Petals on the River (102 page)

ambitions to what he had done for nearly the last decade, constructing a

vessel slowly and surely one day at a time.

Shemaine was equally delighted at the news, for she could not imagine

her husband giving up a craft at which he was so skilled and gifted. The

two of them had stolen a private moment Itogether in their bedroom while

the elders continued to play cards in the parlor and Andrew napped in

his own room.
 
Maurice had begged passage to Newportes Newes with the

Beauchamps, but had ruefully promised Gage that he would be back on the

morrow, for he would not leave Shemaine until the matter between them

had been put to rest one way or the other.
 
Bess and Nola were in the

kitchen cooking supper, and for the first time since her parents'

arrival that morning, Gage and Shemaine were able to enjoy the pleasure

of just being alone together.

"Besides, you can't stop making furniture now," his wife told him.

"You'll be needing to build more beds and other things for our growing

family.
 
After visiting with the Beauchamps, I'm convinced that we've

both missed out on the fun of having brothers and sisters and should

seriously consider having a large family.
 
Oh, Gage, think of how much

enjoyment we could have bringing up a family and, when we're old and

gray, having grandchildren visiting us and crawling up into our laps for

a kiss or a story.
 
Twould be a veritable wellspring of delight and an

elixir of youth.
 
Why, look at your father.
 
He has gained new life just

being with Andrew."

Her persuasive arguments drew a grin from Gage's lips.
 
" Twould mean a

lot of work for us, nurturing and teaching them good manners, but

imagine the pleasure we can have making them." He smoothed the folds of

her gown over her stomach and drew back for a pondering perusal.
 
To

allow him a better view, his wife twisted this way and that, but he

shook his head, noting no change since the last time he had inspected

her.
 
"As slow as this one's growing, it won't be out of the coffer

until early next year."

"You're teasing me," Shemaine accused with a soft giggle, and snuggled

contentedly against him.
 
"You know full well that's when the baby is

due."

"Aye, but I was wondering if you had forgotten about the nine months it

takes for a babe to hatch.
 
With the number of children you're obviously

wanting, madam, twould seem to me that you'd always be having one

brewing and another nursing at your breast."' Shemaine could imagine the

frenzy of having to cope with so many close to the same ages.
 
"Well,

perhaps it wouldn't be right to rush them too much. After all, we must

give each of them time to reap the benefits of their infancy before

booting them out of the crib."

Gage chuckled in full agreement.
 
"And we'd have more time to relish

precious moments with our children.
 
Tis far more important to cherish a

child and discipline him in a gentle, caring way so he feels loved and

secure, knowing where his boundaries are within the family. Indeed,

madam, twould not be considerate of us to raise a large brood of unruly

hooligans that everyone else hates."

Shemaine smiled as she traced her fingers downward from his temple to

the firm line of his jaw.
 
"Your wisdom has already proven itself with

Andrew, my love, and I shall endeavor to heed your advice after our baby

is born, though I know I'll be tempted to pamper the sweetling unduly."

"And that would be good for you both, but let us not make the new baby

the most important member in the family.
 
After all, my love, your

husband enjoys being nurtured at your breast, too."

"Oh, I would never give up that ecstasy, my dearest," Shemaine averred.

"With just a simple reminder, my breasts tingle in anticipation." Her

sparkling eyes nearly bedazzled her husband as she clasped his open

palms over the swelling mounds.
 
"You see what you do to me."

His thumbs brushed across the hardened peaks, drawing sighs of pleasure

from her.
 
"Did I tell you how beautiful you look in your own clothes?"

Gage breathed, brushing his lips against her brow.
 
"You've always been

a delectable vision in Victoria's gowns, and I certainly didn't mind how

tightly they adhered to your breasts, but your own suit you better."

"Now at least I can breathe," she replied, sucking in a deep breath and,

in the process, expanding her bosom against his hands.

"Still, wearing your own clothes isn't quite as delectable as when you

wear none at all," Gage whispered.

Shemaine lifted a warmly suggestive smile to meet his glowing eyes.

"The same can be said of you, Mr.
 
Thornton." She slipped her hands

around behind his hips to stroke the taut muscles admiringly. "You have

the handsomest backside I've ever had the pleasure of viewing...."

"In all probability the only one you've chanced to view," he countered

in amusement.

"True," Shemaine conceded, "but I can appreciate good lines when I see

them."

"Maurice is tolerably good-looking.
 
How do I compare?"

Drawing back within his embrace, she feigned a perplexed frown. "I don't

know, Mr.
 
Thornton.
 
Maurice is quite a handsome specimen...."

"Humph!
 
" Gage's derisive snort evoked delicious giggles from his wife.

"Why, sir!
 
I do believe you're jealous!"

"I was better off not knowing just how handsome your fiance is," he

commented dryly, folding his arms across his chest and lifting his gaze

to the ceiling.
 
He maintained a stoic stance for a moment until her

laughter made him look down his noble nose at her.
 
Then, rather

incredulously, he queried, "Is that all you appreciate about me, madam?

My backside?"

Nestling close against him, Shemaine purred silkily.
 
"Certainly not,

sir.
 
There are other areas I find much more intriguing, but you'd think

me lewd for admitting that I suffer from a particular fixation."

Much placated, Gage slipped his arms around her again and was not at all

surprised to find himself responding to her suggestive remark. His lips

widened with amusement as he considered his own eagerness. "Haven't I

always encouraged your boldness, madam?
 
Perhaps we should explore your

fetish further."

She sucked her breath in through her teeth, as if anticipating a

delicious feast.
 
"Don't tempt me now, sir.
 
Tonight will be better.

With so many visitors in the cabin, these walls are not thick enough to

deafen my cries of delight."

"What?
 
Are you afraid you may give your mother the wrong impression

about her innocent little darling?" Gage teased, remembering her earlier

comment.

"Aye!" Shemaine grinned enticingly as her hand moved downward between

them, making him catch his breath.
 
"I don't want her to know that I've

become an insatiable wanton, always hungry for the pleasures you arouse.

My mother would faint dead away if she were to learn about my

obsession."

Her husband grinned down at her.
 
"Do you actually suppose she's never

touched your father the way you're touching me now?"

Shemaine tilted her head at a contemplative angle.
 
" Tis hard for me to

imagine my mother being so .
 
.
 
.
 
so forward."

"Your parents love each other, Shemaine.
 
Is it too much to suppose that

your mother would be eager to please your father in the same way you

please me?
 
And do you really imagine that we're the only married couple

in the world who make love without our clothes and a sheet between us?

You're far more of an innocent than you might imagine, my love, if you

believe that."

" Tis rather hard for me to envision my mother and father doing

everything we do," Shemaine confessed.

Gage smiled as he caressed her breasts again.
 
"They may not be as

creative, my sweet, but please allow that they may have some

imagination."

Shemaine heaved a disconcerted sigh and seemed suddenly shy about

fondling him.
 
"I'll not be able to look at them now without envisioning

them together in bed."

Gage chuckled at the honesty of his young wife.
 
"I'm sorry I've vexed

you with such worries, my love."

She pouted prettily.
 
"You should be, but I can understand that you

might have been jealous of Maurice and were tempted to seek a bit of

revenge."

"Him again!" Gage growled, and struggled hard to laugh away her

suggestion.
 
"How I wish I'd never seen his pretty face!"

 
"You needn't worry, my love." Shemaine sighed, nestling against him.

"You'll always be far more handsome in my eyes than other men will ever

be.
 
But then, my vision is somewhat obscured by love."

"As long as I have that, madam, then I'll be deliriously happy. And as

much as I desire to stay in here and play with you, I must go down to

the ship before the Morgans leave and talk to Flannery about some

things."

"And I'd better wake Andrew or he won't be able to sleep tonight,"

Shemaine said.

"Give me a kiss, then, to last me til we're together again," Gage urged,

pulling her close to him.

Eagerly rising up against him, she slipped her arms about his neck and

gave him what he had demanded until all of his doubts about Maurice had

been swept away.

There was something about having the brigantine sold that allowed Gage

to see the vessel in a whole new light.
 
Whereas before he had been

intent upon the unfinished areas and blinded by the clutter of building

supplies that was ever before him, his vision now seemed much clearer