Within A Captain's Power

by Lisa Olech

  He grinned, but shook his head. “It’s a bit early for brandy.”

  Tupper scoffed. “It’s never too early for rum. To what do I owe this honor?”

  “My lieutenant tells me you’re having some problems with your men down here. I witnessed a bit of it on deck yesterday. ”

  She cocked her head. “Nothing I can’t handle. Lot of hot air being passed around. They like to bitch and complain, especially when they’re stone cold sober and fixin’ to hang. Ye’ll have to forgive them. They’re not too fond of your British hospitality.”

  James narrowed his eyes. “Is that all?”

  Tupper shrugged and narrowed her eyes. “Tell me about Samantha Christian.”

  James frowned and folded his arms, appraising her. “You saw her. She’s doing well.”

  “Have you changed your mind about charging her?”

  “No. She’s been charged.”

  Tupper jerked back. “Well, I’ll be damned.” She was impressed. He’d done it. She had an odd flush of pride. Not that she had any reason. Annalise and Jaxon should be the ones to be proud. They raised an honorable man. His sense of duty was unquestionable…but there was still that one thing burning a hole in her mind. “If she’s a prisoner, then why is she still in your bed?”

  To his credit, James didn’t flinch. “Her health and safety are my personal concerns. I don’t believe it’s safe for her down here. Your men are angry at you, but they blame her for their current predicament.”

  Tupper lifted a shoulder again. “They like to flap their jaws.”

  “You aren’t denying it. Samantha Christian has been charged, although I’m convinced now more than ever she’s innocent of any wrongdoing.”

  She gave him a smug look. “I told you this all along. I’m guessing you have a plan for how to resolve this?”

  “I’ll accompany her personally once we reach London. Keep her safely in my custody. Talk directly to the admiral. Explain the situation. Vouch for her character.”

  “A solid plan.”

  James planted his hands on his hips. “Given the attitude of your men, she’ll stay with me until we reach London.”

  Tupper gave him a long hard stare. “You love her.”

  “I do.” Damn it if he still hadn’t flinched.

  “And what if you can’t convince your supervisors of her innocence?”

  “I’m prepared to go all the way to the king if I need to.”

  Tupper settled back and folded her arms over her chest. James was a good man. She was proud of him. She liked him. If he weren’t a British officer bringing her to hang, he’d be bloody nigh perfect. “I’m glad she has you to fight for her.”

  “What about you? Have you given any more thought to letting me help you?”

  Tupper waved the suggestion away. “I told you. You can’t help me.”

  James tipped his head. “I could try. I could plead on your behalf as well as Samantha’s. At least try to get you a lighter sentence.”

  “Why? Because I’m a woman?” she sniffed.

  “No.” He held a hand out toward her. “Because you’re Alice. Aunt Alice.”

  Tupper laughed and rolled her eyes. “Ah, yes. Aunt Alice.” She held up a finger. “Let me tell you a little bit about her. It’s time you heard the part of the tale you don’t know.” Tupper took a dramatic pause. “A long time ago, your Aunt Alice killed a man. The story tells how brave and heroic she was. She saved your parents. In truth, there was nothing heroic about it.”

  She pointed to the floor. “The moment I took that life, part of me changed. Went cold as winter, as if a shard of ice had pierced my heart.” She gave him a stern stare, shaking her head.

  “I didn’t kill him to save anyone. He’d been stopped. I stopped him. The threat was over. It was done.” She brushed a bit of straw from her breeches. “But did I stop? No. I chose to kill the vile bastard and drew the sword to do it. I could have just as easily left it in its scabbard. But I didn’t. I stepped over a line, which could never be uncrossed. It’s haunted my every step to this day. Stained my soul. I should have hanged for the crime back then.

  “Instead,” she held her arms wide. “I tried to run and fell headlong into this life. I became a pirate. Not what I’d imagined in my wildest dreams. But damn if I wasn’t good at it. Wasn’t a bad life either. I’ve lived a good long time. Known a great love, suffered a great lost, fought battles, won wars. I have seen both sides of this fathomless ocean more times than I can count and watched the sun rise and set into her blue waters for more years than I deserved. I’ve survived days I had no right to survive and looked into the face of death thousands of times. She doesn’t scare me.”

  Tupper sniffed and looked away. “You heard my name in a bedtime fairy tale you were told as a babe. You believe you know who I am, that I’m somehow linked to you and your beautiful mother. I’m not. I stopped being that woman a long time ago. Alice doesn’t exist.” She looked back at James. “Aunt Alice died in a cave on the north side of Jamaica when she pulled a sword out of a scabbard and raised it over her head. Do not misplace your loyalty, James. I’ve done nothing to deserve it.”

  Chapter 24

  As the weeks passed and the Lion moved closer to the English coast, James and Samantha spent as much time together as possible. The tensions below in the brig reinforced his decision to keep her with him. At least that was what he told Ducky, Stitch, or anyone else who should mention it.

  They made a habit of walking the decks at night, when they would have little chance of seeing the rest of the Scarlet Night’s crew. They took long walks in the quiet of the dark, surrounded by the endless stars above dipping down to dance on the surface of the bottomless sea below, as the moon smudged her light across the waves.

  Listening to the sounds of the ship without the distraction of the crew, they could hear the deep creak of the wood and the hum of the rigging. A moment of peace for them both within the chaos of all that was looming.

  It was their time, a respite from the daily bustle of duties and activities, away from the scores of questioning eyes that seemed to follow him these days. The night’s watch came to know their routine and, after a few evenings, paid them no mind.

  And following their strolls through the dark, he would take her to his bed. Their lovemaking was never rushed, no mad impatient tearing at one another. Instead, it was an unhurried voyage of discovery and breathtaking delight. He learned every inch of her. Discovered where a simple kiss could make her whimper with pleasure. Where a swirling touch could cause her body to arch and writhe like a sensuous wave. He came to know each and every delicious way to bring her to climax.

  Samantha studied him as well. She found new ways to drive him mad with wanting. Gave herself to him without reservation. Trusted him. Loved him with her whole self.

  James came in late last night after his final round of the Lion. The sight of Samantha curled up warm in his bed brought its own rush of emotions, from elation to fear and back to loving desire. He poured himself a brandy and, for once, ignored his precious logbooks and charts and instead heeded the incessant need to slip into his bed and hold her close.

  His clothing fell where it may, before he eased himself in beside her.

  Samantha moved against him, snuggling tight to his side, she touched her lips to his shoulder. “You forgot to hang up your uniform.”

  “To hell with my uniform.” James swept his hand over the heated curve of her naked hip. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “I wasn’t asleep.” She kissed the side of his neck before lifting her knee to drape her leg over his. The rush to his already rigid cock made him fist the sheets with his free hand. Would his body ever have enough of her?

  Samantha raised herself on her elbow before lowering her mouth to his. “You taste like brandy.” She moved like water over the hull and straddled his hips. Her wet heat pressed along his erection. “And salt air.” She licked at his lips.

&
nbsp; “What are you doing to me?” James clutched at her thighs as she trailed a line of kisses down his throat.

  “Seducing you.” She tipped her hips to slide her sex along the length of him. “Didn’t you tell me I was a natural?”

  It was all he could do not to toss her onto her back and plunge blindly into her.

  “Aye…” The word wrenched from his throat. He held himself still. Stone still. Everywhere she touched him, stroked him, pressed her lips to him, ignited into a consuming flame. “Dear God…”

  “I may not get another chance,” she murmured against his chest, “to show you how much I’ve come to love you.”

  Her words pierced through the sexual fog. James stopped her hand before ending her kisses by tipping her chin. “Is that what this is?” He cupped her cheek. “Are you afraid this is our last time together?”

  She didn’t answer; didn’t have to. The words were written in her eyes. “Unless you’ve come from steering your ship in a great circle, we’re running out of time.”

  He shook his head before pulling her mouth to his. “You and I have the rest of our lives to be together.”

  “Suppose the rest of my life is counted in days.” She lowered her gaze and traced the lower edge of his lip. “If something goes wrong, and all your plans don’t—”

  “Nothing is going to go wrong.” He tipped her chin again. “I swear to you. I love you.”

  Samantha gave him a small smile as he tucked a shining curl behind her ear. “Does that mean you want me to stop seducing you?” She moved his hand to her breast and pressed into it.

  “Only if you want the rest of my life to be counted in minutes.” He surged his hips upward to emphasize his life-threatening condition. “If you don’t take me now, I’m going to burst.”

  * * * *

  But Samantha wasn’t wrong in thinking their journey was close to an end. The time to bury themselves in a protective ignorance was indeed over, but whatever happened, they would face it together.

  The Lion had reached the Thames.

  James held her once more in his arms that morning. “You remember what I’ve told you.”

  “Yes. We’ve been over it a thousand times.”

  “There’s bound to be a great deal of disorder moving the prisoners off ship. I don’t want you to get caught up in the commotion and lose sight of what’s to come.”

  Samantha smiled patiently and repeated what he’d instructed, “I will join the Scarlet crew at the last moment to leave the Lion. Tupper and I will hold back and remain separate from the rest. I’ll stay with her as we’re moved to board the prisoner barges into the tower. You’ll be waiting for me there.”

  “Exactly. I’ll have secured your release from the tower guards. You’ll never board the barge or pass through Traitor’s Gate. I’ll have spoken to Admiral Marcus, and you’ll be released under my authority and custody. Together we’ll proceed to a direct audience with the admiral to have the charges against you removed.” He kissed the top of her head. “By tonight, this will all be over, and once that is done, I can put into place the plan to keep Tupper’s neck, if not out of the tower, at least out of the noose.”

  Samantha lifted her chin to look at him. “Do you think you can get her sentence reduced?”

  “I mean to try, regardless of what she says. No woman has ever hanged for piracy in London before. If I have anything to do with it, Tupper Quinn will not be the first.”

  * * * *

  A few hours later, they’d arrived. James and Samantha stepped out into the brilliant sunlight. Ducky and his company had already brought the prisoners on deck. James scanned the group. Not all appeared as calmly resigned to their fate as their captain.

  As the anchor dropped, the order was given to shackle the pirates and make ready for the transfer. James leaned close to Samantha. “I’m sorry it has to be this way. You’ll only wear them for a short time.” He held her gaze as he himself locked the irons around her wrists. He leaned closer and whispered, “Don’t lose faith. It will all be over soon.”

  He watched her throat work as the second band locked over her delicate wrist. No sooner had it snapped into place than a man within the crowd of prisoners shrieked. “I’ll kill ye, ye bloody bitch.” He broke away from the others, followed by another. They knocked one of the guards down, rendering him unconscious. The first man stole the guard’s pistol and headed straight for Samantha. Around them James’s men drew their weapons and screamed for the prisoners to halt and stand down.

  In the ensuing chaos, the man, Bump, wrenched away from his guard, one shackle swinging from his wrist. He rushed toward James and Samantha.

  James pulled Samantha behind him. Before he could draw his pistol, all hell erupted around them as Ducky’s men still screamed their commands for immediate order. “Halt.” “Everyone down!” “Stop that man!” “Halt or I’ll shoot.”

  The scene moved in slow motion after that. James stepped between Samantha and the charging prisoners, shielding her. Three men fired. The lead man with the stolen pistol was killed on the spot. Two other men dropped within the swirling smoke as shots ripped into them from behind. Bump was one of them. His body jerked and lurched forward with the first impact. He went down hard to the deck after the second shot hit him.

  Tupper flew toward her first mate with a high-pitched screech. The huge Scotsman in the red tartan caught her around the waist and knocked her aside as another series of shots rang out.

  When the smoke cleared, five men lay dead or wounded on the deck. Ducky’s men had quickly subdued the rest of the prisoners, pinning them to the decking. “Get them all below!” ordered James over the shouts and screams.

  Tupper wailed with an inhuman keening James had never heard before, crying out for Bump. Her guard struggled to keep hold of her. James pulled a shaking Samantha into his arms. She buried her face in James’s chest at the sight before her. “No. Not Bump...” She started to cry.

  Tupper screamed at the top of her lungs to be released, “Let me go, you bastards. “You bloody bastards. You killed him! You fucking killed him.” She fought them wildly. It took three men to haul her away. “You…fucking…killed him…”

  Samantha watched Tupper be dragged off deck. “Oh, God, let me go with her.”

  James wiped at Samantha’s tears. “Yes, go. This only delays us. Understand? I’ll see to these men.” He removed her shackles. “Go, stay below with Tupper. Our plan is still the same.”

  “Plan?” Samantha sniffed, looking lost.

  He held her face. “Yes, darling, don’t forget. I’ll be waiting at the gate.”

  All she could do was nod before James handed her over to one of his men as bodies were carried from the decks.

  * * * *

  Samantha rushed to Tupper’s side. She lay in a ball on the straw covering the floor of the cell, wailing. When Samantha tried to wrap her arm around her, Tupper shoved her away. She glared at her before wiping her nose on the back of her wrist.

  “They were fucking right. Butler and Allan. You’re bad luck. I never should have brought you aboard my damn ship.” She jumped to her feet and screamed at the ceiling. “Ahhhhhhh.”

  “You said that was a silly superstition. How is this my fault?” Samantha backed away. “Those men wanted to kill me.”

  “He loved you.” Tupper spit the words before covering her eyes and curling into herself once more. “Bump loved you. He was rushing to protect you.”

  Samantha gasped as if she’d been punched. She covered the sudden profound ache in her heart with her hand. “I-I didn’t know.”

  “Of course you didn’t know, you foolish girl. How was he supposed to tell you?”

  As Tupper reminded her, realization crashed over Sam. “Oh, God…he never heard them. When they ordered him to stop…”

  Tupper screwed her eyes shut and growled. “They shot a deaf man in the back.”

  Tears ran down Samantha’s face as her mind tried t
o make sense of it all. “They didn’t know. Everything happened so fast. They couldn’t have known.”

  “Makes no difference now, does it? Makes no difference at all.” Bitter anger infused Tupper’s misery. “One less rope to tie.” She moaned. “Or two…does MacTavish live? He pushed me out of the way and took the shot meant for me.”

  “They hurried us below. I couldn’t tell who was alive and who wasn’t.”

  “Tell them to come take me now. I don’t care anymore.” She sobbed with such anguish, it broke Sam’s heart. Tupper yelled to her guards, “Do it now. Hang me, shoot me, wrap your bastard fingers around my throat and squeeze the life from me. Just kill me now!”

  Samantha wanted to go to her, hold her, and somehow ease her grief. She felt helpless to do anything but bear witness to her suffering. “Tupper, I’m so sorry….”

  She turned anguished eyes toward her. “What do you care?”

  “I cared about Bump. He was a friend. For the short time I knew him, he was one of the few allies I had on the Scarlet Night. Him…and you.”

  “I told you before, I’m not your friend.” Tupper curled herself back into a corner. “Why are you here? Leave me alone.”

  Samantha wasn’t sure what to do. She brushed at her wet cheeks. Bump loved her? Had she mislead him somehow? Her mind reeled. Images past and present raced through her mind. She wanted to be back in James’s arms where things were safe. “I didn’t know MacTavish well, and I had no idea Bump had feelings for me. But he was a good man. Strong, smart. It was obvious how much he cared for you.”

  A sob wrenched out of Tupper’s throat. “I beg you…if you aren’t going to end my miserable life, then leave me the hell alone….”

  Chapter 25

  “What the hell happened?” demanded James.

  Ducky shook his head. “Three dead. They took one of my men. Two more wounded.”