A Pirate's Curse (Legends of the Soaring Phoenix) (18 page)

His pulsing hips rocked faster and faster and with one final thrust, he spilled his seed inside her. He cried out and
collapsed on top of her and rested his head in the crook of her neck, his hot breath warming her flesh. She stroked his hair and smiled. She strummed her fingers along his back, feeling his lungs expanding. He shivered as she unlocked her legs and ran her leg along his.

He elevated himself onto forearms and stared down at her.
“Hannah, love, you surprise me.”

Heat warmed her face.
Had she failed? She frowned. “What do you mean? Didn’t you like it?”

Laughing, he kissed her, his hands exploring her body.
“No, I’m afraid I may have to tie you to my bed and never let you leave.”

Hope filled her.
“You mean, I can stay?”

His eyes clouded and he kissed her again,
avoiding her question. He moved inside her again and she gasped, feeling another wave of need rising inside her. His nimble fingers and wicked mouth made her forget about everything, but him. 

Hannah opened her eyes and snuggled waiting to feel Kane’s warm body, pressed against her like she had experienced last night, but disappointment filled her. She jerked up. “Kane?”

She scanned the room, but he
was gone. She scooped her knees to her chest and laid her head on her knees. The core between her thighs ached and her thighs were wet and sticky. She was no longer a virgin, a fallen woman. Would she able to walk? Would his men be able to tell? Would her father be able to tell?

The morning sun caressed her face.
He had been so tender last night, indulging her every desire, but in the daylight, she was cast aside. But it didn’t matter. She made the decision to give him her most precious gift. Her choice. Not Kane’s. Not her father’s.  Not Jacques’. Hers.

S
he sighed, her heart aching. She didn’t want to leave. Here she was safe. Accepted.… But the man she cared for was sending her away. She had hoped he would have changed his mind, but ’twas fanciful thinking—a desperate woman’s wish.

She
kicked the covers off, headed for the mirror and winced. Tears threatened to burst and she swallowed hard. She splashed water onto her face. Don’t cry. Get over it.

She strolled over to
Kane’s desk and ran her fingers along the smooth surface and peered out the porthole. Blowing palm trees bent to the breeze, the waves rushing up on the beach and the sun brightening the white sandy beach. The sunny vista failed to cheer her dreary mood. A rainy gray day would have matched the pelting emotions twirling inside her. She ambled over to the bed, grabbed the bedpost and leaned her forehead against it. A knot formed in her stomach. “Accept it, you’re leaving.”

H
annah picked up her shirt and wiped her stained legs, hiding the evidence. What would father do? Or Jacques? She swallowed. Would they beat her? She couldn’t blame Kane. She had wanted it. He had tried to keep her pure, but she insisted. Now, she had no choice but to flee from Saint Kitts.

She
opened Kane’s dresser drawers and pulled out a white creamy shirt and inhaled.
Sandalwood. Musk. Salt. Like the man himself.
Had last night meant anything to him? Or had she been a simple conquest? Or was this his way of punishing her for being with William? What had she been thinking? That he would declare his love for her and beg her to stay? He was a pirate, for heaven’s sake.

She slipped on the silky shirt
and it caressed her chaffed skin like his kisses had last night. Wiping away a single tear sliding down her cheek, she took a quivering breath and then another, pushing back the dam of tears threatening to break through.
Forget him.

Within the next few minutes, she dressed.
She patted the dagger next to her skin and stuck the emerald necklace and earrings into her breeches’ pocket. She glanced at the mirror and half smirked. With her white shirt and three sizes too big red trousers, all she needed was a gold earring and she’d be the perfect female pirate.

The door opened and Kane
leaned against a wall and folded his arms across his chest. He flashed his eyes over her. Heat rushed over her cheeks and ran all the way down to her toes. What they had done last night—what she let him do to her, begged him to do to her…

She
tried to shake the image, but Kane’s unbuttoned dark green shirt opened to his navel, reminded her how she had kissed him, licked his spicy skin. Tearing her focus away from his navel, she concentrated on the long gold chain around his neck. Her gaze lowered to his black breeches outlining his sinew muscles and long black boots hugging his calves. Kane O’Brien looked every bit a dashing pirate and last night he was a devilish one. “A fair mornin’ to you lassie,” he said.

Hannah
held back the urge to rush into his arms, inhale his masculine scent, kiss his sinful lips. Instead she clenched her fists.

“After today, I will never…”
She choked as she remembered his sweet caresses, his lips kissing her, his hands exploring her body. She swallowed, refusing to break down into a blubbering female. There would be time for tears, but now wasn’t the time. “See you again? I don’t think so. So, why be informal?”

He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him.
His fingers clasped her chin and forced her to look into his emerald eyes. Her heart pounded in her ears, and her breath came out rapid. She licked her lips.

His thumb slid over her chin.
“Hannah, I’m sorry.”

She tried to free herself, not wanting to hear those words, tearing her dream apart.

He tightened his hold. “Last night…”

“Last night was what?”

“A mistake. You know it. And I know it.”

His words stabbed her heart.
It hadn’t been a mistake for her. It had meant something to her. What, she’d not think about, not now. She refused to cry. “Release me.”

The back of hi
s hand trailed down her cheek and she shivered, despite not wanting to, she leaned into his hand.

He lowered his hand.
“I’m apologizing. ’Tis not something I normally do, but you…”

“I what?”

“You turn my world upside down. Cloud my judgment.”

She narrowed her eyes.
“Cloud your judgment?”

He gripped her shoulders and gave her a strong shake.
“Hannah, I’d give anything to have you stay…”

“But…”

“’Tis not safe. Go back to England.”

She sighed and turned away.
“That makes it easy for you. Does it not? Let me go, Kane.”

His hands dropped and he gritted his teeth.
“We leave after we sup.”

Hannah nodded.
The decision had been made. He escorted her to a chair in the galley and had her sit next to him. He gave her a dazzling smile. “We’re waiting for our esteemed guest.”

Heavy
footsteps stomped towards them. “Leave me be you scoundrels. You don’t have to drag me like this. I can walk.”

Father.
 

Hannah shuddered.
Would father be able to tell she was no longer a virgin?

Her father stormed into the galley and glared.
Shivers ran down her spine and she clutched her breeches, her thumb brushing over the blade. She’d be at his mercy again.

“Ahhh,
” Kane said. “Good morning to you Captain. Cook has prepared you some vittles. And before you dump it on the galley floor, let me assure you, you’ll be mopping the floor yourself. Understood?”

Her father
glared and took a seat across from her, but remained silent. She trembled and avoided his gaze. He grabbed a roll and tore a piece, stuffing it into his mouth. Eating was the last thing she wanted to do.

On the table, candles glowed revealing salt pork, fresh pineapple sprinkled with coconut, hard rolls and
a pot of coffee. Kane dished up her plate, and her father snorted. She cocked her eyebrow. This whole experience hadn’t changed him. Still the same pompous man she had sailed with from London. But she was different. She’d not be content to remain in his world, a world with rules that attempted to break her spirit. 

Kane winked at her.
She half smiled at him, but couldn’t ease the ache inside. The meal ended too quickly.

Kane
rose and held his hand out for her. She took it, and he led her up to the main deck. Strength emitted from him. She wished she possessed his same confidence

U
p on deck, she blinked at the blinding sun. Kane released her hand and cold seized her hand where warmth had been. He walked over to Sean who stood by the wheel. “Mallory, lower the longboat.”

“Aye, aye, Capt’n,” Sean answered.
“Mates, lower the boat.”

This was it.
She was going ashore.

Men ran past her to carry out Kane’s orders.
She walked over to the railing and gripped it, wanting to stay aboard. She stared at the eagle’s nest, wishing she could crawl up the ropes and hide in there until the
Soaring Phoenix
sailed away.

Heavy footsteps pounded over to her and a firm hand grabbed her arm. Hannah peered into her father’s hard eyes. “Soon, Hannah we’ll be among civilized people and put this whole dreary event behind us.”

She didn
’t answer. How could he say such a thing? Had he forgotten what happened to his crew? Maybe he could easily put the events aside, but she couldn’t forget their screams.

“
’Tis time to go, lassie.” Kane's husky voice tore away the words she wanted to say and she nodded. What she’d remember most was Kane, his angry, his mercy, his kisses. She’d never forget him.

Sean and Doc stood at the helm.
Kane nodded. “Mallory, you’re in charge. Be ready to depart upon my return.”

“Aye, aye, Capt’n,” Sean said.

Kane led her to the portside to the rope ladder, leading to the longboat.
She climbed down the rope into the boat. Amadi helped her to a seat. Next, Kane climbed into the boat and patted her thigh, but he was pushing her away.

Her father and William
came down next. No one spoke as Amadi and William rowed and beached the boat on the shore.

Her father got out first and put his hands on his hips.
“Which way is Saint Kitts?”

“We’
ll lead you, but you’ll be blindfolded.”

Her father growled, “What? You would not dare.”

“Aye, I do dare.” Kane folded his arms over his chest. “There’s only one way to Saint Kitts and it can be treacherous.”

Her father scoffed.

“’
Tis not far,” Kane said. “But you must not know the way. The choice is yours.”

Kane clasped her hand and helped Hannah out of the boat.
Her feet sank into the sand.

Kane pul
led out two scarves out of his back pocket. “I’m waiting, Captain. What’s your answer?”

“I’
ll do it,” Hannah answered. She wanted out of here. The pain in her chest was as bad as when her mother died. She needed to get away before she lost control. Kane said he was protecting her by sending her back to England, but how could she trust in this? Like her father, maybe her powers were to blame and Kane didn’t want her aboard because she endangered his men. Her father repeatedly told her this during their sail from London. Maybe he didn’t want her. But she refused to throw away her last piece of dignity.

Kane smiled and gently turned her around where she faced her glowering father.
Kane’s fingers brushed against her bare skin as he tied the scarf around her eyes and she shivered. Darkness shrouded her eyes. A callous hand gripped hers. “I won’t let you fall, I promise,” Kane said. His sweet breath caressed her neck and she wished he would have kissed her. Somehow being blindfolded would make it hotter, wilder, but of course, he did not.

“Fine.
Blindfold me,” her father demanded.

For the next hour, Kane led her through the jungle.
Leaves and vines brushed her face and her boots seeped into the moist jungle floor of leaves, ferns and dirt, but he never faltered. Birds cawed overhead and wings flapped around her. Frogs croaked. Kane kept her close to him, pressing her against his side he lifted her over debris and helped maneuver through the difficult patches. Behind her, her father swore and fussed, but she ignored him, concentrating only on Kane. Being blindfolded, her senses sharpened. Her thumb swept over Kane’s palm, learning every texture.

A loud roar thundered in her ears.
She frowned. “Is that a waterfall?”

Kane
lifted her in his arms and she gasped. “’Tis treacherous.” She leaned her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat and inhaling his masculine scent. His firm footsteps never stumbled and she snuggled deeper next to him. He kissed the top of her head and a ray of hope burned insider her. Maybe he had changed her mind.

Drops of water
sprayed onto her face and the falls thundered. She bit her lip, thinking of the last one, wishing she could have seen the water cascading down Kane’s naked shoulders. She squirmed as her blood rushed through her, settling at her throbbing feminine core. She dozed against his shoulder.