Pirate’s Promise: The Girl Had Nowhere To Go But Into His Arms...

by Bobbi Smith

  Shark was not about to let her know the depth of his concern about this "Captain Spectre" who was supposedly after him.

  "I'm not sure. It might have been the authorities. I didn't stay around long enough to find out, and we took a different return route this time, just in case."

  "What about our cargo?"

  "You don't have to worry about your profits, Suzanne. The cargo has already been dropped off. It's safe."

  "I always knew you were resourceful when the situation called for it."

  "That's not all I am," he said, leering at her lustfully.

  With deliberate seductiveness, Suzanne lifted her hands to begin to unbutton her bodice. "What else are you, Shark?" she asked huskily. Adam's meager kisses had left her longing for more, and she was hungry to know a man again. Certainly, she would have preferred Adam, but she knew Shark could satisfy her the way she needed to be satisfied.

  Shark brushed her hands away and hurriedly finished the job she'd started. When she stood nude before him, he swept her up in his arms and fell upon the bed with her. His caresses were bold and demanding, and Suzanne responded wantonly. She had been without a man for far too long. She wanted him as desperately as he wanted her. Shark's need was so great that he didn't even bother to strip off his clothes. He only freed himself from his pants and mounted her, taking his pleasure quickly and forcefully.

  It was as they lay together, momentarily sated, that Suzanne smiled. If nothing else, Shark did always manage to satisfy her.

  "I'm glad you're back. I've missed you."

  "I could tell," he replied, thinking of her wildness during their lovemaking.

  "I need your help with something . . ."

  "Oh?" Shark raised up on his forearms to stare down at her, wondering what it was she wanted.

  "It could prove very profitable to you."

  The thought of profits always interested Shark. "What is it?"

  "I have a friend, Cyrus Shackelford. He and I are mutually interested in having a certain woman disappear and never come back."

  Now he was really intrigued. "What did she do to you, Suzanne? Is she the one who married your 'fiancé'?"

  Suzanne glared at him. "So, you've heard?"

  "Oh, yes. I was surprised to hear of your 'engagement,' no matter how short it was. Is that what this is all about?"

  "Yes. She's a bitch and I want her gone! Cyrus does, too!"

  "Why? What did she do to him?"

  "She rejected him."

  "And just what do I get out of this?"

  "Money," she told him with a cunning smile, knowing that greed was his one weakness. "I'm sure Cyrus will pay whatever you ask."

  Shark considered her proposition for a minute and then nodded, feeling certain that it would be easy money. "Set up the meeting."

  "I'll send the message now," Suzanne said, and she started from the bed only to be pulled back down.

  "Not yet. There's plenty of time to meet with Shackelford. First, let's have a meeting of our own . . ." His mouth covered hers as he moved over her once more.

  It was the next afternoon when Cyrus faced Shark across the table in the secluded corner of the waterfront saloon.

  "There is one other thing . . ." Cyrus said as he met the other man's eyes. He could read nothing in the black, obsidian depths, but rather than feel intimidated by his lack of revealed emotion, Cyrus felt more secure. He could tell that Shark was a predator by nature —he would do whatever was expedient at the time to achieve his goals —and that was exactly the kind of person Cyrus wanted to deal with.

  "Such as?" Shark's gaze narrowed. He sensed in Cyrus a man who was as ruthless as himself, but who disguised that ruthlessness beneath a veneer of sophistication. Shark knew that Cyrus Shackelford was a man who should be carefully watching.

  "I have one other matter that needs to be taken care of, and I'm certain you're the one who can handle it." Having already discussed with him the details of how he wanted Lianne's kidnapping handled, he was now ready to broach the subject of arranging Adam's murder.

  Shark didn't bother to reply, waiting for him to go on.

  "I want the girl's husband killed?"

  "Trent?"

  Cyrus nodded. "I don't care how it's done. I just want him dead."

  Shark knew that Suzanne was hoping to have Trent to herself once the woman was out of the way, and he understood now the reason why Shackelford had wanted to meet with him privately without her.

  "How much is it worth to you?" Shark asked, not in the least concerned about what Suzanne wanted. She meant nothing more to him than an exciting bed companion. Money was Shark's only trusted friend.

  "Name your price," Cyrus told him. When Shark quoted an outrageous sum, he agreed without flinching.

  "This Trent must have caused you some trouble, Shackelford," he said, eagerly anticipating collecting the pay for murdering this Trent.

  For a moment Cyrus's civilized expression slipped, and Shark could see the hatred and contempt he felt for the other man. "That he has, that he has. I deal viciously with those who cross me, Shark. See that Trent gets the message just before you kill him."

  Shark returned to Suzanne's hotel room to find her waiting expectantly for him.

  "How did it go?" she questioned anxiously as she let him in.

  "Everything's settled."

  "You've agreed to do it?"

  "Shackelford's price was right."

  "How soon?"

  "As soon as I can make the arrangements. It shouldn't take more than a day or two to set up everything."

  Suzanne's eyes glowed at the prospect of Lianne's getting what she deserved. With Lianne out of the way, Suzanne expected it would be a simple matter to win Adam's love again, especially since she now knew that Adam was hunting for Shark. She didn't know the reason for his search, and she didn't care. Suzanne firmly believed that all she'd have to do to win his confidence and love would be to betray Shark to him. Still, however, she wouldn't do it until after Lianne had been completely disposed of. Adam had loved her once, and she was sure that she could make him love her again.

  "How soon do you have to leave?" She suddenly wished Shark was gone, so she could fantasize about her future with Adam.

  "Not for some time yet," Shark leered at her, wondering what she would think if she knew that he'd already begun to plot her other lover's death. The thought amused him as he reached out to take her in his arms.

  Suzanne did not resist his embrace, and as Shark overwhelmed her with his sensual power, she gave up clinging to her thoughts of Adam and surrendered willingly to his mastery of her senses.

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Adam stayed away from Belle Arbor until the following morning. It was still early when he returned, and only Becky had already come downstairs.

  "Adam!" Becky had been waiting nervously to hear from him, and she rushed to greet him. Her dark eyes searched his for some clue as to the outcome of his visit with Elise. "How did it go?" she asked.

  "Come into the study and I'll tell you everything," Adam directed, leading the way into the room and then closing the door behind them for privacy.

  "Well? What did the doctor say?"

  "I never had a chance to talk with him."

  "You didn't?" Becky was puzzled. "Then what . . .?"

  "I was with Elise, Becky," he told her as his gaze met hers across the room.

  "You were?" She couldn't read any telltale emotion in his expression and wasn't quite sure how to react to the news.

  "Elise has made a full recovery," he told her with a smile.

  "That's wonderful . . ." Becky ventured a bit hesitantly, suddenly worrying how her recovery had affected Adam. Had he found he still loved her?

  "Yes, it is wonderful, Becky," Adam reassured her, seeing the worry in her eyes. "Elise had also fallen in love with Dr. Williams and has agreed to marry him."

  "She has?" Becky's face lit up with the happiness she felt for him. "That's perfect. Now—" she began eagerly, abo
ut to blurt out that there was nothing to keep him and Lianne apart any more, but she knew he still had not given up his thirst for revenge against Shark.

  "Now, there's only one thing I have left to do," he interrupted her, "and then I can put this entire nightmare behind me." Adam's expression darkened as he thought of Shark and Suzanne. He knew he had to get the message regarding her trip to New Orleans off to Beau right away.

  "You still won't give it up?"

  "I can't Becky, not yet, not until Shark's paid the price," he vowed, not wavering in his purpose.

  Knowing it was useless to press the point, Becky started from the room. "Lianne's missed you while you were away, Adam," she remarked easily.

  "Did she tell you that?" he asked quickly.

  "No, but I could tell. Adam . . ."

  He looked up at her expectantly, questioningly.

  "Adam," Becky continued, "if you love her, tell her now, before it's too late." She didn't wait for his response, but left him alone with his thoughts.

  Adam scowled at his sister as she left, closing the door behind her again on her way out. He knew she was right. He knew he should tell Lianne that he loved her, but he wondered if she would believe him after all of his declarations of devotion to Suzanne. Adam flinched as he thought of how cruelly he'd treated Lianne since their marriage and of all the humiliation she'd suffered because of him. It was a wonder that she harbored any tender feelings toward him at all, he realized with brutal clarity.

  The memory of Lianne's profession of love the night before filled Adam with vibrant emotion then. Suddenly he wanted to rush upstairs, sweep her up into his arms, declare his love, and make passionate love to her for the rest of the day. Adam knew his behavior might be suspect if he followed through on that particular impulse, though.

  Instead, Adam hesitated, remaining where he was, struggling to find a way out of the deceitful situation in which he found himself. It came to him in a blinding flash of common sense — there was no real reason to keep the truth from Lianne any longer. She loved him and he knew he loved her. She hated Suzanne, and so, when he told her the whole story, he knew he could count on her to help him, rather than cross him . . . except . . .

  Adam knew if he told her everything that he would have to tell her about Spectre, and that was where the danger was. He glanced longingly at the bottle of bourbon sitting out on the liquor cabinet, but he dismissed the idea as quickly as it came. Liquor would not ease the problem he now faced, only honesty would.

  Girding himself, Adam decided that he would tell Lianne everything. He would tell her that he loved her. He would explain about the raid and Elise and his "involvement" with Suzanne. He wanted no more lies between them. He would even confess the truth about Spectre and hope that she understood, for nothing else really mattered except that they loved each other . . . he hoped.

  Feeling confident that he was doing the right thing, Adam left the study and went upstairs to talk with his wife.

  Lianne had not fallen back asleep after Spectre's visit. She had spent the balance of the night hours thinking solely of Adam. Her thoughts were still centered on him as she sat at her dressing table brushing out her hair the next morning. Lianne was so deeply lost in her musings as she ran the brush through the silken thickness of her hair that she didn't hear the door open behind her or notice when Adam moved soundlessly into the room.

  Adam started into the room, but stopped suddenly at the sight of Lianne sitting at the dressing table clad only in her gown. A shock of awareness coursed through him at the delectable sight she made, and memories of last night, when he'd held her and caressed her, returned full force.

  Realizing that she was unaware of his presence, Adam took advantage of the moment and remained standing quietly just inside the doorway, watching her with hungry intent. His gaze darkened with desire as it raked over her. The gown was a demure one, yet its very absence of daring held Adam enthralled. He knew what delights lay beneath the soft fabric —that they were hidden from him now only served to entice him that much more.

  Lianne didn't know why she looked up into the mirror just then, but she did. The sight of Adam standing there watching her so intently, caused her to stop in midmotion.

  "Hello, Lianne . . ." Adam said huskily as he pushed the door shut behind him. Like a man possessed, he moved across the room toward her, his eyes meeting and locking with hers in the mirror. He wanted her with a driving desperation, and he wondered how he was going to be able to keep from touching her until they had finished talking.

  "Adam . . . you're back," Lianne murmured in soft surprise. She had known that he was due to return, but she hadn't expected him to make an effort to seek her out. She wasn't sure whether to be pleased or cautious. She decided on the latter.

  Adam came up behind her and took the brush from her hand, placing it upon the tabletop. When she said nothing, he grew emboldened and rested his hands on her slender shoulders. Lianne felt so delicately feminine beneath his hands that he suddenly knew an overwhelming need to protect her, to keep her from harm. He never wanted to cause her any pain again as long as he lived. He wanted only to spend the rest of his life making her happy.

  Lianne was mesmerized by the gentleness of his touch. This was what she'd wanted for so long! This was what she'd longed for! Yet even as she allowed herself a moment of hope, reality returned. He loved Suzanne.

  Lianne's heart ached as she fought not to give in to the desire to let him have his way with her. It would have been easy to pretend that he really loved her for a few minutes, to fall into his arms and make love with him. The trouble came afterward, when she would be forced to face the truth of his feelings again. Knowing the pain it would bring, Lianne knew there was no way she could allow Adam to make love to her. She didn't just want sex with him. She wanted his love. She wanted all of him —not just Suzanne's leftovers.

  "Adam, we need to talk . . ." Lianne finally managed, and she was startled by the unexpected huskiness in her voice.

  "I know," he agreed reluctantly, his eyes still clinging to hers in the mirror, his hands beginning a mesmerizing massage of her shoulders.

  "Adam," Lianne began again, trying to ignore the warmth that was flooding through her from his caress. "Adam, I can't go on with this farce of a marriage any longer," she declared forcefully, shrugging away from his touch. Lianne left the dressing table and moved across the room before facing him again. Somehow, she felt safer and more in control when she was out of reach of his intoxicating touch. It was a proven fact that she couldn't think straight whenever he touched her.

  "What?" Her statement shocked him completely, for it was the last thing he'd expected her to say. Last night, she had declared herself in love with him. Now today, she was telling him that their marriage was over. Adam was confused, and with that confusion came reactive anger. His expression grew thunderous.

  At Adam's suddenly fierce look, Lianne wrapped her arms about herself protectively. She didn't understand why he looked so angry. She had thought he would be thrilled that she was going to set him free. Why would he care that she wanted the marriage to end? He loved Suzanne, didn't he? Suzanne was the one he wanted, wasn't she?

  "Look, Adam, I know you're in love with Suzanne. You made it perfectly clear from the beginning how you felt about me . . . about our marriage."

  "Lianne—"

  "No, let me finish!" She silenced him, not wanting to be interrupted now that she was finally telling him everything. "I knew how you felt about her, but for some misguided reason I kept hoping that, eventually, you would come to love me. I was wrong, and I've come to accept the fact that you're always going to love Suzanne." Lianne paused to draw a deep breath, and Adam took the opportunity to get a word in edgewise.

  "Lianne, you're wrong. Suzanne really has nothing to do with us." He started to explain, but Lianne took his statement wrong.

  "Oh, you're wrong there, Adam. Suzanne has everything to do with us! You see, Adam Trent, I love you. I love you very much. It
would be the easiest thing in the world for me to go to bed with you right now and make love to you, but I'm not going to do it. I won't make love with you just because you're stuck in this marriage with me, and I certainly won't make love with you while you're in love with someone else. I want all of you, or nothing, Adam. I can't go on living this way any longer."

  "Lianne." Her name was a loving caress on his lips as he met her gaze across the room. In her emerald eyes, Adam could read all the doubts and fears she was trying so hard to conceal, and he knew that he was the only one who could erase them. His movements were slow but determined as he crossed the distance between them.

  Lianne watched him as he came toward her, her eyes widening in alarm. She didn't want him near her. She didn't want him to touch her again. She just wanted him to go! His dark eyes never left hers as he approached, and she felt trapped by the blaze of emotion she saw reflected there.

  "I don't love Suzanne, Lianne," Adam said with a growl as he took her in his arms.

  His mouth took hers in a dominating exchange, and she resisted with all her might. She would have kept fighting him, too, but after an instant of holding her in his arms, Adam's anger disappeared. He wanted to please her, not punish her. He wanted to prove his love to her, not convince her that she was right about his affections.

  Adam's kiss went from overpowering to seductive, from force to gentle persuasion, and Lianne felt her determination to refuse him waning. When he broke off the kiss, she gazed up at him in confusion, her conflicting emotions plainly revealed on her face.

  "Adam . . . I—"

  "Lianne." He cut sharply across her words before she had a chance to tell him to leave. "Lianne"— Adam's tone softened to a thick whisper—"I love you."

  Lianne was truly stunned by his revelation. Adam loved her? How could he declare his love for her, when all along he'd sworn he cared only for Suzanne? She stared up into the dark, fathomless depths of Adam's gaze, trying to decipher the secrets he had hidden there.

  Adam saw the sudden wariness of her expression. He knew he deserved that look of suspicion, and much more, but it only made him more determined to convince her of his love. There would be no note from Suzanne to tear them apart this time. Lianne was going to learn the true depth of his caring for her, and she was going to learn it now.