A Pirate’s Wife (19 page)

'See, there is hope for me,' he chuckled, helping her

to sit up, draping a robe over her naked shoulders and

brushing against the soft skin. Their eyes locked. The blush

that appeared on her face was the most appealing thing he

had ever seen. He smiled. 'Beautiful.' He cupped the

bruised face. 'I love you.'

'I thought it was a dream.' Her eyes wide in wonder

'No dream, my Rosa.' And he kissed her on the

cheek 'This is real. I have to admit it caught me off guard

but once I accepted the feeling I could not keep it for

myself.' He touched her cheek softly. 'Do you believe me?'

Sheepishly she nodded her head as she stared up to

him, her heart racing but her mind still in turmoil. 'Yes, I

believe you,' she finally said and he grinned.

Walking to the table, he brought the food over and

helped her to eat. She was not as tired anymore and they

could talk a few minutes before Pierre called him away to

attend to a matter on the upper deck.

Later, after the doctor visited, she dozed off in a

restful sleep and when she woke Enrico helped her wash

her hair and she lay in the warm bath, careful not to

dampen the bandaged shoulder, soaking the stiffness away.

Her body stung, but it felt good to be clean again. She

wiped the salt water from her body. Her face was swollen

but Enrico ensured her she still look beautiful. All through

the afternoon she thought about Roberto and his feelings

for her. He asked her to trust him and she knew she did

trust him. But would that be love, to respond to the love she

could clearly see in his own eyes? He said he wanted to

discuss something and he was quite serious. What could it

be?

When the evening bell rang she was at her place at

the dining table. Her eyes met his briefly and she could feel

her heart leap. She smiled at him and he returned the smile

just before one man captured his attention.

She was tired but happy. Her shoulder throbbed but

it could not smother her heart rate every time she looked at

him or listened to his strong, calming voice.

The men were glad to see her, bringing her up to

date with the condition of the ship as if she was a part of

them. She listened intently, enjoying the food set before

her.

Roberto could not help but sit and stare at her with a

sheepish grin on his face. Everyone knew his feelings,

since he had confessed it loudly enough. That was his own

stupidity, but it was no use in fighting it. He knew from the

moment he saw her in the harbour of Lisbon he had lost his

heart. And it had almost cost her life for him to recognise

his feelings for her. Now he was not willing to let her go

and he hoped that she would trust him enough to protect

her the best way possible. Once she was in the Falcon's

hands there would be no way of protecting her. He had to

act while still on the open seas. But to do that he needed

her trust and love.

Once he was on the upper deck the men had been

congratulating him the whole day. There was much

bantering among the men, which he took with a gracious

smile, accepting it as part of his life.

Now as he watched her he knew what he was about

to offer to her was the only way to protect her and he was

willing to do it.

Later she excused herself stifling a yawn behind a

hand and Roberto knew this would not be the best time to

talk to her about this important subject. This would change

both their lives in an instant.

He followed making sure she was safe in her cabin

before he too returned to his grand cabin to bring his

journal up to date.

14

Several days later Rosa-Lee was nearly healed after

the storm. The bruises on her face were almost completely

gone and the shoulder was without pain although still

tender to the touch. The rest of the bruises were now

something of the past and the relationship between Roberto

and Rosa-Lee had grown. She was now more aware of him

as man. His constant companionship convincing her that he

was genuine in his feelings. His courting was obvious as he

spent time with her, making sure her needs were met. What

amazed her was that he did not care what the men said in

passing. They joked about his affections when they were on

the upper deck. The hardened pirate was all soft and

mellow in her presence and she learned more about him

during this time. Still he did not speak about the thing he

wanted to ask her. She could see how he stopped himself

on several occasions and when she asked him about this he

said he was waiting for her to heal completely which she

thought was considerate of him. But still it kept her

wakeful most nights, her feelings in turmoil.

One thing she did knew was that she was not

indifferent to him as he had put it. She cared about him.

She felt safe in his presence. The man captured her

thoughts as days went by and their destination came closer

and closer.

She and Pierre also developed a friendship under

the vigilance of Roberto. The three spoke about life at sea,

the stars and many more subjects in great depth. Roberto

was always taking care of her, which caused a lot of banter

between the two friends. Their relationship had been born a

few years back when Roberto had saved Pierre's live. One

could not miss the respect and devotion between the two.

They knew each other well.

One evening, just after the meal, Roberto had to

attend to some paperwork in his cabin and she went out on

the upper deck to stroll in the moonlight. By now, her

wounds had healed. She was left with a scar on her

shoulder, the only reminder of that night, a night filled with

fear, but also with the revelation of Roberto's love for her.

The doctor assured her that with time it too would

fade. She kept her hair over the shoulder to cover it from

public view. Twice Roberto removed the soft strands to

touch the deep pink scar, his eyes smouldering with

passion. The previous evening while taking her for a stroll

he once again did so and planted a soft kiss on it. His lips

barely brushed her skin and the whole act left her

breathless. She wondered how it would feel to be loved by

him. There was no rush in his action as he stroked her neck

and shoulder and told her how beautiful she looked. She

was lost in his eyes and when the moment passed she felt

deprived, her body shivering at the loss.

She loved the evening walks; the sea breeze in her

long hair, the sound of the ship cleaving the waters. It

always made her feel that she was a part of something

bigger.

Over the past few days she and Roberto became

good friends. He never mentioned his feelings again and

she left it there, searching her own heart for the feelings she

had for him.

She told him about their life in Portugal as

landowners, the tension among the people, and other

landowners not listening to the complaints.

The villagers had caused a few funny moments,

which she told with zeal. She really missed them all.

Every night they would stroll on deck, enjoying the

night air. Sometimes he would tell her something funny

that had happened during the day that made her to laugh

loudly.

One night when Roberto was called away Rosa-Lee

continued walking alone. When she came to the port side,

she noticed a figure in the shadows. At first she gave it no

attention since there were always men around, and

screamed when a cold, calloused hand pressed her down.

Roberto, engrossed in his work, heard the scream.

Every bone in his body came to life. Immediately he rushed

up to the upper deck. When his eyes were used to the

darkness around him, he saw two figures struggling on the

port side.

He could make out that the one had to be Rosa-Lee

because of her dress. He rushed over, hearing a blunt voice

speaking to her in a frightful manner. Anger filled Roberto

when he realized what was going on. The man held her

down tight against the railing.

'Come on, Señorita, one kiss,' he hissed with a

lustful tone.

'No! Leave me alone!' she screamed, struggling in

his hold.

He smirked again. She tried to get away, pushing

and slapping him with one hand she had managed to free

but he was too strong for her.

'Stop!' Roberto shouted out. 'Who is there?'

Startled, the dark figure looked at him, pushed her

hard against the railing and ran away.

It looked like the new sailor; the one man that he

did not trust on his ship. Roberto followed him as he ran

down the steps to the lower deck right into the arms of the

doctor who was on his way up. The doctor seized him.

When Roberto caught up with him he was seething.

He did not take too kindly to men that forced

themselves on ladies, especially his lady.

'You were out of line, sailor.' His voice was stern

and cold.

'Yeah, but she is worth it. I want to have a taste of

that lady as much as you do.' He was arrogant and defiant.

'With one difference. The lady is not interested in

you, you rat! Her scream made her intentions well-known.'

Roberto clipped out.

Pierre just heard the commotion and also came out

of his cabin, hearing the last words of the defiant rat.

'They all like to scream until you kiss them and then

they became like putty in your hands,' the sailor bragged.

'You reckon? Pierre, take him away. We will deal

with him in the morning.' Roberto said in a low, cold tone.

When he stalked out, the arrogant bastard called out

behind him, 'I will have my turn.' Roberto turned around.

With lightning speed and with one blow to the jaw he sent

him against Pierre with a thud. The sailor was silent as

blood formed on his lip.

'Bastard, lock him up!' he seethed. With one pull

Pierre led him away.

Roberto ran upstairs as Rosa-Lee came towards

him, rubbing her arms, shaking from the sudden scare.

'Are you all right, my Rosa?' he asked the moment

he saw her. He opened his arms and she stepped in as he

folded her into his chest.

It was the second time that she had heard the term

of endearment and her heart sped up.

'I am all right. A little shaky.' She wrapped her arms

around his neck without any hesitation and stood in his

embrace, her head on his shoulder. For a while, they stood

there, the thumping of his heart in her ears. It was a

beautiful sound to her, a sound filled with love and hope.

He caressed her until he could feel that she relaxed

against him and then let her go.

'Again, my hero,' she said, smiling. 'It's becoming a

trend now.'

He smiled. 'I will always protect you.' Drawing her

closer, he placed a kiss on her forehead.

'When are you going to talk to me?' she whispered

in his coat and he pushed her slightly away, searching her

eyes. All he saw was trust, and
could it be? Love?
He

pressed her against him and said, 'Follow me,' and directed

her down the stairs to his grand cabin.

Once inside with the door closed he offered her

wine, since she was still trembling, and sat next to her.

Each took a few sips to calm them from the sudden

rush. He looked at her, making sure she was all right, and

placed his glass on the desk.

Rosa-Lee watched in awe as Roberto knelt before

her, removing the glass from her hand, and asked,

'How do you feel about me?' his dark ochre eyes

were wide and serious. Careful curiosity filled them as he

watched her. His face was still stern but a muscle rippled in

his jaw. He was nervous, she realized, and whatever he

wanted to ask was causing this.

Her answer was critical to him. He held both her

hands in a firm grip, his tension real.

For several days she had thought about her feelings

and the things he invoked in her. His presence was secure

and strong. He was not afraid of admitting how he felt. She