Page 45 of Scourge of the Shores
“The Gale,” she finally said, interrupting him. “Ship’s named The Gale.”
He peered over his shoulder and up at the square sail. “It’s a nice little sloop.” She took good care of her people and her ships. He liked that, but wondered if he didn’t stay, would she leave with him? Could she withstand life on a boat full of men?
She leered at him.
“Never seen a Captain give orders from a gunwale, though.” The fire lit in her eyes as she rose to his banter, and it captured his gaze. “Ye sure ye’re a Captain?” he asked with a smug grin.
“Ye sure ye’re a King?” she bit back.
“A King lets people talk or risk mutiny,” he said with an upward tick of his eyebrow. “Ye sure ye wanna silence half yer crew?”
Her jaw grew taut, and her eyes narrowed. “Another threat, Jaymes?”
“Just statin’ a fact, lass,” he said and leaned in.
He felt her shift. She was fighting—hard.
“I’m not a lass,” she gritted.
“Well, ye ain’t a man,” he laughed, but she didn’t. “How ‘bout this: Just statin’ a fact, Capt’n.”
The wind blew her loose shirt tight against her chest, and he dared not look down but kept his eyes locked on hers.
“That’s better,” she said, finally taking a half step closer to him to keep her balance on the ship’s sway. “Ye mutiny against me, ye’ll fail.”
“Don’t underestimate the unarmed,” he warned. His crew had no weapons on her ship, but that didn’t mean they lacked teeth. For a Captain, she was everything she needed to be—but to a pirate, power came in subtler forms. She still had much to learn.
“Threat or fact?” she asked, steadying herself against the force of the next wave.
“Always a fact,” he said, using the opportunity of the ship’s roll to slide closer to her. Their hands brushed on the rope. He let his thumb run down the calluses of her fingers. The calluses told him she was strong, and her title was well-earned. He let his thumb linger, just enough to make her aware of him.
She didn’t move, but her grip tightened before he adjusted his hold above hers.
He peered down as she leaned back. “I’d never threaten you, Danna,” he whispered.
“Ye’ve already laid yer threats. That’s why ye’re on this ship,” she gritted.
“Is it now?” he asked in a drawled whisper, leaning in more as his gaze dropped to her lips briefly.
She held her breath. A question flickered in her eyes, but she was too cunning to ask it aloud. He hated how fast he’d fallen for her, but fallen he had. Visions of her and him commanding Storm Rider as Pirate Kings, together, flooded his mind. She was a woman worthy to carry not only the Chadwick name but the name of his Jaymes heir.
She swallowed hard at his admiring gaze and soft smile. His grin deepened at her silent response.
“Aye, it is,” she finally said and jumped to the deck, yelling another order to check the hull for leaks.
He hopped down too, watching her head to the tiller. She was all sharp edges and command. He couldn’t get enough of her, making her a mystery he had to figure out.
A woman pirate. A woman Pirate King. A Chadwick.
She was every bit as tough and ruthless as any of his men. And she hadn’t shot him, not yet, at least. He wondered how far he could push her defenses.
Thane brushed past him. “Hate takin’ orders from a wench,” he muttered as he descended into the hold.
Robert brushed the comment aside for the moment as he considered Danna. Lucas would never let her leave the island. His dreams of her on Storm Rider were but a fantasy.
But maybe, if he stayed, she could be his if she wanted. He pushed the thought away; it was too dangerous to entertain. He made a vow to his father, one he intended to keep. He shifted his weight against the bulwark and leaned an elbow on the gunwale as he watched Danna, trying to see what his future held.
Scotty walked past, shoving Robert’s shoulder. “Pirate scum,” he muttered. “Stay away from me Captain.”
