Once a Pirate (Mystical Realm Series Book 1) (13 page)

“I wasn’t sure you knew,” Jake admitted his omission.

“What did she say?” Char asked.

“There is a way to send Anna home,” Jake informed the Prince. “Your traitor knows what it is.”

“I see,” Char looked as miserable by the idea as Jake felt, but he squared his shoulders and plastered a royal stoicism on his face. “Do whatever it takes.”

Jake watched the Prince stalk away, his steps faltering at the sight of Anna walking down the beach. He watched them exchange a few words before Char continued toward the ship, leaving Anna on her course toward Jake. The denim of her jeans hugged her curved provocatively; the flowing material of her blouse lifting to show her bare midriff as the breeze blew from the Ocean. Jake ached to place his hands on her slender hips and pull her close to him. He wanted desperately to indulge in one last touch before she ran from him.

Her expression was unreadable as she neared, her eyes locked on his with purpose. “You should be on the ship,” Jake commented tightly, trying to hide the desire running through his veins at the sight of her.

“So, everyone keeps telling me,” Anna claimed. “You said we’d have dinner on the beach, but you never came back.”

“I had things to do,” Jake excused.

“Let me guess, things I don’t need to know about,” Anna frowned.

“Aye,” Jake agreed, seeing by the fall of her expression he gave the wrong response.

“I see,” Anna’s voice shook. “I’m not strong enough to handle the truth, right?”

“Anna,” Jake called after her as she turned away from him, waiting until she turned back to continue. “I don’t believe you’re weak, but I am. I don’t want you to know.”

“Why?” Anna asked in confusion.

“I know what you believe me to be; the monster you believe me to be,” Jake looked away from her, unable to meet her eyes. “I tried to change; I wanted to change.”

“Wanted to,” Anna prodded.

“Aye,” Jake ran a hand through his hair. “I wanted to be worthy of pursuing you properly. I wanted to be a man you’d be proud to have at your side.”

“Jake,” Anna’s voice was a breath.

“But, what needs done now isn’t a job for good men,” Jake turned to face her, bracing for her disgust. “What is needed is a monster.”

“Why?” Anna shook her head in confusion.

“I wish I could say,” Jake bowed his head. “Just believe if there was another way, I’d find it.”

“What are you going to do?” Anna asked quietly.

“Whatever it takes,” Jake answered vaguely. “But, once this is done there will be no redemption for me; no coming back.”

“There’s always a way back,” Anna assured him, her gentle hand reaching out to touch his forearm. “I don’t know if all the stories I’ve heard about you are true, but the one truth I am sure of is that if you want something, you find a way to get it. If you want to change, make it happen.”

“Not this time, Love,” Jake brushed a loose tendril of hair behind her ear. “I need you to go back to the ship. And, whatever you hear, do not return to the beach.”

Jake’s gloved hand travelled down her jawline, cupping the side of her neck with a gentleness even he hadn’t believed himself capable of. Knowing it would be the last time he was allowed to touch her, Jake couldn’t resist dipping his head and pressing his lips to hers. He only meant the contact to last a moment, but as Anna’s lips parted in surprise, Jake couldn’t resist taking a taste of her sweetness. He broke contact, forcing himself away from her with some effort.

“Jake,” His name was a question on Anna’s lips.

“I just wanted one taste of light before the dark,” Jake informed before turning away from her. He denied his urge to turn back and look at Anna, knowing she remained on the beach where he left her.

Jake waited for some time, long after the sun set and darkness fell across the forest. Once he was sure of his solitude, Jake moved to the tree to which his target was restrained. He pushed every happy, soft thought of Anna out of his mind, unable to focus on what needed done with any light in his heart. With a cold expression which would have done the hardest of Pirates proud, Jake set about his mission.

Chapter Thirteen

Anna stared toward the beach from the main deck of the Crimson Jewel. She was able to ignore what she suspected happened on shore while the crew moved about, their loud chatter and the sounds of ship chores distracting enough to forget. As the moon rose high and evening turned into night, the sounds of the ship ceased. She tried to sleep, covering her head with the blankets on her bed, but they weren’t enough to block the sounds occasionally drifting across the short distance of sea between the Crimson Jewel and land. After a time, Anna gave up on rest and, unable to stand another moment in her cramped quarters, took to the main deck. She shivered in the breeze as her long nightshirt billowed out from her thighs.

“You shouldn’t be out here, Lass,” Sully joined her where she sat on the railing of the deck. “Some things just aren’t right for gentle ears to hear.”

Anna winced as a particularly loud scream from the shoreline. “I can hear it in my quarters just as well, Sully.”

“Aye,” Sully nodded severely. “I thought you might.”

“What’s he doing to him?” Anna whispered the question, unsure if she wanted the older man to answer.

“What he needs to do,” Sully answered vaguely.

Anna accepted the answer, despite her earlier confidence in wanting to know the full truth of their situation. “How could he,” Anna’s voice cracked. “How could anyone cause so much pain and not care?”

“Jake cares, Anna,” Sully assured her with a surprised raise of his brow. “He cares more than most.”

“Then, why does he do this?” Anna’s tone revealed her desperation in wanting to understand the contrary Pirate.

“Because, no one else will,” Sully informed. “No one else has the stomach for what needs to be done.”

“Everyone keeps telling me what a good man Jake is,” Anna coughed up a laugh.

“Jake is a good man,” Sully assured.

“I just can’t see how a good man can be capable of such cruelty,” Anna bowed her head, closing her eyes as another scream floated on the salty breeze.

“He’s never harmed an innocent, only those who deserved his cruelty. And,” Sully paused, debating his next words carefully before sighing. “Jake has never dealt to any man what he hasn’t felt himself.”

“Jake’s been tortured?” Anna asked.

“Aye, tortured by his kin,” Sully nodded sadly.

Anna thought back to the conversation she and Jake shared about their families and nodded. “He told me his grandfather was abusive, but I didn’t know it was that severe.” An image of a young Jake letting out screams such as those she heard then made Anna cringe. “What happened to him?”

“It isn’t my tale to tell, Lass,” Sully shook his head apologetically. “I shouldn’t have said as much as I did.”

“Then, why did you?” Anna asked.

“I love that boy like he was my own,” Sully’s eyes watered. “I’ve seen him broken and bleeding with no fight left in him, but he’s always come back and been stronger for it; until you.”

“Me,” Anna was confused.

“Aye, Lass,” Sully smiled at her and held her fingers gently with his. The feel of his calloused palm was an odd comfort for Anna, reminding her so much of her father’s roughened hand. “When that boy looks at you, knowing you believe him a monster, there’s no light left in his eyes. It’s as if he’s no hope left. I’m afraid he won’t ever be the same for it.”

“I don’t want that. I don’t want to hurt him. I want to believe in him, but,” Anna trailed off.

Sully nodded in understanding. “Belief is earned through actions, not through words and stories. I only ask you do one thing for me, Lass, for Jake.”

“What’s that?” Anna whispered.

“Let him earn it,” Sully pleaded. “Give him a chance to earn your belief.”

“He says there’s no redemption for what he’s doing tonight,” Anna confessed.

“And, a part of him believes that be true,” Sully winced, “which is why he needs you.”

“What can I offer him?” Anna looked out to sea as she spoke.

“Forgiveness,” Sully squeezed her fingers before releasing her grasp.

“I’ll try,” Anna vowed.

Sully sat with her long into the night until the screams faded and eventually stopped entirely. Shortly after, Jake stepped up the plank and onto the deck across from them. Anna noted he returned alone and wanted to question him, but she had no need. By the grim expression on his face, Anna knew the answer to the question she wanted to ask. Guardian Maxwell was dead. Anna turned to look out to shore once again, blinking away tears at the horrible end the man had met.

“Did you get what you needed?” Sully asked as he stood.

“Aye,” Jake’s tone was colder than Anna ever heard it. “We sail to Mermaid Cove.”

Anna heard Jake move across the deck and into the door of his quarters. She looked at the closed panel, her chest aching. With her mind in turmoil, Anna felt tears stain her cheeks. While a part of her misery was for the lost life of a man she once relied on for protection, Anna knew the majority was for the lost look she’d seen in Jake’s eyes before she turned away from him.

***

The dim candlelight cut through the thick shadow of the Captain’s quarters. The darkness fought the light, its gnarled fingers threatening to choke any object it touched. Jake stepped through the gloom without concern, his mind already lost in blackness. The memories of what he did to get the information required were horrible, but they paled in comparison to the look on Anna’s face when he returned. The disgust and horror in her expression speared his already tender heart.

If Jake held any hope Anna would be able to accept and forgive his actions, it was destroyed the moment she turned away from him on the deck. Of course, she turned away. Jake ripped his leather jacket from his torso, tossing it to a nearby chair as he crossed to his wall of windows. A woman as sweet and good as Anna would never be able to accept the monster Jake could become. He was a Pirate, the scourge of the seas. Happy endings weren’t for men like him.

Jake unbuttoned his shirt, untucking it from his leather pants as a knock sounded on his door. “Not now, Sully,” Jake called out. He couldn’t handle the concerns of his mentor and friend just then. The door to his quarters squeaked open and Jake sighed heavily. “No questions, Sully, I’m not in the mood.”

Jake turned to find Anna standing just inside his bedroom door. “No questions,” Anna promised. “I don’t think I want the answers anyway.”

“Anna,” Jake’s voice was just above a whisper, his shock at her presence in his quarters stripping any strength from his voice. “I thought you were Sully.”

“I know, I just wanted to,” Anna trailed off. “I can go if you want.”

“No, don’t go,” Jake took a small step toward her before he stopped.

“I wanted to make sure you were alright,” Anna watched him cautiously.

“I’ve done worse,” Jake admitted numbly, her wince another stab to his chest.

“I’m sorry,” Anna whispered.

“Are you apologizing for what I’ve done?” Jake asked with a half-smile at her sweetness.

“No, I’m apologizing for why you had to.” Anna looked up at him with tears in her dark brown eyes. She slowly crossed the room toward where he stood, her head bowed until she stopped in front of him. “I don’t know why you’ve done the things you have, Jake, and I don’t know what’s going on with you and Char now.”

“It’s better if you don’t know,” Jake cut off his words with the shake of her head.

“It doesn’t matter,” Anna’s sad smile was gut-wrenching. “Whatever you’ve done and why you did it, I don’t need the details.”

Anna took another step closer and placed her hands on the bare expanse of his abdomen. She slid them up over his chest, her liquid brown eyes following their path. “Anna,” Jake breathed her name, his eyes closing at her unexpected touch. An ache followed her fingers, settling beneath where her palms rested.

“I do know you wouldn’t have done what you did without reason,” Anna raised a hand to his cheek, keeping the other over his heart. “I know you’re not a monster.”

Her warmth felt so good against the chill of his skin and Jake groaned at the contact. Jake opened his eyes, tilting his head into her palm as he stared down at her. Anna’s hand guided his head lower until their lips brushed; the touch tender and forgiving. A shiver coursed through him, extending from his gut to erupt from his lips in a shaking sigh.

“You’re not a monster,” Anna repeated in a whisper, her breath fanning across his lips.

“Anna,” Jake moaned her name as he claimed her mouth with his own, all sense of inhibition disintegrating beneath the feel of her hands and breath.

Jake knew he shouldn’t give in to his feelings, Anna deserved better than what he could offer her, but he couldn’t stop himself. He pulled her close to him, pressing them together from hip to chest. Anna’s hands extended around his neck, holding him tightly as Jake assaulted her lips. Her soft sigh was Jake’s final undoing and he pressed her back until they reached the side of his bed, following her down onto the mattress. He removed his lips from hers to kiss a trail across her jaw and down her neck, nibbling at her collarbone before reversing his route.

One of Jake’s hands tangled in the knot of her hair, loosening the strands until it fanned around her head on his pillow. The other caressed downward until his palm grasped the outside of her thigh, pulling her leg up over his hip and granting him more intimate access. He groaned as her hips bucked beneath him, grinding his aching erection at the part of her it ached for. “Jake,” Anna breathed before letting out a small cry as she bucked wildly. The revelation of her desire for him was like oil on a fire and Jake was lost.

Jake lowered both of his hands, pulling up on the material of her nightshirt and revealing the small pink panties beneath. Jake moaned at her lips as he ground himself against her, feeling a desperation he hadn’t felt since he was a novice teen. His own need terrified him, jerking him back to the reality of his station. Jake ripped his lips from Anna’s, staring down at her as he fought for control. He shook with the force it took to pull away, knowing he could so easily claim what he craved.

“Jake,” Anna moaned his name in question, her eyes probing his with the same fervor he felt.

Jake groaned in agony as he lay his forehead on hers, closing his eyes to block the obvious desire in her expression from his view. “I can’t,” Jake whispered more to himself than the woman beneath him.

“What’s wrong? Did I do something,” Anna’s voice held a hint of pain as she trailed off.

“No, Love,” Jake assured, opening his eyes to stare down into her confused brown irises. “Believe me, I want nothing more than to rip your clothes off and finish what we started.”

“Then, why don’t you?” There was no guile or tempt in Anna’s voice, only an innocent curiosity.

“I’ve done some horrible things in my past, Anna,” Jake frowned at the memories. “I refuse to add this to that list.”

“Sex with me would be horrible?” Anna gave a small pout which Jake was quick to kiss away.

“No, Love,” Jake moaned as he pulled away. Surely he could be forgiven for stealing kisses and caresses, but there would be no forgiveness for taking her fully. “Making love to you would be incredible. It’s taking your innocence I wouldn’t be able to live with.”

“My,” Anna stuttered in shock. “How did you know?”

“I’ve enough experience with women to know,” Jake assured, smiling at the jealousy which crossed her expression.

“Oh,” Anna mumbled.

Jake chuckled at her reaction to his statement, rolling to her side and pulling her into his arms. “No need to be jealous, Love.” Jake assured.

He tucked her close to him, enjoying the feel of her body pressed intimately to him. They remained wrapped in each other’s arms for what felt like an eternity until Anna pulled back and looked up into his eyes. Jake ran a gloved finger from her temple to her jaw, following the movement with his eyes.

“Why do you wear these?” Anna asked as she pulled his hand away from her face and held it between her hands.

Jake stiffened at the question, “Does it matter?” Jake fought the urge to change the subject.

“No,” Anna shook her head. “I was just wondering. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

“I told you of my grandfather’s cruelty. One of his methods of punishment was to hold my hands in a fire. Over time, they were, my hands were,” Jake choked as he trailed off, growing nauseous at the memory.

“Jake,” Jake kept his eyes averted at Anna’s sympathetic tone. “May I see?”

Jake closed his eyes as he nodded, allowing her to remove the leather glove to reveal the mangled hand beneath. His entire body jerked at the feel of her lips on his damaged flesh. He stared down at her in shock as Anna repeated the movement. “Anna,” Jake’s voice broke on her name.

Jake carefully touched her jaw with his scarred fingertips, tilting her chin up so he could claim her lips with his. He trembled as her hands smoothed across the bared expanse of his chest. Anna pushed back on the opened material of his shirt, her fingers dangerously close to discovery of yet another of his grandfather’s marks. “Don’t,” Jake pulled away and stopped her hands, his tone anxious.