Her face flamed and her eyes widened and jerked from the grandly protruding piece of his anatomy back to his eyes.
They were open. He was staring at her.
He smiled at her pleasantly. “Ready to keep your promise, Lady Kinsdale?”
She flushed furiously, wishing there were a way to instantly escape life itself. He rolled swiftly to his side and stroked her cheek, and though she tried not to, she slapped his hand away. She tried not to stare into flashing blue eyes, but to keep her gaze fixed upon the ceiling.
His laughter was quick and easy, as if his earlier anger had dissipated. But his face came nearer hers and he caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “You were warned, mam’selle.”
“I am exhausted.”
“Are you?”
“Utterly. How can one possibly fulfill such a promise in such a state?”
“You’re a liar. Why, Lady Kinsdale, I believe that you do not intend to keep your promise at all.”
Her eyes sizzled with a fury she could not suppress. “You are a pirate, sir. You are the scum of the earth. No decent man or woman would begin to imagine that such a vow need be upheld.”
“The very scum of the earth?” he said. “Mam’selle, how offensive!”
“You are offensive!”
“But I am not, milady.…” he whispered softly, his voice trailing away in a haunting whisper. His knuckles brushed over her cheek and his fingers whispered against the length of her throat. She stared at him, unable to move or protest, compelled to silence by the silver-blue command of his eyes. Compelled, perhaps, by more.
“Ah, lady, think! It might have been One-Eyed Jack with his gruesome pitted face, decaying teeth, and lice-ridden body. You’ve done quite well, I daresay.”
“You conceited oaf!” she spat, regaining her composure. He laughed, catching her wrists with one hand, straddling her squirming form. “Conceited, mam’selle? Nay, I offer you cleanliness and sound teeth, and you scoff at the lot of it.”
“Bastard!”
“Ummm!” he agreed, and the touch of his free hand and fingers traveled lower, teasing the mound of her breast. She gritted her teeth, preparing to scratch and rail and fight and find some way to reach the blade at her side. His fingers fell lower and lower, rounding her breast, grazing her nipple. She screamed out with protest, but before she could fight him, he laughed, and his touch was gone.
He had released her. His feet swung over the side of the bed and she lay in ardent misery as he moved about, completely naked and completely comfortable with his state. Skye drew her covers close and felt the cold steel of the blade against her arm. She had wanted to put him at a disadvantage. He was awake now. Awake, aware, and rested.
There was a knock upon the door. With a slight oath he reached for one of the linen sheets upon the bunk, ripping it free and wrapping it about his waist. Skye, aware that he meant to open the door, drew her coverlet more securely over her breasts and bit her lip in consternation.
The handsome young pirate who had encouraged her fight the previous afternoon stood there with a tray. “Coffee, Captain. Sorry that there’s no cream for the lady, but it’s been a bit since we’ve seen a cow. There’s sugar, though, and Cookie’s sent some fine dark rolls.”
“Thank you, Arrowsmith. Have you heard of the lady’s ship?”
“Aye, it’s sailing along behind us just fine. We all weathered the storm just fine.”
“We’ll see that she’s repaired in New Providence.”
“What?” Sky shrieked from the bed. Startled, they both turned to her.
“Wh—where? We’re not headed for the James?”
They smiled to one another. “Why, nay, milady!” the Silver Hawk assured her. “Would you have me hang so quickly? I dare not sail straight up the James! I have no wish to see Virginia.”
“But I have!”
“And so you shall—when your ransom is met. And frankly, my dear, I am in no great hurry for that.” His eyes roamed over her quite differently. They touched her with a shimmering heat. They seemed to stroke her, as if she were a possession, already known, and cherished.
A cry of rage escaped her and the pirate turned to his man with a shrug. He took the tray of coffee and rolls. “Women. You never can please them, Arrowsmith.”
Arrowsmith laughed and cleared his throat. He inclined his head in Skye’s direction and saluted his captain. Then he took his leave, closing the doors in his wake.
