“Stop it! Please, stop it!” she whispered to him. She trembled from head to toe.
Some of the fever left his eyes. He bent low against her. His lips brushed hers, his beard and mustache teased the softness of her flesh. She would have twisted away but his kiss was so gentle, so light, baby’s breath. Then he stared down at her again.
“You must listen to me, please!” Skye said. She wanted to hate him so thoroughly. She could never let him touch her again, but she despised herself as well. When he came near, there was warmth, there was fire. She felt alive.
She loved her husband! she cried to herself. But her husband was so very like this man.
“Talk.”
He still sat above her, impervious to his lack of dress. Skye sought out his eyes. “I need your help. And my—my husband could be right behind us.”
“Oh?”
“My father is missing. He isn’t missing—I mean, I know where he is. He was anxious to see me, and when theSilver Messengerreturned here, he outfitted her with a new captain. It turned out to be Logan. Logan has my father. Please, I need you.”
“I’ve heard about it,” he told her.
“Then…?”
“You say that you think that your husband might well be on his way after you?”
“Yes.”
“Why. Where did you leave him?”
“What does that matter to you? I tell you that time is of the essence.”
“I am curious. If you want my help, answer my questions.”
“You haven’t told me if I will get your help or not!”
“Talk!”
“Oh, you are a fool anyway! Spotswood will hang you if he finds you here.”
“And your husband will slay me.”
“Of course!”
“I might well slay him.” He fell down by her side, rested upon an elbow, staring at her with fascination again. She rose quickly, leaping out of the bed, returning his glare.
“Don’t be so certain, Captain Hawk. I have seen him in action, and he is a bold, brave fighter.”
“Oh?” His brows shot up with surprise. “I thought you were determined to rid yourself of the excess baggage of your betrothed—your husband, that is—the moment you touched shore.”
“None of this is your concern.”
He smiled, enjoying her, enjoying himself. He rolled over, staring up at the ceiling. “So, madame, it was not so awful then. You lay with him and came back to me, furious that I should have another in my bed. Were your expecting my undying devotion. Should I have pined away while you slept with my illustrious cousin?”
Skye snatched up his black breeches from the floor and tossed them along with his boots upon his naked belly. He grunted from the pain and stared up at her, still smiling.
“Your temper, love! Marriage had not improved it.”
“Are you going to help me or not?”
“I don’t know. I’m still thinking about it.”
“I will pay you.”
