MY FINGERS GENTLY BRUSHED her warm skin as I unhooked the top of the leather and I felt her shiver. Smiling, I was happy to see that she was just as affected as I was.

Every so slowly I untied the black ribbons and released the hook and eyelets that held her top on. I took every opportunity to touch her silky skin relishing when I saw goosebumps appear on her arms.

My dick was inches away from her perfect ass, all I had to do was press it into her, and she would know my feelings. I couldn’t have denied it.

But that damn innocence kept creeping up in the back of my mind.

She caught the leather before it fell and I stepped back unable to take my eyes away from the broad expanse of skin. Ebony was bare from her neck to her waist, and I noticed that she hadn’t needed the corset to make her tiny waist seem smaller.

When she turned around, I saw the sides of her breasts that were no longer covered by her top.

Her eyes were deep pools of grey, questioning and wanting.

“I will leave you to it,” my gravelly voice making me wince.

She didn’t speak, didn’t blink, or even seem to breathe as I backed out of the small bathroom.

I was so fucked up. I didn’t know what to do.

And then I had a fist flying at my face. I instinctively moved, grabbing the hand and whipping it behind my attacker.

Alex snarled at me, “What do you think you are doing?”

“I was showing you hospitality,” I tightened my grasp, and he winced.

“I will stay with Ebony,” his voice was cold. “I don’t want you anywhere near her.”

“It is a noble thing to protect one’s sister,” I guessed.

His eyes widened a fraction betraying him before he answered, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

I took a gamble and released him. The water was shut off from inside the bathroom, and I made a motion for him to follow me. We walked in tense silence down the stairs. I showed him into my study that was far away from the guest rooms.

Without thought, I walked over to the cabinet and poured two glasses of malt whiskey. I needed something strong, with a bit of a burn.

Offering Alex one, I threw back the other.

His eyes never left my face as he sipped his own drink.

“I do not know if you share the same blood,” I began. “But it is obvious that you are Hook’s son.”

Alex’s jaw tightened, “You don’t know anything.”

“Why are you really here, Alex?” I sank down into my leather desk chair. “Cut the bullshit about avenging Hook. I need the truth.”

Alex looked like he wanted to chop me into little pieces. We sat in silence for a moment or two, and I worried that I wasn’t getting anywhere with him.

But then he relented, “Ebony is as much my father’s daughter, and I am his son.”

“What does that mean?”

Alex glanced around the room taking in the rich furnishings, “He would like this, you know.”

I thought of what I remembered of my old nemesis and smiled, “Not nearly ostentatious for the old bastard.”

Alex barked out a laugh, “You might be right about that. Look, I never anticipated that we would actually find you. Tink isn’t known on the island for her reliability. We have been gone almost a month. Things were going according to plan, and then you showed up.”

I quirked a brow, “I do most humbly apologize, although I am not certain what for.”

Alex leaned in, “My father is the cruelest man I have ever known. He left my mother without any support and Smeed stepped in. He raised me like I was his own. But the older I got, the more I knew that I didn’t resemble Smeed in the slightest. From what Smeed has told me, they found Ebony wandering about as a small child. I don’t remember life on the ship without her. As to why Hook claimed her as his own, I have no clue. Perhaps she really is his daughter.”

“But you do not believe this to be true?” I questioned.

He shook his head, “There is too much goodness and light in Ebony. She is no more a ruthless pirate than my adoptive father was.”

“Then why does she captain the Jolly Roger?”Iit was as if I had too many pieces to a puzzle and couldn’t make them fit.

“I don’t know,” Alex ran a hand through his black curls. “All I know is that Hook is dying. He has grown thin and weak. His dying wish was that I take her away so that she won’t be there to see him pass.”

“That doesn’t make any sense,” I tried to reconcile this loving father with the ruthless man I knew as Hook.

Alex shrugged.

“I can answer that.”

Alex whipped his head around, “How long have you been standing there?”

Tiger Lilly stepped inside the room closing the door behind her.

“I wondered when you would join our little party,” I stood and motioned for her to have a seat next to Alex.

Tiger Lilly sat on the edge of her seat looking every inch of the princess that she was.

“Peter, it’s good to see you,” her smile, didn’t reach her eyes.

“The truth, Lilly, if you please,” I rubbed my forehead wearily.

“Ebony is the only daughter of Long John Silver,” Lilly glanced at Alex apologetically. “I am sorry I lied to you. But things are much worse than you realize. Hook kidnapped Ebony from Captain Silver and tried to ransom her for dead man's chest. Something went wrong, and Silver and his crew were banished to Treasure Island forever.”

“And that left Ebony with Hook?” I started to piece the mystery together. “She was valuable enough for Hook not to want any harm to come to her. Hence, he claimed the little girl as was his own, knowing that you keep your friends close and your enemies and their daughters even closer.”

Lilly nodded, “As you say, Peter.”

“So why did he send her away now?” Alex questioned.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Lilly looked at him, “Long John Silver is coming to Neverland. And Hook is scrambling. It’s been years since he took her. I’d like to think that he might have some affection for Ebony, but it is more likely that he wants to save his skin.”

Alex nodded grimly, “He told me he was dying, that I was to protect her with my life. Hook said, that there was no possible way that we would ever find you. I just don't understand what he could have been thinking.”

It wasn’t lost on me that Hook was risking his son Alex’s life to save Ebony’s. I wasn’t sure if laughter was the appropriate response, but I chuckled just the same. The old bastard was just a wily as he always had been. Not only had he been certain they would find me, but undoubtedly he knew the day, the minute, and time they would arrive.

I smiled, “Well played Hook.”

“What in the hell is that supposed to mean?” Alex looked from Lilly to me and back again.

She smiled kindly, at him, “That Peter will help us.”

She turned to me with a knowing glance, and I sighed. That was the beauty of Hook's plan. He knew that I wouldn't be to resist rescuing a beautiful woman in distress. Or at least my former self wouldn't have been able to. I wanted to say that I had changed. I was colder, no doubt about it. Black and white had turned into a myriad of shades for me over the years. But it seemed Hook knew me better than I did myself.

“It looks like we are returning to Neverland.”

Alex fell off his chair.