by Terry Spear
He thrust and the Spanish pirate swung to connect with the sword and missed. Duncan poked the dull sword at the pirate’s torso to show just where the blade would have struck, had they been fighting for real. With an injury to the stomach region, the man would have died a painful death.
The other pirates groaned and ribbed their partners in crime. Another quickly took his place for a demonstration.
The man’s coal-black eyes studied Duncan. The pirate’s dark brown skin glistening in the sun, and a red-and-white striped kerchief covered most of his curly black hair. He flexed huge biceps, as if warning Duncan that he was not anyone to challenge him. Even if he didn’t have the sword skills to fight the good fight, the pirate was muscled enough to wear a man down. A kill had to be quick in this man’s case.
The man lunged, his heavy bulk barreling toward Duncan, who quickly sidestepped and swung around to skewer the man in the back.
“Ooohs” filled the deck where passengers intimated that Duncan had played dirty, stabbing a man in the back, while the pirates took him to task with jeers.
“Another lesson,” Duncan said, bowing his head slightly to the defeated pirate. “When waging war, use every measure available to ensure you are the last man standing. Especially when you are well outnumbered.” He waved his sword at the other pirates waiting their turns. In a real battle, they would not have given him the chance to take another breath before someone else was trying to slice him in two.
The dark man nodded, grinning, his white teeth gleaming in the sunlight.
“Now me, Highlander,” another pirate said, really getting into the action. His blond hair was pulled back into a tail, his blue eyes glimmering with good humor and enjoyment, and he held up one hand as if he were a Frenchmen getting ready to dance, his sword outstretched.
Duncan maneuvered around the deck until the sun was shining brightly in the blond’s eyes.
The man squinted and thrust his sword. Duncan easily knocked it aside, then attacked just as quickly, his sword point resting at the blond pirate’s throat.
“The sun was in my eyes,” the blond complained.
“Aye, I planned it that way,” Duncan said, and glanced at the last pirate, who watched him with a small smirk on his face.
Everyone laughed, pirates and passengers alike.
“So the Highlander fights dirty, like us pirates,” the remaining pirate said. With his red hair and highly freckled white skin, he looked like he could have Scottish roots.
“Have you ancestry from Scotland?” Duncan asked, squaring off with the man.
“Oh, aye,” the man said, offering a bit of a brogue in return.
Everyone looked serious, frowns furrowing their brows, as they watched the two men maneuver on deck while keeping the same distance between them.
The pirate crew would talk about this for eons, if they didn’t get fired for the insurance risk of having a true swordsman conducting a sword demonstration without prior written permission. At least two of the passengers were making a video of the sword-fighting demonstrations. Duncan thought about being in the movie at Argent Castle. He groaned to himself, hoping that none of this would end up on YouTube for the whole world to see.
“Was your family from the Highlands, then?” Duncan asked the redhead.
“Nay,” the man said, smiling amiably, but the gleam in his eye said he was trying to maneuver Duncan into a corner of the ship, wanting badly to best him in front of the passengers and his pirate comrades at arms.
“From the Lowlands?” Duncan asked, distracting the man and forcing him to think about something other than holding his sword at the ready.
“Aye.”
“Hmm, you were loyal to the king.”
The man raised a red brow, probably not knowing enough about the history of Scotland to know how to respond.
“We were loyal to our clan chiefs.” With that parting comment, Duncan lunged at the man, forcing him back.
The redhead quickly parried, falling another couple of steps back, his face flushing red. He hadn’t expected Duncan’s move. He tried to make up for it with a counterattack. By this time, Duncan had pushed him into a corner. Without anywhere to maneuver, the Lowlander pirate was in a bad position.
Duncan knocked the sword from the pirate’s grasp, sending it flying to the deck. “You should have been loyal to a clan chief and given up your pirating ways.”
The pirates and passengers all laughed.
The pirates all cast glances at one another, and in one simultaneous move, three of them attacked. Duncan fought them while the redhead scrambled to retrieve his sword from the deck and join in the fun. In good humor, Duncan slashed at their swords, got poked a few times—how could he not when he was beset by four pirates at once?—and finally raised his sword in defeat so he could enjoy the rest of the cruise with Shelley in his embrace.
Cheers erupted all around, and after a short sail, the ship anchored for anyone who wished to walk the plank or take the ladder to go for a swim.
Shelley was grinning at Duncan and shaking her head as she stripped out of her jeans and T-shirt. That made him want to take her to the privacy of their own beach and do the same with her—only he’d be doing the stripping.
She was wearing a one-piece that was as sexy on her as the string bikini. It stretched across her luscious curves, with the shimmering royal blue just as tantalizing as her bare skin. He pulled off his shirt and jeans and shoes so he stood before her in just his swim trunks.
She smiled up at him coyly. “I can’t wait to see you in the movie, Duncan. I can’t imagine what it would be like to see you wearing a kilt and swinging a claymore.”
Most of the passengers were milling about, intrigued with the Highlander, and finally one ventured to ask, “Do you teach sword fighting?”
“Aye,” Duncan said. To the younger boys in their clan, teaching alongside his brothers and cousins. The skill would be passed on forever.
“He’s been in a movie,” Shelley said proudly.
He quickly guided her to the plank. “I will make you walk the plank for that, lass.”
She laughed and hurried down it, stood for a moment looking at the clear blue water below, and then jumped off, holding her nose.
He chuckled, walked the plank, and then jumped in after her. Unfortunately, he was swimming with Shelley in the daytime in crystal clear waters with an audience looking down on them from aboard the ship. That meant he couldn’t do what he wanted with her—hold her tight, kiss her until they had to come up for air, and feel that sexy body of hers up close.
Something other than the reaction he had to seeing her, feeling her up close, and tasting her had him wanting more. He damn well enjoyed being with her. The thought that she’d return to Texas and he’d return to Scotland—and they’d never see each other again—bothered him more than he wanted to consider.
“You were tremendous,” Shelley said, smiling at him as she paused in the shadow of the boat during their swim, somewhat hidden from curious onlookers. She looked up at him as if he were the hero of her dreams.
He pulled her close. Hell, to pirates and passengers alike, he was a swashbuckling Highlander. It was expected of him. He kissed her.
Aye, he had vanquished the scurvy pirates—well, until they ganged up on him. Truth be told, if they’d been battling in a real sword fight, he’d have still won. But now he had the sweet maiden, having rescued her from yonder ship, and wasn’t letting her go.
Their legs continued to touch, their feet sweeping the water, paddling and keeping them afloat. She wrapped her arms around his neck, while his were around her waist, and they both treaded water while they kissed. Through lips wet from the sea’s caress, their tongues teased and tangled as if they were having a sword fight of their own.
She finally broke free of the kiss and looked up at him as if he were some kind of a god. “I can’t wait to see you in the movie, Duncan.”
He snorted. “I told you, I wasn’t a main player. You woul
dn’t even notice me. I’m just in the background in any of the scenes.”
“Fighting.”
“Aye.”
“If you’re there and they didn’t cut the scenes, I’ll notice you.”
“We all wear the same plaids, lass, and my brothers and I share a similar look. Even my cousins do. Only the enemy wears a different plaid.”
“You all sound alike, too, I imagine.”
He smiled down at her, then kissed her nose. “You would not be able to tell us apart.”
“You may be right.”
He laughed. “That’s not what you’re supposed to say, lass. I should stand out among my brothers, and you would never mistake me for one of them,” he said with a deepening brogue.
She grinned at him. “You stand out all the time.” She moved her hands down to his buttocks and pressed him close, his arousal already thickening with desire. “I doubt I would mistake you for any of them.”
That earned her another heated kiss as she wrapped her legs around his thighs. He continued to keep them afloat as he deepened the kiss. “’Tis a mermaid, I’ve found,” he whispered in her ear, “not a wolf.”
“Most wolves love the water.”
“I’m liking it better all the time. Are you game for another nighttime swim?”
“You really don’t mind the sharks anymore?”
He ran his hand over her buttock. “I’m getting used to the idea.”
“I just bet you are.”
They swam the rest of the time near the boat, trying to keep from prying eyes. Other swimmers saw them in the water and half watched and half pretended not to. Everyone had to think Duncan and Shelley were newlyweds. He wasn’t about to dispel their fantasies.
When they were sailing back to the harbor, he was besieged by questions about being an actor and how he trained others to fight with a sword.
He gave Shelley a raised brow when the movie questions kept coming because she was the one who had told the whole world he had been in a movie. She only smiled, enjoying that everyone was so curious about him. She was not about to let him get away with pretending modesty when he had shown the pirates a thing or two about sword fighting.
If she hadn’t been in love with the sexy Highlander before seeing that demonstration, she would have fallen in love with him right then and there. He’d shown how it was done in a humorous, fun way, as if he truly wished to impart some of his long-learned wisdom. The way he allowed them to win the fight at the end, when she was certain he could have bested all of them if he’d truly been in a battle for his life. The way he so gallantly answered everyone’s questions—all showed a side of him she truly admired.
Not only did she wish to see castle gardens in Scotland, mostly his, but she also wanted to see him and his brothers practicing with their swords now. To see the battle between equally skilled swordsmen and the outcome.
She had to smile at the way he fielded the questions. He truly was an expert on swordsmanship. Wouldn’t the onlookers be surprised to learn he’d used his fighting skills to stay alive in the old days?
But she reminded herself that she and Duncan were worlds apart and soon would go their separate ways. Her love for him could only last a heartbeat, and then… she knew she’d never meet another wolf who’d be anything like him. Despite the way she felt about him and the way he lusted after her, if he was worried about her, he would be ready to send her home, away from him, and that would be the end of that.
When they reached the dock, she was feeling a little saddened. As sensitive as he was, he instantly noticed.
“I talked too much on the ship, didn’t I?” he asked, getting her car door for her.
She laughed. “No, Duncan. I loved hearing all about your sword fights and how dangerous they really are, and everyone else loved hearing you talk, too.”
“I don’t usually get so wrapped up in speaking about it,” he admitted, looking a little sheepish.
She grinned at him. “The truth is that I want to see you and your brothers fight against each other so I can see what it’s like when all of you are equal in skill.”
“Bloodthirsty wench,” he teased as he leaned down and kissed her, then shut her door.
Before he reached his door, two men approached. Kenneth stood some distance from them, just watching. The men looked like they might carry guns, not swords. Her heart thundering, Shelley immediately grabbed her door handle to get out of the car so she could hear what they had to say and serve as Duncan’s backup.
Duncan recognized the men as two of the guards from Silverman’s estate. Keeping his distance, Kenneth observed Duncan angrily with folded arms, his turned-down mouth making him look smug. Now he had the muscle to back up his not-so-tough words.
Shelley had gotten out of the car immediately in an alpha-wolf protective mode. Duncan wished she’d stayed safely inside the vehicle.
“The boss wants a word with you,” the bigger of the two men said to Duncan. “The lady can take the car back to her place, and you can ride with us.”
Some of the passengers from the pirate ship stood watching the confrontation. Even the pirate crew looked as though they wished to lend support.
“Call your boss,” Duncan said gruffly. “After I’ve showered and changed, he can meet me at Ted’s Bar and Grill, if he wants.”
“He says you’re to come with us now,” the man said, taking a step forward.
“Does your boss own a place here?” Shelley asked, as if she didn’t already know that.
The man shifted his hateful expression to her.
“If he wants us to come, how about also inviting Duncan’s new friends?” She waved at the pirate actors.
They all nodded, looking muscled and lethal. And very willing to help their new Highland sword-fighting friend.
“You should have come alone with us like we said,” Sal’s henchman said to Duncan. “The boss isn’t going to like this at all.”
With that, he turned on his heel and headed for a car while the other two men gave Duncan an additional glower and then joined the spokesman.
“Thanks for the sword-fighting tips,” the redhead said. “If you ever need backup on the island, just give me a call.” He handed Duncan a card.
Ethan McNutt, pirate for hire, crew of the Jolly Roger.
Duncan smiled. “Aye, that I will. Nothing better than having a pirate or two watch your back when you’re on an island.”
The others gave him nods. “It goes the same for all of us,” the dark-skinned man said. “Do you want us to meet you at Ted’s Bar and Grill later? If their boss man says he’ll meet you there?”
“I’ll give you a call,” Duncan said, “if it looks as though it’s a meeting he wants.”
They all gave him nods and sauntered off to their own vehicles.
Shelley drew in a breath, then returned to the car. Sal had to know Duncan was after him, maybe about the money or maybe not. Maybe the thief wanted to get Duncan out of the picture where Shelley was concerned. If that was the case, she felt a little better about it. She hoped they hadn’t spooked Sal into worrying about financial issues so that he’d run for cover somewhere far from Grand Cayman Island.
“What do you think it’s all about?” Shelley asked Duncan.
“I want you to go home,” Duncan said, his grip tightening on the steering wheel as he drove them back to her villa.
She folded her arms, not about to have this discussion. “Do you think he knows why you are here?”
“Nay. He doesn’t like it that he wants you, and I have you.”
She smiled a little at his conceit. Duncan didn’t have her, either. “You truly think that’s all there is to this? That it’s just about me?”
“Aye.”
“But he’s got a mate and a mistress.”
“Aye, but that doesn’t seem to be enough. Like you said, he’s used to getting what he wants through his money and power.” He flicked a glance at her. “He thought he could have you easily enough, but I’m t
hwarting his efforts every time he attempts to get to you. With me out of the way, he most likely believes you’d give him a chance.”
“Are you certain, Duncan? You said that the woman you saw at that bar thought you might be after him. If that’s the case, wouldn’t they believe it might have something to do with the money?”
“I’m sure he’s already checked me out and learned I’m not with any law enforcement agency. That I came here on vacation, ran into you, and staked a claim. The same claim he wished to stake.”
“What about the woman’s concern over who you might be? Your reaction to her in the bar?”
“Just as I said to her, I thought it was awful that her boyfriend’s boss was keeping him away so he couldn’t be with her. Now that I’m pursuing you, that shows I’m a sentimental guy when it comes to women.”
She smiled at that, then frowned. “I’m not going home.”
He glanced at her. “You understood I’m talking about Scotland, eh? I want you to go to my home. Not the U.S. If you return to Texas, he might follow you there. At my home, there’s no way for him to breach the castle walls.” He gave her a dark look. “I would like for him to try.”
She stared at him in disbelief. Was that what he had meant all along?
“Ian mated an American. So we even have ice cubes on hand,” Duncan continued, as if he didn’t realize what a jolt his words had provided.
“Ice cubes?”
“Aye. I cannot fathom why Americans drink tea with ice cubes in it, but…” He shrugged.
She smiled. “That’s because it’s hot in places like Texas in the summer and hot drinks aren’t as appealing.”
“I could show you our gardens.”
“I’d love to see them, but what about the cost of lodging at Argent Castle? I couldn’t afford it.”
“I’m sure we could come up with some mutually agreeable arrangement.”
She wondered just what that would entail. Her grandmother had always warned her about Highland wolves.
But she’d never said anything about a wolf like Duncan.
