The Gift

by Julie Garwood

  “It’s your back, Nathan,” she whispered. “It’s covered with scars.”

  He shook his head. No one had ever dared mention his disfigurement to him. Those who’d seen his back pretended not to notice.

  “Thank you for telling me,” he snapped. “I never would have known . . .”

  Hell, she started to cry. His sarcasm was obviously too much for her, he decided. “Look, Sara,” he muttered in true exasperation. “If the sight of my back offends you, go below.”

  “It doesn’t offend me,” she answered. “Why would you say such a mean thing?”

  Nathan motioned to Jimbo to take over the wheel, then clasped his hands behind his back so he wouldn’t grab her. The urge to shake some sense into the woman fairly overwhelmed him. “All right, then, why did you scream?”

  His voice was as brisk as the wind. Sara guessed he was a little sensitive about his marks. “I was very angry when I saw the scars, Nathan. Did you have an accident?”

  “No.”

  “Then someone deliberately did this thing to you?” She didn’t give him time to answer. “What monster inflicted such pain? My God, how you must have suffered.”

  “For God’s sake, it happened a long time ago.”

  “Was it Pagan?” she asked.

  “What?” he asked.

  He looked startled. Sara thought her guess had been right after all. “It was Pagan who did that to you, wasn’t it?”

  Jimbo started coughing. Nathan turned to glare him into silence. “Why in God’s name would you think it was Pagan?” he asked Sara.

  “Because he’s mean enough,” she answered.

  “Oh?” he asked. “And how would you know that?”

  She shrugged. “I heard that he was.”

  “It wasn’t Pagan.”

  “Are you absolutely certain, Nathan? No one knows what the villain looks like. Perhaps it was Pagan, and you just didn’t realize it because he didn’t give you his true name.”

  He let her see his exasperation. “I know who did it.”

  “Will you tell me who it was, then?”

  “Why?”

  “So I can hate him.”

  His anger vanished. Such loyalty stunned him. “No, I won’t tell you who it was.”

  “But it wasn’t Pagan.”

  She could drive a man to drink, Nathan thought to himself. “No,” he answered once again.

  “Nathan, you don’t have to shout at me.”

  He turned his back on her in dismissal. Jimbo moved away from the wheel. Sara waited until she and her husband were all alone and then moved closer.

  He felt the touch of her fingertips on the top of his right shoulder. He didn’t move. The feathery light caress down his back was incredibly gentle, and provocative, too. He couldn’t ignore it, or the strange feelings her touch evoked.

  “I wouldn’t have poked you in your back last night if I’d known about your injury,” she whispered. “But I couldn’t see in the dark, and I didn’t . . . know.”

  “For God’s sake, woman, it doesn’t hurt now. It happened years ago.”

  His abrupt tone startled her. Her hand dropped back to her side. She moved over to stand beside him. Her arm touched his. She looked up at his face and simply waited for him to look at her again. His expression could have been chiseled in stone, she thought to herself. He looked just the way she pictured a Viking. The ripple of muscles cording his shoulders and his upper arms were those of a fit warrior. His chest was covered with dark curly hair that tapered to a V at the waistband of his breeches. She didn’t dare look any lower, for to do so would be brazen, and when she returned her attention to his face again she found him watching her.

  She blushed. “Nathan?”

  “What?”

  Did he always have to sound so resigned when he talked to her? Sara forced herself to sound pleasant when she apologized. “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.”

  He didn’t think that comment was worthy of a response. “Will the captain mind?” she asked then.

  “Mind what?”

  “Mind that you’re directing his boat for him.”

  His smile was heartwarming to her. “It isn’t a boat, Sara. You may call the Seahawk a ship or a vessel, but you must never call her a boat. It’s an insult, bride, and we captains take grave exception to hearing such blasphemy.”

  “We captains?”

  He nodded.

  “Oh, Nathan, I didn’t realize,” she blurted. “Then we’re rich?”

  “No.”

  “Well, why not?”

  Hell, he thought, she looked disgruntled. Nathan quickly told her how he and his friend Colin had started the shipping company together, why they’d decided that he should remain a silent partner, and he ended his brief summary with the fact that in approximately ten months time, give or take a month or two, their company would take a turn into sure profits.

  “How can you be so certain that in just a year we’ll be rich?”

  “The contract I signed.”

  “Do you mean a contract for shipping services?”

  “No.”

  Her sigh was dramatic. “Please explain, Nathan.”

  He ignored her request. She nudged him. Lord, getting anything out of him was such a strain. “If you’re so certain about this, I’ll be happy to help you.”

  He actually laughed. Sara took heart. Her offer to lend a hand had obviously pleased him. Her voice was filled with enthusiasm when she said, “I could help you with the books. I’m really quite good with figures. No?” she added when he shook his head. “But I want to help.”

  He let go of the wheel and turned to face her. Lord, she was a fair sight today, he thought to himself as he watched her try to manage her wild curls. The wind was high, making the task impossible. She was dressed in pink. Her cheeks were flushed, adding to the lovely picture. His gaze settled on her mouth. Her lips were just as rosy as the rest of her.

  He gave in to his sudden urge. Before she could back away from him he grabbed hold of her shoulders. He pulled her up against his chest, then threaded one hand through the curls behind her neck. Her hair felt like silk to him. He made a fist of the curls, then jerked her head back so her face was tilted up toward him. He told himself that it was only for his own peace of mind that he was going to kiss her, knowing full well that once he explained the special task she was going to have to undertake she’d start screaming again.

  “We’ll each have a special duty to perform,” he told her. His mouth was getting closer to hers. “It’s my duty to get you pregnant, Sara, and it will be your duty to give me a son.”

  His mouth settled on top of hers just in time to capture her outraged gasp.

  Sara was simply too stunned to react at first. His mouth was hard, hot, incredibly demanding. He was drowning her with his warmth, his taste, his wonderful masculine scent.

  Nathan wanted her response. She didn’t disappoint him. When his tongue moved inside her mouth to mate with hers, her knees went weak. She put her arms around his neck and clung to him even as she tried to wiggle out of his embrace.

  She didn’t realize she was kissing him back, didn’t know the sounds she heard belonged to her.

  Only when Nathan had her full cooperation did he gentle the kiss. God, she was soft. He could feel the heat inside her, wanted to get closer, closer. His hands moved to cup her derrière, and he slowly lifted her off the ground until her pelvis was touching his own, then pulled her tight against his arousal.

  His mouth slanted over hers again and again. He wanted to be inside her. Nathan knew he was close to losing all sense of discipline. His hunger was demanding to be appeased.

  The whistles and hoots of laughter penetrated his mind then. His crew was obviously enjoying the spectacle he was giving them. Nathan tried to pull away from Sara.

  She wouldn’t let go of him. She pulled on his hair to get him to deepen the kiss again. He gave into her silent plea with a low growl. The kiss they shared was openly carnal, but w
hen her sweet tongue rubbed against his he forced himself to stop.

  They were both out of breath when they drew apart. Sara couldn’t seem to keep her balance. She fell back against the wooden ledge adjacent to the wheel. One hand rested on the swell of her bosom, and she let out a ragged little whisper. “Oh, my.”

  As soon as their captain had quit touching his bride the men returned to their duties. Nathan glared at several backs before he looked at Sara again. He couldn’t help but feel extremely satisfied when he saw the bemused look on her face. It made him want to kiss her again.

  He had to shake his head over his own lack of discipline. He decided he’d wasted enough time on his bride and turned his attention back to the wheel. He scowled when he noticed his hands were shaking. The kiss had obviously affected him a little more than he’d thought.

  It took Sara much longer to recover. She was trembling from head to foot. She had no idea a kiss could be so ... thorough.

  He certainly hadn’t been affected, she thought when she saw the horridly bored look on his face again.

  She suddenly felt like crying and didn’t understand why. Then she remembered the obscene remarks he’d made about her special duty. “I’m not a brood mare,” she whispered. “And I’m not at all certain I like you touching me.”

  Nathan glanced back over his shoulder. “You could have fooled me,” he drawled. “The way you kissed me—”

  “I believe I hated it.”

  “Liar.”

  It was an insult, yes, but the way he’d said the word actually warmed her heart. He made it sound very like an endearment.

  That didn’t make any sense. Was she so desperate for a word of kindness from the Viking that she now responded to insults? Sara could feel herself blushing. She stared at her shoes and folded her hands demurely in front of her. “You can’t kiss me again,” she announced, wishing her voice had sounded a little more forceful and less breathless.

  “I can’t?”

  His amusement was apparent. “No, you can’t,” she told him. “I’ve decided that you’re going to have to court me first, Nathan, and then we must have a proper ceremony performed by a true minister before you may kiss me again.”

  She hadn’t looked at him when she made that emphatic speech, but when she was finished she glanced up to gauge his reaction. His expression, unfortunately, didn’t tell her anything. She frowned at him. “I believe our marriage could be challenged in the courts unless we say our vows to each other in front of a man of God.”

  He finally let her see his reaction. She wished she’d been left guessing. Lord, his scowl was as hot as the noon sun beating down on them.

  But his eyes . . . the color was so vivid, so true, so mesmerizing. When he was looking directly into her eyes he made her forget to breathe. A sudden thought settled in her mind. Her Viking was actually very handsome.

  Why hadn’t she noticed that before? she asked herself. Good God, was she beginning to find him appealing?

  Nathan pulled her from her thoughts when he said, “Are you thinking you’ve found a way to breach this contract?”

  “No.”

  “Good,” he countered. Almost as an afterthought he added, “As I instructed you before, I’m not about to dissolve this contract, Sara.”

  She disliked his arrogant tone. “I already knew that before I was so instructed.”

  “You did?”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “How?”

  She started to shake her head at him again, but Nathan stopped that action when he hauled her back into his arms. He firmly grabbed hold of her hair.

  “Unhand me, Nathan. You make my head ache when you tug on my hair like that.”

  He didn’t let go, but he did begin to rub the back of her neck. His touch was very soothing. Sara had to catch herself from letting out a telling little sigh.

  “You realize how much I want the money and the land, don’t you, Sara?” he asked. “That’s why you know I won’t walk away from the contract.”

  “No.”

  Nathan didn’t know why he pressed her for an explanation. His curiosity was caught, however, because she was acting so damn shy. The woman didn’t make any sense to him, and he was determined to understand how her mind worked.

  “Then why did you know I would want to be married to you?”

  “Well, why wouldn’t you?” she whispered.

  “Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Nathan, I’m everything a husband could want in a wife,” she blurted out. She tried to sound as arrogant, as self-assured as he did whenever he talked to her. “Truly,” she added with a vehement nod.

  “Is that so?”

  She could see the laughter in his eyes. Her bluster of pride immediately began to evaporate. “Yes, I am,” she said.

  A fine blush covered her cheeks. How could anyone sound so arrogant and look so shy at the same time? he wondered. She was such a contradiction to him. “Would you care to tell me why you think you’re everything I could want?”

  “Certainly,” she replied. “For one, I’m pretty enough. I’m not plain,” she added in a rush. “I’ll admit I’m not a raving beauty, Nathan, but that shouldn’t signify.”

  “You don’t believe you’re a ... raving beauty?” he asked, amazed.

  She gave him a good frown, for she was certain he was deliberately baiting her. “Of course not,” she said. “You must have a cruel streak inside you to taunt me over my appearance. I’m not overly ugly, Nathan. Just because I have brown hair and brown eyes doesn’t necessarily mean I’m . . . homely.”

  His smile was tender. “Sara, haven’t you ever noticed how men stop and stare when you pass by?”

  She wished she could strike him. “If you mean to imply that I’m that unappealing, well, sir,” she muttered.

  “Well, what?” he asked when she seemed to be at a loss for words.

  “You’re no prize either, husband.”

  He shook his head. He wasn’t married to a vain woman. That fact pleased him considerably. “You’re right,” he announced. “I have seen prettier women, but as you just said, that shouldn’t signify.”

  “Lest you think you make me feel completely inferior with that rude remark, you’re mistaken,” she returned. The blush had moved to her voice. “I’m really all a man could want. Dare you smile at me? I mean what I say. I’ve been trained to be a good wife, just as you’ve been trained to be a good provider. It’s the way of things,” she ended with a deliberate shrug.

  The vulnerability in her expression was apparent. She had pricked his curiosity, too. The woman said the damnedest things. “Sara, exactly what is it that you’ve been trained to do?”

  “I can run a household with ease, no matter the number of servants you employ,” she began. “I can sew a straight stitch without pricking my finger, plan a formal dinner party for as many as two hundred,” she exaggerated, “and accomplish any other duty associated with the running of a large estate.”

  She was certain she’d impressed him with her list. She’d even impressed herself. Most of what she’d just boasted of was pure fabrication, of course, as she didn’t really have the faintest idea if she could run a large estate or not, but Nathan couldn’t possibly know about her inadequacies, could he? Besides, just because she’d never entertained anyone before didn’t necessarily mean she couldn’t organize a party for two hundred guests. She believed she could accomplish any goal if she really put her mind to the challenge. “Well?” she asked when he didn’t make any comment. “What think you of my accomplishments?”

  “I could hire someone to run my household,” he countered. “I don’t have to be married to have a comfortable home.”

  He almost laughed out loud, for the look of disappointment on her face was comical.

  She tried not to feel defeated by his remark. “Yes, but I can also engage in intelligent conversation with your guests on any current topic. I happen to be very well-read.”

  His grin stopped her. His conduct, she
decided, was proving just what one would expect from a man bearing his name. Nathan was turning out to be as despicable as the rest of the St. James men. He was certainly as muleheaded.

  “You could not hire anyone with such a fine education,” she muttered.

  “And that’s it?” he asked. “There isn’t anything else you’ve been trained to do?”

  Her pride was like a shredded gown pooled around her ankles. Wasn’t there anything she could say that would impress the man?

  “Such as?”

  “Such as pleasing me in bed.”

  Her blush intensified. “Of course not,” she stammered out. “You’re supposed to teach me how . . .” She paused to step on his foot. Hard. “How dare you think I would be trained in that . . . that . . .”

  She couldn’t go on. The look in her eyes confused him. He couldn’t decide if she was about to burst into tears or try to kill him. “A mistress could see to those duties, I suppose,” he said just to goad her.

  Lord, he thought, she really was a joy to tease. Her reactions were so uninhibited, so . . . raw. He knew he should quit his game. She was getting all worked up, but he was enjoying himself too much to stop just yet.

  “You will not have a mistress.”

  She’d shouted that statement. He deliberately shrugged. She stepped on his foot again. “No matter how pretty she is, no matter how . . . talented she may be, no matter what,” she said. “I won’t have it.”

  She didn’t give him time to respond to that statement but continued. “As for sleeping next to me, Nathan, well, you can just forget such notions in future. I’m going to be properly courted by you and wed before a minister first.”

  She waited a long minute for his agreement. “Well?” she demanded.

  He shrugged again.

  How could she have thought he was the least bit appealing? Lord, she wished she had enough strength to give him a sound kick in his backside. “This is a very serious matter we’re discussing,” she insisted. “And if you shrug at me once more, I swear I’ll scream again.”