The Princess's Valentine Read online

  She would have knocked it out of his hand, but someone had to be reasonable. And she was thirsty.

  She mumbled a thank you and sipped her drink, eyeing Reggie while he watched her.

  After drinking half the glass, she drew her robe tighter around her and crossed her legs. “Maybe you can tell me why Chelsey has proceeded with this insane notion.”

  Reggie clearly looked uncomfortable from the flush on his cheeks to the way he kept squeezing the back of his neck.

  “I’m not certain what I should or shouldn’t say. The Cap is in charge here—”

  “The Cap told me everything on the ride over about how Mister Reiner forced himself on her and the events at the tavern. Why she couldn’t wait to tell me this in a few hours and on land is beyond me! And why go through all these shenanigans?” Daisy rubbed her forehead where a throbbing ache had formed.

  “I think part of it has to do with celebratin’ Valentine’s Day and the other where she needed stay out of sight from the authorities. Maybe she didn’t want to be with only me and the boys for company and was lonely without you?” Reggie shrugged. “You’ll have to ask her yourself. She should be down shortly.”

  “I think I will.” Daisy slid back on the bed that reminded her of the one she and Chelsey shared at home, but with burgundy satin sheets instead of white cotton. She ended up sitting against the headboard and listened to the slapping of the waves as the ship moved.

  “I should go up above and help out with the crew. You won’t get into any trouble if I leave you by your lonesome?”

  Daisy gave Reggie a smirk. “What type of trouble can I get into here? It’s not like I’m going to jump out the window and swim back to shore or destroy the room in a rage. Unlike Chelsey, I’m a lady in all things and I won’t end up in hysterics, cursing you all to hell.”

  Reggie nodded and backed away, keeping an eye on her the entire time as she smiled maliciously at him.

  When he walked out of the room and locked her in, she grabbed a pillow and punched it, wishing she could tear it apart to release the frustration and anger she was feeling. She started to do just that when her hand cramped.

  Suddenly the fight went out of her and she lay on the bed, clutching the pillow to her chest. The rocking of the boat soothed her. She stared up at the night sky through the window, watching the stars twinkling above. She’d never forget the times she and Chelsey would lay together in Chelsey’s bed aboard her old ship, The Lady Desire, loose limbed and sated from their lovemaking. Those nights were very precious to her because that was when they sailed off together to the island they now called home. From the instant they had admitted their love, they had never spent a night apart, always sleeping next to one another with their arms and legs entangled, much like their hearts were.

  I miss you so much, Chelsey, even though I could ring your bloody neck!

  She imagined Chelsey tied to the bed and her on top, with her hands around Chelsey’s throat, gently squeezing as she rubbed her mound against Chelsey’s wet one. She shuddered. Her nipples hardened and a familiar tingling formed in between her legs whenever she thought about making love to Chelsey.

  Chelsey…She yawned and nestled deeper into the bed, wishing she was here so they could talk. She would get to the bottom of Chelsey’s careless and ridiculous actions. This wasn’t how she envisioned spending her Valentine’s Day. As soon as she saw Chelsey, she would tell her that and so much more.

  She missed Chelsey’s arms around her and the way her breath would tickle the back of her neck as she slept. She blinked, trying to stay awake, but the incidents over the past hour had exhausted her. She’d sleep and mostly likely awaken when Chelsey came to her…

  * * * *

  Chelsey had no idea what to expect from Daisy when she unlocked the door and entered her cabin. She could have been met with something hard thrown at her head or a furious Daisy spewing curses at her. What she found instead was a sleeping Daisy huddled under her robe. Her foot stuck out and her toes twitching. Chelsey smiled, remembering how one morning she sucked on each one of Daisy’s toes and ended up licking up her legs and in between her thighs. She’d love to do that now, but instead of Daisy’s caresses, she might get a swift kick to her head.

  She stopped at the edge of the bed and yawned. She still had so much to do before the morning, which would arrive in a few hours. She studied her sleeping wife and the comfortable looking bed, hoping to catch a quick nap before she finished with Daisy’s Valentine’s Day surprise.

  She ached to hold Daisy. Never one to walk away from a challenge, she took off her boots and slipped carefully into the bed. She lay on her side, curving her arm around Daisy and snuggling up against her back. Daisy mumbled her name and took hold of her hand, moving back against her and then going silent.

  Chelsey listened to Daisy’s breathing, the tension in her body disappearing as she settled down to sleep. She set her internal clock to wake her as the sun rose and kissed Daisy’s hair, whispering how much she loved her and hoped Daisy would forgive her for her actions of late.

  She fell asleep to the rocking of the ship and to Daisy’s soft snores that sounded like music to her ears.

  Chapter Nine

  Something soft nudging her nose woke her out of a deep sleep. Daisy wiped her face and stretched. The smell of roses lulled her back into a doze.

  Roses?

  Her eyes snapped open. She wasn’t in her bedroom at home where she could hear the surf of the ocean and smell coconuts from the coconuts trees outside her window. She stared above at the unfamiliar ceiling and then sat up, blinking her eyes. Last night came back to her in a rush and she pushed back her hair in irritation. A rose petal fell on her lap. She lifted her hands to her mouth, swallowing a gasp. The bed was covered in white roses! She crawled to the end of the bed and saw the floor was blanketed with more petals. Bundles of roses also hung from the walls.

  “Oh my,” she whispered and surveyed the room. Roses were everywhere, covering every table and chair. Her eyes widened when she spotted the closet. A gown that looked exactly like the one she wore for her marriage ceremony hung over the door.

  She stood up from the bed and walked over to the dress, trying not to slip on the silky petals as they stuck to the bottom of her feet. When she reached the closet, she noticed a note was pinned to the dress, written by Chelsey.

  Princess,

  After you finished bathing and eating your breakfast, please put on your wedding dress and join me above deck for your Valentine’s Day celebration.

  Your loving pirate wench

  Bemused, Daisy detached the note and read it over again. She sighed and shook her head, looking around for water and a towel to bathe herself with. She found neither.

  The door rattled and Reggie entered, dressed in a crisp black jacket and matching breeches, a white ruffled shirt underneath and his hair combed. He bowed as he stood in the open doorway.

  “Good morning, Ms. Dreadin. If you join me, I’ll escort you to the bathing room where you can use the bath at your disposal and partake in the light repast there. Bring your dress with you, erm…women’s underthings are also waiting for you to put on.”

  Reggie apparently looked uncomfortably mentioning her undergarments, but she only smiled and didn’t bother to tease him. She took her dress that was freshly laundered and ironed, and followed Reggie out into the hall where more roses petals awaited, scattered across the floor.

  “Oh my, this is lovely!” she exclaimed. She took Reggie’s arm he offered her and led her into the bathing room where a large ceramic tub filled with warm, floral scented water waited. Next to the bath was a table with a steaming pot that smelled of coffee and a basket of pastries. The whiff of strawberries came from within and when she peeked inside, the majority of the pastries were strawberry tarts, the same ones she loved to make with Chelsey’s mother, who, when she was a girl, was once her cook.

  “I’ll come back for you in an hour,” Reggie announced and shut the door behind hi
m.

  Happy tears filled her eyes and she lifted a tart and took a big bite. She carried her treat with her and got undressed and settled into the bath. She gave herself a good soaking, curious as to what else Chelsey had in store for her.

  * * * *

  Daisy took one final look at herself in the mirror, pleased with her unbound hair flowing across her shoulders and down her back, much like she’d worn it on her wedding day. If only I had a wreath of flowers or some sort of fancy clip to decorate my hair. She couldn’t criticize the way her dress fit and turned to the side, nodding in approval that she hadn’t gained any weight. Surprisingly she had lost weight, most likely from her fretting about Chelsey.

  Before she could contemplate further, there was a knock on the door.

  “You may enter,” she commanded, and Reggie opened the door, still wearing his genteel outfit.

  “Are you ready to meet the Cap…erm I mean, Chelsey?” he asked, tugging on his cravat.

  “I’m ready as I’ll ever be. My bath and breakfast were wonderful. Please give my compliments to whomever helped set up the room and took the time to scatter the roses around.”

  Reggie gave her a smile. “Me and the boys pitched in while Cap…Chelsey gave the orders.”

  “I’ll have to thank the men then,” Daisy said softly and accompanied Reggie above.

  The sunlight blinded her as she climbed up the ladder and onto the deck. Not a cloud marred the sky and the clear, cerulean ocean went on forever. She walked over the shiny, waxed deck and circled in wonder at the white streamers and bows hanging from the ship. She longed to explore and discover the ship’s mysteries, just like its captain, who stood above near the fore sail, staring down at her. Their eyes met and Daisy walked across the deck, climbing the stairs to meet her wife who was also wearing the same gown she wore on their wedding day. Unlike hers which was ivory, Chelsey’s was more an off white with silver and black ribbons running along the hem and bodice. Her hair was also loose but a small, pink lily snuck out from behind her ear.

  “I can’t believe you’re wearing your wedding dress,” Daisy said in surprise.

  “You’ve seen me in dresses before, princess,” Chelsey replied in a drawl and placed a white rose among Daisy’s curls

  Daisy’s eyes flickered when Chelsey’s fingers brushed over the side of her neck.

  “You look beautiful,” she said and pressed her cheek into Chelsey’s palm.

  Chelsey’s hand dropped away. “I thought if I dressed for the occasion, you’d forget the past day or so.”

  Daisy took a step back and folded her hands, uncertain how to proceed.

  A frown crossed Chelsey’s face. “Daisy?”

  “We still have to talk about your rash actions and how agitated I am at the lengths you took to bring me on your ship. A ship I was clueless about.” Daisy wagged her finger.

  “We will, but later,” Chelsey murmured, a beseeching look in her eyes showing she wanted the opposite. “But first, will you let me show you the ship I built in your honor? This is one of the many surprises I had planned for you for today.”

  A ship just for me? Daisy lifted her hands to her chest and stared at Chelsey in wonder. And when Chelsey turned around and produced a bouquet of pink lilies for her, she wanted to grab Chelsey and give her kisses across her face and other places better suited to be done in private.

  “These are for you.” Chelsey held out the flowers. “I remember how happy you were to have them at our marriage ceremony. I also haven’t given you flowers since then. I needed to rectify that.”

  Daisy took the flowers and lifted them up to her nose. “I haven’t given you flowers either. From now on I’ll make certain fresh flowers are in the rooms on the ground floor and in our bedroom every week.”

  “This means you’re not leaving me and won’t be moving in with your brother and Martin?” Chelsey asked and pushed one of Daisy’s curls off her shoulder.

  “Chelsey, I was upset and angry at what I saw between you and that horrible man. I wasn’t going to leave you. I just needed time to think things through and calm down before I did something unlady like and threw the china at your head.”

  Chelsey half nodded, but disbelief still lurked in her eyes. Daisy opened her mouth to argue, but Chelsey placed the pads of her fingers over her mouth.

  “As I said before, it’s better if we leave this important discussion for when we’re alone.” A soft smile filled Chelsey’s face. “But first I must show you the dolphins that have been swimming alongside the ship all morning.”

  Daisy allowed her hand to be taken by Chelsey as they walked down the stairs to watch the dolphins together.

  * * * *

  By mid-day Chelsey had grown antsy. Daisy was acting as if all were right between them, but the forlorn look that would come and go in her eyes told her things weren’t progressing as she’d have liked. She had to fix this somehow and regain Daisy’s trust. She didn’t want her to pretend like everything was fine. She was tuned in to her princess’ emotions well enough to know when she was unhappy. The past few months she’d ignored it, blaming fatigue and the long hours she worked. But no longer. She would fix this here and now, and when they returned home everything would go back to the way it once had been in the first months of their marriage.

  Daisy leaned over the edge to watch the dolphins, and that had put a huge smile on her face. She wanted to be the one to make Daisy smile. Her hand crept over until she placed it over Daisy’s and left it there, watching Daisy’s face, the face she never stopped thinking about even when she slept.

  “You’re staring at me,” Daisy said, glancing at her from the corner of her eye.

  “I’m staring because you’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Each day you grow lovelier than the last.”

  A blush filled Daisy’s cheeks. Soon she would see if she could make Daisy’s entire body turn red by the pleasures she gave her once they returned to their cabin down below.

  “You and your pretty compliments.” Daisy sighed and finally looked away from the water and straight at Chelsey. “I’m ready for our talk now.”

  Chelsey wiped a palm down her mouth. Now her face felt hot. There was no use pushing off the inevitable any longer.

  “Would you like to convene below in our cabin? We can chat there and enjoy some wine and snacks until dinner.”

  Daisy nodded and folded her hands in front of her. “Lead the way. I’ll follow you wherever you want to go.”

  Chelsey’s chest tightened over Daisy’s words. “Daisy love, I would never expect you to follow me. It should be the other way around. But I prefer you to be by my side always…wherever our paths may take us.”

  Daisy gave her a genuine smile that met her eyes this time.

  Chapter Ten

  The room was as Daisy had left it, but Chelsey had her wait outside with the door closed while she—‘fixed the room to rights’. After a few minutes, the door swung open and Chelsey stood there, her eyes roaming across Daisy’s face. Every time Chelsey stared at her in such a manner, she grew slick with need and felt the urge to disrobe and allow Chelsey have her wicked way with her. But first they had to open the lines of honesty between them again.

  “Are you willing to enter my abode, Ms. Daisy?” Chelsey twined a piece of her hair around her finger and gave her a sultry look.

  Daisy pressed her palms to her cheeks and opened her mouth in fake shock. “I may be taking my life into my hands if I do.”

  “There’s that possibility.” Chelsey held out her arm. “But I’ll be here to protect you from all harm.”

  “And who will protect me from you?” Daisy replied in a saucy tone, flipped her hair over one shoulder, and walked in.

  Not much had changed. The roses still hung on the wall and the floor and bed were covered in petals. But now lit candles stood on shelves and their meal had been laid out on a table. A small velvet box lay on a plate and next to it was a slim, wider one.

  Daisy rested her pal
m over her stomach. “I’m suddenly famished.”

  “You didn’t eat much of your breakfast?” Chelsey asked and drew her forward.

  “I had a strawberry tart or two,” Daisy replied and sat down in the chair Chelsey held out for her. “Those were a nice touch.”

  “I thought you’d enjoy them.” Chelsey sat down next to her. “It makes me remember better times with my mum, and of you when you were all sweet and innocent.”

  “I’m still sweet.” Daisy picked up a red grape and popped it into her mouth. “But no longer innocent, thanks to you.”

  Chelsey sat back, silently watching as Daisy chewed. She grew self-conscious but brave enough to speak up. “You always stare at my mouth when I eat. Is it because you’re recalling all those naughty ways I use my mouth on you?”

  Chelsey cleared her throat and tapped her lip. “When I thought of us having our discussion, I didn’t think it would lead to you flirting with me.”

  “When you set the room for seduction, what else should I think?” Daisy lifted a brow and popped another grape into her mouth.

  “We could always skip our important chat and put those grapes you’re sucking down to good use, including the wine I can’t wait to lick off your titties. But then nothing would be resolved between us.”

  Daisy almost choked over Chelsey’s blunt words, but coughed lightly and poured herself and Chelsey another glass of the wine. “True.” She took a sip, enjoying the flavor. “Why was it so important for you to become partners with such an unscrupulous fellow like Mister Reiner, who apparently was up to no good in the first place?”

  Chelsey sipped her wine. “I didn’t realize how unscrupulous he truly was. I thought I could handle him. Why didn’t you voice your concerns about Reiner right from the start? I would’ve listened to what you said and took it into major consideration.”

  Daisy stared down at her lap. “It made you happy. The last time I saw you that way was the day we married. I could tell how bored you had become and that you missed sailing on the open seas.” She bit down on her lip. “I didn’t want you to resent me for taking that away from you. I know you loved your life even though it was dangerous and illegal.”