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.“Don’t stop there, Lady Merideth.Take off the shift too.”The sound of the voice coming from the shadowy recesses of the room made Merideth stiffen.She dropped the linen.It landed in the water, splashing silver droplets of water across the polished wood.“Untie the ribbon,” came the next command, and Merideth had no choice.Slowly she reached for the pale-blue bow that held the gathered neckline of her shift taut.Her fingers pulled.The ruffed décolletage spread.When it grew wider than her shoulders, the fine gauze hesitated, then whispered to the floor.Merideth shut her eyes as the shift skimmed down her body, leaving her wearing nothing but the dented locket.“Now turn around.”She did.Her limbs were trembling, but she held her head high.“And come here.”Lightning flashed again and she saw him sitting on a chair beside the bed, his long legs spread out, crossed at the ankles.He wore no coat, and his shirt, shining white in the grainy light, was open to reveal the thick hair on his chest.Merideth swallowed as she walked toward him.His britches were tight, revealing the large raised ridge of his manhood.When she approached he opened his legs, and Merideth moved into the V.He leaned forward, touching his open mouth to her stomach, and Merideth’s hands surged through his raven hair, pulling him closer.“You shouldn’t have risked coming,” she said, then could say no more.For his lips had moved lower.Her head fell back and her knees grew weak, but by this time he’d cradled her buttocks with his large hands.“I can’t stay away from you.” His breath fanned across the tight curls at the apex of her thighs.“Would you really want me not to come?”She could barely think for wanting him.She’d always wanted him.There were times Merideth thought she might die from the deep desire she felt for him.But there were other things to consider.“I want you safe.”“And I am safe, Merry.Right here in your arms.” He nudged.His tongue probed and Merideth cried out.“I dream of that sound,” he said.“You’re with me, and I hear you, taste you, and I wake up so hard I ache.”“Oh, Jared.” Merideth dropped to her knees, her head against his chest.Her cheek rubbed his skin and she breathed in the manly smell of him.“Take me with you this time.Me and the children.”“Nay, I won’t have you on the Carolina.‘Tis too dangerous.”She looked up, her blue eyes shining with unshed tears.“But—”“Listen to me, Merry.” Jared’s hands bracketed her face.“We devised this scheme of pretending I’m dead to keep you and the children safe.I want no retributions on my family for things I might do.Besides, there’s to be a change.There’s a convoy of forty British ships in Charles Town harbor.”“More British?” There didn’t seem like there could be any more.“Less.”“Less?”“They’re leaving, Merry.The British are withdrawing from South Carolina.” He reached down, pulling his wife onto his lap.His hand splayed her hip, his face was buried in the rich gold of her hair.“It’s not over yet.But with the French helping us defeat Cornwallis in Virginia, and Charles Town free, it can’t be much longer.”“Oh, Jared, I’m so glad.”“Soon, Merry, I’ll be able to stay here with you and our two children.”“Three,” she corrected, turning to see the expression on her husband’s face when he realized what she was saying.“You mean.?” His hand curved around to her stomach.“Yes, and I was going to have a difficult time explaining how a respectable widow managed to get herself with child.”Jared laughed as he stood, gathering Merideth into his arms.In three strides he was beside the tester bed.“Probably because her husband isn’t really dead.And he loves his wife so much he can’t stay away from her.”Outside, lightning flashed and thunder roared, but in the bedroom—the bedroom once used by the pirate and his wife—Merideth and Jared Blackstone didn’t even notice the storm.*** THE END ***Dear ReaderI hope you enjoyed the second book in the Charleston Trilogy—tales of the Blackstone men.I loved writing about Merideth and her dark, dangerous privateer, Jared Blackstone.The Revolutionary War era is one of my favorites.Researching the period with all its different facets is so interesting.I never tire of learning about the brave men and women who forged our country.The Blackstone family is fictitious—though I certainly hope they seem as real to you as they do to me—but many of the people and events in this book are historically true.Benjamin Franklin, of course, did much more than experiment with electricity.His diplomatic endeavors in France during the war greatly helped the eventual American victory.He was a fascinating man with many varied interests—including the ladies—and I tried to portray him accurately.And yes, he really didn’t worry about spies.If anything, he considered details of his negotiations with France reaching English ears a bonus.And when it was discovered that the English had sent a representative to discuss peace with Franklin—a fact he didn’t try to hide—the French decided to speed up negotiations with the Americans.Privateers like Jared Blackstone also made a great contribution to the cause of liberty.They helped “even the odds” by harassing British shipping and capturing countless prizes
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