My Seaswept Heart (32 page)

At first neither spoke of the problem. But
Anne noticed days passed and still he made no move to touch her
beyond holding her as they slept. That he still desired her was
evident. They could not live in such close proximity, and wear such
little clothing without Anne noticing his obvious state of
arousal.

But he just turned away and either plunged
into the water or worked at improving their shelter.

On the third day Anne stripped off his shirt
and waded into the surf after him. Her foot was nearly healed, and
she’d been back in the water before. But only to bathe close to
shore. Now she dove smoothly beneath the water and surfaced near
him. He looked around, surprise stamping his features. Desire
darkened his eyes until they were the color of the sea beyond the
rocks.

“You promised to take me to see Lucy,” she
said. The water skimmed over the swell of her breasts and Anne
smiled as his gaze held there.

“Are ye certain you’re up to it?” When he’d
offered to take her into the deeper water, Anne hesitated, not sure
she wished to risk another encounter with a shark.

But now she nodded, and jackknifed her body,
sliding cleanly through the clear, warm water. He did the same,
pulling alongside her and touching her shoulder. When she looked
toward him, he motioned for her to follow.

Anne stayed below until she thought her lungs
might explode, then surged to the surface to gulp air. He emerged
almost immediately.

“Don’t wait until ye can’t stand it to
breathe.”

“But...” Anne gasped. “But you were still
down there, too.”

“I’m more used to it than ye are.” He kicked
forward, brushing hair from her temple. “Signal when ye need to
come up.”

After that they took their time, floating,
and weaving through the water. Jamie pointed out a rainbow array of
fish to her in colors so bright and beautiful they reminded her of
the flowers in her parents’ garden back in England.

Being with him like this almost made Anne
forget her fear, though she did jerk around, her heart pounding,
when the dolphin approached. But Lucy only nudged Anne gently with
her nose, then swam to Jamie and did the same thing. Then she
whistled excitedly and dove to the bottom, turning and shooting
toward the surface to leap through the air.

“I think she’s happy to see you,” Anne told a
grinning Jamie.

“It does seem that way, doesn’t it?” Jamie
gave her a self-conscious smile. “Ye know, I’ve often thought...”
He shook his head and chuckled. “Never mind.”

“No, tell me.” Anne floated closer.

“You’ll think I’m daft, but I wonder if she’s
not trying to talk to me.”

Anne only stared at him a moment while her
hands made lazy circles in the water. When she spoke her expression
was serious. “I would have thought you mad to suggest such a thing.
But that was before.” She grinned. “I know Lucy attacked the shark
so I could get away. And I believe she led us to this island.
So...” Anne spread the word out. “Is it that unbelievable that she
tries to communicate with you?” She moved closer to him. “I know
that would be my goal were I a dolphin.”

With a deliberate swish of her body Anne let
her breast skim his chest. The contact of naked, water-slick skin
made them both moan.

“Now, Annie, what are ye doing?”

“I should think that obvious.” With one
swirling motion she brought her foot up his inner thigh.

The dolphin floated by, undulating its body
side to side, but Jamie paid it no heed until a flipper slapped
against his arm.

“I believe she wishes to play,” Anne said,
then sank beneath the water with a sweep of her arms. To her
amazement Lucy seemed to do the same thing. When Anne spun around,
so did the dolphin. She even shot to the surface when Anne did.

But though she enjoyed her romp with the
dolphin, Anne kept her eyes on Jamie. And he certainly did the same
with her. She wasn’t surprised when he soon suggested they return
to the beach.

They glided through the water side by side,
rarely touching, but their movements becoming more and more
sensual. The sea seemed to flow around them in a warm caress of
anticipation.

When they reached the shallows his arms
wrapped around her, and he rolled her over in the gentle swells.
“Ye know this is madness, don’t ye?” His lips forged a burning
trail down her neck before he stood, dragging her up in his
arms.

He sank to his knees in front of her on the
beach, cupping her bottom, shaping her wet legs. His mouth was on
level with her tight delta of curls and Anne moved closer, crying
out when his tongue found the heart of her sexuality.

“Jamie.” She dug her fingers through his
thick wet hair, pulling him deeper into the web of her love. Her
thighs spread and she arched her head back, her eyes mere slits as
drugging pleasure swept through her.

Anne writhed, squirming and clutching his
head as the dam burst and the waves of erotic shudders spiraled
through her body. She thrust forward, crying out, her knees going
weak as he held her suspended above reason.

He pulled away, jerking at the ties on his
breeches. Released, his staff swelled forward as he grabbed her
hips. But though her body was still flushed and wet with desire,
she held herself rigid.

“Annie.” Jamie pushed to his feet when he saw
her tense face. “What’s wrong?”

She didn’t answer, simply pointed to the
horizon beyond the rocks.

“’Tis the
Lost Cause
,” Jamie muttered
before grabbing Anne’s hand. The sensual fog evaporated and
reflexes took over. He became the pirate he was, his mind focused
on survival. With barely a thought he scooped up the knife,
motioning for Anne to gather her clothing before leading them both
into the thick underbrush.

He never told Anne, he hadn’t wanted to worry
her, but he planned for this eventuality. The hiding place he’d
found was deep within the tangle of windblown trees. Jamie had
further camouflaged the spot with palm fronds and brush. Inside he
stored coconut shells full of water and the dried fish he managed
to save from the squawking gulls.

Jamie ushered Anne in, following her and
pulling the blind across the entrance. Inside it was crowded, with
barely room for them both to sit on the sandy floor. The
surrounding foliage stifled the air, filtering it a dusky
green.

“Do... do you think they saw us?” Anne tried
to control her breathing, but her heart pounded so fast it was near
impossible.

The pirate didn’t answer at first just
motioned for her to get dressed. “The breeches and everything,” he
said.

It was a struggle but Anne finally managed to
don her boy garb. “The hat is gone,” She whispered, and he reached
out to touch her hair.

“It doesn’t matter, Annie.”

Which was tantamount to admitting the truth.
Discovery would mean death.

Which was why Anne was so surprised later
when the captain stated he was leaving their nest.

“Why?” Anne clamped his arm, trying to hold
him. “They might not find us here.”

“D’Porteau and Stymie are not fools. He’ll
see what’s left of the boat. Our fire is still warm. He’ll know
we’re here.” Jamie wrapped his arm about her, pulling her close and
burying his face in her damp hair.

For long moments he said nothing, but Anne
could feel his shoulders tremble.

“Annie,” he whispered at last, his breath
fluttering the curls near her ear. “Stay here for a day and
night... and till you’d normally wake the next day. Then listen
very carefully. If ye haven’t heard anything in all that time ye
can come out. But be careful.” He stilled her shaking head with a
hand cupped to her cheek. “Aye, Annie. Do as I say. There be food
and water enough for ye and—”

“What about you?” Anne’s question ended on a
sob.

“I’ll be about.” He paused a moment as they
both listened to the far-off voices. The pirates were on the
island. “There may be only a few who came ashore. I plan to catch
them off guard one at a time. “If I can capture a musket or
two—”

“And what if it’s you who is captured?” She
couldn’t disguise the panic in her tone.

“I’ll be—”

“I won’t let you go.” Anne’s fingers
tightened on his warm skin. “I won’t.”

“Don’t, Annie.” He shifted, bringing his
mouth to hers, skimming her lips before touching his forehead to
hers. “Don’t make this harder than already ’tis.”

“But I don’t understand.” Tears were
streaming down her face faster than he could brush away with his
thumb.

“We both knew this could happen.” Jamie
swallowed. “This... our island, was just a fantasy.”

“It doesn’t have to be that way. Stay with
me,” Anne begged, but he was already pulling away. “Jam—” His
mouth, hard and unrelenting, cut off the rest of his name. His kiss
was fierce and savage. Then he jerked away, wriggling through a
small hole in the underbrush.

It wasn’t until he was gone that Anne noticed
the knife. He’d forgotten the knife. She grabbed up the handle. How
could he hope to fight any of the pirates without a weapon? And
then the awful truth dawned on her. He wasn’t planning to capture
anyone. He was leading them away from her hiding place. And he
didn’t forget the knife. He left it to her on purpose.

Anne drew up her knees, burying her face in
the rough fabric of her breeches as sobs wracked her body.

~ ~ ~

Jamie hid behind the thicket of stunted
trees, listening to the men approach. He guessed there to be three,
though he couldn’t tell for certain. None of them spoke, but they
did nothing to muffle their footsteps, which meant they didn’t
suspect that he intended to leap out at them.

He hadn’t lied to Anne... not completely. He
did intend to try and capture some weapons. To try and defend their
island. But if worse came to worst, he would lead them away from
her.

They drew nearer, and sweat rolled down to
the hollow of Jamie’s back. His muscles tensed. When they were
directly in front of him Jamie gave a yell and pounced. He had the
blackamoor pinned to the sandy ground before Jamie noticed who it
was.

“Cap’n?”

“Keena?” Jamie jerked his head around to
where Deacon stood, his pistol cocked. “What in the hell are ye
doing here? Where’s d’Porteau? Stymie?” After climbing off his
chief gunner, Jamie offered his hand.

“We left them in Kingston,” Keena said,
brushing off his jacket. “Stymie made the mistake of leaving the
Lost Cause
unguarded while he went into town.”

Jamie’s grin was slow to form. “So ye stole
her?”

“Since the vessel was ours to begin with I’d
hardly call it that.”

“Right ye are, Deacon.” Jamie draped his arms
around the two men, laughing despite himself when Keena inquired
about the lad, Andy.

“Ye didn’t throw him overboard, did ye?”

“Ah, nay. I didn’t do that. And
Andy
is well and good, though probably anxious to know what’s going on
about now.” Jamie paused. “How did ye find this place?”

“Just happened upon it, though to be truthful
we been lookin’ for ye, Cap’n. Didn’t think the Frenchman could get
rid a ye so easy like.”

“Easy?” Jamie shook his head. “I wouldn’t be
calling it that. But at any rate, ’tis glad I am to see ye. Who
else be with ye?”

The list included many of Jamie’s old crew.
Good pirates and seamen all, but not a saint among them, except
maybe for Deacon.

Jamie stopped walking and rubbed his chin. “I
have a bit of a dilemma.” He sucked in his bottom lip. There was no
way Anne could pass as a boy now.

“What is it, Cap’n? Ye know we’ll help ye
out.”

He shrugged and then called out, deciding one
look was better than any lengthy explanation. Anne stuck her head
from beneath the palm curtain immediately. “Come on down here,
Annie. ’Tis all right.”

Watching his friends’ faces, their eyes
growing wide, their mouths dropping open as Anne emerged was almost
worth the trouble he was going to have.

“Why he... she’s a woman.”

“Very perceptive, Deacon.”

“How... ?” The black-garbed man rubbed his
good eye as if he needed to put things back in focus.

“Hot damn.” Keena slapped his knee. “I knew I
wasn’t seeing things. I told ye. Didn’t I tell ye, Deacon, that I
saw a man and woman on the beach.”

Anne’s face turned scarlet, but Jamie only
chuckled. “That would have been Mistress Cornwall and myself,” he
said, reaching out his hand for her. “Now as ye can see I might
have a bit of a problem with the rest of the crew. I’m counting on
ye to help me... to help Mistress Cornwall.”

~ ~ ~

Anne stared out the stern windows as the
island, their island, slowly disappeared from sight. For all it had
been their home for nearly a month there was very little fanfare
upon leaving. They had nothing tangible of value except what they
brought with them... a knife and tinderbox. Memories weren’t
something one packed up and carried off.