The Lady and the Pirate

by Bernadette Rowley

  Too close to my room!

  Samael slipped through and drew her with him. The door clicked shut and he turned the key in the lock.

  Her heart raced at the thought of what he might do. Flames from the fireplace lit the room only a little and she couldn’t read the intent in his gaze as he leaned over her, her back against the door and his arm resting alongside her head.

  “Samael, I don’t think —”

  “That’s your problem, lady,” he said. “You think too damned much. It’s time to feel. I can see it in your eyes what you want. Listen to your heart, to your body and just feel.”

  He lowered his head and his lips met hers, gentle at first and then demanding, mastering, seeking entry. At first she was frozen with surprise but that didn’t last long as his lips and tongue sent her heart racing, his wandering hands bringing her hard against him. The sensible Esta screamed at her to stop, that this could never be anything more than a romp but her body ignored the sober words, arching against the strength of the only man who had ever made her want more.

  Her core clenched with the need to have him inside her, to welcome him to her most intimate place where no man had ever been. A deep primitive surge of desire swamped her, frightened her. What would be left of her if she succumbed to this foolish impulse? Esta drew back, tearing her lips from his and creating the distance she needed to think.

  ‘You’re doing it again,” he growled. “Stop thinking! I can feel how much you want me, how much you need this.” He crushed her to his chest, his hands molding her against the hard ridge in his breeches.

  It would be so easy to take what he offered but what then?

  “Yes, I want you,” she said against his chest. “But what comes after when you sail off, when you leave me alone? What happens to me when you awaken that part of me that I can never again deny?”

  He stepped back and took her face in his hands, his eyes wide. “Are you a virgin, Esta?”

  Her gaze fell from his. Oh why did she have to shame herself thus? The oldest virgin in the King’s court. “Yes, but that’s not what I meant.”

  He frowned. “Then what did you mean?”

  “You have touched a part of me I’ve long denied, made me see the possibilities of life with a man, made me want more than I have the right to expect.”

  “You have every right to be happy, Esta. I wish for you to have the life you deserve, not one of drudgery where you think of everyone else before yourself.”

  “You can’t come here and tear my world apart. It’s not fair.”

  “Let me ask you one question.” He cupped her face again and forced her to look into his blazing emerald eyes. “Are you happy?” Each word was enunciated as if it were the most important word that Samael had ever uttered and each of them was a blow to the foundations she had so carefully built her life upon. Oh why did he have to make her feel as though her life until now had been so wrong? It was a good life, a life of service and she should not be ashamed of what she had achieved.

  She sighed. “No, not completely, but does that matter? When weighed against all the other things in the world like an aged mother, workers to care for and war to consider and even the animals in my care. Do I matter?”

  “I deem it sad that you should even have to ask that question,” he said, his gaze dulled with sadness and what looked like pity.

  The only way Esta knew how to combat that pity was attack. Who did he think he was to call into question her decisions when he could not even be honest with his own brother? “I believe you should take stock of your own recent decisions before turning to mine!”

  “Oh? And that would be?”

  “Your refusal to tell the admiral you are his brother. You are both alone in this world and family should stick together.”

  Samael snorted. “Neither of us is alone. Nikolas has his wife and cousin and I have my parents and friends. Let us not be deluded into thinking either of us would be better off for having a brother in his life. I would bring shame to him and there is a very real chance that exposing myself to Nikolas would be the end of my liberty.”

  “But if you could have a brother who cared for you and looked out for you would you not wish for it?”

  He smiled, the sad edge still evident. “You should know families are not perfect entities. They bring as many problems as joys. My mother abandoned me, a helpless babe, and then chose to have two sons with another man. Why should I believe her son would welcome me?”

  “Then why did you move heaven and earth to find her?”

  “And that illustrates my point exactly, she is dead so there was no point.”

  “Samael, you have to tell him. You won’t be able to stand knowing you have a brother and he being ignorant. It will eat at you and torment you until you are driven crazy by it.”

  Esta could see the picture she painted didn’t sit well with the pirate. And what if one of them should perish before the relationship could be brought to light?

  “Perhaps you’re right,” Samael said.

  She stepped closer, sensing this was the moment to push home the advantage. “I know I am. Tell him now while you can, while you are on this estate and Nikolas will feel constrained by the rights of his hostess. Tell him before you go back to sea. It’s a perilous place and you never know when your next voyage will be your last.”

  Samael drew himself up at her words. “It’s not the sea that is perilous, lady. I’ve faced more danger in the past three weeks than I would ever have confronted at sea. But I can appreciate the wisdom of your words. Do you truly think he could ever accept me?”

  His words were wistful and in them Esta knew the truth of his feelings. Samael would dearly love to have a brother. She hoped she wasn’t setting him up for failure. “I think there is every chance Nikolas will accept you, but keep your occupation secret. Two surprises at once will not do. Let him build a friendship with you before you tell him you are a thief.”

  “It takes one to know one, lady.” He crushed her against his chest and took her lips in a kiss that soon had Esta forgetting what they had ever argued about. She wanted this man. Her arms slid up his chest and around his neck, binding him to her, her soft curves delighting in his hard planes. Their bodies seemed created for each other but her practical side told her it was thus for all couples. Men and women had melded their bodies for centuries; they were formed to unite and procreate.

  “Take me, Samael,” she breathed. “I don’t care about the future, I want you now. I want to know what it is like for a man to master me, to be a woman, nothing more, for this one night.”

  He lifted her into his arms and bore her to his bed, laying her down and joining her. He drew the shawl from her shoulders and raised both hands over her head, then bound her wrists and kept them there with gentle pressure from his left hand. Excitement coursed through her at the tethering, her core pulsing at what might happen now.

  Samael kissed her, taking her lips with a mastery that left her breathless while he ran his right hand from her neck, over her breasts and on to her abdomen. She bucked under his hand, the sensations foreign to her. Nipples tensed and peaked and she was wet below, a sweet tension mounting in her belly. His hand wandered ever lower and Esta’s restless head twisted from side to side, her knees bending and legs parting with a will of their own. She was helpless under his ministrations, biting her lip to stop the moans which rose to engulf her.

  As his lips ravished her mouth, his hand slipped over her hip and down the inside of her thigh. He raised her skirt little by little, inching up to reveal her calves, then thighs then …

  His hand touched her mound and Esta let out a screech that was quickly muffled by another kiss. He was relentless, his left hand holding her arms while his mouth and other hand ravished her. Samael’s thumb found a hard nub within her folds sending Esta into an upwards spiral, her core growing tighter and tighter, the pressure building until she thought she might explode. Oh, Goddess, this is sinful! Samael’s lips left her mouth and suddenly
they were on her slick folds, his tongue penetrating where she had never thought to explore, probing, thrusting—her body coiled further until something within snapped. She cried out, shuddering as wave after wave of glorious sensation swamped her. He gave her one last lick, sending shivers through her belly and she rolled onto her side, conscious she had lost dignity.

  He didn’t leave her but rolled her back to face him and kissed her, his mouth and tongue full of the taste of her. She pulled back, wishing to share her wonder with him but when she drew breath, nothing but a sob escaped. She tried again. “That was, that was… I don’t even know how to describe how I feel.” Tears poured down her face and she hadn’t even realized she was crying.

  “Hush, my love,” he said. “You don’t have to speak. I can see it was a revelation for you.”

  She smiled. “That is exactly it—a revelation. I had no idea that relations could be so satisfying for a woman, that I would feel so…”

  “Words can never adequately describe it. Like the sea, it defies words, description. Just feel, Esta. You need to feel it. Your body has been bound for so long.” He untied her wrists and rubbed them but Esta stopped him.

  “The binding was exciting. Do you do that with all of your women?”

  “You really know how to throw cold water on a man,” he said. “Why do you ask about other women?”

  “You must have had many. You seem…experienced.”

  “I’ve had my share but none have responded to me like you just did, lady. You’re a natural.”

  “Then you enjoyed it too?”

  His eyes gleamed and his tongue swept across his lips. Esta followed it, wishing it could return to give her more pleasure. “I did.”

  “Can we not do it again, or other things. I wish to have you inside my body. I wish to return pleasure to you.”

  He groaned, burying his face against her neck. “I’m trying to be a gentleman.” His words were muffled. “You’re a virgin and your first time should be with someone special, not a pirate who will leave you and never come back.”

  “I don’t care about that right now, Samael”

  He raised his head, his gaze finding hers. “You will in the morning, my lady. In the morning you’ll regret being involved with me and if that interlude should result in a child, you’ll regret it even more.”

  She shook her head. “You don’t know me very well.”

  “I know you well enough and I think you should leave before we do something you will regret.” His voice was strained as though he spoke through clenched teeth.

  Esta’s heart thudded at the rejection. After all they had shared, after what he had awakened in her, she had never expected such cold dismissal. She flipped her skirt down over her legs and pushed herself up off the bed. Without looking at him, she left the room.

  Chapter 14

  The breakfast room was deserted when Sam entered it the next morning. Someone had already delivered fresh tea and rolls with honey and preserves, and there was bacon in one of the silver dishes. He sighed at the domesticity of it all. For a moment last night, when he had been with Esta, the possibility of a life like this had flashed before his eyes. If she would have him, that was. This estate needed a man and one with the money to bring it back to its former glory. He had the funds, especially if he sold the ship he had kept after the incident at sea. Storm Chaser was still in his possession and currently being refitted and repainted so that no one would ever recognize her.

  He gathered some of the fare and poured himself a cup of tea. As attractive as this life might be, Sam was restless. He had found his mother or as close to her as he was like to get. There was naught to be gained from lingering. He could return to his life and Esta to hers. Their paths need not cross again and would not as she now had no ship to sail on her forays. The thought of Esta’s predicament sent a wave of unease through him. How would she manage, especially with her sister away? Would the estate fall even deeper into disrepair and could it continue to support the workers? He shouldn’t care. It wasn’t his responsibility.

  Nikolas strode into the room, his step full of restless energy.

  “Good morning, Mr. Delacost,” he said.

  “Morning, Admiral.” Great. Of all the people, it had to be Nikolas he was left alone with. And he hadn’t yet decided whether to reveal his secret or not. Even if Esta thought it was a good move, Sam still had a niggling worry.

  “What are your plans today?” Nikolas asked, as he gathered his breakfast.

  “I hadn’t decided though I admit I need to get back to business.”

  “Ah yes, shipping wasn’t it?”

  Sam tossed his head. “Yes, shipping.”

  “Pretty vague term, what sort of shipping exactly?”

  “Is this any of your business?” Sam asked.

  Nikolas walked over and sat at his table. “I’d say anything related to shipping does concern the admiral of the King’s Navy.” Nikolas’s piercing turquoise stare had Sam grinding his teeth again. If he didn’t watch out, he’d have no teeth left.

  “Perhaps you’re right.” No point in giving Nikolas more than he had to.

  “Look, ever since we met that day in the alley, there’s been something about you that seemed familiar.”

  The silence lengthened. Was this the time when Sam should spill his guts? He stared at Nikolas totally unable to come up with his usual dismissive jibes. “I must have one of those faces, Admiral.” It sounded weak even to Sam’s ears.

  “Bull! If there’s a reason you will tell me, now,” Nikolas said.

  Samael took a deep breath and released it. “Your mother, Vitavia, was my mother too.”

  Nikolas shot up from the table, the chair smashing over backward and cutlery spinning to the floor. “Are you mad? Why would you say that?”

  Sam remained seated but that didn’t stop his heart beat from kicking up several notches. Had he just made the biggest mistake of his life? “Calm down, man. It’s true, or at least as far as I can tell.”

  “My mother would never have wronged my father,” Nikolas spat.

  “Didn’t say she did. Vitavia had me before she was married. She found my parents and off-loaded me when I was only weeks old. They never saw her again.”

  Nikolas shook his head, hands clenched at his sides and eyes darting around the room seeming unable to focus on anything for long. “You expect me to believe my mother had a child she never told me of? She would never do that!”

  Sam stood. “Look, I can see this has upset you. I’m sorry.”

  “You are not my brother! And if you try to claim anything from me I’ll stomp on you so hard you’ll never recover.”

  “Is that a threat?”

  “You better believe it,” Nikolas snapped.

  “What is the meaning of this?” Esta said as she stepped into the room. “Keep your voices down. Mother is still abed and I won’t have her upset.”

  The sight of Esta in all her glory, brown eyes blazing and chestnut hair aglow had Sam remembering their loving last night. “Lady Aranati, I’m sorry. I was telling the admiral about Vitavia and …”

  She stiffened and glanced at Nikolas.

  “So you are party to this monumental piece of fiction?” Nikolas asked.

  She drew herself up. “I don’t believe it to be untrue, Admiral. Mr. Delacost looks like Vitavia, indeed you and he share a strong resemblance too.”

  Nikolas shook his head. “I don’t know what you people are about but I won’t have you spreading rumors about my mother. If I hear a whisper of this anywhere, I’ll hunt you down and ruin you.”

  Sam watched a spasm seize Esta’s throat. The thought of an enemy as powerful as Nikolas was enough to make even him a little nervous. Nikolas spared one last furious look in Sam’s direction and then stormed from the room. Esta hurried out after him.

  That’s right, Sam thought, go hustling after your precious admiral. Wouldn’t want to let him leave without trying to mend things.

  Bitterness swept
over him in a cold, powerful wave. It had been a mistake after all. His brother didn’t wish to know him, in fact didn’t believe him and thought he was seeking advantage. All the time he had delayed telling Nikolas, followed his gut instinct not to reveal his mother, he had been right! He had listened to Esta, had let his heart guide him and been rejected. Again. First by his mother and then his brother.

  Esta wasn’t away for long. She returned, her eyes downcast. “He wouldn’t listen to me.”

  “Smart man, I wish I was like him.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “That I should have listened to my gut and not told Nikolas I was his brother.”

  “Instead of heeding my advice,” she said.

  “Damned right. He doesn’t believe me anyway and now he’s so furious, he could do untold damage to myself and my crew.”

  She drew her body up ramrod straight and her eyes turned as frosty as liquid brown eyes could. “You’re welcome to leave any time you wish, sir.”

  “My thoughts exactly.” He hesitated for a moment, not wishing to take the steps that would carry him from her presence. When she crossed her arms over her breasts and tilted her nose in the air, Sam knew he had better leave or face more rejection. And one of those was enough for today.

  He left the breakfast room, slamming the door behind him.

  Esta sat in the parlor, only the crackle of the flames in the hearth for company. At least in the past, she could escape to her ship. Now all she had was this estate that was like a stone around her throat, dragging her under. Her body had ached all day and night after the moment in Samael’s rooms when he had brought her to ecstasy and then sent her away.

  Why had he rejected her? What was wrong with her that he couldn’t treat her like a woman, that he couldn’t give her pleasure even if he was using her for his own release? She would have welcomed it as a heady sojourn from her sterile existence.

  Or would she? How would she feel if he had planted his seed within her last eve? How would she deal with the possibility that she could be with child? Was it preferable never to have had that moment with him and if so, why had he awakened her at all?