A cheer went up as the Scarlet Night began to add distance between them and the British. Adrenaline pumped in Alice’s veins. The hum of the rigging set off a humming within her. Gavin kept a tight hold on her as he lifted the top of her gown back into place and they moved down out of the rigging.
He called the order. “We’re going to thread the needle. Simons, pull every ounce of speed we’ve got.”
God, she’d missed him. His commanding presence, the way he captained his crew. The strength of his jaw. The smell of his skin. “Can I kiss you now?”
“They’re still watching.” He jerked her closer and moved toward the ladder way. “They won’t shoot on us now they’ve seen you, but they’ll pursue us to attempt a rescue. If we can lose sight of them long enough, there’s a place we can lie low. Let them chase their tails for a few days.”
“Foolish men, don’t they know I don’t need rescuing?”
“Go below. I’ll be down soon.”
Alice slipped back into the rest of her clothes in the galley way where she’d changed in haste. Activity top deck rumbled down as the men sent the Scarlet Night flying over the water. The clamor was like coming home. The creak of the wood, the rush of the sea. She was back.
But what did that mean? Indecision crept over her. She and Gavin hadn’t shared more than two score words between them. Yes, his kisses left her knees weak, but he’d pushed her away one too many times to assume they meant anything more than a moment’s desire. He’d come for her, but there were still many things left swinging in the breeze.
There was one thing she was certain of, however. Alice went in search of Bump. Regardless of what happened between her and Gavin, she would not be leaving that sweet lad again.
She found him tucked away in a corner of Gavin’s cabin polishing a pair of Gavin’s boots—one-handed. What had happened to his arm? He hadn’t noticed her when she entered, and so she stood in the doorway and waited.
His face looked thinner. Dark smudges visible beneath his eyes. His hair stuck out in every direction. The sight of him filled her heart and made her want to scoop him into her arms and never let go.
Bump looked up from his work. His eyes met hers and he frowned. Rubbing them with the back of his hand, he looked at her again. Bump jumped to his feet, knocking the boots to the floor, and ran to her. Midroom, he came to an abrupt stop. Eyes wide, he stared.
Alice stood her ground. She’d rushed to him before and embraced him against his will. She needed to be patient. Tears pinched the backs of her eyes. She opened her arms out to her sides and held her breath.
Bump tucked his chin, gave a great sigh, and leapt into her arms. He encircled his good arm around her neck and held tight. Alice wrapped her arms around the boy as she buried her face into his slight shoulder and wept.
Gavin entered a short time later. Alice lowered Bump to his feet and wiped at her face. “This was not coddling.”
“I didn’t say it was.” Gavin touched Bump’s shoulder, and when the boy looked at him, he made a few odd gestures with his hands. Bump smiled and gestured back before giving Alice another quick hug and leaving the cabin.
Alice wiggled her fingers. “What was that you did?”
“Do you remember the books we acquired from the Spanish merchant ship?” Gavin lifted a book from his desk. “I found this.” He handed it to her. “Priest, named Bonet, has a way of talking to the deaf.”
Alice looked through the book. Each letter of the alphabet represented by a different position of the hand to spell out words. She practiced forming the letter A. “This is wonderful.”
“It’s slow, and in Spanish, but it’s a start. Bump’s smart. He’s catching on.”
Gavin hung up his coat and baldric. Set each in its proper place.
“What happened to his arm?”
“He fell. It’s healing well. Bump being Bump.” Gavin loosened the stock at his neck. Pulled the lacing from his hair.
Alice hugged the book to her chest. All the bravado from before faded away to nothing. The chasm between them still stood. She drew a shaky breath. “Have we outrun the British?”
“Aye.” The neck of his shirt open, Gavin stood with his hands on his hips. He was the most handsome, beautiful man she’d ever seen. She wanted to go to him. Kiss that place where his neck dipped into his chest. Feel the beating of his heart beneath her lips. But if he put her aside, pushed her away again, it would destroy her. She’d endured torture, beatings, attacks. She’d faced down fierce pirates and an evil duke and swung her weapon in battle. But standing here, wanting him like this, it was a battle she wouldn’t survive.
Gavin poured a healthy measure of rum. “Had you not secured your place among this crew before, you’ve surely done so now. You were…amazing.” He handed her the glass. Gray eyes held her gaze. “Of course, now I’ll have to hunt down five British officers and kill them for ogling you.” The corner of his mouth twitched.
He gave a slow shake to his head, before he ran the backs of his fingers along her cheek. Slipping his hand beneath her hair, he brushed it over her shoulder before capturing the back of her neck and drawing her mouth to his. “Dear Lord, I do love you.”
Alice released a small cry as his lips claimed hers. He tipped her back, deepened the kiss, and erased any doubt in her mind as to his true feelings. Gavin’s arm circled her waist and pulled her to him as his mouth continued to ravish hers. A deep groan rumbled from his throat. He ground his hips against hers. The firm ridge of his desire pressed against her belly.
She was beyond thought. He had to feel the pounding of her heart as it tried to burst from her chest. Alice dropped the book and the glass to the floor. Rum ran between the floorboards as the glass rolled away. She wrapped her arms around his neck.
Gavin ran his hands down over the roundness of her and lifted her off her feet. In breeches, she was free to wrap her legs around his waist as he carried her to his bed.
They came together like a storm. Clothing tossed aside in haste. Hands and mouths, grasping and tasting. A sexual fire consuming them both. Nothing mattered but being joined with him. Alice cried out when he drove into her. Joy bursting in her heart. Passion surged through her veins as he pushed her higher, sending her full sail into the blinding light of the sun. She screamed his name. Gavin continued to thrust into her until the heat of his release flooded her.
He kissed her, panting. Rested his forehead against hers. “I love you so much.” He raised his head enough to look into her eyes. “I’m sorry I sent you away. Never again. You’re never leaving me again.” He kept shaking his head. “I only wanted to protect you.”
“Gavin—”
“No. Let me finish. This is my life. I’ve lost so much already.” He kissed her. “Promise me I won’t lose you, too.”
“You can’t shield me against everything, Gavin. I know the dangers, but I belong here. With you. I don’t want a life away from the Scarlet Night. I choose you.” She held his face. “I’m a pirate in love with a pirate. I can’t promise to live until I’m old and gray, to die peacefully in my bed. I can only promise I will love you as long as the moon pulls at the tides and there is water in the sea.”
“Be my wife,” he whispered.
Alice blinked at a sudden flood of tears. She sniffed back all the emotion before it poured out and embarrassed them both. She hid it behind a sassy smile. “Is that an order, Captain?”
Gavin held her cheek and used his thumb to wipe the tear away from the corner of her eye. He shook his head, as he looked deep into her soul. “No. It’s a plea.”
* * * *
When the Scarlet Night dropped anchor within the protected shelter known as the Needle’s Eye, the entire crew stood witness to their marriage.
“I, Alice Louise Tupper take you Gavin Quinn to be my husband.” She wore a skirt the color of mud with red stripes down the back.
Gavin promised to love her ‘til death do us part.’ He slipped a stunning necklace of gold and oval emeralds around her neck. It was all she wore to bed that night.
Some time after eight bells, Alice insisted on signing her name to the ship’s Articles. Arguing that Alice Tupper was no more, she signed her name in a large, flowing script: Tupper Quinn.