“Your reputation worked to your advantage once again,” he replied. “The minister I applied to for aid thought you were a man and with the amount of money I offered him, he wasn’t inclined to dig for the truth. The marque is yours to take. As is the power it offers.”
She tore her eyes from the paper and looked up at him incredulously. “Why would you do this?”
“You burned yourself into my memory all those years ago. I’ve known for some time you were not an infatuation I’d grow out of. What I feel for you, Natalie, won’t diminish with time.” He stepped closer, daring to move within striking distance of her. “I knew you’d never have me if we were on separate sides but this way we don’t have to be.”
“That’s why you came looking for us,” she whispered, putting the pieces together.
“Your case was under review for quite a while but as soon as they created the writ I had to find you.” He smiled self-deprecatingly. “Of course, our encounter didn’t go quite as I’d planned. I hadn’t truly thought you’d defeat me.”
That won him a grin. “Well, when you tangle with pirates—”
“You get chained to beds,” he finished dryly.
Natalie shook her head in disbelief. “Why, Reece?”
His eyes softened as he took the final step, bring him close enough to touch. “Don’t you know?” he asked her quietly. “Can’t you see I love you?”
Her eyes flew to his. She opened her mouth but couldn’t find the words.
Reece reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist. He looked at her as he never had before, with absolute tenderness in his gaze.
“Are you truly so shocked?” he asked her softly.
“You’re a lord,” she tried.
“With no home,” he added.
“A privateer…”
“And so are you.”
“You can’t love me,” she whispered.
He shook his head at her stubbornness. “I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving you wrong.”
Her heart raced wildly in her chest. Could he mean it? She couldn’t believe it was possible; he was as hopelessly addicted to her as she was to him.
“I’m still the captain of this ship,” she told him, testing his response.
He grinned. “How about we take turns?”
“Do I look like a woman who compromises?”
“Aye,” he murmured, leaning forward to run his lips over hers. “But only with me.”
She melted into his arms, enjoying the tender kiss.
“Say it,” he commanded her, resting his forehead against hers. “Just once say the words I’ve been waiting to hear.”
Natalie bit her lip. She could charge into battle without flinching but his quiet demand sent adrenaline rushing through her veins.
“Please,” he breathed.
She pulled back slightly and met his blue gaze. It would be the bravest feat of her life, admitting those three simple words. But looking at Reece, she found they weren’t as hard to say as she’d feared. Licking her lips, she whispered, “I love you.” Once the words were out she could breathe again. She smiled as she added, “I think I have for a very long time.”
He swung her into his arms, crushing her to him in a fierce embrace. “I won’t ever let you stop,” he vowed.
“Put me down,” she laughed. “This is no way to treat the dreaded Captain Nate,” she smiled softly as she added, “privateer to the King’s Army.”
“My apologies,” he teased.
“And we need to go back to Tortuga and get my crew. Though amalgamating them might be tricky, too many men for this ship.”
“Then we’ll get another,” he murmured. “We’ll figure it out, Natalie. All of it. But first there’s a matter of utmost importance we need to discuss in our cabin.”
She grinned, running her fingers along his jaw. “The proper way to tie a knot?” she murmured.
His eyes headed. “Vixen.”
Natalie laughed as Reece clasped her hand and dragged her toward their cabin.
“James,” she called over her shoulder. “Take the helm. Set sail for Tortuga.”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” he called.
Reece pulled her into the cabin before closing the door behind them. Grabbing her waist, he twirled her up against the wall and lowered his mouth to hers. Natalie kissed him without restraint. She could barely wrap her mind around everything that had happened. Never in any of her wildest fantasies had she ever thought they’d have a future together. Then again, Reece always had taken delight in proving her wrong.
“Who’s in charge this time?” she taunted. She drew back enough to meet his lust-laden gaze.
“Does it matter?” he replied, his fingers flying down the buttons of her shirt.
Wordlessly she shook her head. No, not this time. This time they were equals. Pressing both hands to his chest, she pushed him backward toward the bed.
Clothing rained down around their feet as they stumbled across the cabin. Gripping the waist of her breeches, Reece sank to his knees, pulling the material with him. She stepped free from the clothes, one hand on his firm shoulder for support.
Reece looked up at her, his eyes hot. A smile curved Natalie’s lips as she brushed a dark lock of hair back from his brow.
“You’re perfect for me, too,” she murmured, using his earlier words.
The lust in his eyes wavered, mixed with an emotion infinitely more precious. Gently he laid his lips against her navel as his hands glided up her legs. Rising to his feet, he kissed her with a tenderness she’d never felt from him before. After all the battles she’d fought, all the years she’d spent fighting for her captaincy, it felt overwhelming to let go and trust that someone would catch her. But when Reece touched her as he was now, she could feel the depth of his love for her. And it nearly brought her to her knees.
“Bed,” she whispered against his mouth.
Without a word, he swung her into his arms and strode the remaining feet to the bed. With a grin, he tossed her onto the mattress. Natalie bounced, laughing. When Reece climbed onto the bed, she scrambled back to give him room.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, drinking in the sight of her.
She smiled at him as he climbed over her body.
With a grin he lowered his mouth to her smooth skin, drawing his tongue down her abdomen. He lapped at her navel before moving even lower. Natalie threw her head back as his mouth pressed between her legs, wringing helpless cries from her.
His tongue traced her wet folds, exploring her contours.
She ran her fingers through his hair, pulling him closer to her. Every touch drove her higher. Reece drew his tongue up to her clit and gently sucked the sensitive nub.
“Reece,” she gasped. “Christ.” She reached out, looking for something solid to hold on to. Her hands fisted in the sheets as every flick of his clever tongue sent waves of pleasure crashing over her.
“More,” she commanded. Her body twisted under him, arching in an attempt to get more. “Just a little more.”
With a last lick, he raised his head, grinning at her.
“No,” she cried, reaching out to pull him back. “You can’t leave me hanging here.”
“Never,” he replied as he crawled up her body.
Natalie bent her knees, cradling him between her thighs. “Come into me,” she begged, arching up to draw her lips across his.
“I love you,” he whispered.
Natalie froze, drawing back enough to see his eyes. He said the words without any hesitation. Utter certainty rang from the whispered pledge.
She cupped his face between her hands and kissed him. “I love you,” she murmured against his lips. “I always will.”
He thrust into her without another word.
Natalie arched backward against the sheets as a cry burst from her lips. She wrapped her arms around him, holding him close and he drove into her. His harsh breathing t
ickled her ear but she smiled when she heard the words of love he whispered as his body dove into hers.
“Reece,” she moaned, thrusting her pelvis up to meet his. They’d always been incredible together but this time felt different. There was no domination game here. No one was trying to best the other. Instead, they touched because they couldn’t bear to be parted. She felt the tenderness of his touches every time his fingers glided over her skin. She drew her lips down his neck and marveled in the knowledge he was here, in her bed, for good.
Their rhythm increased as Natalie felt the building urgency within her. She pumped her hips against his, needing to move faster.
“Please, Reece,” she begged him. “I’m so close.”
“Come with me, darling,” he groaned, thrusting into her.
Natalie leaned up and breathed into his ear, “I love you.”
The words were a catalyst. Reece drove into her with a roar as her orgasm crashed down on her.
Gripping him tightly, she came apart in his arms. Pleasure raced through every cell in her body. She stared sightlessly up at the cabin’s ceiling, unable to concentrate on anything but the explosive pleasure unleashed on her. Her own panting filled her ears, echoed by his. Sensations swirled within her, driving the climax on.
When her orgasm finally abated all she could do was lie prone beneath Reece. Completely sated, she couldn’t imagine ever moving again.
“God, what would I do without you?” he asked, sliding to her side.
She smiled at his harsh words, knowing exactly how he felt.
“You’ll never have to find out,” she promised. She rolled her head to see him lying beside her, his eyes bright with love. Natalie reached out and pressed her hand to his chest right above his hammering heart.
“We’ll make this work,” Reece promised, his hand closing over hers.
Natalie raised her gaze to his, arching a brow at his words. “Of course we will,” she replied with a grin. “Didn’t I ever tell you?”
“Tell me what?” His voice sounded distracted as her fingers trailed down his chest.
Natalie leaned closer until her lips brushed his ear. He shivered when her teeth grazed his sensitive earlobe. “Pirates take what they want,” she whispered. “And I’ve never wanted anything more than I want you.”
With a groan, he gripped her arms and pulled her over him. As his lips closed over hers, Natalie could help thinking letters of marque or no, sometimes it was good to be a pirate.
The End
Publisher’s Note
Please help this author's career by posting an honest review wherever you purchased this book.
About Victoria Davies
Victoria Davies’ passion for writing started young. A childhood hobby of scribbling half-formed stories into sparkly diaries developed into a lifelong love of fiction. Living in her native Toronto, Canada, she spends her time dreaming up high seas adventures and heated romances.
To learn more about Victoria or check out her upcoming releases, please visit www.victoriadavies.ca or send her an email at [email protected]
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