The Buccaneer(53)

Lucian stood glaring over Catherine, his red knuckles still firmly molded into fists. "Bloody hell, woman, you've gone too far this time."

"I—"

Catherine had no time to explain her actions. In a flash she was yanked off the table and flung over Lucian's broad shoulder. He turned and headed for the stairs off in the corner that led to the second floor.

He stopped abruptly, swung back around, causing Catherine's head to spin and in a tone that made one want to beg for mercy, for he surely sounded as though he wanted to kill, he said, "Bones. Jolly. You both have explaining to do."

With that threat issued he mounted the stairs two at a time. He walked down the short hall to the end, kicked the door open, sending it crashing against the wall, walked in, kicked the door shut, and then walked over to the generous-sized bed and dropped Catherine down on it.

The bed ropes groaned beneath the mattress and Catherine lost her breath from fright or relief, she had yet to determine.

"Good God, madam, do you possess any brains?" he asked, his voice raised enough to demonstrate his ire, but not enough to share their argument with the patrons below.

Catherine took several deep breaths to fill her lungs and to give her sufficient time to form a reasonable explanation.

"Answer me now!"

Catherine had no doubt the whole tavern had heard his demand.

"I did nothing wrong," she said calmly, which irritated him all the more.

"Nothing? Nothing?" he repeated with an unbelieving shake of his head. "You expect me to believe that Handsome Harry strolled over to you, dragged you back to his table, and decided to ravish you in front of the entire tavern?"

"That isn't how it happened."

"Then pray tell, madam, how did it happen?"

Sprawled on her back, Catherine lacked the confidence to speak with conviction. She hastily slipped off the bed and stood. "I needed to stretch my legs, so I simply walked around a few tables."

Lucian stood a few feet away from her attempting to control his anger. His fury was on the edge of erupting into gale proportions, its strength growing every time he recalled Handsome Harry stretched over her. "Simply?" he asked.

She hated that chilling serenity in his voice. It frightened her. "Bonnie suggested —"

She paused for a plausible excuse.

Lucian wouldn't allow her to finish. "Don't blame Bonnie for your own stupidity."

His cruel remark stunned her, especially since it brought back memories. Memories she had thought long buried and forgotten. "I am not stupid," she said, her chin raised, but not nearly as high as usual.

Lucian continued his attack, angry with himself for leaving her and angry with her for being a harlot. "When you brazenly offer your wares in a tavern, you are most definitely stupid."

Catherine detested her intelligence being humiliated and retaliated with the only weapon she possessed, her questionable virtue. "Captain, do you honestly think I would offer myself to the likes of a stinking pirate?"

Fury widened Lucian's eyes and flared his nostrils. He stormed to the door, yanked it open and yelled loud enough for the whole island to hear. "Bones! Jolly! Get your useless asses up here."

Catherine remained composed while her mind frantically searched for answers to the inevitable questions that would follow.

Bones and Jolly nearly tripped over each other hurrying into the room.

"Yes, sir, Captain," Bones said, appearing to speak for both of them as they stood shivering nervously before Captain Lucifer.

Lucian was blunt. "Did she entice Handsome Harry?"

Both men stared wide-eyed at her.

She sent them a weak smile, feeling guilty that they should suffer because of her lack of common sense.

Bones answered. "No, sir."

Relief rushed through Catherine, turning her legs weak.

Lucian walked over to the two men and planted himself right in front of them. His size alone could intimidate, but his look sent the devil's own chill through them both. "What did she do?"

Both men peeked around him casting sympathetic glances at her.

"Stop looking at her and answer me," Lucian shouted, irritated that both men appeared more concerned with Catherine's feelings than with his command.

"She was coming over to our table, Captain, when Handsome Harry grabbed her," Jolly said quickly.

Catherine had rarely heard Jolly say two words, so his defense stunned her.

Lucian looked to her and then back to the two men. He obviously didn't believe anyone from the black expression crossing his face.

"Get out!" he shouted at them, and once again Bones and Jolly nearly tripped over each other while rushing out the door.

He slammed the door shut and bolted the iron lock. Then he turned on Catherine, his anger still raging. "What took you to their table?"