The Stolen Heart (21 page)

 

 

“I miss you too,” she admitted, before stretching up on tiptoe to
fasten her mouth upon his.

 

 

He groaned with delight, and swung her up into his arms to carry her
over to the bunk. They undressed each other hurriedly, and after one
last check to make sure he had locked all the doors, he lay down
beside her.

 

 

She clutched him fiercely and told him in an urgent tone how much
she needed him.

 

 

“And I you.”

 

 

She was more than ready for him, but he began to tease her until the
rowelling sensation in the pit of her stomach became unbearable. She
clasped him firmly, positioned him, and pushed down hard, impaling
herself, splintering his control. Her probing fingers sent him
completely over the brink into passionate madness.

 

 

When he finally had another coherent thought, he was on his back
drenched with perspiration, and Al had drifted off into a sound
sleep. He straightened her legs so she would be more comfortable,
but held her close on top of him, and drifted off a very happy man.

 

 

Nothing was completely resolved, he knew. But it was worth trying
for such a woman as this. It would take time, courage and honesty.
What they shared was too special to be simply cast aside because he
was fearful of the outcome of their relationship.

 

 

For to love was to risk all.

 

 

Then he drew back at that thought. He was not so sure that he was in
love-he was not really certain what the phrase meant.

 

 

But he was certain that what they had between them was unique and
worth exploring, so long as he could keep his mind on his duties,
and was not hurting her.

 

 

That was the last thing he wanted to do. Al deserved so much better
than that. Better than a man like him. Yet fate had brought them
together, and he had been her first. He certainly want to be her
last, and only…

 

 

But was he marriage material? And could he bear to see her in danger
day after day aboard this ship?

 

 

He might not be sure about love, but one thing was certain, he
couldn'y bear it if she was hurt because of him.

 

 

He might vow to try to be a better man and love her to the best of
his limited understanding, but he knew that no matter how hard he
might try to make her happy, sometimes people got hurt no matter
what their best intentions might be.

 

 

He gathered her to him as though she were the most fragile blossom,
and fell into an exhausted slumber.

 

 

 

CHAPTER NINETEEN

 

 

Jared awakened several hours later, feeling more refreshed and
optimistic than he had for a long time. He felt a burning in his
loins, and realized he was still buried inside Almira, and she had
moved.

 

 

In fact, her eyes had opened, and she was looking at him languidly,
completely enthralled by his desire, and her answering response.

 

 

He kissed her and rolled them over, and began to make love to her so
slowly it was as if time stood still. She climaxed over and over
again, but he held back, thrilled by her response, and wanting to
prolong her delights for as long as possible.

 

 

But Almira knew what he was doing by now, and did not want him to
deny himself any longer. She moved her hips under him powerfully,
changing the pace to fast and furious.

 

 

With a glad cry he completed himself deep within her, while the
stars exploded in the heavens and the ship splintered into a million
pieces.

 

 

Which did not seem a faraway comparison, for half an hour later, as
they were washing in the tub, the ship bolted forward, nearly
sending them flying.

 

 

“I need to go, love. I’ll see you later.” He kissed her, and dragged
on his shirt and breeches as he ran.

 

 

He noticed immediately that the weather had become much colder, and
indeed many of the men on deck were now wearing their cold weather
gear.

 

 

He sought out Perkins, and asked, “What was that vibration?”

 

 

“The currents. So far we’ve been running well before the wind, but
between the straits, everything is swirling and boiling below.”

 

 

“We’ll take in sail, then. A couple of huge gusts in this could tear
the ship’s masts right out of the deck. Or cast us onto the rocks
before we even knew what happened.”

 

 

“Shall I call all hands?”

 

 

“Aye, I think you’d better. Just make sure that they all have warm
clothing,” he said, rubbing his hands and arms briskly.

 

 

“You head on below and get your pea coat. I’ll keep an eye on things
here. You feeling better, Captain?”

 

 

“Better?”

 

 

“Yes. I just assumed you were ill.”

 

 

“A bit of pain in the stomach is all. Yes, much better now, thanks
for asking.”

 

 

“You’ll be really well if we get around the Horn in five days. These
are surely the best winds I’ve ever had.”

 

 

“Good, we are going to need all that and more if we want to catch
the
Dolphin
.”

 

 

Perkins looked at him in surprise. “The
Dolphin
? They could
be anywhere. And why the urgency?”

 

 

He shrugged. “Just a feeling I have, is all.”

 

 

If he couldn’t bear to part with Almira and set her down in the
nearest port, the least he could do was get her brother, so she
might be more content to stay aboard. Though how he was going to
manage with a woman on his ship all the time, he had no idea.

 

 

Well, Dare and Samantha had made a happy life for themselves om the
Neptune
, so perhaps he could too? Besides, they had managed
just fine before he had discovered her true identity. So long as the
rest of the crew didn’t know, what did it matter?

 

 

And Mate was now gone, so she had no more immediate threats to her,
apart from the ordinary life at sea, he reminded himself, as another
judder nearly sent him sprawling flat on his face.

 

 

Another huge gust of wind ripping through his thin clothing and
nipping his exposed flesh was enough to send him scurrying down the
companionway to his cabin.

 

 

He opened his second sea chest and told Al to get out her warmest
clothes as well.

 

 

“It is freezing up there, dearest, and I’m afraid with everything
that you're still not entirely well.”

 

 

She stepped over to him and kissed him on the cheek. “I’m wonderful,
thanks to you.”

 

 

He stroked her cheek with one finger. “I need to make sure I shave
for you a bit more often.”

 

 

“I don’t mind. The little bristles add a certain thrill to
everything, especially when you run them down my back or stomach.”

 

 

Jared had the grace to blush at the shared recollection, and turned
away from her with a groan.

 

 

“What is it? Are you ill?”

 

 

“Sick with desire for you, my dear. Please, I need to concentrate on
getting ready for the storm. Any more naughty talk like that and I
shall forget myself utterly.”

 

 

She grinned at him, but took his words seriously. He could not
afford to spend all of his time with her. The Horn was the most
notorious piece of land in the world, with the most infamously rough
seas. He had to keep his wits about him.

 

 

A clatter of hail overhead told them conditions were only worsening,
so they finished dressing in layers, and the woollen stockings and
heavy lined boots that he had provided for them both before they had
left port.

 

 

“Ready?”

 

 

“I am.”

 

 

He took her hand and helped her up the companionway, which was
swaying from side to side. Had it not been for his hand and the
railing, she would have tumbled back down onto the lower deck, for
the stern of the ship was swinging crazily one away, while the bow
was wriggling the other like a worm on a hook.

 

 

Jared took over the helm, but Al soon had her hands on it as well,
as it kicked so hard that Jared nearly lost it. It spun out of
control for a few seconds before she grabbed it and together they
helped get it back on course.

 

 

“Go get the two senior boatsteerers, Cole and Sheppard,” he gritted
out, his teeth clenched with the effort. “We're going to need both
of their strengths for this. And tell Perkins to call all hands.”

 

 

George and the others were glad to see the perky little cabin boy up
and about again, and with a warm smile for Al, ran to do the
captain’s bidding.

 

 

Once the boatsteerers arrived to take over at the helm, Jared went
up and down on the deck, clinging to the taffrail as he inspected
the whole ship from stem to stern, checking hatches and ensuring
that everything was made secure.

 

 

Jared put one caressing hand on her shoulder as she stood by the
wheel waiting for him. “Go check the galley and tell Cook to put out
the fires. See those black clouds over there? We’re really in for it
now.”

 

 

“I’ll be back in a minute.”

 

 

“No, you go below, where it is safe.”

 

 

She shook her head. “I’m staying with you. I remember what nearly
happened the last time you were on deck in a storm.”

 

 

He opened his mouth to argue, but he knew she was right. And he
would worry about her down below being tossed about as well.

 

 

So he turned back to the pumps and assigned Bob and Jemmy to work
them, while he strode up to the foremast to get the rest of the crew
to start taking in more sail.

 

 

The swell was now huge, almost dwarfing the ship’s masts. The water
sprayed over the rails and into their faces at every dip downwards.
The wind seemed to swirl all around them, and while Jared hated to
send anyone aloft in such unpredictable conditions, he need to get
the topsails reefed. He sent up his most experienced men, and they
were doing well until a new danger threatened.

 

 

One of the whaleboats snapped off its davit and was caught by a
powerful gust of wind. It blew upward like a leaf, clinging on by
just one rope.

 

 

Then the line snapped. Jared and George watched in horror as it
descended upon them. Both felt a huge shove from behind and as the
bow dipped down they went sprawling face forward about fifteen feet.
When they finally moved and realized there was no searing pain, they
ventured a look around.

 

 

Al was pressed flat against both of their backs, covered with the
shattered remnants of the boat, which looked like so many
matchsticks.

 

 

As Jared moved, she groaned, the little air remaining in her lungs
wrested from her by the pain. If she thought she had hurt herself
before, she was sure she was all black and blue now, down her
buttocks and the back of her legs.

 

 

Her searing pains had been caused by being hit by the debris. She
offered up thanks to the Almighty that at least the boat had not
landed full on Jared and George. They would have been crushed to
death for sure.

 

 

“Don’t move, Al. Don’t move,” Jared urged in a ragged tone.

 

 

“I’m all right,” she gasped. “It’s just the fragments. It didn’t hit
me.”

 

 

“Thank you.” He resisted the urge to kiss her in sheer relief in
front of everyone, and stroked her hair tenderly instead. “Can you
get up?”

 

 

“Just give me a minute. Can’t catch my breath.”

 

 

George began to gently move away the wooden planks from off her
body, but some were caught by the wind and began to blow about the
deck perilously.

 

 

Jared was now confronted with a new crisis, for though the boat was
an important part of their equipment, in fragments like this blowing
and sliding all over the ship like a wooden demon, it was a danger
to everyone.

 

 

“Perkins! Perkins! Boat hooks, now! We need to drag this over the
side.”

 

 

“Maybe Chip can save some of it?”

 

 

“No time!” Jared shouted back.

 

 

Another huge ten foot piece of whaleboat gusted backwards, nearly
crashing into the helm. Two of the men grappled with it before it
smashed against the wheel, and were now trying to wrestle it
overboard.

 

 

“Aye, Captain, over the side it is.”

 

 

Jared began to check Al’s arms and legs tenderly as the rain lashed
down upon them.

 

 

It soon turned to hail, and she was nearly pinned to the deck by the
impact of the huge stones.

 

 

“Jesus!” George exclaimed, running for cover under the canvas which
covered the try works.

 

 

Jared dragged Almira’s prone form after him, and one they were safe
from the hail, he checked the rest of her.

 

 

She was going to be badly bruised, but at least the thick clothing
had protected her back from the bouncing debris of the boat.

 

 

When he was sure George wasn’t looking, he kissed her. “Thank you.
You saved both our lives.”

 

 

“Don’t mention it.”

 

 

“I need to. You’ve saved me again, and I shan’t forget it, Al.”