Fire Glow

by Linda Ladd

  "Leave me alone!" she cried. "Why can't you leave me alone?"

  "And let you drown yourself?" Trey yelled back furiously, his fingers biting into her shoulders as he gave her a violent shake. Her wet hair clung to her face and back, her thin gown molding her slender body as she half sobbed, half yelled at him.

  "What do you care what happens to me? Why can't you just let me marry Francis?"

  "Because I don't want you to marry anybody else!" Trey yelled back hoarsely, giving her another hard shake. His face was dark with anguish, his black hair plastered over his forehead, and the words he had uttered froze them both until a breaker broke over their heads, knocking them to their knees. Trey held her securely to his chest, his words muttered gruffly into her wet hair.

  "Because I want you for myself, damn you. I want you."

  Caitlin raised shocked eyes to his face, and Trey groaned, helpless to stop himself. His mouth found hers as another wave pushed them into the shallows of the beach. Fires flickered and burst aflame as he held her, giving in to desires he had fought and denied and ridiculed, both large hands snarled at last in wet and tangled red gold tresses. His mouth attacked her, hungry, pressing, twisting, melting all Caitlin's thoughts, all reservations, all hatred away, until she moaned in weak capitulation, forgetting any resistance she might have had. She wrapped her arms eagerly around his neck as gentler waves broke over their backs, turning them until Trey's lean body covered her, his hands holding her head out of the foaming water.

  Her response was like a fire that burned through his own veins as he tore at the frail chemise clinging wetly to her breasts. His lips found and explored smooth skin that tasted wet and cold and salty. Caitlin clung to him as his hands touched her thighs, crying out as the water swirled around her hips, lifting her shift to her waist. Hard male loins pressed her slender hips into the sand; as their naked flesh touched and slid together, a terrible fear rose inside Caitlin.

  "Is this another of your lessons? Is this how a lady should act?" she cried, pushing ineffectually against his broad chest, and her words jerked Trey back to reality as nothing else could.

  Although he wanted her with a passion that knew no bounds, he knew he had no right to take her against her will, no right to have her at all. In one blinding moment of revelation, he realized that he loved this girl struggling beneath him. His own realization stunned him, and he rose to his knees, pulling her with him. Caitlin's breath came ragged, her eyes dark and confused, her body still trembling, and Trey held her for one instant more, then let her go. She struggled to her feet and ran across the wet sand, leaving small dark footprints disappearing into the darkness. Trey sat back on his heels in the toiling surf. What would become of them, he thought, his fists clenched, his face tortured, because now he knew that he could never give her over to another man—never, not even at the command of Queen Anne herself.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The next day, just after noon, Richard Hale walked through the airy whitewashed rooms of Windsway. He had just left Father Runyon, the Anglican priest of St. Michael's Cathedral, with one of the chambermaids so he could cross the shady sea gallery in search of Trey. Shielding his eyes from the glare of the sun, he scanned the lawns until he saw Trey at the seawall, then ran down the steps. He called out to him, and when Trey turned, Richard stared with some astonishment at his cousin's unshaven chin. He knew at once something was amiss, but the grim set of Trey's mouth kept him from inquiring.

  "I have brought the priest as you bade," he said slowly, but Trey kept his brooding regard on the far horizon. "Is everything all right here?"

  "Nothing is all right here," Trey answered darkly, resting one thigh against the low wall.

  Richard waited for Trey to elaborate, and, finding no explanation forthcoming, he tried again.

  "I am to tell you that the governor and Lady Marianne will arrive here tomorrow night for the ceremony. Also, Sir Henry suggested that you formally notify Durham of your decision." He laughed uncertainly. "The boy is beside himself with the fear that you will change your mind at the last moment."

  "I have changed my mind."

  Trey's quiet announcement brought Richard's startled eyes to him.

  "What? Caitlin has refused him? I cannot believe it. They got along so well."

  "It is my decision," Trey said, then took a deep breath. "I have decided to marry Caitlin myself."

  Richard's sunburned face drained of color, his jaw dropping in disbelief. He finally laughed, thinking Trey was surely joking. When Trey's sober face negated that idea, Richard could only stare at him.

  "But you cannot do that! The governor as good as promised her to, Durham, and the guests for their wedding are coming here tomorrow!" He paused. "And what of the Queen? She will have your head for this!"

  "I will deal with the Queen when the time comes. She will understand once I tell her that I am in love with Caitlin."

  Richard's look disintegrated into pure disbelief. "You are in love with Caitlin?" he repeated dumbly.

  "Yes, I think I am," Trey said, such words sounding odd, even to him.

  "You think you are? Good God, Trey, are you out of your mind? You cannot defy the Queen's wishes on such a whim. She will have you thrown in irons for such arrogance."

  "She will understand," Trey insisted stubbornly. "She wants only for Caitlin to be taken care of, and I can do that far better than anyone else."

  "And what of Caitlin? She detests you!"

  "That will change once we are wed."

  Richard shook his head, unable to believe it was Trey Cameron speaking so illogically. He had never before seen Trey act rashly over a woman, but now the foolhardiness of Trey's intentions were not to be ignored.

  "Now listen to me, Trey. The girl is very beautiful—any man would want her—but Caitlin is a Royal ward, and you are her guardian, for heaven's sake! You cannot give in to this infatuation. It is insane to defy the Queen!"

  "I am going to marry Caitlin, and I am ready to suffer the consequences. I would very much like for you to stand up with me, if it pleases you to do so."

  A heavy sense of disaster closed over Richard's head at the finality of Trey's words. His cousin was being a fool. Caitlin Alexander was a very desirable woman, and from the beginning Richard had liked her. But Trey was gambling with his career, his wealth, his whole way of life. No woman was worth such a sacrifice. He finally gave a reluctant nod in answer to Trey's request, and Trey grinned.

  "Do not look as if the seas have dried up, my friend. You must know that I have thought long and hard on this. It is the right thing to do."

  "And does Caitlin think it is the right thing to do?"

  "She will after I have presented the idea to her, as I intend to do now."

  Richard watched his cousin stride off toward the house, his only hope that Caitlin would refuse Trey's proposal. That would effectively end Trey's obsessive behavior. He shook his head again, afraid even to contemplate the future if Trey went through with such a reckless plan.

  In her bedchamber, Caitlin sat on her bed, nervously twisting the insect netting draping her bed. She had spent most of the night pacing up and down the outside veranda, reliving the moments in the water when Trey's hands and lips had robbed her of reason. Even now she trembled at the thought of hot male lips sliding down her throat while his heavy body had pinned her to the sand. She clasped her hands together to stop their shaking. He had said he wanted her for himself, she thought, still finding it hard to believe such words had come from him.

  Caitlin stood up in agitation, tortured by the heated response he had wrenched from her. He was cruel to use her so, and just before she was to wed another. Her face grew hot and guilty, and she sought to erase from her mind the burning blue eyes and handsome bronzed features of her tormentor by thinking of Francis Durham. Tears prickled, only to be blinked back as a diamond-hard shield of pride rose. She set her jaw. Damn him, damn him! She hated him! How could his touch inflame her so?

  "May I come in
?"

  Her breath caught at the sound of his voice, and she turned slowly. Trey stood in the open doorway, dressed casually in gray riding breeches and a dark shirt unbuttoned halfway to the waist. She looked away from the dark furring revealed there, almost able to feel it again on her bare breasts. She had responded wantonly in his arms, despite all her vicious protestations of hatred, and now her humiliation cut her to the quick.

  "What do you want?" she demanded, though a visible tremor threaded her cold words. "Did you come here to taunt me one last time before you sell me into the arms of some horrible man?"

  "No," he said quietly, and Caitlin looked at him, surprised by the almost gentle tone of his voice.

  "I came to apologize for last night."

  Embarrassed color heated Caitlin's skin, and she turned away so he would not see.

  "I only wish to forget it," she tossed over her shoulder.

  "I cannot forget it, and I do not believe that you can either."

  Caitlin looked at him; as he smiled slightly, she grew even more tense.

  Trey easily read both distrust and confusion in her lovely golden eyes.

  "From the beginning," he said, moving closer to her, "you have rejected the idea of marrying one of the landowners here on Barbados—"

  Caitlin interrupted quickly.

  "That was before I met Francis. I told you that I would gladly have him as my husband."

  Jealousy tightened in an icy knot around Trey's heart, and his intense unwavering scrutiny finally acted to bring Caitlin's long lashes down. She could read the burning hungry look in his blue eyes, and once again color rose to flood her finely sculpted features.

  "There is an alternative to marrying Durham," Trey told her, choosing his words carefully. "An option in which Windsway will remain in your control, so that you and Christian can remain here and own it together."

  As he had expected, Caitlin's eyes turned to him at once with an interest she did not attempt to hide.

  "What is this alternative?"

  "You could marry me, and I would allow Winds- way to remain in your family."

  Caitlin was so astounded at first that any answer was an impossibility. A moment later, she gave an uncertain laugh.

  "But I hate you," she said with no hint of malice.

  Trey's smile was stiff.

  "Perhaps, but I think if you consider my suggestion for a moment, you will see its advantages."

  Caitlin's eyes narrowed, finding it incomprehensible that he had actually offered her marriage.

  "Why? Why would you want to marry me? You have never made it a secret that you find me stubborn and willful. What have you possibly to gain by marrying me?"

  "I want you, and this is the only way I can have you," he stated simply, his honesty bringing wide amber eyes to him. "As a Royal ward, you are under the Queen's protection, and I am as acceptable in wealth and position as any of the other suitors Sir Henry has chosen, if not more so. When I return to England, as I must, you may remain here with Christian. All I ask is that you do not return to your outlaw life."

  "But what of the Anna and her crew? Do you expect me to live here and never sail again?"

  "I expect you and Christian to use Windsway's wealth to establish a legal income for yourselves, and if that includes using the Anna as a merchant ship, I see no objection to you sailing on her."

  A joy that defied words expanded inside Caitlin's breast, but she struggled to hide her feelings, still not sure she could believe him. But marriage? To him?

  "If you truly only want me in your bed," she said slowly, "why is a marriage necessary? There is no need for you to tie yourself to me for a lifetime." She hesitated, raising her small chin. "I will come to you without marriage in exchange for these things. I will be your lover for as long as you wish, if you will allow me to keep my freedom."

  Trey stared at her, his gaze dropping to the flawless skin and fiery hair that lay loosely curled around her shoulders. It was not as if he hadn't thought of such a proposal, but he had found that such an arrangement would not be enough. He wanted Caitlin to be his and his alone. He wanted her as his wife.

  "The Queen would hardly look kindly upon such an affair, especially since you are the daughter of one of her oldest friends and are now under my protection," he said dryly.

  "But is that not what you have attempted already?"

  Her blunt accusation brought a flush to Trey's dark skin.

  "I have yet to inflict any . . . harm upon you that could not be forgiven by a man betrothed to you. But if I took you to my bed, as I fully intend to do, marriage to another would no longer be possible. Besides that"—he paused, his eyes holding hers—"I have grown to harbor a certain affection for you, and I believe our marriage would be the best thing for you."

  Although Caitlin was finding it hard to accept such a bizarre conversation, she stared at the handsome man before her, wondering if indeed his desire for her might not be the answer to her prayers. Francis Durham was a very nice man, but she did not love him. And if they were to wed, he would be in total control of her properties. Trey Cameron was giving her the opportunity to retain Windsway for Christian as well as for herself, and better yet, to be free of the presence of a husband. Would not sharing his bed be worth such a bargain? Shivers undulated up her spine at the thought of what his touch did to her, and she was suddenly afraid. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to meet the unreadable azure gaze.

  "If I agree, when would you return to England and leave me to myself?"

  "If you agree, we will be wed this night, and I will sail in the next day or so. It is expedient that I explain my actions to the Queen before she has word of it from Sir Henry."

  "And if she hangs you for such disobedience?"

  Trey grinned at her arched brow. "Then you will be a very young and very rich widow."

  The thought did not give Caitlin pleasure, which she found incomprehensible, and she looked at him, confused over her own roiling emotions concerning the enigmatic man standing before her.

  "I will marry you," she said softly, and Trey breathed easier, relieved by her decision. From the moment he had made up his mind the night before, he had realized that time was of the essence. If Sir Henry found out his plans, he would surely try to stop him, and Trey was not about to let that happen.

  "Then prepare yourself, Caitlin, for this is your wedding day."

  Caitlin watched Trey leave with long confident strides, already plagued by fears so strong as to set her entire body atremble.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The sky was painted by a glorious tropical sunset—dark purple swirled with lavender and streaks of gold—turning the sea and all upon it the same soft hues. Caitlin was completely unaware of its splendor as she climbed carefully aboard the Glory, her long white skirts draped over one arm. The gown was of thin white lace, and though the twilight evening was warm and balmy, she shivered. She looked around the deserted decks as Richard Hale followed her out of the longboat.

  "Trey and the others are in the captain's cabin," he said, taking her elbow. Caitlin nodded, trying to hide her nervousness.

  Despite the afternoon hours she had spent preparing herself, icy worms of foreboding twisted in her stomach. The stern lamps had been lit, casting a circle of yellow light in the deepening dusk. Caitlin hesitated at the hatchway as Richard preceded her down the ladder. Her three-day imprisonment on the frigate seemed an eternity ago, she thought as she descended to the hallway belowdecks. She followed Richard silently to the wide oak door set with iron hinges. He rapped on it with his knuckles, then smiled at Caitlin, but she could see the worry in his eyes.

  Trey's deep voice came from within, and Richard stood back politely as Caitlin entered. The cabin was large, much larger than her quarters aboard the Anna. Tall mullioned windows led to a stern walk that stretched to each end of the cabin. Trey, who was sitting in a massive, carved chair behind a large, bolted-down desk, stood at once. Their eyes met for an instant before Caitlin caug
ht a slight movement out of the corner of her eye. She swiveled her gaze to where another man sat with a black-robed priest on a small wooden settee against the far wall.

  "Christian!" she cried, and Christian stood as Caitlin ran into his arms. They embraced, overcome by wordless joy, and Trey watched them, wondering if he would ever be blessed with such a loving welcome from the woman he was about to marry.

  "Perhaps you would like a few moments alone with your brother before the ceremony," he said to Caitlin. She nodded gratefully, still holding Christian's arm.

  "I have sleeping quarters through there," he told them, gesturing at a doorless opening that led to a smaller adjoining room.

  As soon as Caitlin was alone with Christian, she hugged him close.

  "I have been so worried," she whispered, glancing back at the men watching them.

  "And I have been most concerned about you," Christian answered, drawing her down on the narrow bunk beside him. "I knew only what Richard chose to tell me, but he assured me that you were being treated well."

  "He told me the two of you have become friends."

  "Aye, I have grown to like him during these long weeks. He allows me to do just about whatever I wish now, on my word that I will not escape."

  Caitlin looked down. "I am glad it was not terrible for you."

  Christian read the sadness in his sister's voice, and he lifted her chin until she had to look into his dark eyes.

  "And what of you, Cait? Do you really intend to go through with this marriage?"

  Caitlin's gaze slid away, embarrassed. "It is the only way I know to keep us together. He has promised to leave us alone if I marry him. There is no doubt that any other man would never allow such a thing. At least we will have control of Father's inheritance."

  "Damn Father's inheritance!" Christian whispered harshly. "What of you? Do you want to marry the man?"