Piracy

53. Forever with Him

Harry surprised me. 

Every step of the way.

He surprised me by having me kidnapped and brought aboard his ship; a fate I would have never guessed for myself. A fate I would never have chosen, if given the opportunity, yet a fate that I now cherished.

Harry shocked me with his overt sexual advances and his painfully obvious confidence. Of course, I was frightened at first, but intrigued at the same time. I had wondered what made this magnificent, powerful young man so irresistible and why, no matter how he treated me, I couldn't resist him. 

Harry surprised me with the tenderness hidden inside him, dormant and waiting for the right person to awaken it. I would have imagined any sexual activity with such a man would have been violent and painful, but from the very moment I first saw him pleasuring himself, he was vulnerable and beautiful. 

I was surprised that my own convictions about morality and Christian behavior crumbled so easily under his example and instruction. I still knew that sexual intercourse was designed for a husband and wife to express their love to each other and to bring forth new life. Clearly, Harry and I weren't married when we began our mutual exploration, but I felt there was no alternative out at sea, with no one to wed us for hundreds of miles. The very first time I opened my heart and my body completely to him, he became my husband in my heart.

I was surprised - and quite proud of myself - that I had survived desperate situations, rescuing Abigail, enduring Madera's abuse, helping Harry to reclaim his kingdom. In less than a year's time, I had become someone completely different than the girl I used to be. 

All because of Harry. 

And now, he was a kindhearted, yet powerful, king and I was blessed to reign beside him as his queen. I wished my parents could see me - I hoped that perhaps they could peer down from heaven and be proud of me and who I had become.

* * *

I entered our bedchamber late one evening and found Harry, slumped in a chair with a glass of wine in his hand, looking rather pensive.

"Darling?" I questioned "Is everything all right?" 

He didn't answer. So I decided to tell him about my day. "I finished helping Hadley with her blankets for the baby. She is thrilled beyond measure, waiting for this little one to make his appearance. She believes it to be a boy, and Niall agrees. In a few months' time, we shall see." 

I untied the bodice of my dress and let it fall to the floor. I gathered it up and hung it neatly in the wardrobe. Wearing only my underclothes, I pulled out the tie in my hair and let it fall around my bare shoulders. I stood in front of the mirror and brushed through it carefully - some days it became rather tangled. 

Upon finishing my night-time routine, I went to sit at Harry's feet. He had finished his glass of wine, but hadn't moved from his spot. "Harry, darling, what's troubling you?" 

Sluggishly, he lifted his head and focused on my face. "Why do you love me?" He asked solemnly. 

"What kind of question is that?" I asked lightly. "The reasons are too many, my love. Just a few things that come to mind are the fact that you're kind and compassionate, you're a wise king, and you have always treated me with the utmost respect."

"Not always," he said, dropping his eyes back down to his lap. "For god's sake, Wren, I kidnapped you!"

I reached for his face and caressed his cheek with my palm. "Sweetheart, is that all that's bothering you? We've been through this. What you intended for evil has turned out better than any of us could have imagined. You've freed your mother from torture, you've reclaimed your rightful throne and you are in the process of restoring your country. They needed you, Harry. And you brought Niall and Hadley together, not to mention Louis and Danielle, and now Abigail has a mother once again. And Gemma - she would still be a lost, spiteful orphan if things hadn't turned out this way. Now you just stop this nonsense! I forgave you long ago, and now it's time you forgive yourself."