Page 39 of Devil of the High Seas
She panted as he began to pleasure her more quickly, his hand moving faster and faster until he brushed his thumb over her clit. She exploded from pleasure with a soft cry, and he continued to draw out her climax until her thighs quivered and her breath was stuttering. Then he removed his finger from her and she lay still, her hands still bound above her head. He admired his prize with no small amount of satisfaction. Her lashes fluttered as she slowly descended from the peak he had raised her to.
There were so many things he wanted to do to her, but those things would wait for another time. He wanted to savor her, to take his time and challenge his self-control. The end result would be that much sweeter when he finally claimed her.
“Now, I want you to get into bed and go to sleep,” he said.
“How can I possibly sleep after that?” she whispered shyly, and she sat up so he could unbind her hands.
“You’ll find a way, lass.” He leaned over and kissed her lips, tasting her sigh as she kissed him back. This was no burning, desperate kiss. It was soft and warm as the sun on a spring day. It made him think of those rare moments when he had no duties, no worries, and he would lie among the wildflowers and soak up the sunlight and imagine his soul growing with those flowers toward the heavens.
It also held a gentle yearning for love that made his chest ache. He pulled back, glancing away from her. It was too much, too soon. He was ashamed to think that he wasn’t ready to feel this way again after Charity. Seven years was a long time and yet not long at all in some ways.
“Sleep now,” he urged gently, then left the cabin. He didn’t go far, but he needed to clear his head. He leaned back against the bulkhead and breathed deep several times. All around him, theCornish Pixierocked gently on the waves as she sailed through the moonlit waters toward the open Atlantic.
Remember what matters. Getting theSirenback and killing Beauchamp and his traitorous crew.
Knowing that Beauchamp and those who’d mutinied against him were still out there cooled the heat in his blood. He closed his eyes, remembering that moment he and Ronnie had rowed away from his beloved ship and the storm finally cloaked theSirenfrom view.
“Gavin...”The name wasn’t spoken aloud but within his head. It felt like a distant echo. His brother’s voice.
For the next six weeks sailing to the West Indies, he would be chasing his old ship while his brother would likely be chasing his new one. He wasn’t sure how he knew Griffin was coming after him, but he was certain that he was. Griffin would want Josephine back. How could a man not want a woman like that back? But Gavin wasn’t going to let that happen. Josephine washistreasure now.
* * *
It wasclose to dawn when Griffin was roused from sleep by someone pounding on his cabin door. He stumbled out of bed and pulled on his clothes before he called for whoever was at his door to enter. Dominic stepped inside the cabin and closed the door behind him.
“What is it? Have we found them?” Griffin asked.
Dominic shook his head. “No, but while everyone was sleeping, we crossed paths with HMSTorrington, which has orders to sail up and down the west coast of England. They saw thePixieearly last evening, even dined with the captain and his wife.”
“Wife?” Griffin said. “Surely he didn’tmarryJosephine?”
“Knowing him, he would likely spin them a tale of marriage to throw any suspicion off him traveling with an unmarried woman. I have no idea if he did or not, but theTorringtonofficers were told that Josephine was his new bride.”
“Did you tell the officers that Gavin kidnapped her?” Griffin asked.
At Griffin’s question, Dominic’s face darkened. “No, I didn’t mention that.”
Griffin was both relieved and confused. “I’m glad to hear it, but why not?”
“Because the men on my ship are former pirates or sailors who are down on their luck, looking for honest work. I promised them all a safe and legal way of earning their living aboard theCornish Pixie. Anyone associated with Gavin, assuming he’s captured for piracy, will most likely face piracy charges as well. If I told the officers on theTorringtonthat we were chasing a pirate, they would be obliged to run him down and condemn the crew right along with him. I think it’s best if we keep His Majesty’s navy unaware of our little rescue mission.”
“I agree. I’ve no desire to see my brother hang. I only want to rescue Josephine and see your ship returned to you.”
“I’m glad we agree,” Dominic replied, his gaze solemn. “But I feel he may be heading into more danger than you originally expected.”
“What do you mean?” If a former pirate was worried about danger, that didn’t bode well for any one of them.
“Your brother was the Admiral of the Black, the ruler of the pirate court, the Brethren of the Coast.”
“Yes, so you said,” Griffin said, urging him to continue.
“This fellow Beauchamp who mutinied on Gavin and stole his vessel... Well, let’s just say the other pirate captains will not approve of Beauchamp’s actions. They do not hold with mutiny. Beauchamp must know this, which makes me believe Beauchamp has some trap laid that I cannot see yet. If he meets with any of the other captains, he may tell them Gavin and the rest of the crew were killed when they engaged another ship. He won’t want Gavin alive to tell the tale of his mutiny, which means Josephine is in danger while she is with him. I want you on your guard.” Dominic cleared his throat and glanced away. “If something happens and we end up in dire straits, my father, Nicholas, and I will attack. I want you and Adrian to take the ladies and Nicholas’s son to safety.”
“But—”
“I know you are no coward, Castleton, and that’s why I am asking you. If we face true danger, I am trusting you with their lives. They’ll need you.”
Griffin knew from the look in Dominic’s eyes that he understood the nature of what he was asking Griffin to do. That if it came down to it, he would give his life for the women and the babe. That he could do so without hesitation.
