Chapter Seven
“Where did you obtainthis falsehood?” Her bravado was slipping, but she held his unwavering gaze while drowning in the depth of his fathomless eyes.
“I have quite reliable sources, love.” He winked, and a riot of conflicting emotions was unleashed inside her.
Handsome devil he was, she could not trust him. Celeste had been a fool to come to a pirate, to bargain with him. And her foolishness had landed her here...a prisoner of the notorious Captain Hook. But her options had been limited, and remaining in Port Royale would have isolated her from any possibility of escape. She’d made her choice and gambled on the pirate captain. If gold would not sway him, then what in the Endless Sea would?
“You expect me to take you at your word?” Celeste scoffed.
“You have my word of honor.”
“Pirates have no honor.” She sneered. “You’ve made that quite clear in the short span of our acquaintance.”
“So you have been paying attention.” His lazy perusal of her body set her teeth on edge, but it was his cocky grin that set the embers ablaze.
Celeste stopped at the foot of the bed, uncaring of her state of undress or the way his gaze dipped to take in all of her. The silk felt light as air on her skin. She felt exposed and vulnerable, but the spark of heat in his eyes betrayed him. He wanted her.
This truth made her sway on her feet. Or perhaps it was the ship rocking on the waves. She caught herself on the bedpost, gripping it firmly before facing him.
The flash of heat was gone, replaced by amusement.
The captain leaned against the opposite post, watching her.
“You say I am wanted for my father’s murder and for treason?”
“Aye.”
“And kidnapping?”
He nodded.
“Who have I supposedly kidnapped?” Celeste swung her arms wide. The twisted humor in the situation was not lost on her. She had gotten herself kidnapped but was wanted for the same crime. It was ludicrous.
“Your sister.” He arched a brow at her sharp inhale.
“My sister is missing?” A phantom blade pierced her heart. What happened to Caroline? Was it her careless actions that had placed her sister in danger? Panic rose like the tide in a shallow cave, threatening to steal her air. A thousand thoughts flooded her mind. Had their uncle followed through with his threat to take the throne by harming Caroline and placing the blame firmly on Celeste?
It would certainly solve the problem of succession.
But could she save her sister and clear her name, despite her uncle’s strong hold on not only the council but the kingdom? How could she have been so blind?
“Aye, Princess. It seems you absconded from the castle after your involvement in your father’s death was discovered, taking your sister as ransom to ensure your escape.”
“This is madness!” Celeste threw up her hands and paced the cabin. She spun around and jabbed a finger in his chest. “You, of all people, know this is a lie.”
“Is it?” he purred, snatching her wrist.
Heat bloomed beneath his touch, but she ignored it, focusing on the glimmer of lantern light in his eyes.
“How am I to know you did not leave your sister in those caverns beneath the castle with the intent to use us for her retrieval?” His fingertips smoothed across the inside of her wrists. “Could be your promise of treasure is a ruse to bind us to your will.” He stepped closer, and the scent of leather, spice, and salt wrapped around her. “Perhaps this is a well-orchestrated trap.”
Celeste blinked in stunned horror. How could he possibly believe her capable of such a thing? How could anyone believe such lies? She straightened, steeling her spine and gritting her teeth.
“Believe what you will, you worthless son of a bilge rat,” she hissed. Awareness pulsed through her, binding with her hate. “But I would never bring harm to my father or to my sister.”
His caress upon her wrist ceased, but the weight of his touch burned regardless. She could do nothing to save her father, but she could not let her sister suffer at the hands of a madman.
“I shall hold to our bargain.” She licked her lips. “If you help me save my sister.”
“So it is to be a rescue.” A husky laugh bubbled up from deep in his chest. When he sobered, the captain slid his fingers along the inside of her arm, teasing the silk away from her skin.
She sucked in a steadying breath at the sound, unable to stop her reaction. It slid over her body, making her shiver with gooseflesh. Need pooled in her belly. Curse him.
“What do I get in return for risking my neck and my crew for your sainted sister?”
Celeste wavered, her mind muddled by his gentle touch. “What do you want?”
“Oh, little star, such an innocent question.” A feral grin curved his sensual mouth. “Are you sure you wish to swim in treacherous waters?”
His implication took root in her mind, blossoming into something carnal and dark. She had heard stories. Pirates rape, pillage, plunder, steal...but surely these were exaggerations? Bedtime stories to terrify children into compliance. Tales to forestall merchants from making unsavory agreements. Were they not?
“What do you mean?” Her voice was little more than a whisper, and the words caught in her throat.
“Are you willing to give me anything I desire in exchange for my services?” He trailed his hook along her collar, down to the gap made by the swell of her breasts.
“You want me to sell my body in exchange for aid?” She should have been horrified at the prospect. It was not as though she’d never been intimate with a man. The dilemma was more complicated when it came to Captain Hook, even though the reward was well worth the risk.
“I want much more than your body, little star.” He dropped his hook and slid his hand around her waist. “I want your complete surrender.”
“And if I refuse?”
He arched a brow. “You will not.”
“If I do,” she said through clenched teeth, “will you take what you want regardless?”
His eyes darkened and his hand spread across her lower back. “I may be a pirate, but when it comes to carnal desires, I do not take what is not freely offered.”
Celeste’s breath caught as his lips came down on hers. Her mouth parted with a gasp, and he delved deeper, darting his tongue across hers. She grasped his jacket as he tasted her.
Neither a plunder nor a pillage. He savored her. The scent of him combined with the delicious pressure of his mouth and the lingering bite of rum made her drunk with want.
This was dangerous. Kissing a pirate. Allowing him to use her, to manipulate her.
She threw caution to the wind and threaded her fingers through his hair. He moaned, the sound lost on her tongue. A gentle tug, and he gasped, breaking the kiss.
Their breaths mingled, hot and heavy, as though they’d swum a thousand leagues.
“You lied,” she whispered against his lips.
“About what?” he asked, his voice strangled.
“Only taking what is freely offered.”
“You wanted it.” His mouth quirked at the corner. “But you’re too stubborn to say the words.”
He kissed her again, stealing her breath. A tempest swirled inside her. She bit his lower lip, tasting blood as she drew away.
“Damnation.” He reared back, releasing her and clasping his hand to his lip. Fire lit his eyes at the sight of blood on his fingers. Instead of lashing out, he grinned.
His amusement left her even more angry.
“You will pay for that one.”
“Perhaps you will think twice before taking something that doesn’t belong to you.”
“One day, little star, I will have you on your knees, begging for my kiss.” His voice dropped low. “For my touch.” He mouthed the final words, For my cock.
“You impudent cur! I would rather die than surrender to you.” She seethed, hating how much she wanted him despite his impertinence. “I hope you fall overboard and sharks devour you.”
“Sticks and stones, darling.” He wiped his bleeding lip with the back of his hand. “Good luck finding someone to rescue your sister.”
“I hate you.”
“Good.” He smirked. “It will make things easier when I turn you over to your uncle.”
He started to walk away, leaving her trembling with fury and desire.
“How much?”
The captain paused at the door, turning only enough for her to see his profile. “Five hundred.”
“My offer gives you more than that.” She frowned. “Why concede to him?”
“Because I don’t want you on my ship.” His hand flexed around the handle. “We shall return to Port Royale, and I shall have done with you.”
With those sharp words, he retreated from the cabin, slamming the door behind him.
Celeste stared at the empty air where he’d stood. Her hand drifted to her mouth. She could still feel him, taste him.
But he wanted nothing to do with her. Unless she surrendered.
Her head spun with confusion. She collapsed upon the bed, inhaling his scent on the linens. It tormented her more. Curse him to the depths of the ocean.
Rocked by the sway of the ship, Celeste attempted to sleep, but it was no use. His words haunted her. She could have never done what her uncle claimed. Even though she could fight, she had not the heart nor the stomach for death. Treason? Kidnapping? They were foreign to her.
One thing was certain, she needed to save Caroline.
Somehow.
The captain’s ultimatum rose in her mind, making her squirm. Could she agree to such a bargain? Saints take her, she had no other recourse.
The haunting refrain of his kiss lingered on her lips. She traced a fingertip over them and sighed, closing her eyes. She’d been a fool to come to him for help. A naive fool.
Full surrender seemed a steep price, but if it saved Caroline, it would be worth it.
Could she trust Captain Hook to be true to his word?
Celeste sighed again in defeat.