Steam Powered Passion

Tori is dealt a terrible blow when she is given to a couple of pirates as insurance on a ship. But finding herself lifted up into an airship is only the first of many surprises. The second? Malcolm and Sean attacked her ship in order to get their hands on her.

Malcolm and Sean both realize they need a woman in their relationship. Tori seems to be the perfect solution. But can she see past their physical differences to the men beneath and accept them as they are?

But Tori is more then she appears. She’s been passing secrets to the old-world rebels for years. When she is seen leaking information to the new-world military, will her men believe she wasn’t trying to betray them?

Can each of them see past their personal expectations and accept a relationship steam-built for three?

Genre: Historical, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Regency

Length: 57,381 words

STEAM POWERED PASSION

Corinne Davies

MENAGE AMOUR

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

IMPRINT: Ménage Amour

STEAM POWERED PASSION

Copyright © 2010 by Corinne Davies

E-book ISBN: 1-61034-014-0

First E-book Publication: November 2010

Cover design by Jinger Heaston

All cover art and logo copyright © 2010 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

DEDICATION

For all the Siren editors that work so hard in the background. Thank you so much for your help, I couldn’t do this without you!

And, for Jinger, my cover goddess!

STEAM POWERED PASSION

CORINNE DAVIES

Copyright © 2010

Chapter One

“Under normal circumstances, I would relieve you of all your possessions, but I’m feeling generous today. I’ll allow you to retain one item.”

The wind gusted across the bow of the ship, whipping Viktorya Trenton’s hair across her eyes. A seagull sitting on the ship’s railing gave an indignant squawk, as if it couldn’t wait to hear the next move in such tense negotiations between her husband and the pirate that attacked the ship.

“Your wife or your frigate? Choose one.”

A small measure of relief flooded Viktorya. She might have a knife held to her throat, but at least she wouldn’t die this way.

“My ship.”

Betrayal radiated through Viktorya’s breast, stealing her breath. Her sense of relief died an icy death with her husband’s choice. She felt as though the pirate holding her captive had slid the knife across her skin, before plunging it into her chest. Why would her husband betray her like this? Their marriage hadn’t been for love, but she thought they had grown to respect each other’s positions, in a way.

He couldn’t know what she'd truly done during their marriage. As far as he knew, she was a perfect wife. What she realized now is that she allowed herself to be lulled into a false sense of security.

“Alexander?” This had to be some sort of misunderstanding. He wouldn’t truly choose his bloody frigate over her. “What are you saying?”

“I don’t want her to suffer. Would you be so kind as to make it quick?” Her husband glanced at her and gave a slight shrug of his shoulders, as if the situation raged out of his control. “Nothing personal, love. You know that in times like these the business will support the family. You wouldn’t want them to go hungry because you selfishly put your life before theirs.”

She wanted to respond, but the acute hurt radiating in her chest froze the air in her lungs. Breathing continued to be a conscious effort at the moment. Speaking seemed impossible. What had she done to deserve this? For the five years they were married, she’d worked hard to be exactly the wife he wanted. She worked harder to make certain he never knew she hated every moment.

“Ya married a cold-blooded bastard, didn’ ya?” Words spoken by her captor brushed her ear. At least he held a knife to her throat and had enough honor not to plunge it in her back. The lock on her chest eased enough for her to pull in a thin thread of air.

Her second breath felt easier as cold calm washed over her emotions. So, her husband thought her disposable? “Alexander Trenton, you are truly an evil bastard, and if you think my death will stop me from gaining revenge, you really don’t know me.”

“Sweetheart,” his voice carried the same condescending tone it always had when he corrected her for some insignificant error, “it’s you who doesn’t know me. Don’t worry. I’ll console your little sister, as I’m sure she will be devastated.”

Yzabeau might be younger than her, but she was Viktorya’s best friend and confidant. Insane fury burned away the icy calm that held her captive. She lunged against her captor’s arms, intent on tearing that bastard’s evil heart out with her nails. The man behind her cursed, his arms tightening around her chest as she wrestled against the restraint, and a sting prickled against her neck. She would smack Trenton right in his pretty face, even if it ended up being the last thing she ever did.

“Enough!” The pirate captain stepped in front of her, and she caught the first glimpse of the man who now held her life. Tori’s height allowed her to look most men in the eye. Until this moment, she had never felt like a short woman. This pirate towered over her, his wide shoulders blocking the view of her deceitful husband. Dark trousers tucked in to perfectly polished Hessians. He wore a long black coat made from a type of buckskin and a pristine white shirt with a wide swath of tartan crossed over his chest. He didn’t look anything like the pirates she had heard of in stories. The bright sun behind him kept his features shadowed. The rays glinted off a pair of brass goggles that sat against the thick, dark hair spiked wildly about his head.

The glare blinded her for the moment, and she blinked rapidly to try to clear her sight. He gripped her chin between his thumb and fingers, tilting her head up a tad and exposing her neck. Her chin hadn’t moved up too far when she felt a hot, burning pain on her skin.

Instinctively, she jerked her chin back out of his grip. He tisked at her and pulled a pristine white handkerchief from his pocket. “That was a stupid decision on your part. Unless you were hoping to end your life before I make the decision for you.”

Closing her eyes, she allowed him to think her terrified. Fear would come later. Right now, white-hot rage pumped adrenaline through her system. How the hell would she get out of this predicament? Despite his harsh words, his movements were gentle as he pressed the fabric against her skin. She had a moment’s alarm when he anchored the pad by tying something around her neck. Unsure of her future, she stayed completely still, unused to having so many hands on her. “You do know it’s a thin line between bravery and stupidity?”

“As thin as the line between pirate and privateer.” Tori opened her eyes to see what kind of response that might have triggered. Clenching her teeth together prevented her jaw from dropping at her first good look at him.

“Aren’t you a brave one?” He looked her over as if judging her character by her appearance. Nothing angered her more than someone who judged worth based on exterior appearance.

“You know nothing about me, sir.”

“You would be surprised what I know, Lady Trenton.”

She didn’t understand why he practically sneered her name. Not that she disagreed with him at the moment. These men should abhor her. As far as they knew, she lived life in accordance with the New World beliefs. Many considered her husband to be the best of examples of a life to live by. For the longest time, she convinced herself they were right. And yet, he was quick to betray her. What kind of character judge did that make her? She should have listened to Yzzi. Her sister had long tried to convince her to stay on guard more with Trenton.

“Get her out of here.” The captain turned away, dismissing her. The sharp snapping of several pistols cocking echoed around her. She opened her eyes, a kernel of hope flickering in her heart, expecting it to be her husband and his men refusing to allow her removal from the ship. Her husband stood there with his hands up, obviously unwilling to bother fighting for her.

Unwilling to be led like a sheep to slaughter, Viktorya struggled against her captor’s arms until another man appeared and pointed a gun at her forehead. He stood much taller than her and was dark as the night sky as well. She narrowed her eyes at him and stopped fighting. He didn’t say a thing, only stared at her and held up the harness in his other hand. She had one choice, and death was not an option she would entertain. As long as she lived, she could fight back. She needed to get to her sister. More importantly, she needed to get the papers tucked into her bodice delivered to the proper recipient. Apparently, her future residence as a prisoner on a pirate ship would make her mission doubly hard.

She dropped her arms and stopped pulling away from the man who held her. As soon as the rope dropped in front of them, the man in front of her lowered his weapon and tucked it into his waistband. No need to resist further because she was headed in only one direction.

Up.

“Now, don’t struggle, or I’ll make a mistake putting this on you, and you’ll end up splattered on the deck.” His low voice sounded strangely melodic and beautiful, a striking contrast to the harshness of his features.

I can do this. Be brave like Yzzi would be. Tramping down the fear that wanted to claw to the surface, she woodenly allowed herself buckled into the harness. Once secured, she felt her harness attached to the pirate behind her. Everything felt so surreal. This couldn’t truly be happening. Their travel papers would have reported this as an uneventful trip to gather supplies from New York. What would have drawn the attention of pirates? During the beginning of the voyage, she carefully searched the ship and didn’t find anything illegal on board, for once. Any moment, she was going to wake from this nightmare. Please let me wake up.

She watched in fascinated horror as the excess rope on the deck spiraled upwards. Following its path up, she saw the pirate ship for the first time as it hung in the air above them. Its underbelly had been whitewashed and somewhat resembled a very solid cloud hanging in the sky. She had heard of such incredible ships but never had the opportunity to board one. Of course, this was not how she hoped her maiden voyage would evolve.

The pirate behind her grabbed her wrists and crossed them over her chest, as if she was about to be laid in a coffin. For all she knew, that exactly was what her immediate future held.

His tanned arms wrapped around her and gave a slight reassuring squeeze. “Deep breath, Mrs. Trenton. Dinna look down.”

She felt a jerk, and then the world dropped away from her as they lifted up into the air. Fear clawed at her throat but for a moment. Despite his warning not to, she looked down at the smug face of her husband. So he’d thought he won? She arched her neck and spat at him. A useless act as the droplets blew away in the sea wind.

“Good girl.” The man who held her sounded proud of her defiance.

The captain looked up, and her chest tightened, robbing her of breath again. She had never seen a more intense looking man before. He didn’t have perfect features like Trenton. His features were stronger. A tanned face made of harsh angles, and yet he looked amused at the same time. It confused her until she realized that he looked directly at her legs and, therefore, directly up her skirt. Embarrassment surged through her as well as a feeling she had not experienced in a very long time. There was a distinct possibility she would not live long, and the short time she had left promised horrors she wasn’t willing to comprehend. Why in the name of god did she feel such excitement at the prospect of a man…a pirate looking at her bare legs?

Life on a ship being so different than on land, she often disregarded proper undergarments for a preference to comfort. Never did she think her unconventionality would be put on display for all and sundry.

“Sir, you will lower your eyes.” If he heard her, he didn’t acknowledge it, nor did he obey her demand.

The man holding her laughed, the low vibrations felt as they rumbled against her back. She looked up and watched the planking of the ship pass her eyes. Crustaceans and shells dotted the pitched wood as if his ship sailed both the water and air currents.

Renegade bits of hair blew against her face, tickling her nose. Her heart pounded a wild tempo in her chest as she watched the ship’s rail come into view. A deckhand waited for them and reached over, grabbing a hold of her harness.

“Watch your shins.” He pulled them over a narrow deck, which she stepped on as soon as they were lifted clear of the railing.

The anger and pain of Trenton’s betrayal dimmed now that she stood as a prisoner on a pirate ship. There were no guns pointed at her this time. Logical, since her only means of escape was a suicide jump to the seas below. Not a choice she would entertain at this point.

“What’s to become of me?”

“That’s for the captain to decide.” The man behind her shed his harness as the deckhand unbuckled hers with practiced ease. She couldn’t be the first woman they had claimed. The pirate gripped her upper arm and walked quickly across the deck. She tried to keep up, but her legs wouldn’t work properly. She was used to the constant motion of the sea, but this ship remained curiously stable. His grip stopped her from falling, but it also stopped her from looking around too much. She looked up and caught a glimpse of what looked like a couple large, shiny balloons above their heads. Pots of flame shot up beneath them, but she didn’t have time to see anything else.

She did notice that there were only a couple of men on the deck. Many had boarded her ship, but shouldn’t there be more? Perhaps they were below? “Sir, please slow down.”

“Jacko, my name is Jacko, and I have my orders. You will bunk with the women, and the captain will decide your fate later.”

“Women? You have women on board already?”

“Aye. A lovely pair Coraline and Tabitha are. They know how to treat a man right. You had better learn quickly if you’re going to be part of the crew.” He opened a door, led her down a flight of stairs, and pushed her through an open door.

Just as she spun to ask another question, the door slammed in her face, and she heard the click of a lock.

“I do hate it when he locks us in.”

Viktorya turned and saw two half-dressed women curled up together in the middle of a large nest of pillows and luxurious blankets. One looked up and pushed a tangle of blonde hair out of her face. “Oh, look! Jacko brought us a new friend. Wake up, Tabby, we have a new play toy.”

Viktorya pulled herself up and tried to look as confident as possible. “I’m no toy, and certainly not yours.” It was obvious what these women did to earn their keep on a ship such as this, although their cabin looked much more sumptuous then she had ever experienced. Their clothing was made to enhance, not conceal, their assets, on display for anyone who cared to look.

“Oh, he’s caught himself a lady this time. I can tell by your tone. This is interesting. Are ya cert’n ya’ren’t for me and Tabby?”

Since she had called the other Tabby, Viktorya assumed this one must be Coraline. If she were to get out of here, she would need as much information as possible. “No, I’m not. Exactly how many women have been ripped from their ships in such a manner?”

Tabby raised her head and peered through a cloud of fluffy blonde curls. “What did they do to your neck?” She sat up, crawled over Coraline, and moved closer.

Viktorya touched her fingers against the fabric pad on her throat, the reminder causing her to feel its sting. “The man who brought me here had a knife to my throat. It cut me during a particularly intense moment.”

“Jacko? Jacko did that? I’ll kill him myself, that ass. Him and his pointy things.” Tabby came over and took her by the hand, leading her to a nearby chair. Viktorya tried to disengage her fingers from the other woman’s hand but was unsuccessful.

“That’s why he bolted out of here so quickly.” Coraline opened a nearby chest and pulled out a small box.

“You cannot be that surprised.” Viktorya tried to tug her fingers free from Tabitha’s again. “They’re pirates. I’m surprised they let me live at all.” Her heart beat wildly, and yet a part of her wanted to feel Tabby wrap her arms around her. A silly notion and completely inappropriate, but right about now, she really wanted a hug.

Tabby’s voice snapped like a whip. “We might not be as superior as you, but you don’t have to tug on my hands as if you will catch a disease from touching me.”

Viktorya stopped trying to free her hand from Tabby’s grip. “Oh, it’s not that. My apologies if I made you feel inferior. I’m not used to being touched. It’s unsettling.”

Tabby tilted her head and gave her a quizzical look. “You’re married, yes? You’re pretty, too. I bet your mister would’ve been at you all the time.” She waved a hand towards a chair for Viktorya to sit in.

“I’m afraid you are mistaken.” She swallowed the bitter tang in the back of her throat. “Thankfully, I was not afflicted with his attentions after our wedding night.” Viktorya sank back against the padded chair, feeling the sting of tears in her eyes. Her hands shook as she tried to wave off Tabby’s ministrations. “I’ll be fine. You can leave me here to think.”

“Oh, poor thing, you’re not used to this type of treatment, are you?” Tabby carefully untied the fabric around her neck, and Viktorya could feel the pad lifted off her skin. She hissed as it stung and felt a warm trickle down her neck. She thought it was blood, but Coraline brushed some dampness from her cheek.

“It’s a’right. We ken help. It don’t looks bad to me. Tabby?”

“No, not at all. Bet it stings like a bugger, but it’s just a scratch. You won’t even have a scar when it’s healed, I’m certain.”

“Why are you being so nice to me?” Here, complete strangers helped her with her neck, when her own husband offered it to them on a silver platter. Was this some sort of trick? Were they trying to lull her into a false sense of security?

Coraline exchanged a look with Tabitha that Viktorya couldn’t decipher. “Not used to it? I’ve ’eard the upper crust is cold. Tabby ‘n’ me, we’d rather hobnob with the salt of the earth. Good people, they are.”

“What’s your name, honey?” Tabby asked as she dabbed a cloth against Viktorya’s skin. It smelled clear with a faint hint of flowers.

“Viktorya Trenton.”

“Cory, Tabby, and Viki! Oh, you’ll fit in just perfect!”

Viktorya hated that particular nickname, but Coraline looked so pleased with it she didn’t have the heart to correct her. She sat there quietly and contemplated how much her life had changed since she’d woken. She couldn’t stop the shaking to her hands and body. Cory laid a heavy, soft blanket over her shoulders. It smelled faintly of fresh air and salt air, nothing like the musty, damp blankets on her husband’s ship.

“Thank you.”

Coraline patted her shoulders. “Don’t worry, Viki, we’ll take care of ya.”

She flinched at both the name and the touch, but Coraline didn’t seem to notice. Tori straightened her back and tried not to look as if she’d been beaten. “Do you think he plans to sell me at a market?” A dangerous prospect, but at least it would be on land and she might be able to plot a rough idea of an escape.

“Who, the captain?” Tabby’s eyes grew round, and her eyebrows raised up as if she couldn’t believe Viktorya asked such a thing. “Blessed Brand, no! The captain hates slavers. I’ve seen him attack ships before simply to free those trapped inside.”

A loud explosion reverberated in the air around her. “What is that?” In her panic, she almost launched herself out onto the floor. Her heart slammed against her chest, and she fought the tears that sprang to her eyes.

“It’s ok. It was the cannons. Captain must’ve ’ad a good reason to use them. No return fire, so isn’t anything to worry about.” Cory patted her shoulder and gave it a soft squeeze.

Viktorya pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders and tried to hide her trembling. They must have sunk the ship. Did they kill Trenton before, or did they allow him to escape? Either way, it didn’t change her situation, and she couldn’t deny the feeling of relief at being free of Trenton.

She remembered the day she decided to marry him. Almost four months to the day after she heard that Sean’s ship had succumbed to pirates, no survivors reported. Her heart felt as empty as a washed-up seashell. When Yzzi came to her with the crazy idea that they could help the rebels by gathering information from the inside, it gave her a sense of purpose. The lies gave her life meaning. So she endured what she had to and dreamed that perhaps she would find some kind of love in the lonely existence her marriage offered. Such naïve dreams.

Tabby gently washed her neck and then wiped some sort of cooling salve on it. It took the sting out of the cut, for which Viktorya was eternally grateful. “There, that should do the trick. Now, why don’t you have a bit of a rest?”

Viktorya eyed the makeshift bed warily. “No, thank you. I’m fine here in the chair.”

“Oh, nonsense.” Coraline wrapped an arm around her shoulders and tugged her to her feet.

She moved, simply to try to get out from under Coraline’s arm, but then changed her mind. The weight brought her a sense of comfort. If she closed her eyes, she could almost imagine her sister was here.

“I made up the hammock for you.”

A hammock Viktorya could handle. In fact, she often used one when traveling on ship. The gentle rocking motion always calmed her. This one looked much bigger than anything she had slept in. Coraline had used several blankets and pillows to create a nest-like feel about it.

A low grumble echoed around them, and the room shivered, sending the hammock rocking. A low thump, thump vibrated in the air, as if someone struck the ship with a large hammer. Were they about to fall out of the sky? “What was that?”

“Captain must be back on board. That’s the engines starting the propellers.” Coraline herded her to the hammock and held it as Viktorya slid into it.

“Propellers?”

“Yes, if there is a need to leave quickly, he’ll engage them to get the ship going, and then the wind will take us where it wants.”

Viktorya allowed Cory to push her back against the pillow-filled hammock. Tabby came over and laid another fresh-smelling blanket over her. “What you need is some rest. Don’t worry about anything. We’ll keep you safe while you sleep.”

“I appreciate your kindness. Thank you, but I’m certain that sleep will not come easily to me.” Viktorya curled up in the bed, thankful for her habit of leaving off her corset while on board. The two women drifted away from her, leaving her to her thoughts. They weren’t anything like the ship doxies she had met before. Those woman who habited the ports earned coin from desperate sailors coming in from a long term at sea.

Today was a day of continuous revelations about the world around her. She had always thought herself to be worldly, but in a matter of hours, she’d come to realize how the opposite appeared to be true. She was nothing better than a country mouse. She must keep her wits about her if she wanted to escape. Her reputation was in tatters, but that didn’t bother her as much as the idea of Trenton getting within arm’s length of Yzabeau.

She thought for a moment that her father might protect her sister, but then, he had been trying to marry Yzabeau off for years. It was her intervention on Yzzi’s behalf that had prevented it. She helped convince her father that her sister would benefit from trips to the continent with their aunt, a clever cover for all the information her sister passed back and forth from the New World and the Rebels. What would happen to them all now?

* * * *

Captain Malcolm Dygannon had heard tales of Lord Alexander Trenton’s cold-blooded attitude and perversely enjoyed the ease in exploiting it in front of his wife. There was the distinct possibility that, despite that he had heard otherwise, she deserved it. The higher echelons of New World society didn’t have patience or interest in those they deemed below them. Seamen and pirates fell far below her station. Still, while she stood there with a knife to her throat, not once did she say anything concerning the proximity of any rabble. A true blue blood would not have hesitated in voicing her opinion of the situation long before she realized the danger she was in.

Mal knew he held a long-standing grudge and didn’t have a high opinion of their type, but he did know how to read body language. It was a talent that had saved his hide more than once. In this case, Mrs. Trenton never expected her husband to toss her aside like that. The pain of that betrayal echoed in her eyes when he looked at her. She cared for the shallow idiot, and he didn’t think she truly had any clue as to this side of her husband. The involuntarily jerk of her body and the slight drooping of her shoulders at his decision proved she expected a more chivalrous response from him. What did surprise him was the venom behind her words.

Her reaction impressed him. So the gentle Mrs. Trenton had a bit of a temper? Interesting. This crazy plan he’d come up with long ago finally drew to a close. Sean had better appreciate all the hard work it took. Although some details weren’t that hard to organize, capturing her was incredibly easy. Especially since Trenton obviously planned to have his wife killed. If he hadn’t attacked the ship and stolen her, how many days did she have left in her husband’s care?

Under his supervision, Gareth and Jacko harnessed her. Mrs. Trenton’s figure made Mal’s mouth water. She didn’t look like most of the women in her station. Women who tied their corsets so tight Mal feared he might snap them in half. He’d heard recently that the newest goal in New York was to have a waist no thicker then the span of a man’s hands. What kind of idiot wanted a woman like that? He liked to know that a woman could handle being brought to a screaming orgasm and not pass out from lack of air.

Gareth finished securing the rigging and gave the signal. Moments later, he watched her being lifted from the deck. She knew they were taking her but didn’t beg or even ask to be left behind. For a woman to willingly be taken prisoner by a pirate instead of staying with her husband spoke volumes to his way of thinking. This meek mouse couldn’t be the same woman he had heard so much about. Shock could be a possible cause of her silence. With her looks and meek attitude, she would garner a fortune on a slaver’s block. She might be better off in a sultan’s harem if she was this accepting of anything that happened to her. Not that he could ever bring himself to actually do that.

A slim ankle peeked out from beneath her skirt, and as she rose higher, the long line of her leg came into view. Mal could feel his body reacting to this illicit show. No doubt she would be horrified at the exposure. What was truly amazing was that, as she rose higher, he gained a new respect for the woman. She eschewed the normal layers most women flounced around in. At this moment, he respected that choice immensely. Now, if only he’d had the forethought to stand directly under her. He’d glanced up at her face and saw, to his amusement, a rebellious look in her face. At last, the volatile temper he had heard stories of made an appearance.

Her attempt to spit was a useless but amusing show of defiance, and it did impress him. Good thing, too, because humble, timid, little women left his blood cold and other body parts limp. Well, not that limp. He slid his gaze to her bared legs as she rose high enough to present him with a luscious peek at what hid at the apex of her legs. Her limbs snapped together, legs twisting together in an attempt to cover herself and deny him the view.

He couldn’t hear the words she’d spoken to him, but the look on her face spoke more than her words ever could. He couldn’t help but grin up at her. If he wanted to have a peek, there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it. A lesson he felt would be very enjoyable to deliver. He returned his gaze to the woman’s husband. Where he had enjoyed the view of her womanly assets, her husband’s gaze was on his ship. Did the man even realize that she had attempted to spit on him? Still on his knees, Lord Trenton had looked over The Seahawk as if he planned to own her one day. There would be more chance of the sun falling from the sky. The man couldn't see much from his angle, certainly not the secret that kept The Seahawk in the air.

From his vantage point, all he would be able to make out were the ropes that dangled down and hauled up crates and chests from the hold. The winds had begun to pick up, and the cargo swung gently as it made its way upwards. The chests obviously were not as full as he expected. The information he received listed this ship as carrying a vast treasure for delivery to an unknown warehouse in New York. His man had come up from the under deck not long ago shaking his head. Apparently, they had the wrong ship. An impossibility or their lead was wrong. Unless Trenton had deliberately leaked false information, but why would he do that?

Malcolm had long ago turned his back on the world of nobility, unwelcome in their midst any longer. He did understand how a criminal’s mind worked and began to wonder what benefit spreading such a rumor would be. Why did Trenton want his ship attacked? It couldn’t be personal because anyone could have caught up to The Rosemary sooner or later. Mal happened to be the first one to cripple her defenses and board her.

“You can ease your concerns. I have no intention of killing her. She’s worth more to me alive.” He deliberately allowed Trenton to believe he would treat her in the same manner the New World nobles treated everyone of lower class.

Trenton swung his gaze back down to where Mal wanted it. His face reflected a flash of horror, quickly masked by arrogance, then false sadness. “Whatever you decide, of course. She’s a good girl. I don’t want to see her suffer any, show mercy on her. She has a sharp enough tongue that she may drive you to want to gut her. I would understand if you felt the need to cut it from her throat.”

Mal clenched his teeth together and took slow breaths in and then out again in an attempt to cool his own temper. He knew that the nobles rarely married for love, but to show such a lack of respect for another human being disgusted him. “What I intend to do to her is none of your business. You have exactly one minute to gather what is left of your men and get off this ship.”

Lord Trenton’s eyes widened, his neck flushing beet red. “But, but you said...” Spittle sprayed from his lips as he sputtered.

“I lied.”

“Sir, you lack the honor I would expect from any free man. To go back on your word is as disgusting as the acts of savages.”

Mal placed his hands on his hips and laughed aloud. “Honor? You lecture me about something you lack? You chose a lifeless vehicle over your wife.”

“I made the hardest decision of my life in order to save the rest of the family. Her life is sacrificed in order to be certain that the rest of the family has food on the table.”

“And jewels in your pockets,” Mal finished for him.

Trenton blustered, more spittle flying from his lips as he tried to argue. Any blessings of looks were lost in the ugliness of his anger. “You know nothing of my finances. I have given everything for this family. Everything!”

“One ship would not have caused you enough loss to destroy your family, even if this one had been filled as rumored.” Malcolm turned on his heel and strode away from him.

He nodded to one of his men. “See that Mr. Trenton and his men are loaded into the shallops and set afloat.”

While his men strong-armed the noble and his surviving crew off the ship, Malcolm made his way through the ship. The conditions in which Trenton expected his men to live were atrocious. The lower decks were disgusting, a filthy hovel of human filth and rot. The smell alone brought back memories from Mal’s early years on the sea. He forced himself to breathe through his mouth and think of his own ship.

Trenton’s cabin was nothing like the lower levels, of course. He made his way quickly through the storerooms, confirming what he had already suspected. This frigate carried nothing close to what the ship’s manifest stated she should. Which meant that someone had already boarded her and emptied the contents, Trenton threw everything overboard, or somebody set Malcolm up.

According to the official records, they were carrying flour and sugar to trade in the city. There were also a number of reports that he carried a fortune in jewels and artwork on board. According to Mal’s sources, Trenton was trading human lives. The slave trade was alive and well, despite his and others’ ongoing attempts to destroy it. Still, there was no proof to be found on board of his activities. Unless he planned to be boarded and the entire trip was nothing but an elaborate way to end his wife’s life.

A shrill whistle pierced the air in three short bursts. The alarm. Mal ran above board and looked up at the lookout perched in the crow’s nest. The boy there waved his arms and pointed to the east. Snapping open his looking glass, he saw the faint shadow of a ship headed in their direction.

“Dammit, I want everyone in the air immediately!”

Mal compressed his spyglass back into itself and tucked it away on his belt. He pulled his goggles back down over his eyes and reached for the harness that continued to dangle from his ship. With practiced ease, he buckled himself in and anchored the rope around his boot. A moment later, the rope snapped taut, whisking him off the deck.

Ropes withdrew almost as quickly as they dropped, and Mal ascertained that all his men were on their way to being back in the air. From his vantage point, he could see the four shallops floating a good distance away from the ship. In one, Trenton’s large frame waved wildly. Mal could just imagine the curses shouted at him, lost in the sea’s winds, not unlike Mrs. Trenton’s spittle.

The railing appeared in front of him, and he grabbed it, pulling himself over it. Unhooking himself, he snapped his spyglass open again and looked at the horizon. The ship was close enough now to see The Rosemary, but the sun and clouds should still camouflage his ship, The Seahawk. He strode down the deck and slapped his first mate on the shoulder. “Gareth, any concerns while I was off ship?”

“No, sir. All cargo is below and stowed away. Jacko took the woman to Tabby and Cory’s room.”

“Excellent. Good work, Gareth. Now, as soon as everyone is aboard, sink that bitch, and then get us the hell out of here before we’re identified.”

“Aye, aye, sir.”

Leaving Gareth to follow his orders, Mal headed to the door where his quarters were located. He heard the hiss and groan of the engines rumbling to life. A slight shimmy to the boards below his feet told him that the steam pressure in the engines rose. It would only be a few moments before it reached the level where the engines could be engaged and they would be underway. He pulled the goggles from his face and stripped off his gloves as he walked. Today’s incident marked the possibility of a large change in his life, and he hoped he had made the correct decisions.

Chapter Two

“You’re going to wear a hole in my favorite carpet with your pacing.”

Sean halted his movements and turned towards him. “Well?”

A loud explosion sounded from outside, followed by a couple farther away. Mal fought the urge to laugh at the shocked look on Sean’s face.

“Was that what I think it was? You sank the bloody ship?”

“Yes, and you could have warned me a bit more about what a self-absorbed asshole he is. I wanted to put a bullet between his eyes.” Mal placed his gloves and goggles in a small cubby next to the entrance and shut the little wooden door to it. “I’m regretting I didn’t at least maim him a bit and make him a little less pretty.”

“Was that Viktorya Trenton I saw come aboard?”

“Apparently her husband decided for her to join him on this trip.”

“I haven’t seen her since I first sailed out. How is she?”

Mal strode over and embraced the other man, feeling the uniqueness of his embrace. Cupping Sean’s cheek with his hand, he brushed his lips against his lover’s. “I would imagine she’s frightened, but she still showed some spunk, given the circumstance. Why didn’t you go out and meet her on deck? Seeing a familiar face might have helped.”

“Not yet. I want to be certain this is a good idea. I’m not the same man I was then.” Sean shrugged in his embrace, and Mal tightened his hold.

“I doubt she’s the same woman. Everyone changes.”

Sean pinned a withering glare on him. “Not everyone has a limb replaced with a mechanical arm.” He lifted his left arm as if it was the first time Mal had seen it. Hell, the damn arm was what caught his interest in the first place, quickly followed by the man who invented it.

“Sean, if she can’t see past a bunch of metal bits to the man behind it then I should have left her to her fate. Did you know that her husband fully expected me to kill her?”

“I couldn’t believe she would marry a man like that. I know I don’t have a right, but it feels as though she betrayed me.”

Mal wrapped his hand around the back of Sean’s neck and stroked the silky hair there. Sean often didn’t think to cut his hair. There were so many more things going on in his thoughts that simple things like a haircut were forgotten. Mal caressed the other man's lips with his own. “I can understand why you do.”

“No, you don’t. Mal, she thought I was dead by that point. I was so angry at her I cruised every hole in the docks that night until I wasn’t fit to fight back.”

“That was the night you lost your arm?”

“Yes, I had been playing around with the mechanical one for years. Originally, I had hoped to help those wounded in the wars. Little did I know I’d be wearing the prototype myself. By the time I was well enough to fight back again, she had married Trenton.”

Malcolm knew this was about the time that he’d met Sean. Mal found the other man in a pirate port on a Caribbean island, in the middle of a fight, outnumbered and too drunk to care. Sean had fascinated him, the way he held his own against the others. At the time, Mal planned to help, but was enraptured by the sight of Sean. It wasn’t just the mechanical arm that moved as if he had been born with it. Sean never stopped, never backed down, until the others retreated, leaving him bloodied and broken but not defeated.

It had been a long time since Sean felt inferior because of his handicap, and Malcolm doubted the wisdom of bringing Mrs. Trenton on board. He wasn’t willing to cause the man he loved any more pain just to see if there was more to her than on the surface. He owed it to Sean to try and see, but he wasn’t going to let it drag on. Either she still cared for Sean or not, and if she made him feel less of a man for even a moment, he would send her swimming into the clouds.

“Mal, I don’t like that look.”

“What look?”

“The one that says you have been planning something and failed to let me know about it. This wasn’t a random coincidence, was it? You knew she was on that ship.”

Sean’s voice rose louder with each word, and Malcolm scowled at him as if he was mad. Of course, he knew what he would find on that ship, not that he would admit anything to Sean right now. “No. You think I want that bitch here after what she did to you? We’ll sell her at the next port and carry on.”

“We will not. Regardless of what you think is best. We are not slavers. The king’s letter you carry with you won’t mean shite if you take up with the slavers.”

Mal nodded, and moving closer, he buried his face in Sean’s neck. Hoping that when Sean discovered this lie he would forgive it. “Sorry, my temper got away from me. I didn’t know for certain that she would be on the ship. It was an educated guess, but I couldn’t leave her there with him. I’m not entirely certain if Lord Trenton wouldn’t have enjoyed it if I raped and killed her right there in front of him.”

The reassuring thump, thump of the propellers echoed in the room around them. Out of habit, Sean reached for the closest piece of furniture to anchor himself. Mal used the inertia as an excuse to rub himself against the other man’s body. He needed to distract Sean, get his mind off that woman for the moment. Let his subconscious work on the idea of seeing her again.

“You have a gift for reading people, and I don’t doubt you’re right about Trenton. Tori’s father was always a manipulative bastard with his eye on the largest prize. I wouldn’t doubt that he traded his daughters like commodities instead of treasures.”

Malcolm pulled at the tie that held back Sean’s hair, running his fingers through the length once he freed it. Mal knew Sean loved the soft tug of his hair against his scalp when Mal ran his fingers though its length. Nipping at the muscle that joined Sean’s neck to his shoulder, Mal gripped the other man’s hips, controlling the situation at the same time, but allowed Sean a sense of freedom. Tipping his head back, Sean allowed Mal full access to his soft skin.

Mal loved the way Sean would submit to him. He was strong enough to fight back and, in some ways, stronger, but never did he deny Mal’s inherent need to be the leader in intimacy.

Sean’s fingers tangled in Mal’s hair until it was tight against his scalp, pulling the strands until his scalp prickled with awareness. Mal fought Sean’s attempt to lead, the struggle bringing up the heat in his body. Sean was his to conquer, repeatedly. Thank the gods for Sean’s defiant streak and his need to make Mal work for the prize.

He cupped Sean’s face and plundered his lips, feeling them swell beneath his ministrations. He lifted up and gazed down at his lover. Sean’s cheeks held a hint of roughness due to his not shaving for a few days. He ground his hips against Sean’s and felt the other man’s cock straining against his trousers. Sean jerked in his arms and arched his back, pressing his hips against Mal’s. Agonizingly hard cocks pressed against each other, reaching for the touch of the other but denied by the material between them.

Sean moaned and reached for Mal’s trousers, but Mal prevented him from doing anything by pressing his hips against Sean’s, not allowing any room for Sean to maneuver. Sean was at his mercy, and he liked that. Sean wrapped one leg around his and changed the angle and the pressure, causing a bolt of heat to streak up Mal’s spine.

“You want my cock? You’ll have to use something other than your hands, Sean.”

Sean grinned at the challenge, slid his hands along Mal’s bottom and down the back of his legs, and Sean sunk to his knees between them. As Sean looked up, Mal gripped the hair on the back of his lover’s head tightly, making Sean wince, but his pupils dilated with pleasure, and he licked his lips. Carefully, he pulled at the buttons, undoing the left side before pushing the fabric away with his nose and burrowing within. Licking Mal’s length in a hot, wet swipe, Mal could feel himself thickening against Sean’s soft lips..

“Stop teasing, Sean, or I’ll repay you twice over.”

Sean chuckled low in his throat, and Mal wished he could have felt that with the end of his cock. Sean nuzzled the length of him and then licked and tongued his sac. Mal reached back and braced himself against the wall, his legs not feeling very steady because of Sean’s ministrations.

“Dammit, Sean. Wrap that pretty mouth of yours around me and remind me why I shouldn’t use my own hand…oh, goddess of the sea, yes.”

Sean took him deep in one long stroke. Practice and technique had made Sean a master. He sucked him in deep and nuzzled his curls with his nose, only to allow Mal to slip almost completely out of his warm, moist mouth. Slipping one shoulder under Mal’s leg threw Mal slightly off balance. Reaching up, Mal gripped the light sconce anchored to the wall. His other hand went back to Sean’s head, not to lead the man but to help ground himself. Sean’s tongue danced along his length, swallowing him deeper with each stroke.

Mal tightened the leg over Sean’s shoulder, driving the heel of his boot into the other man’s back. Sean grunted and moaned, and Mal felt the vibrations tremble along the length of his cock. Lips shuttled up and down his length, and Sean’s fingers dug into Mal’s thigh. Helpless against the instinct to move, Mal jerked his hips in time with Sean’s ministrations. White-hot fire burned at the back of his spine, and he could feel his balls pull up tight to his body. Sensing the tension in Mal, Sean moved faster along his cock, driving him towards a wave of ecstasy.

“Oh, no, you don’t.” Despite his body’s instinct to fall into that particular wave, Mal gripped Sean’s hair and pulled his head back. Mal’s cock slipped from Sean’s mouth with an audible pop. The sound alone almost had Mal spurting all over the other man’s face.

He grabbed Sean’s hands and forced him back to the floor, dropping over top of him. He crushed his lips against Sean’s. Sean cried out and jerked upwards, the sensation of him pressing against Mal’s engorged, over-sensitized cock. They rolled across the floor in a battle of wills, wiggling out of their clothes in a frenzied need to feel each other, each fighting to be on top. Boots clumped against the floor as did goggles and swords, pushed along the floorboards a safe distance away.

Malcolm ended up on his back with Sean straddling his hips. The copper and silver arm glinted in the setting sunlight glowing through the small window. Mal looked down to the metal fingers splayed on his chest, pinning him back, knowing that Sean would never deliberately hurt him, nor would he allow Mal to push him to his back this time.

“Concede.” Sean’s look of triumph didn’t last when Mal jerked his hips up, slapping his hard cock against the seam of Sean’s bottom.

“You’re on top, but you’re not going to top me today.” Mal reached down and gripped Sean’s erection in his hand, sliding his hand down the length, then back. He loved the soft gasp of air Sean did and the way his body shuddered in response to each stroke. Mal swiped his thumb over the crown of Sean’s cock, collecting the drop of pre-cum that beaded up. Lifting his thumb to his mouth, he licked the drop off with a swipe of his tongue. Sean lifted his metal hand from Mal’s chest and braced it against the floor next to his shoulder.

“I’m yours.”

“You’re damn right you are.” Mal reached over to where Sean’s pants lay and liberated a small vial of oil from its pocket. “Stroke yourself for me.”

Sean eagerly gripped his cock and shuttled his hand up and down its length. Enjoying the view, Mal poured the slippery liquid on his own member and fingers before reaching for Sean’s puckered opening. Slipping his fingers within the tight hole, he stroked. Sean trembled above him. Tiny beads of sweat trickled down his cheek. Once Mal felt certain Sean was ready, he adjusted himself and pressed the head of his cock against Sean’s tight opening.

The tight ring gave way, and he slipped into the wonderfully tight heat of Sean’s ass. Pressing deeper, he watched the ecstasy on his lover’s face. When he eased away slightly, Sean moaned and reached back, gripping Mal’s thighs tightly as he sank to the hilt. Panting, Sean arched back, and Mal gripped his hips, pulling Sean down as he ground his hips up against him.

Sean gasped and sat up, looking down at him, his eyes dilated and dark with passion. “Dammit, Malcolm, stop teasing and fuck me.”

“You’re on top,” Malcolm managed to reply, jerking his hips up against Sean’s bottom. “You can do the work this time.”

“You can be such a bastard.” Sean braced his hands on Mal’s chest and leaned forward, lifting off his cock, only to sink back down a moment later.

Mal bit off a curse. The delicious feel of gliding in and out felt that incredible. If he died at this moment, he would be a happy man. He watched as a small droplet of sweat trickled down Sean’s bare chest, leaving a trail that glimmered gold in the setting sun. Sean’s pale hair looked like burnished copper, his arm a natural extension to his beauty. Reaching between them, he gripped Sean’s engorged cock and stroked the thick member in time to his movements. The faster Sean moved, the faster he stroked his length. Keeping in time with him turned out to be a double-edged sword. Watching Sean’s pleasure grow fed his, but the continual friction on his own cock drove him closer to the edge. An edge that hadn’t abated from the blow job Sean treated him to.

Sean’s warm hand trembled against Mal’s chest, matching the tremble in his own body. Both Sean’s flesh and mechanical fingers curled and pressed against the muscles of his chest. “Oh, yeah, Sean. You know you’re about to go, don’t stop it. I want you to paint my chest.”

The coarse wording never failed to excited Sean, and after a couple more powerful strokes, he came in a powerful shot. The highly erotic sight of seeing his cream splatter on his own chest sent an electrical charge through Mal, and he slammed upwards, driving deep into Sean’s sensitized ass until he emptied his balls completely. Sean collapsed against his chest. The two of them lay on the floorboards, both gasping for air like fish on dry land. Mal gently ran his fingers through Sean’s silky hair, enjoying the caress on the back of his hand.

“We’re a mess.” Sean lifted his head and leaned up to brush a soft kiss against Mal’s lips. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me for something I took such pleasure from.” Mal wrapped his arms around Sean’s back and gave him another lazy kiss. The sun had dipped below the window, leaving them in the dimming light. He hoped that he had done the right thing in bringing Mrs. Trenton onboard. The last thing he wanted to cause Sean any pain.

They hadn’t spoken about it directly, but he knew they needed something else in their life. It took Tabitha joining them in bed one night for him to realize that Sean craved a female’s touch as well. Mal invited Tabby to join them on a few more occasions, and each time became more certain of Sean’s needs. He and Sean loved each other. That he didn’t doubt, but they often struggled with dominance. They needed a woman who could submit to both of them and help balance everything. It wasn’t unusual for a strong male couple to invite a woman into their relationship, but it took a special woman to be able to stand up to two dominant men.

“Did you know she tried to spit on her husband today?”

Sean’s laugh brought a smile to Mal’s face. “I think I would have enjoyed seeing that.”

“Will you go and see her?” Mal continued to stroke Sean’s hair, keeping his tone gentle and nonchalant. If Sean thought for a moment that Mal was trying to manipulate him, he would dig in his heels and jump overboard rather than see her.

“I don’t know, Mal. I knew her a long time ago. I’ve changed, and so has she. The Tori I knew would never have married for anything short of love.”

“Her husband’s decision shocked her but didn’t devastate her. Honestly, Sean, I don’t think they married for love.”

“She made her choice, Mal. She’s married.”

Mal wasn’t too certain about that. He’d be willing to bet that Trenton would have himself declared a widower as soon as he reached the shore.

Chapter Three

Tori sat in front of her trunk and sifted through her clothes, pulling out everything packed in there. She knew she had packed them and had never been so thankful for an unorthodox upbringing.

“Ooooh, that is so pretty.” Tabby skipped into the room and looked over Tori’s shoulder. “Is it real silk?”

Tori couldn’t miss the longing in the other woman’s voice, and she looked down at the silk kimono she held in her hand. It had been a gift from Trenton for her birthday. Foolishly, she thought he meant to improve their marriage and it would be an intimate gift for both of them. Later that night, she overheard Trenton berating his valet on giving her the wrong gift. He hadn’t purchased the gown for her. It had been meant for his mistress. Tori never wore it. In fact, she had planned to use it to trade for something she could use.

“It’s yours.” She lifted the gown up and held it out.

Tabitha’s eyes grew round. “No, I didn’a mean that.”

“I know. I would like you to have it. You and Coraline have been so kind to me. I wish to return to the favor.”

“But it’s a very expensive gift.”

“It would be a pleasure to see you get enjoyment out of it.”

“Oh, thank you, Viki.” Tabitha scooped up the fabric and rubbed it against her cheek. “I have never felt anything as soft.”

“Do you know where Coraline is this morning?”

“Oh, she stayed below with a few o’ the men. They were curled up like a pile of puppies when I left.”

“Oh, my. Well.” Viktorya didn’t understand what the interest in that would be. Didn’t the men go back to their own beds after they were finished their rutting? Pirates were a strange bunch indeed. How did Tabitha and Coraline tolerate their continued presence after being forced to endure such a humiliating experience?

Viktorya motioned to the clothes and fabrics she had piled up next to her. She needed Tabitha distracted, and if it meant giving up a few things, then she would be happy to. “Why don’t you pick out a few things for yourself and what you think Coraline would enjoy?”

“Are you certain, Viki?”

Tori could see a blend of longing and uncertainty on the young woman’s face.

“Absolutely, help yourself.” It wasn’t a lie. Knowing that the girls would enjoy her clothes did make her feel better about the situation.

Tabitha’s skirt, a rather generous description, ruffled around her thighs as the woman spun in place holding the kimono up in front of her. Although, given Tabitha’s position on the ship, Tori imagined minimal clothing would be a requirement. If her captors thought she would dress in such garb then they were sorely mistaken. She reached for her corset and then discarded it. She would need to be able to breathe if the opportunity to escape arose. She dressed as she would have if going out at home. Thankfully, she never completely depended on the personal maid Trenton hired for her. Tori often suspected that the quiet, mousy woman reported her every move to her husband.

She pinned her hair up into a simple twist and pinned her hat in place. Wearing such an accessory would seem frivolous, but the brightness of the color often drew a person’s attention. It was Yzzi who taught her this trick. “Wearing bright things will distract a person from your true intentions, and a slip in their attention might be all you need to successfully fight back.” Not to mention, the pins she used to secure it would fit into the rings residing on her right hand. This gift from her creative sister could be used as a rather nasty surprise for anyone thinking her completely unarmed. Doing up all the buckles on her vest took a bit longer. She wasn’t entirely happy with the way it pressed her breasts upwards, straining her blouse, but it would work as a protective covering if she found herself in a dangerous situation.

Also, now, with Tabitha distracted, she could retrieve what she had opened the trunk for. The open lid acted as a barrier between her and the other woman.

She slid back the false bottom to the trunk and retrieved a heavy object wrapped in sturdy cotton. She recovered three more wrapped objects and then hid them in a skirt and carried it over to the hammock in which she had slept the night before.

She needed to clear her head and figure out a way to get herself out of this mess.

“Tabitha, do you know if we will dock in a port soon?”

She asked the question innocently as she unwrapped the packages on the hammock. The natural curve of the fabric hid them from view. Using her body to block Tabitha’s view, she checked each one over carefully.

The heaviest was a box of ammunition specially made for her derringer. Leaving it wrapped in cotton, she slipped it between a couple of pillows lining the hammock. If she tried to retrieve her gun from the other chest, Tabby might notice and tell on her. Better to wait until later.

“I dun’no, we could ask the captain, but he and his first mate are late sleepers. Like as not, we will stay airborne for another few hours at the very least.”

She glanced over her shoulder. Tabitha had undressed and wriggled into the silk gown. Her bosom filled out the top of the dress much more impressively then Viktorya’s would have.

“There is another trunk by the door. You are welcome to look through that one as well.”

“Really?” Tabitha’s eyes lit up with wonder. “Are you certain you don’t mind?”

“Of course not, please be my guest. It’s open.” Knowing Tabitha would be distracted, Viktorya unwrapped two sheathed knives and slipped one in each of her boots, and the other she strapped to her inner arm. The third was a small box that would carry a strong electrical charge. All she needed to do was wind it up, and she could electrify someone into unconsciousness. The drawback was it tended to be a noisy process, so she would have to wait until she was alone. The weapon slid easily into a deep pocket of her skirt. She needed to be ready for any opportunity that arose. If she could escape and get back to her sister then she would at the first chance.

“I’m going to go for bit of a walk.” She sauntered towards the door, pausing to venture back and grab something to keep her warm if needed. The sun shone through the small windows, and she felt the need to be alone and think.

“Don’t venture down into any of the lower decks unless you want to join in on a bit of fun.” Tabitha had changed out of the silk night rail and had pulled out one of Viktorya’s gowns, holding it up in front of herself.

“Thank you for the warning. I’ll stay aboveboard and take in the sea air.”

“I always wanted to play dress up when I was a child. Thank you, Viki.”

Viktorya smiled, enjoying the happiness she had been able to pass on to Tabitha. Having to endure such demands on this ship, she must not have many reasons to smile.

It didn’t take long for her to find her way back up onto the top deck. She expected to see a dozen men doing their duties, but she passed only a couple. They politely nodded, and she smiled her appreciation. The men on her husband’s ships leered at her and always seemed angry, speaking in a variety of languages. Many of their comments she knew were offensive, even if she didn’t understand them. So she did her best to avoid getting near them the rare times she was aboard.

This time she took her time looking around. The ship hung from three large silver balloons, although she could hear an engine humming somewhere so they couldn’t be the only things keeping them aloft. Behind her, she saw two large propellers off the back of the quarterdeck. It looked as though the main masts lay across the deck under a web of ropes and pulleys.

When Cory and Tabby realized that she couldn’t sleep last night, they chatted away, telling her about this incredible craft that sailed both the sea and clouds. She watched a large man nimbly dance around the complex layout, making small adjustments here and there. Everything had to be perfect because the masts, ropes, and sails would be hoisted when they took to the water. One tangle could break the mainsail and send them all into danger.

Reaching the ship’s rail, she looked over the front edge and marveled at the sea of clouds that danced below them. It was colder up here. She was glad she had the forethought to don her pelisse before she came up on deck, although a heavy cloak would have made more sense. The cold wind bit through the material as if she wore nothing at all.

This was an incredible craft to be able to avoid a storm by simply flying over it. Hopefully, it was a brutal hurricane that would smash her husband’s tiny boat into a thousand pieces. She adjusted the silk scarf she’d wrapped around her neck. It hid the bandage from sight. Too bad she couldn’t cover her memory as easily. There had never been any love between her and her husband. Marriage had done its job and wiped any sort of romance out of her mind. She wouldn’t have minded a child or two, but the means of getting them was quite beyond what she was prepared to do. She had suffered enough of his rutting, and it wouldn’t be fair to any innocent child caught between them. She made her choice. Some fought in battles for what they believed right. She sacrificed her life to make a better future for them all. Being married to Trenton made it much easier to find out political information and pass it on.

“I don’t remember giving you permission to come topside, Tori.”

What was he doing up? Tabitha said that the captain normally slept late. Hearing her old nickname made her chest clench tightly with emotion. Her sister and Sean were the only two people in her life who used that name. To her mind, it was a term of endearment spoken only by the couple of people that ever really cared about her and who she loved in return. Too bad she never told Sean how much she loved him before he decided to leave. He might not have left her then and how wonderful her life could have been. Sean knew she cared, but he never had been good at picking up subtleties. When he announced that he planned to take up an apprenticeship with an Old world inventor, she should have gone with him. At least they would have died together when his ship was attacked. A long-familiar ache throbbed in her chest from thinking of him. For all she knew, this was the pirate that killed him. Viktorya straightened up and stared straight forward.

“My name is Viktorya. Please feel free to call me Mrs. Trenton.”

She turned and looked up at the captain. “Why would I need your permission to take in the fresh air?” He stood there with an open shirt, his plaid sash crossing over his shoulder to his waist. An intricate silver pin attached it to his hip. The savage didn’t bother with a tie or jacket? His tight breeches outlined every muscle in his legs and were tucked into black Hessians.

Oh, my. She could feel her body warming despite the chill in the wind. A sword still hung to one side while a firearm resided on the other, the sun glinting off the brass fittings. A wave of warmth ran down her spine at his presence. Trenton certainly never had this kind of effect on her. “Sir, it is common practice to be dressed when approaching a lady.”

“Well, my dear, you show me one, and I’ll dress up for her.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, lifting her chin. So he thought to speak to her that way, did he? She might be his prisoner, but she wasn’t going to allow him to bully her. Cory and Tabby also filled her in on the captain and his first mate, constantly assuring her that they would never hit her or intentionally hurt her in any way.

“I’ll have you know that despite your decision to place me in quarters with your doxies, I am not one of them. If you cannot carry on a polite conversation or dress appropriately, then I suggest you take your offensive personality out of my vicinity.”

The captain stepped closer to her, and Viktorya felt another hot wave wash over her. It couldn’t be him that caused such a reaction. She didn’t have those types of reactions. Five years of marriage taught her that physical responses to another human were fodder for poets and dreamers. Neither word would describe her anymore. It must have been a warm wind current caught in the sail. Yes, that would be it, because even if they were real, she couldn’t have such an earthy reaction to a man like him.

“You, my dear, are under the misunderstanding that you have any say in any part of your life. I assure you that you are mistaken. Now take yourself back down below decks, or I will take you there myself.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” Viktorya wasn’t certain what mischievous imp compelled her to say that, but as the words left her mouth, she realized what a mistake it was. The captain wrapped his fingers around her shoulders and yanked her against his chest.

She didn’t have a moment to compose herself before his lips pressed down upon hers. Pressing her lips tightly closed, she defended herself, not wanting to gag on the huge tongue that would be pressed down her throat. Once, a long time ago, Sean gifted her with her first kiss. In her innocence, she assumed that her husband would be able to awaken that part deep inside of her that would stretch over her senses like a cat relaxing in a sunbeam. From the first touch of Trenton’s cold lips, she realized that she was mistaken. The memory of what followed was enough to make her want to retch.

She kept her lips tightly pursed. Strange. He didn’t try to force his way in. His lips were gentle against hers. He ran his tongue lightly over the seam of her lips. She kept her eyes wide open, looking into his as he gently nipped at her lips. He was so close it looked like he had one eye trying to peer into her soul. It was the most intimate and terrifying moment she had ever experienced. A small voice in her head screamed for her to run, but the ache that began to throb pushed it away. She hadn’t experienced a reaction like this since being kissed by Sean. It made her want to open her mouth and see what he tasted like. Hot on the heels of that traitorous thought, he lifted his head and took a step away from her. His eye separated into two, a cold look in their depths.

It felt like her feet had been nailed to the ground. She wanted to run and pretend this had never happened, but then she equally wanted to leap into his arms and discover how else he could make her feel. He was a pirate, an evil man that would sell her to the highest bidder. Only, from what she had seen, his crew treated her far better than her husband’s. Not only were there women on board, but they also lived in sumptuous luxury, were cared for and protected, according to them.

“Why aren’t you running, Tori?”

“Why do you insist on calling me that childish name?” She needed to get her reactions under control. This was a man who held her life and already threatened to end it once. She shouldn’t be feeling this longing deep inside for his touch. He stepped closer, and she stepped back against the ship’s railing. The chilled wind blew against her, and she felt herself drawn to the warmth of his skin, like a moth to a flame.

She could barely see over the breadth of his muscular shoulders. A large hand moved to the base of her neck, and long fingers curled around it. His thumb caressed the hollow between her collarbones. He could snap my neck any moment. That thought caused her heart to hammer against her chest, and she froze, afraid he had decided this would be her time of death.

The hungry look on his face faded, and he dropped his hand from her throat. “Next time, stay below unless you are given permission to come topside.”

Viktorya fled. Not out of fear for him but for herself. She couldn’t, wouldn’t, allow herself to be put in the position where a man ruled her life without her say in the matter. She had allowed that to happen before, and look where she ended up. This time, she would keep her eyes wide open, and there would be no more surprises. No more closing her eyes and pretending things were different. She would keep alert and watchful for any chance of escape. All she needed to do was keep her head about her, and sooner or later, they would make a mistake, and she would be gone before they knew it.

She knocked lightly at the cabin door before entering. Tabby wasn’t there anymore, and the chests stood open with clothes strewn over the side and laid over the bed. She must have gone to get Cory.

At least this gave Tori a chance to collect a couple things she couldn’t earlier. She pulled open the large chest and then released a slide lock inside the largest one. A panel clicked and then fell forward, exposing a small opening in the back. She carefully reached her hand in and moved the large blade she kept in there. It was her insurance policy. She would know if anyone had snooped in her belongings for they would receive a wicked cut, perhaps lose a finger or two. She couldn’t begin to count how many times she imagined her husband actually being able to figure such a hiding place out. The idea of him slicing off his own fingers always made her smile. It was a morbid thought, but then, perhaps the loss of his fingers would cease his touching her. He no longer demanded her attentions in his bedroom, but it didn’t stop him from grabbing at her whenever he chose.

At least this new place where she’d ended up had brought a stop to that, or at least, she feared, merely a pause in that kind of attention. There was the distinct possibility they expected her to fill a place in Tabby and Cory’s ranks as a ship doxie. She wasn’t anyone’s plaything. Not anymore, nor would she ever be again.

Adjusting the material of her skirts, she slipped the small weapon into the internal holster. She got the idea for this skirt from the men and women who lived in the western regions. They often wore their weapons outside their clothes. She didn’t have that luxury, but she could hide them within. Good luck to anyone who decided to make her do something she didn’t want to do. Her aim might be rusty, but she remembered what she had been taught all those years ago. Now, she was thankful to Yzabeau for dragging her out to practice every once in a while when she came to visit. If only she could get a message to her sister to let her know she was still alive. Between the two of them, they could figure out something.

* * * *

After struggling with a particularly difficult idea, Sean needed a break, with hopes that when he went back to his workroom, the ideas would be back and he could get something accomplished. Had he arrived a mere moment earlier, he could have come face to face with Tori. If it wasn’t for the hesitant way she opened the door, she would have caught him, and he wasn’t ready to face her yet. He moved quickly into the wheelhouse and watched her through a half-closed door. Watched the way she stood up to Mal when he stalked up behind her. What amazed him was the lack of jealousy as they embraced. Logically, he should be feeling betrayed and hurt right now. If Mal embraced anyone else the way he held on to Tori, that is exactly how he would feel. The idea of her between them aroused him to an unbelievable level. Jealousy didn’t cause the clenching in his chest. The only two people who ever cared a whit for him were embracing each other as he hid in a dark corner and watched.

He recognized the way Mal rested his hand on her shoulder. The feeling of that strong hand on his skin always brought him comfort. The wind stole their words, but obviously, Mal said something that sent her scurrying back below deck. He watched her retreat, and then Mal turned and looked directly at him. With anyone else, he would dismiss the idea of being seen, but not much got past Mal, especially on his own ship. The large man casually strode towards the door, opening it a bit wider before stepping inside.

“Are you trying to scare her away?” Sean leaned back against the ship’s wheel, spinning it idly with one finger. The wheel had no use when they were in flight.

“I want to find out exactly what she plans to do now.”

“Good luck with that. If I were her, I’d make plans to escape and get back to my sister. She and Yzabeau were thick as thieves back when they were kids. From the bits of gossip I have heard over the years, the bond only strengthened after I left.”

“Did her sister resent you?”

“No, not at all. More the opposite, really. Yzabeau understood more of what went on around them than Tori did. Of the two of them, she is the most like her father in temperament, but their Scottish mother raised them both. If I remember correctly, it wasn’t until their mother, Mathilda, passed away that he decided to take an interest in his children and sailed to Scotland and ordered the girls to come to America. Tori didn’t like to talk about it, but I remember her one day telling me a bit about the event. The girls were terrified, Yzzi so much that she had blocked all memories of the event.

“They were sent off to boarding school, and now, both are strong, intelligent women in their own ways. Together, I can imagine they would be a force to be reckoned with. If her sister catches wind of what has happened, don’t be surprised if Yzabeau appears on our port side. I wouldn’t put it past her.”

“What about Trenton’s threat?”

“It’s a concern. If Yzzi thinks that Tori’s life is at stake, she will do anything to help her. I would imagine that Trenton has underestimated her, thinking her helpless. That’s not the Yzabeau that I remember. Of course, Viktorya has changed so much I would imagine it’s possible that her sister has as well. Although, I haven’t heard anything about Yzabeau getting married. She’s only eleven months younger than her sister. If she doesn’t have a husband then it’s because there has been some sort of interference.”

“Could she have joined the church?”

“To avoid getting married, I would suspect it’s possible, but I can’t see it being true. She would be of more value to the old man if he could marry her off to the highest bidder.”

“I hazard a guess the best person to ask would be your Tori.”

Sean sighed. “Yeah, I guess you’re right about that. It’s not something I’m looking forward to.”

“You already said that she was raised right, and that you didn’t think she would judge you for that. If it’s your arm then I’ll happily throw her overboard because I know exactly how well you handle yourself with your creation.”

Sean couldn’t help himself. He stepped forward and pressed his lips against Mal’s neck. Mal never let him underestimate his own abilities or look down on himself. At times, he worried that if he ever lost Mal then he would never be able to function. But, he was strong enough. He would survive. It would be an empty existence, though.

“Are you jealous?” Mal’s words vibrated against Sean’s lips as he brushed them against Mal’s neck.

“Would it bother you if I did feel jealous?”

Mal pulled away, pressing his hands on Sean’s shoulders, stopping him from leaning close again. “A little jealousy is understandable, but we need to talk about it as soon as it happens. If it gets left alone, it will grow into a monster no one can control.”

“That sounds like experience talking.” Sean thought it was a good idea to speak about it but was surprised at Mal’s easy acceptance.

“I tried to be in a ménage once before and walked away.”

“You made them jealous.”

“I was the jealous one. I couldn’t separate everything in my head and refused to speak about it.”

Sean blinked at that admittance. Mal had never shown any signs of being a jealous lover.

“I thought it ended because she complained all the time.”

“I was much younger and wasn’t in the habit of seeing far past the end of my own nose. It was a long time ago.”

He wrapped his arms around Sean and kissed a line along his jaw. “I’ve learned a lot since then and know what to look for and what pitfalls we might need to navigate.”

Sean didn’t realize he had closed his eyes until he opened them. “What are you talking about? You want to invite Tori into our relationship? You don’t know anything about her.”

“I know what you have told me, and I find her intriguing. I can’t promise that I will come to care about her as you do, but I am willing to try.”

“Why the sudden rush to have someone join our relationship?”

“I think having a third in our relationship would be good for us.”

Sean knew what Mal alluded to. They needed someone else with them. Sean often lost himself in his work, and that allowed Mal to keep a certain amount of distance between them. Trouble was, lately he had felt the distance between them growing, partially because of his inability to get past his own fears.

Sean needed a woman in his life, someone who would dote on him and make certain that he didn’t spend too much time in his laboratory. Mal suffered the same single-mindedness when absorbed with the ship’s needs, so days could pass when neither of them had spoken to each other.

“Why Tori? Why now?”

“Is there any other woman who has caught your interest or attention like your Tori did?”

“I’ll concede that point.” She was the only woman who ever found residence within his heart. He also knew Mal’s concerns when it came to women and his fear of inadvertently hurting them. Their lovemaking could get rough at times, and they needed a woman who could stand up to them. The Tori he remembered would have been more than up to the task. He had to wonder if she had changed that much since he knew her.

“All right, let’s go and talk to her. At least we can alleviate her fear that she is about to be sold at auction. If she knew you at all, she wouldn’t be afraid.”

“For now, I’ll use whatever I have to in order to keep her from causing trouble.”

“As soon as she figures that out, there will be hell to pay. Mark my words.”

Chapter Four

Sean led the way out onto the deck and then down below. It was a short walk, but in that time, his anxiety grew a hundredfold. He didn’t bother knocking on the door. Instead, he chose to open it and surprise her.

“Hello, Tori.”

Sean expected his presence would be a bit of a shock to her. What he didn’t expect was for her to spin around and point a gun at his head. Feeling Mal’s body tense behind him, he reached back with his good hand and placed it on his lover’s thigh, hoping that Mal would understand the message and not charge her. Mal tended to be overprotective at times, and Tori wouldn’t really shoot him. He hoped.

“Where the hell did she get a gun?”

“That particular one?” Sean recognized the small, modified derringer. He spent weeks working on it so it would fit her hand and be easily hidden. “I believe I gave it to her for her sixteenth birthday.” At the time, she was thrilled with the gift and insisted that he teach her how to use it. He taught her a lot over the years, almost as much as she taught him. But then, that was a long time ago.

“My god, Sean! What are you doing here? You’re dead.”

“No, I can assure you, I’m very much alive, and I work on this ship. Tori, I can’t believe it’s really you after all these years.” He stepped forward, and she lowered the gun a couple feet down, pointing it directly at his groin. He much preferred the idea of a head shot.

“Don’t think the history between us will prevent me from squeezing the trigger. If you’ll recall, you taught me how to shoot.” The woman that stood before him might look and sound like his Tori, but she had changed. How much, he didn’t know, but being married to Alex Trenton would have changed anyone.

“That was poor judgment on your part.” Mal spoke from behind him, and Sean could hear the edge to his tone. Mal must have taken her trunks when he raided the ship because the formal day dress she wore hadn’t been what she wore when she arrived on the ship.

Sean looked over his shoulder and shrugged at him. “I never expected I would be in the position where she would choose to use my lessons against me. Perhaps you could give us a couple minutes alone?”

“Not as long as she has a gun pointed at you.” Mal wouldn’t meet his gaze. Instead, he continued to glare at Tori. He recognized the hardening angle to the other man’s jaw and knew Mal was close to losing his temper. Sean turned back to Tori, who didn’t look as confident as she had a moment ago. She kept glancing down at his arm. Damn, he tended to forget about the prosthesis.

“Tori, please lower your weapon.”

“When bloody hell freezes over.” She drew back on the hammer. The hard click of it cocking echoed in the room, sending the tension skyrocketing.

Sean immediately turned and placed both his hands on Mal’s chest. “Malcolm, don’t, let me handle this.”

“That’s the best order I’ve heard all day. Off with you now, Malcolm.”

Those haughty words had him turning to Tori, pointing a finger at her. “As for you, stop pointing that gun at my cock. We’ll talk, but nothing can be done if the two of you continue to bait each other.”

As he hoped, his baser language shocked her, if the widening of her eyes was any indication. “Me? You two are the pirates. You kidnapped me and threatened to sell me to slavers. Why should I lower my gun?”

“Because I’ll kill you with my bare hands if you harm him, even accidentally.” The hardness of Mal’s voice slashed through them like a bloody axe. That convinced Tori who the biggest threat in the room was. Raising the gun, she pointed it at his captain. Sean leapt forward, grabbing the weapon with his mechanical hand, and crushed the barrel, rendering it useless.

She staggered back, staring at his arm. The horror in her gaze pierced his heart as if the gun had really gone off. “Oh, my god, Sean! What did you do to yourself?”

Her words felt like a punch to the chest. The air whooshed from his lungs, and he let go of the weapon and staggered back a step. That wasn’t the nastiest reaction he’d had to his arm, but coming from her made it worse. Of all the people in the world, he’d long ago convinced himself that she would be the one to understand.

“You bitch.” Mal spat the words out as he placed himself between Sean and her.

Sean grabbed Mal’s arm and held tight. He should have seen this coming. “Stop it. It’s all right. She couldn’t have known.”

The look on Mal’s face must have been especially nasty because in Tori’s haste to back away, she tripped over her own skirts and landed on the floor. Hampered by her skirts, Tori’s continued attempt to scuttle back along the boards wasn’t all that successful. A couple thuds against the floor alerted Sean that she more than likely had more weapons tucked into the fabric of her skirts. Mal followed her crab-like pace and grabbed for her arms. The Tori he remembered emerged as she fought back. Mal easily brushed off her strikes until he overwhelmed her and hauled her off the floor. She struggled within his grasp, her feet swinging backward, aiming for his shins. Her silly hat fell to the floorboards, and part of her hair fell from its complex knot.

Any other time, Sean would have laughed at her antics. Those defensive moves were ones he had taught her and her sister so long ago. A fact he didn’t plan to share with Mal, knowing his finding humor in the situation wouldn’t be appreciated at the moment.

“You bastard.”

“That you already knew, Tori. There was a time you didn’t care. I’m assuming that you have embraced the typical beliefs of your class.” She stood there, restrained by Mal, but she continued to stare at his mechanical arm.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“My arm suffered an injury and needed to be amputated, Tori.” He turned slightly so that the mechanics were hidden from her view by his body. “My apology if its replacement disgusts you so.”

“Don’t be an idiot, Sean. While my reaction could be described as rude, I believe that, due to the extremes of today, I am allowed a thoughtless comment. I didn’t mean it as an insult. In fact, I am not at all surprised that you created such a practical resolution.”

It wasn’t an apology, but it did make him feel better. Sean went through the motions of attempting to straighten his sleeve and coat. The telltale clicking alerted him that Mal had placed binders on her arms and wrists.

“Mal, be certain that her clothes are confiscated before we attempt to speak to her again.”

“Shall we strip her now?” Mal’s question brought on a new round of struggling by his captive.

“No, you most certainly will not!” She screeched as she attempted to free herself. It was almost comical, but he remembered her temper was quick to flare and burn bright but then left her exhausted. They could wait it out.

Mal pushed her down to the floor, where she immediately curled her legs under her. “Don’t the New Worlders teach their women to be calm and demure at all times? She must have been a trial to her instructors.” Mal stood up and moved next to him as Tori continued to struggle wildly against the binders that held her arms behind her.

“I imagine Viktorya had a great many people fooled, including that idiot she married.” Glancing over at Mal proved that he, too, enjoyed the way her breasts were forced forward by her struggles. There was something incredibly alluring about a bound woman. Sean felt his balls get heavy and his cock stretch.

“By my guess, I’d say that she has three knives on her at the moment and at least one more firearm tucked into the pockets of her skirts. You still keep a dirk in each of your boots, Tori?”

She glared up and then spat a few more curses in their direction. She wrenched back and forth against the binders, struggling for freedom. He didn’t realize he had moved until he felt Mal’s hand curl around his bicep. As attractive as she looked bound, deep down, he couldn’t stomach the idea of her being hurt through their, or her, own actions.

“Give her a moment.” Mal spoke softly enough that the hair around Sean’s ear moved, but his words wouldn’t have carried.

Finally, her shoulders drooped in tired submission. “I hate you both,” she whispered, and he could see the tears she struggled to hide.

“But in this case, we are the lesser of two evils.” Malcolm pulled a chair over and sat down on it, stretching his legs out in front of him. His large boots sat a few feet from her skirts. Sean stood next to him and played with the back of his collar. This wasn’t the first time he witnessed Mal’s interrogation technique, and it always amazed him what Mal could get a person to admit to.

“You do know that your husband planned to have you die at our hands?”

“I plan on living long enough to kill him myself.” She didn’t look up at either of them as she spoke. She shifted slightly, to ease the ache in her shoulders, he imagined.

Mal moved his legs. Sitting up, he braced his elbows on his knees, leaned slightly forward. “Why did you give Coraline and Tabitha your clothes?”

“I have no clue what you are talking about.” Her gaze followed his boots as they moved, but she still refused to look up at them.

“Really? They stole them from you?”

Tori continued to glare at Mal’s boot, lost in her own thoughts. He wondered what exactly she was planning in there. The Tori he remembered wouldn’t have tolerated being treated like this, but then, he had changed a great deal over the years as well.

Mal stomped a boot on the floor, and she jumped as if he had kicked her. “On board this ship, we value privacy. Theft is a severely punishable offense. I’ll have them flogged on deck as a reminder to the crew.”

Her head snapped up as if it had been tugged. “No, don’t. They didn’t steal anything.” The defiant fire in her eyes extinguished, she looked up at Mal with fear. What caused that sudden change, the question or the noise? He didn’t understand exactly what Mal’s plan with this line of questioning would prove, but then, his lover had a gift for reading people. The more emotions he forced her to reveal, the less she would be able to hide from them.

“So why give them anything? They’re below your class, or did you see it as charity?”

“What do you care what I do with my things?” She shifted away from them and brought her knees up in front of her. “I could throw everything overboard. What is it to you?”

Sean watched her carefully. Already, the woman he remembered was showing through the cracks in her façade. She might act like the lady she was named, but his Tori was still in there. “Why give your precious things away? What will you have to barter with for your freedom? I’m assuming you had a plan of escape.”

“Of course I did.” Tori wrestled with her binders again, stretching her dress enticingly across her chest.

“I’d like to hear this plan,” Mal ventured. “Please do tell.”

“If I told you, it wouldn’t be much of a plan then, would it?” She shot a glare at both of them. Now that was the Tori he remembered, defiant to those who dared question her once she had her mind set on something.

* * * *

Mal sat up and leaned closer to her, watching her reactions to his questions. “Since you have chosen to not tell us anything, I have to assume that they took your things and now you are too embarrassed to admit it.” Aside from her obvious beauty, Mal found Tori’s attitude fascinating. She acted the perfect noble wife, Lady Trenton. But he noticed the flaws in her act. Beneath her polished veneer lived a different person. He very much wanted to meet that side of her and wondered how much he would have to push before she cracked. “Perhaps you’re worried I will make them give them back. Such clothing would be no use to you now. It’s not like you would wear a whore’s clothes.”

“Leave them alone. I gave them the clothes because I knew they would like them. They’re things, and that is all. In the grand scheme of things, what are a few dresses and shawls? Did you know that Cory had never felt anything as soft as my shawl? I gave it to her because she gained much pleasure from touching it.”

She was telling the truth, and it gave him a bit more insight into her. Perhaps he was hasty in condemning her as nothing but a product of her environment.

“Tori, where were you born?”

“What has that got to do with anything? I’m a New Worlder, that’s all that matters.”

“She was born in the same village as the first Wallace. When her mother passed, she and her father came back to the village to claim them.” Sean casually leaned against Mal’s chair and stroked the back of his neck with his fingers.

“Sean, you have a big mouth.”

“I don’t understand why you don’t want to say anything. I already know everything about you.”

“You don’t know anything about me, not anymore. You couldn’t wait to get away from me.”

If she had been looking at Sean and not at the floor, she would have seen the flash of pain that echoed in Sean’s features. He did care about her, and while Mal would forgive some bitchiness given how she ended up in their custody, he wasn’t going to let her hurt the man he cared for.

“It’s interesting how things look from our own personal perspective, Lady Trenton. Do you believe that Sean used death as an excuse to get away from you? I know Sean thinks that you turned into nothing but another fickle noble woman. One who ran to the altar with any man who could afford to keep you in trivial little hats and other things you care nothing about.”

Sean’s fingers stopped stroking when Mal revealed his thoughts.

“And from my perspective, you are a tyrant and pirate who is nothing better than a street urchin looking to ape his betters.”

“I don’t ape anyone, you little bitch.” Sean gripped his shoulder, but he shrugged it off. She had a wicked tongue, and it prickled his temper more than he wanted to admit. One strike from him would kill her, and he knew it. Instead, he rose and stalked towards her and used his size to intimidate.

Grabbing for one ankle, he lifted her leg and pulled her closer, catching the other foot as she tried to kick at him. Contrary to when she came on board, now she wore a mass of under things that denied him a glimpse of her sweet core but allowed him to see the knives tucked into each boot.

“Get your dirty hands off me.” Her persistence at acting like a haughty lady didn’t have a chance at stopping him from stripping her of her weapons, especially with her arms locked behind her.

“Lady Trenton, I suggest you shut that pretty mouth of yours before I decide to stuff it with something.”

Her eyes went round as saucers and dropped to where his cock pressed against the fabric of his trousers. Those plush lips of her snapped shut with a click of her teeth. A warning if he ever heard one, but she closed her eyes before he could read any more. Good thing, too, because all this struggling had him thinking of more ways he could tie her up. Starting with the dirks, he worked his way over her, frisking her for more hidden weapons, handing each one he found to Sean, who had fallen into an amused silence.

She did have a knife in each boot, as well as the small intricate box in one of her pockets. He handed it to Sean, who instantly looked it over and laughed. “I know who you got this from, and that will be the last time I make anything for him.”

Mal knew he would get the full history of the weapon later, but at the moment, he wanted to concentrate on Lady Trenton’s secrets.

“I wonder how thorough we should make this search.” He traced his fingers up her thighs to the apex of her legs. He could feel her heat through the thin cotton when he lightly stroked over her mons. She jerked at his touch, a small cry escaping her lips.

He arched an eyebrow at her, and she flushed. A dark pink rose high on her cheekbones.

“Well, that’s an interesting reaction.” Sean’s tone sounded casual, but Mal knew better. “Tori, don’t you like being stroked between your legs like a common trollop?”

She glared up at them both and tried to kick out at them again. Mutinously, she chose not to speak to either of them. Mal continued his perusal of her body and clothes. Pausing to unstrap the derringer holster from her thigh. “Were you planning on shooting your way out of here? You know that it is a very long drop to the sea, correct?”

“I suspect she was wearing them for self-protection.”

“Didn’t do much good, did it?”

“I wasn’t thinking of either of those things.” She glared defiantly up at both of them. Now that she was weapon-free, she sat on the floor, her skirts making a puddle around her.

“Then why?”

“I’m not telling.”

Mal needed to get out of this room before he flipped her over the edge of the bed and drove himself into her. He knew he would hurt her, which was one of the reasons he started looking for the company of men. They were stronger and able to withstand his energetic demands. Sean seemed to have a never-ending supply of energy and stamina, when he managed to pull his head out of his inventions.

“Sean, I’m going above to check on a few things. Be certain that Lady Trenton is comfortable on the floor. I’ll decide what we’ll do with her later.”

“Aye, Captain.”

Mal smiled at his lover’s formal response and grabbed the other man by the neck. Sean willingly came to him and met his lips in a wild kiss that flamed the fires already burning inside him. They fought for dominance for a moment before Sean acquiesced.

A small gasp sounded from the floor, but Mal ignored her. He already regretted bringing the shallow creature aboard. Sean knew what he needed and stroked his cock through the heavy fabric of his drawers before backing away. That bit of contact banked the fires ever so slightly with the promise of bursting into flame again later. Sometimes, a little denial now meant a stronger release later. Let the woman sit there with her horrified thoughts. Sean was now, and would always be, his. With that thought in mind, he left the room without a backwards glance and headed up to check on the crew.

Chapter Five

Sean watched Mal’s ass as he walked away and imagined giving him a nice sharp bite on one of those hard cheeks. Serve him right for leaving him in a situation like this. His cock felt as hard as a marble rod. He stood here alone with the only woman he ever loved, but she would never love him now.

“I don’t understand. Sean, did you always like men?”

Normally, he wouldn’t bother answering a question like that, but this was Tori. He felt that he owed her some sort of answer. Not that it would matter at all.

“There are many ways to answer this, Tori. I don’t know if I can put it into words.”

“I don’t see the problem. It’s yes or no.” She sat on the floor, trying to kick her skirts back into some semblance of order. With her wrists locked behind her, she wasn’t succeeding all that well. “Instead of standing there staring, a bit of help would be appreciated.”

“Yes, of course.” Sean mentally shook himself and helped her to a nearby chair.

“And removing the cuffs?”

“Do you promise not to shoot either of us?” Sean pulled the key out of the small pocket in his vest.

“The current absence of my weapons might prove fulfilling that idea difficult.” He made quick work removing her binders. She sat ramrod straight in the chair and idly rubbed her wrists. He wished he could guess what she was thinking, but he never could with her. Mal was much more talented with that than he ever would be.

“It always amazed me how you can think up and explain the most delicate and intricate machines, but when it comes to your own feelings, you have always struggled.”

How could he explain his relationship with the captain and how much the man meant to him? “Machines are black and white. They work, or they don’t. Emotions are never like that.” A fact that seemed so much more apparent since he and his captain seemed to be drifting apart. Is that why he’d brought her on board? Did Mal hope that he’d fall for Tori and then he could end their relationship? The thought sent a painful tear through his chest.

“It’s not that easy. Mal and I met each other at a time in our lives when we were exactly what the other needed.”

“So, if you met years earlier, you wouldn’t have gotten involved with each other?”

“No. We wouldn’t have.” Hearing the words out loud didn’t sit right with him. It felt wrong to say, as if by saying such a thing, he betrayed Mal by ignoring how much they cared for each other or making light of it. “I mean… Tori, I don’t know. Mal means the world to me, and I can’t imagine ever being without him.” Please don’t make me choose between you.

“I don’t know if I ever gave my sexuality all that much thought when I lived near you. It was assumed that I would fall in love and marry a woman. If you will recall, I didn’t notice all that much around me even then. I think the reason that I grew to care for you is because you were there so often that I couldn’t help but notice you and get to know you. If left up to me, I don’t think you and I would have cared about each other as much as we did. If any other girls were interested in me, I didn’t notice. I’m saying this because I never thought to look at another man that way.”

“What changed your mind?”

“Malcolm did. When I left and boarded the ship, well, after a couple months, I did start to look at my shipmates like that, but I thought it was because I was away for so long.”

“Didn’t you have women on board?”

“There was one on that ship, and I had no interest in her. Every time I looked at her, I compared her to you, and she couldn’t hold a candle in comparison.”

A ghost of a smile crossed her lips so quickly he wasn’t certain if he imagined it. He hoped he was making sense. If she asked him to explain the details of how the propellers functioned, he could tell her without blinking an eye. Trying to explain his emotions or a feeling was an incredible challenge he didn’t have the vocabulary for.

“When did Malcolm come into it all?”

“The ship I travelled on was attacked. I’ll spare you the details, but my arm was badly injured during the attack, and I was dumped off at the next port. Infection set in, and that is when I lost my arm. I had my prototype in my traveling chest, and once I was back on my feet, I started working on it. All I did for weeks was tweak and outfit it to my needs. In that time, I became increasingly angry at the world in general. I heard of your marriage and my parents’ eager acceptance of my death. That, after all, meant that Alphred could inherit everything, which no doubt caused them both much joy.”

The anger of that betrayal still burned in his chest. After spending the majority of his younger years doing everything he could to prove that he was as smart as his brother was strong, his parents never could see past his lack of brawn.

“Your arm would have changed that, you know.” Tori reached out and placed her hand on his forearm. “They never did see that you were far superior to that lug of a brother of yours. If it’s any consolation, Alphred’s belly has far surpassed his muscles. While he still uses his size to intimidate, he can’t keep up with the estate’s demands.”

Sean allowed himself a moment of smugness. As much as he hated the idea of the estate falling into ruin, he wouldn’t be the one to go and fix it. That life wasn’t for him any longer. “They can have it and their precious heir. There isn’t anything there that would draw me back.”

The only tie to that life now sat across the table from him, and now that she was in his world, he wanted to keep her there.

“Because of Captain Dygannon?”

“For the most part. Malcolm and I found each other during a rather large bar brawl in an island port. I had fallen into a habit of drinking away my sorrows, and apparently, I inherited my father’s temper. It takes a bottle of rum to bring it to the surface. A fact I’m not proud to admit I have verified a few times over the years. It was the kind of fight when all those concerned have long forgotten what started it. It rages on an inferno of revenge and retaliation.

“He appeared out of nowhere, a presence at my back at one point, and the two of us stayed like that. Protecting each other from a rear attack while we worked our way out the door.”

Sean remembered the feel of the large man pressing against him and the excitement it sent rushing through his body. To know that someone stood at his back as no one had ever done before, protecting him and watching out for him. Mal had grasped his hand outside, offered him a position on The Seahawk, and then pinned him against the wall and kissed him. At the time, Sean was too surprised to react, but thankfully, his body was faster to understand than his brain. As he reminisced, Tori stood up, paced back to the porthole, and looked out it as he spoke.

“The more we got to know each other, the more we realized that we cared about the other. I can’t imagine life without him now.”

“So if you hadn’t left, and we had gotten married and the two of you met, it stands to reason that you would have been unfaithful with him.”

“I never would have met him if I hadn’t left. As for being unfaithful, you know me better than that. I never would have betrayed you, the same as I would never betray Malcolm like that. The vows we gave each other mean as much to me as any the church would demand had I married you.”

She had her back to him, but he could almost see the way her body flinched at his words. Why was she so upset about this? Didn’t she realize he still cared about her? Once they got to know each other, he was certain she would see Mal’s interest in her. How could she miss it, unless she was worse at reading people than he was? That he found hard to believe.

He pushed to his feet and walked up behind her. He laid his hands on her shoulders, careful not to allow the full weight of his mechanical arm to rest on her. The arm wasn’t that heavy, but he was used to it, and she wasn’t. Bending slightly, he rested his cheek on the top of her head. “Tori, why does this worry you so much?”

She shook her head slightly and continued to stare out the small window at the clouds that danced around them. He lifted his head and pressed her to turn around. When she did, he saw the tears sitting on her lashes. “What is this?” He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and used it to gently brush the moisture from the corner of her eyes. “Tears? For me?”

“For what we never had and, in a selfish way, for what I’ve never had.” Her words were so soft he almost missed them. She rested a hand on his metal arm as if it was a normal appendage. He was pretty certain she didn’t even realize it. That meant more to him than anything else she could have done. “I’m starting to think I’m flawed.”

“What gave you that ridiculous idea?” His brusque comment earned him a watery glare and a sniffle. He stood there a partial man and she thought she was flawed? He didn’t know what to do and wished that Mal had joined them. Mal always knew what to say and would discover what she was anxious about.

“It’s not ridiculous, Sean. I have had two men in my life that I took seriously. One found love with another man. The other looked for love everywhere but me.” Another tear escaped and tracked down her cheek. Sean caught it with the linen and then passed it to Tori so she could wipe her eyes and nose.

“Tori, sweetheart, please don’t cry. I’m sorry I said you are ridiculous.”

“Don’t apologize for speaking the truth.”

“Well, perhaps a little bit.” He teased her in hope of elevating her spirits a bit, but instead, the tears increased. She wiped at her face and sniffed as she hid behind his handkerchiefs. He couldn’t stand to see her cry. It pulled at his heart. Long ago, she was the only living creature that he wanted to spend time with. His life was mechanical, numerical, science-oriented, except when she demanded his attention. Uncertain what would be the best idea at this time, he wrapped his good arm around her shoulders and used his metal thumb to gently press on her chin, lifting her face up to his.

Claiming her lips felt as natural as taking his next breath. It was as if the time had never passed. Her lips were as soft as he remembered, and his body responded the same way, as if this was their first kiss. Her body fit perfectly against him. She felt soft where the muscles in Mal’s body were hard. He angled his head slightly up when he kissed Mal, but he looked down at her. It was a tapestry of opposites that caused his body to react in the same way. He wanted them both with equal fervor.

Her hands slid around his shoulders and gripped the muscles there. He moved his hands around her back, his memory filling in for what he could no longer feel with his right hand. She pressed against him and made small mewling noises in the back of her throat, sounding like a small kitten desperate to be petted. In a way, he supposed she was. Tori was all claws and hissing unless you knew where to stroke her. He suspected she had been deprived of the simplest of touches, and he was happy to rectify the situation to her heart’s content. She became pliable in his grasp, bending to his whim when he pressed her back against his right arm so that his left could slide up and stroke the silky mound that rose above the edge of her vest.

“Oh, god, Tori. I’ve missed you.” He massaged the mound and slipped his fingers up and over the neckline of her gown. Reaching inside, he lifted her breast up until it rested on the low neckline of her vest. The firm leather acted as a perfect support for her delicate, soft skin. The contrast between her breast and the leather was incredibly alluring. Her tight nipple pebbled harder against his palm when exposed to the cool air of the cabin. She trembled against him, her eyes closed. Her lips parted, and for a moment, he couldn’t decide whether to nibble on her lower lip or the creamy breast cupped in his palm. It had been a long time since he had a woman’s skin under his fingers, but this wasn’t any woman in his arms. This was his Tori, the only woman he ever truly cared for. When he wasn’t thinking of his projects, Malcolm was the only one to make him feel like this. Now, with Tori in his arms, his body reacted with predictable results. His cock felt as hard as the mast and so sensitized that the fabric of his trousers felt like sandpaper. Unwilling to resist a moment longer, he dipped his head and captured the berry-shaped nipple in his mouth, biting down slightly before lashing it with his tongue. Tori arched up against his mouth with a sigh and gripped his hair with her fingers. Sean thought there could be a distinct possibility he might never make it out of his pants before exploding.

“Sean, we shouldn’t...your captain.”

“Mal won’t mind. He finds you as enticing as I do.”

“My, my, I leave for a couple minutes to check and make certain we are on course, and what do the two of you get up to?”

Tori gasped and tugged hard on Sean’s hair. The prickles of pain only increased his arousal that pulsed against her leg. A few layers of fabric couldn’t stop him from feeling her heat. She stood frozen in his arms, her small hands batting at his shoulders. He didn’t release her. Instead, he looked up into Mal’s dark gaze. Sean wasn’t certain what he expected to see in Mal’s expression, but smug amusement was not it.

“Don’t stop on my account.” Mal locked the cabin door and took a few steps to a chair. Sinking down into it, he lifted his boots to another chair and crossed them at the heels. Sean could feel the corners of his mouth lifting. So that was what Mal wanted? Can there be a chance that I’ll get the best of both worlds?

“Sean, let me go.” Tori wriggled in his embrace and did her damnedest to escape, a futile effort since he had no intention of releasing her.

“Captain?” Sean watched Mal’s one foot come to the floor, and his captain spread his legs, showcasing the large erection currently stretching the front of his trousers. Mal hung one arm leisurely behind the back of the chair, and with the other, he began to rub his erection through the fabric. Tori’s struggles ceased, and Sean wished he could see the look on her face.

“Carry on, mate.” The passionate tone Mal used had Sean’s already hard cock snap to painful attention. Sean quickly licked his upper lip and enjoyed the flare in Mal’s eyes. His captain and lover enjoyed this. With any luck, he would be able to get Tori to play along.

“You heard the captain, Tori.” He pulled her back against his chest and, with one hand, began unbuckling the closures to her vest, slipping it off her arms and letting it drop to the floor at her feet. Careful not to hurt her, he anchored his mechanical arm across her chest, preventing her from escaping. Interesting was that she had ceased struggling, for the moment. There was no doubt in his mind that she would resume as soon as she came to her senses. His job was to make certain that didn’t happen.

“Are you both mad? I am not doing this here with you, especially with him watching.” She wriggled against him, trying to escape, her bottom massaging his hard cock until he feared he might burst the seams of his trousers.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. You are going to forget he’s there.”

“And if you don’t, I’ll simply join you,” the captain commented with his typical dominant arrogance. Bloody bad timing, too.

“What!”

Sean gave Mal a glare for that one. He wasn’t making it easy on him. Tori had renewed her struggles, but they weren’t as forceful as they were a few moments ago. Despite Tori’s attempts to dissuade him by smacking at his hand, he quickly unlaced her chemise and bared her breasts for Mal’s viewing pleasure. With his arm locked under them, it pushed the creamy globes up to perfection. Dark raspberry nipples puckered, looking like fruit wanting to be eaten. Sean pulled on one, and Tori dropped her head back against his shoulder. He could see the rise in color in her cheeks and the flush to her neck.

She looked up at him, her eyes the brightest blue he had ever seen. “Sean?” Her eyes shone with fear and confusion. She might not understand what she felt, but her body was aroused and instinctively begging for his attention. Her nipples crinkled into tight buds, and her arched back pressed them against his hands while her hips pressed back against his cock. He wondered what exactly Trenton had done to her to make her question her own body’s reactions. That is, if her body had ever reacted to that cold bastard.

“Would you allow the captain a taste of these?” He tweaked her nipples in turn, and a tremble danced along her limbs, making her blink. Sean was certain Trenton had never brought her this much pleasure.

“Obviously, I don’t have a choice in the matter.” Her voice was soft and uncertain, sounding to Sean like that is exactly what she wanted, only she was thinking too much.

“There are always choices, Viktorya.” Mal’s heavy boot hit the planks with a thud, making her jump in Sean’s arms.

Sean tilted his head and caught her lips in a passionate kiss. She kept them closed until he bit her lower lip. Not enough to make it bleed but enough that she would gasp and allow him access to her mouth. She reacted as he hoped, and he deepened his kiss, sweeping inside and claiming her for himself, no, for them, him and Mal. She moved, restless, against his chest, pressing her luscious little bottom against his hardened cock.

He heard Mal move closer and then felt his strong hands sweep over his shoulders, embracing them both and trapping her between them. Kissing her like this exposed her neck, and Mal took advantage. Tori whimpered into his mouth, enflaming him further. He opened his eyes and lifted his head, looking down. Mal teased one of her nipples with his tongue while she gripped his arms where they rested on her hips.

Sean took the opportunity to run his fingers through Mal’s silky hair, loving the feel of it. He always loved the way Mal’s hair felt. He reached down and untied the knot that held the strands back.

“His hair is as luxurious as it looks, Tori.” She looked up at him dazed for a moment. “I saw you staring at his hair earlier. You wanted to run your fingers through it, didn’t you?”

He gripped a handful of the silky strands and tugged slightly, enough that Mal actually growled low in his throat. Sean let go and drew his fingers through to the ends. “He loves to be petted like a big jungle cat.”

Sean reached down and caught one of Tori’s hands, bringing it up to Mal’s head. Together, they ran their fingers through the heavy thickness. Keeping a rhythmic pattern of strokes with her, he kissed a path along her shoulder and up her neck. Licking the delicate shell of her ear, he whispered, “If you do that in the sunshine, you can actually put him to sleep.”

Mal looked up from Tori’s breasts and gave him a dark look. “Don’t give away all my secrets, Sean.” His gaze dropped to Tori’s. “Would you let me pet you, Tori?”

“Um. I don’t think… I mean, you shouldn’t.” She tried to pull her hand away from Mal’s hair, but Sean wouldn’t let her. He wanted her to feel the passion he knew she was capable of.

“That’s not a no, sweetheart.”

Tori pressed back against Sean, caught in Mal’s dark gaze. He knew what it felt like to be pinned by the other man’s ever-perceptive gaze. Sean knew first hand what it felt like to be caught by that look. It felt as if you were Mal’s prey, and he found you caught in his trap. Only Tori didn’t appear to understand what Mal’s question entailed.

“I don’t know if Tori understands what you are asking, Mal. Do you, Tori?”

The ship rocked slightly, and while he and Mal moved with it, used to the ship’s movement, Tori pressed back hard against his chest.

“I don’t know what you are waiting for. I would ask that whatever it is, you hurry and get it over with or let me go.”

Sean met Mal’s questioning gaze before turning his attention to the woman between them. “Tori, what did Trenton do to you when the two of you were intimate?”

“I don’t know what you mean?” She blushed deeply, and her breathing settled down. Sean might not be as observant as Mal when it came to body language, but even he could understand what Tori wasn’t telling them. Whatever memories she carried from her marriage, the mention of her marriage bed held the ability to suck the arousal right out of her.

“Looks like we will have to start with the basics.” Mal’s hungry gaze increased. He loved a challenge as much as Sean loved a puzzle. Most importantly, they needed to find out if Trenton had traumatized her in any way. That way they could avoid any pitfalls in their quest to possess her.

“Did he lavish attention to your breasts like Malcolm enjoys doing?” Sean asked as Mal took the hint and began to tease her nipples with his fingers and tongue.

“Uh, well…oh, no. Not anything like this.” She swayed slightly and arched slightly as Malcolm cupped her breasts and held them together, lashing back and forth between them.

“What about your shoulders and neck? Did he kiss you there?”

“Umm, I guess. Once, but it felt wet and embarrassing when he did it.”

Sean bent his head and kissed her along her neck. Using his hand, he stroked, feather-soft, along her muscle that joined her neck and shoulder. He wrapped his mechanical arm around her and pressed it low against her belly. Her body shivered under his touch, and Sean couldn’t resist tasting her skin. He brushed his lips and tongue along her skin, biting gently on the tendon at the base of her neck.

“And how do you feel when Sean does it?”

“I feel like I’m standing in sunshine. My body feels hot, but I want more.”

Mal reached out and scissored a nipple between his fingers. “Did he do this as well?”

“Yes, only harder than that.”

“Did you like it?”

“I would bite the inside of my mouth to keep quiet. He didn’t like the servants to hear anything. I didn’t want anyone to hear as well. It would be very embarrassing to face them the next day.”

“Why did you care about what they thought?”

“Because I had to make them all believe I could be a good wife. A wife who knows her duty is to procreate, not to enjoy.”

Mal barked out a laugh. “You will learn that neither myself nor Sean subscribe to that particular mindset. You should hear how loud he gets. I’m certain that he makes the entire ship tremble.”

That perked Tori’s curiosity. Sean could tell in the way she looked back up at him, the question in her eyes. “There are times when the captain is equally as loud, trust me. Do you want to know the truth of all this, Tori?”

She nodded slightly. A glazed look stole across her features. From this angle, Sean could see that Mal had wrapped his hand around her leg and pulled it high on his hip, pressing his impressive erection against her core.

“All of it is nothing compared to how loud you are going to be.”

“No, I can’t. I’m frigid.”

“What? Is that what he told you? Do you realize how contradictory you sound? You were expected to stay silent, but to do so, he labeled you as frigid.”

She nodded but wouldn’t look up at him. There was more to the story, but he let her keep her secrets for now. That could wait until after she learned to trust them. “I can tell from here that you aren’t, Tori. I can smell your arousal.”

“And I can feel the heat from your core warming and surrounding my cock.” Mal rolled his hips against her. She whimpered in the back of her throat, and Mal froze.

“Am I hurting you, Tori?”

Sean reached up and wrapped a hand around Mal’s upper arm, catching the other man’s attention. He knew of Mal’s concern that he might be too rough with a woman and wanted to reassure his lover that he was doing fine. “I’m certain that felt incredible. Do you like the way Malcolm pressed himself against you, sweetheart?”

Tori’s eyes were closed tight, and she gave them a quick, small nod.

Chapter Six

Tori didn’t understand what was happening to her. Her wedding night had consisted of Trenton pushing her over the end of the bed and stabbing inside her. A humiliating and painful experience she didn’t have to endure again. Trenton had rubbed his body against hers at many points during their marriage, and all she felt was revulsion and disgust. She survived those moments by closing her eyes and thinking of why she stayed, reassuring herself that she suffered through this for the greater good. Standing stiff and still resulted in being labeled as frigid and beneath her husband’s attention. Without her terrified reactions, he couldn’t get hard enough to do anything.

But when Malcolm did the exact same thing, she felt an intense heat radiate from where their bodies met. If it felt like this while she remained dressed, would it be glorious when he lifted her skirts, or would she sink into the black abyss she normally hid in during such encounters?

She couldn’t remember the last time Trenton touched her this way. When he’d arrived home a few days ago and demanded that she pack, relief coursed through her. For a moment, she hoped that he would fall over her before they left. She would endure any amount of pain in her body if it meant that this time he left her with a child. Someone she could love and protect better than her father did her.

“Tori.” A sharp nip at her lobe snapped her back to the present. The captain held her gaze with his own. “I want you to stay here with us.”

“I can’t very well go anywhere at the moment with you holding on to me.” She winced at the shrewish tone, an unladylike show of emotion she knew better than to voice.

“I know you are trying to hide behind your own thoughts. Cutting off the sensations so you don’t have to feel them.”

“Why do you care?”

“Because.” Sean spoke over her shoulder. His low voice brushed against her ear like a dark angel, her body responding to his words and tone. “We will gain as much enjoyment out of hearing you as you will out of what we’ll do to you.”

“I warned you both. There is no pleasure in this act for me.” What if they like to see me hurt? Can Sean have changed that much? “If you would please get on with it and get it over with, I would appreciate it.”

“I never could pass up a good challenge.” Mal reached down and scooped her up as if she weighed nothing more than a feather pillow, tossing her over his shoulder.

“What are you doing?” She pounded on the captain’s back as he carried her out of the room, but she might as well have been pounding on a brick wall for all the good it did her.

“Tori, I’d be quiet, or the entire ship is going to hear you being carried to our quarters.” Sean strode behind them, wearing a grin that greatly annoyed her.

“I am not going to your quarters.” She pounded on the captain’s hard back again. “Take me back immediately.”

“Stop that.”

“I would listen to him, Tori. Although if you were over my shoulder, I would have given your ass a couple good smacks by now.”

Tori resisted the urge to rub her bottom at the idea. The same thought sent a sensation warming her insides in the most peculiar way.

They entered another room, and she watched Sean lock the door behind them. A wave of nervousness washed over her. Captain Dygannon stopped, and then she was flipped to her back on a very large bed. She planned to scoot to the other side, but he must have foreseen that possibility because he caught her hands and pinned them to the bed above her head.

“Sean, get the oil.”

“Oil? What do you need with oil?” Tori wriggled madly, trying to free herself.

Mal pulled her shirt from her skirt and then rolled her over. Straddling her hips with his knees, he kept her hands pinned above her head.

“Let me go. I’ll do whatever you want, I’m sorry.”

“What are you apologizing for, Tori? You haven’t done anything wrong.”

Sean appeared by his side with a wicked grin on his face. “This might prove to be tricky.”

They stripped the unlaced chemise from her body, leaving her on the bed naked from the waist up. While she fought back as best she could, Mal undid her skirt and opened it, undoing her ribbons and opening her petticoats until the rise of her soft bottom was exposed.

* * * *

Her waist didn’t narrow as drastically as most women’s. A fact that pleased Mal immensely. He pinned her hands above her head and stroked the silky skin of her waist. Tori curved as a woman should and didn’t look like she would snap in half in the heat of passion.

“Stop it! Get your hands off me.” She threw herself back and forth. What exactly had that idiot Trenton done to her? Determined to get Tori to forget everything that had to do with her obvious sham for a marriage, Mal decided to push up his plans.

“Sean, grab her hands.”

Sean moved around the bed until he stood at her head, catching her hands before Mal released them. Their gazes met for a moment, and he knew that Sean shared his concern at her reaction. While Mal knew she would find this a bit unnerving, Tori’s reactions echoed a deeper fear. Someone had done something terrible to her at one point. Sean dropped down to eye level with her. She lifted her head to look at him.

“Sean! Why are you doing this? Let me go, please.” Her voice cracked. “Please don’t do this.”

“Tori, I swear to you. You’re not going to be hurt.”

Sean looked up at him, and Mal could see the pain in his gaze. He knew Sean hated scaring her like this. It didn’t sit well with him either, but she wasn’t going to listen to reason. He would have to prove it to her. He tied his hair back out of the way with a lace he kept in his pocket. Grabbing the flask Sean set on the bed, he poured the scented oil into the palm of his hand. Thank the gods for Sean’s invention that kept their various oils warm at all times.

Tori wriggled under him, still trying to get away. The movement caused his balls to tighten, and his cock jerked within the confines of his pants. The motions ceased when he drizzled the warmed oil over her skin, and she jerked when he placed his hands on her lower back. He kept them there until she got used to the feeling, and then he swept up her back in long strokes, first one side and then the other, up her back and around her shoulders. Never did he take both hands off her at the same time. Her panicked breathing calmed, and he felt her muscles begin to ease under his ministrations. Of all the things he learned over the years, this had come in the most handy.

When he’d met Sean, the other man suffered terrible pains in his arm and shoulders as he got used to and built up the muscles needed for his artificial arm. He spent hours massaging Sean’s shoulders and back. On a trip to the Orient, he once learned an ancient technique of inserting tiny needles into certain points of the body to relieve pain and anxiety. Not that he would suggest that right now. Better to wait until he had more trust from her, and then he would show her how much benefit Sean gained from it.

He dug his thumbs into the tight muscle on either side of her neck and heard a soft groan escape her. Sean grinned and lifted his hands from her wrists. She didn’t move. Sean poured some oil in his palm and began to massage her hands and wrists. Had he hurt her? As if he spoke the words out loud, Sean glared at him and shook his head.

Sean thought him paranoid. That might be true, but Mal didn’t want to take any chances. Tori might be a tall woman, but she felt so incredibly delicate next to Sean. Look at her reaction to a simple massage. Of course, if they had explained it beforehand, perhaps they could have avoided that.

“Are you all right, Tori?” He kept his voice pitched low so as not to surprise her.

“My god, where did you learn to do this. I feel as though I drank a bottle of brandy, only without the sour stomach.”

“When did you drink a bottle of brandy?”

She smiled softly and rubbed her cheek against the blanket. “Yzzi and I did once. She suggested I try that before Trenton came to my bed that night. Too bad he didn’t because I don’t think I would have felt a thing that time.”

Mal continued the massage up and down her back, outlining the delicate ridges of her spine and the way her hips softly flared from her waist. She sighed and wriggled.

“This isn’t what you expected when Mal held your hands.” Sean kept his voice whisper soft, but Mal glared at him anyway. He didn’t want all his hard work undone by her remembering a past trauma.

“Trenton said he would tie me down and whip me if I didn’t submit the way a wife should.”

“Did he?” Mal regretted not putting a bullet between the bastard’s eyes. He distracted himself by paying close attention to Tori’s skin. Making certain that he didn’t press too hard with his fingers. It took every bit of his control not to react to her words, but she tensed anyway. Mal took a deep breath and allowed the anger to fade away.

“No. He would threaten a lot, but I figured out if I didn’t react then he would leave me alone.” Tori’s muscles relaxed again. Curious, the way she sensed his feelings so easily.

“Trenton is obviously a simpleton who wouldn’t know his way around a woman’s body if you drew him a map.”

“Hide a treasure at the end and he would figure it out.”

Sean laughed softly. “Sweetheart, there is a treasure on this particular map.”

“And he’s obviously too stupid to appreciate it.” Mal stroked her skin with another long caress.

“What kind of treasure?” She blinked her eyes open and looked back over her shoulder at Mal. The innocent curiosity he saw reflected in her gaze almost had him backing away. In that moment, he wanted her to trust him more than he wanted to draw another breath.

While she watched, Sean lifted up and bent over her, brushing a light kiss to her spine where it met her neck. “You can’t find it by shouting orders or digging holes every few feet.” Sean leaned farther over and brushed a kiss between her shoulder blades.

She blinked, and Mal watched her pupils dilate slightly. He smiled down at her and then scooted back slightly, placing a kiss at her waist and then the base of her spine. “This treasure has to be coaxed out of hiding. It takes patience and the knowledge that the most precious things are never given with force.”

“What do you mean? If you threaten enough, anyone will hand over what you want.” Tori rested her cheek against the bedding, her arms stretched out over her head. Did she realize that Sean no longer held her hands?

“Did you ever offer your heart to Trenton?” Sean moved back up to kiss one of her palms. “That day you were married, did your heart feel as though it would explode with the love you shared? Did you feel as if you could only breathe as long as your husband did?”

Mal’s gaze met Sean’s. He remembered feeling exactly that the morning they pledged themselves to each other, at sunrise on the hill where they built their home. Unlike so many others, they didn’t have a large ceremony. Instead, they coveted their moment as a private memory that only the two of them shared.

“No. Why would I want that? A proper marriage is a balance of wealth and what is best for all those concerned. By me marrying Trenton, my father gained a son who had an interest in furthering his business, and he no longer had to worry about my well-being.”

“That sounds like your father speaking. What did you hope to gain, Tori?”

One question and Mal could feel the delicate muscles beneath his fingers begin to tighten up. Despite her practiced words, Miss Viktorya had entered her marriage with an entirely different hope, a hope that he imagined didn’t last long after the vows.

“The kind of treasure I spoke about can never be forced. The more he pushed, the harder he pressed, the farther back you hid. Isn’t that right, Tori?” Mal kept his voice whisper soft.

She shook her head. “He never tried. An emotional entanglement would have been counterproductive to the deal he made with my father. It made it easier to do what I had to.”

Mal continued to stroke. One day, he would gain these secrets from her, but he and Sean would have to be very careful about how they pried them from her.

“What about what you felt towards me, Tori?” Sean’s voice wasn’t much louder than his had been. Mal kept the strokes along her back firm but steady. He wanted to add something but feared he might press down too hard on her back if he allowed himself to be too distracted.

“I felt everything with you. So much so that my father noticed and wasn’t impressed. I tried to wait for you, Sean, but we got the message from my Uncle Demetri. He first heard of your ship being attacked. He told me you were gone forever.”

Mal gently moved down her spine and began to massage the gentle swell of her bottom, running his hands around the firm globes, dipping his thumbs along her inner thighs. A strangled moan caught in her throat, and he froze. “Did that hurt, Tori?”

She buried her face into the blanket and shook her head slightly. Sean’s grin grew, and he pressed a kiss against her neck. “Mal can make you feel like a giant willow tree swaying in the breeze.”

“I don’t think I mind this feeling so much.” Despite being muffled by the bedding, they both heard her words. Sean moved slowly and stretched out next to her, running his fingertips along her arm and shoulders, his mouth close to her neck.

“It gets better, that I promise you. Can you feel a warmth deep inside your body, growing hotter and hotter?” He kissed and tasted her skin between comments. “With every stroke, you’re more aware of the constriction of your clothes and the way your body swells and aches.”

Mal shifted and tried to ignore his body’s need to be free of his trousers. His cock swelled to painful limits. It didn’t help that Sean shifted and pressed his hardening cock against Mal’s leg. Mal shot him a look that promised retribution for such teasing, but that didn’t deter Sean for a moment. Mal stroked Tori again. This time, he lingered between her thighs and dragged his thumbs slowly up her creamy skin. Her body shivered, and her bottom rose ever so slightly as if begging him to press deeper. That kind of invitation he couldn’t pass up. The next time he ran his hands around her bottom, he cupped the soft skin and squeezed, separating the globes slightly, exposing the small puckered hole it hid. She gasped at his actions, the soft sound dissolving on an earthier moan. He could almost imagine the incredible feeling of sinking himself into her tight ass.

Sean whispered soft words into her ear, and Mal did his best to ignore him. The last thing he would be able to resist would be Sean’s wicked tongue. The man could be an artist when he began describing things, especially when those things involved getting naked. Tori’s back and bottom shone with the oil on his fingers, and when he dipped down between her legs, he could feel her moisture coat his fingers. Her soft, musky scent reached his nose. Whatever incompetence Trenton excelled in, thankfully, she wasn’t completely traumatized by it. More than likely, she would have a harder time processing what he and Sean would do to her. An emotionless bed could feel like a cold winter you waited out as you looked towards better things. He and Sean had been known to never emerge from their cabin for days. With some luck, he would be able to teach Tori the benefits of a warm bed to come home to.

Mal eased Tori into rolling over and then resumed his position straddling her hips. He placed her hands on his knees. He concentrated on long, gentle strokes up from her belly button, between her breasts, and around her shoulders and down her arms. On the second pass, he cupped her ample breasts and allowed them to slip from his fingers as he carried on up and around her shoulders and down her arms to complete the circuit. By the third pass, she arched up into his fingers, and he paused to toy with her breasts. His slippery fingers pinched and twirled around her rose-colored nipples.

Sean slid behind him, skimming his hands along the thick belt at Mal’s waist. Sean unbuttoned his belt and waistband, slipping a hand into his trousers. A tremor rocked his body, and Mal couldn’t stop the groan that escaped his throat when Sean gripped his cock. Tori’s eyes flew open at the sound, and Mal feared she would try to escape them. He rested a hand on her hipbone but didn’t move it. He didn’t want to leave, but he knew he should. As aroused as he felt, he couldn’t bear the thought of hurting her with his strength.

* * * *

Sean didn’t know what he spoke of. She didn’t feel like a willow tree. Willows were strong and could withstand any storm. She felt like a small dandelion fluff, floating where the wind took her. The deep, need-filled moan pulled her back from her daydream, and she opened her eyes.

The sight that greeted her froze the breath in her body. The captain’s strong legs straddled her hips, his head tilted back. Over his shoulder, she could see the top of Sean’s head. The sight of Sean’s hand down the front of the captain’s pants was what created a brief moment of calm in her body. Then the hand moved, and the captain’s hips jerked as his eyes met hers. A heavy hand rested on her hip, and she could see the mix of feelings cross his features.

She braced her hands on the bed and pushed herself into a seated position. The heat in Mal’s gaze as she moved caused her to look down. Her skin gleamed in the soft light. The oil he rubbed into her pale skin gave her an ethereal look against their dark sheets. Sean’s hand moved inside the captain’s trousers, and she instinctually reached out and placed her hand over top.

“Tori?”

She heard the question in Sean’s tone. “I want to.” She glanced up at the captain, who currently clenched his jaw so tightly she feared he might hurt himself. “If that is all right.”

He jerked his head more than nodded. Sean moved beside him, and Tori pulled her legs out from under him. Her core throbbed, a sharp ache as she moved. Despite what she needed at the moment, she wanted this opportunity to explore Mal. She had been so curious about a man’s body before her marriage but never had the opportunity to explore. She liked the idea that she could play with him the way he played with her.

She and Sean both slid his trousers down his legs. He braced a hand on her shoulder when he lifted each leg to free the fabric. She lifted his shirt over his head. Instead of pulling it off his arms, Sean took over and trapped the captain’s arms in it.

“Tell me, Captain. Are you willing to do as you’re told?”

She frowned slightly at Sean when Mal refused to say anything.

“Don’t worry, Tori. The captain here can’t stand not being in charge, but sometimes, it’s good for him.”

A low sound grumbled in the captain’s chest as he glared at Sean. Sean grinned back at him and captured his face in his hands, kissing him soundly. Tori took the opportunity to stroke the thick cock pointed directly at her. She didn’t expect his length to feel like raw silk. She wrapped her fingers around him and stroked his entire length again. Mal’s body shuddered, and Sean chuckled against his lips.

“That’s it, clever girl. Keep that up.”

Feeling braver, Tori lifted up onto her knees and gripped Mal’s length tighter before she stroked him again. The captain laid a heavy hand on each of their shoulders. She pressed a soft kiss against his chest, and his cock jumped in her fingers.

“Did you like that?” She stroked his length again and swirled her tongue around his nipple as he’d done to her earlier. Mal’s grip tightened on her shoulder. Sean tapped her on the shoulder and nodded back towards the pillows. She nodded and turned, grabbing a couple pillows as Sean pushed Mal back against the mattress. She tucked a couple pillows beneath his head, and Sean shifted to sit over his head, pinning the captain’s arms above his head.

“Turnabout is fair play, don’t you think?”

Tori watched as the dazed look in the captain’s eyes cleared as he realized the position he lay in. “No. I don’t think this is a good idea.”

Liking the turn in positions, she dragged a single finger up the soft hair on the captain’s legs, inching closer and closer to the heavy sac lying below his thickly veined cock.

“Why not?” She brushed his sac with her fingertips, enjoying that she could touch him wherever she wanted. She looked up at Sean, who nodded his encouragement.

He shook his head. “Not a good idea. Sean, you can’t hold me.”

“Are you asking me to tie you down, Captain?” Sean leaned over him and nipped at his chin. Tori sat back on her heels, enjoying the view of the two of them.

“I don’t want to hurt her.”

Tori blinked. Is that why he hesitated in touching her and kept asking if she was hurt?

“You won’t.”

“Captain, I’m not afraid of you.” Both she and Sean spoke at the same time.

“Then, for the love of the gods, stop calling me Captain.”

“All right, Mal.” Tori grinned and caressed his length. A bead of moisture collected at the tip, and she remembered something she heard the maids discussing. I wonder if he would like it? Leaning over, she licked the tip of Mal’s cock.

“Holy fuck.” His body jerked upwards, and she jumped back, afraid she hurt him. “Do it again.”

Sean gripped Mal’s arms, holding them above his head, and Mal closed his eyes again. Feeling empowered, Tori licked him from base to tip, taking note of which areas he reacted more to. Trenton once forced her to take him in his mouth. She did it simply because she wanted him to leave so she could copy some information from a ledger. That experience filled her with disgust and loathing. Taking Mal into her mouth felt completely opposite. She enjoyed the way he bucked against her mouth and the velvety feel of his length.

“Relax your throat, Tori, and breathe through your nose. See how far you can sink down his length.”

She would have sworn Mal throbbed against her tongue as she slipped along his length. Following Sean’s advice helped her immensely. Mal bucked up against her mouth so she matched the rhythm of his hips. His reactions were intoxicating, and she had never felt so powerful. The captain…Mal was a large man in every way. To be able to assert a form of control over him made her feel like a goddess.

“You like that, don’t you, Tori?” Sean’s whispered words encouraged her to suck harder on Mal’s cock. “Can you tell how close he is to coming?”

“I…I’m not…” Mal’s words ended on a low moan preceding a shudder that made him quake under her.

“He won’t last long now, but I have an idea.”

“Where are you going, Sean?”

Tori knelt there and watched Sean strip off his clothes as he walked around the bed to where she knelt. His cock stood out, dark and flushed, from the dark blond curls that surrounded its base. He left his shirt on, but it hung unbuttoned, exposing the defined muscles of his chest but covered his arms to the wrist.

“I think she deserves a reward for such good work.”

“What do you mean?” Sean didn’t answer her. Instead, he pushed her slightly at the shoulders. “Up on your hands and knees, sweetheart, and then I want you to go back to doing what you do so well.”

Tori did as Sean asked and found herself staring down at Mal’s engorged purple cock. A teardrop glistened at its tip, begging for her to lick it away. When she did, Mal’s hips arched up to her, and his hand rested on the top of her head.

She heard a soft smack. “Nope, you don’t get to touch her. I’ll take care of her.”

The weight of his hand left her head, and she smiled around his cock, sucking him down as deep as she could go. Sean’s hands rested on her ass, and for a moment, she was completely aware that her bare bottom and other delicates would be completely on display for him.

“Perhaps I should…” A warm tongue slipped through her folds, sucking lightly on the skin. Pleasure blasted through her, so acute it stole her breath. She moaned around the cock in her mouth, and Mal shuddered again.

“Tori, you concentrate on Mal. Don’t worry what I’m doing.”

Don’t worry? What kind of a joke is that?

Every time she dropped down on Mal’s erection, Sean swirled his tongue around her delicate folds. He awakened nerves she hadn’t known existed. A shiver tingled up her spine and along her limbs, and she felt another tremor wash over Mal. His hands came down hard on either side of the bed, gripping the sheets in his fingers. Fear rushed through Tori for a moment, but it quickly morphed into a shiver when she realized that Mal wasn’t about to hurt her.

She would have happily taken her time with her task. The faster she slid along Mal’s cock, the faster Sean’s tongue danced in her folds. She gripped Mal’s cock by the base and quickened the pace, sucking and licking every inch of him. Sean twirled around a particularly sensitive spot, and she moaned low in her throat. Mal’s body shook, and he jerked in sporadic movements.

This felt nothing like she experienced before. Trenton used her as a vessel, uncaring as to how she felt. So she felt nothing. Now, she knelt between two men and felt more than she ever had in her entire life. Sean continued to stroke her delicate folds. The hot, wet sensations sent shivers of excitement through her body. His fingers continued to tease, swirling around the entrance to her core.

She felt Sean slip a finger deep inside her, gently stroking her inner walls. Her body clenched in fear that this would trigger a myriad of nightmares. Instead, she felt another wave of pleasure rush over her, prickling her nerves.

“Are you all right, Tori? You’re safe, and you feel so incredible.”

She gripped Mal’s cock and looked up over her shoulder to nod at Sean. Seeing him poised behind her sent a dark shiver over her nerves. She could feel her core flood with moisture as he stroked one particular spot and couldn’t stop the moan that his actions encouraged.

“That’s what I wanted to hear. I found your perfect spot.”

She felt him add another finger. Pressing deeply, he curled them and rubbed. Tori felt her arms begin to tremble. It felt so good, but she wanted more, needed more. “Sean, please.” Another shudder racked her body, stealing her breath for a moment. “Sean, more.”

“Pay attention to Mal, Tori.”

Tori leaned down and ran her tongue up and down Mal’s length again. Wrapping her lips around the top, she sucked on it like a piece of sugar candy. Mal’s responding groan gave her confidence a boost.

Sean’s fingers slipped from her, leaving her feeling empty again. She was about to say something when she felt a larger pressure against her.

“I want to feel you wrapped around my cock, Tori. May I?”

Her body shivered in delight. “Oh, yes, Sean.”

“That’s my girl. Keep your mouth on Mal’s prick, don’t let me distract you too much.”

The pressure built as he pressed farther and farther within her, her delicate walls stretching to the point of pain, but then he would stop moving. Allowing her time to adjust, relax, and then he would move again. She groaned around the cock in her mouth, and Mal shivered. She sucked him deep into her throat as Sean pushed against her again.

“Oh, yeah, relax those muscles for me. Almost there, baby. Blessed Gwynfarr, Mal. She is so damn tight. She’s squeezing my cock so hard I can barely move.”

“Shut up, Sean,” Mal groaned from between clenched teeth. Curious, Tori looked up and noticed his face covered in sweat. His eyes clenched tightly shut. Every time she sucked hard, his face would tighten and then dissolve into the most blissful look. Fascinated by this occurrence, Tori experimented with different rhythms and suction to see which he reacted to the most. All the while, Sean gripped her hips and stayed still within her.

She let go of Mal’s cock with a pop and looked over her shoulder at him. Sean knelt behind her, a pained look on his face.

“Sean?”

“Tori, don’t look at me like that, or I swear on all that is holy, I will pound into you until we are both screaming.”

Sean gave a pointed look at Mal. “Make him lose control, Tori. I want you to feel what it is like to be in charge, and then it will be your turn.”

Tori felt as though she was going to come apart in a thousand pieces and liked the idea of causing Mal to feel the same way.

Mal’s hand landed on her shoulder. She shuttled along his length, sucking hard enough to make her cheeks hollow. Wrapping a hand around the base helped to stop her from gagging on his length. She spent so much of her time avoiding situations similar to this with Trenton, and here she was, willingly participating.

Sean reached around and stroked her folds until he found a spot that made her shudder and moan against Mal’s rod. Large, strong hands gripped her shoulders. “Oh, yes, sweetness, that’s it. Don’t stop, Tori.” Mal’s hips jerked violently. His rock-hard erection pulsed as a warmth coated her tongue.

“Swallow it, Tori. Don’t miss a drop.” Sean’s voice echoed her own thoughts. Mal shuddered when she sucked hard on his tip. While the taste of him was different, she didn’t find it revolting at all and happily cleaned his length. Every pass of her tongue caused his hips to twitch and a small moan to rumble in his chest.

“Good girl.” Sean poured some more oil over her bottom and pressed against the opening there.

She lurched forward, but Mal sat up and stopped her. He cupped her face and kissed her deeply. His tongue caressed hers, and she realized that he must be tasting himself on her lips. The idea caused a shift in her thinking. A dark, illicit pleasure snuck into her conscience.

“Relax, Tori.” Mal stroked a hand through her hair. “I swear he won’t hurt you.”

“We both want to take you at the same time, but hurting you is not an option.”

Is that even possible? The mental picture his words created made her toes curl.

Sean gripped her hip with one hand, and something pressed against her back opening. A bit more oil and she felt a small pressure against her bottom. “Just my thumb, Tori.” It slid within her. Her body immediately jerked at the invasion, but then he stroked her counterpoint to his cock, and she felt herself shudder. Tori felt naughty and, at the same time, so incredible. She was certain that every nerve in her body shook with pleasure. Her hands gripped Mal’s thighs, and she panted against his shoulder.

“Oh, sweet goddess, you’re beautiful between us, Tori.” Mal cupped her breasts and gently pinched her nipples between his fingers. “Can you feel Sean’s cock getting harder? Feel his thumb inside your ass. You like that, don’t you?”

Tori couldn’t formulate words at the moment. The feelings rushing over her were too new, too raw. She felt conflicted, wanting to make him stop and beg him to go faster. She wanted to scream, but all she could do was pant.

The pressure in her bottom burned again, and she curled her fingers into Mal’s legs. “That’s it, Tori. Let him stretch you. I can’t wait to bury myself in that tight bottom of yours.”

The image must have had the same effect on Sean because he lurched against her as Mal’s hand left one breast and slid down her body, slipping between her folds and finding the spot that Sean teased earlier. He traced circles around the sensitive bundle and rubbed it between two fingers. White-hot sensations started in the soles of her feet and shot straight up into her core. Sean angled his hips, and she felt him press against a matching bundle of nerves deep inside her. Too much. She couldn’t handle any more and felt the world around her tear apart as she flew into a thousand pieces, taking Sean with her as she collapsed against Mal.

Chapter Seven

Sean woke her up with the promise of food, reminding her that she was starving. The only promise that would have gotten her to move from their comfortable bed. Both he and Mal each gave her a soft kiss before she mentioned a need to answer nature’s call. She took a private moment to clean up, and when she emerged from their lavish water closet, Sean rushed her into some clothes. She barely had time to tie her hair back before he had her follow him.

Tori felt a bit disoriented as she followed Sean up the spiraling iron staircase that disappeared into the ceiling. She hadn’t noticed it earlier, but she wasn’t looking at room details at the time.

Moisture collected on her skin as soon as she entered the room. A soft haze filled the space, and the most incredible fragrance hung heavy in the air. Large planters built into the floor surrounded the room’s perimeter. Ivy crawled up iron trellising and hung down around them in places.

“You grow flowers in here?” Her fingers stroked the velvet-soft petals of a large lily. A heady fragrance escaped into the air around her.

Night had fallen, so all she saw on the walls was a reflection of the oil lamps hanging from the brackets above them. A soft hiss occasionally sounded from the corners of the room.

“The glass walls and pipes created a natural greenhouse. I didn’t see any reason to waste the opportunity.”

Tori tried her best to hide her shock. The captain tended flowers?

“Mal is a bit of a botanist. I don’t understand how he managed to grow flowers this big, but they are beautiful.” Sean’s hand on her lower back kept her moving forward, despite her first inclination to stop and smell the roses.

She glanced over her shoulder, but Mal’s face was devoid of emotion. She frowned at him, and he responded by quirking an eyebrow. Not exactly the response she wanted, but at the moment, it might be all she’d get. She wanted to know where he’d learned to care for plants. There were many things she wanted to know.

Sean led them to a large table in the middle of the room. Set for dinner, it looked incredible, and at this moment, she didn’t think she could ever eat her fill. She couldn’t remember her last real meal. Despite Trenton’s demands, meals aboard his ship were tasteless or over-spiced. The scents wafting up from the table made her want to faint with hunger. From what she saw, Malcolm captained his ship in a very different fashion than Trenton. Malcolm’s crew didn’t fear him. They respected him.

“I thought you might be hungry by now.” Sean cupped her arm as Mal pulled out the chair. Each acted like the perfect gentleman, without anyone around to see.

“It’s a simple meal, Tori.” Mal took his chair at the head of the table to her left. Sean sat across from her on Mal’s left.

“Oh, it looks delicious.” Warm bread sat in baskets, free of the weevils that often infested bread on board ships. A basket of fresh fruit sat in the middle of the table. At each place sat a covered bowl. Lifting the lid revealed a thick, steaming stew, the aroma of which made Tori’s mouth water.

“Go ahead, Tori. You’re staring at it like you haven’t eaten in weeks.”

Tori dipped her spoon in and scooped a small amount into her mouth. The subtle flavors danced on her tongue, a perfect balance of spices with large pieces of meat and fully cooked vegetables. “This is delicious.”

She would have said more, but her need for more overrode her good manners. They fell into a comfortable silence as they enjoyed their dinner. As she finished the contents, Mal handed her a large piece of bread, and she soaked up every last delicious bit of the broth.

“I think that might be the best dinner I’ve had in years.” Tori flopped back in her chair, feeling fuller than she had any business being.

“Would you like some more?”

“No, please let your chef keep any leftovers for the crew.”

“That won’t be a problem. Gareth always makes enough to go around.”

“No wonder your crew is so loyal.” Tori looked around the room, amazed at Mal’s talent with plants. It seemed that being multitalented must be a prerequisite to joining the crew. Too bad she didn’t have anything to offer, other than the obvious.

“I don’t think I like whatever you’re thinking.”

Mal’s comment pulled her back to the present. “How could you know what I’m thinking? Do you mind read as well?”

“After a while, you might start believing that.” Sean poured a glass of port for each of them from a small wooden barrel encased in the wall. He placed a crystal glass in front her and Mal before taking the seat next to her.

She sipped at the ruby liquid, enjoying the spicy, raisin-like flavors and the warmth that radiated in her chest after she swallowed. Mal and Sean’s ship offered every luxury one could imagine. For a quick moment, she fantasized about staying here with them both. A sense of awareness tingled along her spine, and she darted a look up, only to discover Malcolm’s intense stare again.

“Mind reading again?”

“Not at all.” He sipped his port. His large hand almost engulfed the small glass Sean served it in. “You’re surprisingly difficult to read.”

“She used to be an open book. All her thoughts and emotions right there on her face, so blatant that even I could read her.”

“No one wants his thoughts easily discerned, Sean.”

“Depends on the situation.” Mal placed the glass down and leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. His fingers now rested close enough to gently stroke hers. Her first instinct was to pull away, but something in her wanted to feel his hands on her again. His thumb slid underneath and massaged the palm of her hand with strong strokes.

Tori took a larger sip of her port and tried to quell the shiver that ran up her arm.

She felt more than heard Sean moving close behind her. His fingers joined Mal’s, stroking her fingers and then up to the sensitive skin of her wrist. She felt so relaxed, as if nothing in the world could hurt her. She hadn’t felt so content in…well, ever.

“Tori, why did you marry Trenton?” Sean’s voice murmured against her ear. She felt herself stiffen up, but his question lacked the anger she expected.

Fascinated by the sight of her small hand surrounded by two larger ones, it took a moment for her to think of a response. “I didn’t. Not really.”

“You didn’t really want to marry him?” Mal’s question helped to clarify her own thoughts. She looked up at him and nodded. “He wanted to marry Yzzi, but I couldn’t let her tie herself to a man she didn’t love. My sister is always searching for excitement. If she was to marry, I wanted it to be for love. With Sean gone, I felt broken and hollow. It made more sense to me if I did it. I could do what needed to be done.”

“That is an interesting comment. What exactly needed to be done?”

“Yzzi has interesting friends. She met them at a ball when on tour with our Aunti Bronwyn.”

“Your father’s sister?”

Tori nodded. “Yzzi said they needed help, and she wanted to make a difference. So she would listen for things, and then, if she heard anything interesting…”

“She told them.” Sean’s fingers fell away from her as he dropped back in his seat. Tori felt the cold settle over her shoulders the moment his presence moved. He had no right to judge her sister. She twisted and tried to pull her fingers from Mal’s grip, but he held tight, not that it stopped her.

“She didn’t do anything wrong, Sean.”

Sean sat back in his chair, elbow braced on the arm as his fingers reached across his forehead to rub at his temples.

“I know. I can’t believe those idiots would expect a child to spy for them.”

“What do you know, Sean?”

Mal tugged at her fingers, but she ignored him. Could they know her sister’s contacts?

She still had that damn message to pass on. If Sean and Mal knew Apollo, it would make her life much easier at the moment.

Sean’s eyes never looked as cold as they did when he turned them on her. Fear caused her heart to skip. Had he changed so much? “I know your sister is working for the Rebels. What I want to know is if you were as well.”

“It won’t change the past, Sean.” Mal’s voice held a commanding tone that forced her to look at him when he tugged at her fingers.

She glanced back at Sean, hoping to understand the unsaid part of this conversation. Sean did not look at her. Instead, he rubbed his temples with his fingers. His mechanical hand made soft whirring noises as he clenched his fist a few times.

“Tori, we know the Rebels mean well, but often, they cause more harm than good.”

“How can you say that?”

“Because the world should be allowed to evolve as it seems fit, and no matter what country you live under, no one has the right to dictate the way any of its people should live.”

“But that is what the New Scotia government is doing.”

“And it is the same thing the Rebels are doing.”

“I can’t believe that. They have stopped so many unnecessary attacks of the militia on their own people.”

“Tori, did you give the Rebels information as well?” Sean’s quiet voice drew her attention again.

It would be so easy to tell them everything. To confide what she knew and share the burdens she carried. To tell the secrets she passed on, never knowing the outcome from what her information provided. Now, she carried one of the biggest secrets and the most horrifying truths.

“Tori, did you betray your country?”

Such a simple question, but her answer couldn’t be. Any confession she wanted to share dissolved in her throat. For a moment, she allowed herself to believe that Sean believed in the old traditions, that his taking a man for a lover heralded a dream from her childhood. She’d long dreamt of having two strong men to care for and who would care for her. She pulled the cold cloak of indifference over her dream again. She didn’t know Mal’s loyalty, but Sean’s heart belonged to his country.

“I never gave the Rebels anything. What could I have that would be of interest to them?” It wasn’t a lie. She gave all the information to her sister. When she could manage it, the information she carried would be her first contact with them. If she ever got off this damn ship.

“Your marriage to a high-ranking official?”

The instant Tori darted a look at Mal she knew she had made a mistake. His gaze was too perceptive. Sean she could fool, but the captain would see through her in a moment. She never had a problem hiding things from Trenton, but it appeared to be impossible to hide anything from this man.

Even though she couldn’t see him, she heard Sean sit forward again. “You passed information to your sister, and she, in turn, used it to help those fighting against the New World. How easy did you find it to betray your own people? ”

His disdainful tone felt like a stab to the heart. What right did he have judging her?

“It is so easy to be accused of betrayal these days. Want a better life and you betray your family. Question the actions of the nobles and you betray your country.” She mentally pulled out her icy demeanor and gave each of them a direct look. “What I did, I am proud of. I don’t give a damn what either of you think because at the end of the day, I helped, while the two of you looted ships for your own gain.”

“Tori, you don’t understand.”

“I understand very well. My being a married woman didn’t stop either of you from pleasuring yourselves with me.”

“What we did wasn’t one-sided.”

Tori glared at Mal. “Don’t put words in my mouth, Captain. You don’t know me well enough to know how I think.”

“And as for you.” Her gaze shifted to Sean, who looked as though he wanted to comment. “The silly girl you left behind grew up. Gentlemen, I suggest we end this conversation as civilly as possible before we begin to say things that will not do any good.” Anger fueled her movements as she rose and pushed her chair back. “My thanks for your attentions this afternoon. I would prefer if you leave me be for the future. Good night.”

Tori strode from the room, angry at herself because she wanted one of them to stop her. The short walk back to her quarters felt like forever as she listened for one of them to come for her. A silly thought, considering she had ordered them to leave her alone.

* * * *

Tori lay in the hammock and swung gently with the sea. She worried the edge of one nail trying to sort out what it was that truly bothered her. Seeing Sean being intimate with the captain had been a shock. She had never seen any sign of him being interested in men before. While that sort of action was frowned upon in the New World by the purists, she had been born and raised in New Scotia. She learned very quickly to hide her true thoughts after being brought to this country. She might have been a child when they brought her here, but there wasn’t anything wrong with her memories. The fact that she thought it was odd that no one in her school had more than one father. The Scotian king, William Wallace the VII, was known to have male as well as female consorts. Sean had been born and raised in the New World, so she always assumed that he followed the puritan edicts.

“You look deep in thought. Is everything all right?” She didn’t hear Cory enter the room, but now she stood next to her hammock. “Here, move o’er. You ken talk to me ’bout it.”

“I can get up.”

Cory pushed her back with a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t be silly. Tabby and me always talk like this. Trust me. ’Is easier ta talk when you’re snuggled up to som’one.”

With practiced ease, Cory slipped into the hammock’s cradle, resting her cheek against Tori’s shoulder.

“Cory, you know that I’m not like you and Tabby?” It wasn’t that she wanted her to move. This was nice, but she wasn’t prepared for it to go any farther.

“Oh, I’m well aware of that, more’s the pity. You could make some girl a very happy woman.”

“Thank you, but I’m having a problem on the opposite side of that.”

“Capt’n and his mate?”

“That was a very interesting way to put it, and yes. Cory, I’m a married woman. I’ve already committed the sin of adultery.”

“Do you really believe that?”

“Believe what?”

“That you have committed adultery. Because news goes around the ship quickly, and to be honest, I heard tales of the way the man you married gave you up.”

“I guess to a certain extent that is true.”

“You really feel married to him?”

“I never did.” She could feel the tears well up in her eyes. She had never been loved, no matter how much she tried to fool herself otherwise. “I allowed myself to be married to him because I thought I could make a difference. It seemed like the right thing to do.”

“Thought that’s the normal workings among your station. Especially if you’re a woman. You’re as good as your price.” Cory’s tone spoke volumes of understanding. “And they call me and Tabby whores.”

Tori felt a prick of guilt having thought the exact thing herself when she first came aboard.

“It’s not like it isn’t the truth.” Cory continued. “I’m think’n that the stations aren’t all that different. I think we ‘ave more freedom to choose.”

Tori wasn’t a victim in her marriage, not completely. She’d chosen to marry Trenton for information. She used him more than he ever used her body, passing everything she found out to her sister and on to her contacts. The ink on her marriage license had dried days before she ever shared a bed with him, and by then, she no longer had any way out.

“Was he kind to you?”

“No, kindness is not a word in Lord Trenton’s vocabulary. Thankfully, he sent me off to one of his estates shortly after our marriage. He came to the country for a week every few months. Otherwise, he stayed in the city.” How she’d hated the speed in which the time between his visits would past.

Cory lifted her hand and patted Tori’s upper arm. “I understand what it feels like to be used. My Tabby is the only one who touches me because she truly cares for my soul.”

Tori’s eyes stung with unshed tears. Cory had the kindest heart of anyone she ever encountered, but she didn’t understand the real story. After the disaster her earlier conversation dissolved into, she decided not to fill in any details. Instead, she lay there and enjoyed the simple pleasure of holding someone who didn’t want anything from her other than human contact.

Chapter Eight

Mal knew Tori entered the room long before she ever made a sound. It was the foreign scent of a woman he felt attracted to that caught his attention. The last woman he’d loved had torn his heart from his throat, and given the opportunity, he wasn’t entirely certain that Tori wouldn’t do the same thing. Falling in love with her would be easy. The fact that she still remained as headstrong after living with a man like Trenton impressed him. Cory shared what Tori said to her after she left them last night. By her own admission, the idiot packed her away to one of his estates shortly after marrying her, which meant she hadn’t been subjected to his direct tyranny for too long. Trenton could have broken her, of that he had no doubt, for under all that quick temper, she had a soft heart and innocence that he found irresistible. Her fiery temper, opposite to her normal icy temperament, seemed like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

“Is there something I can help you with, Tori?” He didn’t turn around or look up from the charts he studied. At the last port, he’d heard some disturbing rumors about the New World plans against privateers. For the time being, he felt the best idea was to avoid them. Especially since he carried the daughter of their front man on his ship.

“I came to apologize for my show of temper after our dinner last night.”

With his back to her, Mal indulged in a smile. “Answer me one question truthfully and you will have my immediate acceptance. Is your apology sincere?”

“Um, well, no...”

Her honesty meant more to him than she would ever know. “Then I accept your apology. Don’t worry about showing your temper around me, Tori. I’m a big boy. I can handle it.”

He heard her steps move around the room and risked a quick glance up. She appeared fascinated with some of the artifacts that he stored in the cabinet on the wall. They didn’t hold any true value except to him.

“You collect rocks?”

“No.” Even he could hear the harshness to his response. It wasn’t deserved. She’d only asked a question.

She turned and gave him a quizzical look. “You don’t like answering questions about yourself do you, Malcolm.”

“That’s Captain, and no. Not particularly.”

“You told me to call you Mal.”

“I did. If you don’t want to use it, then Captain is your only other option.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why don’t you like to answer questions about yourself?”

“Are you making a point, Viktorya?”

“That’s Mrs. Trenton to you, Captain. And yes. I’m wondering why you keep a wall around yourself.”

She took a particularly large rock off the shelf and turned it over in her hands. Rolling it around in her fingers, the light coming in caught the tiny crystal caught in the hard surface, making it glitter like freshly fallen snow.

“Oh, that’s beautiful. Is that why you have it? You collect beautiful things, is that all you see?”

Mal ground his back teeth together. This wasn’t what he really wanted when he came up with the stupid idea of bringing a woman into their relationship. Forcing Sean out of his shell was his primary focus, but he failed to realize that she would of course turn her sights on him as well.

“Each rock is a particular memory to me. The one you’re holding I found when I lived with my grandmother’s clan. They taught me how to fight and how to be a man. They also told me that I was a fool for wanting to go to the New World.”

“Why didn’t you listen to them?”

“Because I was young and felt I knew so much more than a couple of old warriors. What those old warriors taught me has saved my life on more than one occasion. Turns out, they were right. So that rock reminds me that just because it looks pretty doesn’t mean that it is best.”

“So you regret coming here?”

“For some things, yes, but my decisions led me to the current situation I’m in. And right now, Tori, I’m rather happy with my life.”

Her lips curled into a mischievous smile, one he couldn’t quite define. Obviously, she was happy with his answer. “I’m glad to hear that, Mal. I, too, am glad of the choices you have made.” She placed the rock back on the shelf with the others. “If I asked you about another one, another time, would you tell me?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you. I’ll let you get back to your work.”

With that, she gifted him with another smile that took all the distrustful wind out of his sails. A future? Could that be what she wanted?

“Tori, will you do the same for me?”

She stopped in the doorway, her delicate hand on the handle. “Yes. When you want to ask, I’ll answer your questions.” She slipped through the opening, leaving Mal behind thinking of all the things he wanted to ask her.

He turned and looked out the window to the skies in front of him. The horizon held a dark line that looked like they were being followed by night. Bloody hell. Looked like his questions would have to wait.

* * * *

Tori woke to the feeling of weightlessness, only to have the Earth’s gravity reassert itself with a massive lurch. She instinctively gripped the edge of the hammock as it swung wildly to the side. Another lurch to the side almost sent her tumbling from the hammock. The captain had warned them earlier they were heading into rough weather. She’d asked why they didn’t fly over it. Gareth reassured her that weathering a storm on the water was safer than being hit by an electrical strike that would send them hurtling into the waves.

The ship dipped sharply, and her stomach lurched into her throat. She didn’t often suffer seasickness, but it was inevitable during a storm. Remaining below deck only made it worse. Slowly, she rolled from the netting. Holding tightly on to the edge, she moved with the motion.

The ship lurched to the side, and she staggered to the side, struggling to regain her footing before tumbling into one of the crates secured to the wall. Her stomach revolted at the movement, and she coughed, a bitter taste stinging the back of her throat.

Air was what she needed most at the moment. Everything settled for a second, and she took the opportunity to rush out the door, closing it behind her so it wouldn’t bang. For a moment, she thought about crawling in with Tabby and Cory. Now she understood why their bed was slightly sunken into the floor. The two of them slept snugly, as if they didn’t have a concern in the world. The idea of lying down sent her stomach lurching into her throat. Everything swayed violently, and she gripped the railing along the wall for balance, slowly making her way towards the stairs. At the top, she unlocked the door to open it, but it flew open on its own accord, smacking her in the hip.

Pain exploded along her side, and the nausea increased. This might not have been the best idea, but at least now, she could feel the sea air on her face. Droplets whipped against her face like bee stings. The ship tilted upwards, sending a wave of water past her and down the stairwell.

She couldn’t leave the door open, but the idea of closing herself down below made her skin crawl. She rubbed the ache in her hip and looked out over the deck. She saw most of the men working in tandem to tie down the sails. Even in the dim light and torrential rains, she recognized the captain out of all the men. His shirt was stuck to him like a second skin. The soaked material outlined every line of his muscles as he pulled on various ropes and pullies.

Hanging on the other side of the hallway was a harness that they had strapped her into when they’d brought her on board. Reaching out, she grabbed for one of the harnesses, remembering how to wrap it around her chest, and buckled it up before stepping out. There were railings running the length of the wall. Each man looked to be tied off to them. Holding tightly, she inched her way along until she found a similar strap and attached it to a ring on her harness, and then she moved back and closed the door to prevent any more water from rushing below. Her actions were finished a moment before the ship tilted and another wave rushed over the edge. It came across and smacked her against the door with icy strength. Soaked to the skin, she didn’t feel the cold and ignored the rain. Instead, she gripped the doorframe and looked out over the deck and was pinned by the captain’s gaze.

Dammit. She had hoped that they would remain busy enough not to notice her. No one on her husband’s ships ever did when she came above board to escape storm-induced nausea. He looked furious, and even though she couldn’t hear him from this distance, she knew that he was furious. He made his way over to wheelhouse and banged on the door. It whipped open, and Sean came into view. His mechanical hand gripped the door, and he braced himself with the other. He, too, glared at her and shook his head. As intimidating as it was to be pinned by their glares, she couldn’t help be amazed by the little effect the storm had on either of them. Both men stood solid and sure. The door didn’t swing while Sean held on to it. They said a couple words to each other that included pointing in her direction.

One of the men headed into the wheelhouse as Sean left. He shut the door behind him and walked out across the deck. She looked wildly around, but it seemed like the sea had taken another moment to catch its breath. Sean grasped the opportunity and began to quickly move across the deck towards her. From where she stood, she could see a large wall of water heading directly towards the ship behind him.

“No! Go back!” She waved her arms wildly, but the wind stole her words. The ship took a sudden dip down, and this time, a huge wave crested the bow, rushing over the wooden deck. The powerful torrent knocked Sean’s feet out from under him. She watched in horror as another deckhand, who had anchored himself to the railing, dove for him. The man grabbed Sean by his arms as the retreating water carried them both swiftly across the deck. There was no way that one strap would hold the force of two men on it.

Tori knew if they reached the edge then Sean would be torn from his friend’s grip. The captain was already moving towards them, but he was too far behind them to be of any help.

She was running before the thought formed clearly in her head. Anchored to the wall, she headed out onto the wet deck at an angle to intercept them. The icy wind hit her full force, almost throwing her off her feet. She stumbled when the water hit her feet, hurling herself at Sean’s legs as the water’s momentum carried them towards her. Her impact against the deck sent a painful stab in her hips and thighs, but she managed to wrap her arms around his calf, gripping the fabric of his pants. He realized what she had done and bent his knee, gripping her arm in the bend.

“Hold on!” The older deckhand’s warning carried over the howling wind, moments before his rope snapped taut. He lost his grip on Sean’s mechanical arm and immediately gripped his good arm with both hands. The sudden stop carried her forward until, moments later, her tether snapped taut. Her grip on his trousers loosened slightly, but Sean quickly reached out and grabbed hold of her harness with his brass hand. The water continued to flow around them, smacking her in the face like an ice-cold punch. The force of it plunged up her nose and in her mouth. She immediately started hacking and gasping wildly. Sean hauled on her harness and pulled her up so she braced her cheek on his hip. Vicious coughs racked her body, bringing up what might have threatened her lungs.

“Tori, are you okay?”

She nodded and tried to get to her feet, but Sean jerked on her harness to get her attention.

“Stay on your hands and knees. That will keep your center of gravity low, and you can keep your balance easier.” His glare told her he wasn’t happy with her, not that he had any reason for being annoyed. If not for her, he would have found himself over the edge of the ship and a permanent resident of Davy Jones’ locker.

The boat rocked wildly, but thankfully, the waves stayed at a reasonable size. Still, crawling across a deck in a skirt was incredibly difficult.

“You little twit.” A deep voice bellowed over the sound of the wind, and she looked up to see the captain heading over to them. He looked like a raging titan stalking across the deck to them, the rocking boat and wind no match for his size. Sean kept a tight hand on her harness and pulled her towards the doorway. As soon as the captain reached them, he tossed her over his shoulder as if she didn’t weigh more than a sack of grain. Waterlogged, she knew she couldn’t be light baggage.

“Captain Dygannon, I can walk,” she said in her most imperious tone, but even she heard the wavering to her voice. With every step towards the cabins, she could feel her limbs tremble. At this point, she couldn’t say if it was fear or the cold. Sean stalked behind them and unhooked her harness as soon as they were close enough.

“Gareth, get below and get warm. I’ll make certain these two don’t fall ill.”

She heard Gareth’s formal response and then a more informal one from Sean as he thanked him for his help.

“If Mrs. Trenton hadn’t the quickness to do what she did, well, sir, I’m not certain things would have turned out well.”

Tori smiled at the man’s words, the feeling of being useful one she wasn’t used to. For so long, she had felt like a coward for not trying to change things in her life and letting it pass her by.

“There is a slim line between bravery and stupidity.”

“Put me down, you oaf.” She smacked her hand against the captain’s back, bringing her attention back to the way his clothes stuck to him, and here she hung, with a perfect view of his tight assets.

Her bottom stung with his responding smack. “You, be quiet. I’m fighting the urge to spank your ass until it’s as red as the sheets on my bed.”

Fear flooded her system, and her trembling increased. If he decided to take a fist to her, she would never survive it. He stopped suddenly, and she found herself standing on the floor, his face a mere fraction away from hers. “I would never lay a hand on you. I’ll let Sean do that. He’s not as strong as me.”

“Now, see here, I’m standing right next to you two. Please resist the urge to verbally un-man me for when I am not around. Bloody hell!”

She blinked and couldn’t help the grin that pulled at the corners of her mouth. It had been a very long time since she had heard that particular profanity coming out of his mouth. The captain’s features softened slightly, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Come on, girl. You are soaked to the bone and freezing cold.”

“You’re w-we-wet as well and c-c-cold, too.”

“Yes, but Sean and I are used to this. While the idiot should have secured himself before going after you, it wouldn’t have been a problem if that wave hadn’t snuck up on us.”

As the adrenaline left her system, her body began to shake harder until the captain scooped her up in his arms. “I-I-I can w-w-w-walk.”

“No, you can’t.” He strode into their cabin, carrying her with him. Sean was already in the process of stripping his damp clothes off and hanging them on a rope secured across the corner of their room. The captain set her on the floor and began to strip her.

“Th-th-this is n-n-not ap-p-ppropriate,” she sputtered and tried to bat his hands away.

“Tori, even if you tried, you couldn’t undress yourself. Your fingers are cold to the point that the nervous responses are slowed and your tactile ability is compromised.”

Sean wrapped a dry blanket over his shoulders and then proceeded to help remove her clothing. Before she knew it, she, too, had a large, warm blanket wrapped around her shoulders and had been placed in the middle of their bed. She told herself to close her eyes and not look, but she couldn’t miss this opportunity to see the captain divest himself of his clothing. Peeking through her lashes, she indulged in this illicit pleasure.

“Why the sudden shyness, Tori. It’s not like you haven’t seen this already.” A twinkle of laughter shone in Mal’s eyes. He had a point, and her cheeks burned at the memory.

She closed her eyes and tried to divert her thoughts. “Who is caring for the ship if you both are here?”

“I have Jacko and Roger manning the wheel. There isn’t much we can do but wait it out. All necessary equipment is tied down.” With his back to her, she didn’t see much, but the warmth had begun to seep back into her limbs. What she did see was incredibly impressive. Muscles lined his back, flexing with the smallest movement. This was not the body of a pampered nobleman. Sean shared the same body structure, although not as large. Sean lifted the blanket and crawled in next to her, making her squeak.

“What are you doing?”

“Getting warm, this is the best way when the body gets too cold.”

“He’s right. Full body contact will fix it all.” Mal lifted the blanket on her other side and slipped beneath quickly.

“I will not be in the middle of you.”

“Yes, you most certainly will.” He rubbed his hair with the blanket. “You will stay there, or I will tie you down. Your choice.”

She glared up at him and pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders as if that would stop him.

“Tori, what in god’s name drove you above deck? I warned you before about going topside without permission.”

“In my defense, I didn’t understand how bad the weather had gotten. I had fallen asleep, and when I woke, I felt terribly sick.”

Sean placed a hand on her forehead. “How are you feeling now?”

“I think I’m too cold to feel anything.”

Sean wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close to his body. She kept her body stiff and still when it came in contact with his, and it didn’t take long before she understood the science behind it all. Within a minute, she felt warmer, caught between them. “That won’t last long.”

The captain brushed some hair off her face. “Close your eyes, Tori. We’ll keep you safe.”

How could they protect her if the ship went down? She didn’t know, but the waves of warmth flowing over her lulled into a sense of security. This is all quite scandalous. But for the moment, she felt too tired to care.

Chapter Nine

Tori stood at the ship’s edge and looked down at the calm waves below them. She never failed to be amazed by the incredibly quick changes to the weather at sea. Aside from a few puddles left in the corners of the deck, you would never know there was a storm last night.

A nauseous feeling washed over her as her memory replayed how close Sean had come to dying. Now that everyone was safe, she could easily imagine how everything could have gone wrong. Waking in an empty bed didn’t sit well with her either. When she woke this morning, she found herself cocooned under the blankets, her limbs wrapped around a large pillow. Her body ached, and she really wished that they both had stayed with her. In the light of day, she expected to be shocked by her actions last night. But sleeping between Mal and Sean felt right. She felt safe and cared for and lay there this morning wondering what it would be like to stay with them.

She managed to detangle herself from all the coverings heaped over her, no doubt by the men acting like mother hens. At least her trunks had been pulled into the room, which saved her from sneaking around the hallways clothed in nothing but a blanket.

The sun shone warm against her skin, making it tingle. At home, she wouldn’t have left the house without a parasol. Now, she understood why Yzzi loved feeling it against her skin. She fingered the packet in her skirt pocket, a reminder of what she needed to do.

Moments after she finished dressing, Mal, who, she decided, had the worst timing, found her and mentioned that he wanted to sail into port and pick up some supplies this morning. She was to stay below board and away from any windows. Silliness in her book. Why ever would Mal be concerned? It’s not like anyone around here would know her. Besides, she had to get this information delivered. The chances of getting it to her sister were slim, and she had no idea who Apollo might be. Her only chance now would be to find a rebel office. They would have an electro-telegraph. She could contact her sister that way and set up a meeting point to pass on the information or, better yet, find out who this Apollo was.

She bit her lower lip slightly, wondering if perhaps she should share this with Sean. Obviously, they both would side with the Rebellion. While they didn’t agree with New World ways, they were both fiercely loyal to the Old World. After all the bits and pieces of information she passed on over the past few years, she suspected the Old World government wasn’t as innocent in this war as everyone assumed. She might not understand what all the numbers and places stated on the papers meant, but she knew that it was important. She copied all this information from a message that Trenton hid in the secret drawer in his cabin. She couldn’t trust this to anyone but her sister. Yzabeau often said her contact was known as Apollo.

A slight popping in her ears drew her attention back to her surroundings. The seawater came up faster than she expected, and she gripped the rail, expecting a hard lurch as it impacted, but the ship glided above the water’s edge. Looking over the railing, she could see the ship’s shadow move across the water as they flew about thirty feet above it. She felt more than heard Malcolm come up behind her. He bracketed her body by gripping the rail on either side of her, trapping her.

“If we didn’t have half the ship watching us, I would plunge into you the moment we hit the water.” His voice encouraged an illicit fantasy to form in her thoughts. Instead, he pressed a hot, open-mouth kiss to the side of her neck, his groin pressed against her bottom like a brand. She could feel the heat through their clothes.

Didn’t I feel chilled a moment ago? Her clothes picked at her skin, and with Mal pressing against her, she felt warm and tingly. “I think I can imagine what that would feel like, but I’d rather you showed me.”

She was shocked at her own forwardness. Mal nipped at her earlobe and chuckled. His warm breath teased her skin, creating an echoing tremor deep in her core. “Watch.”

She followed the direction he pointed and watched as two large objects extended from the front of the ship. They looked like large butcher blades angled towards the sea, the reflection of the water glinting off their surface.

“They will break the water tension, easing the ship’s entry into the sea.”

“Really?” Even she could hear the edgy note to her own voice.

“The tension across the water’s surface would rip the hull to shreds if we were to slam into it. Think of them as fingers slipping into the wet depths, preparing her for the strength and weight of The Seahawk.” Mal’s voice rumbled in her ear. He wrapped an arm around her waist while he continued to grip the railing. She held on and pressed back against his groin.

“You going to get a little wet again.”

Tori turned her head enough to whisper, “I think I already am.”

“You’ll be soaking by the time I’m done with you.”

Shivers rippled along her spine in anticipation. She could feel her breathing increase as the ship neared the water’s surface. The sharp appendages pierced the water, sending up a spray, and the cold mist from it caressed her face and arms where she stood, her back to Mal’s chest. He cupped her breast in one hand and massaged it through her bodice. She wanted to feel those fingers on her skin. She turned in his arms and looked up at him.

The hunger in his eyes hit her like a hot wave straight to her core. He bent his head and touched his lips to hers. Exquisitely gentle. His hand splayed between her shoulder blades as he angled his head and slipped his tongue past her lips. She wrapped her arms around his waist. At that moment, she felt the ship plunge into the water’s depths with a rushing groan. Malcolm stood as solid as a large oak, holding her against his solid form. She gripped his belt and pulled at the back of his shirt.

Tori didn’t notice the increasing spray at her back, but Mal’s warning caught her attention. His arms dropped to around her waist, squeezing her as a wave splashed over the two of them. Icy water drenched her to the skin, and her shocked scream rang out over the bow. Mal laughed out loud and shook his head. His hair whipped around in the space above her, sprinkling droplets of water around them.

The anger that surged to the surface disappeared when she saw that smile. Though childlike in its intensity, there was nothing innocent about the heat in his eyes when he looked down at her. She reached up and brushed away the wet hair that stuck to his face. “You knew that would happen and you didn’t think to warn me?”

“I said I’d have you soaked by the end, didn’t I?” He scooped her up as if she didn’t weigh a thing. Mal’s gaze didn’t leave her chest as he spoke.

“I’m more than a bit wet.” She looked down. The wet silk of her gown stuck to her breasts like a second skin, and her nipples stood out in sharp relief.

“I know, and now, I get to dry you off.”

“Are you certain you want to do that?”

“No, but I’ll kill any man who sees you like this.”

Tori couldn’t help the giggle that erupted from her throat, startling Mal into looking at her face. She angled her chest closer to him and cupped his cheek, kissing him all the way to his quarters. Once inside, Mal tumbled them onto the large bed.

Wet clothes did not remove themselves easily, as Tori discovered. She struggled with her gown, anxious to feel the intensity Mal created. Thankfully, silk became much stronger when wet or her gown would have been torn to shreds, not that she cared a whit. She wanted to feel him surge inside her with the same intensity she’d felt as The Seahawk entered the sea. She tore at his shirt, pulling it out of his pants as he pushed them down his legs.

Once naked, Malcolm rolled her under him. His mouth fused with hers, their tongues stroking. He caught her lower lip between his teeth and bit, making her feel primal. She stared him in the eye and ran her nails down his chest in retaliation. One nail caught one of his tight nipples, making him hiss.

In one smooth motion, Mal lifted one of her legs over his shoulder, completely exposing her to him. With a powerful thrust, he surged into her. Her body stretched, almost painfully, the intrusion lighting her on fire.

“Oh, god!” she screamed, gripping his shoulders.

“Tori?” Malcolm stilled, and it took a moment for her to read the horror on his face. “I swear, by all that is holy, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Why does he worry about that so much? “I swear, by all that is holy, if you leave me like this, I’ll make you regret it.” She halted his retreat by wrapping her other leg over his hip and pressing her heel against his ass. “God sakes, move.”

He surged into her again, his cock stroking deep within her. Heat washed over her. She gripped his shoulder and bucked up against him as he moved. “More, more.”

“Greedy, greedy.” Malcolm grunted out from between clenched teeth. He lifted her other leg over his shoulder. “Anything for you.”

Tori closed her eyes, helpless to do anything but grip at the bed coverings. White-hot ripples spread through her from where Mal hammered into her. Each stroke felt different than the last, and each intensified the tremors she could feel building deep in her soul. Her world narrowed down to the two of them. Mal gripped her hip and changed the angle of his penetration again. With the next lunge, his cock pressed up against a sensitive spot she didn’t know existed.

“Mal!” Her body curled up towards him. Her stomach tightening against the onslaught of acute pleasure.

“There it is.” He jerked his hips and hit that exact point inside her again and again until her world exploded around her like a rushing wave. She arched up and cried out her pleasure, dimly aware of his voice rising to meet hers.

Mal eased her legs down before collapsing against the bed next to her. He roughly pulled her into his arms, only to gently caress her back with long strokes of his fingers. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“Un-uh.” Flopping her hand against his chest took little energy. She didn’t have much more than that.

“Mal, I’m not afraid of you hurting me.”

“I’m a large man, Tori. It would be easy to hurt you. It’s happened before.”

So that’s the source of his fear. “I’m much tougher than whoever she was. You have nothing to worry about. I wouldn’t change anything about you or how you make me feel.”

The rumble of a chuckle in his chest was the last thing she heard before dozing off.

Chapter Ten

Tori woke up alone, again. That fact annoyed her for a reason she didn’t completely understand. Emotionally, she wondered what drove them to abandon her. Her practical side reminded her that Mal had a ship to run and wouldn’t have time to lie about in bed in the middle of the day. Was it too much to ask to wake up in someone’s arms? But were other lovers as considerate to her needs? Not that she knew the first thing about lovers, but she appreciated seeing a dry gown laid out for her.

She crawled out of his large bed and tidied herself up. Getting dressed, she realized he hadn’t left her a corset, and the one she wore earlier had disappeared. How did he know she preferred to go without?

Refreshed and feeling energized, Tori decided to look from room to room for a telegraph machine. She didn’t believe for one moment that they didn’t have one on board. Knowing her luck, Sean would have improved it to the point of being obsolete unless the recipient’s machine was as technically updated.

The Seahawk might be a large ship, but there weren’t that many places to look. She could disregard Cory and Tabby’s room and the room she exited. That left the entire lower deck, which she would rather not travel alone after Tabby’s warning a couple days ago. She started with the door next to hers.

It opened into a technical wonderland. Shelving lined the walls, and mechanical pieces hung from the ceiling, swaying softly as the ship moved. A large worktable sat in the center of the room, a small ledge running the perimeter that helped to stop things from rolling off when the ship moved. Currently, Sean sat there looking at her through an odd pair of spectacles. One eye looked normal. The other looked three times the normal size. The lens he peered through looked like a spider, each leg held at its tip a lens of varying strength.

“Hello, Tori. Are you lost?”

“No, I was exploring. It’s been a long time since I saw those glasses. You still look like a bug in them.”

Sean laughed and took them off, rubbing his eyes as they adjusted. She remembered him telling her that, while they were helpful, wearing them for too long bothered his eyes. A chunk of silky hair escaped its queue and drifted over his face. He tucked it back behind his ear with practiced ease.

“Is that why you wear glasses now? Too many years of wearing those?” She touched the odd object here and there as she wandered closer to him. Sean’s work always intrigued her. Especially since he didn’t understand the simple things in life.

“I expect so, but it’s a small price to pay. I will admit I might change my mind if I’m blind as a bat once I’ve gone gray.”

She looked down at the mass of wires on the table. “What are you working on now?”

“Oh, I’ve been inspired lately and decided to work on an update to my arm.”

“Inspiration is a wonderful thing. What is it you are trying to do?”

“Done, my sweet Tori.” Sean grasped her fingers and kissed the tips of them. His lips were so soft it felt like silk brushing the sensitive pads, and each touch sent a lot of heat to her core. Her heart broke wishing she had waited for him. If she’d known then Sean lived, she never would have agreed to marry Trenton.

“Stop thinking of the past because nothing will change it.”

“How did you know?”

“Malcolm’s rubbing off on me, I think. While I don’t have his talent for reading people, you have always been an open book to me. I understand how you think.”

“I wish that were true, Sean. Then perhaps you could explain some of my choices to me. They seemed like a good idea at the times but then later…”

“You know, you always thought Yzzi to be the brave one, but I knew you were equally as brave. You will rush into a situation and then figure out your moves as you go. Your sister will plot everything out before she moves a single inch. Both of you have strengths and weaknesses.”

“You have that right.”

“That why you ended up married to Trenton?” Sean’s voice sounded deceptively calm, but she could hear the anger behind it.

“I thought you were dead, Sean.”

“You didn’t give me any time to prove the rumors wrong.”

“At the time, I was devastated and felt I didn’t have any true reason to live.”

Sean needed to know the truth. Tori dropped onto a small stool in the corner. “Why ever would you get married, especially to that jackass?” He tossed his glasses on the table and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Taking a deep breath helped calm him down, but the pain in his eyes when he looked at her felt like a glass shard wedged in her heart. “Why, Tori? Who talked you into it?”

“No one. I talked my father and sister into it.”

“What! I don’t believe it. Your sister would never throw you in a snake pit of a loveless marriage.”

“No, you don’t understand.” Tori hopped to her feet and paced along the length of the table. “What I am going to tell you may disgust you. I’ve done things I’m not proud of, Sean.”

She glanced over at him and then away. He sat at the table, quietly waiting for her to go on. If she looked at him as she spoke, she’d never get this out.

“Yzzi has been involved with the Rebels for as long as I can remember. She’s always hated the New World and never wanted to be a part of it. As you mentioned last night, Trenton is a high-ranking official in the militia. She decided that a marriage to him would allow her access to sealed and secret documents. Father had decided that Trenton could marry her, but I talked them both into allowing me to step into her place.”

“Why, Tori?” Why did she feel like she betrayed him again by telling him all this? Perhaps because she didn’t want to go on without his knowing. She wanted a new life, but that wouldn’t happen with the past sitting between them. She had to make him understand.

“Because I felt dead inside. Sean, you were gone. I thought there would never be a chance Trenton could change my mind or anything he’d do would affect me. Yzzi is strong and filled with life and love. I couldn’t allow Trenton to destroy that, and he would have. I knew it then, I know it now.”

Sean came around the table and stopped her from pacing back and forth as she spoke. “Did he hurt you?”

“He tried, but physical pain goes away. I carried such a scar on my heart that nothing he did could hurt worse.”

The truth weighed on her, and despite what he believed, Tori didn’t think Sean would judge her too harshly. “You were right. I’ve spent the last five years married to a man and performing my wifely duties. All the while, I stole every bit of information and passed it on to my sister. I betrayed the man I married and your country.”

“Sweet mother, Tori,” Sean engulfed her in his arms, “I don’t think you betrayed anyone but your own heart.”

She couldn’t help the scalding tears that ran like a deluge down her face. She didn’t regret what she’d done to help her sister. She regretted not finding out sooner that Sean lived. If she’d known that, she could have avoided her farce of a marriage and been in Sean’s arms sooner. But what of all the good that might have come from the information she passed on? The past didn’t matter, and she’d made the right choices available to her at the time. If she’d known Sean lived then he wouldn’t have met Malcolm, and how could she wish that?

“There’s more, isn’t there? I can’t see you as being that cold- hearted.”

“I can be. I will admit that having Trenton turn me over to pirates was a bit of a shock. I mean, he had no idea what I did. Yet, he didn’t bat an eyelash when he chose a ship over me.”

Sean handed her a soft cloth, and she used it to wipe her eyes. “Same as my father, who chose his position over a woman who loved him more than anything. My mother never got over his abandoning her.”

“Did you grow to care for Trenton?”

“I think I grew to care for an ideal. I saw what I wanted to see and ignored the rest.”

Sean held her at arm’s length. “You realize he will have had you declared dead by now?”

“I know, and I’m more than happy with that.” Tori didn’t want to ever go back to that lonely existence again. After feeling the warmth in their arms, she wanted nothing more than to stay. Sean slid his hand up and down her back in long strokes. She wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head against his chest, listening to his beating heart. The tip of her tongue itched to tell Sean the rest, but she didn’t want him to choose between her and his country. For now, she would stick with her original plan.

“All I want to do is pass a message to my sister and make certain she is safe. You wouldn’t happen to have a telegraph machine on board?”

“Oh…um, no.”

Looking up at Sean’s face, she saw a distinct flush to his cheeks. “Sean? What’s wrong?”

“We did have a machine…”

She followed his gaze to his workstation, where a mess of wires and other electrical bits were scattered. “Needed parts?”

“I planned to pick up a new one at the next port.” Sean shrugged sheepishly. “We rarely get messages anyways. It didn’t occur to me that we might need it in the next twenty-four hours.”

Tori did her best to hide her disappointment. Instead, she smiled and shrugged. “Not much can be done now. If I remember correctly, you were always raiding various objects for needed parts when you were younger.”

“Old habits are hard to break.”

She tried to laugh but sniffled instead. Sean pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. “Wipe your eyes. No point in crying over what might have been. The important thing is you’re here now.”

“So what did I interrupt?” Tori asked, in hopes of changing the subject.

Sean’s grin looked incredibly devious. “Oh, I’ve been planning this one out for a while but only now figured out how to make it work.” He held up his mechanical arm with a grin.

Tori hopped up on a nearby stool and listened to Sean as he told her about his recent ideas. A gentle feeling of “rightness” settled in her chest, as if this was exactly where she was always meant to be.

Chapter Eleven

“When we reach port, I’m going ashore to purchase a few necessities.” Tori reached for her wine and sipped without looking up at either of her companions. She made certain that each had a mouth full of food before speaking. If her gowns were going to be repeatedly soaked like yesterday then she should consider purchasing a couple more when they reached the shore. A perfect excuse.

Sean was the first to answer. “No,” he stated and then continued eating as if she hadn’t said anything at all. Mal simply arched an eyebrow at her and continued to eat, as well.

“I am not asking permission.” Tori placed the goblet gently on the table. Slamming it as she wanted to would only cause it to shatter. “I was under the impression that I wasn’t a prisoner, and I hope I’m not mistaken in believing you both to be gentlemen.”

Mal continued to eat as if she hadn’t spoken at all. Sean shrugged and took another bite himself.

“Then it’s agreed. As soon as we’re finished eating, I’ll go to my errands and be back before nightfall.”

“No.”

The simple statement pricked at Tori’s temper. “And why the hell not?”

“Why do you need to leave the ship?” Mal leaned back in his chair, a mug cradled in his hands.

“My gowns are much too heavy in this climate. I need something less substantial.” There, that should convince them.

“No. If you need something then I’ll have it brought aboard for you.”

“Sean, you said I wasn’t a prisoner.”

“You’re not. But neither Mal nor I is willing to risk your safety by allowing you to go ashore without us.”

“Then come with me.”

“Sorry, Tori, but I’m almost finished a project I’ve been working on. A few more hours should do the trick.”

Tori turned her gaze to Mal, who shook his head. “The turbines are making a strange noise after our last landing, and I need to have them looked at.”

“What kind of noise?” Sean asked. With that, both men began to carry on a conversation as if the topic were closed.

Tori sipped her coffee and refrained from allowing her temper full reign. If they thought they could dictate her life, they were incredibly mistaken. Her planned deception left a bitter taste in the back of her throat. She would much rather be honest with the two of them, but the situation dictated a speedy response. She had to get to a telegraph machine and pass the information on to her sister or this Apollo. She would be back before they ever knew she left the ship.

* * * *

Sneaking off The Seahawk was easier than she had thought. Since Mal had sequestered himself in the engine room with Sean. All she had to do with herself was lie around and wait. A rather boring existence considering all the excitement she felt during the days leading up to their coming into port. Tabby and Cory left the ship at every port, and that was fine with everyone. She didn’t need protection. It’s not as if I can’t take care of myself.

With that thought in mind, she planned a bit of a shopping excursion after passing on her information at the first chance she got. A new hat would be nice and perhaps a cooler skirt. Since they’d moved into warmer climes, she found her wardrobe to be increasingly hot. Sean’s comment about the captain’s birthday stuck in her head. She wanted to find each of them a gift, something special they would both appreciate. Sean was easy to buy for. All she needed to find was a unique mechanical trinket, or a puzzle box would be perfect. Something he could take apart and improve on. The captain wasn’t as easy, but she was certain she would know the perfect gift when she saw it. She donned an old skirt and blouse and then covered it with a large sweater that the crew tended to wear against the bitter winds. It would keep her warm in the early morning, but as the day wore on, she would need to take it off. Not that it was a concern because she planned to be back on board before it ever got that hot.

She tucked a few coins from her chest into a pocket and wandered through the local marketplace. A large shadow moved over her, blocking out the sun. She looked up in awe at a beautiful flying ship. Their presence must be commonplace because the locals didn’t blink. The constables raced off in the direction of the ship, making Tori laugh. Did they really think they could catch a ship like that?

Only they didn’t go far. They stopped at a covered stall and pulled back the canvas covering it, exposing a large catapult. She watched in horror as the officers loaded thousands of small jagged pieces of metal into its bowl. Sweet mother.

“You can’t launch that! What about the people below?” Tori found herself yanking on one of the soldier’s arm. “You could kill someone with that.”

He shoved her back, but not before she saw the varied sizes of debris inside. “Step back, woman. I have no interest in your dirty offerings. The Lord will protect those that are worthy.”

Tori knew then that, as far as this man was concerned, no one living in the docks would be worthy. She ran against the man tightening the coil that pulled the massive arm back. “Stop it. You’re going to kill someone.”

Cold eyes stared down at her, and she found herself shoved to the ground again. “May the Lord find it in his heart to forgive your betrayal.”

Tori was sick and tired of hearing the same sayings repeated over and over. Did anyone think of their words before they spoke? “You accuse me of betrayal? You are enlisted to protect the people, and here you are willingly ready to kill them.”

“Stand down, men. They are too far for us to hit.”

The soldier glared down at her, and it took every bit of Tori’s control not to look pleased. How many innocents would be hurt by their lust for blood and revenge? It was possible the men on that ship were horrible, but what if they were like Mal and Sean?

She backed away slowly from the men still glaring at her. When one moved towards her, his superior spat a disgusting name at her but stopped him from going after her.

Tori backed away slowly, and once she turned the corner, she ran as fast as she could into the large market, hoping the various stalls would give her cover.

A brutal grip wrapped around Tori’s arm, dragging her off balance. Instinctively, she pulled back as she tried to establish who exactly was trying to abduct her this time. She had learned a thing or two during her time on The Seahawk. She didn’t have to be a meek doormat any longer.

“Remove your hands, sir, or I will remove them at the elbow.” She yanked hard against the punishing grip on her arm. The grip was so tight she knew she would be sporting bruises later on.

“Viktorya! What in god’s glorious name are you doing here? We were informed of your death, and here you are gallivanting amongst common criminals.”

Only one man would speak to her, as if it were her fault she currently found herself on the street. “Uncle Demitri, you have obviously been misinformed. Trenton gave me to pirates to save his own skin.” For the briefest of moments, she thought to accuse him of lying about Sean’s death, but she didn’t want him to know the truth.

“Never would he do such a dishonorable thing, you lying little twit. Spoiled, you are, I told him to switch you good on your wedding night and teach you to behave. Obviously, he didn’t take my advice.”

“He did,” she bit out, not enjoying the memory of the first of many crushed illusions. Like most girls, she had fantasized about her wedding night. What she hadn’t expected was to be tied to a post in her sitting room and taught how to behave by her new husband. He took great pleasure in throwing her down on her raw back and rutting against her virgin body. She had learned a lot about that as well, thanks to her time on the ship. Mal and Sean were generous lovers and would never resort to such harsh applications of punishment.

“Obviously not enough. What did you think you would prove with such actions? You have brought shame to your family, and I would beat you myself if it was my place. I’ll save that honor for your husband.”

Oh, no. Tori yanked on her arm and tried to get loose. Thinking she had lots of time, she hadn’t gone straight to the telegraph office. Instead, she’d browsed the market for gifts.

“Let go of me. I’m not going anywhere with you. There are people looking for me, and they will not appreciate you treating me like this. They are going to blow you out of the water for this, you nasty old bastard.”

No sooner had the words escaped her lips than an intense pain exploded in her cheek, and she found herself thrown to the ground. She could taste a metallic tang from where her teeth had sliced into the inside of her cheek, and her face throbbed in time with her heartbeat.

“You speak to me in such a manner again, and I will beat you to the point of death.”

It was tempting to rail at him as much as she wanted, but she knew her uncle was deadly serious. There was a reason he needed to replace his crew every few months. Those who survived a tour made their escape as soon as they docked. Others had their lifeless bodies dumped at sea. Her uncle’s reputation as a brutal captain was well earned.

“Get to your feet, you spoiled little bitch, and this time, keep your hole shut.”

Tori pushed herself to her knees and looked around, hoping that either Mal or Sean would suddenly appear. This is what she got for sneaking away. She should have trusted Malcolm and Sean and explained the situation.

A shuffling sound caught her attention as she got her feet beneath her. Looking over, she spotted Jacko speaking to a port doxie. He looked over at her, his eyes widening with shock. Help me, she mouthed at him, and he nodded ever so slightly.

“Get up!” Her uncle grabbed the back of her dress and yanked her to her feet before shoving her forward. She staggered a couple steps and then quickly looked over to where Jacko had stood. He was gone, which meant he would be alerting Mal and Sean. All she had to do was survive the next little while, and they would find her and take her away from this cruelty.

* * * *

“Capt’n, we have a serious problem.”

Malcolm looked up from where he studied the air current maps. They were more accurate than the sea currents but prone to a more delicate change if they moved into a storm again. As soon as this was finished, he planned to step below decks and have a chat with Tori, a chat that would entail his stripping the clothes from her body and seeing how many ticklish spots she had. Never had he imagined that this would turn out as it did. Sean was completely in love with her. He knew his lover well enough to recognize the signs. It wasn’t hard. He could look in the mirror and see the same besotted look. He was halfway in love with her himself. Now, if they could convince her to stay with them, he would be ecstatic.

“Capt’n!” The shipmate had taken to yelling as Mal realized he hadn’t been paying attention to what he was saying.

“Yes, Jacko! What is it?”

“We need to shove off. Now, right now. I saw Mrs. Trenton has gone ashore.”

“You’re mistaken, Jacko. Miss Viktorya is below deck.”

“No, sir, I saw her with my very own eyes. She was walking and talking with Lord Demetri.”

“What the hell would she be doing with him?” Tori might not speak of her family much, but he knew Captain Demetri Gifrator by reputation.

“Sir, she was describing The Seahawk to the last detail.”

Mal felt like Jacko had punched him in the stomach. “What did you say?” Dragging in a calm breath took every bit of his control.

“The Seahawk, sir, she was describing it to the last bolt. I saw it myself. We need to leave immediately. No doubt they’re forming a garrison right now to board us.”

Mal couldn’t believe it, and part of his psyche shouted in horror. The other smug half said I told you so. Why would she do that? There had to be a good reason. She was growing happy with her life on ship and more and more comfortable with the idea of living with him and Sean. There had to be some mistake. “I want this entire boat searched and every single corner examined. I want to make certain without a shadow of a doubt that she isn’t here and this isn’t some kind of horrible misunderstanding.”

“Do you think I can’t trust my own eyes, or are you calling me a liar?”

“I know this woman and how she thinks. She wouldn’t sell out an entire crew to her family. You must have made a mistake.”

Fury filled Jacko’s visage, and Mal saw a side of him the man obviously kept tightly under wraps. “Then I guess we’ll see who is the bigger fool.”

“What’s going on?” Sean strode into the room, squeezing gray putty in his mechanical hand. The other held a small electrical generator. Kicking the door closed behind him, he said, “Mal, you have to see this. I’ve finally figured it out, what this component needed to be properly volatile.”

“Sean, have you seen Tori?” Would she really have run off and betrayed us? She always asked questions about the ship. Never did she say anything to the effect that she planned to stay with them.

“Um, no.” Sean placed the ball of putty on the table and pulled off a small piece. “I’ve been in the lab since last I spoke to you. Look, you’re going to love this.” He wrapped the mass around the two wires and then pressed it against the middle of the door.

“The captain is too busy to deal with you. He needs to give the order to sail.” Jacko moved in front of Mal as if he would stop Sean from getting any closer.

“I’m not giving any such order until I discover where Tori is.”

An explosion ripped through the room, sending the three men to the floor.

First to his feet, Mal pulled Sean up by the arm. “What the fuck, Sean!”

“Sorry.” His lover coughed and waved a hand in front of his face. “I completely underestimated the exponential power. I’ll have to remember to use less on the next test. What did you say about Tori?”

The door hung crooked on one hinge, a large hole in the middle where Sean had stuck his creation. Through it, Mal saw a large group of armed men gathering at the docks. The explosion temporarily halted them as they drew their own weapons.

“We have to get out of here. Hoist the sails, Jacko.” Mal ripped open a drawer and started pulling out his weapons. His chest felt so tight he wasn’t certain he would ever take a deep breath again. How could she do this?

A series of alarms starting ringing throughout the ship, and he looked over and saw Jacko hitting all the alert buttons on his desk.

Sean grabbed him by the arm and yanked him close. “Malcolm, you know she didn’t betray us. Listen to that damn inner voice of yours. You know she couldn’t have done this.”

Mal yanked his arm free. “Sean, give me one other explanation for this.” He double-checked that the weapons were loaded before tucking them in his waistband.

“Captain, the crew is readying the ship. Should I fire the guns?”

“Shoot at anyone who tries to board us, but don’t shoot into the crowds. I’m not going to have innocent blood on our hands.”

He followed Jacko towards the doorway, pausing to look back at Sean.

Sean looked sick, his forehead wrinkled as he obviously tried to come up with an explanation for all this. His mechanical hand twitched, proving how agitated Sean felt. “There has to be a reason.”

“Please, tell me something, Sean.”

“We can’t leave without her.”

“There is no time. They will blow The Seahawk out of the water.”

Sean glared at him. “And your ship has always been your primary concern.”

“I can’t risk the entire crew, Sean. These men trust me with their lives.”

Sean nodded. “All right then, you better keep their attention on you and not me. I’m going after Tori.”

* * * *

Tori believed they would come for her the entire time her uncle manhandled her towards the hotel in which he was staying. She continued to believe even when he shoved her into a stable and told her to clean herself up. She washed as best as she could with the freezing water and rag. Every sound, she thought, was them sneaking in. She spent so much time peeking through cracks and whispering their names, she earned another vicious slap for taking her time. Still, she didn’t doubt that they would come for her. Isn’t that what Mal said, they would take care of each other? He cared for her. She was certain of it, even if he didn’t come out and say it. She knew she loved him and Sean. This deep, icy ache in her chest at being separated made what she felt about her husband’s betrayal feel like nothing at all.

All too soon, her uncle shoved her into the back of a carriage. Apparently, he planned to take her to his home. “You are to head straight to my home in the Everglades. Do not let the bitch out for any reason,” he shouted at the driver.

Even as the driver whipped the horses into a run, she watched the sky, looking for The Seahawk. The miles rolled past, and she kept watch, but they didn’t come. What if they were waiting for her? Would they stay in port and risk capture? She had to get back to them. The horses slowed down to a trot and then stopped for the driver to relieve himself.

She quickly slumped against the window and feigned sleep. The carriage rocked as the heavy man got down and walked up to the door after seeing her slumped against the seats. He wandered off to relieve himself, and she carefully, quietly, ripped away the fabric from the inside of the door and slipped the locking mechanism. It was easy, certainly much easier than the locks that Sean used to create in order to test her efficiency. “You never know when picking a lock will come in handy, Tori.” Little did they know that, years later, that talent would be so important.

Thankfully, the well-oiled door opened without a sound, and she slipped out, balancing herself so the carriage didn’t rock too much. It was all in the timing. She waited until the driver hoisted himself onto the top of the carriage, and as the container rocked, she used the momentum to hop out of the carriage and silently shut the door. Diving into the brush that lined that part of the roadway, she waited. The driver whipped the horses and took off at a dead run again, never looking back and never seeing that he’d left his passenger behind.

As soon as he was out of sight, she emerged from the brush and started a brisk walk back to the town. She figured they must have only traveled a few miles because from where she walked, she could see the glow of the street lamps reflecting off the clouds overhead. That is where she kept her gaze, on the clouds. Watching for the one that would emerge in the shape of a ship and save her. It took a couple hours of careful navigation, but finally, she made it back down to the docks. Slipping in and out of shadows, she made her way to the sloop. There she stood, staring at the empty dock where The Seahawk had been a few hours earlier. They left without me?

Her heart shattered, and tears blurred her vision. Why would they do that? What about what Mal said? They didn’t even try to look for her. She would have seen them. They must have set sail and headed out to sea and not to air.

She slumped to the ground and hung her legs over the edge, staring at the black water below. She didn’t know what to do now. She had nowhere to go. Trenton had declared her dead. She couldn’t get a message to her sister. As best she could tell, the two men she loved had gone off and left her behind. She sat there until the sun came up over the horizon. Several ships dotted the landscape, but none was her ship. She pushed to her feet, managed to put one in front of the other, and staggered through the streets, wandering aimlessly, not certain what her next move should be.

She didn’t have much in the way of money left, but she did have her wedding band, which she happily pawned. It didn’t give her much, but it would get her a good night’s sleep and a bath and her clothes cleaned. As soon as a telegraph office opened, she sent the information to her sister in their usual code. There were a few new bounty sheets on the wall, but she didn’t bother to look at them. She had to get to her sister and divorce that garbage of a man she had foolishly married. The rebellion would have to find a new spy because she was going to quit. Then she would find The Seahawk and rip into Mal and Sean for leaving without her.

With a bit of a plan set in her head, she marched towards a rooming house to rent a room for the night. Thinking so hard, she didn’t notice the woman standing in front of her.

“Viki, is that you?”

Tori looked up and almost cried at seeing a face she knew. “Tabby! Oh, my god, are they back? Where is The Seahawk?”

“I don’t know. Cory and I came ashore to get a bite from the market. When we got back to the ship, she’d sailed. We’ve been trying all day to find some answers. All I know, she left the docks earlier than planned.”

“I tried asking around, but no one will talk to me.”

Tabby seemed to understand why she was upset, and she wrapped an arm around Tori. “It’s okay. We’ll figure it out. Why weren’t you on the ship?”

Tori explained she had gotten the thought into her head that she wanted to find a gift for Malcolm for his birthday. “I wanted something truly special for him. I thought I could find it in the marketplace. A real gift, something that shows how much I care about him.” From there, she went on to explain how her uncle caught up with her and how she escaped the carriage.

“How long till the driver figures you’re not in the carriage?”

“I’m hoping he doesn’t realize it until he reaches my uncle’s home, which would be about now. Then, he will have to travel back here. Unless my uncle has a telegraph machine in his home and he can immediately contact the authorities. Which is a good possibility.”

“Then we need to keep you hidden.”

“I can go back down to the docks. I fit in there last night.”

“I’m sorry to remind you, but you don’t sound like a docksider. With your proper talk, it’s a wonder they didn’t rob you or try to hurt you.”

“I did get some strange looks.”

“You’re lucky, that’s all. Cory and I can find out much more than you can imagine, faster than you can imagine. Stay here, she’s in the Rusty Bull. I’ll go in and see what she knows, and we’ll go from there.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes, get back there, and stay outta sight.”

Tori hid in the dim shadows between two buildings and waited for what felt like an eternity. As soon as she saw Tabby step out from the tavern, Tori stepped forward into the sunlight. Walking sedately down the boardwalk, Tabby soon caught up with her, gripping her upper arm. “It’s worse than we think.”

“Take a breath, act calm.”

Tabby popped open her parasol, using it as a shield against unwanted advances. To anyone else, it would simply look like they were attempting to protect themselves from the sun’s darkening rays.

“Where’s Coraline?”

“She’ll be along. Found herself a proper officer to glean what she could off him. Don’t worry, she’ll be careful. She will join us at the inn later on.”

“If you’re certain she is safe.” Tori didn’t like the idea of leaving their friend behind, but truly, she had to have confidence in their abilities. “Now, tell me what has you so upset.”

“There is a mass trial to be held here in Cape Coast. That is the reason the ports are so empty here. I heard from more than one sailor that British ships have been incarcerating anyone the least bit suspected of pirating. They are locking up both pirate and privateer. The New World has declared war on the Scottish monarchy and will hang any man or woman, whether they carry a letter or not.”

“Oh, my god. Have Malcolm or Sean been taken?”

“It’s said that The Seahawk carries the highest bounty, but they won’t catch her. They’ve tried before.” Tabby looked up from where she loaded a pistol. “We are going to wait and see what information Cory manages to get, and then we’ll catch up to the ship. I know it looks bad right now, but I know this will work out.”

“I have to get another telegraph to my sister and see if she can help.”

The sun had just dipped below the horizon when Coraline burst into the room they shared, blurting out the words as soon as she had the door closed behind her. “They ‘ave Sean.”

She burst into tears and buried her face into Tabby’s shoulder. Tori felt her heart twist painfully before spiraling down into the stomach. “Malcolm?”

Cory shook her head. “No, the Capt’n managed to avoid ‘em so far. Word is he’s put a bounty on your head.”

“What?” Tori leapt to her feet. “Why would he do that?”

“Your father is the one who has organized the trials. It’s his order that’ll have ‘undreds, maybe thousands, executed. We got ta get outta ‘ere, in case some’on knows your face.”

Tori felt sick and couldn’t take a deep breath. Her father was behind this madness? She wanted to deny it but, deep down, had to admit that she wasn’t surprised. He never missed an opportunity to use his political connections to further his own agenda.

“How did Sean end up arrested? He was on board when I left.”

“He must have left to find you.”

“I didn’t know. My uncle saw me in Port Credit and insisted that I come with him. It took me a day to get away from him. By the time I made it back to the ports, The Seahawk had sailed. Why didn’t Jacko tell him?

“What?”

“Jacko saw it all. I understood why he didn’t interfere. My uncle can be an intimidating man, but I thought for certain he would have alerted Mal. Getting back to the sloop and knowing that he had already sailed broke my heart.”

“He must’ve lied to them. They never would have left without you otherwise.”

“To what advantage? I’ve never done anything against him?” Tori’s heart pounded in her throat. It was bad enough when she’d realized they left without her, but to now find out that they were told she betrayed them? Malcolm would never forgive her. Oh, my god, how could he think that of her? She never would. She couldn’t imagine what he would have felt hearing that. Sean might have reassured him if he believed her, but then, he had mentioned a few times about not trusting her. In his eyes, she had betrayed him by marrying Trenton. Like she hadn’t been punished for that mistake enough times.

“Viktorya.” Tabby’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She must have called her name a couple times, given the exasperated look in her face. “We needs to leave immediately.”

“Yes, of course. We’re going to Cape Coast?”

“I don’t know if it’s a good idea. I ‘ave a bad feeling about it.” Cory wiped her eyes with her cuff and sniffed. “What if someone knows you?”

“I have to take that chance. If there is the smallest possibility that I can get Sean out of there, I have to try. You two don’t need to come, it will be dangerous. You both would be better off going in the opposite direction of me.”

“I realize that you are not used to having true friends, Viki, so I’ll not take exception to that comment this time.”

Tears blurred her vision of the two women. She would go by herself if she needed to, but it was a profound relief knowing she didn’t have to.

“Thank you.”

“We love them, too, you know.” Tabby brushed a kiss against her cheek. “Not like you do, though.”

“I never told them, and now, they think I’ve betrayed them.”

“Then all the more reason to go and get him out of there.”

The women quickly gathered up their meager belongings and slipped out of the inn before anyone was awake enough to notice. Since they had decided to take a decidedly unlawful path, Tori announced they should steal the horses they needed.

Chapter Twelve

Sean squatted in the corner of a dank cell. The smell of human waste and despair burnt his nostrils and made his stomach cramp. If he had any food in there, he would have lost it a dozen times over by now. There were twenty of them shoved in a small room really only made for half that number. By the sounds of things, each room was being systematically emptied out. Considering the regular roar of the crowd outside and the fact that no one returned, Sean had a pretty good idea what was going on.

“They’ve hung another ‘alf dozen. Fucking bastards, wait till they try to string me up, I’ll take a couple with me. I’ll not give the crowd the pleasure of watching me swing.”

Sean looked up at Big Jake. There was an evil bastard who deserved to have his head separated from his shoulders. He knew that half these men were evil to the core, but many others were like him. They were approved privateers who had been caught up in this hunt and then forsaken by their own country. The president was happy to have them looting for the country, but when they proved what a shambles the Navy was, they were being systematically taken out of the equation.

He rubbed the stump of his arm. It had been a long time since he felt this vulnerable. They took his arm piece immediately upon arrest, almost as if they knew what it was capable of. But no one knew. Unless… Had Tori really betrayed him? Jacko said he saw her leaving with her uncle, Captain Gifrador. That piece of shit was overseeing the executions. Did that mean Tori would be standing there watching him swing? Would she cheer with the crowd? No, he couldn’t believe it. The evidence might point in her direction, but he didn’t believe it to be true for a moment. She might be a different woman from the girl he’d left behind, but she had found happiness in his and Mal’s arms. She almost lost her own life trying to save them. He couldn’t believe that she would give him up like this.

A heavy hand came down on his shoulder, and a moment later, another face came equal to his. “Are you all right, Sean?” Tristan was first mate to Captain Liam Roberts.

He nodded, appreciating the gesture. Liam and Tristan had spotted him shortly after being herded in this direction. Without his arm, his balance was off, and they immediately flanked him, preventing his getting jostled and possibly trampled.

“You didn’t say how you ended up in this crowd,” he said to Tristan, eyeing the way the other man’s eye had swollen almost shut. He carried a large welt on his jaw.

“Wrong place and time. Captain wanted to investigate some slavers he heard were running through the blockade. Rumor has it they have the American seal of safe passage.”

“You’re kidding me. I know this government might be corrupt, but there is no way they could advocate selling girls into slavery.”

“That is how it’s looking, Sean.” Captain Liam squatted down next to them and spoke quietly. The rest of the men in the room were carrying on enough, thanks to Big Jake’s revelry. “We have proof, or would have, if our contact had met up with us as planned.”

“What proof?” Sean darted a quick look to make certain no one eavesdropped.

“All we knew is that we were to meet the wife of a cabinet member.” Tristan’s features darkened. “I hate to think what might happen to her if her husband discovered her deception.”

A sick feeling washed over Sean. No, it can’t be. Tori never said anything about needing to meet anyone. “Had you ever met her before?”

“No, never directly.” Tristan shook his head.. “All previous information was passed to us via a courier. Oh, my god, you know who she is, don’t you?”

The captain gripped Sean’s shoulder. “Sean, we need that information. It’s vital to our plans and will save the lives of dozens of women. Who is she?”

“I don’t know for certain, but I suspect your contact is Viktorya Trenton.”

“Sweet blessed Mother, Yzabeau’s sister is the source.” Tristan ran a hand through his hair. “No wonder she never revealed where her information came from.”

“Stupid woman, didn’t she understand what she was getting into?” The captain shook his head and stood up. He obviously wanted to pace but didn’t have the room. Instead, he clenched his fists a couple times and eyed some of the more rambunctious pirates in the room. Tristan laid a hand on his captain’s calf, and Sean could almost see the tension and anger relax from his posture. Liam dropped down into a crouch next to them again.

“How do you know Mrs. Trenton?”

Sean quickly retold the story of Tori’s capture but left out the intimate parts. He knew Liam wasn’t a stupid man and easily read between the lines. Amusement lifted the one corner of his mouth for a moment before disappearing. “You wouldn’t happen to have the information she carried, would you?”

“No. The topic only came up once, and the conversation didn’t end well. Neither Mal nor myself brought it up again. One of the men on ship said he saw her in the market the day The Seahawk was attacked. I tried to find her but got caught in the net that landed us all in here. I have no idea what’s happened to her.”

“I figure we have an hour, perhaps two, and our time will have run out. Either we break ourselves out or try to fight our way out when they herd us towards the gallows.”

Tristan peered out the window, looking up. “I’ve been keeping an eye out for The Seahawk or The Apollo, but I haven’t seen any sign of either ship.”

“Mal will stay close to the cemetery. The mists settle early in the evening this time of year. With everything going on, he couldn’t risk bringing the ship over the buildings during the day. If we get loose, we make it to there, and he’ll be there.”

“Malcolm has been tearing the ports up looking for you and some chit. He’s put a bounty on her head.”

“Tori? Oh, Christ, he really thinks she’s betrayed us?”

“She didn’t?”

“No, and until I hear the words from her own lips, I won’t believe it.”

“Who the hell is this?” Liam stood up and tried to look down the bars. There was a rattling of keys as one of the guards marched down the hallway toward the cells. As soon as he was spotted, the other pirates in the room rushed the bars, screaming obscenities and threats. Liam and Tristan flanked Sean, blocking him from getting pushed around.

A cloaked figure stirred in the shadows next to the bars, catching Sean’s attention. A delicate hand reached out and wrapped around his where it clenched the iron bars.

“Tori? What are you doing here?” Sean wanted to grab her and kiss her, and then shake the hell out of her. Did she have any idea how much danger she was in being here?

“Saving your ass.”

“I’m going to paddle yours if you don’t get out of here. If word gets out, they will arrest you.”

“Why ever would they do that?”

“Because your name is on the lists. Your uncle has declared you a pirate. You’ll be arrested if you don’t run.”

“Shit. That’s not good.”

He blinked at her language, taken aback for a moment before he felt his cheeks tighten in a smile. Looked like his Tori had come back. “How did you get this far?”

“Cory and Tabby are distracting the officers guarding the doors. I managed to get this for you.” From within her cloak, she withdrew his mechanical arm. “Can you do what you need to in here?”

Sean felt Liam and Tristan move to distract everyone from what he was doing. They kept the others agitated and their attentions on the guards.

“I don’t know, but you can bet I will try.” If he wasn’t surrounded by letches, he would have grabbed her and kissed her soundly.

“Sean, I can’t leave you here. Malcolm must think this is my fault. I swear I didn’t betray you.”

“I know that, Tori. I’m certain Mal will have figured it out by now, as well. Get going. We’ll meet the three of you at the cemetery. No one will be there, and in another hour or two, the mists will have settled over the area. It’s the easiest extraction point.”

Shouts sounded from the other side of the doors. More guards had arrived in response to the increased violence. “Go, Tori. Now, get out of here.”

Moving faster than anyone Sean had ever seen before, Liam grabbed Tori’s hand before she could back away. Sean saw the panicked look in her eyes and glared at the other man.

“Viktorya, you have some vital information for me.”

“I don’t know you. Let go.” She tugged and tried to free her hand.

“Liam, let her go.”

The black look Liam turned on Sean caused him to hesitate for a moment. Liam had his own demons that drove him, and he never backed down from anything. If it came to blows, Sean knew he would be bested, but he wouldn’t allow Liam to scare Tori. “I don’t know for certain she has what you want.”

He turned back to Tori, and Sean blinked in surprise at the way the captain’s look morphed into something much less intimidating. “Tori, I’m Captain Liam McKenna. My ship is The Apollo.”

“That bit of information would have come in handy sooner than this. Sweet Brand, I didn’t realize that Apollo was a ship.”

Sean felt more than a bit of irritation at her with holding potentially dangerous information from him. “If you asked either myself or Mal, we could have told you. We could have arranged a safe place for you to give the information to Liam.”

“I don’t think this is the best place to bring up that conversation.” Tori reached in her cloak and pulled out a dirty envelope. “Sorry, it’s a bit crumpled, but I’ve had a hell of a time lately.”

“Thank you, sweetheart. Now get going before Sean decides to try to kick my ass for keeping you.”

She looked over at him, and he could see the worry written across her face. Her concern could be for a number of different reasons, but now wasn’t the time to figure it out.

“Tori, go before you get caught. I’ll meet you at The Seahawk.”

She reached in and clasped Sean’s hand through the bars. He grabbed her chilled fingers and pressed his lips against them before she slipped back and disappeared into the shadows.

* * * *

Tori edged along the dank wall. The pungent smell of this place made her want to vomit. Fear warred with relief after being able to deliver the shipping manifests and sailing routes to Liam. Something about the big man pulled at a memory, but she couldn’t clear her thoughts enough to remember. He looked familiar, but he was the least of her problems. She felt worse leaving Sean in there, but she knew he was incredibly resourceful. She darted a look around her again, expecting to see a guard or two, but aside from the rambunctious pirates who had been cooped up for too long, she couldn’t hear anyone else.

She opened the door far enough to slip herself through and eased it closed behind her. Hopefully, Tabby and Cory would be able to separate themselves from distracting the guards quickly. They could make it to the cemetery and meet The Seahawk there. The need to see Mal ached deep in her chest. She wanted to feel his strong arms around her, supporting her. She never felt such peace as she did between him and Sean. She needed to speak to Mal desperately. The pain of his thinking she betrayed him made her want to curl up and cry. Distracted by the thoughts of her men, she didn’t stop to take note of her surroundings.

“Stop where you stand!”

Tori ran.

* * * *

Sean looked over the arm as discretely as he could. It looked damaged in a few areas, but the main cables were sound, and the key cogs remained in place. He slipped his partial arm into its comforting position. Lying naked in a street under a shining sun would be preferable to ever being without his arm again. The arm hummed with familiar ease as he moved. Pinching two flush levers together, he twisted them over and over, tightening the mechanism within.

“What are you doing?” Tristan asked as he tried to look over Sean’s shoulder.

“Getting us out of here. I need to get to the door lock.”

Liam and Tristan elbowed their way through the crowd, making room for Sean to get to the door. As he stepped, he tightened up the mechanics in his arm. He hoped that this was going to work. He spent the last few days tinkering with his arm but hadn’t the chance to test his theory out. The tiny cogs in his arm ground together when the twist reached its maximum ability.

“What are you doing?” Tristan asked.

“Hopefully, I’ve created enough tension by twisting the inner coils. When I press this small release switch,” Sean pointed at a small copper button on his inner elbow, “the sudden release of tension will force the lower part of my arm outward. If my calculations are correct, the pressurized velocity will create enough force to break the lock.”

Tristan placed his hand over the switch on Sean’s arm. “And if it doesn’t work?”

“Then my arm will shatter, and we’ll have to resort to using it as a club because that’s all it will be good for.”

“Fuck, that’s a big risk, Sean,” Liam whispered behind him. “Are you certain you want to take it?”

“I don’t see us having another choice at the moment.” Sean grasped the bar on the door next to the lock. Liam and Tristan stayed at his back, protecting him from being jarred too soon. He waited until the deafening roar of the crowd outside got even louder before he fingered the release button. It sounded like a gunshot when his arm jerked, snapping the lock on the door.

* * * *

Tori blinked, trying to get the room around her into focus. The back of her head ached where the guard had hit her. She hadn’t been rendered unconscious, but she was dazed enough to be helpless. Now, she lay on her back, unable to move her hands. A rough hand cupped her breast, and she instinctively kicked out with her foot, but it didn’t connect. Sharp pains radiated up her leg from where the cuff was locked around her ankle.

“Now don’t be trying that.” The rough voice matched the feeling of his hands. “I know what you are up to.” A sick feeling of helplessness washed over her. She yanked at her hands, but he held them against the floor above her head.

“Leave her alone.” Tori twisted her head and saw Cory manacled to the wall next to her.

“Shut up, bitch. You’ll get your turn as soon as I have a piece of your friend.” He grabbed a handful of Tori’s hair and pulled her around until she lay on her stomach. Not about to accept her fate like a victim, Tori fought back.

“Fight ‘im!” Tabby’s voice sounded from the other wall.

Kicking out and wriggling as much as possible, Tori ignored the pain radiating from her skull and thrashed as if her life depended on it. A blunt blow between her shoulder blades stunned her and stole her breath. The pause allowed her attacker to pull up her skirts and press a hand against her, forcing her facedown against the revolting floor under her cheek.

“No ya don’t!” Cory sounded furious. Tori felt the man on her back grunt and stumble to the side. She rolled to her back and scrambled as far away from him as she could.

Cory lay on her back next to her. A small knife protruded from the toe of her boot. She must have kicked him in the face when he was on top of her. The guard leaned back on one hand, the other pressed against a gash in his cheek.

“Wha’a shame, you’re no so pretty now.” Disdain dripped from every word Cory said as she looked at the guard like he was nothing but mud under her boot.

Tori watched in horror as the anger in his eyes bled away, leaving them cold and empty. He got to his feet and smoothly drew a pistol from his holster. From outside, Tori heard the sickening thump of bodies snapping a rope taut and the cheer of the crowd.

* * * *

The men within the cell began fighting for freedom. Sean stepped aside as he allowed the bulk of them to rush out. He, Liam, and Tristan waited for the pandemonium to begin.

“Stop, by order of His Majesty, the Crown Prince of the Americas!” Numerous crashes sounded as the fights broke out.

“Easy, men, steady up. Let the bulk of them take their weapons.” Liam blocked his and Tristan’s escape. He watched through a crack in the door.

“We’re going to get caught,” Sean whispered from between clenched teeth.

“What kind of idiot would stay in a broken cell?” Tristan answered sardonically.

“Both of you, shut up.”

Sean and Tristan both fell silent at the captain’s order. He watched intently and then waved them both forward. “On my mark, we move, stay to the left, stay low, and move your fucking asses.”

Liam nodded, and they rushed out past the guards and out into the madness that surrounded this area. Once outside, it was easy enough to pick up a fallen weapon and fight their way to freedom.

The early rush of pirates had opened the other cells, allowing a flood of men through the doors. Sean had thought Liam’s decision a tad cowardly, but now, he saw the advantage it gave them. They weren’t interested in killing any soldiers for the sake of it, but their focus was getting back to their ships. Liam grabbed a sword from a man’s chest and began swinging. “Stay behind me.” Tristan liberated a loaded pistol from the ground and shoved it at Sean.

“Tristan, I can fight.” He hated the automatic assumption that he was an invalid because of his arm.

“Not as well as Liam and I. You watch our backs, and we’ll make certain you reach The Seahawk. Liam has a debt to Malcolm that I’m certain he would like to repay.”

Sean followed behind the two men. Despite the pandemonium around them, he couldn’t help but see how well they fought together. They were like a single unit, swinging swords and punches. Sean delivered a debilitating punch to the face of a man running up behind them. Fisticuffs had never been a forte of his, but in the heart of this, he held his own. Too bad for the bastard who tried to get them in the back, for his mechanical fist went directly through his skull and sent painful vibrations into Sean’s shoulder.

“Blessed mother, Sean. I take it back.” Tristan slapped him on the shoulder. “You go first. I’ll watch your back.”

Chapter Thirteen

Malcolm paced the length of the deck, constantly watching the ground around them. He tracked Sean’s movements through his spyglass and fought the urge to go down there and save him himself. Considering the amount of firepower available to the militia, they expected an airborne attack. He had to stay within the safety of the night sky using the fog that rolled in as cover. That also made it hard for him to see much.

He looked through his spyglass at the commotion on the ground. Liam and Tristan made certain that his love made it through. No doubt Sean was going to be pissed off at what he would see as coddling, but Mal didn’t give a shit. He wanted Sean back on board safe and whole. Sean had the most brilliant mind and a warrior’s spirit. It was what drew Mal to him in the first place.

“Capt’n, we need go. A fight’s broken out in the paddocks. We need to take to air in order to save the ship.”

“Sean is on his way. We wait.”

“I certainly hope he hasn’t betrayed us like that bitch of his.”

Mal looked away from the scene beneath him and took a good look at Jacko. This was the fourth time he had suggested they leave without Sean. The crewman stood there, sweat trickling down his temple, even though the night air was chilled.

“What makes you think that Sean would betray us, betray me?”

“He’s an American. Look what the woman did. They’re all the same. She couldn’t wait to run off and tell her father about the ship and then lure Sean into getting arrested.”

Mal collapsed his spyglass and tucked it into the loop on his belt. He then pulled his sword from its sheath, and Jacko paled in the moonlight.

“What are ya think’n, Capt’n? Fine. You want to make certain that he gets aboard then I’ll go and get ‘im.” Jacko backed away with every step Mal took closer.

“What did you do, Jacko?”

“I didn’t do noth’un. Not me. I wouldn’t ever betray you, Capt’n. You and me are the same people. We should be watching out for each other.”

Mal paused and allowed his shipmate to believe he agreed with him. “You have a point.”

“I know I do. Let’s leave this ship and rebuild.”

The blood in Mal’s veins ran cold. How could he have missed one of his crew turning traitor. The man stood there, speaking in circles and contradicting himself. “Jacko, why should we rebuild? We have a perfectly good ship here.”

Jacko waved his hand around them. “Bought for with dirty Scotia Sterling. We will get ourselves a good, solid New World ship. I’ll take care of her, and you can have a normal relationship. I wouldn’t be making you submit to my needs so that your ship will work. I’ll not make you prostitute yourself.”

“Is that what you think Sean holds over me?” Mal gripped his sword so hard his fingers ached. How could he be so blind? He prided himself on being able to read people, and here, one of his own men had turned on him. Now that he’d paid attention, he knew a piece of this puzzle remained missing, something important that he had to get Jacko to admit.

“You should put the ship on the ground, and then we can leave her to the other pirates. You are the best captain that ever held a wheel. I know you will succeed, no matter the ship. I have a line on a new trawler. She’s a beauty and all ours for the taking.”

A shudder ran along the floorboards, and Mal gripped the railing to keep from losing his footing.

What the fuck was that?

“Captain, we have to go and go now.”

“Jacko, what’s going on with my ship?”

Another shudder ripped though the ship, this time accompanied by a low groaning and high-pitched squeak.

“Jacko, did you do something to the turbines?”

“No, sir. I did’na.”

Mal turned and headed towards the cabin doors. He had to get down to the steam room and see if he could fix what had happened. The distinct click of a gun cocking brought him to a halt.

“Captain Dygannon, I can’t let you go down there. You are worth every dime our new ship cost. You need to know a couple men came on board the last time we were in port.”

“What did they do to my ship?” Malcolm’s words echoed in the night air, followed by a high-pitched grinding noise.

“Come with me, Captain. Please, they will take care of it.”

The ship shuddered violently, lurching to the port side. The unexpected movement threw Mal to the floorboards as a loud crack of a gunshot rent the air. An explosion deep in his ship had him moving again. He glanced back at Jacko, who lay on the boards, his eyes staring sightlessly up into the night sky, blood spread across his chest, soaking his white shirt. Looking over his shoulder, he spotted Gareth with a large rifle braced against his shoulder.

“Never did like that man. He never cared about the crew, only himself.”

“Thank you, Gareth.” Mal stumbled to his feet, trying to walk, while the ship lurched dangerously to each side. “Damage report.”

“One of the turbines has seized, sir. A couple of the blades ripped off the bindings and embedded themselves into the housing.”

“Good thing I let Sean talk me into building that shielding.”

“If you hadn’t, sir, they would have torn through the hull and ceiling. If any of that shrapnel had made it to the air bladders, we wouldn’t be any good for air or sea. As it stands, with only one turbine, we won’t be able to maintain the speed we normally do. Replacing the blading system will take time.”

Mal reached Jacko and pulled the gun from his fingers. Noticing an inconsistent bulge on the left side of Jacko’s jacket, Mal reached in and retrieved a large package filled with New World notes.

He turned and tossed the sum to Gareth. “To the winner the spoils.”

The deck finally stopped lurching, and Mal stood upright. “We won’t have long. With all that noise, it’s only a matter of time before the authorities are here.” He gripped Jacko’s arms and dragged him over to the railing. It took little effort to shove him with one booted foot and allow gravity to pull the corpse overboard.

Mal didn’t wait to see the body land. He didn’t care about anything except getting the crew on board and getting the hell out of here.

Mal caught up to Gareth and smacked him on the shoulder. “Good work, Gareth.”

“Yes, sir. Shall we go below and see what we can do to fix things or set up the extra turbine Sean insisted we make?”

“Absolutely. Have the crow boy keep an eye out for our men, and get them on board as soon as possible. Let me know as soon as Sean is back on board.”

“Yes, sir.”

* * * *

“No!” Time slowed down for Tori as she lunged for her friend. Already, she could see the color drain from Cory’s face and a deep red flower blossom across her bodice. The hysterical scream of denial echoed through the room as Tabby sank to her knees.

The muzzle of the gun moved and pointed directly at Tori. She glared up at him, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her fear. A mental picture of Mal and Sean crossed her thoughts. She would remember the love of her men as she left this world.

A wild static of gunfire sounded outside, drawing the guard’s attention. He grinned coldly down at her. “You be next, bitch.” Tori gasped for the breath she didn’t realize she had been holding as he turned and left the room.

“No, no, no. Oh, please, god, no.” Tori scrambled over to Cory, brushing the stray hairs out of her friend’s face.

“Cory, Sean can fix this. You keep your eyes open and talk to me.”

“I…I don’t think…” Cory slumped farther into her embrace. “I love…Tabitha.”

“I know you do.” Tori looked over at Tabby, who yanked violently at the chain anchoring her to the far wall. The woman sobbed openly as if her life had ended. Sharp pain lanced through Tori’s chest.

“You know that Tabby loves you, too.”

“Of course she does. My Tabitha...she’s my everything.”

Tabby yanked against the chains that held her against the wall, trying to get closer to Cory’s body.

A key glinted in the meager light from a couple torches hanging on the wall. Tori grabbed for it and unlocked the manacles holding them. She didn’t understand how it fell out of the guard’s possession, but she didn’t care. Tori wrapped her arms around Cory and gently moved them both close to the other woman. As soon as she could reach, Tabby cupped Cory’s face and brushed her lips against hers. Tori quickly undid the locks that held her bound.

“Why’d you do that? Why are you so dumb?” Tabby kissed Cory’s cheeks and rubbed her nose against the other woman’s.

“Love makes fools of every’on, and I can’t ‘elp but be a fool around you.”

Tori could see the love in their eyes for each other, and a heated tear slipped from the corner of her eye. “Sean will be here soon, as will Malcolm. They can make this better.” Even as she said it, Tori knew that she believed in both of them, but this time, she didn’t think that was going to be possible.

With her eyes full of tears, Tabby brushed a kiss on Cory’s forehead. “It’s good that you believe in ‘em.” But they can’t help this time. Tabby might not have said it out loud, but Tori heard it in her tone. She wrapped an arm around Cory and the other around Tabby. Cory lay snuggled between them when she drew her last breath, and with that breath, Tori swore that she would revenge this death.

She stepped away to give Tabby a private moment and tried to think of a way to get out of here. The key unlocked the chains but not the doors. They were still prisoners and in a great deal of danger.

It sounded as if the world was going crazy outside their cell. Tori stood on her tiptoes, pulling on the bars. She peered as best she could out the window. Through the barred windows, Tori saw Sean running with two other men. The trio was fighting their way through a crowd of soldiers and pirates alike. She tried to scream for him, but the noise of the riots hid her voice.

Sean told her to meet him at The Seahawk. When she didn’t arrive at the cemetery, they would come looking for her. They had to. She couldn’t imagine living without them. Unlike her life with Trenton, where she lived for the times away from him, she found being separated from Mal and Sean created a physical ache in her soul. Somehow, she would get back to them. Yzzi and her contacts could help. Even if she had to sell herself off at the slave market to get their attention, she would do it.

Desperation clawed at her throat. With any luck, their guard would have died out in the fighting. She pulled herself up and peered through the bars again. Smoke from burning buildings filled the air, and through the haze, she watched as man after man fell. Some pirates, some military, but all suffered a violent death. She felt helpless and didn’t know what to do next.

Tori sank down to the floor and wrapped her arms around Tabby. The woman cradled Cory in her arms and sobbed silently over her. Hot tears ran down Tori’s cheeks as she sat there holding Tabitha and Cory. The stink of the room sank into her pores, desperation clawing her throat. They had to get out of here. A loud boom rent the air. The resulting vibrations rocked her deep in her chest and made the walls around them shake. For a moment, Tori feared the walls would collapse.

Moments later, the lock screeched as the door unlocked. Sean and Mal found me! Her elation died when another guard rushed in. He looked younger than the last one and, hopefully, kinder. “This is no place for a woman, even for the likes of the two of you.”

“Please help us.” He smiled at her, and instead of hope, she felt as if his heart had been enclosed in ice. He wasn’t going to help them.

“Although, since everyone else is busy for now, I’m going to get my bit before the rest of them remember you are here. I have no interest in being in the back of the line to drive into you.”

Tori almost gagged at his harsh words. When he came to her, she scrambled back, pulling Cory with her. Tabby stood up, blocking the guard’s view of her.

“Don’t bother with that little mouse. She wouldn’t be able to take all you have. Let her learn a lesson with the others. Come over to me. I’ll do much better.”

Tori couldn’t believe the guard would actually fall for such a blatant lie. It made her sick at how little he thought of them if he believed Tabby would welcome him with the body of her friend a foot away.

Tabby circled the guard, and he followed her. When he stood with his back to Tori, she sank to her knees as his pants dropped to his knees.

She met Tabby’s gaze from around his hip and understood that Tabby planned to get revenge. It was a matter of waiting until Tabby had him completely distracted. Not the best of plans based on Tori’s slight experience. This kind of distraction could take forever, and they needed to get out of here now. Mal and Sean never seemed to lose focus like this. But it only took a few moments for the guard to stop paying attention to her. A second later, Tabby tossed a key to Tori.

Trying to be as silent as possible, Tori slipped the key into the lock and turned. The lock opened with a screech, which she was afraid echoed around the room. It was only her thought because the guard was not paying attention in the slightest. That made it easier to pick up a large rock that had fallen from the wall and bash him on the back of the head, sending him crumpling to the ground, legs sprawled, his small cock fast softening against his groin. Tabby scrambled across the floor to her lover, kissing Cory on the face before laying Cory’s cloak over her face. Tori didn’t want to leave her. It didn’t feel right to walk away with Cory’s body lying on the cold floor.

Tabby grabbed her hand and pulled. “Come on. She’s not there any longer. Cory believed that you moved on after death and often said she didn’t care about this body because she would trade it in for a new one for her next life.”

With Tabitha’s encouragement, they looted all the guard’s weapons and then left him behind, soon to be forgotten. They each took a pistol and then pulled their black hoods over their heads then went out the cell door and silently made their way out of the building. They hugged the shadows, moving slowly as not to draw attention to themselves. There were worse things that could happen to them if any of the marauders caught them. Tori looked up into the sky in time to see The Seahawk fly over their heads.

Several loud cannons detonated from the ground and exploded close to the ship. Her chest tightened painfully, and for a moment, she feared she was having a heart attack. At least they hadn’t been hit. She watched as the ship gained altitude and disappeared from view, leaving her behind.

Tabby hugged her from behind. “They had to go, Viki.”

“I know.” She grabbed for her friend’s hand and ran for the trees, thankful the darkness of night covered their escape. She knew that they must have come back to look for her. Why else put The Seahawk in that kind of danger? “They’ll find us eventually.”

She believed it deep down in her soul.

* * * *

“Another pass.” Mal leaned over the railing and looked through his telescope at the ground below them. He pulled back as the mortars exploded around them, but by the grace of the goddess herself, nothing hit the balloons above them.

“Mal, we can’t.”

“That’s an order, Sean.” Mal stalked up to him, grasping his shoulders tightly. “I won’t leave her behind.”

“We don’t have any other choice, Captain.” Sean grabbed Mal’s collar and yanked him closer, standing face to face. “If we go back then we’ll die. They can shoot us out of the sky. Tori is strong, and she will survive. Tabitha and Coraline are with her. They will make certain she is safe. We have to get out of here and come back later.”

“Sean, don’t ask me to do this.”

Sean couldn’t miss the anguish in Mal’s eyes, and it tore at his heart. He felt the same agony spearing through his own chest at the thought of leaving without Tori. But they couldn’t save her if they were all dead. “She’s a survivor, and we will find her. I guarantee that Tori will head straight for her sister. Liam and Tristan know how to find Yzzi, and from there, we will find Tori.”

Mal jerked Sean against him and pressed his lips hungrily against his. There was no subtlety behind Mal’s anguish. As his first mate, Sean had a responsibility to make certain that Mal didn’t put the entire ship in danger. The odds of their survival diminished with every explosion. Their tongues stroked hungrily against each other. Mal’s kiss tasted of desperation, making Sean pull back slightly. He rested his forehead against his lover’s. “Mal, she won’t blame you.”

“I should’ve believed in her. I betrayed her, and she has every right to hate me for it.”

“You were given information from a crewman you had no reason not to trust.” Sean shook his friend slightly. “She loves you, Mal. We both do. Trust in that, and when we find her, you’ll see.”

“One more pass.”

Sean nodded. “One more.”

* * * *

Tori and Tabby ran hand in hand under the shelter of the forest, and the trees’ black shadows protected them from being spotted by the dozens of men fighting each other. Explosions sounded in the skies above them, and Tori tried to see past the canopy of leaves to the sky above. All it would take was a few steps out into the open.

“Stop that!” Tabby yanked her deeper into the shadows. “If we’re seen, it’s our end. We’ll both be rolled under some dirty bastard. If we’re lucky, very lucky, they’ll kill us first.”

Tori pushed away the visual that comment produced and stopped looking towards the sky. Eventually, they would have to cross the hillside to reach the cemetery. “He wouldn’t leave, Tabby.”

Tabitha slowed down for a moment and turned, grasping Tori’s hands in her own. “Tori, he has to. Those guns will blow him from the skies above for fun. Captain won’t place the ship in danger. He can’t. It would risk every soul on board.”

The deafening sound of multiple explosions echoed in the night air. A high-pitched whistle shrieked through the trees above them. “Down!” It felt like a punch to her back when the explosion forced both women against the forest floor. Tori instinctively covered her head with her arms and felt pine needles and dirt rain down on her.

She opened her eyes and struggled to her feet. Her heart pounded hard in her chest. “I have to trust in them, Tabby.” Tori grabbed a handful of skirts with one hand and held out the other. Tabby shook her head but grasped Tori’s hand and ran with her. This time, they angled away from the protection of the trees and out into the open field.

Tori didn’t look behind them as she ran. Weapons exploded, and screams echoed in the night. She knew the cemetery Sean had mentioned wasn’t that far away. Male voices shouted for her to stop, but she ignored them. If she didn’t get to the meeting point, she and Tabby were as good as dead, or worse, if captured again. A flapping noise sounded like it headed in their direction. A shadow moved in the corner of her eye, catching her attention. Before she could scream out a warning, a large body slammed into her and lifted her off her feet. Tabby’s hand ripped out of her grasp.

Chapter Fourteen

“No!” Tori struggled as a pair of strong arms enfolded her waist. The smell of sea air and leather teased her senses, morphing her panic into jubilation. Mal!

“Hold on!” Mal’s voice shouted in her ear. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and her legs did the same around his waist as the ground dropped away from beneath them.

Mal wore a black mask that covered his features, and his long coat flapped around her legs as they swung in the wind. The Seahawk swooped over the trees and away from the violence below with the two of them hanging, suspended, from beneath it. She could feel them being pulled smoothly up to safety. The Seahawk returned fire, keeping them safe from being shot at for the moment. Tori looked to the side and saw that another black figure held on to Tabby. She should be terrified at the situation, but she knew that Mal would never let her drop. Instead, she laid her head on his shoulder and absorbed the warmth radiating from his body. One arm clutched her around her waist, and the other slipped to below her bottom, supporting her. She almost laughed. Did he really think she might let go?

For the second time in her life, she watched the underside of the ship pass her before she came abreast of the railing. Hands reached out and pulled them over the edge to safety. Tori’s feet hadn’t touched the deck when Sean yanked her into his arms. His mouth closed over hers before she could say anything. He mashed his lips against hers, holding her tightly against him as if he feared to let her go. His tongue in her mouth, she accepted the invasion wholeheartedly, savoring the intensity of his kiss, reveling in the fact that he made it and they were safe.

“I. Knew. You. Would. Come.” The words escaped between desperate kisses. Tori could feel hot tears on her cheeks but didn’t know whom they belonged to.

Sean loosened his grip slightly and lifted his head. He kissed the corner of each eye. He looked over her head and frowned slightly. Tori turned and saw Mal standing there. The anguish in his gaze as he looked at her broke her heart.

She held out her hand to him, knowing he feared her rejection for his actions. How could he think that she would do that?

Mal closed the distance between them. Dropping to his knees in front of her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his cheek against her stomach. “Tori, I should have believed in you. Fuck, I’m so sorry.”

Sean wrapped his arms around her and stroked Mal’s cheek. She stood trapped between them, feeling safer than she had in her entire life. Did it matter why he believed the worst? Could she be certain she wouldn’t have made the same decision in his position? No, but she knew he would never do it again. “I love you, Malcolm.”

His head snapped up, and she bent over and kissed him with every ounce of love she felt. When they parted, he gifted her with the most beautiful smile. “I love you, too, Viktorya.”

“I never stopped loving you.” Sean gripped her waist, and she turned slightly. Keeping one hand in Mal’s hair, she wrapped a hand around the back of Sean’s neck.

“I never stopped loving you, either, Sean.”

Sean bent down and kissed her with as much passion as she and Mal shared, his mechanical hand at her waist and the other tangled in Mal’s hair, as well. She felt, rather than saw, Mal stand and wrap his arms around them both.

“All right, you two. Let’s take this to somewhere a bit more private and away from the voyeurs we’re currently plagued with.”

“Don’t stop on our account.”

Tori blinked and looked over to see a cloaked Liam with his arms wrapped around Tristan’s waist. They both wore an unrepentant smile.

“Where’s Tabby?” The night’s events began to sink in, and she could feel herself shake as the memories flooded back.

“Gareth took Tabby below. He’ll take care of her, I promise.”

“Oh, sweet mother, they killed Cory.”

The smiles disappeared from the men’s faces, replaced with the sadness that echoed in her heart. “I couldn’t do anything to stop it.”

Mal and Sean wrapped themselves around her, comforting her as she cried. The trembling increased in her body until she couldn’t stop the shaking. She remembered the way Cory crawled into her hammock for a chat. Now, I lie alone on a cold prison floor.

“She’s suffered too much of a shock tonight.” Mal scooped her up into his arms and headed for their rooms. Tori lay her head on his shoulder and trusted him to take care of her.

* * * *

Mal couldn’t believe it. He expected Tori to be filled with hatred for him. Expected her to spit curses at him. He should have known better. Right now, she needed to be taken care of. She smelled of despair, and he wished he could wipe those stains from her soul. Sean moved ahead of him and opened the door to their quarters and then locked it behind them. He didn’t want them to be disturbed, and Mal couldn’t agree more.

One of his crew had obviously come in and started to fill the large tub in the corner of the room, something Mal would be eternally grateful for. Mal quickly stripped Tori’s stained dress and kicked it into the corner. Sean didn’t realize it, but Mal planned on having their clothes from tonight burned. He wanted no lingering memories to plague either of them.

Tori shivered slightly as he pulled her gown over her shoulders. “You’re safe, sweetheart.” He kissed her temple, wanting to reassure her as much as himself that they were safe. “Let me get you warmed up.”

“Please, Mal, I want to forget. Make me forget.”

“Shhhh, Tori. I swear on the mother we will keep you safe.” He nodded to Sean, who got into the water first. He then lifted Tori up and placed her in front of Sean. The water rose up to their shoulders and blanketed them in warmth. Tori curled into Sean’s embrace.

Mal leaned over and brushed his lips over Sean’s. “I love you.”

Sean smiled up at him, and Mal felt a piece of his soul mend. “I love you, too. Are you getting in here with us?”

“Not yet.” Mal stripped his cloak off and tossed it on a chair. His black silk shirt followed moments later. Any other time, he wouldn’t hesitate in joining them. Right now, he felt driven by a need to care for them and compensate for allowing the two of them to suffer as they had.

Grabbing a washcloth, he dunked it in the hot water before soaping it up. He washed both Sean and Tori. Using gentle strokes, he caressed each of them. They wouldn’t easily forget what happened in the cells, but Mal hoped to wash some of the horrors away. He once thought that he could never love anyone as much as he loved Sean. Somehow, Tori had edged her way into his heart with her passion and acceptance, and with that, he realized that he didn’t have to lose any love for Sean to give Tori room. There was room in his heart to love them both equally. The jealousy that plagued him in his past relationship didn’t exist now. Their happiness meant as much to him as his own. Mal wanted to taste every inch of them, if only to reassure himself that they really did survive everything, but that would have to wait. Right now, they needed reassurance that it was all over.

Mal took great care in making certain that he washed every inch of his lovers. In the middle of it all, Tori relaxed in Sean’s arms and fell into a deep sleep. Both he and Sean carefully washed Tori’s hair, avoiding the bump Mal discovered on the back of her head. Sean held her cradled in his arms as Mal rinsed her hair with warm water.

“I can’t believe she is sleeping through all this.” Sean lifted her up out of the tub and into Mal’s waiting arms. “Do you think it’s the knot at the back of her head?”

“No.” Mal carried her to their bed and laid her on the soft, dry blanket he had laid out. “Her subconscious will try to process everything she experienced.” He gently patted the moisture off her delicate skin. Seeing the bruises and damaged skin made him want to turn the ship around and break the neck of everyone who harmed a hair on her head. “It’ll take her a long time to accept everything that happened to her.”

The majority of his anger needed to be self directed. A quick glance in the mirror showed the first person who should be punished. He pulled the covers up over her but didn’t follow through with the urge to press a kiss against her forehead. He had no right touching her since he was the one who sailed off and left her behind in the first place. “I need to go up and make certain that we don’t fall from the sky.”

“Tori’s strong, Mal. This won’t break her.” Sean came up behind him and wrapped his arms around his waist. Mal felt the muscles in his back relax at the feel of the other man pressing against him. “Come to bed with us. You need this as much as I do. Liam and Tristan are completely capable of taking care of the ship.”

“It’s my fault.”

“No, it isn’t, and she wouldn’t agree with that either.” Mal felt the warmth from Sean’s metal hand wrap around his wrist. “I need you here, Mal. We both need you.”

Mal turned and wrapped his arms around Sean. The thought of how close he’d come to losing him made his chest tighten up to the point of pain. He couldn’t imagine going on without Sean or Tori in his life. He cupped Sean’s jaw, feeling the rasp of his unshaven face. “I love you, love you both.”

“I know, Mal. I knew you would be waiting for me. It’s what kept me calm and focused. I knew all I had to do was get close and you would be there for me.” He tugged Mal’s arm. “Now, come to bed.”

“You’re giving orders now? Who appointed you captain?” Mal nipped at Sean’s lower lip, smiling when a large yawn interrupted Sean’s attempt to reciprocate. He pulled back the covers for Sean and then moved around the bed, undoing the curtains tied to each corner. The thick drapes fell and enclosed the bed. Mal slid under the sheets behind Sean.

“Perhaps you should sleep on Tori’s other side. She might need the reassurance.”

“She’s fast asleep and wouldn’t know I’m there.” Mal kissed Sean’s shoulder as he tucked his arm under Sean’s neck. Laying his arm over Sean’s, they both rested a hand on Tori’s side. “Besides, right now, I need to hold you.”

Sean tilted his head and pressed a kiss against Mal’s arm. “I love you, too, Mal.”

* * * *

Tori fought the urge to wake. It felt as though she lay in a cocoon of warmth and safety. But what if she opened her eyes and discovered she still lay on the floor of that wretched prison? The pungent smell of disease and despair would always be in her memories. She inhaled slightly and discovered the aroma of fresh sea air, leather, and a slightly metallic scent she recognized as Sean.

A tear streaked down her cheek. A second later, she felt a brush of something soft against her skin. “Tori, open your eyes. You’re safe.”

She peered out from between the safety of her lashes. Mal’s concerned face filled her vision. She glanced over his shoulder and saw a soft golden light filter through the cracks between the drapes. Mal gently brushed another tear from her cheek. His hands weren’t soft as a baby’s like Trenton’s. She felt rough calluses against her skin, strong hands used to handling tough rigging and weapons. Physically, he could overpower her, but she knew he never would do anything of the sort.

She reached up and ran her fingertips along his cheekbone and down to his jaw. I’m not dreaming.

“No, sweetheart. This is real.” He pressed his hand against hers, trapping it against his cheek.

“Mind reading again?”

A ghost of a smile crossed his lips but quickly disappeared. “Tori, I’m so sorry for what you had to go through.”

“Mal, stop.” She pressed her fingertips against his mouth. “I chose to leave the ship. You can’t accept blame for my actions and what they caused.”

“See, I told you,” Sean mumbled from behind her. She felt him move closer to her. Pressing his chest to her back, he wrapped an arm over her side and cupped a breast with one hand. “Much better.”

Tori stared down at where his hand lay on her naked breast. A small, horrified voice rustled in the back of her mind, but she silenced it. She liked the way Sean held on as if she belonged to him. Looking up at Mal, she saw a similar look on his face.

He took her hand away from his lips and laid it against his chest. “You are ours, Tori, and we’re never going to let you out of our sight again.”

“That’s a little ridiculous, don’t you think?” In light of the sensations Sean encouraged by his lazy strokes, Tori recognized that her protest didn’t sound as convincing as she hoped.

“I think it’s a brilliant idea.” Mal stroked a path up her arm and then down her rib cage. She twitched slightly as he reached her waist.

“She’s ticklish!”

Sean’s delighted comment had her grabbing for his hand, keeping it against her breast. “No. No, I’m not.”

“I think we’ll explore that lie later.” Mal’s hand continued its journey downwards, his touch leaving a path of goose bumps on her skin. “I can think of something better to do to her than tickling her.”

Sean chucked behind her and pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck. “Tori?”

She turned and looked over her shoulder. Sean looked all mussed and crumpled leaning above her, but his gaze held a heat that made her melt. He bent his head and kissed her, gently at first, but it quickly burned hot. He scissored her nipple between a couple fingers and twisted slightly, plucking at the hard nub.

Her fingers landed in Mal’s hair as he kissed his way down her torso. Sean slid his hand down to her leg and cupped her thigh, encouraging her to lift her leg back until it rested on his hip. She felt exposed and wetter than she ever would have imagined.

Part of her knew this contact was a way for them to reaffirm their survival, but it felt like so much more. The way their fingers felt against her skin. The contrast between Sean and Mal. Each had the rough feel of a man who worked with his hands, but she could tell the difference.

Sean enjoyed playing with her breasts and stroking her skin. Mal preferred to hold on to her and caress her skin with his lips and tongue.

Sean slid his leg between hers and lifted his knee. Bracing his foot on the bed, her leg caught on the other side of his. She started to lift it back because the exposure made her feel raw and unsteady.

“Keep it there, Tori.” Sean’s velvet voice caressed her ear. “Let Mal see those pretty pink folds.”

Mal stroked a callused finger against the delicate skin between her legs. The sensation stole her breath, while she felt a rush of heat and wetness greet his intrusion. A soft moan echoed around them, one she tried to stop when she realized she’d made such a wanton sound.

“Yes, Tori. Let me hear you.” Mal’s voice vibrated against her curls. He blew a cool breath of air against her core, making her tremble.

“Oh, yes.” Tori arched her hips and tightened her leg over Sean’s hip. She could feel him hard against her bottom and wanted more. Sean flexed his hips, making him slide deliciously against her wet opening. She felt Mal move closer, and Sean’s breath hissed behind her.

Looking down, she saw the most erotic sight of her life. Mal’s face was partially hidden by her body, his hand splayed over her lower tummy. Two fingers held her open, and he tilted his head up slightly, meeting her gaze. He ran his tongue up over the crest of her mons. He swirled his tongue around the hood of the sensitive pearl her folds usually hid. The intensity in his gaze as he sucked on her made her feel like she lay in a bed of flames.

Sean flexed again and stroked her from behind. She reached down and laid her hand on Mal’s head. He let go of her with a soft pop that made her twitch. Then he moved, and she could no longer feel that incredible tongue, but Sean hissed and gripped her thigh.

“I want to see.”

Mal looked up and smiled slightly. “All right, but you can’t go far. We’re not finished with you.”

“Huh? What?” Sean’s expression held euphoric confusion when Tori moved away from him. “Wait, where are you going?”

“Stay there, Sean.” Mal crawled over his body and grasped Sean’s cock in his large hand.

“Oh, I see.”

Mal spread Sean’s legs wide apart and knelt between them. The sight of Sean’s rigid cock disappearing into Mal’s mouth held her transfixed. She watched as the larger man’s cheeks hollowed slightly as he sucked. Sean’s hands gripped the sheets. “Fuck, yes.”

Tori made a mental note to try the exact same thing next chance she got, especially if it caused that strong a reaction. Mal lifted his gaze and looked over at her as he lifted up, letting Sean’s cock escape with a soft pop. He stroked Sean’s length a couple times with his hand before taking the length between his lips again. This time, Sean flexed his hips and drove up to meet Mal’s descending mouth.

Transfixed by the sight, she didn’t realize her own actions until Sean reached over and grabbed her fingers from where she stroked herself. “Sweetheart, come here.”

“Where?” Sean encouraged her to swing a leg over his head until she straddled his face. Her hands braced on his chest when he began to torment her, nibbling at her nether lips before he sucked at her. Holding her little knot between his lips, he flicked at it with his tongue.

She felt as though all the air in her lungs rushed out as a wave of molten pleasure coursed through her. Mal’s eyes held a devilish glint when he looked up at her. He gripped Sean’s length and reached for her. Cupping her nape, he pulled her down for a kiss, plunging his tongue in her mouth as Sean did the same below. The duel sensations made her entire body shiver. Mal broke he kiss and leaned back slightly. “I wonder which one of you can last longer.”

Tori felt a chuckle against her throbbing clit. Sean must have taken Mal’s comment as a challenge because he increased the intensity of his actions. As she watched, Mal doubled his efforts. Watching Sean’s thickly veined length disappear between Mal’s lips felt like someone had turned on a firepot beneath her. She trembled and clenched her legs, twitching her hips, needing more. Mal wore a blissful look on his face as he slid along Sean’s shaft. Wrapping a hand around it, he rubbed counter to his lips.

Instinctively, Tori rocked her hips, rubbing herself against Sean’s face, wanting more. His lips and tongue encouraged her sensual dance. Sean’s hands held tight to her waist, allowing her the freedom to move. At the same time, she couldn’t move too far away.

Sean pressed a finger up inside her…no, not a finger. The cool, smooth feeling was a sharp contrast to her overheated folds. It took a moment before she realized that Sean pressed up into her with a finger on his mechanical hand. He plunged into her in time to Mal’s movements. The added sensation yanked her over the edge as pleasure pounded through her, ripping away any thoughts of ever leaving this nest they created.

* * * *

Sean’s cock ached with a need to explode. Tori climaxing above him almost had him coming down Mal’s throat. What stopped him was the need to bury himself deep in Tori. For a moment, when she realized what he used to stroke up into her, he feared her rejection. The explosive reaction from her reassured him more than words ever would. He wanted to feel her over him, riding him. He wanted to feel Mal’s cock buried in her ass, stroking next to his.

Thankfully, Mal caught Tori and helped to rearrange her onto Sean’s chest. Obviously, their lover had the same thought. Not surprising, Sean often wondered if Mal knew his thoughts before he did. The sheets rustled slightly as Mal moved away. He retrieved a bottle from the small drawer that lay flush to the wall of their bed. Tori lay, sated, on his chest, shudders still rocking her perfect body.

“Tori, we want to make you ours.”

“Please.” The words shivered along his skin where she licked the tight nipple on his chest.

“You know what that means, right?” Sean hugged her close to his chest. Mal leaned over her and kissed a path across her shoulders.

She nodded against him. “Mal is going to take me the same way he takes you.”

“And you’re going to love it as much as Sean does.” Mal grinned unapologetically over Tori’s shoulder.

“I guess if he says so.” Her eyes fluttered closed, and Sean looked down her body, watching Mal’s hand cupping her breast.

“You are so incredibly responsive, Tori. This will drive you mad.”

Tori peered at him through her lashes as she reached back behind her. “What are you waiting for?”

Sean felt her small hand stroke the length of his cock before placing the tip at the entrance to her muff. He pressed up into her wet heat, feeling the way her body fluttered up and down his length. “Oh, gods. I could watch you two all day.” Mal leaned back and stroked himself.

“Please, don’t.” Tori looked over her shoulder, a wave of hair brushing Sean’s chest. Following her gaze, Sean watched Mal move over her. He knew exactly how Mal would press a finger or two up inside her ass. Stroking and stretching her back passage, so he didn’t hurt her. Tori bucked back wildly. Sean gripped her hands on his chest to stop her from scoring his skin with her nails. The added sensation eroded his own control at an alarming rate.

Sean watched a small bead of sweat slide down Mal’s face, proof of the strain he felt. There was a fascination to watching Mal like this since he was usually the one faced the other direction. Sean tried to concentrate on that because the wet heat surrounding his cock like a glove threatened to have him shooting deep inside her.

“Tori, I can feel his fingers against my cock.” His words made Tori shudder, and her muscles clenched tightly on his length.

“He’s too big.” She gasped for air.

“You need to relax and let Mal oil up your tight sheath. Let him make you wet and slippery, and then, he’s going to press his cock up inside you.”

Mal groaned deep in his throat and shot Sean a dark look. Sean grinned up at him. Sean always talked during their lovemaking because he knew it drove Mal’s arousal higher.

Sean reached down between his and Tori’s bodies and caressed the tight bud that pressed out from between her sopping folds.

“Oh, Sean…It’s too…”

Sean allowed himself to slide almost completely out and then jerked his hips upwards. Driving hard and fast into her, he loved the soft, passion-filled cries she made.

She stiffened up slightly. The sudden, intense pressure on Sean’s cock felt like white-hot lightning licking down its length. He trembled and held as still as possible, waiting for the moment to pass. He could feel his cock being stroked from inside Tori’s body. “Fuck’s sake.” He glared up at Mal, who grinned down at him. “Warn me before you do that.”

“Are you all right, sweetheart?” Sean brushed a few damp hairs from Tori’s cheek, allowing him a better view of her face. She lay with her cheek on his chest, shivering and panting. “I don’t know if…it feels so…”

Another shudder racked her body, and her muscles fluttered around Sean’s cock, eroding the minute amount of control he managed to hold onto.

Mal bent and kissed her nape. “This will be the most incredible experience of your life, sweetheart.”

Sean could feel everything and knew the moment that Mal slid another finger into her ass. Warm oil trickled down between them and slid over Sean’s balls. The sensations built higher and higher as Mal stretched her, preparing her. With every finger, she whimpered in ecstasy, and Sean groaned in unison.

“Oh, gods, Tori.” Sean gripped her hips, stopping the way her hips shuddered and jerked against him. “Please tell me you’re ready. I can’t take much more.”

Tori met his eyes. Hers looked glazed, and color rode high on her cheeks. “I want you both.” She looked back over her shoulder. “Oh, please…now. Do it now.”

Sean retreated almost to the point of slipping out, allowing Mal the room to push inside her. She cried out and reared back, but Sean wrapped his arms around her chest. “Deep breaths, Tori. Push out against that hard cock. Can you feel the way Mal is filling you up.”

Her body shivered in his arms as she nodded against his shoulder. “Yes…oh, yes.”

“Your body will take every inch, and when Mal is all the way in, I’m going to press back into your hot, wet cunny, and you will know what it is to be taken by both of us.”

Sean cupped Tori’s cheeks and curled up to her, kissing her swollen lips. “Deep breaths, Tori. Relax into it.” He nipped at her jaw. “That’s it. You’re ours forever.”

She whimpered slightly, but after a couple deep breaths, a low groan rumbled in her throat.

Tori panted against his shoulder as Mal gripped her hips. Sean could see the way every muscle in his body tensed. He didn’t want to hurt their woman, but his needs rode him hard.

Another low groan and then Mal looked at Sean and nodded.

“Tori?” Mal’s chest heaved, he gripped her hips, and Sean knew Mal fought every urge to take her hard and fast.

She took a deep, shuddering breath. “I’m all right.”

“Are you certain…?” Sean didn’t want her hurt.

“Now, Sean.” Her tongue flicked at his ear. “Your turn. Fill me up. Make me yours.”

Her words ripped away his best intentions to take it easy this time. Sean could feel the thickness of Mal’s length slide along his tip as he pushed into her. The thin membrane of her body masked the intensity somewhat, allowing him to maintain a small amount of control. He knew how incredible that felt, the incredible mixing of pain and pleasure until it all blended into a white-hot need.

Sean watched Mal arch his back and sink deeper into her. Tori’s nails scoured Sean’s chest, wiping away any conscious thoughts. He needed her, wanted to make her theirs. Mal slipped out slightly, and Sean took his clue to slide home again. Back and forth, they pounded their own rhythms against her body, each stroke faster than the last. Their fevered cries blending together, rising to wrap around them.

Sean felt his balls pull tight up against his body. Bracing his heels against the bed, he arched his hips and pounded harder, reaching for the explosion that hung moments out of reach.

Above him, Tori grew louder, pressing her nails into his chest until she wailed out both their names at the top of her lungs. Flames licked at his body as they rocked together, and when he felt a thick finger penetrate his anus, it drove him completely over the edge. Waves of pleasure hammered against him, pulling him deep into the depths before allowing him to drift back to the surface.

Tori lay sprawled on his chest, one arm limp at his side. Mal lay stretched out on his side. Sean tried to move but realized his arm was caught. Looking down, he saw that Tori held on to his metal hand, her fingers entwined with his mechanical ones. Mal’s hand lay over both of theirs, binding them together.

With that pleasant thought, Sean drifted back to sleep.

Chapter Fifteen

Tori looked through the glasses that she took from Sean’s bench. Pulling them over her eyes, she laughed in amazement. She could really see in the dark. No one truly comprehended Sean’s gifts, except perhaps for her and Malcolm. Thinking of the two of them made her want to march back to the ship and crawl into bed with them. That urge needed to wait a little bit. Time was of the essence here.

Sneaking off The Seahawk wasn’t as easy this time, and she had to enlist Tabby’s help. Needing the distraction, Tabby jumped at the chance. Sean and Mal didn’t understand. They wanted to keep her protected, coddled, and away from her family. Since her own uncle would have let her swing from a noose, as a pirate, she could understand their concern. They certainly kept her busy both in and out of bed. Mal taught her all the workings of the ship while Sean discussed some of his projects with her. She didn’t always understand what they were talking about, but she never felt excluded. Her body warmed at the memory of how they could make her feel. They both made certain that she knew they loved her as much as each other.

A tingle of guilt played at the back of her mind. She shouldn’t have snuck away, but every time she tried to discuss this with them, they overrode her. Told her to be patient. The old Tori would have let them lead and meekly followed. Now, she would happily follow them to the ends of the earth, right after she contacted her sister. The Seahawk currently resided in a large lake a few miles away, undergoing her final repairs. The location and thick forests around her protected her from being spotted easily.

Liam and Tristan remained on board to help out. Tori couldn’t sit there doing nothing, knowing her sister resided so closely. She tried to contact her sister through the normal means of communication. Yzzi’s lack of response concerned her.

Tori shimmied up the trunk and edged her way along a thick branch. From this vantage point, she could just make out the people walking around the drawing room.

“Can you see them?” Tabby called up to her in a hushed voice. “Are you certain you want to do this?”

Tori looked down at her, amazed by the other woman’s strength. If it wasn’t for the fact that she held Tabby the previous night as she sobbed uncontrollably, Tori would have thought her unaffected by Cory’s death.

Yzabeau was sitting in a chair, looking calm, which only meant that she was no doubt about to blow her temper. Sean liked to tease her about her own, but hers was nothing to her sister’s when riled. Another man crossed the room. His back was to her, but she knew her ex-husband’s form. He dropped to one knee in front of Yzabeau, stealing the breath from Tori’s chest. Bastard. Who knew what lies he’d fed her family. True to form, Yzzi jumped to her feet and pushed Trenton to the floor before waving her arms. No doubt, she treated them both to a dressing-down they deserved. From behind, her father appeared and grabbed her sister’s shoulder. Swinging her around, he slapped her to the floor. Tori gripped the branch where she hung. No, that couldn’t have just happened. But when her sister tried to get up, her father hit her again. Trenton got to his feet and stood behind her father. So they were in it together?

Betrayal burned deep, and her stomach threatened to empty itself in the bushes below. Yzzi worshiped their father and never believed him to be guilty of anything. “I have to go in there.”

“What!” Tabby looked up at her as if she’d lost her mind. “You said you would leave your sister a message. If the captain and Sean find out you went in there, your ass’ll look as red as a rose.”

Tori removed the glasses and shimmied back down the branch. Swinging herself around it, she hung her full height and dropped the last couple feet to the ground.

“If I don’t go in there, my sister will end up in chains for a double murder.” Whatever those men thought they could force Yzzi to do wasn’t going to happen.

“Tabby, please go back to the ship and tell Mal and Sean where I am. Tell them I couldn’t leave Yzzi behind.”

“I’ll be quick. You promise to stay safe.”

“I promise.” Tori gave her friend a tight hug, turning towards the house before she lost her nerve. As she strode for the doors, she tucked the glasses into the pouch on her hip and unhooked her skirts, masking the trousers she wore beneath. Marching up to the front door, she pounded on the knocker as hard as she could. Moments later, the door was snatched open by Harcourt.

Seeing the stodgy old butler’s face dropping in shock was the funniest thing she had ever seen. She would keep that memory and savor it later because, at the moment, she had more pressing ideas. “Good evening, Harcourt. I see my father is in his office with my sister and husband. Do get some ice, if you please. Yzabeau needs it.”

Grasping the unique situation, she slipped past the butler and rushed down the hall before he could recover enough to stop her. Throwing open the office doors, she stomped into the room. “What are you two doing to her?”

“I knew they were lying!” Yzabeau jumped to her feet and tried to rush over to Tori. A cocking gun echoed in the room, and everyone froze.

Trenton stood there with a gun pointed directly at Tori’s face. “You bitch. I’d like to know what you did in order to save your useless hide. You might as well take your dirty self back to the docks. I’ll not touch you again after what you allowed them to do.”

“You mean after you chose to save the ship and give me to them. You spread the rumors that we were carrying a king’s ransom and then waited for us to be attacked. What did you plan to do? Kill me yourself and blame whichever pirates attacked?”

“What is this?” Yzabeau yanked against their father’s grip. “Stop him, Daddy.”

“Yzabeau, you will shut your mouth and do as you are told. Viktorya, you should have stayed dead. It would be better for everyone that way.”

“You knew what he planned to do, didn’t you? Uncle Demetri told you what happened, and you allowed it.”

“I didn’t know about Sean until a week ago. Such brilliance wasted. If he had stayed, I’m certain that we could have gone into business together.”

It might have happened, too. The man she loved today would not have existed if not for his love for Malcolm and Malcolm returning that love.

“He has received his comeuppance. I saw his name on the lists. He paid a visit to the gallows this morning.”

That news would have crippled her if she hadn’t spent the night in his arms. She kept that bit of truth to herself and gloated. “Now what do we do? I can’t marry Yzabeau if Tori is still here.”

“I would rather die than marry a dirt-ridden piece of filth like you.” Yzabeau lurched against her father’s grip but didn’t get free.

He gave her a hard shake for her trouble. “Trenton, I suggest that you invest in an incredibly good gag.”

“You two are mad. I’m not going away.”

“Yes, Tori. I’m afraid you are.”

Tori could see the intent in Trenton’s eyes as he raised the gun again. The world shifted, and she felt like time had no meaning. Everything happened at once, and Tori wasn’t able to move quick enough to change it. Yzabeau lurched out of her father’s grasp, just as Tori felt something punch hard into her shoulder. Someone grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to the ground.

A piercing scream rent the air, and she looked up to see Sean grasping Trenton between the legs with his mechanical hand. Trenton’s mouth hung open, the high-pitched sound emanating from it. Sean, with a face full of fury, glared at him. Malcolm’s face appeared in front of her when she tried to get up. His mouth moved, but she couldn’t make out what he was saying. A strange buzzing filled her ears, making her feel sick. Yzzi’s face appeared next to Malcolm’s, but then they blended together into the same person.

“Love…” Why won’t my mouth work? She needed to tell him, needed to tell them both. Tori’s eyes felt heavy, and all she wanted was to take a nap, just for a moment, and then she would tell Malcolm that she loved him, too.

* * * *

Tori’s beautiful eyes closed, and Malcolm felt a layer of ice form over his heart. “Dammit, Tori, open your goddamn eyes. Please, Tori, don’t leave us.”

The ice around his heart spread through his chest. Dear god, no. Not like this.

“You. Move.”

Malcolm gave Tori’s sister a dark glare that she ignored. She tried to tug Tori out of his arms, but he gripped her tighter as if holding her would hold back death.

“Listen to me.” The woman grabbed his face and forced him to look at her. “I have to get the bleeding to stop or she will die. Do you understand? Put her up on the desk so I can see the wound.”

Tori wasn’t dead? He looked down, and it registered that her chest was moving slightly, shallow and slow, but she was still breathing. He quickly did as he was told. Her sister pushed everything off the desk, and he reverently laid her down.

Sean came over, wrapped his arms around Mal’s waist. “She’ll be okay. Yzabeau has studied medicine. Right, Yzzi?”

“I’ve done a lot since you disappeared on us, Sean Patrick. Now, I can’t get anything done as long as the two of you stand there and get in my way. Move.”

Tori’s sister ordered them around like a captain of her own ship. He had no idea what to do to help Tori. It was reassuring that someone here was able to take control, control he happily gave up if it meant Tori’s survival.

“What can we do?” Malcolm watched as Yzabeau cut off Tori’s top with brutal efficiency. There was an angry looking hole high in her shoulder, and blood moved sluggishly out of it. Yzzi lifted her up slightly and looked at the other side. Seeing a gunshot wound marring her porcelain skin like that made his stomach sour. He must have made some sort of desperate sound because, immediately, Sean’s fingers stroked the back of his neck.

“We’ve seen that kind of wound before, Mal. She’ll be okay. Yzzi will take care of her.”

“The bullet has gone clean through, and the blood is slowing down, so I’d have to say that she got lucky. As long as we can stave off any fever then she should be able to heal quickly. She may end up with a nasty scar, though.”

“She’ll be thrilled that she looks more like you and I.” Sean squeezed him with the metal hand.

“I want to know where that bastard is.”

“Sorry, Mal, Tristan threw him and their father into a coach and lit out of here before the servants knew what happened.”

“I first thought about delivering them to the local constable.”

“That evil bastard wouldn’t do anything. My father keeps him in XO brandy, and he does whatever my father wants.” Yzabeau was looking down at the wound and didn’t bother looking up when she spoke. If she had, she would have seen the look on Liam’s face. Malcolm would have laughed if he were able. Is that what I looked like when I first saw Viktorya?

“Pack your things, Yzabeau, you’re coming aboard The Seahawk with us.”

“No, I’ll take her with me on The Apollo.” Tristan eyed her hungrily. Too damn bad. Tori’s sister would be traveling with them.

“High-handed assholes.” The woman in question shook her head. “I won’t be going with either of you. Now shut up, and let me work.”

She dismissed them all and paid close attention to her sister’s wound. Mal watched her as she quickly worked to stitch up the wound. She dabbed a small amount of cream on each stitch she made. He was curious as to what it was but didn’t want to risk distracting her any more.

“We can’t stay here long.” Mal noted the way Tristan watched every move Yzabeau made.

Liam glanced over at him and nodded. “I’m meeting Tristan and Tabitha directly after they abandon the carriage somewhere. It will take a while before anyone finds and frees the men. Should buy us some time to get away.”

Mal nodded. He would have rather killed both Trenton and Lord Gifrador, but that kind of action would bring more trouble. He wasn’t willing to risk Sean and Tori’s lives to assuage his need for vengeance. “I think it would be wise to stay landlocked for a little while.” Thankfully, the repairs didn’t take as long as he originally suspected. The ship was airborne, but more work needed to be done.

“We could retire to our home on the island.” Sean pressed a kiss to the side of his neck. Mal wrapped an arm around him, drawing comfort from his embrace. “Do you think Tori would live there with us?”

“Why don’t you ask me?”

Both Malcolm and Sean spun towards the soft voice behind them. Yzabeau smiled at them both and continued to wrap Tori’s shoulder.

Mal allowed Sean the opportunity to kiss her first. Tori grabbed his automatronic hand in hers when Sean ended their kiss. Yzabeau stepped aside, giving him the opportunity to get closer to Tori’s other side. The touch of her lips felt like his heart started after being frozen in his chest. His fingers entwined with her other hand.

“What do you think, sweetheart? Would you come and live with us on the island, be our wife?”

“Are you certain that you are willing to share each other with me?”

“As long as you are willing to share yourself with us.”

“Do I have to wear a corset?”

“You don’t have to wear anything you don’t want to, sweetheart.” Mal felt his lips curl up. “We plan on keeping you naked most of the time anyways. Hopefully, that will stop you from sneaking off and getting into trouble.”

“Then, I’ll happily follow wherever you lead, Captain.”

THE END

www.corinnedavies.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Corinne Davies reads anything she can get her hands on, from the side of a cereal box to a historical book on the Riflemen during the Napoleonic wars. By day, she is a full-time wife and mother and works in the wine industry. At night, she avoids such mundane tasks as housework and laundry by creating her own worlds where mythology comes to life—worlds in which you are just as likely to be living next door to an ancient deity as finding a mystic treasure in the attic.

Also by Corinne Davies

Ménage Amour: Believing is Seeing

Ménage and More: Sequel to Believing is Seeing: Believing is Trusting

Siren Classic: Haunted Hearts

Available at

BOOKSTRAND.COM

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

Table of Contents

STEAM POWERED PASSION