Steamed (27 page)

“Evidently there is a very sensitive spot that I can reach by inserting my—”

I covered her mouth with my hand, shaking my head as her eyes widened. “Any suggestion that involves the word ‘inserting’ with reference to me is not going to float my boat.”

She relaxed, and flexed her fingers on my ass. “I didn’t think it sounded very enjoyable, but I am not a man, and thought that perhaps it was different for you.”

“Some men, yes. Not for me. I’m a traditionalist where that is concerned. And now, my fair little captain, are you ready to be plundered? Because I don’t think I’m going to be able to take much more of you wiggling like that.”

She wiggled again, the impudent hussy. “I am quite ready. I have been since the moment I came into the cabin and found you stretched out on the bed naked. Jack, do you really love me?”

“With all my heart,” I murmured into her neck, wrapping my hands around the backs of her thighs, and hoisting her upward. She locked her legs around my hips, her arms around my neck as I nibbled a path along her collarbone. I paused and gave her a look. “At least so long as it lasts.”

She bit me on the shoulder. Hard.

I dipped my fingers inside her, found her more than ready, and, without any sort of warning, thrust deep into her.

Her back arched against the wall, her eyes wide, as her legs flexed on me. “Mercy! You’re so deep within me! I ... I ...”

I couldn’t talk, couldn’t tell her how she felt to me, couldn’t even think. I just kissed her long and hard, our bodies moving against each other in a rhythm that had no beginning or end. It just was, and I gloried in every single moment of it. By the time she was yelling her pleasure into my mouth, I was ready to promise her the sun and moon if only she would swear to stay with me forever.

“I love you, you insanely wonderful woman,” I gasped as my brain started working again. We clung together, her legs still around my hips, the heat of her still holding me tight, my legs shaking with the intensity of the moment. “I love you more than anything else in the world.”

“Oh, Jack.” Her eyes were misty with the strength of her orgasm, her breath hot on my mouth. “I shouldn’t say this after you were so beastly, but I—”

“Captain Pye? My arms seem to be tied down. Do you know what’s happened to me?”

The door next to us opened and the naked figure of a man staggered in, still bound by Octavia’s corset.

Joy filled me at the words she’d almost spoken. “You shouldn’t say what, my love?”

“I . . .” She looked from me to the chief officer, who stared at us in horror. I let her slide down me until her feet were on the floor, while I shielded her with my body.

“Gark!” the chief officer said, swaying and toppling over onto the floor.

“Mr. Christian?”

“What was it you were going to say?” I demanded, shaking her gently so she would stop staring at the unconscious man and get back to admitting she loved me.

“I think he fainted,” she said, peering around me. “How very peculiar.”

“Octavia.”

“Hmm?” She was all innocence when I grabbed her chin and turned her head toward me.

“What was it you shouldn’t say, but were about to when that idiot burst in on us?”

She blinked for a couple of seconds, then kissed the tip of my nose. “I was going to say that I’m not just fond of you, Jack. I’m also
very
fond of that new position.”

I growled. Women!

 

“
D
o you have a minute to spare me?” Jack looked up from where he was examining a recalcitrant valve on one of the boilers. His eyes regarded me warily. “That depends. Are you going to tell me you fond me again, or is there some other form of fresh hell you wish to inflict upon me?”

I bit back the smile that seemed to be arising more and more often when I was around Jack. It wasn’t easy keeping a placid countenance around him when he was in full possession of what he thought of as his wholly righteous ire, but the man had brought this upon himself. The nerve of him telling me in one breath that he loved me, and the next that he fully expected it wouldn’t last.

“I hadn’t planned on saying that at this exact moment, but if you feel the need to hear it—”

He made a sharp movement with his hand. “Thanks, I think I’ll pass. What did you need?”

Determined though I was to make him see the error of his ways, I couldn’t resist pushing back that lock of hair that insisted on falling over his brow. For a moment, I considered weakening and admitting that my feelings for him had grown, as well, giving him the reassurance that my heart was wholly his, but for such an intelligent man, he could exhibit some profound stupidity. If he hadn’t guessed that I was madly in love with him by the time we rescued his sister and were all safe in London, then I would admit the same. But until then, he could simmer in the stew of his own making. “I seek advice regarding Mr. Mowen.”

“Matthew giving you trouble? I thought of all your crew, he was the one you were worried least about.” He sat back on his heels and wiped his hands on a repulsive rag splotched black with grease.

“He is. Or rather, he’s not. Everyone has been fine since we left Rome—they believed that I was called back to England suddenly, and no one questioned our hasty departure thanks to the royal wedding in two days’ time.”

“Is he giving you grief about me? I thought your crew bought the story about us meeting up in Rome by chance.”

“No, it has nothing to do with you.”

“Good, because one raving lunatic on board determined to kill me and take my place in your bed is enough.” He grinned.

“I have spoken most firmly to Mr. Francisco,” I informed him, momentarily diverted from my purpose. “He knows now that I will confine him to his quarters if he tries sneaking into my cabin again in order to stab you. I expressed myself in no gentle terms about that matter, you may rest assured!”

He took my chin in his hand and kissed me, very swiftly, but it was enough to send heat flashing through me. “And you, my adorable one, may rest assured that I also had words with him, and warned him that if he wanted to ever have children, he’d best leave us alone.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “You are such a terribly bloodthirsty man for a Quaker.”

“I told you before—being a Friend doesn’t mean I’m a pushover. I am quite capable of defending what’s mine.” He knelt and made a small adjustment to the bearing before returning to his feet.

“Would you prefer that I object to being considered as a possession now, or later?” I inquired politely.

He laughed. “I thought you’d like that. It wouldn’t be good for your spleen to hold it in, so go ahead, tell me you’re not mine.”

“Damn you,” I grumbled, wrapping my arms around his waist and reveling in the warmth and hard strength of him against me. “You know full well I’m yours body and soul.”

“And heart?” he asked, something serious behind the laughter in his eyes.

“You know that I’m very fon—”

He stopped me with his mouth, growling even as he kissed me. “Dammit, Tavy, it’s only fair that we should suffer together.”

“Perhaps I prefer that we should enjoy life together, instead,” I said lightly.

He set me away from himself, gathering up the handful of tools on the floor and returning them to a small wooden box that Mr. Mowen was seldom without. “Be that way. What was it you wanted my help with if it’s not someone pestering you?”

“It’s the plan for today,” I said, watching as he tidied up. I frowned as I mentally ran over the note Alan had sent me the morning we left Rome. “I’m not easy in my mind what we’ll tell Mr. Mowen. He knows something is up.”

“Yes, he does.” Jack rubbed his nose, leaving a black smear of grease on it. “Matt’s no fool. You think he’ll hinder us when we see the
Aurora
?”

“I don’t know. He’s been with the Corps for a very long time. The others will be no problem—we will simply lock them into the mess as we planned, thus keeping them from any charges of complacency when we attack the
Aurora
. But we will need Mr. Mowen’s assistance in order to be successful, and I fear he might not feel the excuse of your sister is enough motivation to assist. I will naturally reassure him that we will swear that he had no part in the attack, but he is the sort of man who would not be easy in his mind about lying.”

Jack rubbed his chin. I
tsk
ed, and pulled out a handkerchief, unable to stand him spreading any more grease marks. I cleaned off the side of his nose and his chin, pressing a kiss to the latter.

“I don’t think you have anything to worry about. He seems a reasonable enough man. Once he understands that Hallie will be executed if we don’t save her, he will help us. I’m sure of that.”

“I wish I was so confident,” I said, sighing as I consulted my pocket watch. “Two hours to go.”

“You’re sure the
Aurora
is following?”

“Alan said it was scheduled to leave after us, and we are unladen, and thus faster. It could not have passed us, and according to my calculations, we should find her before we pass over Angers.”

“I still say we should have attacked right out of Rome.” Jack shook his head. “Rather than waiting until we’re right at the English Channel.”

“It just wouldn’t be prudent. The king of Italy has ships leaving Rome to travel to London, as well. They take a slightly different flight path to England than imperial ships, and now that we are two days out, our paths have separated. Should the
Aurora
call for assistance, there will be no one to aid them. I know you hate the delay, but it is far better to catch the transport ship by surprise when she least expects it. That element of surprise is going to have to carry us far.”

“It still seems like waiting until the last minute. And speaking of your friend, where is your precious Alan? I thought the plan was for him to come with us and help,” Jack grumbled as he took my hand, leading me from the boiler room, his fingers warm on mine.

I was silent, uncomfortable when it came to that subject. I wanted badly to tell Jack what Alan had said in his letter to me, but there were secrets that were not mine to divulge. Still, it left me feeling dishonest, and I struggled with my need to speak frankly to Jack, and the knowledge that I held Alan’s life in my hands.

“He was so gung ho about the whole idea of attacking the
Aurora
, you’d think he’d want to be here for it,” Jack continued.

I felt lower than a slug’s belly. “He sent me a note saying he was asked by the king to travel with his entourage. His hands are tied, although he did promise to do whatever he could to help,” I said with a lameness that made me wince.

Jack shrugged. “Fat lot of good he can do us if his ship isn’t even nearby. Aw, sweetheart, that’s such a long face. I’m sorry. I won’t pick on him anymore if it’s going to make you uncomfortable. As penance, I’ll help you talk to Mowen, OK?”

I bit my lip, not wanting to say anything that would condemn either myself or Alan. Luckily, Jack was distracted by the sight of Mr. Francisco looming in the passageway, and didn’t bother to press me for reassurances that I badly wanted to avoid.

Our conversation with Mr. Mowen a short while later was eye-opening. Jack quickly explained the circumstances of Hallie’s incarceration, and the travesty of a trial that had been held in Rome. To my surprise, Mr. Mowen simply nodded.

“You’ll be wanting to take the lass off the ship in flight, then?”

“Yes,” I said. “I realize this is asking you to go against everything you believe in, every moral value held dear by the Aerocorps, but it is literally a matter of life or death. We cannot do this without you. Naturally, we will arrange it to appear that you were an unwilling participant in the event, so that your career will not suffer for your kindness.”

Mr. Mowen gave me a lopsided smile. “I’ve been thinking of retiring soon anyway. Perhaps this will be the event that pushes me down that path.”

“Thanks, Matt,” Jack said, clapping him on the shoulder while tossing me a triumphant “told you so” grin. “I knew we could count on you. Octavia is going to handle positioning the ship for the attack. If you can deal with making sure she has the power she needs, that’ll let us handle subduing the crew of the
Aurora
once we’re in place.”

Mr. Mowen gave Jack a curious look. “What will happen to the other prisoners on the ship if you kill the crew?”

I made a face while Jack laughed.

“If you only knew how bloodthirsty your captain is,” he said, grinning at me.

“I am not bloodthirsty. It was a natural assumption on my part to assume that when you decreed we would become airship pirates, we would use force to overpower the crew of the
Aurora
. I hardly see how that makes me some sort of a monster crying out for innocent people’s blood!”