Andrea Kane (11 page)

“I’m still here, Drake,” she assured him, laying her hand against his cheek.

Instinctively, he turned his mouth against her palm, unconsciously seeking the comfort of her touch. Alex felt a lump in her throat.

Smitty watched the entire episode with great understanding in his eyes. Then he turned to Billings.

“The captain wants Lady Alexandria to remain, and so she shall,” he stated simply.

Billings nodded. “Very well, Smitty. However, I still need you to hold him steady. Lady Alexandria might have the stomach, but she hasn’t the strength.”

“Fine,” Smitty responded, gesturing for Thomas to leave the room.

Fortunately the worst of the storm had finally subsided, and the movements of the ship were less turbulent. Billings stitched quickly, to minimize Drake’s discomfort. Every time he lurched with pain, Smitty would steady him while Alex spoke softly into his ear. The sound of her voice quieted him again and again.

Alex sighed with relief when at last Billings straightened from his task.

“It is done,” he announced. “There will be considerable swelling and a good deal of discomfort when he awakens. He will need tending to.” He gave Smitty a questioning look. “Will you remain with him?” It was common knowledge that the captain had gallantly relinquished his cabin to Lady Alexandria and was bunking with Smitty. Quite obviously, these arrangements would have to be altered until the captain was well.

Smitty nodded. “I’ll not leave him alone, John.”

“Good.” Billings grinned. “I know our captain will not take kindly to his enforced bed rest or to his weakened condition. But it is necessary that he rest in order for the wound and the concussion to heal.”

“I understand.”

Alex listened to the men talk, staring down into Drake’s face. His features were softer than when he was awake, giving him a vulnerable look that sparked a protective instinct in Alex. She stroked a lock of damp hair off of his forehead.

At her touch Drake opened his eyes. They were glazed with pain, but no longer unfocused. He blinked, turned his head slightly, and groaned.

“My head …”

“Shhh,” Alex murmured. “Try not to talk or move.”

“Alexandria?” He looked puzzled, trying to put the disoriented pieces together. “What happened?”

“You have a concussion, Captain,” John Billings interjected. “Not a terribly severe one. It could have been worse, but thanks to Lady Alexandria’s quick thinking, you were spared further injury.”

“Thanks to …” Drake looked astonished. Then memory flooded his features, “The wave … I remember … I must have hit my head.” He turned toward Alex. “The crew … Was anyone hurt? Was there any damage to my ship?”

Billings poured a healthy amount of brandy into a glass, then added several drops of laudanum to it. “Both the ship and the crew are fine, Captain. Here, drink this,” he directed. “It will ease your pain.”

Smitty helped raise Drake’s shoulders, careful to anchor his injured head, so that his captain could drink. Drake swallowed the mixture in three gulps, then eased back shakily onto the pillows.

“Damn! I’m as feeble as a child,” he muttered.

Billings nodded. “The weakness will last for several days, but the pain should diminish by tomorrow. You must rest, Captain.”

Drake scowled, but did not argue. “Has the storm subsided?” he asked.

“Yes, Captain,” Smitty replied. “The worst is over and the ship is intact. You can rest easy.”

Drake nodded. Once again his gaze sought Alex. “What am I going to do with you?” The question was asked half to her, half to himself. He gave her a rueful smile. “You’re such a damned little hoyden, but how can I thrash you when you saved my life?” He seemed to contemplate his options, but before he could continue the thought, his eyes began to glaze over and his lids grew heavy. “Such a beautiful contradiction,” he murmured, his voice slurred. “It’s no wonder you drive me insane. …” His voice drifted off as his features relaxed in slumber.

Billings chuckled, gathering up his things. “He will probably sleep for some time now. He might run a fever, though I doubt it. I will leave another dose of laudanum, should he require it. In any case he will need compresses for the swelling. I trust you can manage, Smitty?” He turned questioning eyes to the first mate.

Smitty nodded. “Most certainly.”

“Fine. Then I shall take my leave. I must see to the other injuries now.” He went to the doorway, then turned to Alex. “Thank you, my lady. You made a very fine nurse.”

Alex smiled. “Thank you for allowing me to stay, Doctor.”

He glanced at the bed, then back at Alex. “The captain wished it,” he replied. It was obvious to John Billings that the captain had feelings for Lady Alexandria. But those feelings were none of his business. He bade them good night, closing the door behind him.

“You are exhausted, my lady,” Smitty said gently. “Why not go to my cabin and rest. I can arrange for a hot bath for you. I don’t want you to become ill from staying in those wet clothes.”

Alex looked down at herself in surprise. She had completely forgotten about her own condition. She was drenched, her breeches were torn, and her shirt was covered with Drake’s blood.

“Oh …” she murmured, vaguely. “I am certainly disheveled, am I not?”

Smitty chuckled. “Go, my lady, before you catch a chill.”

Alex was too drained to argue.

The hot bath felt wonderful, as did the change of clothes. But despite her exhaustion, sleep would not come. She tossed and turned for hours, until lying there became unbearable. Finally she rose and made her way back to Drake’s cabin. Quietly she eased open the door so as not to disturb either man.

In the dim light she could see that Drake was tossing slightly in the bed, muttering unintelligible words. Beside the bed, Smitty dozed in a chair, unaware of his captain’s restlessness. Poor Smitty. He was absolutely spent. Alex gently touched his shoulder. At the contact Smitty’s eyes flew open.

“My lady? What is it?”

“Nothing, Smitty. All is well. I merely came to relieve you.”

His eyes widened and he shook his head. “No, my lady, that is not necessary.”

“I know it is not necessary, but you are positively exhausted. I am refreshed from my nap,” she lied. “Now it is time for you to go to your cabin and sleep. I will watch over your captain.”

Smitty glanced down at Drake, who was now perfectly still. Normally he would not have considered her suggestion, but every bone in his body was screaming for rest and the night was half over, without incident. Surely for a few hours he could leave his lordship in Lady Alexandria’s capable hands?

He sighed. “If he should stir, you will awaken me? If there is any problem …”

“There won’t be,” she stated firmly, already nudging Smitty to his feet. “Now go. You won’t be of any use to Captain Barrett tomorrow if you are exhausted. You will no doubt need all of your wits to combat his foul mood.”

Smitty smiled in spite of his fatigue. “You are quite right, my lady. I will take your kind suggestion. Thank you.”

Alex grinned as she closed the door behind Smitty. He was one of the kindest and most loyal human beings she had ever known.
It must be wonderful to have someone in your life who cares so deeply for you,
she mused.
Drake is a lucky man.

She walked back to the bed and placed her hand on Drake’s forehead. It was cool to the touch; he had no fever. All was well. She sat down in the chair, staring off into space, daydreaming idly. The minutes ticked by and her eyelids became heavy. Her head drooped forward, the awkward movement causing her to come awake. Quickly she glanced down at the bed, but Drake had not moved. She stood, stretching from her cramped position. Her belt was beginning to cut into her flesh. It was certainly not meant to be slept in, nor were the oversize cuffed breeches. Longingly, she eyed Drake’s huge white shirt, which had been serving as her nightrail and now lay neatly folded on the chest.

Why not? she wondered. No one else was present, and anyway the garment was so big on her that it reached below her knees. It was much less immodest than a sheer nightrail. With that thought she swiftly shed her constrictive clothing and donned the billowy shirt. Then she curled up in the broad chair, placing her head against its back.

I’ll just rest,
she assured herself.
That is all.

Seconds later she was asleep.

T
HE MOAN AWAKENED HER.
Blinking, she tried to get her bearings. She was in her cabin, but for some reason she was not in bed. Another moan sounded just in front of her.

Drake. She was on her feet in an instant, leaning over the bed. He was sweating profusely, thrashing about in discomfort. Alex hurried to the basin and rinsed a cloth in cool water. Returning to the bedside, she bathed his face, murmuring softly to him.

Drake’s eyes opened, focused on her face. “Alexandria?”

“Yes, Drake, it’s me.”

“My head is throbbing.” The words were unclear, but Alex understood them.

“I know it is,” she soothed. “I’ll put a compress on to ease the swelling.” So saying, she gently pressed the damp cloth against his badly swollen head. Drake gritted his teeth but, after a moment, visibly relaxed.

She thought he had gone back to sleep when he suddenly said, “My mouth is so dry. Could you possibly …” He didn’t finish the sentence seeming to have forgotten what he’d asked for. But Alex was already filling his glass with water, making sure to add a few drops of laudanum.

“Here, drink this,” she coaxed, holding the water to his lips. She hadn’t the strength to raise him up, so she merely offered him a sip at a time. He seemed to understand, and after he had drunk his fill, he smiled.

“Thank you.” His brilliant green eyes were slightly dulled from the drug, but his words were coherent. He watched her place the glass on the desk, then return to his bedside.

“Can I get you anything else?” she asked, seeing that he was still awake.

She looked so beautiful standing there, almost ethereal in her white shirt, with her delicate features framed by the cloud of tumbled, honey-colored hair. Perhaps the laudanum was making him silly. Still, the sudden surge of feeling was uncontrollable.

“Come here,” he murmured, patting the side of the bed.

Alex hesitated, but then realized he was barely conscious. Soon the medicine would take effect, causing him to drift off again. There was no harm in sitting with him for a moment.

His gaze was intense as she lowered herself to the bed. Slowly he lifted his hand and wrapped a tendril of her hair around it. “Have I told you how beautiful your hair is?” he asked in a husky voice. “It generates its own sunlight, sometimes soft and glowing, other times blazing with fire.” He reached up with his other hand to stroke her cheek. “When I opened my eyes and saw you here I wasn’t certain if I was awake or dreaming. You’ve filled my dreams so many nights … and whether my eyes are open or closed, it seems you are always there. Can you tell me why that is, my lovely Alexandria?”

Alex could barely breathe. Reason told her the drug was making him behave so strangely, but her body was responding wildly to his caressing words. She stared at him with wide, apprehensive eyes.

Drake gave her a slow, melting smile. “Don’t look so frightened, sweetheart. Surely by now you know I would never hurt you?” The hand that caressed her cheek slid around to stroke the nape of her neck. He was drowning in her eyes, which shone like flawless opals and spoke to him of need and want despite her mind’s ambivalence.

Alex felt him tug her head down, and she placed her hands against his chest, holding herself back. But who was she afraid of, she thought wildly, Drake or herself? How many times had she relived those moments in his arms, longed to repeat them?

Drake glanced down at her restraining hands. “Don’t,” he whispered, meeting her confused gaze once more. “Don’t stop me. God knows I fought it as hard as I could, but it’s no use. I want you, Alexandria … God help me, I
need
you.”

He drew her down to him, covering her trembling mouth with his.

The moment their lips touched, wild flames erupted, licked along their nerve endings, and ignited an explosion that shook them to the very core of their beings. Tightening his grip on her back, Drake parted her lips and thrust his tongue into her mouth in an act of undisputed possession.

There was never a question of denial. As much a prisoner of the overwhelming physical sensations as he, Alex capitulated completely to Drake’s unspoken demand. Her hands slid to his bare shoulders; her mouth moved with his in a kiss that took and gave and still wasn’t enough.

Drake tangled his hands in her hair, the pain in his skull minor compared to the unbearable ache in his groin. Nothing mattered now but putting out the fire that only this woman could ignite in him. Like a starving man, he kissed her eyelids, her cheeks, her nose. But always her mouth drew him back, and he drank from it. He wrapped his arms around her, flattening her against him, feeling her tense in his arms.

“No,” he commanded softly. “Don’t pull away.” He couldn’t let her go; he would explode with his need for her. He stroked her back through the barrier of the shirt, burying his lips in her hair. He wanted to tell her, to explain how badly he needed her. Determinedly he struggled to combat the inhibiting effects of the laudanum. “I need you,” he repeated. “Alex … please.”

He had never called her Alex before, and the name was like an endearment. She heard his plea, and it touched an answering voice inside of her. In a rush she melted against him, wanting to be absorbed into his power.

Drake felt her surrender and knew a sense of triumph that was staggering. Urgently, greedily, he took what was his. Her shirt had ridden up to her thighs, and he reached down to caress her bare legs. It still wasn’t enough. He slid his hands beneath the shirt, exploring the contours of her naked body. Her skin was like hot silk, her body coming to life beneath his seeking hands. He stroked the slender lines of her back, then moved around to cup her breasts in his palms. Alex trembled, then moaned softly as Drake circled her hardened nipples with his thumbs.