Chapter Nineteen
Surely, madness hadset in.
Celeste stared out the window, at trees swaying in the distance and white sand beaches stretching up to mountainous jungle before rising further in sharp, jagged peaks. She pressed her nose against the glass, desperate for the taste of fresh air and the feel of land beneath her feet.
For three days, she’d remained trapped in the captain’s cabin, her only guests the stoic guards who entered twice a day to deliver food and fresh water. When they brought her up from the brig and tossed her into the captain’s quarters, she half expected to find his smirking face waiting for her. But he’d stood like a statue on the deck, watching as they brought her up.
Every time the lock turned in the door, she braced herself for his presence. Half in agony, half in hope, she waited.
But he never came.
No one spoke to her as they pushed her into his cabin and locked the door. Dust and grime dried beneath the blood spattered on her skin. She stripped off the foul-smelling clothes and managed to scrub most of the filth from her body with a scrap of torn fabric and a bucket of cool water. What she would not give for a warm bath.
She tried to open the lock on the window to let a breeze into the stuffy cabin, but it refused to budge. Smacking her palm on the solid glass, she groaned.
What would they do with her now?
Hook could have left her in the brig, chained like an animal while they sailed away from Nevarro. And yet, he’d ordered them to confine her to his quarters, ensured she had food and water to sustain her. And that was where his hospitality ended.
What baffled her the most was why he chose not to punish her for her betrayal? Unless he had something far more wicked in store, something worse than a few lashes with his flogger and banishment to the brig.
The time alone left her with more questions than answers. Questions about Hook. About her uncle. But most of all, about her sister. Caroline had been targeted from the very beginning, before her father’s body was returned to Port Royale. Had her uncle planted the seed of discontent in her sister’s heart even before then? How had she not seen treason brewing before her very eyes like a storm gathering on the horizon?
Celeste paced the cabin, a thousand questions rattling around her mind. She needed to think. To breathe. But this cabin provided nothing but a constant barrage of memories to torment her. Wicked thoughts of the captain and his sinful mouth. His carnal promise of pleasure echoed in her ears as though he stood behind her, whispering each word against her sensitive skin.
Irritation flooded her. She stalked to the door and pounded her fists upon it.
“Open this door! I demand to speak with the cap—”
The door flew open beneath her hands.
Her two stoic guards parted to reveal a friendly face.
“Come with me, Princess.” Mr. Smee extended a hand.
She pointedly ignored it on principle as she stepped out of the cabin. He took her by the elbow and led her to a waiting boat.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked as they lowered the boat to the water.
Mr. Smee shifted uncomfortably but pointed to the shore. “There.”
Celeste lifted her hand to shield her eyes from the sun glaring off the water. Along the shore lay a few dozen rudimentary buildings with palm-frond roofs, open windows, and no doors.
The sun beat down on them, making sweat trickle down her spine.
“What is this place?”
“Tempest Cove.”
She whipped around to face him as stories from her childhood rose like a specter from the past. “Tempest Cove. The mermaids...”
“In all the years we’ve been here, I’ve never seen one.” He smiled. “You have nothing to fear.”
“Only the captain’s wrath,” she grumbled as they drifted closer to shore.
Smee continued rowing, his strong arms moving in tandem, pushing water with ease. She noted the strength and breadth of him. He was a force to be reckoned with. Nearly a head taller than the captain and two stone heavier, he was the biggest man on the ship...and there were quite a few big men. But his size, while intimidating, did not detract from his caring nature.
“If the captain wished to punish you, he would have done so and left you in the brig.” His eyes sparkled with hidden amusement.
“What are you trying to say, Mr. Smee?” She regarded him carefully, wondering if he were merely trying to draw her out. “Does the captain fancy me?”
“Henry,” he corrected her, ignoring the questions.
The intensity of his gaze left her unsteady. Not in an uncomfortable way, but in a way that made her acutely aware of his intelligence and perceptive nature.
She squared her shoulders, straightening before turning back to scrutinize the beach. Silence rolled between them, thick and heavy in the humid air.
When they reached the shore, Henry took her hand and helped her from the boat. She slogged through shallow water, enjoying the cool comfort of the waves lapping at her skin beneath her oversized clothes—she’d borrowed them from the captain’s chest as hers were beyond ruined by blood and bilge water.
Henry wrapped his hand around her arm. She trudged along, tripping over her feet, scrambling to keep up. He slowed his pace for her to find her footing. They strode past small structures where the pirates bustled around, gathering wood and supplies. He led her beneath a canopy and into the shade of the jungle, following a path no wider than a horse.
Up and up, they wound through the trees and underbrush. Celeste admired the rich hues of the foliage and flowers. In the distance, she could hear the distinct rush of running water, growing louder with every step. When they rounded a large rock, she came to a halt.
A waterfall cascaded down the rocks, filtering into a large pool at its base. The water lingered before forming into a slow-moving stream to the sea. Sunlight glistened in the spray, creating a rainbow of colors in the mist at the base of the fall.
It was beautiful. A paradise tucked away from the world. She never wished to leave.
Henry paused, pointing to a rock near the pool. “Go on. There are oils and soap, a drying towel, and some fresh clothing.”
Celeste blinked up at him. “You want me to bathe here?”
“Captain’s orders.” The corner of his mouth twitched. “I shall wait beyond that rock.” He gestured back toward the path.
“What if someone—”
“No one will bother you. You have my word.” Henry turned, leaving her alone in this paradise.
Celeste raced down the path, eager to feel the cool water on her skin and to wash away the evidence of the past week. She peeled off the borrowed clothes and tossed them aside, letting the warmth of the sun caress her naked body. After grabbing the oil and soap from the rock and placing them within reach, she stepped into the pool and sighed.
She dove beneath the water. Cold bit her skin, chasing away the heat. When she broke the surface, she inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with fresh air. The current swirled around her, helping her remain afloat as she went deeper into the pool. Her muscles burned with exertion, and she reveled in it.
When she returned to shore, she washed her hair, combing the tangles free with fingers coated in sweet, jasmine-scented oil. After rinsing her hands, she stepped out of the water.
The captain stood in the shadow of a palm tree, arms crossed, eyes narrow, his gaze fixed upon her.
Instead of hiding, she reveled in her state of undress. He said nothing as she retrieved the towel and took her time drying her skin. She turned her back to him as she blotted her hair, careful not to tangle it again. She swore she could feel each sweep of his gaze as she moved.
Celeste pulled on the shirt and trousers before leaning against the rock to tug on the boots. Then she purposely turned her back to him and braided her hair.
“Have you finished?” he growled.
Celeste dropped her hands to her sides and turned. “Why?”
He stepped closer, and she noted his clean clothes...his damp hair...his freshly shaven jaw. He’d already been here. The thought of him naked in this pool left her mouth dry. She inhaled sharply as he came even closer, his eyes dark as a storm-laden sky.
“Because you and I have unfinished business, Princess.”
His words were harsh and haggard, and they left her heart pounding, as though she’d swum a hundred leagues.
She stooped to gather the items scattered at her feet, but he grabbed her arm.
“Leave it.”
“But—”
“Leave. It.”
Celeste snapped her mouth closed and fell into step beside him. His grip remained firm as they wove back through the trees. When they reached a small break in the path, he took a trail leading away from the beach.
“Where are you taking me?” Her voice trembled, even though she willed it to sound as strong as an oak.
The captain said nothing and continued walking. The skin of her arm burned beneath his touch, but she did not pull away. She craved this touch more than she dared admit. Her breath quickened, and her heart beat like a drum in her chest.
“Captain.”
He ignored her.
As they broke through the trees, a small hut came into view, tucked against the mountain, hidden beneath an awning of palm trees. She looked over her shoulder, searching the narrow clearing. There was no one. Nothing.
Completely secluded.
“James...” Her voice faltered on his name as they reached the hut.
He stopped and released her arm.
“I never wished to betray you.” Guilt pricked her conscience, and she pressed on, knowing she needed to say something, to pacify the tension simmering between them. “I have a duty. To my family. To my kingdom.” Her voice broke.
“And what about a duty to yourself, Princess?” He turned to face her, passion blazing in his blue eyes.
“To my-myself?” she stammered. “I am a princess. I have no such luxury.”
“That did not stop your uncle from indulging in his deception. Or your sister from abandoning you in your hour of need.” He cocked his head. “What is it you want, Princess?”
Celeste licked her lips, unable to look away. He held her captivated.
“Am I your prisoner?”
He scoffed.
“What?”
“You ask a question in response to mine.” He smirked. “Admit it. You do not know what you want.”
“I want what is best for my people.” She jabbed him in the chest.
He captured her wrist and smoothed his thumb across the sensitive skin inside it. “You are a terrible liar, Princess.”
“I am not lying.”
She suffocated the need building inside her with a deep breath and tried to pull her hand from his grasp.
He brought her fingertips to his lips. The soft caress sent a bolt of lust through her.
“Tell me the truth.”
Celeste whimpered and closed her eyes. I cannot concede. I will not concede. She opened her eyes again, fixing her attention on the handsome pirate before her. Her willpower crumbled when he leaned close, his breath caressing her cheek.
“Come now, little star,” he murmured. “Say it.”
“You.” The word escaped her treacherous tongue with a rush of air. “I want you.”