Pirate's Persuasion

by Lisa Kessler

She broke the kiss and met his eyes. “I’d love some…advice.”

  Desire smoldered in his gaze, but he turned toward the screen and pointed to an island in the distance. “Your ship is smaller and more maneuverable, but the Spanish won’t be able to resist chasing down pirates. Fly your colors and lead them closer to the shallow water.”

  Heather raised a brow. “I’ve played against this ship before. They’re really fast.”

  “So ye better rally yer crew, captain.”

  Oh shit, hearing his true nautical accent had her heart racing as she faced the screen again. She reset the course for her ship toward the island.

  The pirate flag unfurled at the top of the mast and her virtual captain shouted to the crew, “Full sails ahead! Land ho!”

  She glanced over at Drake and found him engrossed in the sailing ships on the screen. The strong angles of his profile matched the strength of his character, and seeing him enjoying something on the computer warmed her heart. If she could figure out how to get his nephew to stop haunting him, there was a chance she could lure this immortal pirate into the twenty-first century.

  The Spanish ship was closing the distance between them. Heather quickly clicked the keys to load the rest of the cannons. “They’re going to be in firing range soon.”

  “Aye.” Drake pulled her closer and pressed his lips to her temple, short-circuiting her brain for a moment. “Right where we want them, love.”

  This was her first time really encountering his piratical side. She liked it.

  Drake leaned in for a closer look at the screen. “Tell them to drop the anchor off the bow only.”

  “Wait. We’re stopping?” She frowned.

  His eyes sparkled, and his devilish grin left her breathless. “Nah, the ship will swing around. Get ready to fire the cannons.”

  “Okay.” She wasn’t completely convinced, but she did as he asked. Her captain shouted, “Drop the anchor! Prepare to fire!”

  As soon as the anchor caught the rocky sea floor, the ship groaned, turning into the wind.

  “Boom about, mateys!” the captain bellowed. “Bring a spring upon her cable. Tie down the lines!”

  Heather watched the maneuver play out on the screen, her jaw going slack as the pirate ship spun around, the cannons now aimed directly at the Spanish galleon. The Spanish crew scrambled to slow the ship and turn, but the wind was at her back.

  Drake placed his hand over hers, his voice deep and low. “Not yet. A little closer.”

  She worried her lower lip, her fingers hovering over the keys.

  “Now,” Drake whispered. “Fire.”

  Heather gave the command, and the cannons came alive on the computer screen. Smoke and gunpowder turned the blue sky into a thick gray. Across the screen, the cannonballs hit their mark, opening giant holes in the Spanish ship.

  “It worked!” Heather exclaimed, bouncing on the sofa.

  “Fire one more round, then we plunder the ship.”

  She bumped against Drake’s chest. “I love the way you think.”

  “Fire!” the virtual captain shouted.

  Wood splintered and exploded from the Spanish ship. Heather clicked the screen to lower the boats. Her virtual crew piled into them, rowing over to the wounded Spanish galleon.

  She turned toward Drake with a grin. “You’re a genius.”

  “Nah.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m a pirate.”

  He stared into her eyes and slowly kissed her. She set her laptop aside as her lips caressed his. His arm slid down her back, and he pulled her closer. She didn’t resist, in fact, she pivoted toward him, sliding her leg over his until she was straddling his lap.

  His growl of approval sent a tremor of lust through her entire body.

  Whatever insecurities had taunted her earlier, her desire for this man blotted them out. He stood up, taking her with him. His strong hands gripped her ass as she clasped her legs around his waist. He carried her toward the stairs, and from the couch came the familiar ping of the Skull & Crossbones messenger.

  Queenie could wait. She’d tell her all about it tomorrow.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Drake reached the top of the stairs, Heather in his arms like she’d always belonged there, and forced himself to break the kiss. “Which way?”

  “You can put me down,” Heather whispered, her lips brushing his.

  “Just guide me.”

  She pointed to the left. “My room is at the end of the hall.”

  Her teeth teased his neck, and the heat of her tongue on his skin had his erection threatening to burst through his jeans. He lurched forward with a steady pace toward the mahogany door. Freeing one hand from her backside, he twisted the knob and stepped into her room, but as he turned to close it, she reached over and gave it a push.

  “I got it.”

  The breathiness in her voice added to his hunger for her as the door slammed behind him. If he wasn’t buried inside of her soon, he would go mad. He headed for the antique queen-size bed, and even delirious with desire, the carpenter in him couldn’t help but admire the polished walnut sleigh-style bed.

  Sturdy.

  He lay over her on the mattress, his hand sliding up underneath her skirt. Her skin was soft against his calloused hands, and he struggled to keep from gripping her too tight as he claimed her lips again. Heather’s hand covered his, encouraging his fingers to be anything but gentle.

  Smiling as he moved his hand farther up her leg, he kneaded the curve of her arse. Her moan tempted him to strip off her thong, open his jeans, and take her right now. He ground his teeth struggling to slow down. He hadn’t been with a woman in…decades. And never a woman he had real feelings for, not since he’d been mortal, not since Lucy.

  Heather was special. She made him yearn to be the man he’d thought lost centuries ago. Tonight, he needed her naked in his arms. He wanted to lose himself in her. And he ached to give her more pleasure than she’d ever had in her life.

  Even if it killed him to take it slow.

  He traced his other hand down her body and removed her underwear, dropping it on the floor as he lifted her skirt even higher. Her pale skin seemed bathed in eternal moonlight, and it called to him like a siren song.

  “You’re so beautiful.”

  Her lashes fluttered over her bright blue eyes, her breathing coming faster the closer he got to her core.

  “You have too many clothes on,” she whispered.

  “Patience, lass. I’ll take them off soon enough.” He settled between her legs, pressing a kiss to her silky inner thigh, his stubble grazing the smooth skin. “Sorry…I didn’t shave today.”

  She lifted her head, her gaze locked on his. “I’m not a porcelain doll. You don’t need to be gentle with me.”

  “Good.” He grinned and settled between her legs once more. “Because I’m famished.”

  He buried his tongue inside her, moaning at her taste as he gripped her arse and angled her hips up to give him better access. Her smooth legs tightened against his rough face while he explored her until he found the spot that made her cry out his name. Fuck. He almost came in his damned pants.

  He worked his tongue faster, enjoying the way her fingers pulled at the back of his hair. Her hips writhed as he fed on her eagerly, teasing her with his lips and teeth. When her body shuddered, she cried out, and he slowed, turning his head and kissing her thigh.

  “That was…” She stroked her fingers through his hair, her voice breathless. “…Damn.”

  He rose onto his elbows. Seeing color flush her cheeks was almost as sexy as hearing her call out his name. “If I’m not inside you soon, this night is going to be over much faster than I hoped.”

  Her sexy smile had his erection pulsing in his jeans as she sat up and unbuttoned them. “Maybe I can help.”

  He yanked his shirt over
his head while she lowered the zipper. Before she could ease them off his hips, he pulled his wallet free of his pocket and took out a condom. He hadn’t used one in years, but he’d been hopeful enough today to buy a pack while he was out.

  Heather took it from him. “Allow me.”

  He kicked his jeans and underwear aside and stood up, his erection proudly at full mast. Heather’s gaze moved up and down his body as she wet her lips. “You should never wear clothes.”

  The corner of his mouth quirked as he bit back a chuckle. “Would be dangerous to the family jewels to be makin’ repairs to a pirate ship in the buff.”

  “Maybe just naked with me then.” She opened her mouth and leaned forward, sliding her fingers along his shaft as she wrapped her lips around the tip.

  He dropped his head back, eyes closed as he struggled to regain control while every part of him rushed toward release. Her tongue teased the head of his shaft before she slowly took in his full length. He buried his hands in her long silky hair. It would be so easy to lose himself in this moment, to surrender. His tenuous hold on self-control was weakening in the paradise of her soft lips.

  “I’m too close,” he growled, his fists tightening in her hair.

  Heather settled back until he slid free of her mouth and tore open the foil wrapper. He braced himself for the cold shock of the latex cover, but it didn’t materialize. She must’ve warmed the packet while she’d been driving him to distraction.

  As soon as the condom was in place, he lifted her shirt over her head and removed her bra. He laid her back and balanced over her while she lifted her hips and shimmied out of her skirt. The sight of her naked beneath him had him wishing he could stop time and keep this moment forever.

  Slowly, he lowered himself over her, his lips fusing to hers as their bodies tangled together. She was made for him.

  And he never wanted it to end.

  …

  Seeing every tight muscle of Drake’s tan, chiseled body hovering over her had her heart racing, and the moment he bent his arms and rested on top of her, skin to skin, her body responded, hungry for more all over again. She ran her hands down from his broad shoulders, along his smooth back, and teased the curve of his ass with her fingernails, enjoying the way his hips pressed even closer until the tip of his erection brushed her opening.

  His kiss was intoxicating. Hunger, passion, yearning, and something else…she couldn’t put her finger on it, but there was something natural, something right about the way their bodies fit, the taste of his mouth. She’d spent her entire life as an outsider, never finding a place where she belonged, where she was accepted completely.

  Until now.

  Drake caressed her neck with his lips, the heat of his breath warming her entire body. He moved lower, his tongue teasing her collarbone. She’d been wrong before about believing she could keep things physical between them. Every touch branded her heart. She wasn’t a virgin, but this connection with him made everything seem new. The way he hungered for her made her feel sexier than she ever had before. Fearless.

  She arched her back, her whole body aching for his attention. He kneaded her breasts, his rough thumbs circling the hardened tips of her nipples. Slowly, he lifted his chin, his gaze locked on hers as he bent to take her nipple into his mouth. She gasped, digging her nails into his ass. He growled around her nipple and pressed his hips forward, joining their bodies in one slow, powerful thrust.

  Every inch of him filled her, reminding her again that he was made for her. The sexiest man she’d ever met. It made no sense, and perfect sense, all at once. Her hips writhed, grinding into him, drinking in the pleasure.

  She was far from a sex goddess. In fact, she’d only had two lovers before Drake, but none of that mattered, because something about the way he looked at her convinced her she was the only woman on earth.

  He kissed her lips again, breathing words into her mouth. “Never want this to end.”

  She moaned and rolled them over. Usually, she wasn’t eager to be so exposed during sex, but nothing about being with Drake was usual. The inner voice that always whispered she would never be enough, telling her she was too different, too odd, that she’d never measure up, remained silent. Drake silenced it.

  With him, she was herself, and shockingly, that appeared to be enough for him.

  She sat up, gasping as he sank even deeper inside her. His strong hands gripped her waist, supporting her. When she opened her eyes, she found his gaze worshipping her body. “You’re so sexy,” he whispered.

  And she believed him. Until tonight, she’d never felt it. Not really.

  She lay over him, working her hips along his shaft faster as she nipped at his earlobe. “How close are you now?”

  He turned his head, catching her lips. God, his crooked smile did her in. “Very close…” His hand moved between them, his fingertips toying with her core. “Come with me, love.”

  Between the rumble of his deep voice, the stroking of his fingers, and the frenzied thrusts of their hips, she was a goner.

  Her inner muscles clenched tight around him, her fingernails digging into his shoulders as her orgasm flooded her. Drake grabbed her ass with his free hand, clamping their bodies together as he exploded deep inside her.

  For a few seconds, she couldn’t move. Her entire body tingled with energy, with a flurry of conflicting emotions she wasn’t willing to examine. She collapsed onto his chest, pressing a sweaty kiss over his heart. “That was…I…no words.”

  He chuckled, kissing her hair and wrapping his arms around her. “Aye.”

  His heartbeat, strong and steady in her ear, became a lullaby. Her eyes drifted closed.

  Chapter Fifteen

  David peered around the rusted shed and lifted the infrared binoculars to his eyes. A hundred yards away, the coven meeting was about to begin. One by one the women in black cloaks approached with small torches in hand. They formed a circle with the new initiate in the center, Agent Henderson. Finally, the high priestess came into view. Her crimson-red robe flowed behind her as she strode to join the coven with a purposeful stride.

  This was a woman with a mission.

  David scanned the area for any sign of the figurehead, but other than the stands for the torches and the pentagram in the center crafted from gnarled tree branches, he didn’t see anything of importance. He hadn’t really expected to. They wouldn’t trust a new initiate with such a big secret. Not right away. But he’d still hoped to catch a break.

  The hesitation in Agent Henderson’s eyes when she got out of the car haunted him. She had a bad feeling about this mission, and now he did, too.

  A cold chill ran up his back as a solid round barrel of a gun pressed against his kidney. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

  “I could ask you the same thing.” David glanced over his shoulder to find Greyson, the master gunner of the Sea Dog. He frowned and kept his voice hushed. “This is government business. No place for a pirate.”

  Greyson holstered his weapon. “One of my crew is being driven mad by a coven of witches. I’d say that makes this my business.”

  David kept his attention on the ceremony. “How did you find me?”

  “Our newest crew member did some online digging for me to help locate a new coven in town. Harmony, you remember her?”

  The pirate knew damned well David remembered her. Harmony Andrews used to work with the Digi Robins. She was also an experienced computer hacker. “I’ve got the situation under control. You need to back off.”

  Greyson stepped up beside him. “Someone left an evil eye at Heather’s house. Drake fancies her, so I’ve been patrolling her place. He’s worried they’ll come for her next.”

  David cursed under his breath. He’d warned her the pirate would put her in danger. He wanted to pretend the rush of emotion was just concern for her safety, but that didn’t stop him from imagini
ng her in another man’s arms. He had no right to be jealous. He’d walked out on her when things got too complicated and secrets were too difficult to keep.

  In spite of his reasons for ending their relationship, a part of him still cared for her on a deeper level than a typical subcontractor for Department 13.

  He cleared his throat to be sure his voice would remain even. “This coven is hiding a dangerous relic. I have an undercover agent in there to help me find the weapon and lock it in the vault. I don’t need an immortal pirate for backup.”

  “You’re a pompous ass.” Greyson chuckled, but his eyes were cold. “I’m not here to back up anyone, least of all you. Tonight I’m a messenger, but if they attack Drake or Heather again, I’ll be their executioner.”

  He crept around the edge of the shed before David could grab him. Fuck. This should’ve been a simple undercover retrieval, but it was going south. Rapidly.

  David lifted the wireless mic to his lips and whispered, “We’ve got company. One of the immortal pirates is here, and he’s a fucking loose cannon. Stay alert. I’ve got your back.”

  Agent Henderson tugged down on the front of her hood, signaling she heard his message. Good. Under the robe, she was armed, too. She’d protect herself if everything went to shit.

  But they could lose their only chance to grab the Flying Dutchman’s figurehead.

  Greyson disappeared into the shadows, and David pursued him all the while doing his best to keep focused on the high priestess. For now, all her attention was centered on Agent Henderson.

  He pushed himself faster, trying to maintain a silent approach. Finding some good cover, he ducked behind a massive live oak tree and lifted his binoculars again for a better look. He’d lost Greyson along the way, but for now, the leader of the coven was more important.

  The witch leader lowered the agent’s hood before taking a step back and addressing the rest of the coven. “Tonight our circle is complete and our call to the moon is unified under her light.” She raised her arms, the sleeves of her red robe pooling around her forearms, and the circle followed suit. “We welcome our new sister and the power she brings to our magic.”