Whispers of the Sea (The Compulsion Bride Series) Book II (Unedited)

Part 11 ~ Chapter Fifteen

How was he supposed to get his baby?

Jake had everything, he wanted; A wife, a healthy one too, that prove that she was adequate for childbearing and that they make gorgeous children, but she would not invite him in her bed. He poured himself another glass of whiskey from where he sat on the railing of the ship, from the Alf. His feet dangled off the edge and he sighed, looking up at the night sky, stars twinkled at him from the darkness, proving that in the darkest hours light still find a way to brighten a path. He had felt hopeless when he thought Samantha dead, but faith brought him back to her and even given him a daughter. It did not do so to mock him and made him suffer or was he asking for too much after it had given him so much? He brought the glass to his lips, taking a huge gulp.

It was his wedding night and here he was with a bottle of whiskey and a glass as companion. Never in his dreams had he ever expected such a thing to happen, on what was meant to be a pleasurable night. Samantha bewildered him, one minute she was returning his kisses, then everything changed and she became angry, confused. Those kisses stirred Jake's body alive with just the mere thought, god, it had been so long since he was near the edge like that and the longing to kiss her hold her in his arms was so strong since the day, he was reunited with her. Jake had sat in his cabin, holding the Breath of the ocean necklace in his palm; a necklace he was told to give to the person who completed his heart, it was the perfect wedding present for Samantha and after many hesitance, to visit her, he had courageously found himself knocking at her door. Light, seems to glowed off her when he saw her, dressed in just a chemise and her golden tresses blanketing her slender frame. And that smell, christ, Jake had never been so obsessed with vanilla. It had engulfed him, fogged his mind with only the thought of her in his arms. She had hypnotised him without using any magic.

He sighed wearily, the weight of what happened tonight--what she said was heavy on his heart. He had called her that awful word, not knowing the truth, so tangled with the need for her, the first time they made love, he didn't even realized she was an innocence because he didn't expected her to be. All those blushes and coyness, were tossed aside as her being a bloody great actress. She was right about one thing, no matter how much she would have tried to convince the world that she was pure, they would not have believed.

He would not have either.

She grew up in a dam brothel! How was he to think otherwise, not to mention, she pretended to be with all those men. His eyebrows wrinkled, He'll only know of her acquaintance with Larson and Joshua. The others were just rumors, which she neither denied nor accepted. He knew they didn't touch her but what puzzles him was his friend. Was he just only playing the part? Did he know? Joshua was craftier than he thought Jake chuckled bitterly, raising the glass to his lips.

"Potions cannot cure the heart."

Jake almost choked on his drink, he looked down at the water, coughing rapidly. "But it can, kill a man, if you scare him like that while he's drinking it." He cleared his throat, one last time and exhale exasperatedly when Tierna kept staring at him, with curiosity. "Do you wish to join me?"

"A royal invitation, worthy of every treasure."

Jake rolled his eyes, the creature's unrelenting urge to refer to all aristocrats as Royalty never cease to irritate him, taking another sip and without warning Tierna came out of the water and sat on the railing beside him, knocking the bottle overboard. "Dammit!" Jake cursed, watching the bottle disappeared in the water, with a frowned he turned back to the mermaid. Whose tail have been replaced by legs and was in a shimmering attire of a blue silk gown. Her waves of curls floated around her, like a cloud of smoke and she smile at him.

"That was the only bottle, I had managed to hide from my cook." He said, disappointedly.

Tierna turning to the water, stretch her hand out and the bottle and all its content floated in the air before them. The liquid returned to the bottle and came to rest in the mermaid's palm. "Human's potion is not good for the sea." She said, thrusting the bottle out at him. Jake took the bottle, that floated in midair and brought it to his nose, it still smelled good.

"Thank you." He placed it beside him, but not before filling his glass and looking out at the sea. "I believe you are already aware of my nuptial?"

"Congratulation. A Rare gem destine for you."

"I don't know what to do Tierna, she hates me, and I know that she's hurting but I'm not sure it's entirely my fault. She always refused to answer my questions, it is like the answers are too great for her to speak. Perhaps she needs time, I did take her from her home, adding another reason for her to despise me." But Samantha was hiding somethings from him, he was sure of it. Her past had affected her tremendously, with her childhood daemons still lingering and he wanted to make her happy, make her forget any past dark experience.

"Time is endless, but it can also be painful." Tierna said, softly. "What you need is laughter and forgetfulness to make it count."

Jake's forehead creased, then by slow gradations his eyes widen, and he turned to the creature. "Tierna! You are a genius!" His laughter seems to echo throughout the ship, Jake knew what must be done to make Samantha willingly come into his arms and although it would take lots of restrain. It would be worth it; his future would be rewarding.

"A human, comes above." Tierna, grabbed hold of his hand, turning his palm over. She rested a brush made of solid gold, with silver flower etchings and crystal teeth. "A present. For your gem." quickly she lowered herself back in the water and disappeared, just as Ambrose came into view.

"Your Grace! A pleasant surprise seeing you up here. Don't tell me your bed's suddenly to cold for you."

"What are you doing still awake?" Jake glared at his first mate, swinging his feet around, he grabbed the bottle in his other hand holding it firmly with the glass, and jumped back on deck. "I thought, you were already abed, don't tell me you miss me already and seek me out." He snorted, walking towards the wheel deck.

"No, I thought, you might not make it above tonight and the ship might need a captain, while you are fulfilling other duties."

Jake sighed. "Well, you have gotten your answer." He stopped and turned around with his arms stretched wide. "She hates me enough to not share my bed, but I have got an idea." He grinned, pointing the brush unconsciously at Ambrose.

"Pretty, never know you were one to, carry a brush around," Ambrose said folding his arms, Jake only response was a dismissively shook of his head. "and tell me this grand idea of yours?"

"I'm going to ignore my wife."

Ambrose blinked. "That doesn't make any sense. She's been doing that to you ever since you both met." His first mate said trying his hardest to keep his lips from twitching into a smile under Jake's admonitory glare.

"I'm so close to making you fish food." Jake said sternly. "And I meant, I'm going to ignore her as my wife and thus treat her like a long-lost sister we'll be best of friends and with friendship comes trust. I'll show her how much I cherish her." He will make her laugh, filled her memories with happiness. A promise of what a lifetime with him can be. She wanted him to stay away, he will, but not like she expected for he would be secretly drawing her closer to him. 

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