Rajak spun, shielding Azara’s body with his own. She screamed as a knife flashed through the air and landed in Rajak’s back. She saw him stiffen, saw his eyes widen in shock. He staggered and sank to the floor, bearing her down with him.
“No,” she screamed.
There was a scuffle as men ran forward to subdue Boghos, but the wily man, for all his bulk, slipped away from them and made his way up the stairs to the upper deck. Kalari glanced at Rajak, who struggled upright.
“I’m all right,” he said. “Get the bastard.” He got to his feet and looked at Azara. “Pull the knife out.”
“Rajak, you must wait.”
“Pull out the blade, now!” he commanded.
She did as he ordered. No sooner had she slid it from his flesh than he bolted up the stairs after Kalari.
“Rajak,” Azara cried, but he didn’t turn back to acknowledge her.
She followed him to the upper deck just in time to see Kalari wrestling with Boghos. The big man was more agile and stronger than she would have imagined. He pulled another knife blade from his boot and threw it toward Kalari. It flashed, plunging into Kalari’s shoulder.
“Kalari,” Rajak called to his friend.
“I’m all right,” Kalari answered. “Don’t let him get away.”
Boghos leaped to the rail and clambered over. Rajak was there, grabbing hold of the man’s shirt, dragging him back on deck.
Boghos fought clumsily, swinging at Rajak with his meaty fists, but Rajak dodged most of the man’s attempts. Finally, Rajak drew back his fist and hit the man in his fat, round face. The man went down hard. Rajak threw himself onto the man. The crew drew into a circle, watching the struggle between Rajak and Boghos. Not one of them moved to help their prince, but their bodies were tense with the desire to do so.
Azara saw with suddenly clarity that their loyalties were with Rajak, but they expected him to be their commander as well as their ruler. He must, even wounded as he was, best Boghos on his own.
Boghos used his sheer size to knock Rajak to the deck then turning, he grabbed up a belaying pin and struck Rajak several times over the head and arms. Finally, he threw the belaying pin down and ran to the railing. Azara knew there must be small boats below that he could row back to shore, for he never hesitated.
But Rajak was not about to let that happen. He scrambled to his feet and launched himself at Boghos who was knocked free of his grip on the rope ladders and plunged into the ocean. Rajak was locked in a mortal hold and disappeared with the man below the water.
“Rajak!” Azara cried then covered her mouth with one hand to hold back any further cry. She mustn’t distract him.
The two men broke the water’s surface and fought, lashing out with their fists. She could hear their grunts and knew this was a fight to the death. Boghos lunged at Rajak, grabbed his head in a headlock and bore him down into the water. The surface of the ocean roiled as if two denizens of the deep were fighting. Finally, the ocean grew still, but neither of the men reappeared.
“Rajak,” she whispered, her eyes wide and searching.
They were gone. Surely, no man could go so long without drawing a breath. Suddenly, the water parted and Rajak shot up out of the depths like a seal, sleek and wet. He drew great gasping breaths and climbed wearily into the rowboat. White teeth flashed against tanned skin as he grinned triumphantly, and fell forward on his face, completely passed out. The men cheered and went down to row him back to shore.
Chapter Nine
Rajak was a terrible patient, Azara discovered. He lay in bed, petulant and demanding. He wanted to be up, but the doctor had ordered him to remain in bed for at least the next twenty-four hours. The knife wound in his back had missed any vital organs, coming dangerously close to his spine. Everyone tolerated his bad humor because they were glad he was alive. They seemed to feel the same way about Azara. They came at various times throughout the day just to peek in and see for themselves that all well.
“Get out,” Rajak finally shouted, throwing pillows at them. “Azara is alive. I am alive. We are well.” When the latest well-wishers had fled, he looked at Azara. “Lock the door,” he said imperiously. “And come to bed with me.”
“I cannot. You’re injured.”
“You can and you must,” he replied. “I am the prince and I decree I need you in my bed. You must obey.”
“Well, Your Highness.” Azara bowed solemnly. “If you so wish, I am but your obedient servant.” She drew back the covers and prepared to join him.
“Not like that,” he complained, gesturing with his hand. “Not all those clothes and doodads. I want just you.”
Azara smiled and slowly began to divest herself of her clothes. Carefully, she folded each piece of garment, taking great care that seams matched and the cloth lay flat. Rajak growled his impatience, but she wouldn’t be deterred. Each bracelet was slowly removed and lovingly returned into its proper jewelry box. Each ring drawn from her finger with excruciating care, along with each ornament in her hair and ears, and when she stood before him, naked, with a mischievous smile on her lips, he sprang up and yanked her onto the bed next to him. His mouth crushed down on hers, his tongue probed, his hands roamed at will. Her laughter was smothered by his fierce embraces, by his searing kisses and soon her chuckles turned to moans of pleasure and anticipation.
“I was so afraid for you,” she said, running her fingers through his coal-black hair, feeling the silken texture.
“I was afraid I’d lost you forever,” he murmured and she heard the catch in his throat. “Allah has given you back to me, and I’ll be forever grateful.”
“I felt the same when you plunged over the ship’s railing and went below the water for such a long time. I feared Allah had taken you from me.”
“We have much to be thankful for,” he said softly. “Now we must celebrate this renewed life we’ve been given.”
He bent his head and kissed her again, stroking her belly and breasts until her skin tingled and every muscle in her body pulsed with need for him. He lowered his head and nibbled one soft areola of her breasts. She captured his earlobe between her teeth. He spread her knees and kissed her inner thighs. His tongue slid over her sensitive clitoris and she jerked then widened her knees farther to give him greater excess.
She whimpered, lost in a world of sensuous responses. Her hands glided over his sleek buttocks and sought out the hard flesh of his cock and beyond to his balls, stroking and caressing until he moaned. When it seemed they might explode just from touching and kissing, Rajak rose above her.
“Oh, no, you’ll hurt yourself,” she protested.
But he shushed her with a kiss then, bringing her to the edge of the bed, he directed her to get on her knees. He entered her from behind, his cock sliding deep into her channel, his hands caressing her clitoris while he pounded against her. His penis found places not yet touched before, and she cooed in ecstasy, reaching through her legs to caress his balls.
She felt their culmination coming, felt the welling like a great wave sweeping over them both. He shoved her down and flipped her over. Her knees fell open for him, and he thrust inside her, rhythmic, strong and unwavering. Her climax caught her in mid-breath until she could no longer think. Her head spun and she feared she might die from lack of breath. But it didn’t matter. She was caught in the throes of something she couldn’t change.
She heard Rajak’s cries and moans, heard his gasps for air, felt his strong thrusts and knew as they went over the edge, they fell together. They drifted a long way before they needed to draw air, needed to move cramping muscles, needed to live after all.
They lay cuddled next to each other, her head on his shoulder, his arms around her, one leg drawn up and over her knees. Azara had never known such contentment.
“Tell me, why you have sent for my brother?” Rajak asked quietly.
All her contentment and happiness fled. She went completely still, unable to meet his gaze. When she finally raised her eyes to
him, they were filled with tears.
He waited for her to find a way to tell him.
“I thought you hated me and didn’t want me anymore after you saw Kamilah again,” she said tentatively.
“How can women be so foolish?” he asked idly.
“You never said you loved me.”
“I said I would take you as my wife. Wasn’t that proof enough of my feelings for you?”
“No, it wasn’t enough,” Azara said after a hesitation.
“Then I’m sorry. I love you as no other man has loved a woman since the beginning of time. You belong to me. You will be my wife and rule beside me once we’ve overthrown my brother. You will bear me many children and we shall have a long and prosperous life.”
“You make it sound so simple.”
“It is. Now tell me how you sent a message to my brother.”
“I’m not sure how Hestia did it, but she sent the message as soon as we arrived here. I didn’t instruct her to do so until a few days ago and she said it had been done—that Mohan would arrive very soon with his full navy.
“Then I realized what I’d done. I hadn’t thought that Mohan would take this opportunity to capture you. I thought only to have him take me from the island and return me to my father or to accept me into his harem as one of his wives as originally intended.”
Rajak stared at her with bright, dark eyes. “You think too much, Azara,” he said, “but I realize I am to blame as well. I didn’t explain to you about Kamilah, so you were left to draw your own conclusions. I’m sorry for that.”
“It doesn’t matter. She’s not important.”
“She never was,” he said.
“What will you do with me now that I’ve betrayed you?”
“When you went to Kamilah’s house, you went searching for me?” he asked, ignoring her question.
“Yes. I had to warn you that Mohan was on his way and could arrive any day.”
“You didn’t betray me on purpose,” he said finally. “And you tried to warn me. You wouldn’t have done that if you hadn’t loved me.”
“Of course, I love you,” she declared, sitting up to stare down into his eyes. “Could you have thought anything else?”
“It no longer matters,” he said finally. “Such misunderstandings are all behind us.”
“All but Mohan,” she said urgently. “Even now, you should be fleeing this island. Go someplace else, Rajak. I’ll go with you willingly. We’ll find some other island and make our lives there.”
“You would do that? Give up being one of the most powerful women in the Mogul realm just to live on an island where I would be safe?”
“Gladly,” she answered without hesitation. “Without you what do riches and power mean? I love you, Rajak. I think I’ve loved you since first I saw you walking alone in the garden at my father’s palace. Such a handsome prince, I thought. How could any woman’s heart not be touched by you?”
“And I have loved you since I peeked through the lattice to see you rising from your bath, like a goddess of rare beauty.”
“You spied on me?” Her eyes were wide with a lurking mischief.
He chuckled and gathered her into his arms. Once again, he confirmed with his every caress his love for her. When they lay tangled and satiated, they heard a commotion in the hall outside.
“I must disturb him,” a voice shouted. “It’s imperative that he know.”
Rajak got out of bed and stalked across the room to throw open the door.
“What is it, Kalari?” he asked. Neither man seemed distracted by his nudity.
“It is time. He has arrived,” Kalari said. His recovery from his knife wound had been swift.
“I’ll join you, at once,” Rajak said. “See that the ship is made ready.”
“It’s been ready, my prince,” Kalari said and abruptly hurried away.
Rajak crossed to a chest and pulled out sturdy seaman trousers, an open-necked shirt and leather boots.
“Where are you going?” Azara demanded.
“Mohan has arrived,” Rajak said. “We’ll meet him outside the port where we can maneuver our ships better.”
“You’re going to fight him?” Azara asked in amazement.
“Of course,” Rajak answered. “This is the moment we’ve been waiting for.”
“You were waiting for him? Then you knew he was coming? I didn’t betray you because you’d already sent a message to draw him here?”
Rajak grinned. “I will have to remember your intelligence as well as your beauty.”
“I am going with you,” Azara declared, throwing aside the bedcovers and swinging her legs out of bed.
“I’m afraid that’s not possible. It will be very dangerous and you might be killed.”
“Not while you’re alive. You will protect me.”
“Of course, but what if I am killed? Who will watch out for you then?”
“It won’t matter to me,” she said so softly and with such determination his argument was shattered before he could word it.
Without waiting for a response, she crossed to the same chest from which Rajak had drawn his clothes and, opening it, selected a pair of trousers and a shirt much like his. She used a silk sash to tie the trousers around her slender frame. When Rajak opened the door, she was ready and ran lightly down the stairs.
Horses were brought.
“You’ll have to stay behind,” Rajak said once more.
“I’m an excellent horseman,” she assured him and to prove her point, mounted effortlessly.
“I see there are many things I must learn about you,” he said.
“Yes, but you’ll have time,” she answered.
They kicked their mounts into a gallop and headed toward the port. No time was lost once they reached the ship. It was ready to sail. They left the port behind, unfurled their sails and turned westward. In the distance, they could see the sails of many ships. They rose from the horizon in a line, designed to keep anyone from slipping past. Rajak sailed toward them and Azara remembered a story she’d heard once from a Christian man who had visited her father’s court—the story of a boy named David who went up against a giant, Goliath. She prayed that on this day Rajak and his men would be like David and cast a stone that killed Goliath.
“Rajak, look!” Kalari called and pointed back the way they’d come. A whole flotilla of pirate boats lined up behind them.
“What does it mean?” Azara asked.
“It means we are no longer outnumbered,” Kalari answered. “There are men, pirates or naught, who would do anything to help Rajak succeed in regaining his throne.”
Azara began to hope again. The Black Swan approached the head ship, which sent a volley of shots across her bow. Rajak maneuvered his ship along side Mohan’s ship, tangling his bow in the tackle. The two ships were side by side now and Rajak’s crew used grappling hooks to pull them closer still. Rajak leaped over the railing, followed by his men. The sound of shouts and the clang of metal against metal filled the air, then abruptly died away.
Azara raced to the railing, straining to see if Rajak had been injured, but he stood midship, his sword held to the neck of a man who looked remarkably like him.
“So, we meet again, brother,” Mohan said.
“Under far more favorable circumstances than last we met,” Rajak said. “Then you were surrounded by your loyal guards. Now you are not.”
Mohan affected a laugh but it was far less convincing than it might have been. “Look again, Rajak. I am still surrounded by loyal men who will kill you if you harm me.”
“Look around you, Mohan. Have you not wondered why your ships made no effort to intervene when we boarded you? You have no loyal subjects who follow without questioning. Their loyalty belongs to me.”
Mohan jerked around, first one way then the other as he ascertained what Rajak had said was true.
“This is treason. I’ll have them all hanged,” he declared.
“You’ve hanged enough of your cou
ntrymen,” Rajak said. “You are the one who’ll be hanged for treason and murder.”
Mohan’s eyes were wide and filled with fear when he looked back at his brother. “They won’t hang me. My people love me.”
“Do they?” Rajak asked doubtfully. “They fear you, but they do not love you, nor do they feel loyalty for you. Kalari, lock him in the brig. Make sure he has two guards on him at all times. Make sure they’re men you trust. We’ll take him back to India to be tried.”
“No,” Mohan shrieked. His wild gaze fell on Azara and he dashed across the deck, fairly leaping across the rail to Rajak’s ship and wrapping his arms around her.
“Don’t come near me,” he ordered, “or I swear I will jump overboard and take her with me.”
“Halt,” Rajak cried out as his men moved toward his brother.
Mohan tightened his grip on Azara and laughed harshly, the sound sending shivers down her back. Kalari had halted as Rajak had ordered, but now he began to creep forward a step at a time.
“Halt,” Mohan cried. “You heard what Rajak said.” He was backing up toward the opposite rail, his gaze pinned on Kalari.
“Rajak, tell him to stop.” Mohan looked back at his brother, but Rajak was gone. Mohan looked from side to side, trying to get a glimpse of him. “I swear I’ll throw her overboard if you don’t release me and my ship.”
“No!” a voice said quietly from right behind them. Rajak took hold of Azara’s arm and swung her around him so his body acted as a shield for her. He gave his brother a pitying glance. “It’s over, Mohan.”
Mohan’s gaze darted frantically from his brother to Kalari. Desperately, he threw himself at one of the pirates and snatched a cutlass from his hands. Leaping on the distant rail, his hand entangled in snarl of tackle, and he turned to face them, defiant and unrepentant. Suddenly, a swell rocked the two ships, breaking the ropes that held them tied together. The Black Swan rolled deep in the wave’s trough. Mohan’s grip on the tackle loosened. He wavered there a split second before he toppled backwards in the up wash of the next wave. Just that quickly, he disappeared from sight.
The Pirate Prince (Pirate's Booty Series, Book Five) Page 9
