“Not so fast, Red. You agreed to a whole night.”
Samantha blinked at his implication. “You mean...” Her blush crept across her chest. “Again?”
He sat next to her and she averted her eyes from where he had already gone hard again. Damn her pulse for jumping.
Christian leaned back and patted the space next to him. She hesitated, and he hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her down to his side. Her head came to rest on his shoulder while he caught one of her legs with his. Soon, every inch of her body burned with his heat.
When he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, she caught his hand and pressed her cheek into his palm. Oh, how she wanted this moment to last. She pressed her eyes closed, trying to memorize the feel of his calloused skin against hers, the way his fingers curved to cup her jaw.
“Red...” He murmured the moniker against her cheek before yawning. “Whatever those pirates hold over you, it can’t be worth staying with them. Let me save you.”
She opened her eyes and stared at the flickering light on the ceiling.
His thumb slid along her jawline. “Come with me, Red. I can make sure they never bother you again. You’ll be safe with me.”
Who was this man? The more time she spent with him, the less he felt like an enemy. Her jaw clenched beneath his touch. She couldn’t fall for him. At the end of the day, they remained opponents in this war. She’d best remember that.
Still, the genuine concern in his voice tugged at something deep inside her. Reminded her she was destined to be alone. That she couldn’t have what he offered.
Silence fell over them and he nuzzled into her hair. Samantha took a shaky breath and pulled his hand from her face. He twined his fingers through hers and she stared at their combined fist. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.
“You can’t save me.” She whispered the words into his shoulderbut kept the second half of her statement silent.Not without taking away my identity.
Christian dropped her hand and embraced her, pulling her tight against his chest. “Let me try, Red. Let me...” His voice trailed off and his breathing deepened.
The henbane had worked. Samantha laid next to the lieutenant’s still body for several long minutes, until the gentle whoosh of his breathing threatened to lull her to sleep herself. She carefully lifted his arm and slid from the bed, ignoring her body’s protest at leaving his comfortable warmth behind.
After dressing, Samantha started toward the window. Halfway across the room, she paused and allowed herself one last look at him. Sleep had softened his features and she swallowed past the lump in her throat. She would remember this night for the rest of her life, every moment seared into her memory.
“Damn you, Lieutenant.”
With a shake of her head, she turned toward the closest window. Time to go. With nimble fingers, she unlatched it and carefully swung it open. A cool breeze brushed across her face and salty air filled her lungs. Lifting a foot to the ledge beneath the window, she began to lift herself up.
Wait.
She jumped back to the floor and rushed over to his desk. Slipping her mask off, she laid it next to the compass. The brass reflected the flame from a nearby candle.
Leave it.
But she couldn’t. The urge to take something as a reminder of tonight became overwhelming. And before she could talk herself out of it, she snatched the compass up and shoved it into her waistband. A moment later she stood on the ledge.
Holding her breath, she leaned out. No one stood at the railing above. Good. With a leap, she dove into the dark waves below. Sheslid deep below the surface and for a moment let the heavy weight of the water hold her still. A thousand bubbles roiled around her and as they dissipated, she kicked toward theHurricane.
When she could hold her breath no longer, she surfaced near the hull. Several strong kicks later, she reached it and maneuvered to the other side of the ship. In the pale moonlight, a rope ladder dangled from the main deck. She grinned and pulled herself from the water.
A few moments later, her bare feet slapped against the cool deck, drawing a startled exclamation from the man closest to her. Griff jumped up from where he sat against the main mast and strode toward her with concern on his face.
Samantha lifted a hand at his advance. “Time to make our escape.”
Chapter Nine
With a heavysigh, Samantha leaned against her balcony railing and stared at the river glistening through the trees. She ignored the glint of sunlight reflecting from the compass sitting next to her hand. Since she’d returned, the house had been quiet. Dead quiet. Which meant Griff had told Uncle Henry everything.
It would be a miracle if he didn’t march over and murder Lieutenant Thompson outright. Her gaze drifted to the east, where Christian’s property lay. Only a few pastures and groves of trees separated them. At the thought of his name, her stomach did a little flip.
How long?
How long would she react like this? Her hand rose to her face and she let her fingertips linger on her lips. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Christian. Christian with his mouth against hers. Christian as he took her to heights she hadn’t known existed. And Christian when he held her close.
