Part 21 (1/2)
Her expression went bleak. ”No, Captain O'Keefe, he hasn't,” she muttered, and before she looked away, Dane could have sworn he saw the gloss of tears. ”Thanks, Dane, she whispered. ”You've made me feel like a complete a.s.s-again.”
Dane realized she was referring to her first lover's humiliation, and the thought made his chest tighten painfully. ”Ah G.o.d, Tess, nay. I did not mean-”
She shot him a glare and a single tear spilled. ”I'm tired. Go away, please.” Discreetly she brushed at her cheek, then moved to Ramsey, extending her hand. ”Good night, Captain O'Keefe. It was nice meeting you,” she managed over the rock in her 209.
throat. ”Maybe well see each other again?”
His smile was rakish and crooked. ”You have my word on it, Lady Renfrew.” He accepted her hand, raising it to his lips and giving it a soft kiss. ”I, for one, will not let so rare a find slip from my grasp.”
She offered a weak smile, pulling her hand free. He was certainly great for a girl's ego. ”Have a safe voyage, Ramsey.”
He frowned, his gaze s.h.i.+fting between Dane and the woman moving toward the window bench. Did she not know the Triton would be but a cannon's fire away? He strode to Dane. The man was examining the carpet's quality.
” Tis a b.l.o.o.d.y shame 'twas you who pulled her from the sea, man, instead of me.”
Dane's head jerked up and his eyes narrowed dangerously. ”You want naught with her as with every wench, Ram.”
O'Keefe looked back over his shoulder at Tess. ”Nay, not this one, Blackwell.” He returned his gaze to Dane. ”And I will confess I shall be most pleased if you fall from the lady's good graces.”
”Get out, Ram,” Dane growled softly. ”And do not believe you have a chance with my lady.”
O'Keefe arched a brow at the blatant claim. ”Time will tell, my friend.” The two captains fought a silent challenge; then Ramsey bowed shortly, spun on his heels, and left the room, his boot heels clicking in the heavy silence.
Tess picked at the loose threads of her hem, realizing her going barefoot did damage to the delicate fabric. Desiree's gown. Her throat swelled until it ached to breathe, to swallow. d.a.m.n! It shouldn't 210.
hurt this much.
After closing the door, Dane moved to stand behind her. ”The clothing is yours, Tess.”
”Now who's the liar, Blackwell?” She unpinned her hair. ”I would have liked to think it was stolen than to know it actually belonged to one of your women.” The last word came out bitter and hard.
”Desiree is-was my sister.”
Her head came up. ”Say again?”- His shoulders drooped, and he settled his hip against the desk, talking to her back. ”Desiree was but five and ten when I last saw her.”
Tess could hear the pain in his voice. ”When was that?”
”Two years past.”
”Then she's only-”
”Dead, Tess, she is dead.”
She dropped her forehead into the window frame, ”Oh, G.o.d, I'm sorry, Dane. I didn't know.”
”I did not see her before she died, Tess. Nay, I was off seeking my fortune, having adventures on the high seas.” His chuckle was condemning, mocking himself. ”I wasn't even aware of her death until a few months ago.” Tess turned to face him. He was staring at the floor. ”Events have occurred that you couldn't possibly understand, and I see no need to involve you in my personal affairs.”
”That's. .h.i.tting below the belt, Dane.” He looked up, scowling. ”Don't you think I care?” She stood and moved toward him. ”I saved your sorry b.u.t.t on that burning s.h.i.+p, Blackwell.” She thumped his chest. ”I nursed your crew, put up with your arrogance and your h.o.r.n.y friend. I've tried to be accom- 211.
modating, Captain, told you stuff no one knows.” She stared at him for a long moment, her eyes begging him to let her in. ”I could have sworn we had something good going” here, Dane. Or was last night really just a roll in th - ?”
Abruptly he gathered her close, his mouth claiming hers in a silencing kiss. His fingers dug into her hips as he pressed her more firmly to him. She could feel his urgency as his tongue pushed between her lips. She moaned, greedily accepting the hot energy. A tingling raced down her spine, settling hotly between her thighs, and Tess slipped her hands inside his coat, feeling his silk-covered ribs. It's the same every time, she thought dizzily, burning, breathless, out of control.
”Do not belittle yourself, nor what has pa.s.sed 'atween us, Tess,” he murmured into her mouth. ”Please. I cannot bear to hear the words again.” She melted at his softly spoken plea as his lips slid to the warm flesh at her throat.
”What or who are you looking for?” she panted, tilting her head so he had better access.
He stilled, leaning back, his frosty gaze drilling her. ”A murderer.”
Her brows furrowed, pewter eyes sketching his features. ”You're going to kill this person, aren't you?”
”Aye.”
She gripped him close. ”Dane, no, capture him maybe, take him back to America to stand trial, but don't kill him. You'll be as bad as he is.”
”He deserves no less than a painfully slow death.” She gasped at the coldness of his voice, the pale 212.
gleam in his eyes. Her arms dropped to her sides, and he moved away. ”He courted Desiree like a fine gentleman, promising love and vows. He managed to fool my father and lure my sister into his lair, then after he'd embezzled her dowry, he brutally raped her!” Dane lifted his gaze to Tess, his expression a mask of torment. ”When the beast was spent, he allowed his friends to have her.” He smacked his hand into his fist and squeezed his eyes shut. ”She attempted to take her own life, but he would not allow her even that small dignity and killed her himself.” Dane shook his head and looked up at her. ”Nay, Tess. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d must pay. He has shamed us, stolen our coin and our fairest life. He will die by my hand.”
There was no convincing him otherwise, Tess thought. His face was closed, hard, and there was a cruel twist to his lips she'd seen once before-when he was fighting with Bennett. Tess wanted to shake him. But she couldn't stop thinking of the seventeen-year-old girl, and what she had gone through and how she'd died. Her stomach churned as her imagination formed the gruesome picture. This slime ball deserved the electric chair.
”Dane,” Tess said softly. ”You don't have to do this yourself.”
He glared at her. ”Aye, I do. 'Twas my fault.” ”No! It wasn't,” She came to him and grabbed his arm. ”How could it? You weren't there!”
”Do you not see, woman?” He shrugged off her touch. ”If I had been there, this would not have occurred! Sweet Christ, she was but a babe, an innocent woman-child, coddled and kept safe all her 213.
life! Aye,” he lashed a hand in the air, ”while the grand Captain Blackwell was off a-pirating-”his lips twisted in disgust -”his sister found naught but disgrace and death.”
He stared at Tess for a moment, his body rigid, white-knuckled fists clenching as he fought with the agonizing memories. Then he spun about and strode to the door. He paused, his hand on the latch, then glanced over his shoulder to see a single tear roll down her cheeks, her expression sympathetic.
”Don't leave like this, Dane. Let me help you.” The words filtered to him over the creak of the s.h.i.+p, the splash of waves.
”Nay, la.s.s. Tis my battle this time.”
214.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
Dane stood outside the door like a stone wall, body rigid, jaw set, and teeth gnas.h.i.+ng. He closed his eyes and dropped his head back. A hurricane raged inside him, a gale force blowing out of control. He turned toward the door, about to re-enter the cabin, but his hand fell away. He rested his forehead against the polished frame. Twas not the time to be near her. He wanted her, always wanted her. But he feared he'd abuse her kindness, release his anger on the innocent. His mind saw her tears, the silent plea to allow her to share his burdens. Tess would be willing to fight alongside him. Nay, he corrected with a weak smile, she would demand the opportunity. He rolled around and let his breath out with a deep sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. He desired nothing more at this moment than to gather her in his arms and hold her softness close, inhale the scent of her hair, feel her feminine warmth surrounding him. Ah, G.o.d, he thought, what a temptation you lay at my feet. Dane admitted he had never been more confused over a woman.
215.
He battled over her outrageous behavior, her acid mouth, and her absurd claims, yet an instant in her arms, a brush of her skin, her lips, and it was easily cast aside to the stirring brought by her touch. He rubbed the bridge of his nose with a thumb and forefinger.
”Sir?”