Capturing the Pirate's Heart (The Emerald Quest Book 1) (15 page)

“Hold this.” Sébastien held out
the damp cloth to her. He crouched in front of her and gently lifted her foot,
cradling it in his hand as he examined it. She turned her ankle slightly so he
could see the cut, and drew in her breath as his gentle fingers probed along
the arch of her foot.

“Ow.” Madeleine jerked her leg
back. “That hurts.”

Triumphantly, he held up a small
piece of porcelain. “I believe this is the culprit.” He pulled her foot to him
again before holding his hand out for the cloth. His head bowed in
concentration as he gently pressed the cloth against the cut on her foot.

“So, begin with what happened
and tell me what you heard.” Finally, he lifted his head and looked at her.
Madeleine put her hand to her mouth and her mind ticked over as she observed
him. Was she being naïve just because her body ran rampant every time Sébastien
was close? She would swear if he kissed her again, she would probably faint
with the delight of it.

God forbid, if he touched her
again.

His eyes were kind as she took
his measure. Usually dark and glittering, she stared into his pupils and leaned
closer to Sébastien. Today his eyes were of a warm, dark brown and the flecks
in his irises matched the golden skin of his bare chest. She leaned closer and
the heat of him seemed to warm her even with distance between them. With a
stifled groan he took her hands and held them tightly in his grip.

“Do you realize how you look at
me?” His voice was husky. “It does not befit a single young woman in mourning.”

Madeleine allowed a slow smile
to cross her face while she held his gaze steadily. Then she dropped her eyes
to her chest and gestured with a casual flick of her hand to her attire. “Does
it befit a pirate’s wench?”

“Enough.” He dropped her hands
and rose swiftly to his feet and strode across the cabin to the table. “Come
away from the bed, and sit with me here before you entice me to actions I will
long regret. You are an innocent, Madeleine, and you do not know the power of
your charm. You are playing with fire and you will get hurt.” He pulled out one
of the chairs and waited for her. “Are you able to walk on your injured foot?”

“Yes.” Her voice was sulky as
she crossed to the table. Who was he to tell her she would get hurt? He knew
nothing about her and even if his assumptions about her innocence may have been
correct, he did not need to know that. If he believed her to be more experienced
than she was, he may trust her enough to let her go ashore alone when they
berthed in New Orleans.

***

“Who was in my cabin? Tell me what was said.”

The petulant set to Madeleine’s lips reminded Sébastien of Lisette
when she wanted her own way. It amused Sébastien but he would not give in to
her. It took his attention momentarily from the pressure in his breeches.
Sitting beside her on his bed had brought all manner of tempting—and
inappropriate—thoughts to his mind. “Did they say what they were looking for?
Or God forbid, do you believe they were looking for you?”

It seemed peculiar to him that the assailants would choose that time
to go looking for a woman…and the woman who was known as the pirate's woman.
They were sure to know that they would end up overboard when he discovered them
with her. It made no sense.

“They were looking for something that I do not have.” Madeleine
crossed her arms in front of her chest and her loose chemise dropped from one
shoulder exposing her bare, white skin.

Holy Mother of Christ.
Sébastien closed
his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. “So if you do not have it, how
did they know what they sought?”

“The other man—the one who is locked up— heard me telling a…story…to
Jake. He—that man— must have told them.”

“What sort of story?” He had not known her long but he knew her well
enough to know when she was lying…or avoiding the truth. She dropped her gaze
to her folded arms.

“Madeleine?”

“A story about something that I would like to have one day.
Something that by rights belongs to me.”

“Tell me about it.”

“I can’t.” Her voice was firm.

“You can tell Jake about it? But not me?” A tinge of jealousy shot
through Sébastien before he realized it was ridiculous to be jealous of her
friendship with the young lad. “Why not me, Madeleine? You can trust me with
your secret.”

“Can I, Sébastien?” Her gaze was steadfast as she stared at him.
“You? A pirate who is after booty and fortune?”

Unease roiled in his stomach. Was that how this beautiful young
woman thought of him? For the first time in many years, it mattered to him that
he was not thought to be a dishonest and self-serving man. It had suited his
purposes while he earned enough to leave this all behind, but he did not want
Madeleine to think poorly of him. Why that bothered him, he did not know.

He reached across the table, picked up her small white hand and
entwined her fingers in his. She did not pull away and a measure of
satisfaction shot through him.

God help me.
Even the touch of her
fingers in his sent fire racing through his veins.

“I am an honest man, Madeleine. I am not a pirate.” Her wide green
eyes held his and in that instant he decided to tell her everything. “I will
trust you. Because I want you to know. What I will tell you no one else knows.
Only the Spanish governor.”

“The governor? He approves of what you do?

Sébastien nodded slowly. “Not only does he approve, he sends me on
these missions. For the past two years, I have earned enough freeing slaves
from slave traders’ vessels that I can now leave.”

“Leave where?” Her face was alight with curiosity and he was pleased
she was interested in his story.

“When we dock in New Orleans, I will leave the
Maiden
under
the command of Mr. Abrahams. I will not return to the sea.”

Madeleine’s brow furrowed. “Haven’t you always been a sea captain?
What will you do?”

Sébastien turned her hand over and gently traced the lines on her
palm as he reminisced. “I grew up on a beautiful island. A lush, green island
where soft breezes blew and the smell of the sea was always around. Not far
from where we sail now. My grandfather owned a sugar plantation on San Domingo
and I learned all there was to know about growing sugar as I worked by his
side.”

“So you will go back to this island you speak of?” She tipped her
head to the side as she waited for his answer.

He lifted his chin and stared past her. “No, there are other islands
far from here where I shall make a new beginning.” The memories on San Domingo
were memories he did not want to keep. His mother and Lisette were both buried
in the town and the family plantation had been sold to fund Jean-Luc’s gambling
debts.

No, Sébastien wanted to be far from all of that.

“The Hawaiian Islands. That is where my future lies.”

Madeleine could see the longing on Sébastien’s face as he spoke of a
new beginning and a new life. For the first time since she had left home, her
determination began to waver. The importance of finding the necklace and
returning to England with her grand plan to restore the family estate had
lessened. The ways in the New World seemed to be very different to the way of
life she was well used to on the estate in Derbyshire. Sébastien spent his days
freeing slaves from a life of servitude, while she was trying to find the
necklace so she could bring the people from her village back to work on the
family estate. Jake’s thoughts about servants the other day had made her think
deeply about what she was doing and she began to wonder whether her motives
were selfish.

Perhaps it is not so different from the slavery over here in the New
World?
But it was all she had ever known. A small
sound of distress escaped her lips as her thoughts whirled around in confusion.

“What’s wrong?” Sébastien squeezed her fingers gently. “I did not
mean to upset you.”

Madeleine lifted her head. His expression was kind and she imagined
for a brief moment that perhaps it was more than concern for her well-being
that brought that softness to his face. She held his gaze and the light caught
the golden flecks in his deep brown eyes.

“There were two men.” Taking a deep breath, she rushed on before she
changed her mind. She would trust him. “They were looking for a diary that
belonged to my…family.”

“A diary? Is it here in my cabin?” Sébastien frowned and looked
around as though he expected to see it lying out in full view.

“No. No, it is in England. It is in the library at Bellerose Hall—my
home.” She shook her head and hitched a sob. “Or rather, what used to be my
home.”

Sébastien let go of her hand and stood, before walking around slowly
to where she sat at the table. He kept his gaze on her as he crouched beside
her. “I think you had better start at the beginning and tell me your whole
story.”

The words poured from Madeleine as she told him of leaving her home
with Uncle Titus after he had stripped it bare, of the planned marriage and how
she had been determined to escape him. She fought the tears that pressed at the
back of her eyes as she described her home to Sébastien and explained how her parents
and brother had been killed, and how Uncle Titus had taken over her life.

Sébastien stood and took her hands, pulling her up to her feet
before his arms encircled her. Madeleine sighed as he held her close and she
rested her head on his shoulder. His chest vibrated against her as he spoke.

“I knew you were brave but I did not realize how truly courageous
you are.”

“That’s not all. Uncle Titus took me ashore and I met a man who I
was supposed to marry. A man who seemed more interested in where my aunt lived,
than taking a wife.”

She lifted her head and raised her hand to his shoulder. His skin
was wet from her tears and she trailed her fingers over his chest as he looked
down at her.

“I thought if I came here and found—“

She broke off and swallowed as he waited for her to finish.

“Found what, Madeleine?”

“Found the heirloom that was in the diary, I thought I could go back
to my home and everything would be the way it was. But now, I don’t know if it
is the right course of action.” Lifting her chin she held his gaze. “My
father’s aunt lived here and she hid a necklace in her house. She wrote of it
in her diary—I am the only relative left, other than Uncle Titus, that is. I
spoke to Jake of the diary and the necklace and we were overheard.” She felt
herself tremble as fear spiked through her. “It seems that others know of the
diary…or the necklace. Foolishly, I thought I would just come to New Orleans,
find Aunt Josephine’s house, collect it, and all would be well.

“I will deal with the men who were in my cabin when we get to New
Orleans. If I lock more men up, the crew will be uneasy.” His voice was soft.
“But you must forget all about finding this treasure you seek. It is too
dangerous for a young woman such as you to be embarking on such a quest.”

“I do not agree. Why would you say that?” A weight settled on
Madeleine’s shoulders; yet another impediment to block her path. She folded her
arms and lifted her chin.

“I will help you before I seek passage to the islands. But only to
see you safely on your way to England before I depart. You must forget all
about this necklace. You have my word I will help you go home.”

“No.” Madeleine stood on her toes and softly kissed Sébastien’s
cheek to soften her words. The stubble of his cheek was rough beneath her lips
and his soft groan sent a pleasurable ripple through her. “I may take your
offer of assistance after I succeed in finding my family’s heirloom.”

“You cannot follow this foolish idea of yours. Trust me when I say
it is too dangerous.”

“I must.”

“Why must you?”

“I’ve already told you.” Madeleine tried to keep the conviction in
her voice. “I must get the necklace to help them all back home in Derbyshire.”

Sébastien held her arms and shook his head. “You must forget that
foolish idea. You are a most frustrating young woman. I promised to keep you
safe but I think you may be more at risk of harm from me when you look at me
with your emerald eyes.”

She shook her head at the frown that crossed his brow, even as his
touch sent thrills coursing through her blood. “You are truly a good man. I am
sorry I doubted your motives.” For a moment, her frustration with Sébastien for
dismissing her determination to find the necklace was overshadowed by the
thought of saying good bye to him at the end of the voyage. “But I cannot agree
with you…about the necklace.”

“Madeleine, you do not know what you do to me.” Sébastien stared at
her and a rush of warmth filled her belly and as it travelled lower, her legs
trembled.

Even when she had thought him to be a pirate, this man had
fascinated her. And now that she knew the truth of Sébastien, it would be so
hard to leave him. She could not ignore the pleasurable feelings that coursed
through her body when he was near her. The pleasure of simply being in his
company would stay with her for a long time. She raised her hand to her lips
where the taste of his skin still lingered.

“And you to me, Sébastien.” The words that were in her head left her
lips before she could hold them back. “I want you.”

***

Sébastien’s gaze trailed down past Madeleine’s bare shoulders to the
soft swell of her breasts. Courageous and determined, she was beautiful; the
strongest woman he had ever met. There was no doubt of her fair-skinned beauty,
but for Sébastien it was Madeleine’s inner beauty that shone through. She knew
what she wanted and she had held onto her convictions, no matter what danger
she was in. And he had tried hard to dissuade her from this foolish and
dangerous quest.

I want you
. Her words filled his head;
but his desire overcame his attempt to rationalize the foolishness of touching
her, to resist taking her innocence. Sébastien was helpless beneath the sway of
her emerald gaze. She leaned her head back as his fingers lifted her heavy
auburn tresses from her neck, and bared her neck to his lips. His other hand
slipped through the folds of her skirt and ran slowly up the outside of her
bare thigh and when she let out a soft groan Sébastien was lost.

Her skin was soft and warm, and he stayed his hand before it reached
the top of her leg. He slid his lips up her graceful neck and lightly licked
her skin. Her skin tasted of the sweet fragrance that came from her hair—like
the roses his mother had picked from her garden when he was a child. The memory
of home flitted though his mind and he pulled back.

What the hell am I doing? I should be keeping her safe.
He pulled back, slowly shaking his head and pulled his hand away
from her bare thigh, but Madeleine dropped her hand over his and pressed it
against her leg.

“Please. It is all right. I want you to touch me.” Her slumberous
eyes looked up at him and Sébastien was torn. Despite her request, he could see
the nervousness in her beautiful emerald eyes. Did she know that her needs were
the same as his? But she was untouched and innocent and he should not be
thinking these thoughts.

“Sébastien.” Her voice was low and husky. “I want you. I want you in
every way a woman wants a man. I may know nothing and you will have to guide
me, but it is what I want.” She turned her head and pressed her lips against
his and he groaned against her mouth. “It is what I need.”

Sliding her hand around to the front of his breeches, Madeleine
pressed her hand against the hardness that was throbbing there, almost
unbearably. He had never wanted a woman with such ferocity. Before he could
move, she dropped her other hand and unlaced his breeches without taking her
lips from his. Warm soft fingers encircled his bare flesh and he was lost.

He lifted her hands above her head and spoke against her lips,
pushing his doubt aside. “Madeleine, I will be gentle with you, I swear.”

“I know. Take me to your bed.”

His fingers ran though her luxuriant auburn tresses and he was
surrounded by the sweet rose smell. Sébastien deepened the pressure of his kiss
and as her mouth opened beneath his, he kissed her slowly. He would not rush
this, her first time. Promises of exquisite pleasure, words of reassurance
interspersed his kisses and finally when she trembled in his arms, he lifted
her and carried her across to his bed. For a long moment, he stood at the side
of the bed and gazed down at her. Her beauty was remarkable and a tender ache
filled his chest. The unfamiliar feeling tugged at him and Sébastien let the
warmth spread through his blood. Madeleine’s hair fanned out on the pillow
around her head and her eyes had taken on a dark and mysterious haze; her lips
were dark, red and inviting him to return. As he watched, she unlaced the
silken red chemise and slipped it over her head.

Ah, God.
Her nipples were a dusky pink
and erect. His gaze lingered on the pale skin of her breasts. They were like
alabaster, pure and untouched. Slowly he reached down and cupped each of her
breasts in his hand, and they were warm beneath his fingers. A groan tore from
his throat as a tremble ran through his body. Slowly and gently, Sébastien ran
his hands lower and untied the laces she had fashioned at the side of the black
skirt and slipped it down over her feet.

She wore nothing beneath it and he held his breath, fighting his own
need, determined to pleasure her before giving in to his own pressing desire.
He lay beside her and her hands touched his shoulders, lingering on his chest
and moving down to his manhood. He grasped her fingers before she could touch
him again, fighting the greed that threatened to overwhelm him.

“Slowly. I will pleasure you slowly.” He lifted his head and held
her gaze. Her eyes drew him in deeply, inviting him to take her, but he smiled
and shook his head. “So sweet, so beautiful.”

He lowered his hand to the curls between her legs and cupped her
sex, and her body bucked beneath his fingers. Slowly he searched for the hard
nub and smiled at her as he found it. Her eyes were wide and her lips were open
with wonder. Gently, he circled around it, teasing her and lightly brushing his
hand in the fine silken hair that covered her.

She shuddered beneath him each time his fingers brushed her. She
pushed her hips higher.

“Please don’t stop. I need more.” Her voice was ragged and he
lowered his head and laved her nipple at the same time as his finger entered
her hot, damp folds.

Her scream surprised him as he drew her nipple into his mouth and
sucked. She shuddered beneath him.

***

Madeleine was floating above the soft feather mattress as the last
of the exquisite tremors rippled through her. Sébastien had moved up beside her
and whispered soft endearments softly as his lips grazed her neck. Gentle
caresses warmed her as his fingers continued to explore her body. Sweet
sensation such as she had never imagined.

What new passions will my lover
find me today? What pleasures unheard of, undreamed of?
Now, for the first time, she
understood the words Aunt Josephine had written in her diary. Slowly, Sébastien
lifted her until his arms were around her and his hard body was pressed along
her length. In one swift roll he was on top of her and he lowered his head and
took her mouth. He used his tongue to lightly open her lips and as he thrust it
firmly between them, he moved one hand between them and plunged his fingers
inside her. She could not get enough of the feel of his fingers touching her,
stretching her and she waited, knowing he was preparing her.

“I am afraid of hurting you.”
His words hummed against her lips as the tip of his hot manhood pressed against
her, replacing his gentle fingers. She smiled as he murmured what was going to
happen, sweet promises of how he would take her to heaven and back.

“I am all right.” Madeleine
could not help but smile at his gentle words.