by Jewel Adams
Rogan’s rapt attention dropped to Corin’s bare feet, almost smiling over the absence of her shoes. “At least I won’t get trampled.”
Terry laughed and backed away, leaving them to it. Rogan knew he would keep everyone at a distance. Rogan wasn’t keen on letting his men have a full-scale show again, but he refused to let Corin leave. He hoped to get her to the cabin first.
He slipped his scabbard off and tossed it to the deck, not wanting to chance an accident with her. “The decision is yours, Corin. You won’t win. I’ve seen your style… it’s good, but only if surprise accompanies it.”
A touch of worry darkened the fire in her furious gaze.
“You knew perfectly well what I meant our bargain to be.”
“And I warned you to be careful. Words have a way of tripping a person; it’s a lesson I don’t think you will forget.”
“Unfortunately, you’ll never know for I am not staying on your ship.”
“We will see, Corin. I’ve no intention of letting you go… never, Corin.”
Corin blinked and tried not to let his last statement affect her, but she unconsciously stepped back from the impact. The truth hit hard that she would lose much more than the Raven and her desire to get back to New Orleans. To win meant using all her training against him. Could she fight Rogan? She didn’t want to, but pride steeled her determination.
Corin’s thoughts swirled like a deep whirlpool; she’d never been so confused. “Let me go… please, Rogan.”
“Where would you go, Corin? Can you go back?”
Their eyes locked; hers in pleading denial, his in unshakable conviction.
He saw her shut away the breath of hope she tried not to feel, and it enraged him that she couldn’t let herself believe in him. He let her see what she searched for and the strength of his promise. You will damn you. I will fight every barrier you erect until we’re both battered and exhausted, but I can never let you go. “You belong here with me, and I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life as I am of you, Miss Corin Elizabeth Ann McCloud.”
Like her golden cat-eyes, she moved with the grace and assurance of a feline. Rogan avoided the blow aimed to render him impotent. She fought for a survival she already lost. Capturing without hurting was what Rogan concentrated on, and he watched her. His senses came alive to the slightest innuendo of what to expect until he knew before she did what her next attack would be.
Two more times he let her try to hit him, avoiding the sharp cuts and deadly kicks with blocks and agile moves. She backed off to rethink; he couldn’t let that happen. Rogan called out as if one of his men were behind her, causing her to turn her back to him in defense.
Before she could correct her error, his large arm clamped solidly about her small frame, locking her arms to her side. He lifted her, stopping those beautiful weapons her legs could become.
“Quit, Corin!”
“Never!”
“Fine, my lady, have it your way.”
When she renewed her frantic attempt to strike back at him with her flying feet, he swung her to his side, letting her dangle there like a doll.
“I hate you!”
“No doubt.”
“You are a brute!”
“And you are the most stubborn woman I’ve ever held!” To himself, he admitted she was also the only one that would have caused him or any man serious damage… and such a tiny thing to boot!
Still pinning her arms, he hoisted her over his shoulder, knocking the air from her lungs; with his other arm, he secured her legs in his hold before she regained her breath. Carrying her as he would a sack of flour, his long strides made their way past his amused crew to his cabin. “Fun is over, gentlemen; we sail at first light for Black Diamond’s fortress!”
All the good nature jabs ended in a round of gruff gasps.
Turning before he entered the companionway, “Captain Billings will learn not to tangle with the Dragon!”
The cheers rose in triumph, and Rogan left them to enjoy their thoughts of victory. His own were still to be obtained. As he entered the cabin, Rogan collected what he needed before dropping Corin across the mattress and pinning her quite satisfactorily beneath his large, heavy body.
“Now Corin, I expect you to behave while I’m gone.”
Her wiggling ceased, and her ebony lashes slowly rose to look at him. Rogan smiled over what she failed to hide from him. Oh yes, she could hardly wait to be left to her own devices. God, he would have to keep a tight rein on her. A very enjoyable prospect, my lovely cat.
He wished she didn’t have that infernal grease smeared all over her. He wound that rich satiny braid about his palm, letting his fingers dig into the luxurious ribbons. “Even when you are filthy, you still hold my fascination, sweet Corin. I’d order a bath for you in my absence, but you’d not stay long enough to enjoy it, aye Corin?”
Her breasts pressed against his chest, and he felt her heart flutter like a butterfly… caught in his net? Yes, she was, and he’d see she remained, but first…
Corin’s gaze dropped to his lips enthralled by them and what she knew would happen. His eyes deepened to a rich swirl of seductive heat. He didn’t need the tight hold on her; Corin blushed over her own desire to be kissed once again by this masterful man, and her surrender became shamefully wanton.
The sharp claws were replaced by a purring, exotic woman whose passion ran like a boiling iron through his blood. Rogan’s hands captured her elegant neck and shapely chin, holding her fast to his desire. She opened beneath his caress, and he ravaged her sweetness, feeling her respond and battle his advance. Only Rogan could be the victor in this, and he wanted to be sure she realized the games were over. He took his pillage down to the rounded globes of her breasts. His fingers kneaded the smooth curves to the taut passionate nipple, where his thumb teased it to a hard knot of excitement. Never releasing his hold on her lips, his tongue plundered the heat of her rising passion until her purrs changed to soft, fevered moans of erotic wanting.
The fire he ignited burned through her until the evidence of his own response pressed in, commanding awareness against the undulating mound of her treasure. In deliberate force, he pinned her beneath him, ensuring she didn’t mistake his intent.
Her frightened gasp became all the evidence he needed to pull his escaping control back. Not yet, sweet Corin, your mind must want what your body tells me it is seeking, only then, but I promise you this—all bargains and truces are off. You will be mine.
Corin floated in liquid fire, trying not to let icy memories of the past cool the blaze of desire Rogan created. She sought the gentleness beneath the bold masterful magic he spun and entrapped her senses in, but old fears raised their heads, making her frightened of what she discovered in herself. Like tight bonds, they took hold and refused to accept what he offered, even though her heart cried to answer.
It took a moment to feel the warmth deserting her, and the bonds didn’t fall away but remained tight about her wrist and ankles. Her eyes flew open and shock turned to rage. “No! Untie me!”
Rogan moved away, keeping all evidence hidden over the pain her enraged glare inflicted. “I’ll be back soon; you’ll be safe in here.”
“Don’t you dare leave me like this!”
“Maybe the next time you’ll be more reasonable. We’ll discuss it later…for now you will stay tied until I believe I can trust you not to be foolish.”
“I hate you… you are a foul…”
His hand moved like lightning to cover her mouth, “One more obscenity passes those lush lips, and I will gag you as well!”
Her eyes grew enormous under his threat, nearly defeating him, but he stayed his goal. And the strong belief that she’d end up in worse company than himself, should she escape, closed his heart to her fear. For all her courage, Corin held no idea of the cruelties that awaited her beyond his sphere of influence. Rogan had every intention of making sure nothing happened to her. The surge of protective stirrings she called from him sho
cked him to his very soul, but once they took a breath, nothing would suffocate their conviction.
“Will you behave?” His hand tightened, only easing back when she finally nodded her consent. When he took his hand away, she sucked in the air and breathed hard to control the anger blazing up at him. His finger traced the swollen evidence of his mark on her lips.
Rogan pulled his gaze away and pinned her with a fierceness that stilled her attempt to avoid him. “Listen well, Corin, I will use whatever extreme you push me to, to keep you from harm.” He wanted to add so much more to his pledge, but for now, that was all he’d dare give admission to. “I don’t want to hurt you… don’t make me. While I am gone, think about what’s happened tonight.”
His finger absently caressed her bottom lip, making it difficult for Corin to concentrate. Gentleness and force, she couldn’t say which held more impact. His lips brushed her brow before he turned to leave her.
The conflicting emotions flared to life over the sight of his departing back. She hated what he’d done, how he left her, and yet, she hated admitting how lost and alone she started to feel without him.
He looked back and could see her confusion. Rogan forced himself to leave her and it tore at him.
The slam of the door released the flood of welled up tears and Corin’s heart cried softly. “Rogan… don’t leave me.”
Chapter Eight
Truths come hard
The long boat heaved away from the Raven. Rogan returned the wave to Dan standing on her deck. Dan and three of his most trusted men from the Tempest would be taking Corin’s precious Raven to Drake’s Dèsirèe. At Rogan’s plantation, the Raven would be safe from prying eyes in the well-hidden cove. Dan could take her up the bayou at night. Dèsirèe’s isolation and the direct inlet from the Gulf would prevent any curiosity from beginning in New Orleans’ society.
Corin would soon be reunited with her schooner, but it was something Rogan decided not to tell her right away. Once he made his appearance in Diamond’s cove and secured his foothold in the council, he’d waste little time in getting her to the safety Dèsirèe afforded.
The worry left his features at the thought of his grandmother’s reaction to Corin. Alicia Bouvier Drake would take the wild cat in tow. Oh yes, Grandmere’s French blood would love the challenge Corin posed. Hopefully, by the time they reached Dèsirèe, Corin would see the wisdom of being at the only safe place for her. No, he’d not let her know the close whereabouts of the Raven; his absence would forbid it.
Rogan cursed his own past inability to bring a swift end to his brother’s murderer. To learn the guarded identity of Diamond could only be accomplished by obtaining the bastard’s trust. Corin’s presence on his ship couldn’t be allowed; he needed all his concentration where it belonged. She’d be safe on the Tempest for the short time they would remain in the Black Council’s territory. Rogan grew impatient to get her to Dèsirèe.
“Damn that Billings!” Leaving without discrediting his act against the Dragon would ruin everything Rogan built for the pirate’s reputation.
His hand went to the leather maps and Corin’s charts inside his shirt. Billings’ blood oath would help to eliminate the harm the man caused.
Corin’s charts were too valuable to leave on the Raven. Though he trusted Dan not to let anyone in her cabin or into the bow’s hold, Rogan couldn’t take any chances with something this irreplaceable, much like their owner.
~ * ~
Staring up at the thick beams, Corin hadn’t been able to ignore Rogan’s request. She closed her eyes then immediately flashed them open to escape his image. But even open he filled her mind.
She’d been wrong to fight him. The fact his whole crew stood below, watching her actions was unforgivable. A very foolish display of temper, Corin. She’d allowed anger and fear to rule her common sense. Honesty made her admit that, if they’d been alone, the outcome would be the same. To win against Rogan, even with her training, wasn’t possible. He won so long ago.
Corin no longer fought the admission. “Maybe I was brought here because of him.”
Dan’s puzzling words never left her. Could she help Rogan?
She wished she could find some humor for the help she’d already given, except his trickery overwhelmed everything else.
But she felt something more, something beneath the betrayal she couldn’t identify. He wanted something from her, and it went deeper than the passion he could so easily stroke to life. Instinctively, Corin knew he wasn’t beyond wielding his sensual expertise over her to accomplish his decision to keep her here.
Her feet moved in their need to walk off the thoughts, but only managed to tighten the ropes. She did hate him for tying her like this. “Very unfair of you, Rogan.”
His departing threat hammered in her head and earned her moan over the truth. Corin didn’t want to know how far he would take his threat. And after lying here for what she felt must be hours, she’d agree to anything to prevent a replay of tonight.
~ * ~
He could feel her watching him as soon as he entered the room. Before going to her, he locked away her charts but left the map on the desk as he would need it soon enough.
Corin tried to determine what kind of mood he returned in, but he wasn’t allowing her to see, and she fought back her anger over the truth of it.
Without a word, Rogan began untying her ankles, but he lingered there. When he began to massage where the rope cut into her skin, Corin bit her lip not to moan over the sensation.
How could those large, powerful hands be so gentle? She hated herself for what she couldn’t prevent from feeling in his touch. What it did deep inside her shouldn’t be allowed, for it held more danger than any anger.
Corin couldn’t stand to look at him when he moved up and sat beside her on the bed. Fearing he would see her reaction and easy victory within his reach, she turned her head away.
When his hands worked the soft sensitive area at her wrist, her body trembled beneath the slow gentle waves of sensual heat overtaking her.
Rogan needed to end the contact before the total invitation she unknowingly gave destroyed his good intentions.
“Get washed, Corin. I’ll go get us some food.”
Before she could move, the door shut.
More confused than ever after his barely spoken order, Corin moved on unsteady legs to the basin.
Not wanting him to find her in the midst of washing, she scrubbed vigorously to be rid of the grease and cleanse her pores. Bucket and basin were a far cry from her shower and she regretted not being able to accept Rogan’s forfeited offer of a hot bath.
Corin refused to put the filthy clothes back on and rifled through Rogan’s wardrobe. She didn’t want to think of his angry reaction over borrowing one of his shirts. The deep vee and full flowing, thin cotton was practically indecent on her. Only her legs were bare, but he’d seen that much in her skirts.
She spied his brush and couldn’t resist the temptation. She undid the thick braid and pulled the lengths of black hair over her shoulder to give it a thorough brushing. Her hair glowed beneath the dim candlelight. Corin couldn’t sit still over the apprehension his absence reinstated. She felt so tired but feared the night was far from being finished.
When the door opened, Corin couldn’t move beyond her place at the far end of the cabin.
Rogan set the tray on the table and pulled two chairs over to it. “Come on, Corin, it’s not much. Billings’ men took their fill of my stores. The bas…” Her brow rose when he stopped himself from stating the obvious. “Let’s say he’ll replace the loss before I leave.”
Corin hid her smile. It seemed the captain’s threat over her language extended to his own to make a point. If he heard the constant flow of off-color words that came out of Mike’s kitchen over the last two years, he’d probably wash her ears and mouth out with soap.
A prude for a pirate?
She took her seat across from him. Her conviction that Rogan wasn’t as he appe
ared made itself heard. She couldn’t help but study him, trying to find things to add to the belief he really came closer to Hercules in more than just build. And that made it difficult, for he was a handsome rogue, but Corin wanted to uncover the man, and she forced herself to see beyond the surface.
Obtaining almost immediate results, Corin’s concentration prevented her from serving herself right away. Rogan took it upon himself to set the place settings and fill her dish with the assortment of cheese, fruits and bread. But the meticulous way he placed the silver and napkin caught her attention. She couldn’t imagine Billings taking the time to ensure his fork was positioned properly. No, he’d just stab at the food or gorge himself like a hog at a trough. Only a gentleman with inbred manners would cut his food the way Rogan did.
When he poured his wine and held the pewter ware up for her, it snapped her into movement.
“Shall we toast to a new beginning, Corin?”
Without answering, she touched his cup with hers and drank. The rich rose bouquet seeped through her, warming and relaxing the tightness inside.
She didn’t realize how hungry she was until the rich cheese and fruit whetted her appetite.
Rogan refilled her wine, the second time enjoying the rosy glow coming over her delicate features. It was hell to keep his eyes from falling to the soft swell defining her nipples against his shirt. For once, he wasn’t complaining about her attire. But seeing how his shirt clung to her emphasized just how small and fragile she honestly was.
He leaned back in the chair and watched her finish her meal. As with everything, Corin possessed flair with even a mundane task. The way she held her little finger up when cutting or raising her fork belied the fierce fighting skill she could display for such a feminine woman. A natural grace seemed to be a part of her. The way her long hair fell slightly forward across her shoulders and framed her face heightened the rich olive complexion. Reddish lights danced in her hair like threads of gold against shiny black coal. The candle made those brown velvet eyes sparkle with gold jewels. When she became angry, the gold blazed, but now, relaxed by the wine, they looked like thick liquid cocoa touched by cream in an ebony cup.