Part 24 (1/2)
Tess closed and locked the cabin door after them, stripping off the robe as she moved to the bathroom. A giggle bubbled in her as she dropped the velvet and stepped into the scented water, warm liquid quenching her salty skin. She sighed with pleasure, leaning back in the copper tub, watching Dane sleep as she soaked. The fragrance misted around her, the vapors laced with the perfume of spice and wildflowers. She loved it. It was unusual, exotic, and sensual. And for the first time since she'd stepped on deck that day, she relaxed.
Dane stirred, a soft humming filling his head, his lips curving in a smile. He'd recognize her voice anywhere. Cautiously he opened his eyes. He could see her through the open bathing-room door, her 248.
arms curved above her, fingers scrubbing her hair. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, sheened with moisture, swayed above the lip of the tufa. His groin tightened at the luxurious vision. She reached for a pitcher and sluiced water over her head, then set aside the urn and wrung her hair, twisting it up in a towel. She relaxed back, her sigh drifting to him on the perfumed air. He tried to sit up, but his wrenched muscles and throbbing skull wouldn't allow the simple task. She was safe and would be there when he woke again. The pleasing thought carried him back into sleep. Tess rose from the tub, patting herself dry, then investigated the little clay pots Higa-san had left. One contained spice-scented powder, with a tiny quilted puff; the other was br.i.m.m.i.n.g with a frothy cream, and she indulged, dusting and smoothing her body into girl heaven. With nothing else to wear, she donned the robe as she left the small room. Tess dropped onto the window bench, toweling her hair dry, realizing every time she took something off it magically disappeared, never to be seen again. Dun-can, she decided, picking at the tangles from her hair with a comb, then glanced at the clock perched atop the dresser when it softly chimed. Fifteen more minutes, then I'll have to wake Dane, she decided. There was a timid rap at the door, and she padded softly across the cabin and opened it, pressing a finger to her lips.
Duncan smiled. ”Enjoy your bath, m'lady?” he whispered.
She nodded, leaning against the doorjamb. ”It was wonderful. Thank the crew for me, will you?” He a.s.sured her he would. ”I'll wake the captain in a 249.
little while. Would it be too much trouble to have a dinner tray brought for him?”
” Twill be a pleasure, la.s.s.” He started to move away, then paused. ”Captain O'Keefe has returned to the Triton, but asked that I relay, if you should need anything, to merely send up a shot.” There was displeasure in his tone.
Tess looked at Dane. ”I have all I need here, Dun-can,” she murmured. His face creased with satisfaction before he pulled the door closed behind him.
”Dane? Dane? Time to wake up.”
”Can a man not find peace in his own bed?” he groused, pulling the coverlet up and turning his back to her. Cannon fire exploded in his head every time he moved. His arms and chest burned, and she wanted him to come out of a painless sleep? For what? To chat? ”Go away, woman.”
Tess fought a smile. What a grump. Every time she roused him, his disposition grew steadily worse. She couldn't let it affect her. Tess knew the minute her back was turned he'd be topside. She scooted closer, ma.s.saging the muscles in his neck. He moaned, and her hands worked down his shoulders. She tugged at his elbow, and he s.h.i.+fted his arm back but didn't face her. Tess manipulated his bicep between her hands, the strength of her fingers soothing the muscles she knew were sore.
”Drink this.” Dane twisted to see she held out a gla.s.s of water and two of those white pills. He s.n.a.t.c.hed them from her, slapped them into his mouth, then drained the gla.s.s. ”Again,” she said, 250.
pouring another gla.s.s of water and holding it out.
He waved sharply. ”Enough, woman!”
Tess arched a brow, daring him to take it. Dane grabbed the gla.s.s, slos.h.i.+ng water over his fingers, but obediently drank while she plumped pillows, her smile sweet and kind. It annoyed him.
”Lie back,” she ordered, and when he didn't, she pushed him. Dane gnashed his teeth as she twisted toward the commode, then held out a small towel. He could see the steam rising from the cloth, yet in this foul mood he wanted naught but for her to leave.
”Would you like me to bathe you?” she inquired sweetly.
”Nay. Get you elsewhere, woman. I am capable of-”
”The h.e.l.l you are,” she said with a grin, slapping the towel in his face. Dane dragged it away, glaring at her. She shot him an impish smile, smoothing the cloth over his chest and down one arm. She dipped it in the bowl, wrung it out, about to continue when he s.n.a.t.c.hed it from her and pitched it in the bowl.
”Enough, I say!”
”All right,” Tess said calmly. ”Hungry yet?” He grunted. ”Can I take that to mean yes?” Men, such babies! She stood and went to the table, bringing back a tray, the third one that Duncan had left for him, and setting it on the opposite side of the bed. He wouldn't look at her. She sat down and opened a napkin, placing it on his lap. His gaze shot to her, his expression sharp and mean.
Tess ignored it, slicing some cheese and bread and little bits of warm sausage. She held out a portion.
251.
”Come on, Dane. You need to eat.”
”I need naught but for you to cease this endless puttering and be gone!” With his last word he knocked the food from her hand, sending it across the room. Tess stared at the debris, clenching her fists, then turned her confused face to him.
”Now that was real swift. What did that little tantrum accomplish?”
”Leave, Tess.”
”For G.o.d's sake, why?”
He turned his head slowly from where he had been staring out the window. ”If you must know, I need to p.i.s.s,” he lied, ”or would you rather do that for me, also?”
She reddened. ”My, my, aren't we witty today.”
”Tess,” he warned. ”Go before-”
”Is there a problem, m'lady?” Duncan interrupted from the doorway.
Tess twisted to look at the old man. ”No. We're just being a grouch.”
”Tess. I swear by all that is holy, I will-”
She looked back at Dane. ”Eeek, I tremble. Oh, help Duncan. The nasty old pirate's going to make me walk the plank.” Dramatically she pressed the back of her hand to her forehead and sighed.
His brows rose in astonishment, and he blinked, his lips quivering with a smile as he sank onto one elbow, unable to remain sour after that bit of nonsense. ”I have struck my colors, woman.” He waved. ”And beg for quarter.”
”Ahh, victory at last,” she sighed, quite pleased with herself, then cast him a side glance. ”You can be a mean little snot when you want, Blackwell.”
252.
”I should be soundly thrashed and hanged from the yard arm for my despicable behavior,” he conceded gallantly.
”Sounds good to me,” she beamed. ”When do we start?”
”Heartless witch.” He grinned.
”Yeah, and you love it.”
She leaned over to check his temperature, her fragrance filling his senses, and Dane caught her hand, placing a kiss to the palm.
”Forgive me, love?”
”Bringing out the big guns, eh, Captain?” she whispered, suddenly breathless.
Raven curls tumbled over his brow, and a ghost of a smile played across chiseled lips. Tess's heart missed an entire beat. G.o.d, he's doing it to me again, she thought.
”I know you don't like being confined, Dane, but wounded pride is no excuse for rudeness.”
”I stand thoroughly chastised,” he said, his gaze dropping briefly to her lips.
”You've got to stay in bed until tomorrow.”
He leaned closer, his breath teasing her mouth. ”Understood, Lady Renfrew.”
”Your word,” she said, and his head jerked back, his brows lifting. ”You have a concussion, for G.o.d's sake. It's serious stuff!”