In the Arms of a Pirate (A Sam Steele Romance Book 2)

by Michelle Beattie

  Even if he won, if he somehow managed to keep the Revenge, he wouldn’t be able to look over, see Sarah standing at the gunwale of his ship. There would be no tender glances, no soft touches. No lingering kisses in the night. He’d be Steele, but he’d be alone. It was hardly a victory.

  “Hardest part’s the waitin’,” Chunk said as he stepped to Aidan’s side.

  If only, Aidan thought.

  “How many ships do you think he’ll have?”

  Aidan shrugged. “Depends how fast Peter reached him. With luck, Roche won’t have had time to gather more and we’ll only be facing four. Otherwise seven.”

  Chunk cursed. “Bloody hell, I hope it’s only four. We’d stand a chance then.”

  A slim one at that. “Shouldn’t be too much longer.” To the east, pale blue was now breaking the blanket of night into smaller pieces. They would know soon whether Roche had caught up to them overnight. He prayed, not for the first time, that they could at least have time to reach shore. He wanted Sarah safe and out of the way before they were attacked.

  As though she knew his thoughts were of her, Sarah turned from the gunwale and stepped to his other side. She greeted Chunk, offered Aidan a tentative smile. She chafed her arms, rocked onto her heels. Apparently, everyone’s nerves were high this morning. As they usually were when a battle loomed, Aidan didn’t worry. It was better to be anxious than complacent. Complacency could get a man killed.

  Still, Sarah’s anxiousness was a distraction he could ill afford. Aidan reached for her hand, squeezed. He felt her trembles and grinned when her smile fell short. “We may be outnumbered but we’ve a good crew and we’ve done this a time or two. All is not yet lost.”

  “There is a chance, is there not, that my father could want my safe return before he attacks?”

  He raised her hand, kissed it. “There is, yes. Though one so small I wouldn’t wager on it.”

  Chunk clapped his hands, the snap reminding Aidan of the man’s presence. Even before his first mate spoke Aidan knew what he’d say.

  “Didn’t Lucky and I tell you?” Laughter shook his belly and shoulders. “You denied it but we knew this would happen.”

  “Knew what would happen?” Sarah asked. Her gaze traveled between both men.

  Aidan could have gladly clobbered Chunk. He wasn’t prepared to tell Sarah yet how he felt. After all, a man didn’t profess his love without offering a future and Aidan was hardly in a position where he could make promises. Even if they bested Roche and managed to come out alive he had yet to come up with an acceptable solution to his problem; how did he keep Sarah and Sam Steele?

  He glared at Chunk, who did a terrible job of hiding his mirth. His first mate feigned a glance to the horizon. “We’ve a bit of time and I, uh, need to check something below. I won’t be long.” And with that, Chunk leapt down the stairs and disappeared through the hatch.

  Bloody coward.

  “What’s happened?” Sarah asked.

  For the first time since he’d made it, Aidan regretted his promise never to lie to her. Damn Chunk and his big mouth.

  “Ask me again when this is over and I give you my word I’ll answer you truthfully.”

  “Why can’t you tell me now?”

  He touched her cheek. “I don’t have all the answers yet.”

  “Answers to what?”

  “Everything,” he answered.

  She frowned. “This has to do with you being Steele, doesn’t it?”

  Hell. Aidan shook his head. He should have known she was intelligent enough to figure some of it on her own. “Yes.”

  “I won’t pretend I’m particularly fond of Steele at the moment, but I will say this. It’s because of Steele that I met you and for that I will always be grateful. However it’s not Steele I love, it’s you.”

  Aidan’s breath caught. He wobbled as his knees turned to water. Even with both hands gripping the wheel, with the sea nothing more than a gentle hand rocking the ship, Aidan had never felt so unsteady.

  Sarah jutted her chin forward. Too late he noted the stricken look on her face. He should be flogged.

  “You needn’t look so afraid, Aidan. You are certainly under no obligation, if that’s what’s weighing on your mind. If that’s what Chunk was referring to. I simply wanted you to know how I felt. In case…”

  As suddenly as the world had tipped it righted itself again. Aidan grasped Sarah’s arm as she tried to step away.

  He grinned when her eyes narrowed. “I’m not afraid, Sarah. You caught me off guard, but I’m not scared.”

  She shrugged off his touch, crossed her arms over her chest. “You nearly fell over when I told you how I felt,” she reminded him.

  Not a moment he was proud of, but one he could easily explain.

  “Because I couldn’t believe I could be so lucky.” He smiled. “I’m not worthy of your love, Sarah, but I feel blessed to have it. And,” he added, untangling her arms to take her hands, “it happens I feel the same.”

  Doubt lingered in her eyes, and the fact that he could see it told him they were running out of time. Daybreak was upon them.

  “What Chunk was referring to”—he hastened to explain—“was that every person who’s taken the role of Sam Steele has fallen in love on this vessel and, apparently, he knew I’d followed the same path.”

  “But you were upset he’d said so.”

  Aidan squeezed her hands. “Because I wanted to tell you after, when we had more time and, hopefully, once I’d made a decision.” He sighed.

  “The fact is, I don’t want to lose you or Steele and the Revenge but I know I can’t have both.”

  “Why not?”

  God, he hoped he could make her understand. “My mother and I were attacked when my father was at sea.” He set his jaw; on this he was firm. “I will not leave you alone and unprotected. And no,” he added before she could form the words, “I won’t risk you by bringing you aboard either. A pirate ship is no place for a woman.”

  “Isn’t Samantha a woman? Didn’t she prove herself capable?”

  “Of course she did but—”

  Sarah arched a brow. “But?”

  Aidan blew out an exasperated breath. “It was different for her. She’d survived terrible things, events that made her stronger. She knew what she was getting into.”

  She yanked her hands free, fisted them, and thrust them onto her hips. “And I’m too weak and delicate, is that it?”

  Hell, he was making things worse. “I know you’re strong, Sarah, but piracy is different. Sometimes you have to be heartless. I don’t want that for you.” He ran his thumb across her jaw. “I don’t want you to change.”

  “Aidan, you are a wonderful man. You’re honest, forthright and a wonderful captain. You’re fair when it would be as easy, if not easier, not to be. And you’ve managed all that while being a pirate for a good portion of your life. Explain again how piracy will change me.”

  He mirrored her stance. “It’s not what I envisioned for my wife. I would protect her, care for her. Be there for her. Not endanger her life every day so I could do something I wanted.”

  “Well, what if it’s what I want as well?”

  His hands slid off his hips. “Excuse me?”

  “What if it’s what I want? I’ve spent the whole of my life in captivity. Maybe I’m ready for some adventure. Maybe this is what I want as much as you do.”

  Aidan shook his head, told his fool heart not to get too excited. This was not what he’d planned.

  “From the time Sam took me from the plantation I’ve always known what I wanted. When I was old enough I was going to take over the role of Steele, sail the Revenge until I was ready to let it go. Then, and only then, I’d find a good woman, marry, and have a family. Never did I consider bringing the woman I love aboard with me.”

  To his utter shock Sarah began laughing. As he knew she was laughing at him, he once again brought his fists to his hips. He failed to see the humor.

  “Aidan,
life isn’t a map to be followed. I lived my entire life knowing every day was going to be the same. Day after day I knew what to expect. What I’m most looking forward to now is the possibility of each day being different. Maybe I won’t be happy as a pirate. Maybe I will want to build a home of my own. I don’t know. But I don’t need to.” She closed the distance and this time it was she who took his hands. “Can’t we simply try and see what happens?” Her eyes twinkled. “You may decide you like having me aboard after all.”

  “There’s no question I want you with me,” he said, bringing their joined hands to his chest. “But I don’t want you hurt.”

  “There are different ways of hurting, Aidan. Every day I couldn’t step out from those walls I hurt. If I can’t be with you, I’ll hurt.”

  What could he say? She was right. It would be hell not having her with him but the thought of her being harmed… He just wasn’t sure he could risk it.

  “I’m not sure I—”

  She silenced him with a kiss. Her lips brushed his, soft at first and then with passion. Her mouth parted for him and he took the opportunity to taste, savor. He’d never get enough of her; that much he knew. Though he was no closer to knowing what he was going to do, he could admit she’d given him something to think about. Perhaps all wasn’t lost yet.

  “Cap’n?” Chunk interrupted.

  Regretfully, Aidan brushed a last kiss on Sarah’s lips and turned to his first mate. Aidan wasn’t surprised he hadn’t heard Chunk’s approach; when Sarah was in his arms the world seemed to vanish around him. He peered over the deck and the dozen of men now milling about. Dawn was upon them, the sky a splash of blues, pinks, and yellows. Over the bowsprit, starboard, and port side he saw nothing but the horizon. He blew out a relieved breath.

  “No sign of Roche,” he confirmed, assuming that was why Chunk had come up to the quarterdeck.

  “If it’s not Roche,” Chunk said, his face stark. “Then who in blazes is that?”

  Aidan spun around. No, it couldn’t be. Yet as his heart sped, as he himself raced to the gunwale to look beyond the stern he couldn’t deny what he saw.

  Four ships, their masts like shark fins on the horizon, were very clearly visible.

  And they were heading his way.

  *

  Aidan gave Sarah the wheel. They were short men and he wanted every hand on deck. Not that there was much to be done. Weapons had been cleaned and loaded, extra shots prepared last night. Lucky and a handful of others had made a chain of men passing everything from below to the main deck. They’d already lost all the extra weight they could spare last night. The wind was light and manageable and adding the jib topsail wasn’t making much of a difference in their speed. Still, he felt better double-checking things, examining lines, and each of the ten-pound guns than he would have standing at the wheel. He may not be accomplishing much, but he felt useful. Felt he was taking charge. He’d felt helpless standing at the wheel, watching the approaching masts get taller and taller.

  Standing at the last gun Aidan wiped his hands on his trousers and skirted the men who were passing every available weapon up from the ship’s small armory. With little left below to secure—and what was there had already been fastened down, he dipped into his cabin.

  “Well, old friend, it’s time to ensure you’re safe as well.”

  Squawk. “Old friend. Old friend.”

  Aidan took some extra blankets from his chest, made a nest for Carracks’ cage below the ladder. He settled the bottom of the cage securely into it then, using a piece of rope that had been spliced, he secured the cage to the bottom rung.

  He dropped a few nuts into the bird’s bowl, ensured he had water as well. “It’s the best I can do for now.” He poked his fingers through the cage, and his heart tugged when Carracks gently took his finger in his beak. “You’re a good friend, Carracks.”

  Squawk. “Good friend. Good friend.”

  He was glad nobody was around to see his eyes mist over. Sniffing back sentiment, Aidan grabbed the same thin cloth he used to cover the cage at night, draped it over and tied it in place. As protection it wouldn’t offer much, but he didn’t want to suffocate the poor thing either.

  Next, Aidan turned to his berth, tugged all the blankets off and set them on the planks. He dropped to his belly and shoved the blankets underneath the bed, making a nest of covers for Sarah.

  When he’d done all he could, he dusted off his hands and knees, looked about the cabin he’d hardly had time to make his own. It was only a thing, it shouldn’t mean so much to him and yet it did. This was the ship Luke had sailed him to Tortuga on, the ship he’d worked on for the past four years. He’d been down here countless times with Cale, looking over maps, talking strategy.

  Damn it. Aidan had really hoped to get the chance to talk to Cale again. He’d thought there would be time that maybe somehow they could find a way to be friends again, if not father and son. He’d never doubted coming up victorious over Roche but that had been before the mutiny. When he’d had a plan and everything was supposed to fall into place.

  He knew things didn’t always work as planned but never had it hit him harder than it did right then. He’d only found Sarah, taken over the Revenge, and learned his father was alive. He wasn’t ready to let any of them go. He balled his hands into fists. Roche may have an armada but be damned if Aidan was going to hand over everything that mattered without the fight of his life.

  Suddenly the hatch flew open. “Cap’n, come quick!”

  Aidan’s stomach dropped to his toes then surged up into this throat. Swallowing it down, he looked around the cabin one last time. “Roche, you bastard, if I’m going down so are you.” Then, leaping up the ladder, Aidan charged onto the deck.

  Everyone was at the gunwale and while each held a weapon or two, they would do little good hanging at their sides. Why the hell weren’t the guns being loaded? Why wasn’t anybody moving?

  “Cap’n, look.” Lucky pointed a dirty finger out to sea, held out the looking glass.

  Aidan sprinted to the gunwale, grabbed the glass. He snapped it open and for the second time that day his knees turned to water. The four ships had closed in on him but he knew the lead ship. Hell, he knew three of the four. Behind the wheel of the first ship stood Luke, black eye patch and barrage of gold chains gleaming in the early morning sunlight. Sam stood at the bow, waving a white flag.

  Aidan shifted the glass over, recognized Blake’s Blue Rose. He didn’t know the third ship but he knew the big man behind the wheel. Nate. And there, coming up behind them was Morgan.

  They’d come. Despite his claims he’d wanted to do this alone, they’d come. As family would. It humbled him. It made his heart burst with love and pride. His family.

  He lifted the glass again. On the other side of the bowsprit to Samantha stood Cale. Yes indeed, his family.

  Grinning, Aidan slapped the glass close. “Bring in the sails, men, we’ve just evened the odds.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  There was no dropping anchor in the middle of the ocean but they were all seasoned sailors and the light winds allowed the ships to manoeuver easily enough, bringing them within hailing distance. Nate, Blake, and Morgan stayed back, allowing Luke to come alongside the Revenge.

  While Luke’s crew brought in their sails, Aidan called for Chunk to take the wheel. He and Sarah had already agreed that for the time being she would stay on the quarterdeck. There wasn’t time for explanations and as far as the others knew she was only their leverage. For now, they would keep it as such. He was fairly certain they’d accept Sarah, but doubt lingered. Everyone had sympathized with Grace as she’d been a victim of Roche’s and while, to his mind, so had Sarah, he needed the time to explain, to show she was nothing like her father. At the moment, he didn’t have the luxury.

  Still, he gave her an encouraging wink before he leapt down to the deck and strode to the gunwale where the Freedom bobbed and waited. Sam and Luke waited for him, arms around each other. Sam
’s golden eyes radiated love and, across the narrow span between ships, he felt its power. It warmed him from head to toe, wrapped around his heart. He smiled, putting all the affection he felt toward her into it. God, he loved her.

  As he loved Luke. He turned to him now, grinned as the sun radiating from the collection of chains around Luke’s neck nearly blinded him.

  “It’s good to see you,” Aidan called over. “We sure need your help.”

  Samantha placed her hands on the gunwale. “Why, what’s happened?”

  Before Aidan could explain, Cale stepped forward, took a position at Sam’s side. His and Cale’s gazes met, held. Cale had never been a man to show much emotion but Aidan couldn’t deny he saw a lot brewing in Cale’s pale blue eyes now. Trepidation, worry. Fear. Like Sarah, this wasn’t the time or place, but Aidan wanted to alleviate some of the man’s concerns. He tipped his head to Cale and felt his own burdens ease when the man returned the greeting.

  “Son?” Luke brought him back, no doubt using the endearment as much to jab at Cale as to get Aidan’s attention. “Tell us what’s happened.”

  And so, with the three of them and the crew listening, Aidan told them what had transpired and how, if they hadn’t arrived, things would have been dire indeed.

  “Much as I’m glad to see you, why are you here? How are you here? I thought we’d agreed to meet in Nevis.”

  “Sitting and waiting doesn’t sit well with us,” Sam said and, while she angled her head toward Luke while she said it, Aidan knew firsthand she was no better at staying idle. When Sam wanted something, she went after it.

  “We never actually got to the sitting and waiting. When the Freedom returned and we learned you were going to Tortuga instead of Nevis, we all decided to head there instead,” Luke explained, raising his voice as the ships started to drift further apart. “Luckily, Morgan was coming into port as we were leaving. When we told him where we were going and why, he decided to come along.”