He’d come across the bonnet first and, realizing he’d found her trail, urged his mount to increase the pace. Following Sham’s hoof prints, it wasn’t long before he found Keelan’s jacket snagged on a bramble bush at the side of the trail.
He shook his head in wonder as he recalled the prim and proper-looking young lady he rode with this morning. Who was the real Keelan Grey? The composed young lady with a quick mind and tongue to match, or the boy-waif who enjoyed sparring in the early morning?
Perhaps she was neither.
Perhaps she was both.
A vision tiptoed into his mind… The set of her jaw and stark focus in the meadow as she blocked Daniel’s attack, and glee when she scored first… The corners of her mouth twitching upward then challenging him to a race… Her face flushed and eyes bright with excitement and victory.
There. That was the real Keelan. Did she truly like excitement and adventure, or did she only like it when she was in a safe environment? That stallion was not safe for her. What would she be like on the open ocean with its unpredictable moods and ruthless privateers?
Orion lifted his head and perked his ears as they neared the lake. Pausing at the edge of the trees, he studied the area. It was tranquil and secluded, but there were many places where a person might hide and not be seen.
Sham grazed in a small grassy area near the shore, but there was no sign of the impetuous young woman who’d challenged him to a gallop earlier. A slight ripple on the water attracted his attention and when he scanned the lake, he almost fell off his horse.
Floating offshore near a large boulder was the willowy form of Keelan Grey.
And she was completely naked.
Now, here was a sight to behold. So he did.
One hand casually held onto the boulder, the other fanned the water at her side. Her hair floated around her like a liquid flame. A sight like this certainly warranted a more leisurely perusal. Her face, pert nose, and kissable lips and the smooth creamy skin of her neck made his mouth go dry. Pink nipples peaked the swell of her breasts like rosebuds.
She kicked her legs to the surface, treating him to a pair of thighs and the triangle of auburn curls where they joined. He shook his head in both disbelief and admiration. Keelan Grey certainly was a woman who seemed as if she didn’t care if she conformed to polite society or not. He liked that about her.
He now faced a dilemma, however. How should he alert her of his presence without causing her acute embarrassment? Perhaps he could simply wait until she was finished with her dip in the lake. He glanced up at the sky. That was probably not a good idea. If she dallied much longer, they’d be pressed to beat the storm to Twin Pines.
Perhaps a little motivation would help. Reaching behind his saddle, he retrieved her bonnet and plopped it on his head. Throwing his leg over his saddle horn, he relaxed and decided to enjoy the view for a short while longer.
Apparently, Orion wasn’t as easily entertained, and after a moment or two, he stomped his foot in boredom. The noise startled Keelan, and she opened her eyes and turned her head toward him.
And shrieked.
Then sank.
It took him a second to realize… The chit can’t swim!
He jumped down and started to run, then paused to yank off a boot. He glanced up at the lake. Keelan’s head popped above the surface. He relaxed slightly; perhaps she could swim after all. Then she sucked in a breath and sank again.
Dammit.
Hopping on one foot, he managed to pull the other boot off. He would have liked to remove his shirt also, but didn’t dare take any more time. Plunging into the water, he reached for Keelan’s arm as she sank below the surface.
CHAPTER TEN
She was going to die.
She tried to resist the instinct to inhale while the lake water surrounded her and the last of the air in her lungs bubbled to the surface, but she could not. As the water entered her throat, a strong hand grasped her wrist and tugged her up. In near panic, she grabbed it and held on tightly. The water moved around her as she was pulled back to the shallower depths. Another warm arm clamped around the back of her waist, and she was hauled coughing and sputtering against a warmer, hard chest.
It took several moments before she could draw a complete breath of precious air without breaking into another fit of hacking and snorting. When she managed to open her eyes, she found a pair of concerned sapphire ones locked with her own. Droplets of water still streamed down his face, his dark hair glistening with an almost blue light. An amused smile gleamed brightly at her next.
Aghast, she tried to bring her arms up to cover her breasts, but Landon had her pressed firmly against his chest. She became painfully aware of her legs pressed against his muscular thighs. A familiar heat moved up her neck and over her cheeks. She was blushing.
Landon gently swept her wet ringlets aside. “Are you all right?”
“Y-yes…I…th…th…think so,” she stuttered. Her tongue seemed partly paralyzed. “C-Captain.”
“Please, now that our relationship has become more intimate, call me Landon.”
Her discomfiture deepened when she realized they now stood thigh-deep in the water and there was no way to tactfully extract herself from his embrace without causing further humiliation. In fact, the only way to keep him from leering at her naked body was to stay exactly where she stood. How long had he been there leering at her?
Keelan opened and closed her mouth in flustered silence. Now, her rash decision to flee the house without an escort seemed like a very foolish act, indeed. As much as she wished she could place the blame elsewhere, this dilemma was entirely her fault.
And why, why, why when in the presence of this man, did she always seem to appear boyish, impetuous, and clumsy? He must think her an addle-brained child.
Even more vexing was that his opinion even mattered to her.
Hart’s expression, while somewhat masked, did not completely hide the amusement creeping into the corners of his mouth. Steeped in embarrassment, her anger flared and she shot him an annoyed look.
“Captain Hart, what are you doing here?” Intentionally ignoring his request to be called by his given name, she did her best to stay focused on being angry with him, rather than her current predicament. It seemed easier and less horrifying.
“When my business with your uncle concluded, he suggested I take a ride through the plantation, since I had earlier mentioned my curiosity.” Landon’s other hand pressed more firmly against the small of her back.
“You should have made your presence known much sooner.” She couldn’t keep the sharp tone from her words.
“I am happy to report that the sights,” he continued as if she had not spoken, “are impressive indeed.”
“You—augh!” she sputtered, giving up the argument. “You are the most frustrating person I’ve ever met.”
“And you are the most intriguing person I’ve ever met. He gave her a mock frown. “I had hoped you would change your mind and wait for me to join you after I met with your uncle.”
“So, you searched for me?”
His chest rumbled as he chuckled. “It was not difficult, love. I merely followed the trail of departed garments.” His eyes sparkled with unbridled mirth. “Little was I aware how many garments had actually…departed.”
The heat of her embarrassment crept up her neck. In fact, it radiated between their bodies in a most distracting manner. “Sir, spying on a lady is indecent.”
“It was not my intention to spy. It was simply my unexpected good fortune to behold such beauty that my breath nearly bid my body farewell.” He closed his eyes and let out a dramatic sigh.
She scowled at his mocking tone. “You truly are a rake!”
He opened one eye a tiny bit to peer at her then leaned forward and brushed the tip of her ear with his whisper. “And you, my love, are beautiful beyond words.” He caressed her waist.
All she could think about was the movement of his hand on her waist. When his gaze pa
used on her lips, her heart fluttered and she could barely draw even the smallest breath. A strange tingling sensation spread below her stomach. Pushing him away would have been the appropriate thing to do, but her feet were strangely rooted.
His touch affected her in a way she was unable to describe. She became increasingly aware of the effect the press of her naked body had on him. She couldn’t take a full breath of air, and her heart beat so furiously she was sure he felt the shudder against his chest. She needed to put some distance between them, but how? She was much compromised in her current condition.
How could she possibly win this one? She expelled a resigned sigh. She could only plead her cause and hope for the best. “Were you a gentleman, sir, you would turn away and allow me to remedy my plight.”
He gave her a horrified look. “And risk having you fall victim to the raging waters of this lake? I forbid the thought!”
Keelan closed her eyes and groaned, “Must you further humiliate me, Captain Hart?”
“Please, call me Landon,” he repeated in a too-cheery voice.
She groaned louder this time and dropped her head in frustration. She couldn’t look into those crystalline eyes one more moment. Her forehead hit his chest with an unenthusiastic thump.
He chuckled lightly. “Fear not, fair Keelan, for I shall escort you to safety without additional injury to your person or your pride…much like I did in the garden a few days ago. You do recall the arrangement we agreed upon?”
Warning bells began to jingle in her head. “I recall our arrangement quite well, Captain Hart.” Although her knees were trembling, she forced herself to raise her head. She didn’t want him to notice how weak she really was, what little control she maintained. The color of his irises deepened to a sultry velvet blue.
His gaze never left her face as he took her fingers firmly in his hand and gently kissed the tips. Her breath caught in her throat, and she fought to calm the shivers that raced up her spine. With his lips, he kissed a path to the center of her palm. The best course of action for her would be to withdraw her hand. Use it to push against his chest so she could step away. If she moved into action now, she might be able to catch him off guard enough with a hard shove to cause him to fall backwards into the lake. It would give her a few precious seconds to dart behind the boulder near her clothes.
Her mind nudged her to do so, but the sensations Landon Hart stirred deep within her core were also commanding her attention. The kiss she owed him hung over the two of them, pulling them together like a silvery moon pulls at the tide.
If she paid her due now, she’d have no reason to cross paths with Captain Hart ever again. Surely, the dangerous temptations he had awakened in her would become silent without him so near. Surely, she could focus more intently on the course of her life if she put all this behind her. Surely…
It made sense to kiss the captain now and be done with it. She wouldn't have the strength to deny his advances again. She was even more terrified that she couldn’t deny them now.
She pulled her hand back, but in doing so, her fingers touched his mouth, drawing a sharp intake of breath from him. Curious, she slid her fingers over his lips and along his jaw, marveling at the roughness of his cheek compared to the soft warmth of his mouth. A sudden desire to plunge her fingers into his dark curls had her hand moving past his ear and behind his neck.
She lost the ability to think when she shifted her attention from his soft black curls to his face. Landon’s intense gaze made her feel like she was liquid in his arms. Her rational mind abandoned her. It no longer mattered where she was, or what problems disturbed her peace of mind. She pulled his head down and kissed him.
His lips moved across hers in a wet, hot heat and set fire to her belly, slashed her resolve, and robbed her of breath. Of its own will, her body arched against his. In response, his hand moved across the small of her back, then stroked down and grasped her buttock to press her against his hardness. A soft moan reverberated from deep within her chest. The heat of his caresses set flames to every nerve. Her knees grew weaker against the onslaught of his kiss, his touch. Should he decide to take further liberties, she would be quite helpless to argue. Because…she didn’t want him to stop.
She moved her lips against his and thrilled at the sensation of his tongue moving into her mouth, and back out again, probing, tasting…stirring a sensation deep within her. What was this? Was it passion or simple lust? Was there a difference?
Did it matter?
Too soon, his lips moved from her mouth to her throat, and traced a hot moist path to her ear. His whisper slid like silk across a marble floor. “Consider your debt very, very well paid, my sweet Keelan.”
Captain Hart took a shaky breath. She fought to refocus, as if she were slowly waking from a deep slumber. Past his shoulder, Orion stood grazing next to her bonnet and Hart’s discarded boots.
Discarded boots? She’d been drowning, and he paused long enough to take off his boots.
Her jaw dropped. It was a moment before she could speak. “How long did it take you to remove your boots before rescuing me?” She asked the words evenly but couldn’t keep herself from glaring at him.
He glanced over his shoulder at the shiny, black boots lying in the grass. “I had those specially made by an Italian cobbler. I find the left one a bit snug, but it’ll stretch in time.” He turned his attention back to her. “Why do you ask?”
The innocent tone he used didn’t fool her. He knew exactly what she’d meant. She spoke through clenched teeth, “I was under water drowning. Drowning thanks to you, I might add, yet you took the time to pull off your boots before coming after me?”
He leaned back a bit more, in feigned shock. “Those are very expensive boots! The water would have ruined them.” He gave her a wry grin. “I still saved your life, don’t forget that part.” He cocked his head and continued, “In some parts of the world that would mean you now owe me a life debt and will have to accompany me everywhere as my servant until you save my life in return.”
She snapped her jaw closed and shook her head, incredulous. “What makes you think when the time came along, I would bother to save your life in return? I imagine it would be much more satisfying to witness your demise.”
Landon froze for a second, then threw back his head and laughed. Seeing him so heartily amused made it difficult for her to stay stoic. His laugh was genuine and boisterous, with a weight similar to the baritone of his voice, but richer, stronger. It was the type of laugh that passed along a warm mirth and reckless glee like a sudden gust of wind flings bonnets on a blustery spring day.
He continued to chuckle as he tucked another wet ringlet behind her ear, before tracing a finger along her jawbone. “Ah, but sweet Keelan, I’d take the chance anyway because, for me, just having you by my side would be bliss.”
Before she could retort, he pulled her against his chest again and kissed her soundly on the mouth before turning and exiting the lake.
She did not trust herself to speak and instead stared in disbelief at the man who was walking toward his horse and precious boots. What was it about this infuriating man that made her stomach tingle and her heart hammer in her chest? And why in the world did her body ignore her brain when he was near?
Again, he’d mocked her and used her for his own arrogant amusement. Or was it she who had used him? She snorted in frustration and splashed from the lake, her gaze still on his retreating form.
The white silk shirt on his back was almost invisible from the effects of the water, and it stretched tightly across his broad shoulders. Landon’s torso was lean and tapered. His breeches clung to his buttocks and legs, leaving nothing to the imagination. Keelan marveled at the way his muscles rippled with the slightest movement. A blush flamed in her cheeks, matching the heat still smoldering low in her belly. She headed toward the boulder where she’d left her clothes, which were now dry and warm from the sun-baked rock.
She snatched the garments up and scampered behind the b
oulder to dress. Drawing a shaky breath, she fought to cease her trembling while her fingers fumbled with her clothes. What in the world had she been thinking? She pursed her lips in irritation. How many times must she remind herself of the danger Captain Hart presented to her virtue and reputation?
I don’t care what he calls himself; he’s a bloody pirate to the core!
Even her own body had betrayed her.
And now, she stood perched on a precarious edge. They were alone together, far away from a chaperone. She was dangerously close to putting her recently hatched plan in jeopardy. Here without Slaney or suitable escort, she deserved no better, she supposed.
She must get back to Twin Pines and away from Landon Hart, lest everything go to ruin.
And she had to get there before Uncle Jared returned home from the mill.
Keelan twisted her hair into a braid, unable to replace her locks in the manner Slaney had so skillfully put them earlier this morning. Should she be seen in such dishabille in the company of the captain, her reputation would certainly be spoiled. Papa and Uncle Jared would marry her off faster than she could swallow.
Reaching behind her back for the skirt stays, she cursed in exasperation. She’d been so very over-heated and sweaty. The cool lake had called to her and lured her in with its sparkling surface and refreshing water. What had she been thinking?
It should have occurred to her she’d have trouble dressing herself. Her cheeks flushed anew at the growing realization that she must ask for Landon Hart’s assistance. She squared her shoulders and clenched her fist around the stays. She’d been reckless.
Again.
When she emerged, Landon had already removed the hobbles from Sham’s legs and tightened the saddle straps. He led the horse to where she stood.
Hart's Desire (Pirates & Petticoats Book 1) Page 12
