Chapter Seven #2
Samantha buttoned the white shirt and tucked it into the waistband of her breeches.
After slipping into her jacket, she left her boots lying next to the bed and crossed over to her desk.
Inside the hidden compartment, she pulled a small box forward.
It contained six tiny vials, and she plucked two free.
No.
Only one. Two would kill him and bring the entire US Navy after her.
A grim smile played across her lips when she held a single bottle to a ray of golden light.
She wasn’t naive enough to think the lieutenant had any intentions of letting them go.
The clear liquid sloshed as her hand trembled.
Henbane extract mixed with opium. Just a few drops of the potent concoction could lull a man into a deep slumber.
But how to get the lieutenant to ingest it?
With a sigh, she slid the vial into her pocket. She’d figure something out.
Her gaze settled on the satchels of dried herbs tucked next to the box. Tansey, pennyroyal, and Queen Anne’s lace. A tea she hadn’t thought she’d ever have to use. One of her crew mate’s wives was a midwife and had gifted the contraceptive tea to her months ago.
A commotion came from the deck and she grabbed the compass and tightened her mask before flinging the door open. The lieutenant strode toward her and she ignored the flutter in her stomach when he came to a stop a pace away.
“I see patience is not one of your virtues.”
He caught her arm and leaned in. “You’ll find that I’m a very impatient man when I want something. And you, my little warrior, I find myself wanting quite badly.”
Despite her nerves, the words sent a thrill through her.
For a long moment, she stood still and stared up at him.
He’d washed up as well, his wet hair combed back into a neat queue.
Without his uniform hat or jacket, he almost looked as if he belonged among her crew.
Almost. With a shake of her shoulder, she freed herself and held out his compass.
“As promised.”
A chestnut brow lifted and he took it from her. “Would you look at that? A pirate that actually kept their word. Whatever is the world coming to?”
Samantha rolled her eyes and walked to the railing, where several thick ropes tethered the two ships together. A long coil of rigging line lay discarded at her feet. She slung it over her shoulder and looked up. With a hop, she caught the ratline and a few moments later swung up onto the main yard.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
She peered down at the lieutenant and planted a hand on her hip. “Last I checked, Lieutenant, your ship sits several feet higher than mine. Unless you’ve found a way to defy gravity, I suggest getting a higher start.”
He made a grab for her ankle, but she reached into the ropes and climbed to the top yard. A curse floated up her way and she grinned.
“For a gentleman, you sure do have the mouth of a pirate.”
The breeze pushed against her and she slowly made her way away from the mast. Her bare toes curled around the smooth wood and she raised her gaze to the horizon, making sure to sway with the swells.
The lieutenant swore again. “You’ll break your neck.”
She paused and looked down at him. “Worried for my safety, are you? Be careful, Lieutenant, or I may begin to believe you’ve a heart.”
Adrenaline coursed through her veins as she let go of the rigging and edged out further. One strong gust of wind and she’d tumble headfirst to the deck below. She carefully lowered herself into a crouch and made quick work of tying one end of the rope in a knot around the top yard.
Satisfied with her work, she let the line fall and dropped onto it. The muscles in her tired arms screamed in protest. She shimmied down to the main yard and gave the rope a solid tug.
“Are you coming, Lieutenant? I thought we had an appointment.”
“There are easier ways to board a ship, Red.” He pointed to where his crew extended a gangplank over the water. With a solid thunk, it landed on the Hurricane’s railing.
She laughed. “Where’s the fun in that?”
“Come down here.”
“You’ll have to come and get me.”
He glowered up at her and she held her grin even as her heart threatened to beat free of her chest. She’d never flirted with a man like this before. It felt good. Empowering.
Before she could blink, he’d jumped into the ratline and began to climb with ease. When he lifted himself onto the main yard, she took an involuntary step toward him. With one hand tangled in the rigging, he reached for her. She edged back, just out of reach.
“Red . . .” His voice rang with warning while she slid her foot backward. “Don’t think about it.”
“Too late.”
Samantha pivoted and raced to the end of the main yard.
Her hands tightened around the rope as she launched into the air.
For a moment, she hung weightless. And then her weight carried her down, swinging in a wide arc over the water.
She landed on the Falcon’s main deck and stumbled to her knees. Not as graceful an entry as last time.
Pushing to her feet, she strode to the railing and tossed the rope back. The lieutenant caught it and narrowed his eyes. She opened her mouth to taunt him, but a voice at her side stopped her.
“Careful, my lady pirate, I dare say you’ve pushed him to his limits.” The first officer, Isaac, joined her.
After a tense moment of silence, the lieutenant took the leap. Samantha’s heart caught at the sight. The muscles of his arms corded and the wind plastered his shirt against his body. With his knees drawn together, he flew through the air toward them. And his gaze did not leave her face.
He released the rope at the perfect moment and dropped to the deck next to her. She stepped back, but he was quicker, catching her around the waist and pulling her to him. A chorus of hoots and cheers came from his crew, drawing a blush across her cheeks.
“To my cabin.” He tugged her in the direction of the door beneath the helm.
Breathless, she began to follow him before her jumbled thoughts could catch up. Someone cleared their throat. Griff. She dug her heels into the deck and the lieutenant turned to her.
“Now what?”
She pulled her shoulders back and stood as straight as she could. “I request that my first mate be released.”
“No.”
His grip tightened and she resisted his attempt to move them along. “Lieutenant, the agreement was for one night with me and did not include any of my crew. I will hold you to it.”
“I assure you, he’ll be safe.”
She shook her head. “I don’t trust you.”
He shot a dark glare between her and Griff. “You’re deeply mistaken if you think he can rescue you.”
With a huff, she twisted back to the lieutenant. “You’ve made it very clear that you outgun us. I assure you, my men will not make any foolish choices while I am aboard the Falcon.” She lowered her voice. “I forbid them to risk their lives for me.”
Something in the lieutenant’s gaze softened and after a tense moment of silence, he nodded to the man standing guard next to Griff. “Untie the blasted man.”
When his bonds fell away, Griff strode toward Samantha. Isaac stepped between them and held his hand up.
Griff let out a growl and fixed his gaze over the officer’s shoulder on the lieutenant. “If you hurt her—”
“That’s enough. Return to the ship and wait there.” Samantha turned from him before he could say anything else and flashed the lieutenant a cold smile. “I have business to conduct.”
Moments later, the lieutenant clicked the door shut behind them.
He released his hold on her and she retreated to the middle of the cabin, pulse beating at her temple while she chanced a quick look away from the lieutenant to scan the room.
Exactly as she remembered, save for an extra chair pushed up to his desk.
A soft click echoed through the space as the lock slid in place. Trapped. The stark emptiness of the cabin closed in on her and she took a shaky breath when the lieutenant turned to face her.
In slow, deliberate footsteps, he approached and she fought the urge to dart away. Nowhere to hide. One hand extended her way and she flinched. With a raised brow, he slid behind her and his hands closed on her shoulders. When she stiffened, he rubbed his thumbs in half circles of pressure.
“Relax, Red. I’m not going to hurt you.”
His hands moved up and down her shoulders, continuing to apply the pleasant pressure. She couldn’t help dropping her head when his fingers swept across the bare skin at the nape of her neck.
After a few moments passed, he dropped his hands and stepped in front of her.
He held one palm out. “Your coat.”
Tension flooded back through her quick as a wave crashing against the shore.
You can do this. Samantha’s fingers shook as she began to unbutton the garment.
Each time a button slid free, her heart rate increased a little more.
Finally, there were no more buttons and she had no choice but to slip from the garment.
She handed it to him and he ran his fingers along it in a quick but obvious perusal.
When he finished, he tossed it across the back of a chair.
“I hope you won’t object, but I’m going to search you for weapons.”
“I . . .” She fell silent and hung her head. She would do the same thing.
His hands went to her shoulders and slowly ran down the length of her sides.
Without missing a beat, he slid them over her breeches.
She shifted just enough for his palm to miss the vial hidden in her pocket.
His fingers continued their search, skimming down to her ankles and then back up along her inner thighs.
Gooseflesh spread along her skin and a subtle warmth pooled in her belly.
Mortification washed over her and she stared at the floor. How was she supposed to lie with him? She hadn’t an idea of what to do. Her eyes pressed closed. She was a pirate. He would expect her to be knowledgeable about the act.
She had tread out of her depth. How could she fake experience without any inkling of the act itself? If only she’d spent more time listening to her crew’s bawdy talk of women and whores. She sighed and opened her eyes.
Her gaze settled on his lips and a little shiver went down her spine. Would he kiss her? She found herself hoping he would. She couldn’t bear the thought that he might take his pleasure quickly. Then again, perhaps it might be best. Get it over with and get out.
He waved his hand at a chair. “Sit.”
Sliding him a wary glance, she lowered herself into it.
She forced herself to take several steadying breaths while he retrieved a bottle and two tin cups from a cabinet in the wall. He lit two candles and sank into the other chair.
“You’re nervous.”
Samantha blinked at him and he nodded toward her lap. “Fists clenched, erratic breathing.” He slid his gaze to her face. “And you keep biting your lip in the most delightful way.”
She relaxed her hands. The damn man noticed everything.
“If you forgive me, it’s not every day that I conduct my business this way.” The confidence she attempted to inject into her voice fell flat.
He poured two glasses of wine and held one out to her. She reached for it and he paused.
“Take off your mask.”