A Pirate of her Own (6 page)

“Good evening, Captain,” she said in the calmest of voices. She was proud of her poise, given the ridiculousness and horror of her situation.

“What the devil are you doing here?” he asked between clenched teeth.

She twisted her hands that were held in place by the ropes so that he could see them. “I am sitting in a most uncomfortable chair.”

“I can see that,” he said moving forward into the room. He knelt down in front of her chair. “How did you get there?”

Her eyes widened as he pulled out a huge dagger. An image of it plunging into her breast flashed before her eyes as Jake’s words echoed in her ears.

Serenity took a deep breath.

Footsteps thundered down the hallway. “I can explain, Captain,” Barney said as he appeared outside the door.

“You better,” the Sea Wolf said in the most intimidating voice she’d ever heard as he slashed the ropes holding her arms and legs to the chair.

More rushing footsteps.

Jake came to stand by Barney’s side, and the two of them stared into the cabin at the captain. “I was going to tell you about her,” Jake said.

“When? After she died of starvation?” The Sea Wolf’s jaw ticked as he rose slowly to his feet and turned to face Jake and Barney. “Dammit, Jake, what kind of mess have you dragged me into now? I would have thought you’d learned your lesson about kidnapping women.”

In spite of the anger in the Sea Wolf’s voice, Jake cracked a roguish grin. “Don’t take that tone with me, Drake. You know what I do to people who make me angry. Besides, would you have had me leave her behind for Hayes to question?”

The Sea Wolf returned his dagger to its sheath. “There were other alternatives.”

“Such as?”

“You could have warned her of the danger, and her father could have seen to her protection.”

Jake snorted. “Do you really think her father could have kept her safe from Hayes?”

The Sea Wolf tensed, and Serenity could see him debate Jake’s words.

Jake met her gaze and his smile died. “We just have to decide what to do with her in the meantime. I figure we only need to hide her out a couple of weeks before Hayes will pick up someone else’s trail and leave Savannah.”

“Weeks?” she asked in disbelief.

The Sea Wolf placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, which kept her from rising. “Her reputation’s ruined if we do that.”

“That’s not as bad as what Hayes will do to her,” Jake said nonchalantly.

“Who is Hayes?” Serenity demanded, and then she listened in horror as the Sea Wolf explained. Not that she had a problem with Hayes hunting down the dreadful pirates. They deserved to be hung for their crimes. But any man who would hand over a hero like the Sea Wolf, well, she certainly had a problem with that.

“You
can
take me home,” she said. “I could go stay with some of my family in Marthasville.”

“Aye,” the Sea Wolf agreed. “We could do that. I doubt if he’d—”

“
I
found her with very little effort,” Jake interrupted. “And you don’t want to know how much information about her family I was able to purchase. Hayes could easily track her to the home of a relative. And to get a prize like you, you better believe he would.”

The Sea Wolf raked his hands through his hair. “Jake, keeping her doesn’t make any sense. She doesn’t even know who I am.”

“That’s not entirely true,” Serenity couldn’t resist adding. She didn’t know why, but she liked taking the upper hand with the good captain. Maybe it was the arrogance of his stance, that devil-may-care attitude that seemed to bleed from every pore of his skin.

The Sea Wolf cocked a surprised brow. “What’s that?”

She rubbed her chafed wrists. “I didn’t know who you were until you came to the party. Your ire gave you away, sir, and as I told you then, if I knew the identity of the Sea Wolf, I would get his views on his activities.”

Ignoring Barney and Jake, who still watched them from the doorway, she retrieved her glasses from her coat pocket, along with her book and pencil. She put her glasses on, opened her book to the correct page, positioned her pencil for notes, then locked gazes with the captain. “So tell me, what got you interested in freeing American sailors?”

“Ah, bloody hell!” he cursed.

Jake folded his arms across his chest. “Now what do you think?”

“I think the girl’s ruined and you and I are going to hell for it.”

Jake laughed. “Given our past sins, I doubt if she’ll be the stone that tips the scales of our damnation.”

The Sea Wolf sighed. “Well, I guess there’s nothing we can do but make the best of it. It looks as if the girl’s to be our guest. Barney, see to it Kit makes my room ready for her.” He pinned his stare on Jake. “I really wish you’d told me what you had planned before you took it upon yourself to abduct her.”

Jake shrugged. “As if you would have come up with a better idea.” He clapped Barney on the back. “Come on, old man. Let’s go see to that room.”

Once they were alone, the captain turned to face her with arms akimbo. “Well, Miss James, I don’t suppose I’ll be able to keep my name from you much longer. Allow me to present myself, Captain Morgan Drake at your command.”

Morgan Drake. The name suited him.

“I wish I could say that I was pleased to meet you, Captain Drake,” she said with a curt sigh. “But under the circumstances I hope you will forgive me for being less than cordial.”

“I fully understand, Miss James. I suppose the last thing you intended tonight was a voyage.”

Serenity released her breath slowly at his words. She had finally done it. Instead of a quick and quiet adventure where she had planned to interview the Sea Wolf and gather a spectacular story before returning to the safety of her neat and organized little world, she now faced the most unsure future imaginable.

Even for her.

And she wondered if Lady Mary had ever felt as alone, as terrified, as she did now.

Morgan pulled out a small, engraved silver flask from his coat pocket and handed it to her. “You look as if you could use a stiff drink.”

“No, thank you,” she said, attempting to return it to his hands. “I don’t imbibe.”

He placed one lean finger on the bottom of the flask and lifted it to her lips. “Nor do you run off in the middle of the night with a shipload of men—unchaperoned.”

Her hand trembled to the point she could hear the liquor slosh inside the flask. He was right. Her life would never again be the same. There was no going back.

With a deep breath, she lifted the flask in a mock salute. “To adventure, then,” she said, taking a quick swig. The rum scalded her throat and burned a path to her stomach.

Gasping for air, she tried to force her lungs to work.

Through the tears in her eyes, she saw him smile. Heavens, he was dashingly handsome. Especially when he wasn’t scowling.

“You’re a bold one, Miss James,” he said, taking the flask from her.

She watched in awe as he took it to his lips, his mouth touching the very spot from whence she had sipped.

“And you’re a brave one, Captain Drake.”

He laughed and duplicated her toast.

“To adventure the likes of which I think neither of us has ever seen.”

“And to fate,” she whispered. “To the very fate that has abandoned us to turmoil.”

To the very fate that has abandoned us to
turmoil.

Why did that echo in Morgan’s head? Because in his short acquaintance with this particular woman, she had done nothing but turn his orderly world inside out.

What could possibly be more torturous than spending the next few weeks trapped on board a ship with a woman who tempted him so mercilessly?

And she managed to do it effortlessly!

Even now, covered in grime and looking like a half-drowned pup, this woman had something about her that made a certain part of his anatomy sit up and beg for her.

Great hooks and crooks, why did this have to happen now, when the last thing he needed was something, or most especially someone, to get in his way?

He must stay focused with his thoughts.

He must…

Morgan looked at her and he sighed. With her eyes lowered, she rubbed her arms against the chill. She looked so vulnerable and timid.

Worst of all, she looked a mess.

But when not covered in soot, she was a pretty little thing, with a keen mind and fiery spirit that attracted him to her every bit as much as if she were a raving beauty.

Morgan clenched his teeth. He must have done something horribly wrong in his past! He must have committed some awful, wretched sin that fate was now punishing him for.

Yes, well, you better make sure you don’t do something wrong in the future,
his mind scolded as he tried not to notice just how perfect Serenity’s cupid’s-bow lips were.

She was a decent woman, not some wharf-side doxy. Though he may have ruined her reputation, the least he could do was see to it that she was returned to her father every bit as intact as she had been when she left his home.

“I find it odd, Miss James, that you don’t demand I return you,” he said, noting the resignation in her posture.

“If I thought it would make you release me, Captain, I would. But you and Jake have made it quite clear that I have no voice in the matter.”

“And are you always this compliant?” he couldn’t resist asking as he remembered the way she’d boldly walked and talked circles around him that afternoon.

“Seldom.”

He laughed at her honesty. Still, he must make her understand the very real danger she posed. Not just to him, but to all of them. “Well then, Miss James, let me remind you that you’re on a ship
full
of men. Rough men who will be at sea for quite a few weeks. Men who aren’t used to having a decent woman near them.”

She sighed. “I believe it’s what my mother used to call a recipe for disaster.”

“Without a doubt.”

She nodded in understanding, her eyes bold and brave. The only clue he had of her nervousness was when she began to chew the corner of her bottom lip.

“Which brings me to my next point, Miss James. Though I trust my crew with my life, I don’t trust them with yours. There are several of my men who were Caribbean pirates before I took them on, and though I’ve had no problems with them before now, I have no idea how they will react to your presence.”

“An ounce of prevention—”

“Please spare me the old wives’ sayings.”

Serenity clamped her lips together as if in effort to stifle more sayings. Though he wasn’t sure, he suspected that she liked rankling him.

Mayhap it was the mischievous gleam in her eyes belied by her nervousness. Whatever it was, he had an impression that she wasn’t always so forward with men. Somehow he was different, and if the truth were known, he liked the thought that she might see him as different. That she wasn’t this forward with all men.

Rising to her feet, she covered a yawn with one hand, and it was then he noted the dark circles under her eyes. Aye, it was after three o’clock in the morning, and no doubt she was used to being long asleep by this hour.

Just as she opened her mouth to speak, the ship lurched beneath her feet and sent her flying toward him.

Morgan barely had time to prevent her from colliding with the wall. The weight of her body threw him against the rough boards, but he didn’t even notice. Nay, how could he notice any pain when a pleasure so sweet swept through him.

Her soft, supple body ran full-length against his, and even though she wore rough clothes, he could feel her body’s heat. Smell the sweet scent of rose wafting from her hair.

Her lips were parted slightly from her gasp of alarm, and wide, cobalt blue eyes stared up at him. A searing heat tore through his groin as his body reached out for her, and he swore that he could taste the sweetness of her honey breath.

What he wouldn’t give for a taste of her.

“Will I be safe with you, Captain?” she asked quietly, her voice like a shout in the tiny room.

“Most assuredly, Miss James,” he answered back.
About as safe as a lamb in a wolf’s den.

Serenity swallowed and her body tensed. “I believe I have my balance again,” she whispered.

Yes, but I seem to have lost mine.
Morgan reluctantly let go of her. And in that instant, he decided it was a good thing for Serenity that he wasn’t the sort of man who took advantage of young women. Because if he was, she’d be his this very night.

Grime and all.

“Follow me,” he said, his voice sounding odd even to him. Yes, it would be best to put as much distance between them as possible.

As quickly as possible.

Serenity followed him up the short ladder back to the main deck. The sky was as black as pitch, and only the ebony waves broke the monotony. A stiff breeze whipped the sails and made the wooden boards creak. It was a deafening symphony.

Salt stung her nose and she wondered how long it would be before she saw her family again.

What would her father say?

And did she really want to hear it?

Her heart heavy, she wished herself home, safely asleep in her own bed. Indeed, she was sure her father’s wrath would make the raging sea around her seem mild.

Would he ever forgive her? Or would he turn his back to her as he had done to Chastity? Abandon her to the same vicious gossips that had finally driven her sister away?

Don’t think on it. There is nothing you can do but go forward. Fate has deemed this time and place for you. And to everything there is a season.

Yes, but what season was it? A time to weep, or a time to laugh?

Taking a deep breath for courage, she swore that no matter what fate had planned for her, she would meet it bravely. Honestly. And if those old Savannah biddies treated her the way they had treated Chatty, then she would give them their full due. This particular James girl had more than enough brass to take on any gossip.

Morgan led her down below the deck, through a tight corridor until they reached a small door. He shouldered it open, then stood aside for her to enter.

Serenity wasn’t sure what to expect. She’d seen thousands of ships from the outside, but this was the first time she had actually been aboard one.

Stepping through the door, she was somewhat disappointed. Once again her imagination had run away with her. She had envisioned his cabin as an opulent room with rich satins hanging from the walls, maybe like a sheik’s tent. Of numerous chests spilling over with booty taken from English warships.

What she saw was a nice orderly room, low of ceiling and decidedly masculine.

The large bunk on her right was made right into the wall of the ship and covered with a beautiful blue and yellow charm quilt. Behind the bunk was a small cabinet that held a wash pitcher and basin.

To her left was a medium-sized trunk, and directly in front of her was a large oak table. But what commanded her attention was the wall of glass windows that looked out on a sea so dark and mysterious that it kept her transfixed.

“How beautiful,” she breathed.

“I often have that same reaction to it,” Morgan confessed from behind her.

“Do you ever grow accustomed to it?”

“Never.”

She looked back over her shoulder to see him staring out at the sea as well. With the lantern light shadowing his face and his hair tousled about his tanned cheeks, he reminded her much of the wolf for which he was named.

Serenity found it overwhelmingly attractive.

And deeply disturbing.

Time seemed suspended.

He stared at her with a raw hunger burning bright in his eyes. His entire body tense, he stood as frozen as she.

Kiss me.

Serenity felt her face grow warm at her thought. Oh, but he was so very handsome. Just the type of man she’d dreamed of on so many lonely nights. The type of man she’d giggled about with her sisters and friends as they exchanged stories on what features and characteristics they wanted for their beaux.

But it was a foolish thought.

He was a man of the sea. A man who would no doubt live and die on board a ship, and she was just the plain spinster daughter of a printer.

It wasn’t for her to have such thoughts.

Clearing his throat, he moved to his trunk and pulled out a towel and shirt. “I’m afraid we’re lacking in feminine garb. You’ll have to make do with this until we can find more suitable clothing.”

Serenity took the clothes from him, stung by his obvious rejection. She had been so sure he was going to kiss her. He’d had the same look Charlie Simms got right before he made free with his hands.

“I’m sure I look a fright,” she whispered, moving toward the table. Morgan came up behind her so close that she could smell the salt of his skin, feel the heat of his body.

Until he put a small mirror up to her face. “I must say I’ve seen you look better,” he said.

Serenity gasped. Goodness, she looked worse than she’d feared.

“I should caution you against any further inclination to roll around in the dirt, Miss James,” he said, with a teasing note in his voice. “Fresh water is scarce on a ship and we have very little for washing.”

That said, he took a pitcher from the cabinet in the wall and poured a small amount of water into the washbasin. Before she could move, he dipped a small cloth into the water and brought it up to her face.

She couldn’t move. She held her breath as he slid the cool cloth over her face and neck. His long, lean fingers brushed her skin, raising chills all the length of her. And even stranger than the chills was the sudden warmth that began to drum through her entire body.

“Captain?”

“Yes, Miss James?”

“I…” Serenity couldn’t finish her sentence. All she could do was stare up at him, aching for something she couldn’t name.

And then he did it.

His lips claimed hers with a firmness that took her breath. Arms as strong as steel wrapped around her and brought her up close against a body so hard and solid that she couldn’t imagine any man feeling better.

Her legs weak, she surrendered her weight to him.

Now, this was a kiss, she thought, as he parted her lips and explored her mouth with the expertness of Don Juan. This was the wonder, the thrill that romantic authors wrote of, and in that instant, she knew that she would never want another man to hold her so intimately.

Serenity felt him tense an instant before he stepped away. Her mind numb, she could do nothing but stare at him in confusion.

What had prompted him to kiss her so passionately?

And why did he look so upset now?

Did he regret it?

He ran his thumb over his lips and stared at her with an unreadable expression on his face. “You are a very dangerous woman, Serenity.”

“Me?”

“Aye. And the worst part is, you don’t even know why.”

Completely baffled, she stared at him as he strode to the door.

“There are extra blankets in the chest, should you need them,” he said, pulling open the door.

He paused in the entrance and turned to face her. “And Serenity?”

Still dazed, she looked up and met his dark stare.

“Make sure you lock the door.”