Romancing the Pirate 01 - Blood and Treasure (20 page)

“Are you speaking of men in general or, perchance, about someone more specific, someone that you spent the afternoon with?” Blade gently moved her hand from his face. “I’m guessing it’s likely a little of both.” He cupped his hands on her shoulders and the tenderness pooled in his pure green eyes. “Lianna. Tell me what happened.”

Before she could stop herself, she slumped back down to the beach, her knees sinking into the sand. The tears fell hot down her cheeks and she looked up to Blade. He took a knee before her, his brow knitted with concern. She told him of what she witnessed on the other side of the mangrove trees.

“I thought he fancied me.” How pathetic to have said those words, especially to Blade. But it felt good to unload the idea onto someone else. “He has no honor.”

“Ah, but you are wrong. I’ve said it before. Zane is not who he seems.” He pulled her into a hug. She nestled close, his chin rested on her head. “I happen to know he adores you very much.”

“Apparently he adores Sadie very much, too.”

“I’m sure there is a good explanation to what you think you saw.”

Lianna pulled back. “Are you saying I’m lying about the kiss?”

“No. Just that there are things you don’t know about Sadie and Zane. You have speculated far more than what is real.”

“I know what I saw.”

“And I know Zane.”

She wished she could believe Blade. He had high regards where his captain was concerned. But the image of Zane embracing Sadie could not be erased by words spoken in conviction.

Blade bent his neck down to look her square in the eyes. “But if what you saw was a passionate kiss between them, then that is Zane’s loss. You
are
an opinionated, assertive, worthy, vision of beauty. I couldn’t imagine Zane passing you over for the likes of Sadie.”

Lianna smiled and returned to his hug. She knew then exactly what Blade meant to her. “You have been so kind to me. Perhaps it isn’t Zane I should fret so much over.”

Blade smiled. “Perhaps.”

*****

“Tide’s coming in.” Zane made the announcement to his men upon returning to camp. “Put out your fires and prepare to board ship.”

Sadie promenaded a step behind him. Nay, skipped better described her. That girl had been out of her bloody mind to kiss him. Brazen chit. He needed a strong shot of gunpowder rum to deaden her effects on him. Damn it.

The seamen shoveled and kicked sand over the flames, pocketed their personal items, and carried their tools on their shoulders. One by one, they climbed up the rope ladders. A few manned the pulleys loading the last of the small kegs of fresh fruit and water. Still others, the larger, stronger men, stayed on the beach ready to dislodge the vessel when the tide rose high enough.

“Where’s Lianna?” Zane glanced about the busy scene. She was nowhere in sight. This wasn’t the time to wander off. A sliver of panic sliced through him at the possibility of her disappearance now that they were readying to shove off. What had she done now? Fallen into a hole? Gotten herself lost? Was she tangled up in vines some place? Blasted!

“She’s with Blade,” Henri said. The manikin rinsed out a large pan. “Jason! Gather up them pots. You got anchors in your breeches, son? Git goin’!” He swirled the rinse water around then poured it out, sloshing wet sand on Zane’s trouser leg. “That be them comin’ now.” He nodded his head toward two figures strolling along the tree line.

“Looks like your sweet Lianna is preoccupied with the libertine charms of your best mate.” Sadie’s snicker rasped across Zane’s already sensitive tension. “She made quick work strummin’ with Blade.”

Zane clamped down on his lips. Blade had Lianna in the crook of his arm as they leisurely sauntered their way back. She was smiling, giggling, looking up at him with a twinkle. Zane knew that look. Women fawning over his friend always had that same look. A look like they just couldn’t wait to go fuck him anywhere, anytime. Blade was undoubtedly a master at the art of love. Or should it be said, the art of seducing.

Blade should know better. There was no competition for Lianna. She was his.
His.
Did Lianna take him for a dolt? She couldn’t manipulate him. How ridiculous that she think she could.

Blade bent down as Lianna whispered in his ear, then lightly kissed his cheek. The two shared a laugh. ’Twas more than Zane could brook. He made haste to the pair, Sadie on his heels.

“What, pray tell, is going on here.” His bark bounced off the copse of island trees, the strident sound matching his ire.

“What’s it to you?” Lianna snapped back, letting go of Blade’s arm.

“Just taking a friendly stroll, brother,” Blade intercepted.

“Friendly.” Zane snorted sardonically. “I bet. Did she paint herself a demure little kitten to you, Blade?” Zane glared at Lianna. “Busy little chit, aren’t you?”

Lianna seethed, “How dare you.” Her gaze shot across to Sadie.

He glanced back over his shoulder in time to catch Sadie’s evil grin, as if she couldn’t have enjoyed the moment more. She tried miserably to stifle her laughter.

“Muzzle your whore, Zane.” Lianna growled.

Zane blocked Sadie from lunging as Blade held Lianna back with an arm across her chest.

“Get your arse on the ship.” Zane shoved Sadie back.

“Humph.” Stepping backwards, Sadie pointed at Lianna and offered a warning. “You’ll get yours.” She turned for the brig repeating, “You’ll get yours.”

“How ever will she find the time when she’s giving it to you, Zane?” Lianna bit off sarcastically with one hand on her hip and the other twirling in the air.

“Lianna, don’t.” Blade cautioned.

“Smart tongue coming from a hypocrite,” Zane said.

“Zane.” Blade shook his head, his palms up in resignation. “Listen.”

Zane measured his heated gaze to Blade. “You have overstepped your boundary,
brother
. You’d be smart to get out of my sight.”

“Hey, mate, you’ve got it all wrong. Whatever you think is going on, you’re mistaken. You’d see that if you’d get your head out of your arse and listen—”

Quick as a viper, Zane coiled back his arm and plugged his fist into Blade’s jaw. Stunned, Blade put his hand to his chin. Blood from his split lip spotted his fingers.

“You’ve got it bad, Zane.” He worked his jaw back and forth. “You better get focused on what’s at hand, my friend. You need to get your head straight soon.” Blade roughly jostled past Zane, leaving him alone with Lianna.

Lianna slapped Zane. The sting faded in an instant. He was too angry to feel pain. He remained unmoved, glaring at her. She reached to slap him again but he caught her at her wrist. She tried to yank away from him, but he squeezed her, shook her until she stopped struggling for release. She opened her mouth as if she meant to squabble. He fixated on her lips. Lush lips meant for his downfall.

“Capt’n,” Henri called. “The tide’s comin’ in fast.”

“Take Miss Whitney to my chambers.” He called back to Henri, still eyeing her as he threw her arm down.

Henri tottered over. “What? Now? Can’t she find her own way?”

She priggishly squared her shoulders, gathered up her skirt and trampled toward the ship.

“Place a guard outside the door.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Just do it!”

*****

The
Rissa
cleared the reefs and turned her bow to the southwest. Her open sails gathered the wind and the ship sliced through the black waters. She should dock in Port Royal by midmorning tomorrow. Zane, sullen, stood by the railing, watching the moon rise from the ocean.

Blade cautiously approached him. Zane must’ve looked as if he were a feral beast. By the devil’s twisted tail, he wanted to howl like one. Leaning on the rail Blade handed him a bottle of rum. “Truce?”

Zane sighed heavily, nodding once. Theirs was a bond stronger than blood. He had been furious with Blade over Lianna, but his friend was right. He couldn’t let the woman distract him. A hefty price he’d have to pay if he failed this assignment. He had never failed before. If he did now, he and his men would lose their lives. The long swig of the liquor tasted sweet, welcoming.

“About Lianna,” Blade started.

“Yes, what about Lianna?” The woman had drained him weary. “Do tell me of your score.”

Blade shook his head. “You are an impossible son-of-a-bitch.”

“Am I? Or are you for fucking her?”

Blade pounded his fist on the rail. “Hold your clack, man, for one minute and listen to me! She saw you kissing Sadie. She was very upset, nearly provoked a beating from Bull before I stepped in.”

“Bull.” Zane snarled out the bastard’s name. This would make a third time she had been threatened by him. Jason had told Zane of the altercation down in the cargo hold during their battle with Bennington, but the boy could tell him nothing of what happened between the behemoth and Lianna. When he broached the subject with her earlier in the afternoon during their walk, she dismissed the incident entirely and changed the subject. He suspected she had fallen victim before. That stung him deeply. He wanted to destroy anyone who had brought her pain. And Bull was ferociously dangerous. With this latest encounter, Zane would have to kill him.

“Wait. Did you say she saw Sadie and I kiss?”

“Aye. Dare I ask?”

“No.”

Crazy thoughts buzzed around in his head like a swarm of hornets. He drummed his fingers on the rail. “That conniving tart.” His jaw ached from the clench of his teeth. He tossed back another swill. “She must be really pleased with herself. I should have seen it before. Lianna stands in her way. She’ll stop at nothing in getting what she wants. But, you know, I don’t think it’s me she wants. There’s something more. I feel it.”

“You want me to have her shackled up?”

Zane passed the rum. “No need. I can handle her. I’ll be disposed of her the moment we get to port.”

“And Lianna?”

Chewing the inside of his cheek, Zane contemplated her fate. He looked toward the moon again. Lianna’s moon. Guilt washed over him in the bath of the brightening light. Guilt of what, he didn’t know. But he wanted to hide in the shadows, away from the moon’s knowing, critical eye.

“She was crying, Zane.”

“She seemed awful coquettish with you, brother.”

“Aye. Had she’d been any other man’s, I’d have already made good on her.”

“So you are aware she’s mine?”

“I’ve known you a long time, Zane. When it comes to women, you and I, we’ve enjoyed many rounds of play in choosing bed mates. We’ve caroused in endless thrills of the hunt. It’s all been great sport.” He paused, swinging the liquor bottle from its neck between his fingers. “With Lianna, you’re different. You’re preoccupied and short-tempered. I’ve taken notice of the way you look at her. Not like she’s a romp, or even a conquest. But something else, something much more. It’s plain to me you’re in love with her.”

“You’re full of prating.”
Me in love. Ha!

“So you’re staking claim to a woman you have no desire for? That’s not you. That’s not you at all. Why would you care if she takes a walk with me, then? You never minded sharing before.”

Damn! He’s right.
He ran his fingers through his hair. Was this how it felt to be defeated?

“Look,” Blade continued. “She was hurt and needed someone to lean on, someone she can feel comfortable with, someone who wouldn’t take advantage of her. Even when she needs assurances for herself and blatantly dallies. And, let me tell you, ’twas damned hard not to whisk her away and—”