Her throat tightened and she started to reach out, but something told her not to. That he wouldn’t welcome her comfort right then. “And you?”
“I’ve hated him every day since,” he said, curling his lip. “I watched my kind, sweet mother become an embittered shrew who hated me with every breath she took. And she was right—had I never been born she would have had a perfectly respectable life.”
Lorelei frowned, and in spite of her common sense, she touched his hand. “It’s not your fault.”
Jack shrugged her touch away. “I know,” he whispered. “But it doesn’t stop it from hurting.” His eyes burned into hers. “I don’t want to hurt you, Lorelei,” he whispered again. “God knows, I don’t ever want anything like that to happen to you.”
“It won’t.”
He sighed. “I wish I could believe that.”
A knock sounded on the door. Jack sprang to his feet so quickly, she nearly tumbled from the bed.
With a shake of his head, he fell back into his role of pirate and opened the door. Several servants entered carrying a washing tub, soap, water, towels, clothes, and food.
Once everything was in place, they left them alone.
Jack stared at the tub with lust gleaming in his eyes. “You go ahead and take your bath. I need to find my men.”
“We can share.”
“Don’t tempt me.” His smile was dazzling. “So long as we’re with people who aren’t loyal to me, I need to protect your reputation as much as I can.”
“Bully that,” she said flippantly. “I would rather have you.”
“And I would like to have you over and over,” he said, his gaze dipping to her breasts. “But unfortunately, it will have to wait.”
He pulled the key from the lock of the door. “I’ll lock you in. It’ll make it look more authentic.”
And with that, he was gone.
Bemused and disappointed, Lorelei stripped her clothes off and submerged herself in the hot water as she thought over what Jack had told her. She couldn’t envision what his mother must have gone through to have been so betrayed by the man she loved.
How she longed to give Jack the love his mother had denied him. To show him that she would never betray him.
“Oh, Jack,” she whispered. “I love you so much.”
If only there were some miracle that could erase his past and give her hope.
It didn’t take Jack long to round up his crew. Only Tarik and Billy were missing. Both of them had gone with Morgan to look for him.
His men had been bursting with questions about what Jack had planned for their future, and of course he’d told them he’d buy a new ship.
But in truth all he wanted to do was find some quiet, safe haven where he could be with Lorelei.
Stow it, Rhys, you’re used to disappointment.
“Captain!”
He turned at Kit’s shout. With Alice and Kesi escorting him, Kit ran down the stairs, through the salon, and launched himself into Jack’s arms. Jack stumbled back as ninety-five pounds hit him like a cannonball.
“I knew you’d make it,” Kit shouted in his ear as Jack hugged him close.
It was only then Kit realized what he’d done. Clearing his throat, he quickly extracted himself from Jack’s arms and straightened up like a rough and ready pirate.
He gestured to Kesi and Alice with his thumb. “The women didn’t think you’d survive. But I told them otherwise.”
“That he did,” Kesi said, ruffling Kit’s hair.
Kit bristled under her attention and stepped away from her. “Is Lorelei with you?”
Jack stifled his humor at Kit’s discomfort. “She’s above, changing into new clothes.”
“Glad to hear it. I wasn’t so sure she’d make it, being a girl and all.”
“Like her, do you?” Jack asked.
Kit shrugged. “She’s not bad for a woman.”
“Well, if you’ll excuse us,” Kesi and Alice said. “We’ll go visit with her.”
Once they were alone, Kit looked up at him. “Are you going to marry Lorelei?”
“What?” he asked, momentarily stunned by the unexpected question.
“I overheard Alice telling Kesi you’re in love with her. Are you?”
He didn’t know how to answer the question. “Love has nothing to do with it, Kit.”
“So, you’re just bedding her.”
Jack scowled at his son. What the devil had gotten into him? “Keep your voice down, pup. And no, I’m not just sleeping with her.”
“That’s what it looked like on board the ship.”
“Well, we’re not on board the ship and everything’s different now.”
“Oh,” Kit said. “That’s too bad then.”
“Why?”
“Because I think she loves you.”
16
What on earth had made Kit think she loved him? That thought churned in Jack’s mind as he bathed himself.
Kesi and Alice had taken Lorelei below to eat while he made himself a little more presentable.
Over and over he thought about various moments he’d spent with Lorelei. Could Kit have seen something he missed?
Sure, they enjoyed each other’s company. Lorelei even seemed to like their verbal sparring.
But love?
What would Lorelei’s love look like? Could it be the way she leaned a little closer to him when he spoke to her? Or was it the way a certain fire seemed to light her eyes when they were together?
It’s lust, you fool. Don’t kid yourself.
What did Kit know. He was only a boy. A pup. And here he was, a grown man obsessing over the words of a child.
Aye, you’re a fool to ever believe a woman like that could ever care for a man like you.
Lorelei sat at one of the tables with Kesi, Alice, Mavis, Kit, and Sarah while they sipped tea and sampled some of Regina’s biscuits. They’d ordered food for her and a tray to be taken upstairs to Jack.
“We’ve been terribly worried about the two of you,” Mavis said as she stirred cream into her tea.
Alice passed the sugar bowl over to Mavis. “Especially after we found Ernie and there was no sign of either of you.”
“You found Ernie?” Lorelei asked, delighted he had somehow survived.
“Aye,” Mavis said, swallowing her sip of tea. “He was hurt and cussing like a bandit, but he survived.”
Regina brought the food to their table. She sneered at Lorelei before looking over to Alice. “I’m surprised to see you break bread with the likes of her. I thought you hated these rich snobs as much as me.”
“Now, Gina,” Alice said. “Don’t be mean. Lorelei is quite nice once you get to know her.”
Regina raked her with a withering stare. “I’ll just be glad when she’s out of here. She’s ruining my atmosphere and stinking up the place.”
Remembering Jack’s words about Regina and the poison, Lorelei pushed her plate away as the bitter woman stalked away from them.
“Why does she hate me so?” she asked Alice.
“Jealous harpy.” Alice set her cup aside. “She’s been after Jack for years, but he’s never so much as given her the time of day.”
Mavis patted Lorelei’s arm. “She also likes to pretend she’s the by-blow of this rich English earl, so any time she spies a real lady, she gets nasty.”
Kesi motioned to Lorelei’s discarded plate. “Go on and eat, Lorelei. Gina knows better than to hurt ya, child. Jack would have her head and she well knows it.”
Lorelei had barely taken a bite when a rough group of sailors came in.
“Oh, heaven,” Alice gasped. “It’s Gory Galbraith. There’ll be nothing but trouble from this.”
Lorelei wiped her mouth with her napkin. “Who is he?”
“The meanest-spirited pirate who ever drew breath,” Kit answered. “He makes Blackbeard look like a saint.”
“I think we best be going,” Alice suggested. “I’ll take your bread, Lorelei. You get the bo
wl and we’ll go upstairs to my room.”
“Wait,” Mavis whispered to them. “He’s seen us. Don’t move and maybe he’ll leave is alone.”
Only it wasn’t to be.
The four men came straight to their table. “Well, well, what have we here?” the one who appeared to be the leader said.
“Looks like a bunch of doves, Captain.”
“That it does,” Galbraith concurred.
One of the pirates leaned over Alice and took a rude sniff. “They don’t look like no soiled doves, neither. And they don’t smell of sex or sweat. I think we have some real ladies here, Captain.”
“You must be wrong, Leo,” Galbraith said. “Gina wouldn’t let no ladies into her place.”
“They’re ladies, all right,” Kit said. “And if you mess with them, you’ll have me to deal with.”
The captain straightened and narrowed his beady stare on Kit. “What did you say, insect?”
Kit rose slowly from his chair. “I said for you to leave them alone.”
“Kit, sit down,” Mavis snapped. “You’re going to get hurt.”
“That’s right, pup,” the Captain said. “You better listen to the old crone. I make my meals off of little rats like you.”
Unwilling to stand by and see her friends abused, Lorelei spoke up. “Insect, pup, or rat. It certainly seems to me that you don’t know what he is, so maybe you should leave him alone.”
The captain turned his attention to her.
Gracious, Lorelei, you should have kept your mouth shut! Why not just call him a smelly rhinoceros wart while you’re at it?
“Did you say something to me?” Galbraith asked.
“No,” Lorelei said with a gulp.
He wiggled his finger in his ear as if cleaning it. “Funny, I could have sworn I heard you speak.”
Maybe it’s the dirt clogging those nasty things you call ears.
Lorelei bit her lips closed to keep from saying it aloud.
The captain turned Kit’s chair over, dumping the boy onto the floor. “Oops,” he said. “Looks like you need to find yourself a new chair.”
His three men laughed.
That was it. Caution aside, she wasn’t about to let these men pick on a boy and do nothing about it. “And maybe you need to find yourself some new manners.”
The captain snaked out his arm to her and grabbed her wrist. “Maybe I ought to teach you some manners.”
“Let me go.” Lorelei tried to pull out of his grip, but it was no use.
The other women sat at the table, unsure what to do while Kit fled the room.
“Ach now,” the captain said. “Why don’t you come over here and make it up to me with a kiss?”
“Forgive me,” Lorelei snapped as she tried again to wrest her arm from his grip. Her entire arm burned. “I really don’t need a purgative at present.”
His grip tightened even more. Against her protests, he pulled her into his lap. Struggling against him, she shrieked her outrage.
Just as his fetid breath fell against her lips, she was freed.
Lorelei jumped back and saw Jack holding the captain’s head back in his fist while he balanced the blade of his dagger against Galbraith’s bearded neck.
The man’s eyes hardened. “Well now, Jack Rhys. How is it you got past my men?”
Jack didn’t seem to hear him. Instead of answering, he pulled the dagger from the captain’s throat, lifted it up and started to plunge it straight into his chest.
A scream caught in Lorelei’s throat.
An instant before Jack made contact with the captain’s chest, Jack turned the blade aside and sliced air with it. “If you ever lay hands on what’s mine again, as God is my witness I’ll lay you down dead.”
Jack jerked the chair out from under the captain, spilling the man to the floor. “Go on, get out of here and don’t turn around until you’re on your own ship headed out to sea.”
Cursing, the captain shot to his feet. “I’ll kill you for this.”
Jack stiffened. “Then go ahead and try.”
It was then the captain looked around and saw his men lying unconscious on the floor. The color faded from his face.
Kesi, Alice, and Mavis dumped their cups’ contents into the faces of the slumbering pirates. They sputtered awake.
By Galbraith’s face, Lorelei could see his desire to say something more, but he thought better of it. Gathering his men, he left.
Her entire body trembling, she breathed deep in relief.
Jack caught her up against him. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
Before she could answer, Mavis, Kesi, and Alice spoke at once.
“You were wonderful, Lorelei.”
“Did you hear what she said?”
“I thought Jack was going to kill him!”
Jack ignored their words and continued to look at her. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Really.” She hugged him close. “Thank you for coming.”
His laugh reverberated through her. “Oh, my little Lorelei, polite unto the end.”
Kit jumped into the middle of the women, and began relaying the story of how Jack had rendered the pirates unconscious.
Jack kissed her lightly on the forehead, then addressed the group. “I think Lorelei’s had enough excitement for the day.”
“I know I have,” Mavis said. “You two go on up. I know you’re tired.” She put her hands on Kit’s shoulders. “I’ll see to this one.”
Jack took Lorelei by the hand and led her upstairs. Without a second thought, she followed, and it wasn’t until they were alone in the room that she finally spoke. “Would you have really killed him?”
His eyes had the cold, deadly gleam to them that marked his sincerity. “For touching you, absolutely.”
“Why?” she asked, wanting to hear his reasons for spilling a man’s blood for her. Could she possibly mean something to him after all?
“Because I…” His voice trailed off and he looked about the room like a cornered fox surrounded by snapping hounds.
“You?”
“I…”
She giggled. “For an eloquent man, Captain Rhys, you seem to be stymied for an answer.”
And then he was there, standing in front of her, pulling her against him. His lips covered hers and the kiss he gave was one of desperation and power. It took her breath away.
He moved from her lips and trailed kisses over her cheeks and throat.
“Lorelei,” he murmured in her ear as he unbuttoned the back of her gown. Her dress fell to the floor. He ran his hand over her chest, raising chills along her body. “I don’t want any other man to ever touch you.”
“Neither do I,” she said as she unlaced his shirt, then pulled it off over his head.
She arched her back as he deftly opened her corset, then slid it to the floor. Her chemise and stockings soon followed. She expected him to carry her to the bed. Instead, he picked her up and placed her on the long narrow table. “What are you doing?” She gasped.
A wicked smile curved his lips as he peeled his breeches off. “I’m going to feast on you.”
He climbed up on the table beside her. Just above her head, his food tray was set out, still untouched. Jack reached his hand out to scoop the cream off of a slice of pie.
“Jack?”
He smeared the cream over her breasts and down her belly. Before she could say another word, he dipped his head and began licking the cream from her body. Writhing in pleasure, she ran her hands through his hair. Over and over his tongue stroked her, fanning the flames of her desire until she thought she’d scream from it.
Biting her lip, Lorelei reached for the chocolate part of the pie and spread it over his neck and shoulders, then set about feasting from him. Jack’s moan reverberated through her.
And when he pulled her against him and seized her lips, she could stand no more of the sweet torture.
“Now, Jack,” she begged as she reached down and took him in her hand.
She guided his swollen shaft toward her.
He laughed low in his throat. “That’s what I love most about you. You always know what you want.”
And then he slid into her. Lorelei moaned in blissful satisfaction as he buried himself deep.
Lifting her hips, she urged him on, whispering to him as he stroked the bittersweet need of her body.
“Faster,” she urged, her body spinning out of control.
He obliged, and she felt as if she were on the precipice of some great mountain, about to fall off. Her ecstasy built, stoked by his body.
Lorelei dug her nails into his back as her body erupted and she groaned with wondrous release. Jack moved faster for a few seconds longer, increasing her pleasure all the more.
And then she felt him shudder. For the first time, he didn’t pull himself out of her as his own release came.
Instead, he buried himself deep inside her and called out her name.
Lorelei lay perfectly still as the full implication hit her. He hadn’t pulled out.
Her breathing heavy, she brushed the hair away from the nape of his neck. “Jack, why did you—”
“God and his saints help me for it,” he panted. “But for once I wanted to know what it felt like to give a part of myself to someone.”
Tears stung her eyes.
Immediately, Jack slid out of her. “What did I do? Did I hurt you?”
“No,” she said as the tears flowed down her temples. “You didn’t hurt me, you silly pirate. You just made me happy.”
He brushed the tears away with his fingertips. “You are a strange woman.”
“I’d have to be to put up with you.”
Jack picked her up and moved her from the table to the bed. They spent the rest of the day and night there, exploring each other. It wasn’t until the wee hours of the morning that they were disturbed by a sudden knock on the door.
Jack cracked the door open to see Morgan on the other side.
Morgan didn’t bother greeting him. His words were clipped and emotionless. “Wallingford’s coming. I barely beat him here.”
17
Jack felt as if he’d been punched in the gut. Wallingford. It figured. Of all the cursed timing.
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