Page 72 of The Summons


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“Did you?” At the time, Blake hadn’t been sure whether he’d die of starvation or a broken heart. Both equally deadly.

“Well, here you are,non?”

“I want you off my island forthwith.” Stiffening his jaw, he narrowed his eyes. “I’ll have my men escort you to your boat—if that is even true—and you will row out to your ship and sail away. Do you take me?”

“I’d love totakeyou. Do you not remember those many nights…?” She sidled up to him and whispered, “That one night when we…”

Blake shoved her away before she could finish the salacious memory. Even so, his body reacted to her words, and he hated himself for it.She’d found him a young man of only sixteen working at the docks, barely surviving, and she’d seduced him into her web of licentious wickedness. At the time, he’d been more than eager to partake of her fruits, more than eager to learn everything about pirating, about being a man and commanding a ship.

She’d promised they’d be together forever, sailing the world’s seas, hoarding all its gold, and living like a king and queen.

Until the day she grew bored of him and found another young man to play with.

“Don’t be so cruel, Blake. I have come to regret leaving you.” She pouted. “I have not found your equal in all the Caribbean.”

He gave an indignant huff. “I am not the innocent fool you once knew.”

“Non. I don’t believe you are.” She gestured toward his ear. “You wear the black pearl I gave you. You still think of me,non?” A sly grin curved her lips.

“Never.”

Sighing, she cocked her head. “Alors, I have a proposition for you, Blake.”

“I want naught to do with you.” He started away to summon his men.

She grabbed his arm. “Hear me out. Why not join forces? Word is you are set to conquer more lands, gain more wealth and power.”

Was it his imagination or did her gaze flicker over the Ring on his finger?

“You’ll need more than one ship for the task,non? You’ll need a fleet. Therefore, I am offering a partnership.”

He shook his head, jerking from her touch and eyeing her suspiciously. “I recall how our last partnership ended.”

“As I said, I have come to regret that. Will you not forgive me?” Her mesmerizing eyes shifted between his.

“Nay. I will not. Nor do I need you or your ship.” He rubbed the Ring, wondering if he could use it against her. “Now, I insist you leave.”

She took a step back, defeat finally tugging upon her beautiful features. “In the middle of the night? Do allow me to stay. I promise to leave in the morning.” She drew close, rubbing against him. “For old times’ sake? You owe me, Blake.” She drew her full lips into another pout.

“For what?” he spat back.

“You would not be the captain of a ship, nor have wealth, nor this island, nor any hope of power without my—how do you say?—tutelage. You’d still be working at the docks in Barbados, dousing your sorrows with rum each night.”

Blake swallowed. Her words were true enough. But he’d more than paid that debt long ago. The only thing left to her credit was the lesson she’d taught him to never love or trust anyone ever again.

“Come now, Blake. What can one woman do against an island full of men? Put a guard on me if you want.”

’Twas like locking a tiger in a cage made of parchment. “Very well. One night. If you dare defy me, Jo, I’ll not hesitate to have you drawn and quartered.”

One side of her lips quirked in a charming grin. “Oh, you do know how to stir a lady’s heart.”

b

Emeline paced her chamber. Back and forth, back and forth over the lush Turkish carpet, onto the polished wooden floor, up to the mahogany wardrobe, then spinning, retracing her steps to her bed. She had waited for the sounds of revelry to fade, waited for the island’s inhabitants to sneak off to their beds, waited for naught but the sound of wind and wave and an occasional whippoorwill to grace her ears. Nerves aflame, all she needed to do now was wait until well past the usual hour that Blake would enter her chamber. Once that passed, as she was sure it would since the brigand had the ravishing dark-haired lady to attend to his needs, she could easily slip out of the house and find her way to the fishing boat.

At least she hoped she could do so in the dark. Still, ’twas the perfect time to make her move with this unforeseen distraction entering the equation.

Boot steps pounded the tile in the hallway. A door creaked open, then slammed moments later, the thrust of it shaking the walls. Blake had returned, no doubt besotted and, from all indication, angry.