Tiger Eyes

by Kimberly Nee

  “I wanted to see how you fared.” She didn’t wait for an invitation, but brushed by him to step into the cabin.

  “I am fine, and I don’t believe my welfare has anything to do with this visit.” He left the door open, moving to the low chest next to the wardrobe. Sinking onto it, he folded his arms over his chest. “What is it, Finn?”

  She gracefully sank into his vacated chair. “How did you and Miss Markham come to be together on that island?”

  Irritation flashed through him like lightning. “What difference does it make?”

  “Diego, I am only concerned for you. I was there, remember? I saw what that woman did to you five years ago. And what she did to Addy as a result.”

  His gut tightened. “What Adeline did is what she chose to do. It had nothing to do with me and even less to do with Gabby.”

  “Is that so?” Fiona’s silvery eyes narrowed. “So, you didn’t use Adeline to soothe your wounded pride, then? Didn’t make her believe you cared for her, only to have her find that your heart was too broken for you to care for anyone?”

  “That’s a bit much, don’t you think?” he asked dryly, resting his right hand, palm down, on his thigh. “And Adeline left me, not the other way around.”

  “Because she had only part of you!” Fiona slapped both hands against the tabletop. “The rest of you was too wrapped up in pining for Miss Markham, who skipped off into the sunset without so much as a backward glance at you.”

  The tightness in his belly worsened. “This is none of your concern, Finn.” He rose from the chest and bent to swipe the tankard from the table. “And I’ll thank you kindly to stay out of it.”

  “You’re my friend. That makes it my concern.”

  “Friends, yes. But your concern? I think not.” He took a long swallow of dark gold rum. Lowering the tankard, he added, “I am a grown man, Finn. Free to make my own choices. Free to pursue any woman who catches my interest. Even ones that might meet with your disapproval.”

  “And you’ll give her that power over you again?” Fiona sniffed as she rose. “I only hope that she is worth the hell she put you through before, and most likely will put you through again.”

  “I am not the same man I was five years ago.”

  She strode to the doorway, but paused to look up at him as she shook her head. “That’s true, Diego. You aren’t. That man was happy and warm and gentle. This one is far colder and harder. Perhaps it is none of my concern, but I miss the man you were and I’m not nearly as fond of the man you’ve become.” She tapped on the wood frame of the doorway. “You know, Addy may have married Guillermo, but I know for a fact that she still loves you, and most likely always will.”

  He didn’t reply, but simply stared until she pulled the door closed and left him with his thoughts. The rum bottle beckoned and he answered the call by refreshing his tankard and then sank back into the comfortable leather chair by the window. There, he stared out at the black water surrounding them, put his feet up on his desk, and drank deeply until his eyes closed, his chin dropped to his chest, and the wooden tankard clattered to the floor alongside his chair.

  “Leave him be, Finn.”

  Fiona glared at her husband as he looked up from the book open on the table before him. “How is it that you men are so foolish when it comes to women? The smartest of you is reduced to babbling mush when confronted by a pretty smile.”

  “Because that is how you women manage to trick us into foolishness such as marriage.”

  “You aren’t at all amusing, do you know that?” She sank back into the pile of pillows and tugged the sheet to her chin. “You do recall, don’t you, how devastated Addy was when she asked him to choose.”

  “It wasn’t as much of a choice as it was an ultimatum, Finn.” He flipped the book closed to push it away. “But yes, of course I remember. Had she asked me what I thought, I could have told her how he would react to such a thing. She pushed too hard and couldn’t accept that he just did not wish to marry. At all.”

  “And now…he’s setting himself up all over again.” She glanced at the book on the bedside table. No. Reading took far too much effort. Glaring at him was by far easier.

  “Why? Why are you such fools?” As he grinned the slow, teasing grin she knew all too well, she shook her head at him. “Oh, no you don’t, Iñigo. We are discussing Diego right now.”

  “He will wait, love.” Iñigo rose from his chair and approached the bed, sinking to his knees as he met the tick. “You wish to know why we men are such jackasses when it comes to women? Because you women have the power to reduce us to senseless, mindless heaps of flesh.”

  “Iñigo…”

  He caught her lips in a tender kiss, pressing her back into the tick. His hands found hers, his fingers threading through hers as he pulled away to murmur, “There is that one moment, Fiona, when I would give you anything you asked for, no matter how silly or how great. That moment is why we are such jackasses. And that moment alone. You give me that, and I give you everything your heart desires, no matter how detrimental it might be to me.”

  As he spoke, he swept his lips along her throat, and her eyes closed of their own accord. A long, low sigh rose to her lips, and Iñigo’s voice was husky and sensual as he murmured, “And to hell with Diego and his problems. To hell with Gabby and her problems. This is what matters to me at the moment. This and nothing else.”

  And as his mouth caught hers again, the last of Fiona’s arguments died on her lips. She cared very little about anything else when her husband was so intent on distracting her.

  The corridor was dark and shadowy, lit only by the small lanterns set at each cabin door. Considering there were but four cabins, it made for very little light. Gabby occupied the one nearest the steps, which meant that one was the captain’s cabin and, of the remaining two, one had to be Diego’s. Unfortunately, she had no way of knowing which one, and she couldn’t very well knock on doors until she found the right one.

  “Well, it is probably for the best,” she murmured, leaning back against the wall between the two farthest cabins on the left side of the corridor. She was dangerously close to making yet another mistake where Diego was concerned. When had she become such a glutton for punishment? Why was she willing to do this to herself again? Why go through the same torture of putting Diego in the past, as there could never be a future for them?

  Wood creaked, and she froze, pressing back into the wall as she held her breath in the hopes the occupant of one of the cabins was not about to make his exit. If it wasn’t Diego, she would never be able to explain why she was hovering in the corridor instead of remaining tucked away in her cabin. And if it was Diego, he would always have the knowledge that she sought him. That was a power she did not want to let him have.

  But no doors opened. Silence thickened again. She sighed and turned to make her way to her own quarters at the far end of the hallway. There, she pulled off her wrapper, and slid beneath the light sheet of her bed.

  Her cabin was neither fancy nor cozy, but almost Spartan in appearance, with four narrow bunks bolted to the walls. Hooks had been drilled into the posts for hammocks, and there was a small, square table—also bolted to the floor—and four chairs drawn around it. Judging from the sea chests shoved beneath the lower bunks, at least two men had been evicted to the foc’sle in order to provide her with a whit of privacy.

  The window was open, the cool breeze blowing in enough to make her reach for the rough blanket. It was far too quiet, though, even with the water lapping at the ship’s sides. She missed the crashing of the ocean as the waves broke at the shore. She missed the patter of rain as it sputtered against the rocks.

  She missed the soft rumble of Diego’s snores as he slept beside her, one arm protectively about her and possessively holding her close.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Gabby could almost feel the eyes burning holes into her back, and when she turned, it was to find Fiona Sebastiano glaring at her through cold silver eyes from ac
ross the foredeck. By the end of the second day, Gabby had quite enough of it, and marched over to the lady as she stood by the port side railing.

  “Have I done something to offend you?” She folded her arms and affixed Fiona with the stare she used to make grown men fidget and squirm.

  Only Fiona was not so easily cowed, snapping, “I have nothing to say to the likes of you,” before turning away.

  She grabbed Fiona by the shoulder and spun her back. “Don’t you dare give me your back. If you’ve a problem with me, I highly suggest you have the courage to say it to my face. I’ve grown rather tired of your staring at me as if you were my mother and I’ve done something to displease you.”

  Fiona’s eyes narrowed to silver slits. Several of the Serena’s crew stopped whatever they were doing in order to watch. Judging by the spreading silence, Gabby came to the conclusion not many people dared challenge the captain’s wife. Well, be that as it may, she didn’t care. “So? What have I done?”

  “You should keep your distance from Diego.”

  Certainly she couldn’t possibly have heard Fiona correctly. She did not just give her an order, never mind one she expected obeyed. “What was that?”

  “You heard. I said you should keep your distance from Diego. Leave him be.”

  “You cannot be serious. You are ordering me to stay away from him?” Gabby couldn’t help her snort of laughter. Fiona had nerve, to be sure. Very real nerve. “Forgive me, I had no idea you were his keeper. I was under the assumption that he was a grown man.”

  “I do not pretend to be his keeper, Miss Markham. But I do know that the last thing he needs is to allow you to get under his skin again.”

  “And so you’ve appointed yourself his protector? How does your husband feel about this odd interest you have in Diego’s well-being?”

  “There is nothing at all odd about being concerned.” Fiona poked her solidly in the chest. “And you will stay away from him, or I will see to it that you are not given the choice.”

  The poke hurt, and Gabby ignored the surprised gasps as she seized Fiona’s wrist. “Take your hand from me and do not touch me again. I do not think your husband would like it if I were to hurt you.”

  This time, it was Fiona’s turn to laugh. “Hurt me? You? I have dispatched men twice your size without a second thought.”

  “Are you threatening me, Madam Sebastiano?” Gabby couldn’t keep the humor from lilting through her words as she released Fiona’s wrist. “Your hospitality is unlike any I’ve ever—”

  A sunburst of light erupted before Gabby’s eyes as Fiona’s fist met her left cheekbone, and she stumbled back as pain exploded in her cheek. “Son of a—”

  “And you will keep your distance,” Fiona growled, flexing her right hand.

  Gabby’s eye watered fiercely, but her rising temper blotted out the remaining pain. In a flash, she pounced, biting back a cry as she connected with Fiona’s mouth and her teeth cut into Gabby’s knuckles.

  A spot of blood appeared at the corner of Fiona’s mouth as she staggered back. She drew the back of her hand over her mouth, then lifted an incredulous glare at Gabby. “You bitch!”

  She bit off the last word as she threw herself at Gabby. The breath rushed from Gabby’s lungs as Fiona drove her shoulder into her belly, but Gabby wrapped her arms about her and dragged her down as she fell.

  “Oy! Cat fight!”

  Gabby didn’t see who shouted those words, but they brought every last crewman to hover about as she and Fiona grappled with one another. But this was no ordinary hair-pulling, biting fight between women. Each one went for blood, with fists and feet flying about. They rolled across the deck, each trying to pin the other in a desperate bid for control.

  “What the bloody hell is going on?”

  Gabby shrieked as arms grabbed her round her middle and yanked to haul her off Fiona. At the same time, Fiona also shrieked, “Unhand me! Unhand me now!”

  “What the devil are you doing?”

  Through the red haze engulfing her, Gabby could just make out Diego’s furious growl, which mingled with Iñigo’s as he hauled his wife out of Gabby’s reach. Fiona fought wildly against her husband, clawing his arms and kicking her booted feet in her fury.

  “Gabby? What goes on here?”

  “Let go of me, Diego, and let me finish what that bitch started!” Gabby strained against his arms clamped around her, but it was of little use. His arms were like bands of iron, and she simply did not possess the strength to break iron, no matter how badly she wanted to get to Fiona Sebastiano.

  “Diego, get her below.” Iñigo’s voice rose over his wife’s shouts. “The rest of you, as you were.”

  “Come along,” Diego growled, setting her on her feet.

  The moment her feet touched deck, she bolted toward Fiona, being dragged off deck by Iñigo despite her best efforts as well. Diego swore loudly in Spanish, caught her around the middle again, and tossed her over his shoulder as though she were no more than a sack of flour. Her breath rushed from her as he slammed her against his shoulder.

  “Let go of me, damn it!” Gabby squirmed against him, pounding on his back with furious fists as he thrumped down the stairs and into the corridor where the cabins were located. He took the steps a bit harder than necessary, and she let out a most undignified “Ooof!” as his shoulder dug in beneath her ribs.

  He ignored her pounding, ignored her demands to be released, as he pushed open her cabin door, stepped inside and kicked the door shut. Without preamble, he dumped her on the topmost bunk, opposite the one she’d claimed as her own.

  “What the devil were you doing up there?” he growled, placing his hands on the bunk’s frame to keep her from scrambling down.

  She glared at him from her perch, arms folded, eyes mere slits. “She threatened me and I don’t take kindly to being threatened.”

  His eyes widened. “Finn threatened you? How?”

  “Yes, the bitch. Let me go back up there and show her what happens when I’m challenged.”

  She slid down, but he caught her by the hips, pinning her against the wood frame. “I think not, Gabby. It’s probably best if you let Finn cool down a bit. I can imagine she is giving Iñigo hell as well.”

  “I don’t care. Unless, of course, he’ll knock a bit of sense into her.”

  Diego’s smile faded. “I think that is highly unlikely.”

  His hands tightened on her and he held her to meet his gaze. Heat flooded her and she tried to peel herself away from him. He was too near for her liking, and that heat wasn’t at all comfortable. “You can release me now. I’m not going back up there.”

  “Release you?” His eyes glinted with a hint of the devil. “I don’t think so, sweetheart.”

  Oh dear. Her blood warmed, thick and sluggish throughout her entire body. “Diego, I—I think it would be best for you to go now. I’m calm. I won’t be challenging the lady of the ship again.”

  He didn’t reply, but leaned in and swept a kiss over her cheekbone, and she sucked in a sharp breath as he hit a tender spot.

  “She bruised you.” His voice was husky. “Why?”

  “I told you.”

  “But what brought it about?”

  He leaned in again, this time to graze the side of her neck. Her eyes threatened to close, her lids heavier with each sweep. “Diego…please…”

  “Please what?” His lips brushed downward, toward her collarbone.

  “Oh…no…” What was a vehement protest in her mind, emerged as a breathless sigh on her lips as he nuzzled down into the neckline of her gown. The delicate linen offered blessed little barrier between his touch and her skin and as he nibbled at sensitive flesh, she couldn’t hide her body’s reaction to him.

  Her nipples tightened into beads to poke through the fabric and when Diego lifted smoldering topaz eyes to hers, she wanted to melt into a puddle at his feet. His mouth caught hers, hot and hungry and demanding, and she eagerly parted her lips to accept his tongue, thi
ck and teasing, deep into her mouth. He groaned into her, his arms tightening about her as he eased her from the top bunk and completely into his arms.

  Though a breeze wafted through the open window, the cabin seemed to grow warmer by the moment. A mist of perspiration rose up along her back as Diego explored her mouth with his tongue, drew hers into his mouth and swallowed her mewl of delight.

  He stumbled back, hitting one of the straight-backed chairs, and dropped down without concern for whether or not it would support them. It squeaked, but held fast, not that she cared. She cared about nothing but the sweep of his lips down, over her breastbone.

  “Oh!” She couldn’t hold back her gasp as he caught her breast in his mouth. Wet heat soaked through the fabric and she thought she might faint when his tongue flicked over her nipple.

  Fire filled her. Her fingers, splayed into the silken raven mass of his hair, tightened, her back arching as she offered her breast to him. The tip of his tongue flattened, swirled about her nipple. She shivered and it only worsened when he pulled back.

  “Gabby…” He lifted blazing eyes to meet her stare.

  She clasped his head in both hands and lunged in to devour his mouth with hers. He growled deep in the back of his throat as his hands cupped both breasts. It seemed like a lifetime passed since that night on the island, a lifetime since she’d been touched. The effect was more powerful than she thought possible, as fire seemed to fill her, stung along her skin like a thousand lit matches pressed in on her. No matter what the future held, no man would ever touch her the way Diego did. No man would ever awaken such fierce desire, such unbridled lust. To ignore it was would be ignore her need to breathe, and she didn’t even try.

  He rose up, hard and solid, to press into her, and her body burned for him. She wanted him more than she’d ever wanted any man. As he scorched her with his touch, she wanted only to do the same to him, to give him even a taste of the lust he stoked to life. The linen was hot and smooth and it seemed his entire body tightened as she curved her hand against the very firm bulge of his erection.