by Merry Farmer
But Callum was not a privateer. He plundered for nobody but himself and his men. Scotland owed nothing to the bloody Queen of England who suppressed the royal house of Stewart for their own greed. Nay. Callum may be noble born, the Earl of Argyll, but he was no gentleman, nor did he pretend to be… unlike a certain man in this room who hid his secrets well from the likes of Sir Thomas Berry.
Coming to Cornwall had been unpleasant, yet necessary. Few people knew of Thomas Berry’s sympathies to the Stewarts and while he would never openly betray his queen, who allowed him to plunder her enemies as he saw fit, he had recently come across some stolen Stewart family jewels and wished to keep them in the hands of the Scottish monarchs, even if oppressed. Callum may be a bloody pirate, but he was loyal to his people and vowed to retrieve the jewels and see them safely back to his land. Aye, he had known he would be dining with Thomas’s daughter and her fiancé, but he had not known she was betrothed to the grandest bastard in all the world, nor had he been prepared for the likes of Ruby Berry.
Named after his favorite gemstone, she was a treasure all her own. It was not simply her alabaster breasts or how well they would fill his palms, nor the way she nervously bit on her plush pink lips as she stared at him from across the table, with eyes the same color blue as the Mediterranean sky during the summer months. There was more to the lass than a bonnie face. She had intelligence, wit, ambition, a will to do more in this life than simply exist and sit in a chair with her needlework. She had goals, and though it went against the grain to stifle such desires, it was not his place to encourage them. And one day, that glimmer he had seen in her eyes would get her into more trouble than she could handle.
“Where is Ruby?” Penelope asked, finally looking up from her needlework.
“Likely, she has retired early,” her father said as he examined the cards in his hand.
“Just as well,” William sighed, placing a card down on the table. “She would only have protested when we informed her of the news.”
Callum shifted his stance and popped his knuckles, finally speaking for the first time since entering the room. “What news?”
“None of your concern, pirate.” William scoffed incredulously and continued to stare at his cards. Callum squinted his eyes and popped his knuckles again, remembering the knife stuffed in his boot and itching to slice open the man’s throat with it.
“Ruby and William are set to marry in a sennight. Unfortunately, he has business in London and must sail there at dawn, taking Ruby with him,” Thomas explained.
“She will not be pleased,” Penelope added. “Yet as the Vice Admiral’s wife, she will learn that she goes where she is needed.”
He could not understand why, but something inside him clenched and his anger threatened to explode. Why did he feel protective of a woman he had only known for a matter of hours? Perhaps it was because she had spirit and a fire in her veins that he felt simmering beneath the surface. Perhaps he simply saw a lot of himself in her, the need for more than a stuffy life inside a manor home.
Looking at William with his upturned nose, and the scowl he shot across the room from time to time, only heightened Callum’s scorn. The man was scum, and after what he had done to Callum’s family in the past, he deserved little more than death. How was a treasure such as Ruby meant to spend her life with the bastard?
It was only his respect for Sir Thomas Berry that had prevented Callum from killing William already. Callum took a deep breath and watched the men play cards before a low hissing sound caught his ear. At first it sounded like steam escaping a pot, but the sound was coming from behind the door frame. Nodding to his hosts, Callum discreetly excused himself to follow the sound, not really having much else to do with himself aside from thinking far more about Ruby than was healthy.
Once around the corner and engulfed by the darkness, Callum saw a flickering light turn a corner of the corridor ahead. Squinting, he decided to follow, knowing that whatever it was, it was far more interesting than the two men playing cards and the older woman stitching a canvas. He was used to merry-making with his men, drinking ale, and chasing skirts. Formal parties other than his own had always bored him to tears. But dark hallways and flickering lights always held the promise of a secret.
Rounding the corner, Callum stopped abruptly when he bumped into a wee golden-haired lass wearing naught more than a shift that looked as transparent as gossamer in the light of the candle she held in one hand. Her other hand reached up to her plump lips, signaling him to be quiet before she turned and clearly expected him to follow.
Devil’s bollocks. He had seen more of the lass than he had ever expected and now, all he could imagine was removing her finely made shift, tossing it to the floor, and showing her how a pirate made love to a woman. Following in her wake, Callum watched the curve of her backside as she walked barefooted down yet another corridor of this mansion she had been so coddled in for her entire twenty years of life. He was only five and twenty yet had seen more of the world than most men would see in a full lifetime, and the thought of giving her an opportunity to experience it, as well, made him smirk into the darkness while she turned toward a room, opening the door.
As soon as he followed her in, Ruby shut the door behind him, and he turned to face her, lowering his brow. “’Tis dangerous to lure pirates down dark corridors, lass.”
Raising a brow, Ruby held the candle in front of her body and met his gaze. “I do not fear you. I know you do not wish to harm me.”
“Och, lass. Nay, that is not what I wish to do with ye.”
“Oh? Oh!” she squeaked when she caught on to his meaning, but she did not back up, nor shrink in fear. “That is unexpected.”
“Is it? Ye are a bonnie lass. Ye ken that. Ye must.” Callum stared at her and swore he saw a blush creeping across her cheeks, but perhaps it was a trick of the light.
“I most certainly do not,” she huffed.
“No man has ever told ye that ye are bonnie?” he asked, stepping closer and pushing a blonde ringlet behind her ear. “No man has ever kissed ye? Or… touched ye?” he asked slowly. “Ye ken I willnae judge ye. I am called the Scourge of the Seas, not the saint.”
Again, she did not pull back. When she licked her lips, he wanted to groan, to lean in and taste her. “I have shared a few kisses. Not more,” she said proudly and he smiled at her courage.
“Have ye kissed the Vice Admiral?” Callum was intrigued. She was full of life. A repressed spirit clearly straining to be released, and William seemed to be the wet cloth waiting to snuff out her flame. He did not deserve Ruby, and now that Thomas Berry had been seen feasting with a Scottish pirate, he was in danger.
All she did was nod and frown, and that was all he needed to see to know she had not wanted, nor enjoyed, it. “Why did ye lure me into this room, Ruby?” He liked the sound of her name on his lips, but he would prefer the sound of her moans while she writhed against his face. That visual made him clench his jaw and fight back urges he knew he had to control.
“I overheard the discussion in the hall,” she replied flatly. “I know they plan to awaken me on the morrow with packed bags so they can toss me aboard his ship and send me away to my new life. I am seething with rage,” she ground out. “I do not deserve such a fate!”
“Now that, we can agree on, lass.”
“You do?” she asked, surprise in her tone.
“Aye. But, what is it ye want from me, lass? Because I dinnae believe ye want from me what I want from ye.”
“I… I…” She stuttered and froze, a definite blush now creeping over her cheeks. “I do not know, exactly.”
Rubbing his lips together, he stared at the woman for a moment, considering his options. If she were not a maiden, he would be tempted to persuade her to remove her shift and allow him to taste the sweet rose buds he had seen through the fabric only moments earlier. But, she was innocent and he did not chase maidens, especially betrothed ones.
“Allow me to make ye a proposal,�
�� he said slowly, raising a brow and was amused by the slight indignation that contorted her face. Laughing loudly, he felt her hand cover his mouth as she frowned.
“Do be quiet. If we are caught, I am ruined.”
“Would that be so bad? Then ye would be forced to marry me. Even I ken I am better than that cold English fish.”
“You… would marry me?” she asked and slowly put the candlestick down on a table against the wall.
Snorting, Callum put his hands up in the air and took a step back. “Och, nay. Nay, I am not a man ye would want fer a husband, lass. Even if ye were ruined, I would sail away before dawn, before being forced to marry.” Her face fell and she put her hands on her hips, clearly insulted by his honestly. “Listen, lass. It isnae ye. I have never wished to marry and shall never do so.”
“Then what is it you propose, pirate? And do know I will scream if you attempt anything.”
“I do believe ye are the one who brought me here, lass. But, I offer ye this: Yer fiancé’s ship leaves at dawn whether ye are on it or nay.”
“What are you saying?” she asked, listening intently and appearing intrigued.
“I am merely stating a fact. If by some chance ye are missing or unable to be found by dawn, he will be forced to sail without ye. His queen willnae wait.”
“Are you saying you will kidnap me?”
“Ye really do think I am a fool, dinnae ye?” When she didn’t answer, he shook his head and stepped closer to her so he could speak softly in case any staff should wander into the room. “I dinnae ken where ye would hide. But as far as they ken, ye dinnae ken ye must leave at dawn, aye? Perhaps ye left for a long ride? His ship will sail off and ye will arrive home, dismayed to discover that yer love has sailed away without ye.”
“He is not my love,” she protested and moved further into the room and away from the flame that had allowed him to see her features. Though they were mostly in the shadows, he could still see her slight silhouette.
“I sense the wildness in ye, lass. I ken ye want to live, to have an adventure. I can relate to that. I dinnae ken why I feel compelled to help ye, but I will. It is yer choice to make and the first of many if ye allow me to take ye to London for yer wedding.”
Her face soured, and she plopped on a couch he had not even known was there in the darkness. Slowly lowering himself, he sat beside her and whispered in her ear. “I cannae change yer fate. I cannae stop yer wedding. But I can stay back on the morrow and be ready to escort ye to London. Once aboard my ship, I will allow ye to have free will until we reach our destination. I warn ye. ‘Tis a pirate ship and the men are a wild lot. Ye will need to stay close to me, under my protection, but if ye take my offer—”
Her lips crashed down on his and he froze, unmoving, unsure if he should pull away or deepen it. Against his instincts and his own desires, Callum pulled away and looked at Ruby, who frowned. “Why did ye do that?”
“I was making my first decision,” she whispered, leaning in once more.
Placing his hands on either side of her face, he held her still, surprised how soft and smooth her creamy skin felt against his warm, calloused hands. “We arenae aboard the ship yet,” he reminded her, arching a brow and searching her face. By the devil’s bollocks, she was a temping lass. He considered that he perhaps had made a mistake in offering to give her an adventure. He was not so certain he would turn away a toss in the sheets if she begged for it. The thought of Ruby on her knees begging him to undress her made him go hard as a rod, and he cursed himself for the lecher he was.
“I want to kiss you, Callum. Please? I wish to see how it feels. Kissing William felt like kissing a distant cousin. Not entirely inappropriate but disgusting all the same. Are kisses supposed to feel that way?” she asked, cocking her head. “I have kissed the stable lad a few times and it was better for certain, but still, nothing as exciting as I had expected.”
Callum observed this woman before him, so innocent yet clearly built for sin. And he considered it a sin that those lips should be used for mediocre kisses. The temptation was strong. Too strong to resist. She smelled sweet and floral and the image of her nipples showing through her shift consumed him.
Leaning in, he took her lips with his, starting out slow and languid, savoring the moment, knowing it would be the only time he allowed such a thing to occur between them. She wanted to see if it felt like kissing a cousin? He would make certain she knew the difference. Her soft lips parted and she hesitated, unsure how far he was going to take this kiss. He was unsure, as well. Should he stop before he took things too far? He was not a man used to stopping after a wee kiss.
But the small groan that escaped her sweet lips was the beginning of the end. His undoing. Her innocence was not a trait he was used to in a woman, and yet, he found it drove him wild. Pulling her closer, Callum wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her onto his lap. She squeaked but did not break contact as his tongue slipped between her lips, stroking hers at first lightly, teasingly, before increasing the pressure. Her hands gripped his shoulders and dug into his flesh, her breasts brushing against his chest.
He wanted her. He wanted all of her. So badly that he was certain she could feel the evidence of his need pressing against her belly but she did not seem to mind, not even after he lost control of his better senses and pulled her down against him, feeling her through the thin shift. Ruby squirmed and he groaned, and he was ready to pull his breeches down to his thighs, pull her shift up to her waist, and sheath himself in her wet heat. Take her maidenhead.
That thought finally broke through to what little sense he had left in his lust-crazed mind. She was a maiden, betrothed to a vice admiral of the queen who would make merry and drink fine French wine while his neck dangled from a noose before her. William would potentially beat her if he found out she was no maiden.
Pulling away and panting while he regained control, Callum pressed his forehead against hers and gave her one more soft kiss, the last he would ever allow. “Was that like kissing yer cousin, lass?”
He heard her swallow before she responded, felt her breasts heaving and saw her lick her lips. “N-no. No, it was not.” Slowly sliding off his lap, he felt her body quivering and he wasn’t sure if it was from need or shock. He was shocked, himself.
He may be a pirate, but he used better judgement in most situations. He had to. One wrong move could mean his death on any day. Yet, his instinct was to pull her close once more, and he cursed his weakness for a bonnie face. That’s all this was. She affected him with lust. Whatever else he was feeling was simply driven by his attraction.
Adjusting himself, he saw her eyes widen at the bulge in his breeches, but he paid her no mind. What did the woman think would happen when she pulled him into a dark room wearing nothing more than a transparent shift and begged to be kissed? “Now, get ye off to bed before ye are caught with me and I have to kill yer betrothed at dawn. If ye wish to sail with him on the morrow, then this is goodbye, and I wish ye well, sweet Ruby. If ye wish to take me up on the offer of adventure on the high seas, then I leave a plan up to ye.”
Standing up, Callum tipped his head to the young English woman who made him lose his senses and turned to leave the room, heading back to his ship and his men for the night. Mayhap he could find a willing serving lass to ease his discomfort and take his mind off Ruby.
Part of him hoped she took his offer, yet most of him prayed she decided to get on that ship with William at dawn. He had not stood seven minutes alone with the lass before nearly ripping her clothes off and burying himself inside her. How would he last several days?
Ruby Berry was a temptress of the highest order, and worst of all, she did not even know it. And of all the rubies he had possessed in his lifetime, he knew without a doubt that she was the finest treasure a man would find, for no gem or gold coin could shine as bright as she.
Chapter 3
Sleep was impossible. With the light’s reflection flickering off her walls from the candle that
still burned on her side table, Ruby laid on her back and stared up at the ceiling, trying to absorb the events of the night starting from the very moment Callum Campbell had entered her home. Never had she reacted to a man so viscerally. It was like her entire world had stopped yet spun at the same time while her breath left and had yet to return.
And that kiss. She wanted to regret it, to feel guilty for kissing a man who was not William, and yet, how could one regret such a profound moment in life, learning that physical interactions with a man could feel like more than routine, awkward moments. Callum had made her feel small, yet strong, feminine yet capable. He gave her a choice and when she made it, he did not turn her down. She believed he would have and had meant to, yet for some reason, had decided to humor her. After all, that’s all it had been, right? A well-experienced man humoring an innocent lass’ desire to discover. Besides, it had only been a kiss and naught more.
The memory of his hard length pressing against her sensitive flesh when he pulled her on his lap made her quake, despite the warm covers that engulfed her. Humor or not, he had enjoyed that kiss and believed her to be a bonnie lass, as the Scottish said.
Dawn was fast approaching and Ruby needed to make a decision. Indignation and melancholy plagued her, that her parents would simply ship her off without warning. Her wedding had been planned, she knew, even if nobody felt the need to give her the details. Perhaps they thought she would seek an escape if she knew when it was to occur. Yet, never had she thought to be shipped away, married in London to a man she hardly knew without them in attendance.
Papa loved her; this she knew well. He meant to protect her from what he saw as a wild and reckless spirit she had owned the entirety of her life. But the blood of pirates ran through her veins. Fire. Strong will. Defiance. She was not born to be a restrained woman and he knew this. Instead of accepting her for who she was, he wished to control her by marrying her to a man who would intentionally break her spirit.
