Chapter 22

They finally fell asleep while the storm continued to rage on outside, but Circe was slowly coming awake. She felt a warmth surrounding her. She blinked her eyes, forcing them to open. She smiled when she heard snoring and felt warm breath expelled against her neck. Perhaps being married to Reese Taggart will not be such a terrible thing after all, she thought with a soft smile. The reason she woke made itself clear to her. She carefully slipped from the bed so as not to disturb Reese. She found the shirt she had been wearing earlier and tugged it on, fastening a few of the buttons. Circe made use of the water closet, and then entered the room once more.

Crossing to the window, she pulled back the curtain and looked outside. When a bolt of lightening lit the sky, she could see the palm trees dancing in the wind. The rain still beat out a tattoo against the window. She pressed her forehead against the cool glass. Reese made a sound behind her, and she turned to see him now laying on his back with his arm flung over his eyes. The sheet rode low on his waist and her fingers itched to pull it back and explore his body while he was asleep. She relit several lamps and candles around the room, then gave into her curiosity. Circe crept across the room back to the bed, made certain he was still asleep, and gently lifted the covers. She folded them back to the footboard careful not to disturb him.

Circe noted that his feet and ankles appeared to be strong, but slim. Reese would not have to pad his calves like so many of the dandies in London did. There was a light dusting of hair on the top of his feet that led to more on his shins and upward to his thighs. His thighs looked strong and muscular, and she itched to run her hands along them. She skipped over his middle and looked at his chiseled chest and abdomen once more. He was wide at his shoulders and his body made a ‘V’ downwards to his narrow hips. Working on the ship and plantation had benefitted him by defining his muscles.

She took a fortifying breath as she followed the pelt of hair downward until it trailed below his hips to a thick patch of springy hair between his thighs. A curious piece of flesh was nestled there. Surely that is not what he poked in me, she thought, disconcerted. She reached out to touch it and as she did, it jumped to life, causing her to shriek and jump back.

“It likes you,” Reese chuckled.

“What?”

“It grows because it likes you.”

“That is ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous but true. It has never been as happy as it was earlier tonight,” he said.

She looked up and met his gaze. He appeared relaxed, lying with his arms behind his head. “I…I just wanted…”

“No need to explain. I’m your husband, and it’s perfectly normal for you to want to gaze upon my body, but I think you should reciprocate, don’t you?”

“What do you mean?” she asked nervously.

“Exactly what I said. You studied my body.”

“Not all of it,” she blurted out.

“You’re right.” Reese slowly shifted and rolled onto his stomach, presenting her with a view of his back and buttocks. “Well?”

“Well what?”

“Is it all you imagined?”

Circe studied him. Where his front was hairy, his backside had almost no hair. She could tell when he flexed because his back twitched. Her gaze trailed downward to his buttocks. They were just round enough to fill out his breeches and she was certain they would be firm if she reached out and squeezed them. The scar from the duel was the only thing that marred his handsomeness. Circe noticed for the first time that from the waist up he was darker than the waist down. “Your upper half is darker. Have you been working without a shirt on?”

“It gets hot here,” he explained. He shifted once more to his back. “Now, is it my turn?” He watched Circe lift her hand to one of the buttons then hesitate. “I’ve already seen most of you and think you’re beautiful, I just want to confirm my beliefs.”

“You will be disappointed.”

“I sincerely doubt that.”

“It’s true. My breasts are too big and when I stand they droop, my hips are too wide, and my stomach is larger than the waifs of London society with ugly, thin red lines on it.”

“You are a real woman, a woman whose body was made for pleasure.” Reese sat up on the edge of the bed and swung his legs over the side when he heard the hoarseness in her voice. “Please, Circe, I wish to see my wife in the light—all of her, not some of her hidden by a sheet.” He held his breath as she  tentatively slipped the buttons free of their moorings. Reese could see how nervous and frightened she was. “Does my opinion matter so much to you?”

“As you say, you are my husband now,” she answered shyly.

“So I am.” He kept his eyes on her face as she let the shirt slide down her arms to puddle on the floor.

 “In my dreams, our clothes were never removed,” she said stubbornly.

“This isn’t a dream, sweetheart.”

She could feel his eyes on her as they traveled over her body taking in every imperfection. Circe bit her lower lip and kept her gaze above the headboard. She fisted her hands repeatedly.

“Circe, you’re breathtaking,” he said in awe.

“But—”

“Do you wish to know what I see?”

“What?” she asked, staring at him and frightened to hear what he would say. “Are you going to say more of the things you made up earlier? You know you do not have to say those things. You have already had your way with me.”

“Circe, this stomach that you believe is overlarge will someday temporarily house our children. Until then, those little red lines you believe are ugly are going to lead me on many merry adventures. These hips that you believe are too wide will guide our babes into this world. Until then, they will cradle me in our bed. And these beautiful breasts that you believe are too overabundant and I believe you said droopy will provide them with nourishment. Until, then, they will give me, and I hope you, great pleasure. My body is also full of what I consider imperfections, but I hope that we can enjoy one another.”

“Oh—”

“I’m not finished. You, my darling wife, are a beautiful wonder, and I am so lucky that of the two ships I went chasing after that day it was the one you were on that I boarded. Fate hasn’t always been kind to me, but this time she was more than generous. I thank God that I’m the lucky bastard that gets to go to bed with you every night, because I think if it had been someone else, I might be standing trial for murder.”

“Reese,” she whispered his name with tears racing down her face.

“Why are you crying?” he asked, wiping away her tears with his thumb.

“No man has ever made me feel so needed or wanted. Usually I feel just the opposite after hearing one of their propositions. I think perhaps I was a bit lucky as well. And I do think my future was waiting for me here on Barbados. I just did not realize we were going to reach it together.”

“No regrets for having married Wild Lord Taggart?”

“Not yet,” she said, laughing and sniffing at the same time. “Do you think they’ll call me Wild Lady Taggart?”

“Oh, most definitely.”

“Then I think I should live up to my new name.”

“Oh, you do, do you? And how do you propose to do that?”

“I recall you wanted to introduce me to something earlier that I kept you from doing.”

“Yes,” he said hoarsely.

“I am ready.”

“If ever you think otherwise, you only have to say so.”

“I know,” she said. She watched him stand and approach her. He wrapped her up in his arms and kissed her hungrily, spinning her around slowly so that she now stood next to the bed. She felt the mattress behind her legs and quickly sat down when Reese guided her to do so. 

“Lean back,” he instructed.

She did so. Circe watched him grab one of the pillows and shove it under her buttocks. He grabbed another pillow and tossed it on the floor before kneeling on it. “Reese, I—”

“Relax, my darling wife. I’m going to take care of you. If you don’t like it, I’ll stop.”

“All right.”

“Perhaps you should lie back and savor the experience.”

Circe did as he suggested and nearly came off the bed when he finally made contact with her. 

He soothed her like one would a nervous filly, then asked softly, “Do you want me to stop?”

“No,” she muttered. In the end Circe found another pillow and held it over her mouth to smother her scream from the climax that washed over her. The next thing she knew, Reese had taken the pillow from her and tossed it aside. He kissed her deeply and passionately before entering her slowly. He made sweet love to her, once more taking her to the heights of passion, and beyond.

*     *     *

The sun rose the next day, but the storm refused to abate. A knock sounded on their bedroom door that had Reese getting up and throwing the covers over an exhausted and sleeping Circe. He smiled at her. She was spread out on her stomach with a hand tucked under her cheek. Her tangled hair covered most of her face. He pulled on a pair of breeches and a shirt then padded across the room barefoot. He cracked the door open to see O’Connor standing on the other side of the door holding a tray with a mound of food on it.

“What’s this?”

“Ruth didn’t want ye to starve.”

“That was generous of her.”

“We won’t be gettin’ any work done with this storm ragin’ like it is. Make the most of it.”

“Tell Ruth thank you.”

“I will.” With that O’Connor turned and walked back down the hallway. 

Reese shut the door and placed the tray of food on one of the side tables. Since it was daylight, even though it was dim, he walked around the room and lowered the lights on all the lamps. The candles had snuffed themselves out. He returned to the bed and climbed back on it. He pulled Circe’s hair out of the way and kissed her neck, her shoulder, and a freckle on her upper back.

“Go away,” she muttered sleepily.

“Is that any way to speak to your new husband?”

“When he is as exhaustive as you are, yes. I want to sleep.”

“What about food?”

She opened one eye and looked at him. “You have food?”

“Yes,” he chuckled.

“You had better not be lying to me.”

“Ruth sent it.”

“Oh, no! They know what we have been doing in here.” She threw the sheet over her head.

“My dear wife, they have two children. Don’t you think they’ve done some of this as well?” Reese waited patiently as she came out from under the cover.

“Where is the food?” she muttered.

“Sit up and I’ll get it.”

“Get me my shirt first.”

“But—”

“Please, Reese.”

“All right, but I was hoping to take in your beauty while we ate.”

“You have taken in enough of my beauty.”

“Not hardly,” he said as he gave her the shirt he retrieved from the floor. He watched her get to her knees and tug it on. She fastened several of the buttons and rolled up the sleeves. She settled against the headboard with pillows behind her back, her legs stretched out in front of her, and the bed cover pulled to her waist. “Comfortable?”

“Yes, now bring the food.”

“Whatever my lady commands,” he agreed and placed the tray on her lap.

“Does she think we are leaving on an expedition of some sort?”

“I imagine she thinks we worked up an appetite,” he said with a smile as he joined her on the bed. He cupped her cheek and pulled her towards him, kissing her deeply. “Good morning, Lady Taggart.”

“Good morning, Lord Taggart,” she replied, smiling. “I might be able to eat all of this by myself after all.” 

They dug into the food, not talking a lot at first. When they finished eating, with plenty of food left for later, Reese moved the tray to the side table and settled back next to Circe. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close.

“We cannot stay in here all day, you know,” she said even as she snuggled against him.

“Listen to that rain. We aren’t going to be able to do anything until it stops, so we might as well make the most of it.”

“Reese, what are you going to do if…”

“If what?”

“Well, if you cannot make the plantation successful.”

“Are you doubting me?” he asked, pulling away from her.

“No. It is just—”

“Look, I’m working as hard as I can. It takes time. You should have seen the condition this place was in when I first arrived, still is in for that matter.” He climbed off the bed and paced the room.

“Reese, I—”

“I work from sunup until sundown and most of the time beyond. Then I was attending parties and balls—”

“To spread the word about how you were bringing back the planation.”

“No, to watch over you.”

“What?” Circe asked. She climbed out of the bed and approached him near one of the windows. “Talk to me, Reese.”

“O’Connor had it in his mind that you were in danger.”

“So when you could have been working on your plantation or the house, you were watching over me?”

“Something like that.” Reese shrugged as he looked outside.

She walked up behind him, pressed herself against his back, and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Thank you,” she said, thinking back to the way he had defended her against Lord Erickson. “I want to help you.”

“With what?”

“The plantation and the house.”

“But women are supposed to be taken care of, pampered.”

“Is Ruth pampered?” She waited a moment before moving between Reese and the window. She made certain she had his attention before she said, “Reese, am I or am I not your wife?”

“You are.” He looked down at her, his hands still braced on either side of the window.

“Regardless of the circumstances as to how I became your wife, we are now partners, in all things.”

“All right.”

“It was that easy to convince you?”

“Yes.”

“We need to discuss the fact that what you are doing here is angering a lot of people.”

“So you’ve heard?”

“It would be more difficult not to. Reese, I am not doubting that you can make this plantation a success, but I am worried about you staying here long-term. I am concerned for your safety, and not just because of Dorothea.”

“Why?”

“You…we are bound to make enemies. What will we do then? Will we stay here and be the most hated people on this island? We want to have children.”

“We may have already started said children.”

Circe blushed before saying, “Those children could become worst outcasts here than even in England.”

“I honestly hadn’t thought that far ahead. Do you think I’m really that hated?”

“I think you could become that hated,” she replied honestly.

“And I’ve pulled you into this mess.”

“You saved me from something potentially horrific, and for that I will always be thankful for you. Besides, I knew what I was getting into when I said my vows.” She raised up on her tiptoes, cupped his cheeks, and gently kissed him.

“You’ve gotten good at kissing.”

“I have had an excellent tutor,” she whispered against his lips.

“I want you,” he growled, kissing her neck.

“Again?” She threw her head back and laughed softly.

“I can’t get enough of you.”

“You know, it is not the done thing to like your wife this much.”

“Hmm, well I’m not one to follow society.”

“What are you doing?”

“Unbuttoning this shirt.”

“Reese, we are in front of the window.”

“No one’s out in this weather.” As if to prove the truth of his words, a lightning strike lit the sky followed closely by a clap of thunder. He undid the placket of his pants, released his member, and then lifted her onto the windowsill.

“Not here,” she argued weakly.

“Give me one good reason why.”

“It…well…I…”

“Too late.” He kissed her thoroughly as he took her to the heights of passion once more.

*     *     *

“What are you doing?” Reese asked his bride.

“Dressing.”

“Why?”

“Because,” she muttered.

“Because why?”

“Because I am sore and the only way you will keep your hands to yourself is if I am fully dressed.”

“You’re mistaken there, but I will attempt to be good.” He grinned at her from where he relaxed on the bed. “I can’t believe your blushing after all we’ve done together.”

She ignored him and continued tugging on her clothes.

“We’re going to have to get you more clothes.”

“I really do not need much since I plan on helping around here. There, now perhaps you will leave me alone for a bit,” Circe said as she did up her last button.

“It will be difficult, but I’ll do my best. Now, come here and talk to me.” 

He held out his hand to her. She crossed the room, climbed back on the bed, and scooted next to him, draping an arm across his abdomen and resting her head on his shoulder. “What shall we talk about?”

“Something you said earlier’s been bothering me.”

“What is that?” she asked as she settled against him.

“You’re right. I have to have another plan in case something happens to this plantation.”

“I did not mean to make you believe the plantation is going to fail.” She looked up at him and placed her hand on his bare chest in a comforting manner.

“I know, but I need to be realistic about this, and I am angering people. Every party and dance I attended, there were men cornering me and demanding I take on slaves and get rid of the free men.”

“What are you thinking?”

“That I need to figure out what I can do with my life. I mean, now I have a wife to care for and perhaps, someday, children.” He squeezed her close and kissed her temple.

“What would you like to do with your life?”

“I wish I knew.”

“Do you not like the plantation?”

“I won this plantation in a card game. I didn’t purchase it with the purpose of making it successful. I won it in a game of chance.”

“Someone must have thought it was valuable to bet on it.”

“I have my doubts.”

“What makes you happy?”

“As of late, you.” He brushed a kiss on her temple.

“You are just trying to get me out of this dress.”

“Is it working?”

“No. Now, tell me, what, in your past, has made you happy?”

He thought for a moment before answering, “Going to school. Learning.”

“Anything in particular?”

“Everything really, but especially history.”

“History?”

“Yes.”

“Is there a particular period in history that you prefer?”

“All of it. When I went to Eton and then Cambridge, I loved studying history. I was enthralled by the way history has a way of repeating itself.”

“It does?” she asked and scrunched her nose.

“Yes. It seems man does not learn from past mistakes. Of course, individual events are not repeated, but whole events seem to be. You see, empires and governments rise and fall over and over. All have similar reasons why—greed, power, and a thirst for freedom. Attacks on civilizations happen because someone possesses something the other wants. What makes history interesting is how these issues are dealt with, or how some civilizations die off completely. Then there are the stories of civilizations that makes you wonder if they ever really existed.”

“Do you hear that?”

“What?” he asked startled.

“The excitement in your voice.” They were both quiet for several minutes, each lost in their thoughts before Circe spoke again, “Reese, how far did you pursue your education?”

“As far as I possibly could. Why?”

She followed her intuition when she asked the next question, “How many people know this about you?”

“Cambridge and now you.”

“None of your family or friends?”

“It would be the last thing they would have expected from Wild Lord Taggart.”

“Perhaps it is time they come to know the real Lord Taggart and not the myth.”

“Oh, but my darling, it was not a myth.”

“It matters not. What does matter is that there is this whole other person inside you. A person you can be proud of.”

“And what good will it do me? I’ve worked so hard creating the wild image of myself that no one would be willing to have me educate their sons.”

“No one would have you do what?”

“Educate their sons,” he repeated.

Circe pushed up, turned, sat with her legs tucked under her, and studied her husband.

“What is it?” he asked curiously.

“Reese Taggart, did you not just hear what you said?”

He looked at her in confusion.

“You spoke of being an educator.”

“I spoke of people keeping me from doing that.”

“But surely someone would hire you.”

“It isn’t that easy.”

“Of course it is. Are you not knowledgeable in that area?”

“I am.”

“Then why should you not impart that knowledge to others?”

“I—”

“Yes?” she asked impertinently.

“There is no decision that needs to be made today, is there?” he asked, avoiding her question.

“No, you are right,” she said, sensing she should not push him any further today. “I am going to see if Ruth needs assistance with anything.”

“You are going to leave me alone?”

“For the time being. I am certain you will be fine.”

“I don’t know, the last time I was left alone thinking of you, I bloodied my lip.”

Circe narrowed her eyes at him trying to conjure a memory.

“The last night on the ship,” he said.

“You bloodied your own lip? However did you manage that?”

“Get a handkerchief out of the top drawer and I’ll show you.”

Circe did and returned, holding it out to him. “Here.”

“Sit at my hip. Now, give me your hand.” He enveloped his shaft with her hand and showed her exactly what he needed. She was not as quick with the handkerchief as he would have been.

“So that is what goes inside of me to make babies,” she said sounding very scientific.

He moaned in response, spent more of his seed, and pulled her down for a kiss. Spent he collapsed against the pillows and pulled her down with him. “That is what I did that night in my cabin, thinking of you. The first time—”

“First time?”

“Yes, the first time I groaned so loudly you heard me and came running to check on me.”

“Oh, dear,” she said, blushing.

“The second time, I bit my lip so hard I bloodied it so you couldn’t hear me.”

“Was it only those two times?”

“Hardly.”

For some reason, the thought that he had illicit thoughts about her thrilled her. “You could get dressed and come with me.”

“I suppose I could at that. I believe we need to do some cleaning up first.”

“Yes,” she muttered and walked over to the washstand. 

He knew better than to laugh at the fact she was blushing, but the fact that she was new to all of this, and he was her teacher, brought him such irrevocable joy that he wanted to shout it from the rooftop. He stood up, nude, fully aware that she was looking her fill of him in the mirror. “Enjoying yourself?”

“I am beginning to,” she said with a sly grin.

He chased after her, making her squeal, and pulled her to him before kissing her passionately. “Are you absolutely certain you are too sore to explore one another some more?”

“Yes, now get dressed,” she swatted his chest playfully.

“Yes, lady wife, whatever you command.”

As soon as he was clean and decently dressed, they left their bedchamber hand-in-hand.