Romancing the Pirate 01 - Blood and Treasure

by Jennifer Bray-Weber

  Once the food was gone, the real raucous began. Rum bottles passed from lips to lips and the stories grew taller and taller. Many of the men took their leisure playing games of chance with dice or cards. One gangly tar tried to entertain his mates by juggling empty rum bottles. He was met with jeers and a rain of gnawed bones. Belly laughter filled the night.

  It hadn’t slipped Lianna’s notice that Sadie hadn’t much to say during the bibulous evening. She smiled a good deal and chirped here and there. But overall, she behaved herself in a way that created alarm. The eyes of the sly urchin slithered upon her numerous times. Leaping flames from the campfire exaggerated the malice within them. She decided she would not let the woman ruin her good time. No sir.

  She relished each swig of the smooth rum, letting the robust kick slide down her throat. Gluttonously, defiantly, she lapped at the rum each time the bottle came round her way. Dancing fire light cast a bewitching glow Lianna found sweetly elating. She followed the orange embers as they took to the sky and imagined herself floating with them up, up, up. Voices of others droned distant and her own laughter sounded thick. Her body grew heavy, but she swore she could fly should she try. She should be alert, especially among this rapscallion lot, but she couldn’t bring herself to care.

  Damn all. I’ve had a bad week. ’Tis a glorious thing to be drunk.

  *****

  For the first time in days, Zane let the weight of his mission over The Serpent and his quandaries with the two women abate. He relaxed in the jovial atmosphere, having a merry time, even. Maybe it was good fortune to have the Rissa careened on their little sanctuary island.

  Seamen lived out much of their sea life in cramped corners and naturally bonds form. But here they rolled in an unbridled fellowship unlike the perverse distractions of port. Zane looked out across the beach and the scattered campfires. It’s not often they could carouse together and then find a spot under a palm to sleep it off in relative seclusion. No worries of being robbed or having their throat slit in their slumber.

  Zane’s party around his circle had been one of crazy amusement. At the moment, Henri perfected earsplitting with his broken flute while Blade and Willie taught Lianna the words to a pirate drinking ditty.

  What a curiosity, that girl. She was resplendent, just one of the boys, in her present state. He found her charming as she bungled each verse, mangling the words at the top of her scratchy lungs. He would have to keep a close eye on her, lest her intemperance garnered unwelcome attention. And she certainly had his. And Blade’s. And Sadie’s.

  The harpy eagle, Sadie, had been giving him simmering smiles all evening. Had he been a lesser man, he would already have her bent over a rock, taking her like an animal. She had been surprisingly agreeable this night. A cause for concern, to be sure. What went on in that scheming head of hers? She, too, warranted his attention. If not for the warming effects of the spirit, he would feel hopeless.

  Henri switched songs, piping out an upbeat snappy tune.

  “I know this one.” Lianna jumped to her feet, pulling Blade and Willie up with her.

  Zane laughed, clapping his hands and tapping his foot in time to the music. He delighted in the three dancing a jig, spinning and kicking up sand. He tipped his chin toward Sadie in a challenge to join the trio. She scowled at him, causing him another fit of laughter.

  Willie danced Lianna around the campfire and passed her to Blade. Ever the gentleman, he eagerly grabbed her by the waist. Pulling her tight, they rollicked about to Henri’s melody. Round and round they went circling and spinning. Blade dipped her low, offering Zane a splendid view at the peaks and valley of her chest. Blade winked at him. He raised her and spun her out at arm’s length. The lass tripped over her feet and crash landed into Sadie’s lap, causing her to spill her rum down her tunic.

  “Oh my.” Lianna covered her mouth to squelch her giggling.

  “Bitch!” Sadie hissed and shoved Lianna back into Blade. They tumbled to the ground with Lianna plopping on top.

  Henri stopped playing his flute. Zane shot to his feet.

  Lianna giggled more. “Is that a pistol in your pocket or are you just elated to hold me close?”

  “Would you be willing to find out?”

  “It’s a pistol,” Zane flatly remarked and pulled Lianna up before either could answer.

  Mischievously, Blade smirked. “So say you.”

  “Come.” He had Lianna by the elbow. “Let’s walk off some of that spirit.”

  “Aw. But I was having such a great time.” Her pout sent his heartbeat to quicken.

  “Indeed, you were.”

  He led her to the water’s edge where the waves quietly sipped the beach. “Too much more of that and you might do something you’ll regret tomorrow.”

  She purred. “’Twas what I hoped.”

  They walked silently along the strand. To his surprise, Lianna grabbed his hand, braiding her fingers with his. This was a very uncharacteristic position for a varlet like himself to be in. But he didn’t let go. It felt…nice.

  The aromatic smell of the allspice trees rustling in a light breeze proved just as intoxicating as the liquor he’d been throwing back all night. But neither compared to the elixir he began to feel from the beautiful lady accompanying him now. In the full moon light, he marveled, again, at her beauty, her zest for life, her innocent, unabashed dreams. And her heat. Aye, he could definitely feel that smoldering fire hidden beneath her reproachful banter. He wanted to stoke that fire, relieve the pressure that had grown tight again against his trouser seams.

  Zane grappled with a conflict raging within him. He should be a gentleman with Lianna as she was far too disguised to have her right mind about her. Despite her remark, she would regret this evening and any advantages he took. Zane would be a gentleman, he was always a gentleman. Yet the despicable beast in him wanted to satisfy his hunger with a rousing bit of docking. Rarely had he faced such a moral dilemma. And when he did, only a wee amount of gentleman-like coaxing had the doxy gladly trading in her chastity for the distinction of being Zane’s newest lover. Why should he be any different with Lianna? He quietly cursed.

  Stopping where the tide had not moistened the sand, he pulled her down on the beach to sit facing the sea.

  Lianna leaned back on one hand and looked toward the sky. She broke the unbearable silence. “The world is a better place because of her.”

  “Who?” Zane stared at her, soaking her in.

  “The moon, of course.”

  “Oh?” He followed her gaze upward. The light shone so bright around the silver disc hardly any stars could be seen.

  “No matter how alone you are, you can count on her to be there, to listen, and to give you light in the midst of darkness.”

  What a silly thing to say. He would think her a sapling had he not known better of her. She hadn’t been babbling on in a happy drunk-induced haze. She spoke genuine thoughts. The moon must be where she found her comfort. She believed in it and he would respect that. “But what of when the night is moonless?”

  “Ah.” Lianna smiled. “She teaches you not to be greedy with her. To strengthen your soul. In the end, she’ll always return to you.”

  Zane stared at the heavens. The moon masqueraded as a thief in his mind. In these last few mesmerizing moments, within her creamy luminescent beams, she managed to aid Lianna into stealing the very thing he didn’t ever want to lose again. He hated the moon for it.

  Tenderly he turned Lianna’s face to him. He searched those hazel eyes, searched to see his destiny, but became distracted by her doe-like stare. She was way too much to handle. Lively, independent, fierce, and greatly calamitous. Undeniably, she was irresistible.

  Zane leaned her back onto the soft sand. He dipped his head to her, hovering over her mouth only for a heartbeat. Taking his spoil, he kissed her.

  Lianna met his lips, wrapping her arms around his neck, returning his kiss. Their tongues mingled and she voraciously received him. A sweet torrid sensation
flooded through his veins, his desire burning a hole in him. He wanted so badly to rip her clothes off. Make love to her, devour her.

  Breathless, he pulled away. Was he a gentleman? Or a beast?

  Stretching her arms over her head, she closed her eyes and smiled. “Mmm.”

  Lying prone beneath him, Lianna dropped into a deep sleep.

  CHAPTER 9

  Lianna awoke to the sound of crashing waves. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the painfully bright light. The cloth that covered her lean-to flapped in the breeze rolling off the sea. She commanded the world to stop spinning. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears and her queasy stomach lurched with every stiff movement. Moaning, she raised up to her elbows to scan her surroundings. A pale yellow dress lay folded next to her. Clutching at the wool blanket wrapped around her, she whispered, “Oh no. I didn’t.” A disturbing thought crept into her throbbing brain. Never before had she got caught up in her airs as she did last night. She tried to summon up what happened but the fringes of barren emptiness and memories blended together. Wouldn’t she have remembered if she engaged in…?

  Slowly she lifted the blanket up to peer underneath. “Whew.” Relief. She still wore her own dreary tatty clothes. She hated to admit it, but Sadie had been right. Though she shouldn’t, Lianna felt ashamed of her appearance. Egad, even the pirate wench dressed better than she. Her head hurt too much to brood on it any further. Besides, she remembered the toll of destructive self-pity. It demanded a steep price.

  Moving to all fours, she peered out of her shelter. The sun blazed high in the east. Mid-morning, she thought. The Rissa’s crew toiled about the beach, working to repair the ship. A new day, a renewed sense of urgency. To her right, a spitting fire burned beneath a cauldron heating up the water inside. A pile of dirty laundry laid waiting. How could that be? She had washed every last scrap of rag in the pile yesterday. On closer inspection, colorful fabric layered the heap. Shore clothing. Well, pirates need clean social attire, too, don’t they?

  Without hesitation, she crawled off of her pallet, changed dresses, and left the shelter to place the clothes, including her own, into the bubbling water.

  Agitating the wash, she tried to recount the last night. Self-inflicted mortification blended with the regretful aftermath of taking in too much drink. She was all too aware of that. ’Twasn’t her first time around that mulberry bush. She grew cross at herself for getting foxed, letting it get out of hand. Usually, she could handle her alcohol, drinking most men long under the table.

  Ah, the dancing, she remembered the dancing. A smile played across her face. Blade certainly had been a merry partner. What gaiety! Did she really fall into Sadie? Her smile grew wider. A brainless thing to get carried away in the company of pirates. Her impairment put her safety in reckless danger. She had much to thank Captain Zane Fox for.

  Captain Fox! Her cloudy memory cleared and her smile faded. Humiliation closed in, crowding her. She had made an utter fool of herself in front of the man.

  She stirred the pot excitedly. Dancing. Stumbling. Oh, I hope I wasn’t slobbering. Lianna gasped. Or worse. Talking politics! Wait. Walking on the beach. We went walking on the beach. The dull ache behind her eyes now stabbed in her sockets like hot pokers. Oh dear God, I think I kissed him!

  “Lianna, are you okay?”

  She froze. Slowly, she closed her eyes. If she didn’t see him, he was not there. Heat from the bubbling water steamed her face. Trickles of sweat rolled down her temples, down her chest. She resisted the urge to swipe at the tickling rivulets, for any movement may very well bring attention to her. One eye popped opened. Damn. He stood right beside her.

  “You look like you just saw the ghost of Davy Jones.” Zane put his hand upon her shoulder.

  She would prefer Davy Jones to facing Zane at the moment. “I, uh, I’m fine,” she said. Averting her gaze from him, she wiped her brow with the back of her hand, turning so that his hand fell away.

  “Here.” Zane handed her a flagon. “Fresh water. Drink up. It will help flush out all that rum you drank. Henri was none too pleased. Thought you might drink all the rum in our store dry.”

  She put the flagon to her mouth, presented a guilty smile and guzzled deep. The water tasted so good, so refreshing. Just what she needed to relieve her parched throat. “Thank you, sir. I needed the water. My mouth tasted dry and fuzzy.”

  “It tasted good last night.”

  The heat on her face suddenly didn’t come from the fire.

  “In fact, I enjoyed your company immensely. I expect you to entertain me again tonight.”

  Her head jerked as she snapped him a flagrant look. “I beg your pardon. I am not yours to expect such demands upon.” In the back of her mind, she searched for a sliver of a recollection of bedding the cur. She came up empty. “I would rather be flogged than to submit to your aggressions.”

  The captain burst into laughter. Befuddled, Lianna tilted her head. “You laugh at my expense?”

  “Sweet lady. It occurs to me that you have limited memory of our dalliance. I assure you your virtue is still intact. I only wish to enjoy your company again on the same amicable terms we shared last night.”

  Lianna had managed to dig her embarrassment into an abyss. “My apologies.” Zane deserved much more credit than she had been willing to give. She returned to stirring the wash. “I suppose I can spare time for you, given you don’t get confused as to my goodwill.”

  Zane raised an eyebrow. “I look forward to it.”

  “As do I.” He flaunted that devilish grin Lianna dreaded and simultaneously longed to explore. Like a moth to a lantern, he attracted her so, blinding her with his compelling flame. Should she really be playing with fire? No doubt she would get roasted alive. What would she do with herself?

  “You must be hungry. I’ll send a plate of soursop fruit over with Jason.”

  Lianna spent the rest of the morning thinking of the captain. Her thoughts wandered over the muscular planes of his body, got lost in his captivating blue eyes, and feasted on his lithe movements. She convinced herself that he somehow tricked her into wanting him. And she found she really did want him.

  It’s purely physical. Don’t pretend otherwise. Sure he’s the example of a perfect male. Sure he’s strong, hard-working, decisive, and smart. Sure he’s honorable. Be careful, Lianna. Don’t lose yourself. He’s not a prince. He’s a pirate.

  Oh, who am I fooling?

  With the laundry finished, she took to tending the fires. She had been ordered to stay within sight on the beach. The dangers of straying were evident and she gladly obliged. More for not bumping into Bull than for wild beasts or hidden pitfalls. She helped Henri cut up more fruit and peeled the stalks of wild sugar cane planted on the island long ago. But he ushered her away when he prepared the rubbing spices for the venison that was to be broiled for supper. He wasn’t ready to divulge any of his cooking secrets to her.

  With the laundry still drying and nothing left to do, Lianna sat on a stump under the cool shade of a buttonwood tree. She watched Zane work alongside his men brushing pitch onto the hull of his beached ship. She nearly fainted at the sight of him removing his shirt. Smacking her lips, she salivated at his glistening naked, sweaty skin. He caught her staring and shamelessly winked. She looked away, pretending to admire the clouds in the sky and not his finely sculpted chest. Her cheeks flushed warm with his laughter at her failed attempt. Never one to swoon, now was not a good time to start.

  Lianna couldn’t help but also notice the bronzed, bare-chested first mate crossing the beach carrying a large tree trunk on his shoulder. Blade was a worthy match for Zane as he, too, was a sight to behold. She instinctively fanned herself. Too much more of this ogling, and a lightning bolt would surely strike her dead for the sins she committed in her mind. She decided the fires needed stoking, again.

  “Come.” Zane walked past, shrugging back into his tunic. “I want to show you something.”

  “But the fire.”


  “Leave it.”

  Lianna followed wordlessly as he led her through the jungle. What was there to say given her present standing? She had to give herself time to let the awkwardness around him abate.

  Zane used his sword to cut down the overgrown branches that blocked a path she could not see. Sunlight dappled across the many shades of green. Deep pink, yellow and white blooms covering trees and shrubs fluttered like tiny dancers in the gentle breezes that found their way into the jungle. Inhaling deep, the sweet fragrant flowers mingled with the damp woodsy scent of the forest floor made her feel positively alive. Colorful birds squawked, cackled and sang, frogs and crickets chirped, and small animals dashed away in furry blurs while she and Zane made their way.

  “Watch your step.” Zane held her hand and she balanced across stepping stones washed in the babbling current of a brook. “Just a little further.”

  They climbed an embankment surrounded by black, moss-covered rocks to an opening that led to the flat grassy top of a bluff. Zane dismissed a sentinel sitting on the ledge and led her out onto the plateau.

  Lianna gasped at the beauty. She spun around absorbing the majesty of the scenery. The entire lustrous island opened out before her from the vantage point. In the gentle rise and fall of the land, she spotted a small, thin waterfall disappearing amid the thick sea of trees. White foamy waves rolled soundlessly over the jagged rocks below them. The green-blue ocean shimmered like glittering diamonds, stretching out beyond reach.

  “It’s breathtaking.”

  “Aye, it is.”

  They stood silent for a long while, admiring the glory of the natural world around them.

  Lianna took his hand in hers. He looked down, his expression curious. “Thank you,” she said. This is insane. It must be the altitude. “Thank you for showing me this.” She rose to her tip toes and kissed him on the cheek. I’ve lost my bloody mind. Damn, but he smells good.