The Buccaneer(72)

"Then your island is most appropriately named." She relaxed when she felt the rumble of laughter deep in his chest.

"Heaven is exactly as I imagined it. Thick with foliage and flowers so colorful and beautiful they take one's breath away. And beaches of white warm sand to stretch out upon and soak in the sun while a crystal blue sea beckon one to swim."

"Swim?" Catherine asked cautiously. "You swim often?"

"Every day," he answered. "We'll swim together. I promise you'll enjoy it."

Catherine shook her head. "I don't think so."

"You don't think you'll enjoy it?"

"No." She shook her head again. "I can't swim."

Lucian lifted her chin. "You can't swim?"

"Where I lived the skill wasn't necessary."

"Where you live now, the skill is extremely necessary," he insisted. "I will teach you."

"But —"

"I will teach you," he repeated sternly, warning her the matter was settled.

Catherine refused to argue the point. When the time came, she would decide if swimming was a skill she wished to acquire. A yawn raced to rush free and try as she might Catherine couldn't hide its escape.

"It's time to retire," Lucian said.

"I only yawned once," she protested, enjoying their late-night interlude.

Lucian ignored her objection, setting her aside to stand, then reaching down to scoop her up into his arms. He carted her off to his cabin and placed her on the bed.

She unwrapped herself from the quilt and slipped out of his shirt. Arranging the covers as Lucian undressed, she shook the quilt to span out upon the bed and settle across the length.

She heard a small ping and looked about to see the cause of the faint noise.

Lucian joined her in the bed, beneath the covers. "I found the culprit who puzzles you." He raised his hand and between his fingers he held a pearl.

She took it from him. "I thought I had found all of them."

He heard sorrow in her voice and felt her loss. "I will replace your pearl necklace."

Catherine turned and leaned on his chest, rolling the pearl between her fingers. "It isn't necessary."

"Why?" he asked, watching her caress the small pearl.

"The strand of pearls was my protection, my armor against you."

"And you don't wish this protection replaced?" he asked, reaching up to caress her cheek.

She shook her head. "It's no longer necessary."

"Why?" His whispered query sounded anxious.

Her eyes held his. "You're my protection now, Lucian. I shall never fear anything as long as you're near, or as long as I hold your strength in my heart."

Her words cut deep, touching his heart, caressing his soul. He captured her mouth instantly, needing to show her how he felt, needing to lock away the surprising words that had almost tumbled from his lips.

He wouldn't. He couldn't admit that he could possibly be in love with Catherine Abelard. The thought was ridiculous, impossible. He was Lucifer the pirate. He possessed no soul or heart. He cared for nothing. Nothing but—

The soft ping reached his ears. She had released the final pearl. She lay bare before him. His to do with as he wished.

He wrapped his arms around her and settled her beneath him. "Tonight, angel, I'm going to take us to the very depths of madness."

"I'll go anywhere with you, Lucian."

"They don't allow angels in hell," he said sadly, and moved to claim her lips.

Catherine pressed a finger to his seeking lips. "The devil isn't welcome in Heaven, but he resides there anyway. Anything is possible, Lucian. Anything."

He smiled. "Like a strand of pearls that defended your honor?"

"And like a man who took my virginity with desire instead of revenge."

They stared briefly at one another and then reached out to once again make memories.





Chapter Nineteen



Catherine spied the small speck in the distance. She leaned on the railing squinting against the bright sunlight to get a better look. Her bare feet hugged the deck of the ship as it cut with speed through the water, the sails having caught a high wind. She wore a pair of Bones' Sunday-best breeches rolled up to her ankles and Lucian's white linen shirt that fell past her knees. The sleeves were rolled up numerous times and still hung to her wrists. Her hair she had tied back with a black ribbon, though the wind freed several silver strands to whip about her face.

The crew bustled around her in excitement. Their tension ran high, but not from an impending battle. They were going home.

"Be in Heaven by morning," Bones said, his grin wide as he rushed past her.

She returned his smile and continued to study the tiny spot that was Lucian's home. The last few days had been blissful. They hadn't been able to get enough of each other. Even now her flesh anticipated his touch.