Destiny of the Heart (Viking Destiny) (22 page)

A good while later when she had been left in the cabin
alone with nothing to do, Kristen's anger was at its peak. She
still hadn't gotten the bath she had asked for, not the food she
had been promised. The moment the cabin door opened, she
threw a pillow at whoever it was, not even looking to make
sure it was Derrick. The cabin boy was struck with the pillow,
and the tray of food he had been carrying was dumped down
the front of his shirt.

"Oh, dear. I'm terribly sorry. I thought you were the
captain." She said, and then burst into laughter at his
bemused expression.

The cabin boy grinned. Even though she had a devil of
a temper, her laughter was infectious. "M'lady?"
"Yes?"
"The cap'n says he won't be joinin' ye tonight and that
he's terribly sorry."
"Is that so?" She planted her hands on her hips and
tapped her foot lightly. Her anger returned full force.
"I'll jus' be on me way ta get you another tray of food,
ma'am." He started for the door, worried she would take her
anger out on him.
"Don't bother, I've lost my appetite. Please just send for
a bath. And you may tell that miserable captain of yours that
he can rot!"
The cabin boy turned a bright shade of red, which
made him look awful since his hair was the color of rust.
Kristen just turned her back on the boy, lost in her own
thoughts to be overmuch concerned with this. Moments later
the cabin door swung open and crashed into the wall.
"Do not attack another member of my crew again."
Derrick growled.
"Then don't leave me locked in this stuffy room with
absolutely nothing to do but think it's you walking through the
door, and wanting to relieve my aggressions. And, for the
record, I did not attack your cabin boy, you jackass. I merely
threw a pillow at him." She hadn't bothered to turn around
when he walked in, so she was glaring at the wall she was
facing.
Derrick's face was pinched in anger. He growled and
started for her, but she heard him and moved on the opposite
side of the bed, finally turning to face him.
“So this is how it will be? You'll run every time I come
near you?”
“I didn't run earlier. I believe that was you.”
His face suffused with color. He had been an ass, truly.
Slamming out of the cabin after taking her innocence.
“I apologize for that. I was angry.” He offered.
“You're not forgiven.” She turned her back on him.
“Damn it, woman! At least look at me when you insult
me.”
“I'd rather not. You make me ill.”
Derrick growled again, but this time he leaped at her,
knocking her over to land on top of her. Fortunately, there
were pillows there from when they had made love earlier. She
looked at him calmly, a most frustrating circumstance to a
desperate man.
“Get off of me.” She said flatly.
“Does nothing ever ruffle your feathers?” He
demanded.
She didn't answer, just turned her head to the side so
she could look at the wall.
“Answer me, damn you!”
She turned her head back, tears shining in her eyes.
“Bloody hell.” He lifted himself off of her and pulled her
from the floor into his arms. “Please don't cry, Kristen. I didn't
mean to hurt you.” He smoothed her hair down her back.
“Didn't you?” She asked accusingly as the first tear
slipped down her cheek.
“No, I didn't. It was only my reaction to wanting you so
badly.”
Kristen snorted.
“You doubt that I wanted you, sweetheart?”
“No, that was apparent enough. It was the fact that you
cast me aside so quickly after you got what you wanted that
bothers me.” Another tear fell despite her efforts not to cry in
front of Derrick.
“So now we have the right of it, then. Kristen, I did not
cast you aside. Far from it. I left the room because I was
angry. You didn't take me seriously, and I wouldn't make such
an offer in jest. I was serious, you know?”
“You didn't offer, you demanded. The answer is still no.”
Derrick sighed. “Why, little one?”
“Because.” She said aloud. To herself, you wouldn't
love me the way I would love you, and I could be putting your
life in danger to boot.
“We will see.” He said softly and kissed the top of her
head, holding her close.

"I tell you Jack, I know I can make her happy." Derrick
said in frustration.
Jack stared at him as if he had sprouted another head.
Derrick Shane considering marriage was something Jack
never thought he would see, despite the fact that three weeks
ago he had suggested Derrick consider it.
"What?!" Derrick finally snapped.
"Don't think I've ever had the pleasure of seeing you so
at a loss with a woman before." Jack said humorously.
Derrick rolled his eyes. "This isn't just any woman, or
haven't you been listening?"
"Yes, yes, she's the one." Jack said, waving his arms
around for emphasis. It only irritated Derrick further.
"Blister it, Jack. You're not helping!"
Jack laughed. "Sorry, mate. Couldn't resist."
"I asked her to marry me and she flat out refused. The
woman makes no sense. Six weeks ago she was more than
willing to marry me based on a marriage contract. Now, after
I've taken her innocence, the answer is no? Loony, the lot of
them."
"Did you ask her, or did you tell her? There's a
difference, don't you know, and women are a mite particular
about it being done in a proper sort of way." Hack offered,
thinking perhaps Kristen's pique was because Derrick had
practically demanded she marry him.
Derrick started to pour himself a brandy, but decided to
take the bottle instead. He sat in a nearby chair and began
chugging straight from the bottle. It was all Jack could do not
to laugh at him, but he was damn close to losing his shorts on
this one.
“I s'ppose I told her. D'you think that might have
something to do with her response?” Derrick asked hopefully.
“Possibly. But, maybe she has things in her past that
she isn't ready for you to know about, afraid you'll walk away.
Sounds vaguely familiar.”
Derrick glared at Jack before he took another swig from
the bottle. Jack frowned.
“This woman has you all tied up and you've only known
her about two months, most of which she was unconscious
for. I'd say you need some sense knocked into you. Shall we
make port in Orkney?”
“Tristan won't be there. He's out to sea during these
months while the weather is still good. And besides, aren't you
the one who told me we needed to deliver these goods before
Yen took his business elsewhere?” Derrick said testily.
“What harm will it do to at least see? Perhaps you can
get your mind off the girl for a bit. Yen can wait another week.”
“Perhaps.” Derrick took another drink, the bottle now
almost empty.
“Or perhaps your plan is to get soaking foxed and
forget your troubles that way?” Jack asked.
“As good a plan as any.” Another drink, this one
finishing the bottle.
“You're on your own, then. One of us has to be
conscious enough to run this ship.” Jack got up to leave the
room.
Feeling tipsy from the drink, Derrick sat up and looked
at Jack. “Would you marry her if you were me?” He asked.
Jack looked at his friend and grinned knowingly.
“Never mind, I don't want to know.” Derrick added
quickly.
“My, my is someone remembering they actually have
feelings like the rest of us poor sods?” Jack teased.
“Blister it, Jack or I'll be taking my frustration out on you
rather than the bottle.” Derrick grouched.
Jack laughed as he walked out of the room. Derrick
threw the empty brandy bottle at the door, watching it shatter
all over the place. Rolling his eyes and sighing, he got up and
grabbed another bottle.
Two bottles of brandy later, Derrick stumbled to his
cabin. It was no easy thing to walk straight when one was
foxed, but put them on a bloody ship and it was damn near
impossible. He ended up crashing into his room, not meaning
to, but enjoying the sight of Kristen waking up, immediately
alert and swinging around ready to do battle. He briefly
thought of indulging her in that battle, but decided she would
be more equipped to win. He scowled at her instead and got a
frown for his efforts as he stumbled in and slammed the door.
“Are you drunk?” She asked.
He hissed. “What a disgusting term!”
“Do you always dance around the issue?”
“Do you always speak so foully? Weren't you taught
any manners?” He was being an ass again, but damn it, the
woman infuriated him.
“Bloody pig-headed man.” She grouched, ignoring his
jibe at her. “What the devil did you go and do that for? You do
realize the headache you're going to have in the morning,
don't you? Fine way to run a ship, I must say.”
Derrick stared at her for a moment, and then burst out
laughing. She furrowed her brow but glared at him
nonetheless.
“No need to worry over me, m'dear. We're not to be, if
you'll recall, so you don't have to take care of me through the
night.” He hoped to goad her sympathies, but that backfired
immediately.
“Well lucky for you, I had no intention of doing so
anyway. You may sleep on the floor, you arrogant ass.” With
that, she laid back down and rolled over to face the wall.
Derrick was incredulous. He meant for her to coo over
his condition and want to take care of him. He meant for her to
worry over him as he had worried over her. The bloody
woman wasn't even going to oblige him that, the shrew. He
was seriously reconsidering that fight.
Instead, he sat on the edge of the bed and began
taking his boots off.
“What do you think you are doing?” Kristen demanded
sharply, still facing the wall.
“What the bloody hell do you think? I'm taking my boots
off and getting ready for bed.”
“We're not sharing this bed.” She warned.
“It's my bed, and you had no problem sharing it earlier.”
Kristen gasped as her cheeks went up in flames at the
reminder of her earlier weakness.
“A mistake that shall not be repeated I assure you.
Since you can't be a gentleman, I'll leave.” She threw the
covers off and started for the edge of the bed, but heard his
growl and was suddenly being kissed.
Derrick knew her remark was only in response to his,
but it had goaded him nonetheless. He didn't understand why
she fought him at every turn, especially since she clearly
wanted him. Short of throttling her, which he was still close to
doing, the only thing he could think to do was kiss her. And he
wasn't gentle about it this time, either. His mouth covered hers
swiftly and aggressively, and he crushed her with his weight,
pinning her arms and legs to the bed. But, as with before, she
didn't seem to mind.
Kristen's thoughts drifted from anger and returned to
the pleasure his touch always provided her. She didn't think it
was possible to feel such things more than once in the day,
but there she was, feeling ready to fall into his arms yet again.
That familiar warmth was unfurling in her stomach, and the
urgency she was beginning to understand was back. She
opened her mouth to his, and he kissed her deeply. He felt
smooth and tasted of brandy. Kristen wasn't sure what she
was doing, but her earlier decision hadn't changed, she merely
meant to put him off until he was sober. Still, she just couldn't
seem to help herself where this man was concerned.
He abruptly ended the kiss and pulled away from her.
He could hear her jagged breathing and groaned inwardly. If
he wasn't careful, this woman would be his undoing.
“I'll sleep on the floor.” He said.
“You don't have to.” She replied quietly.
“What was that?” He demanded harshly.
“You don't have to.” She replied loudly. She reached
out to touch him, but stopped.
“Now you're saying it's acceptable to share my bed?”
“Do you have to make everything so damn difficult? It's
not acceptable, but you are drunk, and to be fair, the floor is
quite uncomfortable." She grouched.
He smiled. She certainly didn't concede gracefully, his
little hellcat, but he wouldn't goad her further that night. He
finished undressing and lay down next to her. She turned her
back to him, which suited him just fine. This way he could just
hold her. In his condition, making love to her was out of the
question. It would be over before it even began and he
couldn't do that to her. So, he fell asleep with her pressed
firmly against his body, feeling hopeful that if he were patient,
she would see reason and marry him.
Chapter 25

Alice positively abhorred the London social scene. It
was ripe with tiresome people, and often, bland conversation
that was not the least bit helpful. However, a ball was the best
place to get information about people without seeming suspect
by asking. Alice merely had to wander around the ballroom to
learn that Kristen had been missing for several weeks and
right on the heels of her previous kidnapping.

It was also noted that Kristen was indeed a beautiful
lady, but there was something most peculiar about her. Why,
there was even rumor that she boxed with men. As if a proper
lady of breeding would even be caught dead discussing such
things. Alice snorted to herself. Never mind the fact that the
individual who had spouted that bit of nonsense was actually
discussing that very topic. Kristen's propensity for fighting was
one trait Alice found intriguing, but then again, they were both
raised by Vikings, so it was natural they would have it in
common.

Alice continued to make the rounds, staying on the
fringe of the crowd so she could inconspicuously overhear
several conversations while not seeming as if she were
eavesdropping. She was quite ready to call it a night when she
spotted the Lady Atchkinson. Alice thought it rather odd that
the lady made an appearance at all. Rumor had it that
Meloney Atchkinson was beside herself with worry at her
friend's disappearance, but to look at her now, it wouldn't
appear that she even noticed. Alice edged along the crowd
until she was within hearing distance of the Lady Atckinson.

A middle-aged lord was presently speaking to her, and
to Alice's trained eye, the young woman looked quite bored.
But, then he surprised her and asked about Kristen.

"I say Lady Atchkinson, where is this stunning friend of
yours that I've heard so much about? I must confess, I was
rather hoping to meet her tonight."