Chapter Eight #2
He chuckled and pressed deeper into her, causing her to gasp. “Don’t lie, Red. A woman like you must have an admirer in every port.”
“Oh.” Of course she would. If she were a pirate captain. Samantha squirmed in Christian’s grasp, trying to free herself, but he held her tight. “Those lovers. Yes.”
His gaze bore into her for a long moment, then he plunged his finger deep inside her.
The feeling was too much.
Samantha fell back against the mattress and arched her back toward him as his finger thrust in and out. Christian leaned over and caught one of her nipples with his mouth. He sucked and she writhed beneath him.
He withdrew his finger and she began to protest, but stilled when his thumb found the sensitive spot nestled within her curls. The contact sent a jolt of fire through her core and the pressure became unbearable.
“Open for me, Red.” His words came rough against her chest and helpless to resist, she parted her legs farther.
Another finger joined the first one and he pushed into her once more, stretching her in the most fulfilling way. And then his thumb rubbed a quick circle.
“Christian!” She gasped his name as bolts of raw energy flew from the spot. Her breaths came out in ragged little pants.
The pressure began to spiral out of control and Samantha twisted her fingers in the sheets, trying to find a way out of the exquisite torture. Was this supposed to happen? Alarm weaved itself into each shocking burst of feeling.
She teetered on the edge of a precipice, one she didn’t know how to navigate. One that was about to swallow her whole.
“I—I feel like . . .” The words stuck in her throat as he increased his rhythm.
“It’s alright, Red. Jump. I’ll catch you.” His free hand slid beneath her and splayed open across her lower back as if to prove his point.
Samantha closed her eyes as her body trembled. Christian’s lips brushed against her nipple.
And the world splintered around her.
The pressure burst free, shooting wave upon wave of white-hot pleasure through her. Muscles she didn’t know existed clamped together and drew all her energy to her core as she tumbled over the edge.
Christian shifted and caught her wild cries with his mouth, holding her tight until she collapsed against the bed in a boneless heap. When he slipped his fingers from her and stood, Samantha’s eyes fluttered open.
In one motion, Christian stripped from his breeches and the part she had so boldly touched earlier sprang free. Her mouth went dry. That was supposed to fit in her? He cleared his throat and her eyes darted to his face and the amused expression there.
Before she could move, he dropped back onto the bed to cover her body with his. Her apprehension melted away when he lowered his mouth to her neck and nibbled the spot below her ear. Suddenly, the throbbing ache between her legs returned, and Samantha wrapped her arms around Christian’s back.
She let her hands explore. Every inch of him was muscle and strength. As her fingertips drifted further down, the hard length of him jutted into her belly and he nudged her thighs apart.
Being open below him sent a wicked thrill through Samantha, and she pressed her hips against his. He growled at her ear and slipped his hand between them. The heavy weight at her stomach disappeared, only to reappear further down, pressing against her swollen heat.
Christian rubbed the smooth tip of him up and down her cleft until her slick wetness covered him. The feeling sent Samantha spiraling upward once more and she tugged at his hips. She needed more.
He lifted his head and stared at her with shining eyes.
“Red.”
In one deep thrust, he entered her. The sudden stretch sent a sharp bite of pain lancing through her, and Samantha cried out.
Christian went completely still. After a shuddering breath, he gave one more slight thrust forward and she let out another cry. His expression darkened. “Damn it, Red.”
He began to pull out and she locked her legs around him. She would die if he stopped. Already the pain dulled into a pleasant throb.
“Please . . .” She didn’t know how to ask him for more, but tilted her hips toward him, forcing him to slide back in a bit.
Christian let out a soft curse and lowered his face to hers. “We are going to have a long talk after this.” With a groan, he sank all the way into her once more.
Samantha’s head fell back at the intimate fullness and he brought his lips to her neck.
He kissed her in soft, feathery brushes against her skin.
As he worked his way up, he began a slow rhythm, pumping in and out of her with deliberate gentleness.
The movement wrenched a moan from her and he caught her mouth with his.
Pleasure radiated from where they joined and she started to move her hips in time with his, making each contact press a little deeper.
Christian growled, the sound rumbling against her tongue, and quickened his pace.
Each thrust pulled a little cry from her and the stinging pain disappeared altogether.
Her fingers tangled in his hair and he suddenly stiffened, pressing deep within her.
He jerked his head back and closed his eyes as a loud groan tore from him.
Samantha froze, transfixed at the sight of him attaining his pleasure.
After a long moment, Christian opened his eyes and bent to place a soft kiss on her forehead. The gesture sent a bust of tenderness through her and she couldn’t help tilting her face to catch his lips with hers. This time, he kissed her slowly, his tongue lingering against hers in a languid dance.
He pulled from her and she let out a muffled cry of dismay at the loss of contact. His lips curved against hers. “You’re full of surprises, Red.”
After one last kiss, Christian lowered himself to the bed next to her and propped himself up on one elbow. Samantha’s skin burned beneath his intense gaze and she started when his fingers brushed her cheek.
He traced the outline of her mask in a lazy motion. “We need to talk. You have some explaining to do. If I had known, I wouldn’t have . . .”
No. They most definitely did not need to talk about her virginity. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and shook her head.
“Not yet.” She started to sit, but he pressed a firm hand to her belly.
“Stay here.”
Samantha’s jaw went slack when he swung his feet to the floor and crossed over to the table. Candlelight glimmered off the chiseled muscles of his back, and her gaze darted down to his perfectly formed buttocks. The man looked as though he’d been carved from stone.
He picked up his cup and downed the rest of the wine. Thank God. Heat flushed her cheeks when he looked over his shoulder and she jerked her gaze away.
A moment later, he returned with a wet rag. When he reached toward the juncture of her thighs, she snapped them shut.
“Let me clean you, Red.”
The cool cloth slipped past her curls and she gasped when he made contact with the searing heat of her core. He gave her a wicked grin and flicked one finger against the still-sensitive nub there.
Samantha’s breath hissed out and she scootched back, away from the torturous touch. A moment later, Christian tossed the rag to the floor. She reached for her shirt but before her fingers could reach the fabric, he grabbed it and pulled it away.
“Not so fast, Red. You agreed to a whole night.”
Samantha blinked at his implication. “You mean . . .” Her blush crept across her chest. “Again?”
He sat next to her and she averted her eyes from where he had already gone hard again. Damn her pulse for jumping.
Christian leaned back and patted the space next to him. She hesitated, and he hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her down to his side. Her head came to rest on his shoulder while he caught one of her legs with his. Soon, every inch of her body burned with his heat.
When he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, she caught his hand and pressed her cheek into his palm. Oh, how she wanted this moment to last. She pressed her eyes closed, trying to memorize the feel of his calloused skin against hers, the way his fingers curved to cup her jaw.
“Red . . .” He murmured the moniker against her cheek before yawning. “Whatever those pirates hold over you, it can’t be worth staying with them. Let me save you.”
She opened her eyes and stared at the flickering light on the ceiling.
His thumb slid along her jawline. “Come with me, Red. I can make sure they never bother you again. You’ll be safe with me.”
Who was this man? The more time she spent with him, the less he felt like an enemy. Her jaw clenched beneath his touch. She couldn’t fall for him. At the end of the day, they remained opponents in this war. She’d best remember that.
Still, the genuine concern in his voice tugged at something deep inside her. Reminded her she was destined to be alone. That she couldn’t have what he offered.
Silence fell over them and he nuzzled into her hair. Samantha took a shaky breath and pulled his hand from her face. He twined his fingers through hers and she stared at their combined fist. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.
“You can’t save me.” She whispered the words into his shoulder but kept the second half of her statement silent. Not without taking away my identity.
Christian dropped her hand and embraced her, pulling her tight against his chest. “Let me try, Red. Let me . . .” His voice trailed off and his breathing deepened.
The henbane had worked. Samantha laid next to the lieutenant’s still body for several long minutes, until the gentle whoosh of his breathing threatened to lull her to sleep herself.
She carefully lifted his arm and slid from the bed, ignoring her body’s protest at leaving his comfortable warmth behind.
After dressing, Samantha started toward the window.
Halfway across the room, she paused and allowed herself one last look at him.
Sleep had softened his features and she swallowed past the lump in her throat.
She would remember this night for the rest of her life, every moment seared into her memory.
“Damn you, Lieutenant.”
With a shake of her head, she turned toward the closest window. Time to go. With nimble fingers, she unlatched it and carefully swung it open. A cool breeze brushed across her face and salty air filled her lungs. Lifting a foot to the ledge beneath the window, she began to lift herself up.
Wait.
She jumped back to the floor and rushed over to his desk. Slipping her mask off, she laid it next to the compass. The brass reflected the flame from a nearby candle.
Leave it.
But she couldn’t. The urge to take something as a reminder of tonight became overwhelming. And before she could talk herself out of it, she snatched the compass up and shoved it into her waistband. A moment later she stood on the ledge.
Holding her breath, she leaned out. No one stood at the railing above.
Good. With a leap, she dove into the dark waves below.
She slid deep below the surface and for a moment let the heavy weight of the water hold her still.
A thousand bubbles roiled around her and as they dissipated, she kicked toward the Hurricane.
When she could hold her breath no longer, she surfaced near the hull. Several strong kicks later, she reached it and maneuvered to the other side of the ship. In the pale moonlight, a rope ladder dangled from the main deck. She grinned and pulled herself from the water.
A few moments later, her bare feet slapped against the cool deck, drawing a startled exclamation from the man closest to her. Griff jumped up from where he sat against the main mast and strode toward her with concern on his face.
Samantha lifted a hand at his advance. “Time to make our escape.”