The Dark Heart of the Sea: A Steamy Fated Lovers Pirate Romance (Pirate of the Isles Book 2)

by Celeste Barclay

  Senga looked up to Ruairí, but when she caught his eye, he flushed and looked uncomfortable. “A story best saved for when we are alone. And you can be angry at me in private.” Senga’s eyes widened, but before she could say anything, Caragh gasped.

  “Ruairí doesn’t know. Rowan, tell him. There is no way he could know.”

  “Know what?”

  “Caragh, you shall go over my knee for that. And it won’t just be my hand,” Rowan’s whisper wasn’t low enough for Ruari and Senga to avoid hearing. Senga wasn’t sure what to make of Caragh’s grin of delight before she turned a remorseful face to Rowan.

  “I’ll explain that later too,” Ruairí was better at whispering.

  “I don’t think the beach is the right place to tell this story. Either we continue on to Glasgow or we all return to one of our ships.” Rowan grumbled as he tapped his wife’s backside.

  They all returned to the Lady Charity since Ruairí had the larger cabin, and Ruairí, Rowan, and Caragh seemed uncomfortable with Ruairí going to their cabin. Ruairí only said in the dinghy, “Another part of the story for me to tell later.” Senga was becoming both worried and annoyed at his secretiveness, but both couples were onboard before Senga could press Ruairí for more details.

  Once tucked away in the cabin with a repaired door, Rowan took a deep breath and reached for Caragh’s hand. She moved herself over to sit in Rowan’s lap, and Senga felt a sharp twinge of jealousy, since she didn’t think Ruairí was well enough for that. Senga yelped when she was lifted off her feet before she could sit. She found herself planted on Ruairí’s lap.

  “I’m tired of waiting to hold you,” he breathed against her neck. “And I suspect I shall need your support with whatever Rowan is about to tell me.”

  “Ruairí, the morning following your visit on the Lady Grace,” Rowan grimaced. “We went ashore at Bedruthan Steps, and I met Caragh’s family. Caragh mentioned my mother and her mother were best friends. I hadn’t a clue, but I remembered Caragh’s mother’s red hair from when we were children. You’d surely recognize her, too, if you saw her. Ruairí, she told me a story of my imprisonment that makes sense but is utterly opposite of what you and I have believed for a half a score of years.”

  Ruairí nodded, but his skepticism was obvious. Senga held her breath, unsure of what would come next.

  “Catriona, Caragh’s mother, told me she was there that day. The day I returned with my father’s body on my horse. What I remember from that time in the bailey isn’t what happened. My mother did wail when she saw my father on my horse, but they dragged me away before I could see all of my mother’s reaction.” Caragh squeezed Rowan’s hand in one of her as the other rubbed over his back and shoulders. When he paused to look at her, she smiled encouragingly. “Ruairí, she pulled my father’s body from my horse, and when the shroud fell apart, she stabbed him. More than once. She stabbed his dead body. She was inconsolable, her rage consuming her. While they locked me in the dungeon, she pleaded with the elders to let her see me. She tried to bribe guards, but they always found her out. Caragh’s mother witnessed all of this, and once they threw me into the oubliette, my mother begged Caragh’s father to find your ship. She was sure your father could reason with the council.” Rowan shook his head as Ruairí stared aghast at his cousin. Senga looked back and forth between the two cousins, then at her own cousin. “We both know what happened after that.” Rowan looked to Senga then Ruairí.

  “She knows everything, too. I told her just after she came aboard. We seem to have painfully similar family stories. Senga’s father was the laird on Lewis before her uncle arranged for the MacLeod of Skye to lead a raid on her keep. Her parents died, and her uncle assumed leadership of the clan.” Ruairí wouldn’t tell any more of Senga’s story, since he wasn’t sure how much she wanted others to know.

  “Senga,” Caragh whispered. “I heard about your losses. I’m sorry I couldn’t have gone to you.” Caragh reached across the table and took Senga’s hand. They gave each other a gentle squeeze.

  “So, what do you plan to do now, Rowan?” Ruairí asked.

  “We may go home before winter. Rather, we’re going to see my mother. As Catriona tells it, my mother was never the same after that day in the bailey. She hasn’t fared well and refuses to step foot outside the keep. Ruairí, according to Caragh’s mother, Aunt Charity has done little better.”

  “Charity? You named your ship after your mother?” Senga questioned.

  “Aye. My leaving our clan had nothing to do with my parents,” he breathed. He didn’t want to hurt Rowan by reminding him that his parents never wanted him to leave. “When do you plan to go back? Will you go after we settle with Argyll?”

  “Most likely. Will you go with us?”

  Ruairí shook his head. He wasn’t sure he was ready to see his clan again. His anger and bitterness had faded since meeting Senga, but he felt it trying to take hold again. The injustices were done to Rowan, not him, but he felt them just as acutely as if they had been.

  Rowan nodded before continuing. “We will make a run along the coast once more before heading north. We picked up cargo from Alane that we must unload.”

  Senga was sure she heard Caragh hiss. She looked at her cousin and was certain fire would leap from her eyes as she gave Rowan a seething look.

  “The tavern owner I told you about. I can’t believe he let Caragh meet her.” Ruairí said as an aside to Senga, but the others heard.

  “Oh, I met her,” Caragh snapped.

  “Enough,” warned Rowan again, but his voice softened. “There was no other way, but I regretted it before we even went ashore. You know that, mo ghaol.”

  Caragh sighed but nodded. She leaned against Rowan, and Senga couldn’t help but smile to see her cousin had found someone who loved her as much as Ruairí loved her. That thought made a pit form in her stomach that remained there the rest of the night.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Rowan and Caragh returned to their ship, and Ruairí and Senga retired for the night. Ruairí was so persistent as he pled his case that Senga relented. They took their time making love as Senga straddled Ruairí’s hips. She eased onto his length and rocked her hips. It had been weeks since they made love, and she still feared injuring him, but they both needed the reconnection.

  The slow pace enabled them both to last far longer than usual. Ruairí ran his hands over her breasts as he watched her rise and fall onto his rod. She moaned as he pinched her nipples and threw her head back when he grasped her hips to brace himself as he tested his ability to thrust. Once Ruairí knew he could move too, neither of them lasted long. They pushed each other into release, and for the first time since they began coupling, neither tried to ensure Ruairí pulled out. They climaxed as one.

  The following morning, Senga awoke before Ruairí. The night before had been too much for him, even if he’d never admit it. Senga dressed and slipped from the cabin to find Tomas or Snake Eye. She found both playing passe-dix, a game played with three six-sided dice, and it was clear Tomas was winning. She grinned and walked to them, hoping a winsome smile would set the right tone for her request.

  “Good morning.”

  “Good morning to you, Senga,” Snake Eye smiled and showed his missing teeth. Senga realized she rarely noticed the gaps anymore.

  “I have a favor to ask one of you. Perhaps the loser, or even the winner of the next hand, might help me.” Despite her sunny disposition, both men turned wary gazes toward her. She knew she had to tread carefully but pushed on despite growing nervous. “Could either of you row me over to the Lady Grace? I’d like to see Caragh and speak with her.”

  “Does the captain know you want to go?”

  “The captain is fast asleep. Going ashore was a strenuous task yesterday, along with hosting his family, so he’s catching up on his shut-eye.” Senga refused to say more to keep Ruairí from sounding weak even if she trusted both men. Tomas shook his head.

  “No, Senga. Without the captain’
s permission, I’m not taking you anywhere.”

  “Same,” Snake Eye shook his head with more vigor than Tomas.

  “Should I ask one of the other men?”

  Both came to their feet.

  “Absolutely not. You know Capt’n would have your hide and ours as well if you did that,” Tomas looked around to make sure no one overheard them.

  “Then help me lower the dinghy, and I’ll take myself over there. The water’s calm, and I’ve rowed plenty of times in my life.”

  Tomas and Snake Eye gritted their teeth before they each rolled the dice again. Tomas lost and was surly as he lowered the dinghy, then the rope ladder. Senga nimbly followed him into the dinghy, but Tomas refused to look at her as he rowed the small expanse between the boats. He called up to announce their arrival, and Senga saw Rowan run to the rail. He looked anxious, and Senga realized that he must have been frightened that something happened to Ruairí.

  “Is Caragh awake? I’d visit with her if she is,” Senga called up and saw Caragh’s face poke around Rowan’s shoulder.

  “Senga! Good morning. I’m here.”

  Senga scrambled up the ladder and hugged Caragh once she was on deck. “Rowan, don’t worry. He’s fine and was fast asleep when I left him. I haven’t seen Caragh in so long, and we didn’t have much time to speak just the two of us last night. I was hoping to visit with her.”

  “Of course, but I hope you let someone else know where you went. I can imagine what Ruairí will do if he awakes to find out you aren’t aboard the ship,” Rowan warned.

  “Snake Eye knows Tomas rowed me over. Would it be possible to send Tomas back and have one of your men return me? I don’t want to keep Tomas waiting or from his duties,” though Senga knew he had none, since he was playing dice.

  “That would be fine. Skinny can take you back.”

  Senga leaned over and told Tomas he should return. He looked doubtful, but when Rowan reassured him, he relented.

  “Come below. We can talk in the cabin,” Caragh offered.

  It wasn’t long before both women had swapped stories about how they came to be attached to two of the most feared pirates sailing through Europe. Caragh squirmed when she explained how she met Ruairí, and Senga couldn’t believe how angry she grew toward Rowan. “Inauspicious circumstances” was an understatement, considering Rowan tried to trade Caragh to his cousin, and Ruairí nearly ended up coupling with Caragh before Rowan stopped them.

  “He’s different now though,” Caragh puzzled. “When I met him, there was a coldness to his eyes. He scared me when I thought Rowan would give me to him. He’s Rowan’s mirror image, but anger was simmering below the surface.”

  “But you’d have gone with him.” There was no accusation in Senga’s tone even if jealousy nipped at her heels.

  “If I hadn’t any other choice. I would’ve made the best of another situation beyond my control. I’m just thankful that Rowan couldn’t go through with it.”

  “And everything is resolved between the two of you?”

  Caragh shrugged. “It improves every day, and I know I made the right choice marrying him. Speaking of marriage…” Caragh gave Senga a pointed look, but Senga couldn’t meet her cousin’s eye.

  “That’s what I came to speak to you about. I don’t know that Ruairí will ever ask me to marry him. We’ve never spoken of it, but he said he loves me. He said so just before the battle, and he’s alluded to it since he awoke.” Senga rubbed her forehead. “I know I love him, too. And that’s the reason I must leave him.”

  “What?” Caragh broke in.

  “I prayed constantly while Ruairí was unconscious, and I pledged to sacrifice my happiness for his health. Caragh, every man in my life has either died or abandoned me. My father, my husband, my son. They all died. My uncle and even Alfred abandoned me. Neither my uncle nor my cousin cared for me, not really. I’m nearly convinced I’m a curse. Either way, I made that pledge to God, and I must honor it.”

  Caragh gawked at Senga for so long that Senga began to squirm. “That is the most ridiculous pile of shite, cousin. Not the part about your family dying; that’s just a fact, and so is how your uncle treated you. Alfred had no backbone to stand up to his father. But the part about you leaving Ruairí because he’s getting better is absurd. I believe you prayed, and I believe you think God healed Ruairí in answer to your promise. But I don’t believe God would ever intend for you to make such a sacrifice.”

  “Whether or not you believe doesn’t change my mind. Will you help me go ashore? I can’t wait until we reach Glasgow. He’ll be back on his feet by then. I won’t be able to slip away.”

  “Do you even hear yourself? You don’t want him to be well yet. You have to slip away. Your own words show you know what you want to do is wrong. Senga, no.”

  “Caragh, it’s easy for you to say ‘no.’ But you didn’t see the man you love come close to dying before your eyes and then watch him fading away for a fortnight. I was sure I’d lose him. It was unwillingness to accept it that kept me going. I want him to live, but I don’t want to be the reason for his suffering.”

  “Again, such shite. If anything, you’re the only reason he isn’t still suffering. I saw the way he looked at you, watched you the entire evening. The man is head over heels in love with you. What do you think your running away will do to him?”

  “Keep him alive.”

  “Bah,” Caragh waved her hand and stood up. She paced about the cabin as she kept looking over at Senga.

  “Caragh, I’m going with or without your help. I figured the least I could do was let you know since we reconnected after so long. I didn’t want to just disappear on you.”

  “You wouldn’t do that to me, but you’d do it to Ruairí.”

  Senga clenched her hands into a fist and tried to remain calm. Caragh watched Senga and relented after debating with herself.

  “Fine. I don’t agree with you. I definitely don’t condone this, but I’ll help you. I’ll speak to Skinny about taking us ashore. I should collect medicinals, just as you did. I haven’t had a chance, but after hearing about the wounds sustained between Ruairí and his crew it would be wise for me to do that. Once we’re on shore, we can decide what you’ll do next.”

  Senga walked around the table and embraced her cousin. “Thank you,” she whispered. The women were in the dinghy being taken ashore within a quarter hour.

  Ruairí stretched, then groaned as he felt the stabbing pain of his stitches being pulled. He looked around the cabin, but Senga wasn’t there. He smiled as he thought about the previous night. It had been wonderful to see his cousin and to know that things were working out for Rowan and Caragh. He liked the young woman, but he was thankful he hadn’t brought her aboard his ship. He might never have met Senga, or if he had, he certainly wouldn’t have invited her to come with him. His smile broadened as he thought about their lovemaking the night before. It was unhurried compared to their usual all-consuming need to come together. Ruairí knew he shouldn’t have spilled his seed inside her, but the image of her standing beside the cradle was even more vivid than it had been in her cottage. Ruairí would ask her to marry him when he brought her back to the cabin.

  Ruairí gingerly stood and pulled on his leine with minimal grunts. His leggings resulted in several curses and a moan, though he’d never admit to these. He braced himself against the bulkheads as he made his way to the stairs. His crew cheered when they saw him emerge onto the deck. Ruairí waved but searched for Senga. He spotted Tomas and Snake Eye playing dice while Kyle stood at the helm. He’d have to reward his first mate for doing such a fine job of leading the crew while he convalesced.

  “Morning,” Ruairí greeted Tomas and Snake Eye, but when neither man would look him in the eye, he searched for Senga again. “Where is she?”

  This was a growl, not a question. He continued to scan the deck, but he knew he wouldn’t find her.

  “I warned the lass you’d get your dander up when you couldn’t find her,�
� Snake Eye muttered.

  “Then you’d better tell me where she is.”

  “I took her over to the Lady Grace, Capt’n. She asked to see her cousin.”

  Ruairí gritted his teeth to keep from yelling. “And you’re back now, playing dice. You just left her there.”

  “Your cousin said he’d arrange for one of his men to bring her back.”

  “And you thought I’d be fine with that. Some strange man in a small boat with my--” Ruairí didn’t know how to finish his thought. He threw his hands into the air. “No, I’m bluidy well not fine with her being without someone I trust.”

  “You trust your cousin, don’t you?” Tomas’s eyes widened as he realized what he said aloud. “My apologies, Capt’n. I’ll lower the dinghy and fetch her right now.”

  “I’ll go with you. I have words for her that won’t wait until we return.” Ruairí almost bit through his lower lip as he climbed down the rope into the dinghy. He held his hand against his ribs, the pressure relieving some pain.

  Chapter Fourteen

  It surprised Caragh and Senga how easy it was to convince Rowan to allow them to go ashore with Skinny. Caragh was quiet for most of the way, lost in thought about what awaited her when she returned without her cousin. Senga, in turn, looked to the shore and tried to see if there was a town or even a village visible. The trio walked a couple of miles inland, the women gathering plants and placing them in a basket Caragh carried.

  “What are you going to do now?” Caragh asked, looking over her shoulder at Skinny to be sure her voice didn’t carry.

  “I’m uncertain. Do you see the smoke against the clouds to the left? I think that must be a village. It’s too much for one cottage. I can’t stay there, but I can see if someone will take me further north.”

  “And you’ll trust whoever you ask? What do you have to trade?” Caragh glowered at Senga to warn her not to include herself in the commodities she might have.