by Jewel Adams
Finally full, Corin picked up her wine and leaned back in the chair, meeting his gaze in her bold manner. Most women used their eyes as ploys, feigning weakness to attract a male and stir a man’s instincts. But Corin never pretended weakness with him, and actually became ashamed when it showed. Rogan never felt disappointed in her. Angry, infuriated beyond belief, and yet, Rogan sensed her fears and frailty, knowing her bravado was a defense to keep all away.
His anger came from the cause for the pain that made her avoid giving the warmth he knew she possessed. Something, the memories she spoke of, hurt her very deeply, and his male awareness told him a man did this to her.
He fought down his anger, refusing to ruin the unspoken truce entered into for the moment. Tonight, Rogan needed Corin, without the well-guarded walls. He wondered how to begin, but she opened the door.
“You’re going into the pirate fortress… why is it so important?”
“All pirates strive to become one with the Black Council. There are many riches to be had.” He knew his excuses fell short by the way she dropped her eyes, and the concern tightening her lips.
“Why would you want to take orders from them? You seem to have done well enough on your own.” Her hand waved over the evidence of his finely furnished cabin, and he knew the Tempest as a whole was included. Corin knew ships too well not to have seen the ship’s qualities.
“It’s good business…”
“You are not a pirate, Rogan.”
His knuckles whitened about the goblet’s stem, but he forced himself not to show the surprise her outburst caused him.
She didn’t believe the tight smile he gave. He wanted answers, and so did she. Too many things he inferred told her he carried suspicions concerning her. But Corin decided she, too, would get her answers tonight.
“Are you trying to make your position here more tasteful, my lady?”
“If I were your lady, Captain, I would no doubt frown on your current venture. Joining those brutes is not only foolhardy but unhealthy. And as I don’t consider you a fool, then it is obvious there is a deeper reason for your so-called pirating front.”
Damn, what or where on earth did she come from to have the audacity to attack him like this? And without any regard to her welfare. She’s a terror unto herself. An hour outside his protection and she’d end up being locked up or worse.
Corin sipped her wine to hide her shaking. Maybe she shouldn’t have come right out with it. She could have used a subtle approach. Sighing, Corin never acquired the polished expertise of tact. Anyway, she’d given up lying to herself… she cared what might happen to him and going to Diamond Island had to be the craziest stunt he pulled yet.
“Why should you care what I am or what I do?”
Corin didn’t move. He could read her too well. She should have realized he would turn it right back at her, and without any more subtlety than she used.
“As I happen to be along for your adventure, it is only natural I would like to remain in one piece. Somehow, I don’t think Captain Billings will feel the same.”
“You never did tell me how you obtained his map.”
“He should get the latch fixed on his secret drawer.”
Rogan’s laughter filled the cabin. But Corin wondered if he’d be so pleased if he knew about the jewels and another more valuable parchment.
“He’ll be there, Rogan.”
“I’ll be there first.”
Yes, Billings was probably still chasing the Raven. “Where is the Raven?”
“On her way to New Orleans. Dan will take good care of her, as I promised.”
She shouldn’t have asked about the schooner; it only opened the discussion to where she didn’t want it to go.
“You never told me where you were from, Corin.”
Her eyes jumped at him. He wasn’t going to let it go this time, she could hear and feel the determination in the man.
“You ask for more than you are willing to give, Rogan.”
Corin held his dark glare, knowing he understood her meaning.
“You don’t do well with bargains, dear Corin.”
“This time I’ll let you set the terms.”
Only Terry and Dan knew his reason for being here and his true identity. Even the crew, though handpicked, did not know who he was beyond the Dragon. Their takes from the false raids were paid from his own funds.
She bit her lip and tried to breathe over the darkening in his features. So much pain and hate… why? What stole this man’s warmth, the kindness she only caught in glimpses? Something so strong it buried the commanding qualities of honor that he turned away from to become the Dragon.
The words he spoke came from a torturous memory. Instinct told Corin he’d not shared with many. Dan, maybe Terry, but no others.
“The sea is a magical lure to the young men of the world. It’s a call many only dream to answer…Brian couldn’t resist reaching out for the adventure and riches beyond that distant horizon. My brother wasn’t satisfied with the tame runs to France and England for the trades that Drake Shipping brought to New Orleans.”
When he rose and began pacing, Corin forced her questions to remain silent, understanding the telling needed to come in Rogan’s own way.
“I gave Brian his captain rank on a fine ship. The Hurricane was a strong-armed merchant, twenty cannons graced her decks—fine deterrent to most marauding thieves. Brian was to take her to St. Thomas. We set up a trade agreement with John Kent, the governor, and old friend of our family. St. Thomas desperately needed to establish salable trades for the young commerce. The first years wouldn’t earn either of us much profit, but eventually, Kent’s colony would lead to profits.
“Only Brian at twenty-two was far too eager. I failed to realize or remember how a lad would want to show his worth by obtaining far more lucrative gains.”
She could see Rogan’s self-defeating smile over how he must have been at his brother’s age. Rogan looked to be in his early thirties, but she felt the difference between brothers went deeper than years. Rogan was a man who obviously grew up quick. No doubt the shipping line he spoke of was his responsibility for many years. She wished she knew the carefree Rogan, but then she did admire the man before her.
Fearing the pain ravaging his face would stop him from continuing, Corin tried to help him. “What did Brian do?”
For a second, her question brought her presence back to him. “Do? My young brother did what any Drake worth his salt would… he went off in search of more valuable goods to fill his half-empty hold. And I, like a fool, should never have tried to hold him back. If I’d only given him more say and more responsibility, he never would have struck out in such a foolhardy venture.”
It was obvious to Corin that Rogan blamed himself for whatever fate Brian sailed into, and it infuriated her. “You were only trying to protect him.”
“Yes…” The admission cost Rogan and tore at Corin’s heart. “But I suffocated him and drove him to his death!”
When he moved away from her, Corin followed. His back was to her. She wanted so much to reach out and try to soothe the pain, but her hands closed and held back, fearing his rejection. She hated her selfish fear. Rogan needed to talk this out. Like her, he kept this inside too long.
“What happened to Brian?”
“From what I have learned from John and the reports some of his men uncovered, Brian decided to go to the Havana Coast. He never made it.”
“The pirates….” The breathless truth sent ice through her. “Rogan. No… you’ll be found out and killed!” Her hands no longer held back but pulled him to face her. Her frightened eyes searched his, hoping what she found was a lie.
“Like Brian? No, Corin, I will find my brother’s murderers.”
“For revenge? But what will it accomplish? Brian is dead; it won’t bring him back.”
His hands were brutal on her arms, ending her rambling pleas, ones he failed to listen to. As she feared, he neither wanted nor would allow her
concerns to influence him. But Corin couldn’t stop from trying. “Oh God.” He scared her with the cold hate capturing his heart. “Please Rogan, you can’t do this.”
His hands shook her to silence. “I have and I will. Black Diamond’s Council holds the secret. Once I’m accepted, I will learn the identity of the pirates that raided the Hurricane and killed my brother.”
Corin started to shake. She’d given him what he needed. Billings’ map, her charts… without them he never would have gotten the Tempest back—he would have to give up his plan of revenge. The tears and truth were so painful her knees nearly failed her.
“Rogan, you mustn’t go. Please, they’ll find out. Billings, maybe he did that to you because they already discovered who you are?” She knew it was a lie…she’d heard the man’s jealousy for the Dragon herself that night.
The sudden concern in Corin’s voice broke through Rogan’s hate-filled determination. What he saw in her bright gaze was an unexpected and shocking discovery that softened his own hardness. “Do you care so deeply about what might happen to me, Corin?”
“Yes… no, I… let me go!” She struggled against his hold, unsure of the change in him.
All right, my frightened Cat, I’ll back off, but before the dawn, you’ll no longer be able to hide behind those fears.
Though he no longer held her, she felt the air close in. A worried glance back at him made her groan over his formidable stance. That sharp glare no longer held his pain; they were back to his original objective. Corin felt like she couldn’t breathe. He’d told her. God, he trusted her with his very life. The truth left her weak and afraid of what it just cost her.
Would he know if she lied?
She closed her eyes…she knew he would. He’d seen too much, and she cursed her foolishness. But even then, she wanted to help him. She would have given him the maps, everything, even without the bargain.
She looked at him in wonder, and her head shook against the truth. No, I can’t be in love with this man. I can’t. I don’t love anyone. “I won’t allow it; do you hear me… I can’t!”
Rogan held back from going to her. Corin’s eyes were bright and wild with what she was finally admitting to herself. The intensity of her feelings for him rocked his soul, and the realization scared her. He swore before the night ended he would kill the fear he sensed inside her.
“Corin?”
She spun around, knowing what he wanted from her. What he would force if she failed to give him the same trust he just showed her. But it was the disbelief she didn’t want to see in him that now scared her beyond reason.
Past her body’s denial, the words came slow and broken. “It was the storm, I… stowed away on the Raven.” The blurted truth drew no response from Rogan, making her rub her brow in worry. Hadn’t he heard her?
“For two years, I saved for the passage on her. Half fare because I would be part of her crew. I took every class on sailing I could afford. In between working and the classes, I hung around the docks in New Orleans to learn whatever anyone would teach me.”
“Did you learn to fight like that at the docks?” His tone was guarded, not liking what she told him. Where was her father? How could a man condone such wild behavior from his daughter? Had he no sense? No decency?
“No, I learned that in classes as well. Every day for almost a year, I drilled and practiced the moves. I never imagined I’d actually have to put them to use.”
Some of his concern slacked, but the classes she spoke of were unheard of… life taught and made boys into men, but a woman? “Corin?”
She could feel his annoyance for the explanation. “All right, Rogan, I’ll explain, but you are not going to like it much.”
His curt nod to continue tortured her.
“Well, like I said, I stowed away in her bow because it seemed the captain sold the Raven and wasn’t taking any passengers.” The memory of that morning and the confrontation renewed her anger. “He had the gall to dismiss me because I was a woman, said he would never have agreed to my passage if he’d known.”
Rogan almost smiled; at least the stranger had some sense. Seeing how mad the recall made her, he could imagine what transpired.
“I decided not to let him ruin all my plans. He was still going to France. I was meeting my friend Janice there—we were going to tour the world. You know, work as we went.”
No, he didn’t know and his thoughts iced his eyes in a dangerous light. “Explain yourself, woman.”
She realized she failed to watch him as she tried to retell the events. The anger lacing the air raced up her spine. “I… Rogan, it’s not what you think. I mean, things were different in my time.”
Time? Why not life or home? The dates on her charts came back. “What exactly was your time, Corin?”
His question made her hands clench together; her eyes darted about the cabin that no longer looked spacious.
He moved away from the table and out into the room to stop the flight radiating from her. “What was the date, Corin?”
“Please don’t….” But his stance before her denied her plea. “It must have been the storm—the blue light took over everything, even me! It was almost like a breathing thing.” The tears escaped, and she nervously struck out and wiped them away. “We were three days out from New Orleans, passing the Keys, it was February twenty-fourth…”
She couldn’t stand the waiting, his silence. She needed to get away, and she ran with the panic overtaking her. He moved to stop her; Corin acted without thinking, striking him hard with her elbow to his gut then jaw. She remembered his words about surprise. “Oh God! Rogan, I’m so sorry.”
She went to him on the floor. Her hands cupped his large jaw then ran over his chest. “Please forgive me, don’t be hurt. I didn’t mean it, honest!”
Pulling on his shirt. “Wake up, Rogan, you are too big for me to hurt you this bad. Come on, get up!”
Real fear took hold of her, and she lowered her head down to his chest to hear if his heart still beat.
But Corin never got the chance. Rogan moved with shocking speed and strength. Corin found herself beneath him, pinned to the floor. “You’re right, Corin, I’m too big, but lady, you do have a very forceful way about you.”
Corin’s shock went to joy and not even his wounded pride and anger could stop the bubble of laughter seizing her. “You’re okay? Damn you, you scared me silly. Don’t ever do that again.”
Rogan finally smiled but didn’t let her up. When she tried to rise, he used his weight to still her attempts. “Tell me again—the date.”
Her large golden eyes pleaded with him, but he didn’t relent. “2017, I’m from the year 2017.”
“The storm, you said the storm did this?”
“Rogan, I don’t know for sure, but yes, I think it was the storm.”
“What happened to the others?”
“I don’t know. I honestly didn’t know what happened to me until you and the governor were talking. Then everything I saw in Charlotte Amalie came rushing in. I guess I couldn’t face it and I fainted.”
“Why did you run?”
She looked very seriously up into his demanding gaze. “I was more scared of you than what I didn’t want to believe had happened to me.”
He appeared to understand her; when he smiled that devilish way he did, she returned his look with her own see I told you so.
“Rogan, I thought if I could go back to New Orleans it would all be different, back the way it should be.”
“Your schooner, the charts and equipment, they are from your time?”
“Not all of it. Raven is a well preserved 1857 schooner built out of Boston. Most everything on her is original equipment. The charts are more current. That is why I wanted so badly to be on her… there aren’t many like her left.” Her eyes moved around him, taking in the surrounding cabin. “I think I’ve received a closer look at history than I bargained for. You are right… I must make terrible deals.”
Rogan rolled off her
and lay beside her on the floor. A soft laughter floated over to her. His shoulder touched hers, and she could feel his hard strength.
“Rogan, it’s the truth. I’m not from this time.”
“You are here now.”
“But I might go back.”
He loomed over her again. For such a big man, he moved without any hindrance. “Don’t, Corin, I believe you, but I refuse to hear about returning—you can’t go back.” When she would have objected, his lips silenced her.
When he pulled back, he looked down at her as she struggled to regain her control. “I won’t let you leave me. Don’t you know that by now? From the very first, you pulled on my senses; your beauty and rare vitality are like a wicked wine in my blood. I’m afraid it’s there to stay… forever, Corin.”
His words were like a warm winter fire making her feel all safe and cozy. But a part of her wouldn’t let her accept what he told her, a part still feared what came with a man.
“Why Corin? Why do you look as if you would run again? Your fear cuts into my heart.”
“You don’t know me.”
His hands pinned her rising shoulders. “I know enough to want you with me, Corin.”
“You’ll change; I know you will.”
Unable to bear the confrontation she feared, she turned her head away. But Rogan used her dodge to run his lips over the soft curve of her neck until his tongue dipped into her ear, making her lush body squirm.
“Tell me about him, Corin? Tell me of the man who hurt you so deeply. If I could reach him, I would make him pay for the pain you still carry.”
Brushing back the long dark strands of hair from her face, he forced her to meet his gaze. With tender care, he wiped away the tears from her proud cheeks. “What did he do to you? How could any man hurt you like that?”
As he rose above her, Rogan lifted Corin’s trembling body into his arms. “Not all men are cruel, heartless beasts, Corin. Do you think I am?”
Her head shook to say she didn’t.
Laying her in the bed, he stood back and looked down at her frightened, staring eyes. “I’m going to love you, Corin. I can kill the fears if not the man. Do you believe me?”