Chapter Ten
Virginia was still protesting loudly and struggling to get free of Drake's arms when he abruptly dropped her on the bed. Flinging back her hair she jumped to her feet. "How dare you!" She raised her hand to slap him but he caught her small hand easily in his and twisting it behind her back he pulled her close to him.
As he gazed down at her, he thought it such a pity that she never looked more beautiful than when she was furious with him. Her fiery red hair in wild disarray, her heaving bosom, the color in her cheeks and of course her brilliant green eyes sparking with fury. "Take your hands off me! You should know by now that I have no desire to be touched by you!" she spat at him.
"Listen to me you stubborn little minx," he retorted. He struggled to stay calm and not let his own mounting anger get the best of him. "I told you before that this is the safest place for you. My crew were hired for their sailing abilities, not for their gentle manners where ladies are concerned and quite frankly, there I some I wouldn't trust within a hundred feet of you. So, whether you like it or not, you will be sleeping here. With me." He pulled her tightly to him with the last words of his statement before releasing her.
She staggered away from him, her chest still heaving in self righteous anger. "You only want me here so you can extract your payment." Her voice began to rise as she berated him. "You expect me to just lay down for you, well forget it. I will not barter myself-"
"That's another thing," he said sharply, cutting off her tirade. His voice softened as he continued, "I would like to apologize for my behavior yesterday morning. I didn't mean what I said about you having to pay for your crossing, either in my bed or in any other manner."
Uncertainty edged out the anger in her eyes as she weighed what he had said. Before she could respond, he turned on his heel and abruptly left the room, locking the door behind him.
Virginia flopped backwards onto the bed, a huge sigh bursting through her lips. His apology played back in her mind. Realizing that what had shocked her the most when he had demanded his 'payment' was that it was so unexpected. It was completely out of character for him. But both of their emotions had been running high, both were behaving erratically, she reasoned. He had meant the apology, of that she was sure. The stress drained from her body as she forgave him and she felt a sense of peace. The first she had felt in such a long time, even before sneaking aboard his ship.
She knew it wouldn't last though. As soon as he walked through that door, as soon as she gazed into his glowing amber eyes it would all begin again and most likely another incident like the last would occur. Throwing her arm over her eyes, she let out a groan. She couldn't take it anymore. But what could she do?
She again thought of Violet and how she would view the situation. What would her friend's advice be? Violet always said the most scandalous things but didn't really mean most of it. She was just as chaste as Virginia. Well, almost, she thought with a wry smile, at least before this voyage. Before she had embarked on this crazy adventure, Violet had always been the more daring one, the more passionate one, falling in love with a different young gentleman every week. But asides from the occasional embrace and kiss, she was as virtuous a girl as Virginia had been.
So how would her friend advise her now? Stay strong, don't let the volatile attraction you feel for each other get the best of you? Go ahead and seduce him, get it over with and then you both can get some sleep? She almost laughed out loud, thinking that is most likely what Violet would say, but joking of course.
Sitting up on the edge of the bed, she thought, why not? The only reason to behave in Liverpool was for the sake of propriety, of not ruining one's chances of marriage. But if she made love to Drake here on the ship, who would know? Banishing any thoughts of what would be expected of her on her wedding night when she did eventually marry, she began to concoct a plan. One that Violet would be proud of.
Drake strode onto the deck, his body humming with pent up tension. Just that brief encounter had re-kindled his passion for her. Holding her in his arms as he carried her down to his cabin and then tightly against himself had been more than a little arousing. How were the two of them going to manage the next few weeks? He didn't know how much longer he could last around her, especially when she kept responding to him, melting beneath his kisses and arching against his caresses. A warmth began to spread through his limbs as he recalled the lush feel of her full breasts beneath his hands. How her pert nipples always responded to his touch and how sweet she had tasted when he sucked that tender pink nub into his mouth.
This isn't doing me any good, he thought, biting back a groan. Unbidden images of her eyes, the brilliant green clouded with desire, her lips, slightly swollen from his kisses, breathily pleading for more, asking him to take her, to make love to her.
"Damn it," he muttered beneath his breath. He wanted her more than words could describe, but the guilt he would feel afterwards far outweighed it. She would want, would expect, marriage and he couldn't offer her that. What woman would want a husband who's away six months or even more of the year? If he married her, he wouldn't be able to stay away from her for two days, let alone half the year and being a sailor was the only thing he knew how to do. What was he thinking? Shaking his head, he began to pace the ship, breathing in the salty air, letting it sweep away thoughts of her, at least temporarily.
They avoided each other for the remainder of the day, Virginia eating her meals in the cabin while Drake ate with his crew. He found that the best way to keep her from his thoughts was physical labor and so again joined his men in repairing the damage from the storm. By the time he staggered down the stairs to his cabin, he was bone weary and looking forward to a good night's sleep. It was late and he thought she would be asleep, so was surprised to see a faint glow emanating from beneath the door.
His weariness instantly evaporated the moment he entered the room. Adrenalin surged through his veins as his heart began to pound in his chest. Blinking, he couldn't believe his eyes. Virginia lay on the bed on her side, supporting her head in one hand, her thick coppery curls spread around her. She was clad in only a thin chemise and it clung lovingly to her curves, dipping enticingly low over her full breasts, the taut nipples straining against the delicate fabric. Shifting her legs he caught a glimpse of calf and knee but it was her eyes that had him entranced. The soft light from the single lamp and her half closed lids did nothing to diminish the blazing passion burning there.
"Are you just going to stand there?" she purred, her free hand slowly stroking over her hip and thigh.
"Wh-what are you doing?" he stammered, finding it difficult to find his voice.
"Waiting for you," she again purred. The soft, low sound of her voice washed over him as his brain slowly grasped what was happening.
"It's late, you should be asleep," he said lamely.
