He immediately sat up, a wary look in his eyes. “What do you know?”
Her heart thudded loud in her ears. Was this a mistake? She’d been so eager to help him and atone for her family’s sins that she’d come straight here without realizing that her confession might be the last thing he wanted to hear. He had no reason to trust her, not when it was her family who had caused all his grief. It was a wonder he could even bear to look at her.
“I know … you must hate me. I know why you need revenge.” Tears burned her eyes. “And I’m so very sorry for everything my father did to you and your family.”
A look of alarm crossed his face as he rose to his feet. “Then you know…?”
“You’re the lost prince.”
He stiffened, his hands clenching into fists.
She winced. From the look on his face and the tension radiating off his body, she could tell she’d given him an unwanted shock. “It will be all right, really. I would never tell anyone.”
He scoffed, then wandered into the water.
She watched with increasing alarm as he went deeper and deeper into the pool. “Rupert, what are you doing?”
He glanced back at her, a tortured look on his face. “Nineteen years. I kept my identity a secret for nineteen years. Only Stefan and Ansel knew.” With a grimace, he pounded a fist through the water. “Dammit to hell! You figured it out in five days!”
He’d gone from shock to anger. She didn’t know which was worse. “Well, I…” She attempted a placating smile. “I tried to warn you about my gift. I’m very good at finding lost things. Even lost princes.”
With a frustrated groan, he slapped the water again. A wind whistled through the grotto, churning up the water. “Dammit.” He closed his eyes, and his chest expanded as he took deep breaths.
He was truly her tall and handsome stranger, Brigitta thought. The moonlight shone down on him, illuminating the sharp lines of his jaw and the wide breadth of his shoulders. The golden strands in his light-brown hair gleamed with starlight. And all those muscles—he looked so incredibly strong, yet at the same time so alone and vulnerable. Her heart ached for him. If only he could accept her in spite of who she was.
His eyes opened and he regarded her sadly. “I don’t know what to do with you.”
Her heart squeezed and tears gathered once again. “That’s all right. I know what to do.” She stepped toward him, her bare toes reaching the edge of the water. “That’s why I came here tonight. I want to offer my services. I’ll go with you and help you set things straight.”
He gave her an incredulous look. “I’m not letting you endanger yourself.”
“I have to help you. It’s the only way I can atone for the crimes of my family. Please let me—” A tear rolled down her cheek, and she impatiently brushed it away. “It nearly kills me to think how much you’ve suffered because of my—”
“Stop,” he growled. “You’ve done nothing wrong.”
“But I have to do something! What my family did to you was unforgivable. I’ll help you with your revenge, and I’ll earn your trust. I swear it.” With trembling legs, she lowered herself onto one knee. “Your Majesty.”
His face went pale. “Shit.” He plunged into the water and swam toward the left side of the grotto.
That was not the reaction she’d hoped for. With a sigh, she plopped down onto the beach and watched him swim. He was doing laps back and forth from the left wall to the right one, where the rope ladder was hanging. Perhaps he just needed to think. Or work off some tension.
She still needed to persuade him to let her help, but she had a bad feeling that he would not be easily convinced. What she needed was a plan. As he swam, her mind raced with ideas of what she could do.
He finally stopped in front of the ladder, his hands gripping a rope rung while he leaned forward to catch his breath. She followed the sandy path around the pool till it ended with a flat rock that jutted out a few inches above the water.
She settled on the rock, not far from him. Then she lifted her skirt just enough to dangle her feet into the pool. “I can see why you like this place. The water is so nice and warm.”
He scowled without looking at her.
“Are you ready to talk now?” she asked. “I’ve been thinking, and I have a few ideas how—”
“I’ve been thinking, too. You’ll need to stay here on the island.”
“But I have a plan—”
“I will not let you risk yourself.” He turned to face her, the water up to his chest. “You don’t owe me anything. What happened was not your fault.”
“I was used to lure your family to their doom. So I will help you, whether you like it or not.”
“Dammit, Brigitta! Don’t make me force you to stay here!” Another breeze swept through the grotto.
“Then don’t!” She scooted forward till she was sitting on the edge of the rock with her lower legs immersed in water. “You said I had the right to decide my own destiny.”
With a wince, he turned to the ladder and muttered a curse.
“My decision has been made,” she continued. “I expect you to honor that.”
He dragged in a deep breath and turned toward her. “I cannot bear for you to be in danger. And I will not use you to further my cause. When you were a babe, I made a vow that I would protect you.”
Was he still trying to keep the betrothal vows after everything her father had done? Tears collected in her eyes once again. “I was too young then to return the vow, but I can make one now. I will help you regain the throne. And I will earn your trust.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “How could I ever betray you when I’m in love with you?”
His eyes widened with a stunned look.
She sat back, hastily wiping her cheeks. Good goddesses, that was more than she’d intended to confess. Mortified, she pulled her legs out of the water.
His hand shot out to grasp her ankle.
She gasped as a surge of emotion blasted through her body. Desire. Longing. He wanted her. He wanted her something fierce.
He moved closer. “Are you all right? Did you have another vision?”
“Nay, I…” she answered in Eberoni, then switched back to Tourinian. “I didn’t see anything.” Since she knew his identity now, she doubted she would see any more of his memories. But why had she felt his emotions? Normally her gift only worked with things that were hidden.
Of course. The answer clicked inside her. He’d been trying to keep his feelings for her a secret.
“Ack!” she cried out when he suddenly hauled her into the pool. “What are you—”
His mouth clamped down on hers.
She was so surprised she didn’t know what to think or how to respond. With a strangled cry, she broke the kiss. “Wait.” She gasped for air. “Why…?”
He cradled her face in his hands. “You said you loved me.”
Her cheeks grew hot. She could hardly deny her own words. “That doesn’t mean you should—” She glanced down and saw her green skirt up to her armpits, floating around her in the water. “Oh goodness.” She tried pushing it down.
“Allow me.” He pushed the skirt down in the back and fumbled with the drawstring.
“What are you—” She huffed when he lifted the wet skirt over her head and tossed it onto the rock. “I didn’t say you could—”
“This, too.” He quickly unlaced the green velvet vest and dragged it down her arms.
With her arms pinned down momentarily, she glanced down and winced at the wet blouse and shift now molded against her breasts. She ducked down a few inches. “Rupert, I thought we were going to talk.”
“Sweetheart.” He threw the vest onto the rock. “Don’t you know when you’re being ravished?”
Her mouth fell open. “I don’t recall agreeing to that.”
“Then I’ll ask.” He pulled her tight against him.
Her hands landed on his bare chest, then she withdrew them a few inches, curling them into fists.
“Brigitta.” He cupped his hand around the back of her head while he planted soft kisses across her brow. “Sweetheart.” The tip of his nose glided down her cheek, then he nibbled a path to her ear.
She shivered, and her hands slowly uncurled.
He nipped at her earlobe, then whispered, “Would you like to be ravished?”
Her knees grew weak, so she grabbed on to his shoulders.
“Is that a yes?” His nose brushed back across her cheek toward her mouth.
“I-I’ll consider it.”
“Take all the time you need.” His mouth took hers, gently savoring and coaxing her until the world swirled around her, and time seemed to slow to a halt.
All that was left was Rupert. His mouth against hers, sweetly molding her and making her melt. His hands touching her neck, stroking her back, and sending delicious shivers along her spine. His chest pressed against her, making her breasts feel so achy and full that she finally gave in to a desperate need building inside her. With a moan she rubbed her breasts against his chest.
He groaned against her mouth. His hand moved down her shift all the way to her rump, then he pulled her hard against him.
She gasped as something hard jabbed at her. But as soon as her mouth opened, his tongue slipped inside.
“What?” She pulled back. “What was that?”
His eyes glimmered with a golden heat. “Shall we continue with the ravishing?”
“I…” Did he intend to do more than a passionate kiss? “Are you planning to do more strange things with your tongue?”
His mouth twitched. “Definitely.”
“I—” She glanced down. “I think there’s something in the water. A turtle, perhaps. I’m afraid it’ll bite me.”
“It’s a damned cock. It doesn’t bite.”
She inhaled sharply. That was him? Her cheeks blazed with embarrassment.
“Would you like to investigate for yourself?” He took her hand from his shoulder.
“No!” She jumped back, pulling her hand away. “I mean, I’m not ready…” She paused when she realized his gaze was riveted to her chest. Unwittingly, she’d moved into shallower water, and now her breasts were showing. Her wet blouse and shift were glued to her skin, the nipples tight and protruding.
“Come here,” he growled, pulling her back into another kiss.
Longing. She felt his emotions flow through her, mixing with her own desire until she could no longer tell which of them was the more desperate.
When he deepened the kiss, she opened her mouth, and this time she welcomed his invasion. He explored and stroked her tongue, encouraging her until she was kissing him back. Heat built inside her until she dug her fingers into his shoulders and squirmed against him.
He clamped a hand on one of her breasts, squeezing and flicking a thumb over the hardened nipple. When she shuddered, he whispered, “Do you want more?”
“Aye.”
He grasped the hem of her shift, then pulled it and the blouse over her head. The wet clothing landed with a plop on top of her skirt.
Good goddesses, she was naked. She barely had time to acknowledge it before he tugged her back into an embrace. Her breasts against his chest, bare skin touching, sent a wave of sensation hurtling through her. Each breath he took pressed against her.
He planted his hands on her rump and lifted her off the pool’s rock floor. “Wrap your legs around me.”
“What?” She grabbed on to his shoulders as he kept raising her higher. Her breasts were now abovewater, completely exposed. Her nipples pebbled in the cool air, the tips tight and aching to be touched.
“Wrap your legs around me,” he repeated. “And squeeze me tight.”
Tentatively, she hooked her right leg around his hips, just above the low waistband of his breeches.
“And the other one.” He slid one arm under her rump to support her, while using his other hand to drape her left leg around his waist.
He pulled her hard against him, and she cried out when her private parts came in contact with his hard abdomen. Her gaze met his, and she melted at the fierce yearning in his golden eyes.
He placed his fingertips on her shoulder, then dragged them down the upper curve of one breast till he reached her nipple. When his thumb rasped against the hardened tip, she shuddered.
“Sweet,” he whispered, gliding his hand beneath the breast to test its weight, then returning to tease her nipple. His gaze moved to her other breast, then he leaned close and drew that nipple into his mouth.
She cried out, raking her fingers into his hair and holding him close. With each flick of his tongue, she tightened her legs around his waist. When he suckled hard, she could no longer bear it. Digging her heels into his back, she ground herself against him.
With a groan, he nuzzled his face against her breasts. “You’re killing me.”
“I don’t mean to.”
“I want to touch you. But that’s as far as I can go. I cannot risk getting you with child.”
Her thighs tightened involuntarily, and his gaze met hers.
“But I want you. I want you so bad it hurts.” He looked around, then carried her over to the rope ladder. “Here.” He moved her hands to a rung above her head. “Hold on tight.”
“Why?” She curled her fists around the rope.
“I’m going to play with you until you scream.” He plunged a hand between them, and she jolted when his hand cupped her.
Good goddesses, it was hard to breathe. With a moan, she squeezed her eyes shut and hung on to the rope. His fingers moved over her, stroking gently.
“Rupert,” she groaned.
“Keep holding.” His fingers grew bolder, exploring until she was panting and squirming.
When he inserted a finger, she cried out, the rope twisting in her hands. He waggled the finger inside her while his thumb rubbed against a spot that made her quiver all over.
“Rupert!” She tensed suddenly as if she were on the edge of a waterfall. Her grip on the rope failed, but he pulled her toward him just as a wave carried her over the falls. Her scream echoed around the cave. She was crashing, soaring, tumbling through a wild tempest. She squeezed him tight and felt herself throbbing against his hand.
“Sweet,” he whispered once again.
As her eyes slowly came into focus, she realized he was still holding her, his hand now gently stroking her back. She wasn’t sure why her body had shattered like that, or if it was even normal, but one thing was clear. When she was with Rupert, she thoroughly enjoyed being ravished.
* * *
An hour or so later, Rupert glanced up at the ledge where Brigitta was. It was quiet, so he assumed she’d fallen asleep on the pile of furs.
After their lovemaking, he’d suggested she climb up the ladder to the ledge so she could rest. Then he’d busied himself in the grotto, trying to take his mind off a painful erection.
First he’d stacked some driftwood and dry grass in the fire pit and used the lantern to set it ablaze. Once the fire was well established, he’d extinguished the lantern to save the oil. He and Brigitta would need it later in order to leave the cave. Then he lay out her wet clothes on rocks not too far from the fire, hoping the heat would help them dry.
While he worked, he considered what to do now that Brigitta knew his true identity. After nineteen years of trusting no one, it was difficult to trust her. He wanted to. Deep inside, he suspected that was one of the reasons why he’d jumped her. It had been his way to lay claim to her so she wouldn’t betray him.
He doubted she would betray him intentionally, but he couldn’t risk her being around her brother. If Gunther thought she knew the true identity of the infamous pirate Rupert, he would stop at nothing to wheedle that information out of her. Knowing too much made her a danger to herself as much as to him.
Her offer to help had tugged at his heart, but how could he, in clear conscience, allow her to assist him? His plan involved battles and bloodshed. Much too dangerous for her.
He peeled off his wet breeches and stretched them out to dry next to Brigitta’s clothes. Then he swam over to the ladder and climbed to the ledge.
She was there, wrapped in a blanket, sound asleep, and his heart squeezed at the sight of her. He couldn’t risk losing her. When she’d confessed that she loved him, a startling realization had shot through him.
If he lost her, there would be no victory. Even if he won his revenge and gained the throne, it would all be meaningless without her.
And so, he’d reached out to her. And she’d responded so beautifully, melting in his arms and shattering with his touch. Even now, he wanted to rip off her blanket and make love all over again.
He winced as his cock swelled once more. He’d had more erections in the past five days than his entire life. He pulled a blanket up to his waist, then stretched out beside her. Just a short rest, he told himself, while their clothes dried.
As he drifted off, he realized he was still torn. Part of him wanted to keep her here on the island where she would be safe, but another part was tempted to ignore the danger. He wanted to grab on to her and never let go.
Somehow, in just a few days, she’d become as important to him as his quest for revenge.