“My men are out there, you know.”
Her eyes widened. She had forgotten that, a fact so important that itwasnearly a miracle. Roc’s ship—rather, the Hawk’s ship—lay somewhere out on the other side of the island. Unless the storm had torn her to shreds. But Skye was certain that the Hawk and his pirate crew had weathered much worse.
“They’ll rescue you—us!” she said happily. “They’ll come in here and…” Her voice trailed away. He was looking at her sadly.
His crew could not just sail in, she realized. There were many captains here, at Blackbeard’s pirates’“ball.” More men than the Hawk’s crew could possibly meet with any chance of victory.
And it would still leave her father as Logan’s prisoner. An enraged Logan, at that.
“There is no miracle to be had!” she whispered brokenly.
“Yes, perhaps there is,” he said.
There was a sudden hammering upon the door. “Who is that?” Skye murmured with alarm.
“I don’t know. Get over there, on the bed,” Roc said swiftly.
“What?” she demanded, frowning.
“Damn you, milady, must you question everything? Get over there!”
She must not have responded quickly enough to suit him, for she found herself flying forcefully across the room and landing hard upon the straw bedding. He was quickly down beside her, gathering her into his arms. Alarmed and furious at his treatment, she struggled against him, kicking out madly. “Damn you, you have lost your mind!” she cried.
His hand landed hard over hers. “Shut up!” he ordered her. “Come in!” he called out.
Outraged, she struggled against him. The door opened and one of the pirates’ doxies stood there, dark hair spilling over her enormous breasts, her eyes dark and flashing and her very red lips curled in amusement as she watched Skye struggling.
“Leave her, Hawk!” The girl laughed. “I could provide far more entertainment than this one!”
He shook his head and smiled broadly. “She loves me, Leticia. Honest—she loves me truly. Right, love?” Skye tried to bite his hand. He laughed, a pirate’s laugh, and she realized that she was inadvertently playing right along with his ruse.
Leticia shrugged. “Every man to his choice, Captain! But remember if you tire of her…you need only call my name.” She walked more fully into the room. Roc regretfully pulled himself up from Skye, but dragged her along with him. He held her close, his hand nonchalantly over her breast. She was a possession here, and safe because he had claimed her as his, animportantpossession.
And one he chose to allow to live on beyond him.
“I came to see if you are hungry.” She smiled beguilingly and Skye thought that she was really very pretty with her large breasts, trim waist, and dark eyes. Leticia. Roc knew her, he knew her by name. No, the Hawk knew her. Skye wondered just how well the Hawk knew her, and she felt ill. This was insane. She loved him. She despised him. She could not bear his death, and yet she hated this untenable position.
“Hungry…for food,” Leticia murmured.
“Ravenous,” Roc told her.
“I will bring something.” She came very close to them both, kneeling by the bedding. She watched Skye with a searing curiosity. Skye raised her chin and the dark-haired woman chuckled huskily. “Ice fires can burn hot, so they say,” she murmured, and laughed again. Then her voice lowered and she spoke very softly to Roc alone. “Blackbeard wants to see you. Alone. He thinks that the two of you should talk.”
“Does he?” Roc said.
Leticia nodded fervently. “He hates Logan. Always has hated him. You know that.”
Roc shrugged. “But Blackbeard is on his honor here. We came to him as a mediator between us.”
Leticia tossed back her dark hair. “Blackbeard is his own law, and his own honor. He will do what he chooses, and that will be the honorable thing. If men say that it is cruel and treacherous, he will be glad of it. He savors what they say, as you know well enough. If a man fears the terror of Blackbeard’s wrath, he is quick to lay down his arms. You must understand that power, Hawk!”
Roc nodded gravely. “All right. I’ll speak with him.”
Leticia looked to Skye with amusement. “Not now. I’ve not come to interrupt anything!” She laughed again. “Later. When darkness has fallen, then I’ll come, and I’ll bring you to him.”
“All right,” Roc agreed. Leticia smiled, and whirled around like a young doe to leave them. When the door closed behind her, Skye elbowed Roc with all of her might. She was gratified to feel him release her and grunt painfully.
“Damn you, Skye Cameron!” he swore to her, staggering to his feet.
