Pirate's Promise

by Smith, Bobbi

  "There are so many things I need to tell you . . ." Adam said as he lifted one hand to cup her cheek, fearing that she might reject him again, but knowing that he had to try. "Just know this, Lianne." He bent to her, his lips almost, but not quite touching hers. "When we make love, there'll be no room for anyone else in the bed with us."

  Although he hadn't meant them to, his words brought back her memories of Spectre and sent a shaft of guilt lancing through her. She tried to drop her gaze from his, but he framed her face with his hands and kissed her.

  A part of her told Lianne to keep fighting him, that this was some sort of trick, but her heart demanded she accept the joy Adam was offering her. Could Adam be telling her the truth? Did he really love her? It made no sense, but at this very moment, she didn't care . . .

  Lianne gave herself over to the glory of his embrace. His lips moved over hers, evoking a wildfire of desire in her. In response, she instinctively arched against him, pressing her soft womanly curves against the hardness of him.

  Again and again Adam sought her lips, tasting of her honeyed sweetness there. His hands never stopped caressing her through the soft gown. When he could bear it no longer, he swept Lianne up into his arms and strode to the bed with her. Adam placed her upon the welcoming softness and then moved to lay down beside her.

  Lianne welcomed Adam to her with open arms, holding him close as they kissed once more, heatedly, passionately. Their bodies strained together hungrily. Adam pushed the gown from her shoulders, trailing a searing path of kisses over the creamy flesh he exposed. Lianne groaned in ecstasy as his lips sought and found her breasts, bared now beneath his questing caresses. She moved restlessly in his arms as he traced patterns of fire upon her pliant flesh. When his hands moved lower, seeking the softness of her, she moved to accommodate him. Lianne thrilled at his practiced touch, and she found herself writhing against Adam, desperately needing to be one with him again.

  Adam could no longer restrain himself from taking her. He drew away from her embrace just long enough to shed his own clothing, and then returned to take her in his arms once more. Moving over Lianne, he fit his body intimately to hers. Lianne arched up to him and took the strength of him deep within her.

  Theirs was a joining of hearts as well as bodies. It was the first time they'd made love as husband and wife, and Adam wanted it to be perfect for her. He lay embedded in her sweetness, the urge to take her quickly almost overwhelming, but he fought it down. With the utmost of patience and care, he began to kiss and caress her again, taking the time to arouse her desires to the same fever pitch as his before beginning his rhythm.

  When Adam started to move within her, Lianne was ready. She matched his hard, driving hips stroke for stroke, arching and twisting beneath him in love's most sensuous dance. The memory of his declaration of love played over and over in her mind as she moved beneath him and with him. Lianne told herself that he loved her, that he wanted only her, that they were going to be this happy forever.

  Adam was caught up in the heat of his need for Lianne. Making love to her was his heaven and his hell. He remembered with burning desire the way she'd denied him the night before as Spectre, declaring her love for him as her husband. Adam also remembered, all to starkly, the look of doubt and suspicion that had haunted her before he'd overwhelmed her with his kisses. In the back of his mind, he worried that she would still be distrustful of his motives even after they'd made love.

  Adam's uncertainties were swept away, though, as Lianne drew him down to her for a flaming kiss. Her openly willing move sent his senses spiraling out of control. Thrusting avidly into her, Adam took them both to the heights of ecstasy's splendor. They gloried in the breathless release their mating brought them.

  In the aftermath of the storm of their loving, Adam and Lianne clung tightly to one another. Neither spoke right away for fear of losing the closeness that each of them had waited so long to experience. They rested that way, locked in their cherishing embrace.

  Much later Adam levered himself up on his elbow to stare down at his wife.

  "I love you, Lianne," Adam told her huskily as he brushed one errant curl from her cheek.

  "Adam," Lianne sighed in heavenly contentment as she opened her eyes to gaze up at him. The doubts she had put from her returned, and she grew afraid now that he might have lied to her about his love just to get her into bed.

  Adam could see the shadow of doubt that still troubled her. He wanted to have it all out, to tell her the entire story, but suddenly he felt a chilling fear. What if she hated him after he told her about his deception as Spectre? What if she came to despise him for his callous trick?

  What had seemed like the right thing to do before, now seemed suicidal. What had happened between them had been so perfect, so magical, Adam didn't want to risk ruining it. He swallowed nervously as he struggled to make the decision. What Lianne didn't know couldn't hurt her, he reasoned, his decision made.

  "I do love you," he told her sincerely. "I'm sorry about Suzanne. I . . ."

  Lianne saw the earnestness in his gaze and surrendered fully to her heart's desire, blocking out any need to hear his explanations. All that mattered was that he loved her. "Adam . . . please, don't explain. Don't say a word. I don't ever want to hear that woman's name again."

  He looked down at her a bit confused. "But . . ."

  Lianne lifted one hand to press her fingers to his lips. "I don't want to hear about the past, Adam. All that matters now is our future. I love you, too . . . I have for so long."

  Adam breathed an inner sigh of relief at her words. He groaned as he bent to kiss her with ardent devotion. "And I love you, Lianne, with all my heart."

  Lianne was in his arms then, wrapped in his powerful embrace. His mouth slanted across hers in a fiery claim that stole her breath away. Lianne clutched at his shoulders as ecstasy claimed her again. This was Adam! He loved her . . . he wanted her! They were going to be together forever . . .

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Cyrus was beside himself with excitement. It should be happening at any time now! It had been three days since his meeting with Shark. He knew the smuggler was as eager for his money as he himself was to have Lianne all to himself for one, uninterrupted night. The arrangements had all been made. All that was left was for Shark to notify him when the deed had been done. Then they would meet at the rendezvous point, Shark would be paid, and he would get Lianne.

  Cyrus paced his office, rubbing his hands together in eager anticipation of that night. A cruel smile curved the hard line of his mouth as he imagined her pleading with him for mercy. He would take great pleasure in giving her none. By the time Shark came to take her away the following morning, she would know a true taste of humiliation. He'd see to it.

  Anxiously, Cyrus glanced down at his watch. It was growing late in the day, and still there had been no word. Cyrus hated waiting for anything, but he supposed this time it was worth it. Sitting back down at his desk, he picked up some papers and tried to work. All he could think about though was Lianne, naked and humble before him. It was pleasant daydream.

  Shark glanced at the three men who sat with him at the table in the saloon. Having left Will in charge of the boat, he had chosen his three most dependable crewmen to aid him with the murder-kidnapping. The men had readily agreed to help him when he'd told them of the extra money they could make. The promise of financial rewards carried great weight with Shark's greedy, murderous crew.

  "You understand what you're supposed to do?" Shark glared at each one of them pointedly, wanting to make sure that there would be no mistakes made the following morning when they coordinated their attack. "Morley? O'Malley?"

  "O'Malley and me, we're going after Trent, and we're supposed to tell him right before we kill him that Cyrus Shackelford sent us," the big, burly man answered for himself and his tall, skinny, mean-looking friend.

  "How about you, Drago?"

  "I go with you. We grab the woman, tie her up, and keep her quiet unt
il we get back to the ship."

  "I don't want any mistakes made, do you understand me?" Shark glowered at them threateningly. "If this goes off the way I got it planned, we'll all be a lot richer by nightfall tomorrow."

  The other pirates exchanged smug, confident looks among themselves.

  "Anybody who doesn't get their part of this done might as well count themselves as a dead man. Understand?" he threatened, knowing that overconfidence on their part could ruin everything.

  "Yes, sir, Captain Shark. We're ready. We're just waiting for the word from you."

  "We leave here tonight before midnight. We'll stay at Willow Bend until daylight and then move out." He looked around him once more and felt reasonably certain nothing would go wrong.

  The days since she and Adam had reconciled had been idyllic for Lianne. Since the morning when they'd first talked and declared their true feelings for one another, Adam had become the most considerate of husbands. Before this, Lianne had never known his more gentle side, and she found herself falling even more deeply in love with him. He was everything she had thought he was and more.

  All the doubts and suspicions Lianne had harbored during the early days of their marriage were slowly beginning to fade. She didn't question her good fortune in winning Adam's love, she just tried to relax and appreciate it. There was still a lot about him she didn't know, but she didn't dwell on that. The past was over. Today and the rest of their lives together were all that mattered.

  Adam was being so attentive and kind that she almost felt as if he were paying her court. It was a delightful experience for her. Being courted by the man she loved was something she'd always fantasized about, but had never actually experienced before. Lianne was discovering that she enjoyed it very much.

  Now, as she rode across Belle Arbor at his side, Lianne was caught up in the joy of just being with him. Adam had sought her out at the house a short while before and convinced her that she had to take a ride with him. Alex had tried to talk Adam into taking him along too, but Adam had resisted his efforts, promising to ride with him some time the following day.

  "Where are we going?" Lianne had an idea where he was taking her, but she wasn't quite sure yet.

  "It's a surprise," Adam teased good-naturedly. He flashed her a sensually wicked smile, and Lianne felt her pulse quicken in response. "It's a little place Alex showed me earlier. I think you might like it . . ."

  Lianne knew then where they were headed, and her breath caught in her throat at the thought of swimming with Adam . . . alone. She said nothing, but her anticipation grew until she was tingling with excitement.

  "Do you know where we're going yet?" Adam questioned as they turned down the narrow trail that led to the secluded swimming hole.

  "Yes, I know," she told him, her eyes alive and sparkling at the prospect. When she was here the last time, her heart had been broken. This time, she knew she would make new memories to replace the old painful ones.

  Adam said no more, but reined in ahead of her and dismounted. He would have helped her down, but Lianne was too fast for him. By the time he finished and turned to help her, she had already tied up her own mount and raced to the water's edge.

  "Lianne!" Adam shouted eagerly following after her.

  "What?" She turned to him, her expression radiantly happy.

  "I didn't want you to start without me," he told her as he joined her on the bank.

  "Start what without you?" Lianne asked archly, leaning lightly against him when he took her in his arms.

  "Swimming . . . among other things," Adam told her gruffly just before he kissed her.

  Lianne felt the desire spark between them, but she wasn't ready to surrender to him just yet. He had brought her here to swim, hadn't he?

  "Oh, no, Adam Trent," Lianne laughed as she pushed herself free of his embrace. "Since we're here, I want to go swimming!"

  As Adam watched with feigned dismay at her rejection, Lianne began to undress. Seduction was not on her mind as she started, but by the time she'd stripped down to her chemise, she could tell that it was on Adam's. His dark eyes were glowing with an inner fire as he watched her, and it gave Lianne great female pleasure to know that she could arouse him that way. She stood posed before him for just an instant before diving into the cool water.

  "If you want me, Adam, come and get me!" she teased with a lighthearted laugh, then started swimming across the pool away from him.

  Her challenge spurred him to action, and within moments, he was in the water racing toward her with hard, powerful strokes. Adam was upon her in no time, and he slipped beneath the surface to snare her by the ankle and drag her under into his arms.

  Lianne didn't resist, and when they surfaced, she wrapped her arms securely around his neck, allowing him to do all the work of keeping them afloat.

  "I think I could come to like this," she murmured, kissing his neck.

  Keeping one arm around Lianne's waist, Adam managed to keep both of their heads above the surface as he swam back toward shore. The water was a silken caress against their bodies that added to the sensuousness of the moment. By the time they reached shallower water to where Adam could stand, Lianne could feel him hot and hard against her. She gave a soft, enticing laugh as she reached down to caress him in a bold ploy.

  Adam groaned at her brazenness and, switching his hold on her, brought her fully around in front of him. Positioning her legs around his waist, he buried himself in her sweetness. The heat of her body was a direct contrast to the coolness of the water, and Adam's passion flared hotly.

  Lianne was enthralled by the novelty of their position, and she began to move excitedly against him using the buoyancy of the water to help her. Adam sought her breasts as they moved together in a tidal wave of desire. Arching her back, she continued to move in an abandoned, primitive rhythm, ecstasy building within her. They crested together, rapturous in their loving. Wave after wave of excitement throbbed through them as they stood locked together in that most intimate embrace.

  When the storm of their passion had passed, Adam lifted Lianne into his arms and carried her to the moss-covered bank. He held her near as they lay quietly together, savoring the newness of their relationship.

  "I love you, Lianne," Adam told her in a love-husky voice.

  "I know," Lianne sighed as she lay nestled at his side, her head resting on his shoulder, one hand splayed out across his chest. "But sometimes, these last few days seem more like a dream . . ."

  "What do you mean?" He frowned.

  She pushed herself up on one elbow to gaze down at him. "Things were so difficult between us for so long . . . you were always gone, and then when you were here, you avoided me . . ."

  "With good reason." Adam gave her a lopsided, pained smile as he raised up long enough to give her a quick, hard kiss.

  "What good reason?" Lianne demanded, wanting to know what his reason had been for being so cruel to her.

  "If I hadn't stayed away from you, we would have ended up spending all our time like this." He chuckled at her amazed look. "Yes, my dear, lovely wife, I had to fight to keep my hands off you. I wanted you desperately, but being manipulated into marriage . . ."

  "Adam, you know — " She started to interrupt, to tell him that none of it was planned, but he silenced her with another kiss.

  "I know the truth, love . . . now. I was too blind then to see it. It was a matter of pride. Not only that, but there you were, declaring your hatred for me at every opportunity."

  Lianne gave him a soft, seductive smile as she pressed a tender kiss to his cheek. "I did hate you," she said softly. At his surprised, questioning look, she went on, "I hated you for what you made me feel. I wanted you to love me desperately, but it all seemed hopeless. Suzanne's little visits didn't help, either."

  "Suzanne was here?" He hadn't been aware that the other woman had come to Belle Arbor.

  "Of course Suzanne was here. It was only last week when she was here last."

  "Last week? I didn't s
ee her here last week."

  Lianne gave him a puzzled, doubting look, wondering why he would try to hide Suzanne's visit from her. "Look, Adam, I saw her. It was one of the afternoons when you were working in the study. She came to talk with me in the garden right after she'd finished seeing you. She told me — "

  "I didn't meet with her, Lianne," he vowed seriously, troubled by the news of this mysterious visit. Why would Suzanne make the trip all the way there to see him and then not announce herself? Unless . . ."What did she say to you?"

  "The usual things . . ." Even now, safe in Adam's embrace, the memory of her taunts had the power to hurt her, and she dropped her eyes from him.

  "Like what?" Adam put a finger under her chin and tilted her face up so she was looking at him again.

  Drawing a ragged breath, she told him everything Suzanne had said. After hearing it, Adam pulled her close and kissed her in soft devotion.

  "I didn't speak with her at Belle Arbor last week. She didn't come to see me in the study. The only thing I can think of is that, as brazen as she is, she might have eavesdropped on a conversation I had with Becky."

  "What conversation?" Lianne asked, wondering what could have been said to evoke such a vicious response from Suzanne.

  "The conversation where I admitted to Becky that I loved you, not Suzanne."

  "You admitted that you loved me to Becky that long ago, but you didn't tell me until now? Why did you wait? I would have given anything to know that you loved me."

  "I didn't know that you'd believe me for one thing. You have to remember that I still thought you hated me." Adam knew that was a lie, but things were too wonderful between them to worry about it.

  "And I thought you hated me . . ." she murmured. "It's a shame we wasted so much time."

  "Indeed it is, my love. Indeed, it is," Adam agreed, and then proceeded to make up for all the lost time.

  Suzanne came awake abruptly as Shark boldly entered her bedroom. "Shark? What are you doing here? Has something gone wrong?"

  "No, nothing's wrong. I'm just paying a social call while I wait for sunup." Shark grinned at her leeringly as she started to undress. He had left the others outside in the stables with orders to wait for him there while he'd gone up to the house. He didn't want to take the chance that one of them might say something that would reveal their plot to kill Trent. Suzanne didn't need to know about his and Cyrus's private deal. All she needed to know about was the girl's kidnapping.