What the Earl Desires (43 page)

“I told you, Najja. I cannot,
will not
, let you go.” He glanced to Father. “I am not willing to risk her being injured.” Colin readjusted and forced the man to his knees and held the sword to his throat. “We all go.”

Father shook his head. “Najja is mine.”

“No!” Colin snapped. “She is part of our family. My woman. His mother. She is
mine
.”

Colin’s voice was low and drenched in fury and something that reminded her of a leopard in his prime defending what was his. And that was her. His woman, Pug’s mother. She finally knew where she belonged.

“We are leaving,
all
of us. Any attempt to get her back and you will find that person in parts.”

“You will never make it.” Father was smug.

“I will; I have no intention of losing Najja now.”

“You are outnumbered.”

Colin’s laugh surprised her. It wasn’t expected nor was it humorous. “You are under the impression I came alone.” He released a piercing whistle.

The response was immediate, gunshots rang out and it seemed like in the time it took her to blink, the village people surrounding them had been circled by men. Battle-scarred men. Each of them held guns in each hands or had swords to archer’s throats.

She couldn’t help but be impressed. Toward the front were men she recognized. Including Trystan, although his face looked a bit beat up.

One came through and took his prisoner from him. Colin immediately sheathed his sword and strode before Father.

“Any resistance and my men will start killing. I see you again or you send someone after her and I will kill every last person here. Including you, regardless of the fact you are her father. She is yours to order around no more. And this is for daring to strike her.” Colin hit Father in the jaw and sent him sprawling to the ground.

“Kill him!” Father issued the order in their language.

Colin turned and faced her. His bare chest and tight breeches emphasizing the powerful man he was. The bloody cuts didn’t seem to bother him. His eyes were clear of pain as he held her gaze.

She took a step only to stop when Pug slid his hand into hers. His lopsided smile broke her heart. But she now had the courage to do what she had never had before.

“Goodbye, Father,” she said in her language. “I cannot,
will not
, kill for you anymore. I love him.”

Fury mottled his face and he sat forward only to pause when the guns zeroed in on him. Najja approached him, striding forward only to stop at Colin’s side.

“You live because I allow it,” Father growled.

“That was true, Father. Until Colin.
He
taught me how to live. How to love. I chose him.” She licked her lips and continued, “If
anything
happens to these men, I will come for
you
.”

She’d never threatened him before and Najja saw it get to him.

“Go you ungrateful child,” he said, voice taut with anger.

Colin touched her on the small of her back and glanced at him. “Come, Najja.” He used his thumb to wipe the blood from her face before gesturing her to go.

The men with Colin closed ranks around them as they left. A large group, they made their way from Father’s camp and once they stopped for a short break, Colin reappeared from where he’d vanished. He had put his shirt on and looked even more a corsair now. His hair was pulled back, an act that exposed his gold hoop. The open V on the shirt distracted her as did the two swords hanging around his hips.

“Najja?”

She stepped toward him only to freeze when he backed away. “What?”

“Luv, I cannot touch you right now, I have to get us to the ship safely.” His gaze burned with dark promise. “Then…then…”

Najja nodded, her skin prickled with anticipation. Colin left and the group got underway again. The men were vigilant but then so was she, Pug remained at her side. The pace was fast and it was near dark when they reached a ship.

A beautiful clipper. Across the stern the word “Reliance” was carved.

“Onboard!” Colin’s voice carried over the noise.

She and Pug followed the men up to the deck. They dispersed to attend other duties and alone, she stared down the gangplank at Trystan and Colin. The men embraced before Trystan waved at her and went a different way. Colin bounded up the ramp, shouting orders.

“Aye, Captain!” were the responses he received.

The men were efficient for soon they were heading into the ocean. She stood by the rail and again watched Africa vanish. The moon was blotted out by a man’s shape.

Colin.

“Najja,” he said softly, cupping her face in his hands.

Tears pricked her eyes as she looked up. “You came for me with an army.” An entire army of men, for her.

His lips moved over hers with feather light caresses. “I meant never, Najja. Are you okay?”

Was she? For the first time in her life she knew she was.

“I am now.” She wrapped her arms around his waist, heated skin burning her through the clothes.

“Forever mine, Najja.”

His strong arms lifted her and she swallowed her squeak of surprise. She allowed him to carry her and they halted before a door. Without releasing her, he opened the door and entered the cabin. This was his room, she knew it instinctively.

In one corner on a perch sat Indrani, the sight brought more tears to her eyes. The bird chirped a welcome.

He set her on her feet and closed the door. Her vision was filled by Colin, his eyes smoldered as they roved over her. Handsome. Powerful. Muscular. Smooth, predatory steps brought him before her.

With one hand settled along the side of her face, he whispered, “I love you, Najja. There is nowhere I will not follow you.”

“How did you--”

“My ship. My men.” His thumb skimmed her lower lip. “
My woman
.” His gaze burned into hers as he spoke those last two words.

She smiled at his possessive words. They didn’t bother her in the least.

“Where is Pug?”

“In his own cabin.” He couldn’t stop touching her. His fingers moved from her face to her hair and back again, continually. “Marry me, Najja. We can go anywhere, live anywhere. All I desire is you.”

“You are titled.”

His lips lifted at one corner. “Marry me and you will be as well. Countess Clifton. Najja Falkner. My wife. The mother of my children, Pug and others.”

“I…I…”

“Are my everything.”

He kissed her. A move that effectively silenced any more protests. His kiss mastered her and she willingly submitted. When he broke it, his shirt had been pushed to the floor, her hands allowed full contact to his bare skin. Her limbs shook and an arrogant, knowing, smirk filled his face.

“Yes,” she said on a quiet breath.

“Yes?”

Her nod was her response. The future may very well be uncertain and bumpy. All she knew was she was the one being protected now, for Colin wouldn’t let anything harm her. He’d proved that.

“We should work on getting a sibling for Pug.” He winked. “Or two.”

“Your injuries.”

He watched her from lowered lids. “Later.”

As he carried her to the bed, lay her on it and began to undress her, she watched him. Pirate. Gypsy. Corsair. Words which still described him. As well as earl. And most important. Hers.

She had been wrong about Africa being home. Colin was home. He was her love, her rock, her earl and her everything. And she, a woman who had been known as an assassin, disposable and immaterial had something much more. She was what the earl desired.

About the Author

ALIYAH BURKE
is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She loves to hear from her readers and can be reached at http://aliyah-burke.com/blog/contact/ or feel free to apply to join her yahoo group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aliyah_burke.

She is married to a career military man, they have a German Shepherd, a Borzoi, and a DSH cat. Her days are spent sharing her time between work, writing, and dog training.