‘Will?’
All thoughts of the future were banished from his mind the moment he heard his name.
‘Mia.’ He felt the relief flooding over his body and knew he was grinning like a madman. ‘My darling Mia.’
‘What happened?’ she asked, looking around in confusion. ‘Why am I here? Why does my head hurt?’
She winced as her fingers found the tender lump on the back of her head.
‘You don’t remember?’ he asked.
She shook her head.
‘What happened?’ She sounded a little panicked now.
Will took her hand in his own and gently stroked her skin. ‘You were attacked,’ he said gently. ‘By Glass.’
Mia screwed her eyes tight as if trying to remember.
‘I was?’ she asked, as if barely able to believe it.
Will nodded.
‘Why?’
It was a good question. One he hadn’t quite figured out the answer to yet. He suspected the stink of rum that emanated from Glass when he’d punched him might explain some of his behaviour. Explain, but certainly not excuse.
‘Did he...?’ Mia trailed off and Will saw the look of revulsion cross her face.
‘No. You fought him so bravely, my darling.’
Tears started to flood down her cheeks and her body shook. Will realised she must be in shock and scooped her up into his arms again, holding her body close to his.
‘Shh,’ he soothed, ‘I’ve got you now. I won’t let anything bad happen to you again.’
Chapter Eighteen
Mia felt her whole body shudder as the tears streamed down her face and she gasped for breath. She couldn’t breathe properly. Every time she tried to inhale it was like there was an apple stuck in her throat.
‘Shh,’ Will said soothingly, stroking her hair with one hand whilst cradling her like a small child with the other. ‘You’re safe now. Just breathe.’
She gasped, sucking air into her lungs, but it didn’t feel like anywhere near enough to sustain her. She gasped again, lungs ready to explode, but still her head was spinning.
‘Breathe in and out,’ Will instructed calmly, rubbing her back as he encouraged her.
Mia tried to make her body relax and some of the air she’d been storing up gushed out through her lips.
‘Good girl. Just breathe slowly.’
Mia felt his strength infusing her and slowly she took a deep breath in and let it out again.
‘I don’t remember anything,’ she said after a few minutes.
‘That’s perfectly normal,’ Will said. ‘You’ve had a concussion.’
It sounded so dramatic.
She didn’t know how she should be feeling right now. Glass had attacked her, that much was evident from the bruises across her body, but she didn’t remember a second of it. She found it hard to be angry or scared when it felt as if it had happened to someone else.
Mia let her head drop forward on to Will’s shoulder. She felt safe in his arms and knew she didn’t want to leave. He smelled wonderful—she could detect a mixture of the salty sea air mixed with his own masculine scent—and she nuzzled into the folds of his shirt ever so gently.
‘I’ve got you,’ Will said reassuringly.
She wondered if she could freeze time and stay in this moment for ever. Despite the fact her body ached from top to toe, sitting on Will’s lap, cradled in his arms, seemed just about as perfect as life could get.
‘Would you like me to let you sleep?’ Will asked.
‘No,’ she answered quickly. ‘Don’t leave me.’
He responded by tightening his grip and pulling her closer to him.
‘I’m so sorry I let this happen, Mia,’ he said after a few seconds’ pause.
Of course the silly man was blaming himself. It was exactly the chivalrous, ridiculous sort of thing he would do.
She tipped her head up and looked into his eyes. She could see the guilt emanating from them and shook her head in amazement.
‘You blame yourself?’ she asked.
‘Of course. I should have seen what he had planned.’
‘How could you?’
‘I knew he disliked you. I should have seen that it was so much more.’
‘There’s no way you could have predicted what the Lieutenant was going to do. He probably didn’t even know himself until he was making his way to my room.’
‘You’re far too generous, Mia.’
‘You think he sat in his cabin and planned it?’
Will shrugged. ‘I don’t know. I can’t pretend to understand a man who tried to force himself on an innocent woman, on any woman.’
‘That’s because you’re one of the good ones,’ Mia said.
He looked down at her fondly. Their faces were only inches apart with her head resting upon his shoulder. She wanted to stretch her neck up and brush her lips against his, but she knew any movement and every muscle in her body would scream. Plus they hadn’t really talked since she’d told him she loved him. He probably wouldn’t want to encourage her by kissing her.
Nevertheless it was ever so tempting.
‘What are you thinking?’ he asked softly.
Mia felt the blush creeping over her cheeks.
‘You’re looking at me very strangely,’ Will murmured.
‘I was thinking I wanted to kiss you,’ Mia said, ‘but my neck hurt too much to move.’
‘Now that is a dilemma.’
‘Isn’t it?’ She let his shoulder take the full weight of her head and tilted her face up towards him.
‘I suppose I could blow you a kiss,’ he offered. ‘Would that satisfy?’ The gleam in his eye told her he knew full well it wouldn’t satisfy.
‘It’s a start.’
He brought his lips together and kissed the air.
‘Strangely unsatisfying,’ Mia reported.
‘Well, I can’t leave a lady unsatisfied.’
‘That sounds like a promise, Mr Greenacre.’
‘I can just about reach the top of your head from here,’ Will offered. ‘Maybe that will please you more.’
‘There’s only one way to find out.’
He bent his head forward and planted kiss on the top of her head.
‘Marginally better.’
‘Only marginally? My pride is sufficiently dented.’
‘Let’s just say there is room for improvement.’
‘Ah, constructive criticism,’ Will murmured. ‘I do like to learn from my mistakes.’
‘Maybe a kiss where there is a little less hair and a little more skin,’ Mia suggested.
He pulled an expression of mock shock. ‘You mean you don’t enjoy being kissed here?’ he asked, kissing her on each eyebrow, one after the other.
Mia pretended to contemplate his question for a second or two. ‘It’s not that I don’t enjoy it. I just think your lips could be better employed elsewhere.’
She saw his eyes slip to her breasts and he grinned wolfishly.
‘I agree,’ he said.
‘I was thinking about my lips,’ Mia said, ‘although I can see your male mind was focused elsewhere.’
Will shrugged and shook his head. ‘Alas, I am cursed with a male mind.’
Before she could think of any reply Will dipped his head and kissed her. He was gentle, as if he didn’t want to hurt her. Ironically Mia’s lips were one of the only places she didn’t hurt. She deepened the kiss, passionately running her tongue along his lips as he had before.
She felt one of his hands slip down her back and cup her bottom, squeezing gently. She let him fondle her, enjoying the attention. Then felt herself stiffen and grimace as he brushed against a bruise.
‘How are y
ou feeling?’ he asked, breaking off the kiss.
Mia considered her answer carefully. She was feeling sore and confused and her head was pounding, but at the same time she felt a contentment she’d never have imagined was possible.
‘I don’t know if I want to remember what happened,’ she said, ‘or if I’m grateful I can’t.’
Will nodded solemnly.
‘Will you hold me?’ Mia asked.
Will tightened his grip around her waist and slid her bottom off his lap so she was on the bed. Gently he rolled her on to one side and shuffled in beside her. He looped one arm around her waist and pulled her closer towards him.
‘How’s that?’ he asked.
‘Perfect,’ Mia murmured.
And it was. She could feel his reassuring presence behind her and felt safe and secure. His body was gently moulded to hers and she could feel the rise and fall of his chest. The warm breath from each and every exhalation tickled the back of her neck and sent little shivers down her spine.
She tilted her head back as he reached up and stroked her hair.
‘I wanted to say thank you, Will,’ Mia said quietly.
‘You shouldn’t be thanking me.’
Mia could tell he still blamed himself for not foreseeing the attack by Lieutenant Glass and she wished he would believe her when she told him it wasn’t his fault.
‘I wanted to say thank you for the past few days. They’ve been the happiest of my life.’
She felt his body stiffen behind her and his hand stopped stroking her hair. At first he didn’t say anything, but Mia didn’t mind; she’d accepted now he didn’t love her. She knew he cared for her and that would have to be enough. And she’d made plenty of memories with him these past few days—she just hoped they were enough to last a lifetime.
‘I never expected this,’ Will said after a few minutes of silence.
Mia waited for him to elaborate.
‘I came to the Caribbean to avenge my brother and catch the people who had abducted him. I never expected to meet someone like you.’
Mia didn’t know what to say.
‘You are a truly remarkable woman, Mia, and I’m blessed to have met you.’
He didn’t explain any further, but Mia couldn’t stop smiling. He cared for her, she knew he did. Maybe not quite like she cared for him, but there were definitely some strong feelings there. She didn’t push him any further; she sensed it had taken a lot for him to admit so much to her. He was a private person who didn’t often talk about his feelings.
Mia felt her eyes drooping and allowed herself to enjoy the warmth and safety of Will’s embrace. She knew that as long as he held her nothing bad would happen, she just wished he never had to let go.
‘Tomorrow might be our last day together,’ Mia said sleepily. ‘But I want you to know I will never forget the time I have spent with you.’
Chapter Nineteen
Will hadn’t slept a wink. Mia’s last words to him before falling asleep had rattled around in his brain for hours.
‘Tomorrow might be our last day together.’
The very thought was making him feel sick. He didn’t want to give her up. He felt like he’d only just found her. Surely they deserved a little more time together. He even thought about going to Captain Little and asking him to sail around in circles for a few days. Then he thought of his brother and a horrible wave of guilt washed over him. He was meant to be focused on bringing his brother’s killers to justice, not indulging his passions in bed with a beautiful woman.
Still, he didn’t think he would be able to say goodbye to Mia. She had come to mean so much to him.
Restless, Will resisted the urge to roll over in bed. Mia was sleeping soundly beside him and it wouldn’t be fair to disturb her just because he was fretting about the future. After a few more uncomfortable minutes he decided to get up. There were still a couple of hours until dawn, and he wanted Mia to be rested for the day ahead as it was likely to be mentally and emotionally draining for her.
He slipped away, pausing to lean over Mia’s sleeping form and plant a kiss gently on her forehead. She looked so peaceful and he marvelled at how well she had coped with being attacked earlier that evening. It was true she still couldn’t remember the events, but finding her body bruised and beaten must have been a huge shock.
Silently Will left the cabin and padded down the corridor. The ship was quiet. A few men would be up and about, wordlessly going about their duties, but the rest of the crew were resting, in anticipation of the day to come.
Will emerged into the balmy night air and felt his eyes adjusting. It was quite a clear night, with the stars twinkling brightly in the sky, and after a few moments he could see the men dotted around the deck.
‘Mr Greenacre,’ Ed Redding said, quietly coming up beside Will, ‘how is Miss Del Torres?’
‘Awake,’ he said, ‘or at least she did wake up. She’s sleeping now.’
‘She must be very distressed.’
He remembered holding her shaking body against his.
‘She can’t remember anything,’ he said. ‘I think she’s concussed, but she was still in shock.’
‘I would never have imagined the Lieutenant would do such a thing,’ Redding said. ‘He’s an arrogant, dislikable man, but I didn’t peg him as being capable of such a foul act.’
Will felt the same. He’d disliked Glass, but he hadn’t thought of him as dangerous. A pang of guilt ripped through him; maybe he should have realised the sort of man he was. Then he might have been able to protect Mia better.
‘I’m going to speak to him,’ Will said decisively. ‘Now he’s sobered up I want to see what he has to say for himself.’
Redding looked dubious.
‘I won’t kill him,’ Will promised, knowing he might not be able to stick to it.
‘He’s not worth a one-way trip to the gallows.’
Will knew Redding was right, he wasn’t worth a death sentence, but somehow he wanted the man to pay for what he’d done to Mia.
‘I’ll come with you,’ the First Mate said. ‘Just until I’m sure you’re not going to kill him.’
It was as good as he was going to get.
Redding led the way back below decks and through the maze of corridors. They went into the very bowels of the boat to reach the brig. The First Mate selected a key from the ring he was carrying and opened the door leading to the cells.
It was gloomy inside, with no natural light entering the confined space to illuminate it. Will stood in the doorway for a few seconds, allowing his eyes to adjust. Eventually he could see a small cell, lined on three sides by thick iron bars and a huddled shape in the corner. Apart from the cell there was little else in the room, just a solid wooden bench and an empty jug on the floor just outside the bars.
‘Come to gloat, Greenacre?’ Glass said.
Will strained his eyes and saw the huddled shape move slightly.
‘I’m not here to gloat,’ he told the Lieutenant.
‘So you’re here to dish out your own personal form of justice,’ Glass moved from his position in the corner and pressed his face up against the bars so Will could see him properly. ‘It will be a comfort in my last moment to know you are on your way to the scaffold, too.’
‘He’s not going to kill you,’ Redding said, darting a nervous glance at Will.
‘I’m not going to kill you,’ Will confirmed and was surprised to find he spoke the truth. ‘You’re not worth ruining my life over.’
He was thinking of Mia lying peacefully asleep in his bed and he realised he couldn’t do something that would take him away from her. He imagined the anguish on her face as she watched him take his last walk, that short distance from the cart to the gallows, and realised he never wanted to do anything to hurt her.
‘If you’re not going to kill me, why are you here?’ Glass asked.
Will stepped further into the small room and sat down on the wooden bench.
‘I want to know why.’
The Lieutenant let out a short snort of laughter.
‘Why did you attack Miss Del Torres?’
For a second Will thought Glass wasn’t going to reply.
‘You’ve ruined your life,’ he prompted. ‘The Navy will throw you out. Your connections may save you from any harsher consequences, but your life as you know it is still over.’
‘I wouldn’t be so sure about that,’ Glass said cockily. ‘Not everyone puts such high value on a pirate whore as you do.’
‘Miss Del Torres is neither a pirate nor a whore,’ Will said, trying to keep his anger from bubbling over. ‘She has been indispensable with helping us track down her brother and his crew.’
‘You speak as though you have already captured them.’
Will ignored this comment. He was pretty confident he would have Del Torres in a couple of hours so it wasn’t worth arguing about.
Redding shifted on his feet and Will glanced at him, ‘I’d better go,’ the First Mate said. ‘Don’t kill him.’
He handed Will the key to lock the door to the brig behind him when he left, but took the key to Glass’s cell with him.
‘Tell me,’ Will said again, ‘why you attacked Miss Del Torres.’
Glass hesitated for just a second, then started speaking. ‘She’s worthless,’ he said. ‘She’s the illegitimate child of a runaway slave and the sister of a pirate.’
Will shook his head in disbelief. ‘That’s not who she is. She’s a woman in her own right, a woman who jumped into the sea and saved a stranger from drowning. A woman who is helping us track down her own brother because she knows it’s the right thing to do.’
‘Lovesick fool....’ the Lieutenant spat. ‘She’s got you wrapped around her little finger.’
Harlequin Historical September 2014 - Bundle 2 of 2: Lord Havelock's ListSaved by the Viking WarriorThe Pirate Hunter Page 62