My Seaswept Heart

by Christine Dorsey

He smiled at her and Anne felt her toes curl under.

  “Just relax.” Jamie waited while she loosened her grip to lower her until she was nearly flat in the water, his arms cradling her body. She may have eased off her hold, but she was a long way from relaxing. Her arms and body were as stiff as a board. And each time the water lapped her shoulders she flinched.

  Jamie had to admit to a bit of trouble relaxing himself. The water turned her shirt nearly transparent. Beneath the threadbare fabric, her breasts were rose-tipped, the nipples erect. His own body’s reaction to holding her was intense.

  But he’d asked her to trust him. And though her response fell short of complete confidence he didn’t wish to shatter her faith in him.

  So Jamie ignored his own desires and concentrated on her. “Pretend you’re resting on the softest of feather beds.”

  Her eyes snapped to his. “There’s but one difference between a mattress and the sea. I won’t sink into a bed.”

  “The sea will hold ye up if ye let it.” Jamie suppressed a moan as his gaze traveled down her body. “Now let yourself go limp.” He waited a moment before complaining. “Do ye call that limp?”

  “No, actually I call this entire exercise ridiculous.” Anne struggled to get upright, but the captain countered her efforts.

  “I’ve an idea,” he said when she was again spread out on top the water, his arms supporting her. “Look up at the clouds and tell me what ye see.”

  She did as he said, her brows beetled in concentration. “Why, I see clouds,” she finally said.

  “Aye, they’re clouds.” Jamie tried to keep the frustration from his voice. “But what are they shaped like?”

  “Clouds.” Anne tried again to push her feet to the bottom, but with little success. The pirate seemed determined that she should lie atop the swells. He seemed equally determined that she find some mysterious shape in the clouds.

  “Annie, haven’t ye ever stared up at the sky and imagined ye saw a dragon, or a whale?”

  “Of course not.” Anne’s lips thinned. “If there are clouds, I wonder when it will rain, and how it will affect the sugarcane. I haven’t time to pretend I see fish swimming toward the sun.”

  Jamie shook his head. “Poor Annie.”

  Anne flapped her arms, annoyed with his assessment of her. Annoyed period. “This is foolishness.”

  “Nay, Annie, that’s where you’ve the wrong of it. ’Tis never a waste of time to see the beauty in things.” Jamie let his gaze drift upward. “Now do ye see that cloud over to the east?” He waited for her eyes to obey. “It looks to me as if a trim-lined frigate is sailing across the heavens. Do ye see it, Annie? Do ye see the sails, unfurled and catching the breeze?”

  “I see a cloud.”

  “Ah, but Annie, you’re only looking with your eyes. Open your mind to see what is really there.”

  “May I go back to shore if I do?”

  Jamie let his breath out slowly. “Aye,” he finally said. “Spend some time really looking and I’ll take ye back to shore.”

  Anne didn’t bother to ask for his word. Not that she didn’t trust it. That wasn’t the case at all. Actually to her surprise she did believe him.

  She also wanted to see the ship. To see the cloud as he saw it. Anne tilted her head, letting the warm water flow around her ears. And she studied the cloud. Its shape. The way it drifted like a giant cotton ball across the sky. But she didn’t see sails, nor a hull, or anything else that remotely resembled a frigate.

  Anne was just about to tell him so when something caught her eye. Her body relaxed as she looked more closely. “It isn’t a ship,” she announced. “It’s a cow.”

  “A cow?”

  “Yes, yes, look.” Anne lifted her hand and droplets of water showered off her arm. “There’s the head, and the body.” She traced the shape with one wet finger. “There are even legs and a tail. Don’t you see it?”

  Jamie grinned broadly, though when she turned her head to look at him, his expression was sober and his attention riveted to the cloud in question. “Well now, lass, I do believe I can make out the shape you’re describing.”

  “Of course you can.” Anne stretched out more comfortably in his arms. “And over there,” she said as the gentle swells soothed her body. “That’s an angel. See her wings?”

  “Aye, a beautiful angel,” Jamie agreed, though he never lifted his eyes to the sky.

  “Now over there’s a ship. It looks something like the Lost Cause, don’t you think?” Anne shifted slightly when the captain didn’t answer and was surprised to see him standing nearly a rod away from her his arms folded across his chest. Panic swept over her and she jerked and would have sunk if the pirate hadn’t grabbed her. As it was water splashed over her face and she swallowed enough to send her into a coughing spasm.

  “You said you’d hold onto me,” Anne said when she could. “Are you trying to drown me?”

  “Aye,” Jamie agreed, standing her on her feet. “’Tis my goal for all of this. I drown ye in four feet of water and then feast on your carcass. A steady diet of fish can be so boring.”

  Anne merely narrowed her eyes at his sarcasm. “You let go of me and I sank.”

  “You’d been floating on your own since ye started describing the cow.”

  “I...” Anne started to take issue with his statement, but stopped. There was something about the way she’d felt, free and unrestrained, that changed her mind. Instead she tilted her head to the side, staring up at him, her eyes open wide. “How did you do that?”

  “’Twasn’t me. Ye did it yourself.” Jamie’s brow lifted. “I told ye ’twas just a matter of relaxing.”

  “Yes, I know what you said, but...” A smile played with the corners of Anne’s mouth. “Show me how to do it again.”

  After a few tries Anne was able to simply lower her head, let herself go and her feet drifted to the surface, her toes peeking out into the sunlight.

  She made such a delectable picture, with her hair floating out around her face and the expression of contentment on her sweet face that Jamie could barely stand the temptation. Deciding he was better off staring at the clouds than frustrating himself, he lay back. Soon they were both floating on their backs, comparing different cloud formations.

  “I don’t understand how you can think that’s a lamb,” Anne said. “Where’s the head? And what about a tail?”

  “He’s lost his head.”

  “What?”

  “Aye, that’s it. The poor lamb lost his head. That’s why he’s racing across the sky, trying to find it.”

  Anne giggled. “How did he lose it? A head is attached.”

  “Ah, but this one was removed by a wizard who cast a savage spell on the poor mite of a lamb, turning him into a headless beast.”

  “You’re the beast to make up such gruesome tales.” Anne laughed. But she listened avidly as he spun the tale, thinking that she could almost distinguish the wizard and headless lamb drift across the sky.

  It was a hungry rumbling in her stomach that finally made Anne push her feet to the bottom and stand, breaking the spell. “My goodness, how long have we been floating about?”

  Jamie twisted and dove beneath the water. When he surfaced he glanced toward the sun. “Most of the morning, I imagine.”

  “That’s what I feared.” Anne began trudging back toward shore. “We’ve wasted so much time.”

  “We’ve plenty of it,” Jamie mumbled, not sure she even heard him until she stopped and turned about.

  “That’s true, isn’t it? We’ll never leave this island so we have every day for the rest of our lives.”

  “Now that’s not what I was meaning.” Jamie lifted her chin with a wet thumb.

  “But it’s true, isn’t it? I’ll never see my uncle again, or anyone else for that matter.” He didn’t answer, but then Anne didn’t expect one. She didn’t know what she wanted until the space between them seemed to evaporate. Anne wasn’t sure how she ended up in his embrace, his stron
g arms wrapped around her. And she didn’t really care.

  His strength was what she needed. What she craved. When his mouth touched hers, she met it eagerly.

  The cloud fantasy had offered some release from reality, but this, this exquisite madness, was so much more consuming. Anne snuggled closer, wrapping her arms about the strong pillar of his neck. Water lapped around their thighs, a sensual tease. And still the kiss deepened. His tongue mated with hers. Hot, wet, tempting beyond reason.

  She wanted him. Wanted the oblivion. And what was stopping her? It wasn’t as if they’d ever leave this island.

  “Please.” Anne twisted her head, separating their lips. At the same time she pushed at his shoulders. “Please stop,” she managed, and out of obedience or surprise, his arms dropped away from her body.

  “This isn’t what I want,” she insisted, and wondered if he knew how much she lied. But he didn’t say anything, just stood there as Anne splashed to shore.

  ~ ~ ~

  That evening dinner was quiet... and uncomfortable. Anne had built the fire and gathered coconuts while Jamie fished. When he returned she took the path to fill the shells they’d found with water. They’d both stayed busy avoiding each other as best they could on the small island. But now they sat with the flames flickering between them and the soft tropical night closing in.

  And her gaze kept sliding toward his.

  “I should apologize,” Anne finally said when the silence became suffocating.

  “Why?” He didn’t even glance up.

  Anne took a deep breath. “I made it seem this afternoon as if you... as if I...” Pushing to her feet Anne turned toward the whisper of the sea. She couldn’t do this. “Never mind.” Before she could take a step her arm was grabbed from behind and she was jerked around toward the pirate.

  “Ye are going to have to face this sooner or later, Annie.”

  “I don’t know—”

  “Don’t be trying to fool me or yourself” His fingers tightened. “I want ye. I’ve made no secret of it. And I’m wagering ye want me, too.”

  Anne started to deny it, but couldn’t. He was staring down at her, his eyes intense, and she could barely breathe.

  “I’m not a patient man, Annie. But I won’t be forcing ye either.”

  His hands fell away from her shoulders, and Anne missed his warmth. He was waiting for her to say something... anything. When she didn’t he turned and stalked away.

  He took the path leading across the island, and Anne told herself she was glad to have some time alone. She cleaned up their eating area, then settled down to stare out toward the sea.

  “I’m not used to having someone always underfoot,” she murmured to herself, then drew her knees up to her chin. “Now I can think.”

  But there was but one thing that filled her mind.

  Jamie MacQuaid.

  She was obsessed with him. His smell. His voice. The feel of his touch. Even his taste was vivid and strong in her mind. They were alone on a tropical island. Would most likely stay that way for the rest of their lives.

  And he wanted her.

  Anne hugged her legs, resting her cheek against the rough fabric of her breeches. Around her the night enveloped her like an obsidian cloak, making her feel alone and lonely. She tilted her head, wondering what he would do if she followed him. Knowing she wouldn’t.

  So she waited, listening for any sound that might herald his return. But there was nothing except the hypnotic ebb and flow of the sea and the occasional rattle of palms.

  ~ ~ ~

  Glowing embers were all that was left of the fire when Jamie returned to the beach. He was foolish to leave. But he said he wouldn’t force her, and leaving was the only way to assure that. So he walked and tried to think of something other than Anne Cornwall. An impossible task.

  Now it was late, after midnight by the look of the stars. Jamie crept to the lean-to, hoping he was tired enough to lie beside her without dying of frustration.

  She wasn’t there.

  Jamie’s heart skipped a beat and he straightened, looking around and wondering where she could be. Damning himself for selfishly leaving her alone all evening. He didn’t think at the time that anything could happen to her. But now that’s all he could think of.

  What if she decided to wade into the water and drowned? Or hell, there could be wild animals on the cay. Just because he hadn’t seen any didn’t mean none existed.

  Jamie paced to the fire, then back, not knowing exactly what to do. He glanced toward the path. Had she followed him and gotten lost on the other side of the island? He took several steps that way, then hesitated and turned toward the beach.

  At first he thought the dark shape was a piece of coral. Then he recognized Anne, snuggled up on her side. When he bent down and realized she was sleeping, he let out his breath.

  She looked so small and defenseless, Jamie had another surge of guilt for leaving her alone. “Poor little princess,” he whispered as he dropped to his knees by her side. The moonlight caressed her cheek, the straight line of her nose, and Jamie forced himself not to do the same.

  He leaned forward to scoop her up... and realized her eyes were open. In the near darkness they studied each other.

  Then she reached up, wrapping her arm around his neck, and Jamie felt the blood pounding in his ears. “You’re right,” she whispered.

  “About what?”

  Anne tugged him closer. “I do want you.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  And oh, how he wanted her.

  Jamie swallowed, staring down at her tumble of curls sugared by the sand, her sweet face, now tight with desire. Her body was enveloped in the voluminous shirt and rough breeches, but the sea and his imagination had revealed the sumptuous beauty beneath.

  Oh yes, he wanted. His own breeches were full and heavy with that need. A need made more urgent by his earlier fear for her.

  He’d wanted and he’d dreamed and he’d waited for this moment. So why did he hesitate? Why, when she slid her cool fingers against his burning skin did he pull back?

  A pirate took what he wanted, after all.

  “Captain?” The question, the uncertainty in her voice, made him look away.

  “Why did you change your mind?” he asked when she propped herself to sitting.

  “Change my...” Anne shook her head, not truly understanding the question or even why he asked. “I didn’t, not really. You were right this afternoon. I wanted you then.” Anne took a deep breath. “You must have known that.”

  His only response was to stare at her, stare at her so boldly, that even in the dim light, Anne could feel the intensity in those sea-green eyes. She tucked up her legs, hugging them to her.

  When he still said nothing, Anne broke the silence. “I don’t understand. I thought you... I thought this is what you desired.”

  “It is. It has been since the first time I saw you.”

  Warmth flowed through Anne at his admission.

  “Ye stood before me all cool beauty and passion for your cause, and you reminded me of...” His voice drifted off and a wry smile touched his lips. He wouldn’t dwell on his other life. On the man he used to be. “When I saw you in the street, when you seduced me, I thought I’d been given a glimpse of heaven.”

  “And I drugged you.”

  “I’d have done the same, Annie,” he said with a bit of his usual aplomb.

  “So I don’t understand.”

  “Why I haven’t stripped those ridiculous breeches from your wondrous body by now?”

  Anne couldn’t see his expression but she imagined the cocky lift of his brow, the grin. “Yes, I suppose that’s what I mean.”

  With a grunt he settled onto the sand beside her. “I don’t know for certain myself.” He laughed then. “Mayhap the tropical sun has finally fried me brain.” His voice sobered. “’Tis just that we may be here for a very long time, and I want ye to be sure. I shouldn’t have wandered off tonight and left ye alone. Don’t think it
was some punishment for rejecting me.”

  “You think that’s why I said that I wanted you? So you wouldn’t leave me alone again?”

  Jamie stretched out, elbow bent, chin cupped in his palm. “It did cross my mind.”

  “It’s not the reason.” Anne was glad for the intimacy of the night. Without its concealing curtain she might not be able to speak so freely. “I admit to being a bit angry when you left. But being alone gave me a chance to think.”

  “About me?” He sounded almost hopeful and Anne smiled.

  “Yes... and about me. You were right about the path to the water, and the storage. We don’t need it.”

  “That’s what ye thought about?”

  Anne’s laugh drifted out to sea on a gust of wind. “Not entirely. I also remembered how you taught me to float and look at the clouds. I’d never done that before... I never thought I had time.”

  Jamie filtered sand through his fingers and waited for her to continue. It didn’t take long.

  “On Libertia it was important that someone be in charge of the daily activities. The sugar works. Assigning duties in the fields.” She shrugged. “Everything. Uncle Richard had more important things to think about. And Arthur, well, Arthur is like his father in some ways.”

  “So ye did.it all.”

  “I’m not complaining. Actually, I enjoy making certain that everything works well. But it does take a great deal of time.” Her tone softened. “Thank you for showing me the clouds.”

  “’Twas my pleasure, Mistress Cornwall.”

  Anne leaned forward, feeling very bold, but unable to stop herself. He lay perfectly still as she brushed her lips across his.

  “Have ye thought about the possibility of our being rescued?”

  “Yes.” Her breath mingled with his and though he tried to seem aloof, Anne could hear the proof that he wasn’t immune to her in the strained timbre of his voice.

  “Next week, hell, tomorrow, a vessel could come sailing into the bay. And what if ’tis a British ship of the line? You’d be saved, and I’d be hanged, and ye’d be sorrier than ye know that ye let me have my way with ye.”