Beneath The Assassin's Touch (Daggers 0f Desire Book 2)

by Katherine Hastings

“It’s good to see you, friend.” Viktor opened his arms and the two men fell into a familiar embrace.

  “This is Simon Blackmore, my oldest friend. He and I met when we were just eighteen, when we trained together for...” Viktor stopped himself. He couldn’t exactly tell her that they were Liberta assassins. “Sailing. When we trained together as sailors. Simon, this is Nora.”

  Simon tipped his head and flashed her the smile that sent all the ladies swooning. There wasn’t a whore at any port that didn’t fight for a night with Viktor and Simon. As he watched Nora watch his friend, his mind drifted back to an interesting rum-soaked evening in their early twenties when they had given a woman the night of her life... two of them at once.

  “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Nora. You are a welcomed sight for sore eyes. If there is anything I can do to be of assistance, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

  She blushed beneath his gaze. It sent a surge of heat through his stomach.

  “See Viktor? Manners. You should take some lessons from your friend here.”

  Viktor felt the ship moving away from the docks. He heaved a relieved sigh that they were now on the safety of his ship.

  “Are you the first mate?” she asked, twirling her hair around her finger. Simon continued beaming at her, his eyes falling to her breasts when her own fell to the floor in a shy gaze. Viktor caught a growl between clenched teeth. They were flirting.

  “I’m his Quartermaster, ma’am. Have been for two years now.”

  The men on the deck came to life as they hoisted the sails and shouted orders to one another. Nora peeked around Simon’s broad shoulder at the tattered bunch on the deck. Her brow furrowed at the sight of them.

  “You have quite a motley crew, Viktor.” Her nose crinkled.

  “Aye, they are. But they are good men. They will help me see to your safety.”

  Her attention returned to Simon. “I’m sorry, Simon. You were saying you are a Quartermaster? What is that exactly?”

  “Well, it’s like a first mate, just the pirate term for it.”

  “Pirate?” The color drained from her face as she stumbled over the word.

  “Yes, pirates. We’re pirat—” Simon’s voice trailed off and his eyes turned to Viktor’s for direction.

  “Nora, love. Don’t panic. It’s still me. You’re still safe. But yes, we are pirates, and this is a pirate ship. Don’t scream.” Viktor cringed and awaited her response.

  The scream shook his eardrums when it exploded out from deep within her lungs. Simon fell back out the door, hitting his head as he left. Viktor took two slow steps backward to join him, pulling the door closed and sealing in her shrieking. The crew all stared at the door in disbelief until her scream finally subsided.

  “She just needs a minute,” Viktor said, biting his thumb.

  “You didn’t tell her.” Simon shook his head.

  “That I did not. From her reaction, I’m sure you can understand that had I told her she never would have gotten on this ship.”

  “Yes. I can see that. Probably a good decision.”

  “You think?”

  They stared at the red door.

  “Yes. Definitely the right decision. She’ll come around.”

  “I hope so,” Viktor said, the words not as confident as he’d intended.

  “Who is she?” Simon asked.

  “She is Baroness Nora Aberdeen. She is a target for assassination, and she is now under our protection.”

  “Baroness?” Simon quirked an eyebrow.

  “Yes, Baroness. And off limits. Understand?”

  “Off limits? Since when is any woman off limits? We share women all the – oh.”

  “Oh, what? What the hell does ‘oh’ mean?”

  “You like her.” Simon crossed his arms and smiled.

  “What?” Viktor snorted. “I don’t like her. I’m protecting her. That’s all.”

  “Nope. You like her, I can tell. The way you looked at her? I’ve never seen you look at a woman that way in all the years I’ve known you.”

  “I look at beautiful women like that all the time,” he defended.

  “No. You ogle beautiful women. You stared at her. It’s different. There was a look.”

  “There was not a ‘look’.”

  “Oh, there was a look, my friend.”

  “Simon, I am telling you, I do not like her. Do I want to slip a leg over her? Of course. But I want to do that with every beautiful woman I meet.”

  “Nope. You like her. If you don’t, then you won’t mind if I try to throw a leg over as well. So, do you mind?”

  Viktor tried to force the heat from his face, but the look on Simon’s told him he had failed. The thought of Simon touching her enraged him.

  “So you like her.”

  “So I like her,” Viktor finally admitted, both to Simon and himself. The two men shared a look and a shrug.

  “Well, this is new territory,” Simon said, stroking his chin.

  “Brand new territory. Now I don’t know what the hell to do.”

  A surge of panic washed over him at the thought of losing her. Normally he couldn’t get away from a woman fast enough. It was an odd feeling worrying about what to say or do. Repercussions weren’t a thing he bothered to think about often. Now the pressure was on not just to keep her alive, but to keep her in his life. He disregarded the mental warning that Nora belonged to another.

  “So, I can’t throw a leg over? She definitely thought I was handsome,” Simon teased.

  “Not if you want to survive.” Viktor flashed a playful glare. “And everyone thinks you’re handsome. Hell, I think you’re handsome. That doesn’t mean anything.”

  “Thanks, Viktor.” Simon beamed. “I think you’re handsome, too.” He threw his arm over Viktor’s shoulder. They shared a look between brothers, before bursting into laughter while they stared at the red door.

  “A new adventure, Viktor. Perhaps your greatest challenge yet.”

  And it was. Viktor had no idea how the hell he was going to proceed, but now he knew what he wanted, and he intended to get it.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  NORA SAT IN BED AND stared out the small window of her quarters. Nothing but water, the same view she saw every time she looked out the portal over the past two days. The sight of endless blue ripples and the worn wooden walls of this room were the only things she’d seen since coming aboard. Getting tricked to come aboard was more like it.

  A rap on the door startled her from her monotonous thoughts. With narrowed eyes she turned her attention to it.

  “Go away!” She repeated the same two words each time they knocked on her door. They opened it occasionally to slide in salted meats, bread and water before pulling it closed with haste.

  “Nora?” Simon asked from the other side of the door. “May I️ come in?”

  “Absolutely not!” She pulled the covers up tight to her chin.

  “Nora, I understand you’re upset, terrified even, but I can assure you there is no safer place than on this ship. Viktor was right to bring you here.”

  “You’re all pirates! How am I safe on a ship full of pirates?” she shouted.

  Simon’s golden head popped through the crack in the door, his eyes fixed on the ground. “I’m coming in. Don’t scream. My eardrums can only take one lashing of the impressive notes you can reach.”

  She opened her mouth to protest, but Simon slipped through the door. He leaned back and pushed it closed behind him. Soft blue eyes peered up from the floor, worry wrinkling his brow.

  “Thank you for not screaming or throwing things.”

  She clutched her blanket tight while she stared at him. His size was impressive, one of the tallest men she had seen. Shoulders so broad she wondered how he fit through the doorway. Though his face was chiseled with all the right structures, there was a softness to it that Viktor’s lacked. A boyish charm lay just beneath a man’s features, rugged and soft all at the same time.

  “
What do you want?”

  “Viktor sent me in here to let you know we will drop anchor soon. We have arrived at the Isle of Wight. He didn’t want you to be frightened when the ship stopped moving.”

  “He didn’t want to tell me himself?”

  Simon chuckled. “He’s understandably wary of entering. The last time he tried, you shattered his favorite porcelain figurine against the door.” Simon gestured to the shards of its remains at his feet.

  Nora huffed. “I have every right to be angry with him.”

  “I understand your anger, I do. However, Viktor made the right decision. There are no men more loyal than on this ship. We are armed with forty guns. This is one of the fastest ships on the seas. No one can harm you here. I promise. And these men, these pirates, they will die to defend you.”

  She heaved a sigh and looked away.

  “Viktor would like to talk to you. Can he enter?” he asked with pleading eyes.

  She rolled her eyes and nodded her head. “Fine. Send him in.”

  He didn’t hesitate and quickly backed out the door. Nora pulled the covers off and stood, straightening her back while she waited for him to enter.

  “Hello, love.” Viktor peeked through the open door. “Is it safe?”

  “Just come in,” she sighed.

  He stepped in through the door, hands raised in submission. “Let me start by apologizing. I didn’t want to lie to you, but I was afraid if I revealed my true identity, and that of this ship, you would have run straight into the arms of your assassins. I withheld it from you for your own safety. I’m sorry you feel so betrayed.”

  “You brought me onto a ship filled with dangerous pirates. I have a right to be angry.”

  “You are right, love. They are dangerous. However, they aren’t dangerous to you. Every last man on this ship has sworn to protect you. No harm will come to you so long as you are with us. You will be treated with the utmost courtesy and respect. Would you like to come outside, get some fresh air, and see that there is nothing to fear? You must be terribly bored in this dark cabin.”

  Bored? Two days of sitting in a bed and staring out the window would cause even the sanest woman’s mind to frazzle. The seasickness had left her queasy and barely able to eat. She longed for a breath of fresh air and the warmth of the sunlight on her skin.

  “You should have told me you were a pirate.”

  “You would have run screaming, love. I’m a pirate, yes. I’m no Captain Avery, though.”

  “Who’s that?”

  “Henry Avery, the famous arch pirate. Retired a couple decades ago with so much treasure one couldn’t spend it all in a dozen lifetimes. Every pirate knows his name. Tales of his adventures wag the tongues of every man at sea. His whereabouts are unknown, but his legend will live long past our time on this earth. I’m good at being a pirate, but I’m no Captain Avery.”

  “But you are a pirate. And so is every man out there.” She bit her lip, rethinking her decision to trust him even the tiniest sliver.

  “Aye, love. But you’ve nothing to fear. We could be at sea for some time. You will have to come out eventually. Now is as good a time as any. You can also see the Isle of Wight. It’s a sight to behold.”

  “What is this Isle of Wight? Why are we going there?”

  Viktor smiled. “The Isle of Wight... Smuggler’s delight.”

  “What?” she asked, her forehead scrunching.

  “It’s an island just off the coast of southern England, and a safe-haven for men like me. Smugglers from all over the world come here to trade their goods and stash their prizes. We can anchor here for months unchallenged and no one will bother us.”

  “You’ve taken me to an island filled with criminals?” Her eyes grew wide.

  Viktor shook his head. “There are plenty of legitimate seamen and sailors here as well. I haven’t taken you to Madagascar or Nassau. Those are true pirate lands. The Isle of Wight is just like England, it’s just known that the business owners and tradesman here will turn a blind eye. You’re safe, Nora. I won’t let any harm come to you. You have my word.”

  His eyes softened, a worry in them she didn’t understand. His concern for her seemed different now, genuine.

  “I am a little seasick. Some fresh air might do me good,” she said, finally conceding. “You promise they won’t harm me?”

  “I promise.”

  “I don’t suppose there is a tub on this ship I could use to clean up? It’s been days since I’ve bathed, and I would feel much better if I could wash.”

  “Unfortunately, pirates bathe in the sea, but I can have some hot water and a wash tub brought in for you straight away.”

  “I would appreciate that.”

  “I’ll have Simon bring it in right away. The men and I will set anchor, then you can come out and join me for a late lunch. Does that sound feasible to you?”

  She nodded.

  “Good. I will see you on the deck when you are ready.” He bowed and backed out the door.

  Simon arrived shortly after with warm water and a tattered wooden wash bin. The water felt heavenly on her skin as she wiped herself down with the wet cloth, several days of dirt giving away to expose her soft, ivory skin. She could hear the pirates shouting orders outside as the ship slowed her surge through the water. She swallowed hard, thinking about the men she would face when she opened that door.

  “Sailors. Just think of them as sailors,” she said to herself while she fastened the last of her corset strings, pulling them snug.

  The last of the shouting silenced when the ship pulled to a stop. It bobbed along on the waves, a gentle rock keeping time with the lapping on the wood. Nora waited a few minutes, steeling her nerves, before she made her way to the door, the one thing separating her from a ship full of pirates.

  With a deep breath she pulled it open. She strained her eyes against the bright sunlight, a stark contrast to the dark room she had been holed up in. A seagull cawed, startling her and forcing her to take a step back. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.

  “Welcome to the Dark Shark, Miss Nora,” Simon said when he saw her. “Viktor informed me you would join us. I’m pleased to see he wasn’t mistaken.”

  The Dark Shark? Heavens, this was a pirate ship. Nora held her ground, her feet planted in place.

  “You can come out, we won’t bite.” He flashed his inviting white smile.

  One tentative step after another, she made her way onto the deck. Even though she had come through here before, she had taken little notice of it. It was much cleaner than she would expect a pirate ship to be. Worn spots of stained black wood stared back at her, but not a speck of dirt. The white sails were lowered now and being secured by a crew of busy men. One by one the eyes on the deck all turned to meet hers. She shrunk closer to Simon.

  “Everyone, this is Miss Nora. Nora, this is... everyone.”

  “Pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”

  “Welcome aboard, ma’am.”

  The polite greetings surrounded her as each man tipped his head and bowed. They looked as she had envisioned pirates; tattered, clothes in need of mending, dirt and sweat staining their faces, but they were far more well-mannered than she had expected. She tipped her head once in acknowledgement, the tension in her shoulders releasing when they turned back to their duties. They didn’t seem to be a threat to her after all.

  “Where is Viktor?” She scanned the faces of the men and found no sign of him.

  “He’s getting you lunch.” Simon beamed and pointed to the water.

  “I don’t understand,” Nora said, following his finger’s direction.

  Simon put a hand on her shoulder and led her to the edge of the ship. He pointed down to the water. Nora furrowed her brow while she stared down at the rippling waves, squinting her eyes to see what he was pointing at.

  “I don’t understand. Where is Viktor?”

  “Just wait,” Simon said, gesturing once again to the water.

  Nora’s confusion heightened a
s she looked closer at the water. A dark shadow moved below the surface.

  “Is that a shark?” she gasped.

  Simon laughed. “No. That is far more lethal than a shark.”

  The shadow floated near the top, the formless outline now crisping into the silhouette of a man. Bubbles raced to the top and popped, a man emerging through the churning water. Viktor.

  She gasped as he came into view. The water poured off his black hair and down his exposed, muscular shoulders. His arms raised out of the water, a lobster held tight in each hand while he tread the water below. Nora leaned on the railing and his eyes met hers, greeting her with a proud grin.

  “Hello, love! Look! I’ve caught you lunch!”

  She couldn’t speak, though she couldn’t determine if it was the shock of seeing him in the ocean, the lobsters in his hands, or the fact that he was shirtless.

  “Send down the bucket!” he called up.

  A small man with a mop of brown hair lowered a bucket on a rope into the water. Viktor plopped the lobsters inside.

  “Take them up! I’ll be right behind!”

  He swam to the net on the side of the boat. Her eyes remained fixed as she watched him emerge from the water, taught muscles flexing under tanned skin while he pulled himself up. With each movement his body tightened and bulged. Muscles in places she never knew existed popped under his body weight. With every sinewy ripple, heat flushed her skin.

  He climbed over the railing and landed with a thud. Water dripped on the deck and down his lean, sun-kissed body while he ran his fingers through his hair. Her eyes followed the streams of water as they cut down between the prominent muscles of his chest. Black ink swirled in a pattern around his chest muscles, another tattoo wrapped around his bulging bicep. Her eyes slid down the length of his body, following the lines that carved deep into his stomach, accentuating every admirable muscle. His body shimmered in the warm summer sun, his eyes lit up to match. Nora gaped openly, unable to will her mouth shut.

  “I’m so glad you joined us, love. It’s gorgeous out here, isn’t it?”

  Gorgeous was a word she might use to describe the view, but she hadn’t even noticed the scenery he pointed at. She tried to find the words to answer, but only silence filled her mouth.