by Connie Mason
He began to move slowly, at the same time kissing her again and again, one hand working magic at her breast. Her hips moved against him in an instinctively arousing way until Fox could no longer restrain himself. Her body encased him perfectly as his thrusts grew more rapid, then frenzied. Sensation exploded within Alexa, every inch of her flesh alive and tense with a pleasure more exquisite than she had ever known existed. Her hands clasped Fox’s neck, then slid down his back, finally to clasp the rock-hard muscles of his buttocks, helping him to plunge even deeper as her head drew back, her lips parted and she peaked into shards of glorious ecstasy. Then he began his own climax that was so dramatic Alexa thought for a moment her own might begin again.
They held each other until their bodies began to relax, melting together in perfect pleasure and harmony. Then Fox rolled to his side, pulling Alexa closely into his embrace. “My God, you’re incredible!” Fox laughed a bit shakily. “I believe you were right when you said you wanted it. You acted as if it had been some time since you’d tasted the delights of love. Or am I just better than the others?”
“Why you conceited oaf!” Irritation sparked her words. “What makes you think you’re better than any other man?”
“Ah, alas,” sighed Fox, feigning weariness. “If you do not know, I fear I must try again. Obviously I failed to make a sufficient impression on you just now. But if you bear with me, milady Vixen, I will try to do better.”
Alexa’s eyes grew wide as he lifted her in his arms and carried her into the tepid water of the shallow lake. Setting her on her feet he slowly began to arouse her again, kissing her masked eyes, her lips, her breasts, until he felt her response ignite and turn into flames too hot to control. Beneath his lips and tongue her nipples grew hard as pebbles as he sucked them deep into his mouth, nipping tenderly. The softly lapping water gave his fingers buoyancy as they parted, probed, entered and withdrew. In a surprisingly short time Alexa found herself panting for breath, her body tense with desire.
Boosting her up by her firm buttocks. Fox wrapped her legs about his waist. Alexa gasped, clinging tightly to his massive shoulders and she rode him to glorious victory. But the victory was not hers alone for Fox quickly became the conqueror as he galloped to his own reward.
Two more days elapsed before repairs were completed on both The Gray Ghost and My Lady Vixen. They were busy days well spent in activity. But the nights found Alexa and Fox lost in a sensual world of their own making where none but the two of them existed. On each night remaining to them they made love repeatedly, as if they might never again see each other, only to awaken in the light of dawn more obsessed with one another than ever. Often Alexa would catch Fox looking at her oddly, a speculative gleam in his cinder-gray eyes.
Yet they were not prepared to reveal themselves. Had Fox been truthful, then Alexa would have gladly torn off her disguise. But for reasons of their own, they both remained stubborn to the end.
It was decided that the Ghost would leave the island first and act as a decoy in the event a stray English ship should be lurking about. My Lady Vixen was to follow an hour or two later. When Fox and Vixen stood at the water’s edge, each seemed reluctant to take their leave.
“We’ll meet again, Vixen,” Fox told her, his arm casually draped around her slim waist.
“Aye, I’m sure of it, Fox,” Alexa whispered. “Where do you venture now?”
“To Savannah. I’ve been gone too long already and there’s vital information I must deliver to those fighting in the hills.”
“What of the special lady you told me about?” goaded Alexa slyly. “Does she bide in Savannah?”
“A lady awaits me in Savannah but she is not the one I told you about,” teased Fox, watching her face closely for her reaction.
She didn’t disappoint him as she assumed an affronted look. “I was right, you do keep a stable of women.”
“But I love only one, Vixen, and I think you know who she is.”
Alexa was stunned. Was he telling her he loved the Vixen? Where did that leave Alexa, his wife? “Are you married, Fox?” she asked abruptly.
Fox laughed raucously. “The Fox is married to the sea.”
Perhaps Fox is married to no one but Adam is, thought Alexa ruefully. “What about the man behind the mask?” she asked softly. “Does he have a wife?” Her question was deliberately meant to goad.
Seconds dragged into minutes in which Fox remained mute. Just when the silence became unbearable they were interrupted by one of Fox’s men. “We are ready to sail, Captain,” he saluted as he acknowledged Alexa with a jaunty bob of his head.
“I’ll be there directly.” Fox replied, dismissing the man with a wave of his hand. Though he never did contrive to answer Alexa’s question he did manage to say. “I fear for your safety. Vixen. It would please me to see you in some safe haven until the war’s end.”
“But it would not please me.” Alexa scoffed. “I fully intend to continue my fight against oppression, Fox. The British have not yet heard the last from the Vixen. Nor have you,” she added softly.
Curving her into the warmth of his muscular form, Fox captured her lips in a farewell kiss that promised another time, another place. Alexa responded with all the emotion she was capable of. When it ended, he turned and walked away, fearing to look back lest he fail to leave her at all. Alexa watched until his ship cleared the cove and turned northward.
While her own ship was being made ready. Alexa had much on which to ponder. This past week with Fox/Adam had shown her just how much she truly loved her husband despite his deception. After all, wasn’t she playing at the same game? What hurt her most was his refusal to acknowledge a wife and how easily he had fallen under Vixen’s spell. Didn’t that prove just how fickle and dishonorable he really was? she contended glumly. He made love to the Vixen as if he had never made love to another woman before, as if the Vixen was the only woman in the world for him. She dared not think on their future, if indeed there was a future for them.
From every angle Alexa was assaulted by ugly suspicions concerning Fox’s relationship with Lady Gwen while under the guise of Adam Foxworth and living a bachelor’s existence in Savannah. Did he care at all for Gwen or was his attention to her only a ploy to allay suspicions concerning his activities against the crown? Would she ever learn the truth?
One hour after Fox and his crew left their island haven, the sails of My Lady Vixen caught the breeze and rode the tide into the Atlantic and into the arms of two British frigates waiting for her like sentinels guarding the entrance to the cove. As luck would have it Fox made it out before the ships arrived from another direction, so was unaware of the trap laid for Vixen. The ships had been sent to patrol the coast from the Carolinas to the Floridas in an effort to rid the seas of American privateers, in particular Fox and Vixen. They now had one of their prey trapped between the bay and open water at the entrance of the cove.
“My God, Vixen, it looks like the bloody English have set a trap for us!” Drake cursed disgustedly. “Where in the hell is Fox now when we need him?”
“Sound battle stations, Drake,” Alexa ordered calmly enough though inwardly she was quailing. “We’ll try to slip through. My own ship looks fleeter than those frigates and with any luck we can outrun them.”
“Their guns will trap us between them, Vixen, and make mincemeat out of us,” warned Drake worriedly.
“It’s our only chance. Issue weapons and pile on the sail. I’ll take the wheel myself.”
There was a mad flurry on deck while Alexa skillfully tacked, making as if to run back into the cove. A brisk breeze aided her cause as she tacked again the moment one of the frigates broke free to follow. Using all the knowledge she had gained in her months at sea, Alexa attempted to bring My Lady Vixen about and scoot past the frigate close on her heels. Her ploy was successful only for the length of time it took the frigate to swing about and give chase.
At that point the twenty-four pounders aboard the second frigate blasted forth,
but all the shot fell short. A second volley came closer, as did the first frigate dogging their trail. To Alexa it looked hopeless as her own eighteen pounders answered the English guns. And then both frigates commenced firing as Alexa charted a zigzag course in an effort to escape total destruction. But to no avail. To Alexa’s horror she found My Lady Vixen sandwiched between the two British ships.
It almost appeared as if they meant to take My Lady Vixen intact, along with her entire crew, for the guns were stilled as the two ships closed in on either side of the Vixen. But until they were too close to fire, Drake kept their own guns belching forth. One of their volleys brought down the mainmast and sails of the frigate on their starboard, but Alexa’s joy was shortlived. Both ships were bumping against her hull, tixing their grappling hooks and running out the boarding planks.
Then Alexa saw a sight that froze her blood and sent her heart plummeting to her feet. Both ships were teeming with British soldiers! And they were swarming aboard the Vixen in ever increasing numbers. As brave as her men were they were no match for the vast number of soldiers who engaged them in hand to hand combat. In swift order Alexa dispatched two of them herself, then wheeled to engage another.
“We meet at last, Vixen,” declared her opponent.
Alexa was startled to find she knew the young captain who faced her, his sword raised in mocking salute. Captain Lance Barrington, a nasty sneer twisting his lips, took a stance opposite her. “General Prevost dispatched a dozen ships to search the seas and destroy you. Too bad we couldn’t snare the Fox in the same net. But you will do,” he declared, thrusting dangerously at Alexa.
Alexa was far too busy concentrating on lunging, feinting, thrusting and sidestepping Barrington’s spirited attack to answer. She was certain the final outcome of their bout meant little for she realized by the sounds around her, or rather by the lack of sound, that her men had already been subdued by the scores of British soldiers and sailors. But she fought on bravely, refusing to give over until she won or fell to her death.
“Are you surprised to see soldiers boarding your ship?” Barrington asked, stepping up the tempo. “It’s the Governor’s idea, really. He convinced the General to place troops on all the ships joining in the search. We’ve been looking for you and Fox, you know. From the Carolinas to the Floridas. And now we have you. It will be a red-letter day for the English when you’re swinging from the gallows.”
His words were meant to goad, and Alexa knew it. Still, she could not help but hurl a scathing reply. “It doesn’t say much for the English when it takes a platoon of soldiers and the crewmen of two ships to capture one woman.”
“Beware, Vixen,” Barrington gritted out from between clenched teeth. “It will not go easy on you when I finally take you back to Savannah in irons.”
“I can only die once,” retorted Alexa brazenly as she skillfully lunged beneath his guard to slice a long shallow cut through his coat along the right side of his chest.
Warm blood soaked Barrington’s clothes but his step did not falter. He was good. Alexa thought despairingly, too damn good. Suddenly Alexa was aware of quiet all around her, save for the clanging of her sword and Barrington’s. Her arms were like two pieces of lead, responding automatically but feeling nothing except a bone-weary ache. Her legs were so tired they began to tremble, but she fought on, determined to kill or be killed.
At least an hour had passed since the English soldiers had leaped upon the teak decks of My Lady Vixen capturing her crew by their sheer numbers. Now, every eye was focused on the battling captains, Alexa’s long, slim legs and bouncing breasts garnering the most attention. She was perfection, from her silvery locks to her leather boots; beauty in motion as she danced and lunged just out of reach.
Until her luck ran out. She never knew what caused her to falter, a turn of the ankle, a misstep, or just plain weariness. Whatever it was nearly cost her her life. She was saved by her quick thinking as she turned aside just as Barrington’s sword reached beneath her guard to pierce her heart. Instead the blade sliced through the fleshy part of her left arm. Searing pain engulfed Alexa, nearly paralyzing her. Beads of perspiration broke out on her forehead and her right arm, though uninjured, grew too heavy to wield her sword.
His mouth curled in a derisive sneer, Barrington bleated triumphantly, “I won. Vixen! The day is mine!” The tip of his blade pricked the tender skin of her neck as Alexa’s sword clattered from her numb fingers to the deck. Barrington’s men began cheering so loudly they failed to hear the shout from the watch stationed high in the crow’s nest.
Alexa clutched her left arm with her right hand in an effort to staunch the bleeding. Barrington’s blade did not waver from her jugular as defiance blazed from the depths of her violet eyes. “I should kill you here and now, Vixen, but I won’t,” spat Barrington contemptuously. “I’d much rather see you at the end of a rope. But I will unmask you, my lady pirate.”
Alexa stepped backwards as he reached out to remove the silken cloth hiding her perfect features. He laughed harshly and grasped her good shoulder to hold her in place. Quiet descended as every Englishman present realized they were about to see the infamous Vixen unmasked. But at the last moment fate intervened in the form of booming cannon and belching fire.
The thunder of cannon reached them the same instant as the watch who, unable to gain attention from his lofty perch, climbed down from the riggings to warn his mates of the swiftly approaching danger. “A ship, Captain!” the man yelled through the din. “And nearly upon us.” His last words were superfluous for at that moment cannon shells exploded into the ship lashed to My Lady Vixen’s starboard, setting several small fires.
Alexa’s relief was enormous as Barrington relaxed his hold upon her long enough to view the oncoming ship. “My God!” he cried, “The Fox!” All eyes turned to watch the sloop skitter across the water with amazing speed, her big guns firing again into the frigate that had already received the brunt of his initial attack. By now one British ship was already ablaze and it was obvious something had to be done fast. “Cut her loose!” ordered Barrington as his men snapped to obey his command.
“We’re a sitting target, sir!” called out one of the seamen. “We’d best get back aboard our own ship before it’s too late.”
Nodding in agreement. Barrington prodded Alexa forward as he ordered crisply. “Abandon the burning ship! Step lively, men! All hands over the side to our remaining ship!”
“What about Vixen’s crew, sir?”
“Leave them. We haven’t room to transport them what with two crews and a platoon of soldiers crowded aboard one ship, nor the time to dispatch them. I have the Vixen and that’s who we came for. Hurry men, over the side!”
Faint from loss of blood, Alexa was prodded, shoved and dragged onto the English frigate. By now the Ghost was close enough so that she could see the magnificent figure of Fox standing on the quarterdeck, arms akimbo, feet wide apart, and Barrington reacted swiftly to the danger, ordering all their sails unfurled in order to escape the range of Fox’s cannon. Though Barrington hated to admit it. Fox had caught him off guard and their best defense was retreat. With Vixen aboard perhaps Fox would be reluctant to fire upon them for fear of harming one of his own, allowing them to escape. But Barrington had underestimated Fox’s cunning.
Alexa was lashed to the mainmast by Barrington’s men, in plain view of the Ghost. Though Fox did not fire upon the frigate, he had little difficulty dogging their path. His sloop did not wallow beneath the weight of the combined crew of two ships and numerous soldiers, and could have run rings around the three-masted frigate. He was careful to keep well out of range of the big twenty-four pounders as he stood by helplessly watching the Vixen being lashed to the mast, blood flowing freely from her wound.
Fox considered an all-out attack, tacking in a zigzag pattern in order to avoid the cannon, but suddenly help came from another quarter. The crew of My Lady Vixen, having freed themselves from their bonds, and under the expert direction o
f Drake, joined in the foray.
The moment Barrington was made aware of My Lady Vixen’s pursuit, he roundly cursed himself for neglecting to order the Vixen’s crew killed or her ship fired in his haste to return to his own ship to escape Fox. But he still had Vixen and she was his passport to safety, if she lived, he thought wryly as he noticed her waxy pallor and the way she slumped against her bindings.
Immediately his ship came under the guns of both privateers as they fired warning shots across the frigate’s bow. The frigate answered with a volley of her own, and when quiet prevailed once more, Barrington cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted across the water.
“If you hit us, Fox, you risk the life of the Vixen!”
“I’ll take my chances,” bluffed Fox, replying in a like manner. “Between my Gray Ghost and My Lady Vixen, we’ll blow you out of the water. We’ll trust in luck to rescue Vixen alive.”
Fox had no intention of firing on the frigate, and knew Drake would follow his lead, but he did all in his power to convince the English otherwise. “We’ll grant no quarter should you force us to fire,” taunted Fox, his voice hard and cold. “Every one of you will die unless you give Vixen over to us.”
The captain of the frigate, William Crisp, upon hearing Fox’s words, approached Barrington. “This is still my ship, Captain, and I’m responsible for it as well as the lives involved. Unless we do as Fox orders and release the Vixen we’ll be annihilated.”
“I refuse to believe Fox would deliberately take the life of one of his own, Crisp.” Barrington shook his head. “I don’t believe he’ll carry out his threat.”
“I believe him,” Captain Crisp declared. “The man’s utterly ruthless. What’s one woman’s life to him? He’s well aware that she’ll face the hangman once she is returned to Savannah. Given her situation death at sea might be preferable. I say we give her over and consider ourselves lucky to escape with our lives.”
