Authors: Connie Mason
Mother of God Convent
No one awoke to stop them as Luca and Morgan crept down the hallway and out the front door into the convent yard. Luca had left a note for the Reverend Mother, men gathered up her clothing, which Morgan bundled in a sheet and carried under his arm. The gate hung slightly agape, and Morgan closed it noiselessly behind him. As they walked to the carriage Luca suddenly realized that Morgan was limping. She stopped abruptly.
“What is it?” Morgan asked, alarmed when Luca suddenly halted.
“You’re limping. You were injured more seriously than you let on.”
“The musket bullet shattered a bone in my leg. It’s mended now, but I may always limp. Does it matter?”
“That you limp? It matters only that you suffered pain and I was not there to ease your suffering. How did it happen?”
Morgan’s brow furrowed. Now was not the time to divulge the information that he had been wounded by Englishmen as he tried to flee England. “I’ll tell you later, sweetheart Right now it’s more important that we meet Stan in town. Come on, I’ll help you into the carriage.”
Within a few minutes they were traveling down the road to the town of Lebrija. Luca didn’t regret leaving the convent. It had provided her a safe haven when she thought Morgan didn’t want her, but now that she knew her husband loved her and wanted their child she was eager to follow him wherever he wished to take her.
They arrived at the inn during the small hours of the morning. Luca had fallen asleep with her head resting on Morgan’s shoulder. His arm wrapped around her, he held her tightly against him; he could feel her sweet breath brushing his cheek and her swollen stomach pressing against him. He was still reeling from shock. A child! Luca was carrying his baby. He could picture the child now; a girl with dark curly hair and fiery eyes like her mother.
Morgan pulled the carriage to a stop in the courtyard. A groggy stableboy roused himself and stumbled out to greet them, rubbing sleep from his eyes. After giving the boy instruction as to the care of his rig, Morgan carefully lifted Luca and carried her into the inn. The innkeeper had already retired to his bed, leaving a banked fire in the hearth and Stan Crawford keeping vigil. The moment the door opened, Stan shook himself awake and rose to greet Morgan. He smiled broadly when he saw the sleeping woman Morgan carried in his arms.
“I was beginning to mink you were having difficulty,” Stan said. “Here, let me have Luca. I’ll carry her upstairs. I can tell by your aggravated limp that your leg is paining you.”
“My leg is fine,” Morgan said tersely, though in truth his leg trembled from exertion. “I’ll carry my wife. Just tell me which room is ours.”
“I’ll show you,” Stan said, more man ready to seek his own bed. “It’s between mine and Renalda’s.”
“Ah, yes, Renalda,” Morgan said, suddenly recalling the woman Stan had insisted they bring along. “Is she still determined to leave the convent?”
“Ave, more determined than ever. And I’m equally determined to take her with us, just in case you have any ideas to the contrary.”
Morgan’s answer was forestalled when Luca stirred in his arms and opened her eyes. “Where are we?”
“At the inn, sweetheart. Stan is here and so is Renalda. You’ll see them soon.” Content, Luca settled back in his arms.
Stan opened the door to Morgan’s room and handed him the key. “It isn’t much, but It’s clean. Take care of your wife, Morgan, she looks exhausted.”
“I intend to. Nothing is going to happen to Luca and our child.”
Stan’s eyes widened. “Luca is carrying your child? Bloody Hell, we didn’t get here any too soon, did we? You’re a lucky dog, Morgan Scott. Someday I hope to have children of my own. Good night, my friend. Sleep well”
Stan turned away. For the first time in his recent memory, he was jealous of Morgan He envied Morgan’s happiness, the child he had conceived with Luca, and the love they obviously shared. Later, as he lay in bed staring at the ceiling, the only woman he could picture as the mother of his children was a raven-haired beauty with sultry black eyes and skin as pale as Camilla blossoms.
Morgan carefully placed Luca on the bed and turned to light a candle. He heard her sigh, and when he looked at her he was startled to find her staring at him, her eyes luminous with the love she bore him.
“You’re awake. Go back to sleep.”
Luca sent him a beguiling smile. “I’m no longer tired. I slept nearly all the way here.” She held her arms out to him. “Make love to me, Morgan. It’s been so long.”
Her words sent instant heat rushing through his veins, and he felt himself grow heavy and thick. Despite her invitation and the swollen need rising taut and hard between his legs, he was reluctant to take her, fearful of hurting her or their child “You’re in no condition,” he reasoned. “The babe…”
“It won’t hurt the babe, Morgan. I’m not all that knowledgeable, but I don’t think husbands and wives stop loving one another when a child is expected. At least not until the last month or so. Please, Morgan, I need you.”
Her plea snapped the slim thread of Morgan’s restraint He unbuckled his sword and lay down beside her, holding her with bruising desperation. “It makes me ill just thinking how close I came to losing you and our child.”
“You’ll never lose us, Morgan. I’ll never leave you again. I love you too much.”
His arms closed around her, and his mourn came down
on
hers with a primal growl of raw need. He kissed her ravenously, reticence fleeing as he peeled away her clothing so he could feast on die succulent flesh beneath. Luca moaned, pressing against him, touching and caressing him, undulating against the inflamed ridge of his manhood with wanton abandon When she could no longer endure the barrier of his clothing between them, she began tearing at them in frustration.
Morgan made a gurgling sound deep in his throat and tore off the offending garments, flinging them on the floor to join hers. Her cool skin absorbed his warmth as she pressed against him, and she knew that she was nearly driving him over the edge. He gritted his teeth visibly as she touched him reverently; his shoulders, his chest his stomach, the throbbing ridge of his sex. His skin was smooth and silken yet as hard and unyielding as steel. When her hand closed around him, he jerked violently against her palm. A drop of lubricant appeared, and Luca lowered her head to lick delicately. He tasted slightly salty and delicious.
“Bloody Hell, Luca!” he cried out mindlessly. “Enough! You’re killing me. Lay back and let me love you.”
He cupped her full breasts and lowered his mouth to tease and warm each nipple until they peaked into rigid buds. His skilled hands roved over her body, caressing her with loving tenderness. She exhaled sharply when his lips followed, moving down her stomach, kissing the taut skin shielding their child. After thoroughly worshiping the bulging mound, he glided lower into the down beneath, and further still, his hands and tongue probing and titillating the slick folds of her femininity.
Luca moaned softly and moved fitfully, arching into the wet heat of his mouth, her hands mindlessly reaching for him as he diligently plied his tongue to her tender fount of pleasure.
Fury inflamed Luca as Morgan’s lips and tongue caressed her. It was primitive, mindless abandon. It was pure magic It was surrender. Release came with the sucking force of a swirling tornado, robbing her of wits and stealing her soul.
Gasping for bream, Luca tumbled back to reality. Morgan watched her, his eyes gleaming brighter than silver. “Are you all right?” Concern colored his words and Luca smiled, easing his mind considerably. “I’m going to come inside you now, sweetheart I’ll try to be gentle, but I’m so hard I’m afraid I’ll hurt you.”
“You won’t hurt me,” Luca murmured. “I want you inside me. I ache to feel you inside me again.”
Raising himself up and over her body, his hands found her warmth, and his fingers penetrated her, preparing her for his entry. Deliberately he dragged the swollen tip of his arousal against her dewy folds while caressing the hidden hood of flesh with his thumb. He aroused her slowly and with gentle thoroughness, and when she was gasping and writhing beneath him, he glided into her wet lubricated warmth, then rocked gently back and forth, slowly forcing himself deeper with each successive stroke. “Jesus, this is the closest I’ll ever get to heaven.” he whispered raggedly.
Luca’s legs came up to grip him, and she rose eagerly to meet each thrust. His hips flexed and he shoved himself deeper, moving faster, all restraint crumbling as her tight sheath sucked him deeper inside her. He ground himself against her, grasping her buttocks and lifting her to meet his thrusts. Wanting to prolong their pleasure, he cupped her face and kissed her fiercely. He could feel the tension building within her as she panted against his lips. Sensing she was close to the brink, he quickly brought her to climax before his own control shattered completely.
Luca was awash with sensation, responding to Morgan’s kisses by twining her tongue with his and raising her body to the thrust of his swollen shaft. Suddenly lightning struck in her heated certter, stars exploded behind her eyes, and ecstasy shuddered through her.
The end came to Morgan so violently he nearly lost consciousness. Jerking and moaning, he expelled his seed deep into Luca’s core. Fearing he would hurt her, he fell back onto the bed and drew her against him, reluctant to let her go.
“That was… spectacular,” Luca said shyly.
Morgan gave a shout of laughter. “Merely spectacular?” Suddenly he grew serious. “Did I hurt you?”
“How could something so… spectacular hurt? You gave me great pleasure, Morgan, and you know it. It’s been so long that I’d nearly forgotten how wonderful it could be. I tried not to mink about it in the convent, because I was so sure I’d never experience that kind of addictive pleasure again.”
“I would have come sooner, but my damn broken leg and resulting fever laid me up weeks longer than I expected. If not for Lard’s medicinal skills I would not be here now.”
“Lani? You went to Andros? I don’t understand.”
“It’s a long story, love.”
“Tell me, I’m not at all sleepy.”
Settling down beside her, Morgan explained how he came to be wounded. “I survived the sea battle without a scratch. So did most of my crew.”
“Then how…?”
“I was wounded by one of the palace guards. Bess didn’t exactly give me permission to leave England on the eve of my wedding to Lady Jane.”
Luca stared at him, her eyes wary. “You were going to marry Lady Jane?” Her eyes clouded. “Am I to assume we are no longer married?”
Morgan smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. “We are still very much married, love. Instead of signing the annulment document with my real name, I signed it El Diablo and hoped no one would inspect the signature. Clever of me, wasn’t it?” would inspect the signature. Clever of me, wasn’t it?”
“What need was there for subterfuge?” Luca wondered. “If you didn’t want to end our marriage, you should have made it clear to the queen.”
“Easier said than done, my love. To defy the queen deliberately is to invite disaster. ‘Tis common knowledge that those who earn her displeasure end up in the Tower. She threatened to imprison me and confiscate everything I owned if I did not marry Lady Jane. I have an aversion to closed-in places. I planned my escape carefully, but I did not count on Lord Harley’s spying on me.”
“You did all this for me?”
“For us. How could I wed Jane when I love you? You did make it rather difficult when you left England so abruptly. Had you stayed and told me about our child, ‘tis possible the queen might have relented.”
Luca looked so remorseful that Morgan wanted to kiss her sweet lips until their corners lifted into a smile. He did, bringing not only the desired smile but also a contented sigh. “Will you ever be able to return to England?”
“There is nothing left in England for me. I sold Scott Hall and withdrew all my assets from the bank. Everything I own is now on Andros.”
“You sold Scott Hall? Oh, Morgan, I’m so sorry. I know you loved the place.”
“I love you more,” he said so earnestly that Luca had no reason to doubt him. “I love Andros, too. It won’t be long before we’ll have neighbors. Some of my crewmen expressed the desire to marry and settle down on the island. The village will grow, and soon there will be children for our little ones to play with.”
Suddenly a shadow passed before Luca’s eyes. Morgan couldn’t help noticing the change. “What is it, sweetheart?”
“Will El Diablo continue to ply the seas in search of Spanish plunder?”
“Those days are over, Luca. My vendetta against the Spanish ended the day I married you. It’s taken me a long time to realize that there are more important things in life than revenge. Living with hatred made a bitter man of me, and until I met you I didn’t know the meaning of love. From now on I will concentrate on my plantation. England still needs the lumber I export aboard my ships. My London solicitor has agreed to handle my affairs in England. I seriously doubt Queen Bess will bother us on Andros. She is not a young woman. Her heir will likely offer amnesty to people like me if we wish it.”
“I don’t care where we live, Morgan, as long as we’re together. What about Stan Crawford?”
“He knows of my decision to retire El Diablo. He hasn’t told me yet if he intends to carry on where I left off or if he wants to settle down. I’ve offered him one of my ships if he still wishes for adventure on the high seas. He’s certainly rich enough to settle down should he desire.”