by Tina Donahue
“Impossible.” The wind blew Royce’s dark hair. He pulled it back. “Tristan can’t risk you telling the world about this island.”
“As you told Bishop, bringing him, me, and the rest here?”
“Tristan spared your hide, which means you’re here for life. You’re lucky we feed you.”
Heath tightened his fists. “I labor for each morsel, same as everyone else.”
“Not today you haven’t. We need you in the courtyard to set up tables for the celebration. Come on.”
“Wait. Diana’s already had the child?” Her and Tristan’s first in an unlikely union. Despite being a reverend’s daughter, she’d waylaid Tristan to rescue her younger brother from a pirate’s life. Tristan captured her instead and made her his.
“She’s begun the ordeal. Simone said it shouldn’t take long. Follow me.”
Some distance past his original spot, Heath lost his resolve not to glance back.
Surprise crossed Netta and Aimee’s faces. The look women wear when caught doing something they shouldn’t, or when a man gazes into their hearts and souls to uncover their secrets.
Netta returned to her work first, her movements forced, unsettled. Aimee blinked slowly as one would when drugged.
Rumfustian had never intoxicated Heath as they did.
He lumbered forward and bumped into something.
“Watch where you’re going.” Royce shoved him.
Heath twisted to regain his balance and reined in irritation. Better to earn Royce’s trust than to trounce him and get a bullet in his brain or heart for the affront.
They passed through the forest and an opening in the courtyard walls. A sprawling stone mansion, white as snow, surrounded the vegetation.
Naked island children of varying ages scurried past palms and plants. Their laughter rang in the heated air. Men set up plank benches and tables. Squawking chickens flapped their wings in an effort to avoid too many feet.
Tristan’s blond hair stood out like a beacon. So did his heavily scarred back, courtesy of a cruel captain who’d nearly whipped him to death. He paced to and fro, his usual bronze complexion pasty, features haggard, a pistol in his waistband. Diana’s silver-and-diamond marriage collar dangled from his fist.
James, his friend and former quartermaster, watched from the side, red locks flapping in the breeze. Also armed, he caressed his two-week-old son to his heavily freckled chest. The infant’s complexion was islander brown, like his mother’s, not a spot in sight. James spoke to Tristan. “You’ve nothing to worry about. Simone’s taking good care of Diana. Gavra is too when she should be here tending to our Willy. He’s hungry.”
The babe squirmed and wailed.
James simultaneously bounced his son and followed Tristan. Both wore a path in the dirt.
Heath quelled laughter at the once fierce pirates. If their enemies and those whose ships they’d taken could see them now…
A screech tore from a side room.
Tristan whirled around and reared back before he ran into James. “Bloody hell. That was worse than the last one. I thought having Diana take off the collar would allow her to breathe more easily, not scream like the Devil’s after her. What in damnation is going on in there?” He pushed past.
James grabbed his arm. “You don’t want to go into the birthing room. Trust me. What you’ll see is for no man’s eyes. It could stop your heart.”
“Don’t be daft. I have to help her.”
“How? Was you who got her into this or have you forgotten?”
Tristan yanked his arm away. “If Diana survives the birthing, I will never lie with her again.”
James howled. “No bloody chance of that happening. If you don’t take her, she’ll do that to you, at the point of her rapier if need be. The same as when she captured you at the Quest before I saved your hide.”
“Must you keep reminding me of—”
Diana’s prolonged moan cut through the other noise.
James gestured Royce over. Heath followed. They surrounded Tristan, keeping him from the room.
He glowered. “I know Gavra will try her best. Simone too. However, that doesn’t address all eventualities.”
James transferred Willy from his right shoulder to his left. The infant spit up. Yellow liquid oozed down James’s back. He groaned. “You speak of events that will never be. My mother birthed eight children and survived each ordeal. If not for her advanced age, she would have had ten more.”
“That’s you—her. A farmer’s daughter used to hard labor, sturdy to a fault. Diana’s father did nothing except preach and rail at her for everything she did. Her days with him never prepared her for life on this isle.”
Royce chuckled. “I would think not.”
Tristan shot him a look.
He lost his smile. “I’m only saying with the woman going about as they are—not Diana of course. She’s always fully clothed—that is, her gowns are quite nice. They suit her, because she’s English, not—I’m not sure what I meant. James is right. Since time began, woman have birthed with few problems. My mother thrives in England with my two sisters.”
Diana swore in English then even louder in French, the islander’s language Heath understood.
Once his goal had been to better himself, learn all he could, and become more than what he’d been born as. Being a lifelong celibate on this isle hadn’t been in his plan. He should plead his case to Tristan and James.
Tristan scowled at him. “What have you to say?”
“Nothing.” Surely he hadn’t spoken his thoughts aloud. “I’m here to work.” He backed away.
Tristan gripped his forearm. “What of your mother? How many infants did she have and survive through?”
“I don’t know. I never saw her.”
“Because she died giving you life?” Tristan dug his fingers into Heath.
Pain shot up his arm. He suppressed a wince. “No. The workhouse beadle told me I wasn’t an orphan like the rest, which annoyed him greatly. My mother left me there because she couldn’t feed herself, much less me. After that, I have no idea what happened to her.”
James gestured dismissively. “Probably married some willing fellow and had half a dozen more children. Isn’t that right?”
For Heath to say otherwise might get him killed. Even pirates hunting a prize weren’t as ruthless as a future father worried about his wife and coming child. “I’m certain she had the largest family she could and is with them as we speak.”
“There you have it.” James smacked Tristan’s shoulder. “You can calm down. To make certain you do, I’ll have Aimee and Netta check on Diana.” He motioned them over.
They approached gracefully, more a glide than walk, their breasts bouncing with each step. Aimee held the bag in front. Netta hid her left hand. Both peeked at Heath.
His legs weakened, cock stiffened.
“Bonjour.” James smiled. “Voulez-vous vérifier Diana? Voir comment elle va?” Will you check on Diana? See how she’s doing?
She wailed.
Tristan covered his eyes.
“Now.” James shooed them away.
“Oui.” Aimee grabbed Netta’s wrist and hurried to the birthing room.
Meet the Author
Tina Donahue is an Amazon and international bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary, and historical romance for traditional publishers and indie. Booklist, Publishers Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. Three of her erotic novels (Freeing the Beast, Come and Get Your Love, and Wicked Takeover) were Readers' Choice Award winners. Another three of her erotic novels (Adored; Deep, Dark, Delicious; Lush Velvet Nights) were named finalists in the 2011 EPIC competition. Sensual Stranger, her erotic romance, was chosen Book of the Year 2010 (erotic category) at the French review site, Blue Moon reviews. The Golden Nib Award at Miz Love Loves Books was created specifically for her erotic romance Lush Velvet Nights. Deep, Dark, D
elicious received an Award of Merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competition. Take Me Away captured second place in the NEC-RWA contest. And The Yearning was honored with an Award of Merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competition. She’s featured in the 2012 Novel and Writer’s Market. Before penning romances, she worked in Story Direction for a Hollywood production company. You can find her online at http://tinadonahuebooks.blogspot.com/, twitter.com/tinadonahue and https://www.facebook.com/DonahueTina1/.
Table of Contents
Cover Copy
Books by Tina Donahue
Days of Desire
Copyright
Dedication
Author’s Foreword
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Epilogue
FORBIDDEN DESIRE
Chapter 1
Meet the Author
