Lock (35 page)

He pressed soft kisses to her inner thighs while he massaged the backs of her knees with his fingertips. His tongue traced the indentation between her pelvis and thighs. Instinctively, Sparrow’s hands grasped handfuls of his hair. She shivered when his tongue tickled her perineum then ran along her pussy lips. It slipped inside her, swirling and licking.

She moaned softly, hoping none of the crew could hear. Lock grasped her waist, stroking and squeezing as he continued exploring the delicate folds of moist flesh. His lips tugged gently at her clit before he sucked it.

“Oh, Lock!” Sparrow panted.

Again the tip of his tongue poked inside her. One of his hands cupped her buttocks. He pressed a finger to her anus while he lapped her clit with frustrating gentleness.

Sparrow’s legs trembled and she wiggled beneath him. His strong hands held her firmly in place as he lapped her to a quaking climax. Before the last ripples of pleasure coursed through her, he slid up her body, guiding her legs to a bent-knee position and crossing them in front of his chest as his cock pushed into her liquid pussy. The strange position felt surprisingly good. It must have to him as well since, when Sparrow opened her eyes a slit to watch him, his own were closed, his expression euphoric.

“I’ve wanted you so much, Sparrow,” he said, his voice rough with passion.

“You, too, Lock,” she admitted. “I’ve wanted you so much it’s almost painful.”

“It has been painful,” he sounded almost breathless as his thrusting increased.

Sparrow felt another orgasm building. She clutched the sheet beside her, moaning and gasping as she came. He tensed, thrusting hard and fast, before stiffening and crying out his own climax.

Sparrow sighed with contentment. At least some things hadn’t changed.

The following week brought calm seas and sunny days, a welcome relief after the storm. The Lady Fire’s major damages were fixed, and the crew awaited some sign of land to replenish supplies and make the last of the repairs.

The crew adjusted well to Lock’s claiming of the ship. Sparrow thought many men even appeared grateful for such solid direction. Lock knew what he wanted and issued clear instructions. Sparrow knew his experience at sea kept them alive through the first days after the storm, and the men, after days of carefully watching their new Captain, accepted him completely.

Lock—to Sparrow’s relief and dismay—seemed born to control a ship. At least she could walk about without fear—or at least with little fear. She remained in charge of the galley, but spent much time on deck, glad to breathe the salty sea air and enjoy the sun and wind on her skin. She and Lock didn’t speak again of their plans for when the Lady Fire docked. Once the tension of restoring the ship passed, his temper improved and he often acted like the man she’d known in Begonia.

Perhaps if he treated her differently the idea of leaving him would have been easier, but he still cast her affectionate glances throughout the day. In between overseeing the running of the ship, he ducked into the galley for some brief conversation or touched her arm or hair when they passed one another on deck. She didn’t doubt his love for her, but she didn’t know if it could compete with his love of the sea and for the power that accompanied his position on the Lady Fire.

“Enjoying the view?”

Sparrow started at the sound of Lock’s voice close to her ear. She turned from the rail where she’d been gazing into the sea and looked at him. “Trying to see more dolphins.”

He smiled. “Thought you might have been searching for a merman. Legend has it, when women go to sea, mermen steal their hearts and take them below.”

“My heart’s already been stolen.”

He bent to kiss her when Ilias bellowed from the crow’s nest. “Look! Gulls!”

Both Sparrow and Lock glanced skyward. Two grayish birds dipped and soared overhead.

“Means land.” Lock told her.

“Land?” Sparrow’s stomach clenched. She almost dreaded the idea of docking. Now she’d know exactly how much Lock loved her.

She wanted to ask how far they were from shore, but he’d already turned and begun issuing orders. She felt the crew’s excitement about docking and noticed they laughed more than usual.

By midday, a dark rise loomed in the distance. Several hours later, they docked on the shore of what appeared to be a small island.

Lock sent Ilias and several crewmen ashore in the dingy, and when they returned, informed them they’d landed on Gray Horse Isle, located between the Western continent and the Kennas.

“Not all that far from Begonia, but far enough to be out of the Empress’s reach,” Lock told Sparrow. “I’ve stopped here before. Not the wealthiest isle in the world, but self-sufficient. We can buy supplies here and make repairs.”

“Can we settle here?” Sparrow asked.

He shook his head. “Wouldn’t want to stay here, girl. Can cross the whole island in half a day on foot. Besides, it floods badly during storms, which come often. Water’s also full of sharks—”

“All right, Lock.” Sparrow raised an eyebrow. “I understand you don’t want to live here.”

“Now that we know where we are, plotting our course will be simple. Don’t worry, girl. We’ll find someplace soon.”

She touched a finger to his lips. “Lately everything out of your mouth has been a lie.”

“We can’t stay on the ship forever. If I say we’ll be docking again soon, then we will. In the meantime, let’s go ashore while the weather’s good. I have to barter with the sellers in the market. Won’t be pretty. They know if we’ve stopped here to buy, we’ve got to be hard up.”

“I want to go, too. I need some clothes.”

“Ilias,” Lock glanced at the man who stood a short distance away, “you’ll go with Sparrow to the market. Get her whatever she wants and the two of you are in charge of buying provisions. Come with me, and I’ll give you money.”

“If you mean the money in the hold, it’s stolen,” Sparrow stated.

Lock raised an eyebrow. “And I don’t know who it was stolen from, so I can’t very well give it back now, can I?”

Sparrow glanced at the sea while Lock took Ilias below.

I can’t live like this
, she thought.
No matter how much I love him
.

* * * * *

“Can I ask you a question?” Ilias glanced at Sparrow as they walked side-by-side through the market.

When they’d arrived on the island, Lock had kissed Sparrow’s cheek, taken several crewmen, and gone to barter for supplies while she and Ilias went to buy food.

“Of course.” Sparrow considered the ape-like man her only friend on board the Lady Fire.

“How did you end up with Lock? I mean, I know you bought him as a slave, but how did you end up as his woman?”

Sparrow sighed. “Sometimes I wonder that myself.”

“Not that he doesn’t like you. No man on board would dare touch you.”

“I certainly feel safe with him, if that’s what you mean.”

Ilias laughed. “He pays you a lot of attention, not that any man wouldn’t… Sorry.” Ilias shook his head. “Didn’t mean no disrespect. Don’t tell the Captain.”

“I won’t. I consider you a friend, Ilias. I—”

“No need to explain. Friendship is fine for me. Don’t think I’d have the guts to fight Lock for you, anyway.”

Sparrow smiled, imagining what an unfair fight that would be. “The only man I’ve ever wanted is Lock, but I didn’t expect him to go on pirating.”

“But he’s a pirate.” Ilias raised an eyebrow. “Most feared pirate ever to sail out of the Archipelago.”

Sparrow glanced at her shoes and sighed. No matter how she tried to forget about Lock’s reputation, it seemed neither of them could escape it.

“So you’re saying you love him?”

“Yes, I love him.”

“In a way that’s good to know.” Ilias offered a quirky smile. “Gives me hope that even though I’m a pirate a decent woman might want me someday, too.”

“You don’t have to be a pirate, Ilias. Wouldn’t you like to settle somewhere and raise a family?”

“Raise a family, yes. Settle, no. It’s not in my blood. I’m not from the Archipelago. I just boarded a vessel one day and that’s where I ended up. My people are travelers. Gypsies, they call us.”

“Really? Gypsies passed through my homeland once. They were fascinating. They provided entertainment like dancing, a magic show. They sold the most wonderful perfumed oils.”

“My people have a rich culture. Many are horse tamers and musicians as well, but we rarely settle for long. It’s a good life, and at times I miss it, but there’s something I like about the sea.”

“That’s what Lock says. I know it’s a part of him. That’s why leaving the Lady Fire would be so difficult.”

“Leave? He never said anything about leaving. Most of the crew think he’ll be good for the ship—and for their pockets.”

“I’m sure he will, but we’d made plans to settle.”

Ilias glanced at her, his expression somber. “Begging your pardon, Sparrow, but he don’t seem to be the settling kind.”

“I know. Please don’t mention what I’ve said to the rest of the crew.”

“I’d never discuss what we talk about, Sparrow. As far as I’m concerned, none of them can be trusted.”

“Thank you. Now, we’d better get this shopping done and get back to the ship.”

* * * * *

That evening, almost every man on board agreed Sparrow cooked the finest meal they’d eaten in months.

“It’s easy to cook with good supplies,” she said to Lock as they sat side-by-side on deck eating stew and freshly baked bread.

“A bad cook can ruin good food. This is the best bread I’ve ever had.”

“Want more?”

He shook his head. “Any more and I’ll make a pig of myself.”

“Since when have you worried about appearances?”

“Any more and you could roll me overboard.”

“Worrying about your handsome looks. That’s more like it.” She stood. “I have to clean the galley. Are you standing another watch tonight?”

“No. I’ll be in the cabin tonight.”

She smiled coquettishly. “I’ll wait for you there.”

He tugged her to his chest, one hand beneath her chin as he tilted her face toward his. “I haven’t seen that look in far too long.”

She stood on tiptoe and kissed him before slipping from his grasp. Lock watched as she disappeared below. He wanted to bed her so badly he could just about taste it. Funny how a single look from her made his heart beat faster. Funny how a single look from her made him feel so damn guilty.

He knew he should leave the Lady Fire at the next port. He knew he should settle down and marry her, just as he’d promised. Perhaps he would. After all, what was so great about the ship? It was just another battle-tested vessel built for speed and loaded with enough cargo to make him a very rich man, not including all the treasure he had buried back on SeaSpider Island.

Sparrow seemed to be in better spirits today, after her trip to the market. Maybe she could grow accustomed to life with a pirate, after all.

No, never. She’s too honest, has too much dignity. What in the hell is she doing with me to begin with
?

Still, part of her must have forgiven him. She hadn’t argued with him in days.

Lock had intended to retire early that night, but remained on deck until well after the moon rose. The storm had taken several crewmen, and every hand was needed for repairs. If their luck continued, they’d be leaving Gray Horse Island within the week.

When Lock opened the door of his cabin, the scent of herbal perfume oil struck him. His eyes adjusted to the dim light, and he noticed Sparrow sprawled on the bed, staring at him with lust-filled eyes, her body draped in a robe of sheer black silk. Her nipples pressed against the fabric as she crawled toward the foot of the bed like some exotic cat.

“Pretty robe.” He leaned against the door, watching as she stood, the V of short, dark hair between her legs visible through the fabric. Her long, honey blond hair hung thick and glossy over her shoulders and down her back.

“Glad you like it.”

He reached for her, molding her body to his while his lips explored her neck and the soft flesh behind her ear. “You smell good. Funny, but when you said you needed clothes in the market I imagined things you could wear to work in the galley.”

“I got some clothes for that, too, but I thought you’d like this.”

“I like it.” He lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed. While one hand pushed the robe above her knee and caressed her inner-thighs, his mouth covered one nipple, his tongue teasing it through the thin fabric until she shuddered.

“I’ve missed making love with you, Lock.”

“So have I.” He discarded the tunic along with his own clothes and covered her body with his.

He claimed her with deep kisses. He made love to her slowly, savoring each moment though his body yearned to take her in a rush, satisfying pent-up desire.

Her arms tightened around him, her legs clasping his waist as she whispered words of love in his ear. At that moment, he was ready to leave behind the Lady Fire, piracy, and anything else she might ask of him.