A sadness so intense it defied description swept Katherine’s being. She looked at Liam, at his proud, handsome face, at his big, powerful form, and into his unreadable gray eyes. She thought of the past day. How foolish she had been to wake up so pleased and dreamy-eyed. They had not indulged in lovemaking. Oh, no. It had been nothing more than fornication, no, worse, purely hedonistic sex.
And even if it had been lovemaking, that could not change Liam O’Neill into a man he would never become. He was Shane O’Neill’s son, no rapist like his father, perhaps not an overly violent man, but an amoral pirate nonetheless.
“Good day, Katherine,” he said levelly. His gaze searched her face. “We are about to sit down to dinner.” His glance lingered on her bodice where it was torn and where she held it up. “I have ordered the chest of clothesbrought up from my ship. It should be here at any moment. We will wait for you to change before we dine.”
Her heart was in shreds. And it had nothing to do with changing her ripped gown. Katherine moved toward him and handed him the box. “I cannot take this.”
His expression unfathomable, he nodded.
“I do not want any gifts from you.”
“Very well. That is your decision to make.” His tone was without inflection.
Katherine wanted to weep. She turned her back on him, somewhat blindly, to face the table where they would dine. She had awaked ravenous; now she had no appetite. She was in serious danger, but she refused to identify the exact nature of that danger. She knew but one thing. She must escape. No matter how it hurt her to do so.
Several days later, Katherine sat on the floor with Guy, dicing. She was pleased to see him smile and even cry with glee when he bested her, for he was, in general, such a solemn boy. They were wagering twigs and stones, although Guy, the rascal, had wanted to wager actual coin. Now he clapped his hands, flushed with pleasure, having won again. Katherine smiled at him. “I cannot best you, Guy. I think I must concede defeat.”
Guy grinned at her, then, seeing someone behind her, his smile brightened even more. Katherine twisted and saw Liam watching them, a strange expression upon his face. Her heart immediately picked up a wild beat. She was very aware of the late hour—and what would soon happen in their chamber upstairs.
For Liam slept with her every night, and their bouts of passion often lasted until dawn. Sometimes, incredibly, he came to her in the middle of the day as well. Katherine had never refused him. She had never wanted to.
Their glances locked, understanding sizzling between them. Katherine felt her cheeks grow hot as she turned to face Guy. She felt Liam approach, felt his body’s warmth and magnetism as he stood behind her, over her. His hand brushed her shoulder. “Did you learn to dice in the convent, Kate?”
Katherine laughed, nervously. “Of course not. I learned dicing from my father and my uncle.”
He stepped forward and knelt beside her, his gaze warm, stroking over her face. “Your mother did not object?”
Katherine grinned. “She did not know.”
He laughed, the sound rich and easy.
Katherine stared at his beautiful face.
Liam’s gaze turned to Guy. “I hope you are not taking the lady for all she is worth,” he said seriously.
Guy flushed. “No sir. Captain.”
Liam reached out and mussed the boy’s hair. “Gentlemen let ladies win.” He rose, gave Katherine a sharp glance, and moved away. Katherine watched him as he walked to the stairs, her pulse rioting. But when she turned back to Guy, trying to act naturally, she saw the question in his eyes, and how eagerly he was poised to play. Her ready smile faded. The boy was so starved for affection, both hers and Liam’s. And although she wanted nothing more than to run up the stairs, she patted his small hand. “Well, do we play or no?” she asked cheerfully.
Guy’s gaze flew to hers, and then he grinned. “Aye, lady, we play. But do I really have to let you win?”
Katherine could not sleep. She looked at Liam, who lay upon his back, breathing deeply, his body still sheened with sweat from their wild lovemaking. Katherine’s heart clenched. Carefully, so as not to wake him, she sat up.
June had come to the island, and although the days were warm and summerlike, the nights were still quite cool. Katherine pulled the covers up over her bare breasts, her pulse refusing to quiet. Earlier that evening, during their light supper repast, Liam had told her that he was leaving on the morrow.
Katherine had reacted foolishly, asking him where he was going. He had gazed at her with impenetrable eyes, and told her it served no purpose for her to know.
Katherine felt moisture gathering in her eyes. She wiped it away, angry with herself for forgetting, even for an instant, that her lover was a pirate. Of course, he did have letters of marque; clearly he also preyed upon the queen’senemies. Katherine knew that it was simplistic to label Liam naught but a pirate, for his piracy was a part of a very clever and dangerous political game. He was as much a privateer, making him some strange hybrid creation of the two. When he plundered and pillaged the high seas, he did so very, very carefully.
Liam was leaving. He was going pirating or privateering, and that meant that she would finally have a chance to escape.
Katherine looked down at him. The fire still blazed, and warm orange light bathed the room, making it easy to see his beautiful features. Her heart hurt. All the more reason to leave, now, before it was he who ordered her away, as he would surely do one day. Katherine was afraid that she would refuse such a command instead of following it, refuse it and drop to her knees, begging him not to cast her aside in favor of some new, younger mistress.
Oh, God! Katherine hugged herself, the tears spilling now. She did not love him, that was impossible, but he had enslaved her with his sex and his power and his charisma. He had enslaved her, that was all, but slaves could escape their masters, and she must escape him.
Tomorrow he would leave. After he was gone, she would go to the village with the coffer containing the ruby-and-gold necklace. Surely, for such a prize, someone would help her leave the island—and leave him.
23
