  “You have been dreaming of making love to me in your place of work?” There was mirth in her tone.

  Her dress pooled around her feet, and she leaned back against him. As he looked down over her shoulder, her full breasts were rising and falling beneath the thin cloth of her chemise. He undid the chain of the locket she wore around her neck and let it drop to the floor.

  “Yes, on my desk.” He ran the tip of his tongue along the blade of her shoulder, pushing one strap of the undergarment down her arm. “But not just there. On this sofa. And in my bed. And in the room in some inn that has a mirror overhead where you can watch yourself find the meaning of true ecstasy.”

  “But we only have this place and this time.” She stepped out of her soft shoes and turned in his arms. “And what I am feeling already tells me that I must be in heaven.” She helped him to remove his jacket.

  “Not yet. But we may catch a glimpse of it still.” Pierce wouldn’t let her do anything more. He captured her hands and held them both behind her in one of his. He looked hungrily into her glistening eyes and flushed face, at the stretch of ivory skin descending to her full breasts with their dark tips straining against the fabric. He pushed down the thin material and lifted the breast that filled his hand so perfectly. His mouth closed over her nipple, and she cried out softly.

  Tasting her, even looking at her was enough to make his control begin to slip. He stripped the rest of her underclothes from her body, and laid her down on the sofa. She was flushed and shivering with anticipation, but he had no intention of hurrying, if he could help it.

  As he stood over her, she immediately placed an arm over her breasts, her other hand covering the triangle of dark curls. Pierce slowly removed his shirt. Portia’s eyes followed the movement of his hands. She moved slightly on the sofa when his fingers reached to undo the buttons of his breeches. He smiled when Portia closed her eyes as he undid them. He cast them aside with his boots and went to her.

  Her body was one of the miracles of creation. She was an image that he wanted etched permanently in his mind. Her skin, her breasts, her waistline curving to her rounded hip, her long legs. He would relish the feel of them wrapped around him, drawing him in.

  Pierce knelt before the sofa and kissed her deeply, reveling in the intense heat that flowed between them.

  “Watch,” he whispered against her lips as he broke off the kiss.

  Portia’s dark eyes were clouded with passion when they gradually opened. He took her hand off her breast and placed it above her head. His gaze locked with hers, and he forced her to look down as his mouth traveled down to her breasts. He laved, tasted, teased, and gloried in her body’s tremors as her excitement rose higher with every touch. He drew back again and took her other hand and placed that over her hd, too.

  “Keep them there. Both of them,” he said with a devilish smile. He gently brushed his fingers over her stomach, moved lower and teased the dark curls. Her knees were slightly raised and pressed together. “I want you to relax, Portia.”

  Her hips moved slightly. She closed her eyes.

  “Don’t look away.”

  Her eyes opened. The blush had spread from her cheeks down her neck and past her collarbone. She looked as if she was burning with fever.

  “Open your legs for me.”

  She was hesitant, but ever so slowly, her knees parted. Pierce took hold of an ankle and gently placed it on the back of the sofa. His fingers trailed a path downward along the curve of the calf, the back of the knee, along the silky skin of her thigh, ending with a fleeting touch of her moist center. She was quivering now, her lips parted slightly. He reached for the other ankle and placed her foot on the floor. Reaching beneath her, he raised her buttocks, lifting her to his mouth.

  Portia exploded in a frenzy the moment his mouth came in contact with her. Her back arched, and she cried out aloud, thrashing on the sofa. Her hands were threaded into his hair, raking at his back, but Pierce held her in place. Quickly, her hips found the rhythm of love, and he continued to tease and taste her until she was riding the waves of passion into the very center of the storm. Finally, with a desperate cry, she reached for him and brought his mouth to hers.

  It was only then that he lifted her from the sofa onto the carpeted floor and entered her, driving deep beyond her sheath of innocence. There was no waiting. He had no thought of prolonging their play. Her cries of ecstasy were unchanged in their zeal, and in a moment he heard his own voice join hers as his body exploded within her.

  ****

  So this was it. This was what was forbidden. Passion so strong that even thought and reason ceased to exist. Well, she was not sorry that she had come here tonight. She was not sorry about anything.

  Portia cherished the feel of Pierce’s weight on her. She held him tight as all the sensitive strings of her body gradually slowed their humming. For the first time she understood it, the power of the act of love. It was a miracle. Suddenly, she understood her own origin, why it was that despite the hardship that they knew must await them, her parents had conceived her. There was no thought of the future. There was no thought of consequences. There was only the moment itself, the feeling that overwhelmed a person, the heat and the struggle and the waves of desire and the unbelievable burst of power that came with that incredible release. And she knew that he had felt it, too. It had come to them at almost the same moment.

  His back was broad and warm under her hands. She could still feel him within her. They fit together perfectly. It was truly a miracle.

  Still, Portia knew this was their last time together. She had come one last time to meet and say farewell. But she had no regret about what they had done. Even now, she was thinking of what the consequences of tonight might be. What could be more beautiful than a child created out of
this much passion? And unlike her mother, she was far more prepared to take care of whatever the future held.

  Pierce stirred and slowly withdrew from her. For the first time Portia became aware of the tenderness between her legs and the hard floor beneath her.

  “Are you…did I hurt you?”

  She shook her head.

  “This was not the most romantic place to experience love for the first time.” He nuzzled her neck.

  “’Tis not the place that matters,” she whispered against his ear, sadness suddenly edging into her heart. “‘Twas you.”

  He fleetingly kissed her lips before rolling off of her and sitting up. Portia felt cold and awkward, and all her brave thoughts fled at once. She scurried into a sitting position herself. She was thankful that her chemise and dress were within arm’s reach.

  He was totally uninhibited by his nakedness. Portia didn’t allow her gaze to wonder to him. She didn’t want to mourn him here. She couldn’t allow herself to fall apart in this room—at his house. When he walked across the room to where a decanter of wine and glasses sat near his desk, she quickly used her underclothes to clean herself and then pulled on her dress. She struggled with the laces but managed to tighten them. By the time he turned around with two glasses of wine in his hand, she was putting on her shoes.

  Surprise immediately registered on his face. “You are going?”

  “I must.” Portia rolled the chemise into a ball and held it tightly against her stomach. She reached down quickly and picked up her locket from the floor, putting it in the pocket of her dress. All the while, she avoided looking at him. “I must go to see my mother tomorrow. I cannot leave without doing that.”

  Portia was ashamed that she could not tell him the truth. She knew he would never understand. He would never allow Helena come with her. She also knew that he would hate her when he discovered the truth, for he would think she used him.

  At that moment she hated herself.

  “How do you plan to get to Bristol?”

  “Today…today Captain Turner offered to take me home in one of the Admiral’s carriages, but I refused. Tomorrow, I thought I might accept it. Once we’re outside of the gates, I thought I would pay the driver whatever amount he asks to take me to Bristol.”

  “You think he’ll carry you five hours in the Admiral’s carriage?” He put one of the glasses of wine on the table.

  “I would give him every penny I have, if need be, but I—”

  “Your plan is very risky.”

  He drank down one of the glasses, and she watched him walk back across the room and pull on his breeches. She wasn’t sure what he meant by that. Was it possible that he sensed she would be taking Helena with her? Portia felt suddenly panicked.

  He turned to her. “I shall have Jack come and get you at four. He will take you back to your house to get what you need and from there will drive you to Bristol.”

  “I could not ask that of you. That would be too much trouble…for you…for him.” This meant that she would be using his groom a second time. Portia didn’t know if she could stand it if he hated her any more.

  “I do not want any groom of Middleton’s that close to my ship. Also, there is no saying that one of his guards might not be driving the carriage. Or even Turner himself. Your plan has too many potential problems.” No shirt, no shoes, but he was very much the businessman. “Four o’clock. Be ready. Jack will be waiting and take care of things from there.”

  He walked out of the room and called for his servant. Portia’s face began to burn with embarrassment. Everyone in Pierce’s household knew what they had done. By tomorrow, half of Boston could know about Mr. Pennington’s latest conquest.

  She reminded herself that none of that mattered anymore. The road that she was taking would be made up of those who hated her—the ones she’d left behind—and those people in her future, who hopefully would give her a chance.

  He came back into the room a moment later carrying her cloak. “Jack is bringing the carriage out front. He shall drive you back to School Street.”

  Portia bit the inside of her lip, telling herself that she would not cry. Pierce’s hands gently draped the cloak around her neck.

  “You will be careful,” he said softly.

  She had to look up, and when she did, his handsome face was only a teary blur.

  “I shall never forget you,” she whispered, brushing her lips against his and running from the room.

  CHAPTER 17

  Portia tried, but nothing she did improved her looks this morning. Her eyelids were swollen and red-rimmed from tears she’d shed during the night. Her face was pale, and her voice was hoarse. She’d hardly slept because of the pounding in her head and the knot in her stomach, and her steps were dragging when she left the apothecary.

  She supposed it was unavoidable. She had even expected it. Captain Turner was waiting beside one of Admiral Middleton’s carriages on School Street. Still, her mood took another tumble downward at the sight of the officer.

  “What ever happened to you, Miss Edwards? Are you unwell?”

  “I shall be fine,” she replied, not wasting any time with polite greetings. She headed straight for the waiting carriage.

  “If you are unwell, perhaps you should spend the day in bed. I can make your excuses to Mrs. Green. I could even send someone after Mrs. Higgins, so that she could—”

  “No, Captain,” she said, seating herself in the carriage. “I was not well during the night, but I am much better this morning. So if you do not mind, I have no wish to make a bad impression by being late on the second day.”

  “Of course.” Turner climbed on the seat next to her. “Butif anything, my pet, you are early this morning.”

  “Even better. This way, I can be of more use in the Admiral’s household.”

  Portia was relieved when the carriage started down the street. She needed to employ every odd minute that she could today. She needed time alone with Helena. Her plan for today was slightly better than the one she had conjured the night of the ball…but only slightly. She still needed to convince her mother that they could successfully escape. And then, she needed to bring it about.

  “I am embarrassed, my pet, that I shall not be available to take you home again this afternoon.” Turner patted Portia’s knee boldly.

  She moved discreetly away from him. “I can manage very well myself.”

  “Indeed, I still find your sense of independence quite charming.”

  “Still, Captain?”

  “Very much so. But my concern still remains that you do not look very well this morning, and the walk from Copp’s Hill to School Street is a very long way.”

  “Mrs. Crease had the same concern when she saw me this morning,” Portia said, thinking quickly. “She said she will arrange to have a cart sent for me at the end of the day. I believe you met Mr. Jeremy, who often drives for them.”

  “Of course. Well…indeed. In that case…” He looked terribly disappointed, but he did not say anything more.

  Portia thought of possible complications that could surface. The biggest one, of course, was if Turner were to see Jack driving Pierce’s carriage. It hardly resembled anything that Dr. or Mrs. Crease would hire. She looked out the carriage window at the bustling activity on the streets. Boston’s day was well underway.

  “I never realized, in seeking a position in Admiral Middleton’s household, that I would become such a burden to you, Captain,” she said in a gentler tone. “Going back and forth to Copp’s Hill so many times a day for my sake is really not necessary.”

  “Nonsense. I look forward to it. Besides, the Admiral likes to receive a daily report from me.”

  “Still though, that is only once a day,” she stressed. “The imposition of having to return a second time is really too much.”

  “But ‘tis no imposition, my pet,” he said, leaning toward her. “I was delighted when my cousin mentioned your interest in this position to begin with. But that excitement was not
hing compared to being asked by Mrs. Higgins to look after you, my dear. Indeed, that was an honor.”

  Portia hid her surprise at hearing the little revelation. Mary’s interfering was unexpected, but she was not about to hold any grudges. She knew Mary did what she thought was best. It was up to Portia not to allow that to ruin her own plans.

  “With the exception of an unexpected situation that will require my being away from you until tomorrow, I can promise you, my pet, that I shall be true to my pledge. I shall be available to escort you both ways, day in and day out.”

  Day in and day out. Well, that would be no concern to her after today, so long as he did not reappear at the Admiral’s door this afternoon. She decided on the direct approach. “And where are you going, if I might ask?”

  “I will be leading a small company of men to Newport.”

  Portia started, feeling a stab of worry. She shifted in the seat and glanced casually at the officer. “That is such a very long ride, is it not?”

  “Not bad at all at this time of the year. The roads between Boston and Newport are quite good.”

  “I have never been there,” she said casually. “But I hear Rhode Island is not a very large colony.”

  “You should not let the size of the place fool you. Rhode Islanders are a troublesome bunch. Traitors, most of them, and braggarts. They have, quite brazenly, proclaimed themselves to be smuggling champions of the British colonies.”

  Portia remembered a pamphlet she had recently read defending a Rhode Island merchant who was being tried in Boston for smuggling. The writer of the pamphlet argued that Parliament had robbed the colonists of any other way of earning a living.

  Rhode Island had no huge tracts of land for farming, as did the other colonies. Wrapped around the Narragansett Bay as it was, the colony had only trade as a means of making a living. With the lawmakers in London placing more and more restrictions on free trade and levying excessive taxes on imports, Rhode Island businessmen had a right to do what they had to do to survive.

  The pamphlet had been very persuasive, but Portia kept her thoughts to herself. She doubted that Captain Turner would share her opinion. Besides, she had more important worries; for instance, the fact that Pierce’s ship was there…and she was going to meet it.