Chapter Thirty-Six
REALLY, YOU CAN STOP frowning, Jeremy,” Jacqueline said with a tsk. “I’ll be fine here. He’s been a perfect gentleman this whole time, and now I know why. So are we his allies now or not?”
“He’s defecting, so I suppose we are.”
“I object to ‘defecting,’ ” Damon said tersely. “I was never Lacross’s man.”
“We’re not quibbling here, mate. You’ll have our help, but without sharing the motives for your involvement, you can’t very well expect me to believe everything you’ve said when your part could as likely be this: You went along with the pirate’s plan for your own reasons—until my lovely sister became part of that plan. Now you’re against it and so against him. You were willing to sacrifice our father, but now you’re not, now you want his help instead. If you want to object to my view, hand over your reasons—or don’t. I really don’t care, since you had my cooperation the moment you said my sister is in imminent danger.”
“And once she’s safe?”
Jeremy stood up and moved closer to Damon, offering his hand. “The alliance will stand firm until my father says otherwise. But be warned,” Jeremy added with a chuckle. “If you ever do get to talk to him, he’ll demand a full accounting from you, not the vague explanation you’ve given us.”
Damon nodded and shook hands on it before he finished off the last of his wine. Jacqueline was still coming to terms with being allies with him and what that meant for her. Now that Damon was on their side, he was no longer her enemy. He was no longer—off-limits. Her pulse beat faster with that thought. It was all she could do to keep her eyes off him, but she couldn’t keep the smile from her lips.
“It’s late.” She stood up to give her brother another hug but had to grab the edge of the table to steady herself when the ship pitched again. Thunder cracked in the distance, suggesting rain was imminent. “You might want to get back to your cabin before the rain arrives. We can discuss plans for an ambush or a full deck-sweeping in the morning.”
Jeremy signaled to Percy they were leaving, but put his arm around her shoulders to take her to the door with him, whispering, “Are you okay with an alliance?”
She chuckled. “Now you ask? Yes, absolutely.”
She leaned her back on the door as soon as it closed and didn’t get out of the way when Damon came over to lock it. “That went well, all things considered,” he said.
He wouldn’t meet her eyes. Did he have the same problem she had? She was gazing up at him and remembering what he tasted like until he added, “I’ll be right back. I need to confer with Mr. Thomson about the approaching storm and make sure he’s up to manning the wheel tonight.”
Damon set her gently aside and walked out, leaving her utterly frustrated. She’d been about to wrap her arms tightly around his neck and kiss him the moment he locked the door! Bloody storm. And there was no telling how long he’d be.
With a low growl she moved to her trunk to undress for bed and grabbed one of his shirts to sleep in, but paused as she put it on, then suddenly removed it and removed her underclothes as well. She slipped the shirt back on and doused the lanterns as a precaution due to the pitching, then climbed into bed. She’d wait for him to return. Come hell or high water, he was going to be hers tonight. The decision was made. She’d desired him for too long. Even when he was her enemy, she’d been unable to stop those feelings. But now that they were allies, she didn’t have to.
She hugged that thought to her, fully intending to stay awake. Yet the sound of his returning woke her. He’d been gone long enough for her to fall asleep? He’d brought a lantern in with him. He didn’t notice that her eyes had opened, wasn’t even looking toward the bed. He went to the washstand where the towels were stored to remove his wet clothes. He’d gotten soaked on deck. Nonetheless, she was surprised by what he was doing because she’d never seen him undress in the cabin before.
She slipped out of bed and quietly approached him from behind. His shirt was off. He was briskly rubbing the towel over his head when she grabbed it from his hands. “I’ll do that.”
He immediately turned and faced her, trying to take the towel back. He got his hand on it, but seemed arrested by the sight of her wearing his shirt and nothing else, his eyes moving down to her bare legs.
She tugged the towel back. “I insist.”
She quickly began to rub the towel over his chest before he tried to stop her again. When he didn’t, she slowed down to enjoy what she was doing, moving the cloth over his muscular arms, his neck and shoulders. She didn’t move around him to reach his back, she just stepped closer and swung the towel around him, catching it on his other side so she could slowly tug it back and forth across his back.
“Your boots,” she said a little breathlessly.
He braced an arm against the wall and bent to remove them. She moved the towel to his head again as he did so, caressing him with her fingers through the cloth. Having carte blanche with his body was stimulating her senses, making her crave more. If she couldn’t kiss him soon . . .
He straightened. “I can finish.”
“So can I. Take off your wet trousers.” When he didn’t, she added, “Did you think you were the only one who could give orders? Take them off.”
He still didn’t comply, but he was staring at her in fascination—no, much more than that. Such desire was in his eyes that she could no longer control her own. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. But she’d surprised him, maybe a little too much. He started to raise his hands to pull her arms down, which surprised her. She held on tighter.
“You don’t need to seduce—”
“I’m Jack Malory, too bold for subtlety.” She kissed him again, more hotly.
All the frustration of wanting him was in that kiss, now that she didn’t have to deny herself anymore. That he was trying to resist compounded that frustration. This was no bloody time for him to be a chivalrous pirate! But then he groaned and lifted her, pressing her back to the wall. She curled her legs around his hips, thrilled that she’d just won this little battle.
Yet he still made one last attempt at gallantry, warning her, “Are you sure, because I’m two seconds from—”
“Shut up, pirate. I’m taking what I want.”
He laughed. “I am so defeated. . . .”
Within seconds they were rolling around on his bed, both trying to rid themselves of the last pieces of their clothing. The buttons on her shirt went flying when he ripped it open. He stopped, looking startled, as his gaze roamed over her naked body before returning to her breasts. Cupping them in his hands, he said, “No chemise, no drawers. You are bold, Jack. And so beautiful.” As his hands moved over her, she worked at the fastenings on his pants and ended up breaking them. At least now she could kiss every part of him within her reach. She couldn’t keep her hands from wandering, either.
But he sighed deeply as he looked down at her. “We’ve done enough ripping. What’s left has to be done slowly.”
“You’re not stopping—?”
“Not a chance. Believe me I’m more eager than you, Jack, but let me ease the way for you.”
Gently he pushed her back down on the bed and began caressing her, which didn’t ease anything and just made her want him now, right now! But she would give him a few minutes to show her what he was talking about because she felt a little too embarrassed to ask when she probably ought to know.
His mouth was so hot on her breasts that she was close to screaming. She did moan. A lot. Yet he was still behaving as if he had all the time in the world now, which was driving her crazy. But then he raised his head and gave her a sensual grin. Finally! she thought. She started to wrap her legs around him again, but he slid down her body until his head was between her thighs and . . . oh . . . my . . . God!
The very moment his mouth touched her there, she felt out of control, her pulse exploding, spreading through her, lifting her hips and leaving her trembling, melted, and so utterly amazed. So that’s what he’d meant? Good grief!
“Now you’re wet for me.”
She was? But she was now replete. Were they really not done? But the moment he climbed on top of her, bracing his arms on either side of her head and moving his hips against hers, she gave him the most brilliant smile. She wanted him again. No, they definitely weren’t done.