“Don’t make a sound.”
And then, the blow came. It cracked against her head, sending a blinding light behind her eyes, and everything went dark.
Chapter Ten
Dawn’s soft lightslanted through the window while Christian sank into the chair at his desk with a groan. His head pounded like the devil. And it should.
After a fruitless search of his property last night, he’d come inside and downed half a bottle of whiskey. What else was he supposed to do when all he could think about was a fearless little redhead who’d marched into his cabin and given him her virtue? His cock stirred. More than that. She’d given him the best damn night of his life.
And then, she’d drugged him and vanished without a trace.
He pulled the black mask from a drawer and ran his fingers over the smooth leather. The sail back to Savannah had been pure torture. Her presence lingered in his cabin, the soft scent of lemon hitting him whenever he least expected it. He’d bunked with the rest of his crew, unable to even look at his bed without glorious visions of her naked body writhing beneath him.
He’d spent the days pondering what the hell she’d been up to. Who the hell she was. And what the hell he was going to do about her.
A virgin pirate.
Nothing about her added up. His gut told him there was more to the story than she had let on. And his gut was seldom wrong.
Speaking of said gut, a hard knot twisted there. In all his years, he’d never taken anyone’s virtue. Sure, he enjoyed women plenty, but he preferred them seasoned and experienced. No chance of hurting any feelings.
Damn it.
Any other woman, and he’d be hunting her down and marrying her to take responsibility for what he did. But Red was no ordinary woman. She was a pirate.
Another wave of pain pulsed through his head and he stared at his compass. What did she gain by returning it? Had she followed him to Savannah? How long would she be around?
He’d already sent orders for his men to search all ships on the river and to keep an eye out on the streets. What he needed to do was get some sleep and go out searching himself. He would find her. And then...
Hell if he knew. He raked his hand through his hair for the thousandth time.
He could offer her honest work. Hire her on as a maid. His lips curved. To be able to have access to her whenever he wanted...no.
No.
It would be taking advantage of her.
Mistress.
The word flitted across his mind.
A pounding at his front door saved him from spiraling with his thoughts and he jumped to his feet. This early, it could only be one of his men with news. They must have found her. A slow smile spread across his lips as tension drained from his shoulders.
He swung open the door and frowned. A footman stood there. Not one of his.
“Lieutenant?” The man’s eyes searched Christian’s face. Of course, he’d expected a butler to answer. Christian sighed. Definitely time to put out an advertisement. Though he’d grown up in a household overflowing with servants, the last few years in the navy had taught him to be more independent. To take care of affairs himself.
He nodded and the footman straightened. “I have an urgent message for you.”
Christian’s brow furrowed, but he held out his hand.
The footman shook his head. “No time for a written message, sir. Your presence is requested immediately at the Warstein manor.”
The headache began to return. Christian rubbed his neck. “I’ll have to get ready. And I’m in the midst of a crisis of my own right now. Whatever it is, it can wait until this afternoon.”
The color drained from the footman’s face as Christian turned away. “No!”
Christian jerked to a stop and looked down where the man grasped his arm. “I thought I made it clear. I have business of my own to tend to. Warstein will have to wait.”
