The Ransom (38 page)

“How can you ask me such a thing when you have misused me so horridly?”

He took another step closer, his boots thumping on the deck.

Her hand ached from the weight of the pistol, but she held the gun up anyway, hating that her eyes moistened with tears, that he saw his effect on her. “Your intentions become clear to me, now, Pirate.”

He folded his sinewy arms and stared at her, curiously. “And, pray tell, what are they?”

“You are a scoundrel of the worst kind. The type of man who takes advantage of a woman who has no father or brother to stand up for her, a woman who carries the burden of her family’s support. Then you shower her with kindness, weaken her will.” With each word, each revelation, fury inflamed every inch of her. “All so you can take her to your bed!”

His eyes latched upon her, gray raging across the blue like a thunderstorm. A muscle in his jaw ticked. “Do you find me so callow, so base?” Anger spiked his tone.

Ignoring the terror pinching her heart, Juliana thrust out her chin. She would not allow another man to abuse her—not with neglect and insults as her father had meted upon her, nor with fickle untrustworthiness as Rowan had done, and certainly not by ravishing her, as this pirate intended. Squeezing her eyes shut, she pulled the trigger. The weapon flew from her hand. A loud crack roared in her ears. Smoke bit her nose. Coughing, she pried her eyes open to see the Pirate Earl staring at her through the haze, the smoking weapon in his grip.

Fury tightened his lips and stormed across his eyes. Tossing the weapon down, he grabbed her shoulders, lifted her from the seat, and pressed her against the bulkhead, pinning her there with his body. His face was within inches of hers. His breath, hot and spicy, wafted over her cheek and down her neck.

Her breath came rapid. Her blood raced. What was he going to do?
Oh, God, have mercy!

He plucked the knife from her sash and flung it over his shoulder. It stuck in the opposite wall with a thud, expertly placed. Why did she ever think she could out maneuver this man, this warrior?

Trying her best not to tremble, she raised her gaze to his, not wanting him to see her fear.

His eyes penetrated hers. “When are you going to understand how much I care for you?” His desperate whisper feathered over her cheek and sent a ripple down to her toes. Heat from his body infused her own. Strength from his arms kept her in place, but the look in his eyes stole her voice. A strand of black hair wavered over his jaw, where an evening shadow grew.

A patch of white clung to the area beneath the horse patch, inflaming her anger once again. Reaching up, she ripped it from his skin and threw it in his face. “Charlatan!”

He blinked as a slow grin lifted his lips.

The ship creaked over a wave as their breath huddled between them. He raised a hand and brushed the back of his fingers over her cheek.

Then lowered his mouth to hers.

Juliana lost all reason. Warmth and pleasure spiraled through her, coupled with a desperate need she’d never felt before, a need that if it was not met would surely cause her demise.

He opened her lips with his and deepened the kiss, gently loving her, each caress a promise of more—more intimacy, more joy, more love. More of him. He cupped her face in his rough hands as if she were a precious vase of gold and he a curator of fine art terrified to break her.

She groaned, searching through the pleasurable waters of her mind for a lifeline—anything to grab onto to pull herself from this sea of ecstasy before she was lost in its depths forever. There, a thread of anger appeared. She fed it with memories of betrayal and lies. It grew and she latched on. And shoved against him.

He withdrew and caught his breath, his eyes glazed with desire.

“How dare you take such liberties!” She raised her hand to slap him, but he caught it with a look of devilish delight. Moisture sat upon his lips, evidence of their kiss.

“I only took what was offered, milady.”

“How could I offer anything when you have me imprisoned against the wall?”

“’Tis called a bulkhead, and your lips were not shackled. In fact, they moved quite freely.” A grin peeked at her from the right side of his lips.

She gave a rather unladylike growl.

The door flung open and the doctor entered. “I heard a gunshot.” His gaze scampered over the two of them and his brow raised.

Mr. Pirate glanced at him over his shoulder. “Quite all right, Jonas. The minx tried to kill me is all.” He chuckled.

Juliana swept pleading eyes to the doctor. Surely this educated, somewhat-refined-for-a-pirate would come to her aid. “Doctor, if you possess an ounce of gallantry within you, you will rescue me from this man’s vile intentions.”

Instead of swooping in to save her, the doctor laughed.
Laughed!
Mr. Pirate joined him as Juliana’s fury rose to near boiling.

When he finally ceased his laughter and faced her, she offered him a coy smile.

Before kneeing him in the groin.

Chapter 30

An agonizing throb seared down Alex’s legs and radiated into his belly. He bent over with a mighty groan and backed away from the vixen. A moment ago his body had been spinning in pleasurable ecstasy; now it pounded in fiery spasms. His vision blurred. The room tilted. He felt like a grenade had gone off in his groin. Drawing a deep breath, he struggled to rise, determined to regain his dignity and not allow the lady the satisfaction of seeing him suffer.

Too late. She crossed arms over her chest and gave him a victorious smirk.

Jonas scratched his whiskers. “Rescue you, miss? Of what need? You seem more than capable.”

“Mayhap next time, Mr. Pirate,” she snapped. “You shall consider the consequences before stealing a kiss from me.”

“Milady.” Alex attempted to contain the agony in his voice with a sly grin. “’Twas well worth it.” Then storming toward Jonas, he dragged his friend into the hall and slammed the door behind him, instantly bending over with a groan.

Jonas clapped him on the back and chuckled. “She’s a hellion, Captain, I’ll give you that. I believe you’ve met your match at last.”

Alex straightened and limped down the companionway, groaning with each step. “My match, Posh! The woman merely needs to learn her place.”

Jonas was still laughing when they burst onto the quarterdeck to a blast of salty wind and a black sky sprinkled with stars. “If you’re quite done …” Alex glared at him as he took a quick account of the sails and the ship’s position and made his way to the starboard railing.

“Apologies, Captain. ’Tis just that I’ve never seen anyone get the best of you. I’m finding I rather like it.”

“Don’t get used to it.” Alex gripped the railing and allowed the cool evening breeze to tear over him. Blast the woman! How could his body throb both with pain and pleasure at the same time? Just as his heart was doing.

Jonas rubbed the whiskers lining his jaw. “Honestly, Captain, you can hardly blame her. You’ve put her in a rather precarious situation.”

“What choice did I have? Leave her with that dog, Nichols?”

“I don’t believe the man would have done her harm.”

“Mayhap not, but I have no faith he would have protected her either.”

“Hmm.” Jonas braced his boots on the heaving deck as he stared out to sea.

His silence pricked at Alex’s conscience. “I care for her. She’s better off with me.”

“On a pirate ship? Full of lusty miscreants?” Jonas nodded toward the crew, some of whom were even now casting furtive glances toward Alex’s cabin. “Don’t your own articles forbid bringing women on board?”

Alex clenched his jaw. “My men will not dare cross me. Not if they wish to live.”

“’Tis true most of them fear you, but they are pirates, after all. And, pray tell, you’ve never brought such a worthy prize on board before.”

Alex gripped the railing tighter. Jonas was right. His crew’s loyalty went only as far as the treasure he gained them. If any of them thought they had a chance at more than that, at power or a comely woman, they wouldn’t hesitate to band together and take it. Lowering his gaze to the agitated foam clawing the hull, he released a heavy sigh. What had he done?

“I intend to bring the lady back to Port Royal posthaste. Is Larkin awake?”

Jonas shook his head.

“As soon as he recovers himself, let me know. We can’t return to Port Royal until I ensure the Spanish tapestry is not on board. Once I determine that, we’ll turn about, and I’ll deliver Miss Dutton safely to her home.”

Moonlight broke through a rift in the clouds and shone on the disapproval lining Jonas’s face. “I hope you’re right, Captain. ’Tis a dangerous game you are playing. She’s a proper lady who deserves better than this.”

Alex growled, his anger rising. “I love her, Jonas.”

“So, you deceive her? Pretend to be someone you’re not? That’s not love.”

“And what do you know of love?”

“I know the Bible says love is kind, unselfish, and true.”

Alex pushed from the railing and crossed arms over his chest. “Spare me your religious trifles, Jonas.”

“Very well, but the truth remains.”

The great Caribbean Sea spread before Alex, as thick and dark as ink, as thick and dark as his soul. Yet heavenly light dared to sprinkle silvery jewels atop the waves. Here and there. Not all, but only those swells that reached for the sky. Was that the truth Jonas spoke of? That one had to reach to receive the light? Nay, Alex had tried that. He had reached toward God and received only darkness. Regardless, his friend meant well.

“You’re worse than a nagging wench, man.”

“Alas, ’tis the task with which I am burdened.” His tone was mockingly superior.

“And, pray, who burdens you with such a task? Certainly not me!”

“Nay.” Jonas cast him a sideways glance. “I answer to a higher authority than the Pirate Earl. ’Tis the Almighty who has assigned me to steer you from this destructive course you’ve set upon and back onto the right way.”

Alex chuckled. “Those hours poking your nose in medical journals have made you mad, Jonas. God, if he even exists, has naught to do with me. Nor would he assign anyone a task so doomed to failure.”

“We shall see, my friend. We shall see.” Jonas smiled as sails snapped and thundered above. The brig soared over a wave then plunged into its trough, showering them in salty spray.

“What will you do now that your ruse is up?” Jonas asked.

“That Lord Munthrope is the Pirate Earl?” Alex shrugged. “It will give society something to talk about for years to come, I’m sure.”

“But you will be forced to choose an identity, will you not?”

“Munny was a mere entertainment. I am a pirate.”

“But is that what you were meant to be?”

Alex glanced at his friend with a cynical snort. “There is no
meant
in life, my friend. Just a day-to-day existence.”

“No rhyme nor reason, no purpose save one’s pleasure? How sad.” Jonas frowned, then bid Alex goodnight and walked away.

Infuriating man!
Alex stared after him. Why he kept him on his crew, he had no idea. Nay, he did know. Jonas was a friend. Alex’s only friend, it would seem. He gazed back upon the chaotic sea, feeling like his life mimicked the random waves tossed here and there by tides and wind. Nay! He pounded the railing.
He
was in control of his destiny. No God would imprison Alex with his many restrictions. No God and no man. Alex was free.

After some time, the pain subsided in his body. But not in his heart. He supposed Juliana had a right to be angry at his deception, even though his intentions had been pure. Was he being selfish? Only thinking of his own needs and desires? But he’d helped her, protected her, hadn’t he? Or had it been only to get close to her for his own enjoyment? And now, he’d put her in more danger then she ever had been in on the streets of Port Royal.

♥♥♥

Sometime in the darkest hours of the night, the lock clicked on the cabin door and it creaked open. Juliana, lying upon the only bed in the room—a bed that smelled of salt and mold and the Pirate Earl—gripped the knife she’d pulled from the wall tightly to her chest. And waited. Boot steps thudded in hollow echoes toward her, then stopped. The mighty form of the Pirate Earl, silhouetted in moonlight streaming through the stern windows, stood just feet from the bed. Juliana’s heart leapt to her throat and stayed there, choking her. The smell of rum, cinnamon, and the sea filled her nose. Then he retreated into the shadows. A groan, a creak of wood, and within minutes the sound of his deep breathing filled the cabin.

It took Juliana another hour before exhaustion finally tugged her into unconsciousness.

She dreamt of Lord Munthrope, a flurry of satin and glitter, dancing like a jester before a cheering crowd, his limp hands held high, his face a mask of absurdity. But then as he continued to leap and prance, the white paste on his face began to melt away, the satin and lace turned to leather, the white wig to coal-black hair, the ribbons on his chest to pistols, the fan in his hand to a cutlass. And the dance to the lithe movements of swordplay. Yet it wasn’t play at all as he slashed and hacked through the crowd of Port Royal society, who continued to laugh and clap even as he drove his blade in for the kill.