by Merry Farmer
Give him exactly what he wanted. I pulled away, taking a few hasty steps back until my hip knocked the chair.
Milton said hastily, “You don’t have to leave. I’ll cover myself.”
“I’m sleeping elsewhere.” Whether or not the cabin was the best suited place for the captain of the ship. “You have the cabin.”
When he started to stand, Papillon jumped onto his shoulders, digging in his claws until Milton hissed in pain. He juggled the cat until he cradled the calico in his arms. With a grin, Milton muttered, “At least I know I haven’t lost my charm with women.”
I almost laughed at his joke—almost. Meeting his gaze one last time, I informed him, “Papillon is male.” I exited, shutting the door firmly in my wake.
This time, I didn’t linger. Keeping my face to the deck, lest Hannah and Grand-mère see the color in my cheeks, I hurried toward the bow of the ship. When I passed one of the women checking the ropes, I asked after Lexi. After all, of everyone on board the ship, she was the only woman large enough to own clothes to fit Milton.
Cassaundra hopped down from the rigging. She navigated the sway of the deck with an easy, practiced lope as she crossed to me. “Lexi went down to the orlop deck to take store of the materials needed for repairs.”
I nodded before turning away. “Thanks.”
“Wait—” She caught my arm.
I was so weary. I wanted nothing more than to take comfort in my friend. And if nothing else, Cassaundra had been that from the moment she’d stepped onto my ship. She had embraced me as a fellow colored woman. I hadn’t realized I’d needed that camaraderie, that reprieve from always holding my breath and pretending to fit in, until she’d offered it. I’d had Tamara, of course, but one woman wasn’t the same as the community I’d built aboard the ship. When I needed to breathe, to relax and be myself, it wasn’t Grand-mère or Hannah or even Aludra to whom I turned. It was Cassaundra and the other colored women we’d offered homes to aboard this ship.
But as desperately as I needed her comfort now, I couldn’t. Not in public while the rest of my crew trusted me to remain strong.
When she dropped her hand, she curled it at her side. Her dark brown eyes glittered over her bladed nose, full of questions. I braced myself for yet one more person inquiring after the man in my cabin.
Instead, she whispered, “Tamara?”
I shut my eyes in pain. “She and Evelyn were captured by the British. That’s all I know.”
“We can’t leave her with them. You know what they think of us. What they’ll do—”
“I know.” I choked on the words and the nightmare of images spanning my closed eyelids. I opened my eyes, but Tamara’s fate still weighed on me. White women like Evelyn, who trespassed on a man’s domain by dressing in breeches and taking up arms, were treated with derision and disgust. Those same men would treat a woman of darker skin like chattel. “We’ll rescue her. I promise.”
“What of the others on her ship?”
“They escaped. At least, so claims Captain Sterling. I intend to question him further on the matter.”
“That’s something.”
We shared a look, a feeling. Worry ate at us both. I reached out and clasped her hand, squeezing tight. She held me just as firm.
I bore the weight of the responsibility, made the tough decisions so that she and hundreds of other women didn’t have to. That was what Milton failed to understand. I’d been foolish and driven by pride when I’d accepted his wager to duel. My marriage affected not only me, but everyone in my crew. Perhaps everyone in my fleet.
“Lexi is on the orlop deck?”
Cassaundra nodded and released me. “Yes.”
I turned and strode away quickly, focusing on the next task at hand.
By the time I reached the orlop deck, I felt marginally more composed.
When Lexi saw me, she straightened from the lengths of wood she was examining. “Jeanne. Can I help you?” Her voice was gravelly with surprise.
“Lexi, do you have any breeches?”
Skittish, she dropped the wood. She picked it up briskly, her cheeks coloring in the swing light of the lantern on its hook. “Why? My skirts don’t get in the way of my work.”
“Not for you,” I assured her. “Our…guest needs a change of clothes while his dry. Do you have any?”
Lexi bit her lip, her face still scarlet. “Perhaps one pair, but I fear they would be a poor fit.”
I shared a smile with her, teasing one out of her in return. “I suspect they will be, but I assure you it’s an improvement on the state he’s in now. He’s in my cabin. Will you bring the clothes to him, and perhaps some food and water from the galley?”
I couldn’t face him. What good was being captain if I couldn’t delegate?
Still shy, Lexi nodded. “Of course.”
“Thank you.” I turned away, prepared to go up to the officers’ wardroom for the night. Sleeping atop a table would be uncomfortable, but better than sharing a room with a naked man. Especially a naked man who awakened every dormant desire in me. At the exit, I paused and looked back over my shoulder, battling guilt for sending poor, shy Lexi into my cabin unprepared.
“Oh, and Lexi? I feel I should warn you. He is naked in there.”
Her eyes widened. She looked as much off-balance as I felt, but despite her harried expression, I did not intend to face Milton again. Not today, and certainly not without his clothes on.
Chapter 7
Give No Quarter
Hannah was an excellent navigator. Before midnight, she had not only determined our position in the Atlantic Ocean but charted a course to a seaport several days away. Although I kept my distance from Milton in the intervening days, I couldn’t avoid the ribald jokes from my officers. They had noticed I slept in the wardroom night after night, despite the fact I had a functional, even comfortable, bed.
A bed currently filled by a well-sculpted man. The prevailing opinion on board was that I squandered an opportunity.
Despite their jokes, worry threaded the ship. The fate of the Fortune weighed heavy on our consciences. Tamara and her crew had been captured or killed—and the man in my cabin not only knew the particulars, but where to find the survivors. The tension on deck whenever Milton surfaced to stretch his legs was palpable.
For that reason alone, I watched him during his daily exercise. Whether he had worn the clothes Lexi had offered, I didn’t know. Whenever I saw him on deck, he wore the uniform breeches that clung to him like a second skin and his shirtsleeves rolled to bare his tanned forearms. As he reached the rail, he stood silent, ignoring the agitation of the women nearby.
When he turned, his gaze seeking me out, my heart skipped a beat. Alone on the hard wardroom table, I was consumed night after night by the memory of those eyes. Of the hot press of his body against mine and the urgent way he begged me to take my pleasure. I turned away, searching for a distraction.
Hannah frowned as she squinted into the spyglass and scanned the sea in front of us. When she lowered the tube, she looked worried.
My gut tightened. Trouble? “What do you see?”
In answer, Hannah handed over the spyglass. “There are more ships in the harbor than usual.”
“Friend or foe?” Had the British somehow guessed where we would make port?
Hannah looked grim. “I can’t tell at this distance.”
I lifted the glass to my eye, turning it toward the port not five miles distant. I couldn’t discern the color of the flags on those bobbing ships, either. I handed the glass back to the navigator. “Grand-mère?”
Although she had trailed me with a perpetual knowing expression since Milton had come aboard, at the seriousness of the situation, she lost her sly look. “I’ll be ready for trouble.”
I nodded curtly. “I’ll alert the rest of the crew.”
I climbed swiftly to the quarterdeck, the hairs on the back of my neck rising as I felt eyes upon me. I turned, and my gaze fell on the person responsib
le. Milton stood under the mainsail again, out of the way, his expression unreadable at this distance. If we made port without trouble, I intended to leave him there. Before then, I must learn of Tamara’s fate. I gestured with my chin toward the cabin where prying ears would not lead to discontent.
For a moment, he remained motionless. Was he challenging my authority? He was not a member of my crew but, surely, he understood the need for privacy. After a long moment, he dipped his chin and strode easily for the door. I watched him until it swung shut behind him and then turned to find Aludra.
She was in the fore of the ship, overlooking the crew trimming the sails to catch the best gusts of wind. When I reached her, she lowered her gaze from the sails overhead and raised an eyebrow at me.
“There’s potential danger at the port. Keep the crew ready.”
She nodded, not asking for particulars. Instead, gestured toward the cabin. “What of him?”
I fought back a grimace. “When we make port, I’ll ask him about Tamara and lead him off the ship.” I wasn’t certain if that met with her exacting standards for humane treatment, so I added, “I’ll make certain he has enough money for passage home on another ship.” We were lucrative enough to be able to spare him that.
Aludra narrowed her eyes. “How will you be questioning him?”
Stiffening, I pinned her beneath the coldest stare I could muster. Whether she approved or not, I would find my answers. “I’m not leaving Tamara behind.”
She broke eye contact first. “Of course not, Captain.” Something flickered in her eyes before she turned away. Approval—or censure?
Despite my avowal to question Milton, I returned to my position near the helm. He could wait until I finished overseeing the maneuvering of the Gambit into port. Despite ships claiming all available positions on the docks, the local authorities offered us no resistance. We weighed anchor and went ashore to pay the fee to keep our ship in the bay. As we rowed back to the ship, Lexi handling the oars, I turned to Hannah. “I’ll remain on the ship while the crew departs for the afternoon off. Will you leave word with our friends in port? We must warn the rest of the fleet of the Fortune’s capture, or they may fall into the same trap we did.”
Hannah nodded. “I’ll do that. What about supplies?”
“Aludra will see to replenishing them.” The shadow of the ship fell across us as we rowed to the side. Aludra tossed the rope ladder over the hull. I waited for Lexi to disembark first, then motioned for Hannah to follow as I tied the dinghy to the ship.
My navigator hesitated with her hands knotted in the rope. “What will you be doing on the ship?”
I gave her a tight smile. “For now, I’m going to see what answers I can get from Milton.”
Hannah winked as she set her foot into the stirrup. “Make it a memorable goodbye, would you?”
For once, I was thankful of the solitude of climbing up last. It granted me time for the heat in my cheeks to subside.
When I entered my cabin, I found Milton on his feet, pacing the length. He turned to me, a frown deepening the crinkles around his eyes. “We’ve anchored.”
I raised my eyebrows. “We’re in port. You’re free to leave.” I shut the door and planted myself firmly in front of it, crossing my arms. “After you tell me what I want to know.”
Rather than fight me, he lowered himself onto the bed, stretching out his legs and crossing his ankles. It put his head lower than mine, which under any other circumstance would have empowered me. Somehow, he’d managed it in such a way that his body devoured the space in the room. It drew my attention to his long, muscular frame. He hadn’t shaved for the past week, his face rough with dark stubble that shadowed his jaw. It made him look wild.
How would that stubble feel between my thighs?
Heat flushing more than my cheeks, I balled my fists and lowered them next to me, averting my gaze.
In a low voice laden with invitation, Milton asked, “What would you like to know?”
“You took the crew of the Lady’s Fortune captive. Tell me where they are, and you are free man.”
If anything, his voice lowered even further. “I’ll be a free man, will I?”
I raised my chin, meeting his gaze. “Yes. Unless you prefer I trade you for Tamara’s freedom. She is the captain of the ship you captured.”
“Promises, promises.” He cocked one eyebrow. “I recall you making me another promise…” He left the details unspoken, his head tilting in challenge as he smiled.
I scowled. “That was made under duress.”
“But it was made.”
I blew out an exasperated breath and crossed my arms again. “I think you’d be happy that I’m willing to let you go instead of tossing you overboard. I could have done it at any point in the last week.”
He made a face. “I don’t know why you think I’d be happy to be moored in an unfamiliar city without a ship.”
I tightened my arms so hard my chest ached. “It’s no less than you were willing to do to me!”
The words fell in the air between us like bullets. His eyes met mine, the past knotting between us in a way I hadn’t been willing to acknowledge. I hadn’t buried that grievance as far down as I’d hoped.
“I beg your pardon?”
I stepped closer to loom over him. The position felt precarious, teetering on a precipice. He didn’t move. I spread my legs to accommodate his between them in the pitifully small room.
“It’s what you were willing to do to me. Two years ago, when you offered for me, and my father accepted before consulting me.”
His eyebrows snapped together, contorting his face in outrage. “No woman wants a life at sea!” He braced his hands on the mattress, looking like he might rise. Instead, understanding dawned. The anger dissipated. He murmured, “You aren’t like other women, are you?”
I turned away in disgust. “I am exactly like other women. You haven’t bothered to look.”
He caught my arm, pulling me to stand over him again. His eyes were earnest as they caught mine. “Forgive me. You’re right, I wasn’t looking. I’m looking now.”
A shiver coursed over my skin.
“Truce?” he asked, his voice low and intimate.
I could break his hold. It wasn’t tight, just enough to guide me into this shamble of intimacy. I could run, like I had before, but the sad truth was that I needed him. I needed him to tell me of Tamara’s fate. “What could you possibly offer to entice me into a truce?”
“I’ll tell you the location of your friend.”
“If?” I sensed the word, even if he didn’t say it outright. It lingered on the tip of his tongue. Thinking of his tongue drew my attention to his wide, full mouth. Tingles awakened in the tips of my fingers as I imagined the pleasures that tongue could perform. Belatedly, I realized he still held me, his grip loose as his thumb stroked the sensitive underside of my wrist. The light brush of his skin against mine made me burn.
Holding my gaze, he said, “If you hold up to your end of the bargain.”
I backed away. “Marry you?”
He stood, looming over me as he pursued. “It’s the only way I can save you from the gallows. If you cease your pirating ways and become my wife, I can use my influence with certain magistrates to get you a pardon.”
My hip smacked into the writing desk. I winced, adjusting my retreat. “You’re mad if you think I would agree to that. I will never give up my freedom.”
I’d worked too hard to attain it.
Milton raised his eyebrows. “Not even to save your friend?”
I hesitated. No. Yes.
Bordel de merde! How could I consider his offer? How could I turn my back on a woman who was like a sister to me? I couldn’t. Tamara deserved better from me.
I whispered, “If I marry you…” I held up a hand, stalling his response “If I do, it will be in name only.”
I watched him closely, certain he would refuse. After a moment of inner confliction, resignation crossed his
face. He blew out a long breath and raked his fingers over his hair. “Very well.”
His words were no more than a mumble, but it made me hot and cold at the same time. Two words. My future, decided.
“Where is Tamara?”
He shook his head once. “I’m not telling you without a gesture of good faith.”
My stomach twisted into delicate lace. Would he demand I marry him now? Ever since I had turned my back on our engagement, I’d built myself a life in which I didn’t have to marry anyone. I didn’t want to become a man’s property, certainly not his.
“What sort of gesture?”
He shrugged. “You tell me. Show me you intend to make good on your agreement this time, instead of running off and leaving me stranded.”
Uncertain, I caught his eye and licked my lips. My back brushed the wood of the door before I realized I was retreating again. Only days ago, he had pressed me against this door, begging for a kiss. If I kissed him now…
His gaze heated as he fastened it on my mouth. I flicked my tongue out again, slowly, rewarded with the sharp intake of his breath. The deck rolled gently beneath my feet in the soft lapping of waves—a comfort. A courage. As I used the sway as an excuse to lean closer, emotions flickered over his face—confusion, comprehension, disbelief…desire.
Then, before I could second-guess myself, I fastened my mouth to his. He crushed me to him, knocking the wind out of me as he used the momentum of my lunge to carry us backward to the bed. I licked inside his mouth, sparking a conflagration, and relinquished myself to every wanton fantasy that had gripped me this past week. He anchored my body against him with his hands on my back and met my ardor with searing, molten kisses. Lost in the feel of his mouth, his body beneath me, I straddled him.