Corsair Cove

by Angela Ashton

  “Sure, I was just curious.”

  “Godsteeth! That’s a four letter word where you’re concerned.” He came back in and closed the door. “I was hoping to talk about this when we had more time.” He sighed and wrung a hand through his hair. “Today is October thirty first, seventeen hundred and fifty six.”

  Esa felt the blood leave her face. “You mean the day you were…”

  “Aye, that’d be the one.” He smirked.

  “But, how, oh my god, the diamond! Where is it?”

  “At the bottom of the 21st century ocean, I’m willing to bet. I believe I’ll find the untouched version were I left it.” He winked.

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “Trust me, I’ll explain later.” He blew her a kiss and started toward the door again but she stopped him.

  “How long do you think we have?”

  “Aye?”

  She wrung her hands in the overstuffed shirt. “I’m not supposed to be here.” Her eyes met his. “I was holding your shirt when you fell into the sea.” Her heart clamored in her ears. “It was an accident of Fate.”

  “Avast lass, I’m beginning to think Fate doesn’t make mistakes.” He winked and made yet another attempt to close the door.

  “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

  He thought for a minute, then shrugged before waltzing back into the cabin and scooping her into his arms for a heated kiss.

  “Not that,” she chuckled, pulling free of his magnetic embrace.

  His brows formed a puzzled V.

  “You’re kidding right?” When his expression didn’t change she added, “Hello?” Hands on hips she released a frustrated sigh. “Oh good grief! You said this is the day of your betrayal?”

  “Aye.” His blank stare told her he still wasn’t getting it. Surely he wasn’t that lame?

  “My God Jacque! They’re waiting to kill you up there!”

  “Oh. That.” He grinned and kissed her again. “I’ll be fine lass, don’t worry.”

  “What makes you think that?”

  “Because ye history books are being rewritten as we speak.” He went for the exit a final time.

  “What? You’ve been here but a few hours, how have you had time to change anything? You said Keats formed a mutiny and caught you off guard.”

  “Aye, and so he did. Before.” A satisfied grin spread the width of his bearded face.

  “Before what?”

  “Before I killed him.” He winked before closing, and locking, the cabin door, leaving her alone in the room, her jaw wiping the floor.

  When she’d recovered from his declaration, Esa examined her humble surroundings. A tattered hammock occupied a corner of the room. An oak desk sat against one wall while a moderate sized square table with two wooden chairs centered the area. Everything appeared to be handmade.

  And worth a small fortune in her time.

  Fate doesn’t make mistakes, he’d said. But what if he was wrong, how long would they have this time before fate realized its mistake and set out to correct it? If she hadn’t been holding onto him when he’d fallen, she felt sure she wouldn’t be here now.

  But what if he was right? What if, no matter what, she was supposed to be here, for some reason unbeknownst to either of them? It was enough to drive a person mad.

  The large trunk filled with Jacque’s personal belongings occupied another corner of his cabin. She walked over and lifted the lid, taking one of his shirts and bringing it to her nose. Essence of Jacque…spiced musk and sandalwood with a pinch of hot buttered rum.

  The most exceptional paintings she had ever seen leaned against the wall behind the huge trunk. The brilliant use of color was unique to the creator. Not even the painters of her time beheld such a mastery of the art.

  Something moved in the heap of clothing. She screamed and jumped back, dropping the shirt atop the pile that seemingly shifted of its own accord.

  Was that a screech? Another scream escaped her when a furry object leapt from beneath the mass of material.

  A rat!

  ~ * ~

  Esa! Jacque heard the scream midway to the quarterdeck and immediately backtracked to his cabin. When he threw open the door, he saw her standing on top of the table, teetering from one foot to the other. One hand covered her mouth, the other braced at her abdomen.

  “Merde! What’s amiss, lass?”

  “Rat! Oh my God, there’s a huge rat in here! Look under the desk, I think it ran over there!”

  Jacque chuckled, although rats weren’t uncommon aboard a ship, he was almost positive that wasn’t the cause of her anxiety. In fact, he had a pretty good idea what had her so uptight.

  Head cocked to the side and grinning, he chided, “Aye, I’ll have a look. But ye must promise me, unless you’re in real danger, you’ll not scream like that again. You’ll have every wicked pirate on board rushing in here.”

  “I hear you Jacque, but screaming just comes naturally when something scares the hell out of you, if you know what I mean?” Her tone dripped sarcasm.

  “Just try not to draw attention to yeself, please?” She nodded and Jacque turned his attention toward the desk.

  “Dingo?” he called.

  Dingo? What the hell was that? Did he keep a pet rat? Good god, she’d never survive the night if that were the case.

  Dingo. Hmph, it didn’t even sound French.

  A moment later, a small tailless monkey crawled from beneath the desk and vaulted into Jacque’s open arms.

  Cooing endearments and massaging the beloved animal’s back, he turned to face her. “Esa, this is Dingo. He’s a Barbary Monkey. He’s been my best mate for nearly five years now. Poor soul, lost his family in a fire when a local village was raided.”

  Sensing no immediate danger of being the main course to a wild beast, Esa released the breath she’d been holding. Jacque extended his hand and assisted her from the table.

  “You could have warned me LaFleur,” she hissed, rolling her eyes at his smirk and gaped the monkey. “He’s so small.” She did some cooing of her own and held out her finger. The monkey took hold of it and transferred itself into her arms.

  She thought the gesture sweet until the venomous fiend pounced back over to his master with her necklace and ring enclosed in his tiny little thieving hands! Her jaw was still hanging when a sheepish Jacque returned her jewelry.

  A small, guilt-ridden smile rose to his mischievous eyes. “Old habits die hard, I’m afraid.” He kissed her gingerly before spouting off again. “Remember what I told ye.” He held her gaze for a long moment before turning his attention to the critter. “Watch over her, Dingo.” He bent over her hand, still addressing the monkey in a performance worthy of any stage play. “Take special care with this hand for it holds my heart.” Velvety lips kissed her palm then moved up her arm to stop at her mouth. “I won’t be long, lass.”

  “I’ll just wait here.” She grimaced when the light-fingered monkey appeared to smile at her.

  Her hand went to her chaffed cheek. Surely there must be some sort of razor onboard. She could handle the sexy five o’clock shadow, or even a few days stubble, but the full scratchy beard had to go.

  ~ * ~

  The Sainte-Anne continued on its course to Guadeloupe. Several days had passed, and life aboard the vessel seemed nothing out of the ordinary. Once they laid anchor, he’d have to make haste in his journey to retrieve the stone. For every second Esa remained onboard without his watchful eye, put her life in danger.

  Evening set in and Jacque grew anxious to return to his cabin. He missed Esa and hated leaving her alone for any length of time. He hadn’t meant to stay away so long but had to make certain his crew weren’t planning to take up where Keats had fallen short.

  Making an excuse to retire a bit earlier than his usual, he got as far as the ladder when Stewart asked, “Cap’n, what did ye make of the mermaid?”

  Brows furrowed, Jacque turned to his cockswain. “Mermaid?”

  “T
he brunette, in the hut.”

  Jacque flinched. Did they know his secret? Blimey, he was as paranoid as a cat in a dog fight. Act normal, an inner voice echoed. His frown transformed into a smile. “Ah, mate, that was no mermaid but an angel.” He deliberately drug out the last word and his crew cackled and made crude jokes in response.

  “Perhaps we should swing back by on the way home so the rest of us can have a go at ‘er…I’d sure as hell like to drop anchor in that lagoon.” Tiny haggled. More howls and whistles spewed from the foul-mouthed shipmates followed.

  “I always wondered what heaven would be like,” another piped in.

  Jacque stiffened. He didn’t like the way his crew spoke openly, wantonly regarding his woman. But they didn’t know she was his woman, did they? Wasn’t this the way they always acted whenever the subject of a comely wench arose? Of course it was.

  The concern would come should he hesitate to chime in with the flesh hungry lot.

  “Well Brutus, I’m afraid you’ll never get a chance to enter those particular pearly gates.” Jacque winked and placed a foot on the ladder.

  “Aw, come on Cap’n!” Brutus wined behind him.

  “The Cap’n’s got a point, me hardies. Just look at ‘em. Have ye ever known the man to retire before sunset? Too much heaven has sent the lust-struck fool straight to hell!” More heckling and cheering.

  Jacque couldn’t help but snicker himself, finding a bit of truth therein.

  “Perhaps this angel of the Cap’n’s is reason indeed for his unusual fatigue,” said Billy the butcher, the beefy, quiet man that seemed to carry a chip on both shoulders. He and Jacque had never been friends, in fact; they’d faced off in that very spot on more than one occasion. He wasn’t to be trusted.

  “What are ye saying Bill?” Jacque met and held his gaze.

  “I’m just wonderin’ why ye find your cabin so interesting these days. Surly your wee paints wouldn’t cause ye to sneak off with half a days rations stuffed in your shirt?”

  Rage whitened his knuckles. His hand automatically started toward his belt, but he paused midway. Every brow on the quarterdeck was lifted in his direction.

  Damn the quarrelsome louse! Just what he was afraid of, instead of minding his own business, the oaf had been watching him. If he weren’t careful with his words, his actions, he’d have another mutiny on his hands.

  He simply must get his head out of the clouds and be more careful. His life was not only on the line, but hers as well. Bile rose to the back of his throat as images of what the wench starved fools would do to her before they took her life.

  “Whether or not I choose to eat my rations amongst the crew, or save them for another time is surely no concern of yours.”

  “Aye Cap’n, but ‘tis unlike ye to save nary a crumb. Unless ye planning on feedin’ whatever ‘tis your hiding in that cabin a yours?”

  He should have killed the inquisitive fool along with Keats. Now, he’d be a thorn in his side until they returned to France. Forcing a cool smile, Jacque countered, “Aye, have ye forgotten about the Barbary, Butcher?”

  “Aye, he’s got ye there, Billy!” Stew hackled. “Where is little Dingo anyway? Haven’t seen him loiterin’ about much of late. Has he taken ill?”

  “Aye. He’s been a bit under the weather. Though his appetite hasn’t waned. If you’ll excuse me,” Jacque stated, casting a victorious sneer toward Billy.

  ~ * ~

  When he finally returned, Esa practically pounced on him. She threw her arms around his neck and showered him with kisses. A custom he’d readily taken too, to the point of looking forward to his return the instant the door closed in his departure.

  “Easy lass, you’ll smash the biscuits!” He eased the bread from his pocket and settled it on the table, then scooped her back into his embrace for a real kiss.

  She jerked her head back and frowned at him, her cheeks visibly irritated and red. “Do you have anything that might remotely resemble a razor?”

  “What, ye don’t like the whiskers?” Chuckling, his hand ran over the course fuzz shading his face. “Aye lass, while we lack the innovation of your time, we don’t exactly live in caves in the 18th century.” He frowned when she giggled, adding, “There is a straight razor onboard, though we usually don’t bother with shaving while at sea.”

  “So I’ve noticed. Will you get it? Please?”

  “Now?” He wanted to ravage her heavenly body and all she could think of was shaving him?

  “Pleeeease?” she purred a second time while running a finger slowly down his chest to rest on his most intimate body part. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

  He growled and stepped into the heat of her touch, desire rising beneath her skilled hand. Had he ever been more eager to bed the saucy wench? “Aye? How so? Will ye be shaving me while nude?” Quirked brows wiggled with delight.

  A finger found the most sensitive spot amidst the bulge and loitered there until he thought to explode. “If that is your wish, you may remove your clothes.” The playful gleam in her eye only added to his desire.

  He growled again, wanting nothing more than to throw her on the table and have his fill of the tender morsel. “Saucy wench! I’ll do your bidding. But be warned, when I return, you’d best be wearin’ naught but that lusty grin!”

  It took Esa some time to remove the taxing beard. Heeding her lone warning, she’d removed every article of clothing and was having great difficulty persuading the octopus to keep his roving tentacles off of her long enough for her to maintain a steady hold on the razor.

  “Jacque, be still! Haven’t you ever heard the phrase ‘look but don’t touch’?”

  “Saints alive, Esa! I’m a man with a beautiful naked woman standing in front of me, leaving my shaft so hard ‘tis near to killing me, and ye dare employ me to look but not touch?” He snorted as if appalled by the request. “Better ye should carve my eyes out with that wee blade in your hand!”

  She giggled. “I’m sorry darling, but it won’t be much longer if you behave, I promise.”

  “Aye, I intend to keep you a woman of her word.” Exuding a soft growl, he winked and closed his eyes as though it might help deter his carnal obsession.

  “Do you think you’ll find it?”

  He frowned, but didn’t open his eyes. “Find what?”

  She threw her hands up and snorted. “Phhfft, the diamond!”

  “Oh, I don’t see why not.”

  “Why do you suppose you were sent to the future? I mean, you found your treasure, but it was pointless. You don’t have it now.”

  “I wouldn’t call it pointless. Besides the fact that I found my soul mate, from what I can coagulate, I don’t think I was ever intended to bring the stone back. I believe I was sent to your time in order to gain knowledge to help me alter the outcome, given Fate’s been generous enough to grant me a second chance. Avast, I’m already a lot closer to the diamond than I was the last time I was here.” He chuckled.

  “You talk about Mother Fate and Father Time as if they were people instead of elusive forces of nature.”

  He flashed that sexy smile and her heart gave a thud. “People? No. Entities, yes.”

  “How do you know Fate is a woman?”

  He laughed and the rich timbre warmed her from the inside out. “Feminine entity,” he corrected. “You’ve heard the term Father Time?” She nodded. “There’s a reason behind it. Time is the disciplinary, the Father figure, so to speak. Although the physical elements are forever changing, his firm stance and limited hold does not waver in his desire to make merry with the unknown, his old comrade, Chance. In fact, he’s stubborn as a mule set in his ways until the alluring Fate saunters in with that mystical leer all women have and bends him to her will, leaving absolutely no room for Chance to join the party. He’s out!” He made a motion with his thumb and she laughed.

  “Fate has a way of stepping in and surpassing the tangible realms with a nurturing hand to make things right in the end. When she s
ets her mind to working her magic, Time is helpless to her feminine wiles and hands over the reigns, at least for a spell and in doing that, Destiny is born.”

  Her mouth fell open. He’d obviously been giving it some thought. Pausing to consider his words, she asked, “Jacque, that’s beautiful. Do you really believe that?”

  “Aye lass, we’re all chasing after Destiny. And after what I’ve been through, after finding you, I’m almost prepared to start a new religion!”

  If there were an inkling of truth in his words, then there was hope for them. And given their circumstances, his theory didn’t sound too far off the mark.

  How did the history books read in her time at this moment? He was right, having survived beyond the 31st of October; he’d already changed the future. A dark feeling settled over her…but now, who knew what to expect?

  When she’d finished the task, Jacque was half out of his mind with wanting her. He nearly threw her down on the table, wasting no time plunging himself into her velvety softness.

  Somewhere in the throes of their passion, they moved to the hammock and continued to make the most of their stolen moments until they were thoroughly exhausted. Spooning and content for the time being, Esa lifted one of his hands and studied his fingers. “Where did you learn to paint?”

  “Ah, ye’ve seen the paintings? ‘Tis just something I do to pass the time. But now that you’re here…” He buried his face in her neck and she felt his teeth nip the sensitive flesh. She winced as though it hurt.

  “You never told me you were a painter.” She rolled over to face him, sending the hammock rocking. “How long were you going to keep your creative genius a secret?”

  Something told her Jacque’s second chance wasn’t entirely based on the diamond. If he was correct, and he’d returned to right past wrongs, perhaps this was part of it. Perhaps Fate was a woman, oops—feminine entity—with class and recognized his rare gift. It was unthinkable that such imagination should remain hidden for all eternity. Surely something so wonderful was meant to be shared with the whole world? For all time…

  “I’m not. I wasn’t. I just dabble with it here and there.”

  “Dabble? You are kidding?”