Despite the stinging pain Anne smiled when she looked down at the golden tangle of Jamie’s head as he bent over her foot. His expression was so serious, and she doubted a surgeon could do a better job of bandaging.
“That should keep the sand out, at least,” he said, glancing up. “What’s so amusing?”
“You.” Anne leaned back on her arms.
“Me?”
“Yes.” She was grinning from ear to ear now. “Despite your gold ear loop, you don’t look very much like a pirate now.”
His brow arched. “No?”
“No,” Anne said emphatically.
“What, pray tell, do I look like then?”
Anne thought for a moment, finally shrugging her hair off her shoulders. “A nice man, I suppose.”
“Nice?” He spat out the word like it was insulting.
Anne, decided to taunt him further. “Yes, and sweet, caring... kind.” His eyes widened with each word, until he was staring at her in disbelief.
“Hasn’t anyone ever called you those things before?” When he shook his head, Anne simply laughed. “Well, they obviously don’t know you as I do.”
The expression on his face changed. “Few people know me as well as ye, Annie,” he said as his gaze raked her body. “But then no one knows ye like I do either.”
The gleam in his eyes personified buccaneers but his touch was gentle as he lowered Anne onto the dried seaweed. His kisses were light, butterfly wings that flitted from her cheek to her ear then lower. His tongue flicked out, dampening the skin at the base of her throat, and Anne moaned.
But though she burned for him, he took his time, kissing her fingers and toes, mindful of the bandaged cut as he softly pressed his mouth there.
By the time he entered her, Anne was wet and aching. She clung to his shoulders, reveling in the slow, steady rhythm of his thrusts. Feeling the pleasure build until she threw back her head, crying out as he brought her to a consuming release.
“’Tis best if ye get some rest now,” he whispered into her damp hair.
“But I’m not tired in the least.” Anne’s yawn belied her words. “Well, perhaps just a little.” It seemed decadent to sleep in the daytime, to stretch and shut her eyes and feel him beside her. But it felt so wonderful.
Arnie wasn’t sure how long she slept, but she awoke to a pounding sound that made her sit up and look around. “What are you doing?”
Jamie paused, the rock he used to knock the boards off the rowboat stilled in midair. “I’m making us a proper shelter,” was all he said before going back to work.
“A proper I...?” Anne pushed to her feet, wincing a bit when she put weight on her cut. “We have a proper shelter.” She motioned over her shoulder toward the thatched roof held up by oars. She may have complained about it before, but he was right. It had served them perfectly well for a fortnight. That’s why his sudden contention that it wouldn’t do seemed all the more strange.
He stopped what he was doing to backhand sweat off his brow, then looked over and gave Anne a wry smile. “You were right. It isn’t much of a shelter.”
Had she said that? Of course she had. But that was before... Before what, she wasn’t sure. Except that now she knew better. She glanced back at the cozy, drooping roof, and the pallet underneath, then back at Jamie. “It seems perfectly fine to me.”
He shook his head, and Anne noticed he’d tied his hair back with a bit of yarn from her hat. She noticed something else, too. “You’ve shaved.” She reached up to touch his cheek. The skin there was fairer than on the rest of him. It also sported a nick or two. “How...?”
He shrugged again and his face turned crimson. “The beard was getting straggly,” he mumbled before bending back to his task of dismantling the boat.
“But I still don’t understand how.” Anne’s eyes opened wide. “The knife? You shaved with the knife?”
“I told ye, it was getting straggly. Now haven’t we something better to talk about?”
“Yes.” Anne settled on the sand, pulling his shirt down over her drawn-up knees. “Perhaps you can tell me why you’re doing all this.”
“All what?” He pried a board loose and carefully stacked it with the others. Then he worked the peg free and placed it in his pocket.
Anne simply folded her arms and waited until he finished. When he looked up she arched a brow in question.
“It came to me today,” he said, carefully choosing his words. “How vulnerable we are... ye are.” He seemed embarrassed as he squatted in front of her. “There’s not much I can do....” He shrugged. “But I thought ye might feel more secure with walls.”
“Is all this because of what happened today?” Anne bit her lip. “That’s it, isn’t it?” She hurried on without waiting for his reply. “It was my fault, my foolishness that the shark attacked me.” Anne grabbed his hands.
“I want to protect ye.”
She bent her head, resting her forehead against his, love for him burning in her heart. “I don’t need a fanciful house.” All she needed was his strong arms, Anne thought, and almost said. But his next words stopped her. And made her sit back.
“’Tis another consideration. One I hadn’t thought of till today, though Lord knows why not.”
“What is it?” Anne couldn’t imagine what could make him so serious.
“There could be a child,” he said simply and Anne’s lashes drifted down, blocking her gaze from his. “Is there...?”Jamie swallowed. “Are ye enceinte already?”
“No.” Her eyes shot open to meet his, then lowered again. “At least not that I’m aware.” With one finger she drew circles in the sand. She may have been an innocent before the pirate captain, but she did know how babies were made. Anne took a deep breath. “What do you suggest we do?”
His shrug reminded her of the pirate she knew.
Anne tried to think of a solution to this problem. Only one came to mind. “Should we...? Do you wish to stop...?”
“Nay.” He lowered his voice. “Do ye?”
Anne had to smile at his response. First vehement denial, then consideration of her feelings. She shook her head slowly. “I doubt we could, even if we thought it best.”
“And do ye think it best?”
He seemed to her at that moment very vulnerable. Not like the arrogant pirate captain at all. Anne reached out, touching the cheek he’d taken pains to shave. “I can’t imagine not sleeping in your arms. Or kissing you. Or feeling your strength inside me.” Or loving you, Anne thought, but didn’t say. She couldn’t imagine what his reaction to a declaration like that might be.
He turned into her hand, pressing his lips to her palm. “I’m of the same mind.” He carefully lowered her hand, linking his fingers with hers.
So she helped him make improvements to their island. It amazed Anne how their roles had changed. Now it was Jamie who hollowed out a log to fill with rainwater. Who experimented with and discarded a drying rack to smoke fish. The gulls didn’t seem to realize he hadn’t built the contraption for their convenience.
“We have plenty of fish in the sea,” Anne pointed out, nearly repeating the words he said to her when they first arrived on the island.
He merely nodded his agreement.
The house building proceeded slowly. But he managed to work on it a bit each day. Actually after discussing the design they decided walls were not a good idea. They impeded the cooling trade winds. But he did expand the roof, making the columns holding it up sturdier.
Anne’s monthly menses came and went, opening again the question of abstinence. They were dealing with a clean slate, so to speak, and they both knew it. She wasn’t with child. Should they risk conception?
At first neither spoke of the problem. But Anne noticed days passed and still he made no move to touch her beyond holding her as they slept. That he still desired her was evident. They could not live in such close proximity, and wear such little clothing without Anne noticing his obvious state of arousal.
Bu
t he just turned away and either plunged into the water or worked at improving their shelter.
On the third day Anne stripped off his shirt and waded into the surf after him. Her foot was nearly healed, and she’d been back in the water before. But only to bathe close to shore. Now she dove smoothly beneath the water and surfaced near him. He looked around, surprise stamping his features. Desire darkened his eyes until they were the color of the sea beyond the rocks.
“You promised to take me to see Lucy,” she said. The water skimmed over the swell of her breasts and Anne smiled as his gaze held there.
“Are ye certain you’re up to it?” When he’d offered to take her into the deeper water, Anne hesitated, not sure she wished to risk another encounter with a shark.
But now she nodded, and jackknifed her body, sliding cleanly through the clear, warm water. He did the same, pulling alongside her and touching her shoulder. When she looked toward him, he motioned for her to follow.
Anne stayed below until she thought her lungs might explode, then surged to the surface to gulp air. He emerged almost immediately.
“Don’t wait until ye can’t stand it to breathe.”
“But...” Anne gasped. “But you were still down there, too.”
“I’m more used to it than ye are.” He kicked forward, brushing hair from her temple. “Signal when ye need to come up.”
After that they took their time, floating, and weaving through the water. Jamie pointed out a rainbow array of fish to her in colors so bright and beautiful they reminded her of the flowers in her parents’ garden back in England.
Being with him like this almost made Anne forget her fear, though she did jerk around, her heart pounding, when the dolphin approached. But Lucy only nudged Anne gently with her nose, then swam to Jamie and did the same thing. Then she whistled excitedly and dove to the bottom, turning and shooting toward the surface to leap through the air.
“I think she’s happy to see you,” Anne told a grinning Jamie.
“It does seem that way, doesn’t it?” Jamie gave her a self-conscious smile. “Ye know, I’ve often thought...” He shook his head and chuckled. “Never mind.”
“No, tell me.” Anne floated closer.
“You’ll think I’m daft, but I wonder if she’s not trying to talk to me.”
Anne only stared at him a moment while her hands made lazy circles in the water. When she spoke her expression was serious. “I would have thought you mad to suggest such a thing. But that was before.” She grinned. “I know Lucy attacked the shark so I could get away. And I believe she led us to this island. So...” Anne spread the word out. “Is it that unbelievable that she tries to communicate with you?” She moved closer to him. “I know that would be my goal were I a dolphin.”
With a deliberate swish of her body Anne let her breast skim his chest. The contact of naked, water-slick skin made them both moan.
“Now, Annie, what are ye doing?”
“I should think that obvious.” With one swirling motion she brought her foot up his inner thigh.
The dolphin floated by, undulating its body side to side, but Jamie paid it no heed until a flipper slapped against his arm.
“I believe she wishes to play,” Anne said, then sank beneath the water with a sweep of her arms. To her amazement Lucy seemed to do the same thing. When Anne spun around, so did the dolphin. She even shot to the surface when Anne did.
But though she enjoyed her romp with the dolphin, Anne kept her eyes on Jamie. And he certainly did the same with her. She wasn’t surprised when he soon suggested they return to the beach.
They glided through the water side by side, rarely touching, but their movements becoming more and more sensual. The sea seemed to flow around them in a warm caress of anticipation.
When they reached the shallows his arms wrapped around her, and he rolled her over in the gentle swells. “Ye know this is madness, don’t ye?” His lips forged a burning trail down her neck before he stood, dragging her up in his arms.
He sank to his knees in front of her on the beach, cupping her bottom, shaping her wet legs. His mouth was on level with her tight delta of curls and Anne moved closer, crying out when his tongue found the heart of her sexuality.
“Jamie.” She dug her fingers through his thick wet hair, pulling him deeper into the web of her love. Her thighs spread and she arched her head back, her eyes mere slits as drugging pleasure swept through her.
Anne writhed, squirming and clutching his head as the dam burst and the waves of erotic shudders spiraled through her body. She thrust forward, crying out, her knees going weak as he held her suspended above reason.
He pulled away, jerking at the ties on his breeches. Released, his staff swelled forward as he grabbed her hips. But though her body was still flushed and wet with desire, she held herself rigid.
“Annie.” Jamie pushed to his feet when he saw her tense face. “What’s wrong?”
She didn’t answer, simply pointed to the horizon beyond the rocks.
Chapter Sixteen
“’Tis the Lost Cause,” Jamie muttered before grabbing Anne’s hand. The sensual fog evaporated and reflexes took over. He became the pirate he was, his mind focused on survival. With barely a thought he scooped up the knife, motioning for Anne to gather her clothing before leading them both into the thick underbrush.
He never told Anne, he hadn’t wanted to worry her, but he planned for this eventuality. The hiding place he’d found was deep within the tangle of windblown trees. Jamie had further camouflaged the spot with palm fronds and brush. Inside he stored coconut shells full of water and the dried fish he managed to save from the squawking gulls.
Jamie ushered Anne in, following her and pulling the blind across the entrance. Inside it was crowded, with barely room for them both to sit on the sandy floor. The surrounding foliage stifled the air, filtering it a dusky green.
“Do... do you think they saw us?” Anne tried to control her breathing, but her heart pounded so fast it was near impossible.
The pirate didn’t answer at first just motioned for her to get dressed. “The breeches and everything,” he said.
It was a struggle but Anne finally managed to don her boy garb. “The hat is gone,” She whispered, and he reached out to touch her hair.
“It doesn’t matter, Annie.”
Which was tantamount to admitting the truth. Discovery would mean death.
Which was why Anne was so surprised later when the captain stated he was leaving their nest.
“Why?” Anne clamped his arm, trying to hold him. “They might not find us here.”
“D’Porteau and Stymie are not fools. He’ll see what’s left of the boat. Our fire is still warm. He’ll know we’re here.” Jamie wrapped his arm about her, pulling her close and burying his face in her damp hair.
For long moments he said nothing, but Anne could feel his shoulders tremble.
“Annie,” he whispered at last, his breath fluttering the curls near her ear. “Stay here for a day and night... and till you’d normally wake the next day. Then listen very carefully. If ye haven’t heard anything in all that time ye can come out. But be careful.” He stilled her shaking head with a hand cupped to her cheek. “Aye, Annie. Do as I say. There be food and water enough for ye and—”
“What about you?” Anne’s question ended on a sob.
“I’ll be about.” He paused a moment as they both listened to the far-off voices. The pirates were on the island. “There may be only a few who came ashore. I plan to catch them off guard one at a time. “If I can capture a musket or two—”
“And what if it’s you who is captured?” She couldn’t disguise the panic in her tone.
“I’ll be—”
“I won’t let you go.” Anne’s fingers tightened on his warm skin. “I won’t.”
“Don’t, Annie.” He shifted, bringing his mouth to hers, skimming her lips before touching his forehead to hers. “Don’t make this harder than already ’tis.”
“But I don’t understand.” Tears were streaming down her face faster than he could brush away with his thumb.
“We both knew this could happen.” Jamie swallowed. “This... our island, was just a fantasy.”
“It doesn’t have to be that way. Stay with me,” Anne begged, but he was already pulling away. “Jam—” His mouth, hard and unrelenting, cut off the rest of his name. His kiss was fierce and savage. Then he jerked away, wriggling through a small hole in the underbrush.
It wasn’t until he was gone that Anne noticed the knife. He’d forgotten the knife. She grabbed up the handle. How could he hope to fight any of the pirates without a weapon? And then the awful truth dawned on her. He wasn’t planning to capture anyone. He was leading them away from her hiding place. And he didn’t forget the knife. He left it to her on purpose.
Anne drew up her knees, burying her face in the rough fabric of her breeches as sobs wracked her body.
~ ~ ~
Jamie hid behind the thicket of stunted trees, listening to the men approach. He guessed there to be three, though he couldn’t tell for certain. None of them spoke, but they did nothing to muffle their footsteps, which meant they didn’t suspect that he intended to leap out at them.
He hadn’t lied to Anne... not completely. He did intend to try and capture some weapons. To try and defend their island. But if worse came to worst, he would lead them away from her.
They drew nearer, and sweat rolled down to the hollow of Jamie’s back. His muscles tensed. When they were directly in front of him Jamie gave a yell and pounced. He had the blackamoor pinned to the sandy ground before Jamie noticed who it was.
“Cap’n?”
“Keena?” Jamie jerked his head around to where Deacon stood, his pistol cocked. “What in the hell are ye doing here? Where’s d’Porteau? Stymie?” After climbing off his chief gunner, Jamie offered his hand.
“We left them in Kingston,” Keena said, brushing off his jacket. “Stymie made the mistake of leaving the Lost Cause unguarded while he went into town.”
My Seaswept Heart Page 23
