Page 104 of Discovering Her Earl

“What is this?” she asked as he came to take her hand again.

“The captain of a ship can perform a marriage ceremony.”

“We are marrying now?” she whispered rather than ask loud enough for the others to hear.

“Now that you’ve said yes, I don’t want to wait another minute. Besides, my birthday is coming quickly and I must be married after all. Does now suit you?”

She couldn’t argue because she didn’t want to wait either. With a smile on her face and no trace of doubt in her heart, she nodded and said, “Now sounds lovely.”

*

Julian smiled into his bride’s eyes as they said their vows in front of the crew and his longtime friend. The captain gave an efficient ceremony and when he prompted Julian to kiss his bride, he didn’t need to be asked twice.

He managed through an impromptu wedding breakfast, but when they’d finished eating, the weight of the journey to rendezvous with the ship began to catch up with him.

“Husband, I think I should take you to my room and allow you to rest.”

“Yes. Take me to your room, and I’ll give you a reason to need rest as well.”

She offered a naughty smile and took his hand to lead him below.

As he closed the door behind them, Lainey remembered the last time they’d been together. How sad it had been to have to leave him afterward that final night.

But this night held no trace of that heartbreak as he removed her gown with a sense of urgency that came from being apart and thinking they would never know such happiness ever again.

“Wife,” he said, but this time it wasn’t a question, her new title was said with sheer joy.

“Husband,” she answered and he groaned as he thrust inside of her.

“We never have to be apart again,” he promised.

Those words alone were enough to bring her pleasure, but her new husband went out of his way to make her cry out his name as she reached her climax.

But this time, he didn’t pull away when he found his release. Instead, he thrust deeper as he pulsed inside her body matching her own tremors. It was more than she’d ever expected.

Her happiness overflowed her eyes and ran down her cheeks.

*

That evening after another round of love-making with his wife and a generous nap, Julian and Elaina went up on deck to watch the sunset.

It gave him peace like he’d never felt before to know he would share a lifetime of sunrises and sunsets with her.

He wound his arms around her and kissed her neck. He was about to suggest they go back to their quarters when someone cleared their throat behind them.

Julian turned to see Bentley waiting patiently with a knowing smile on his lined face.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I wasn’t able to give you your wedding gift this morning.”

“Your being a witness to our ceremony was gift enough, Mr. Bentley. I’m so glad you agreed to join Julian for this journey,” Lainey said while squeezing his valet’s hand.

“As am I, but if you will permit me a moment of your time.”

“Of course, Ben. What is it?”

“Perhaps you should read it for yourself.” Bentley held out a letter.

As soon as Julian opened it, he noticed the handwriting as belonging to his father. The familiar tension pulled his fingers into fists.