Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

By Calista’s calculations, they were two days, off the African coast, when Connor cornered her in one of the storerooms. Finding the door unlocked on her morning tour of the ship she made a mental note to chastise him for leaving a door open and went in to check that nothing was missing. She was in the middle of a count of flour sacks when she heard the door open and close behind her. Turning she found him guarding the doorway.

“You shouldn’t leave the door unlocked,” she said.

“I didn’t,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest, which showed his forearms to advantage, damn him.

“You did or how would I have got in here?” She crossed her own arms.

“You got in here because I wanted you in here,” he said locking the door and pocketing the key. “It was the only way to get you alone.” He stalked across the room towards her, reminding her distinctly of a large black cat, one of those enormous ones from Africa. “You’ve been avoiding me since you wore the red dress for me.”

She flushed as he came to a stop in front of her, and she was reminded how big he was. She was tall for a woman, and he was still a head taller than her and broad through the shoulders. Somehow, she had forgotten in the intervening eight days since the night with the red dress. No perhaps not forgotten, just trying not to think about him.

“Don’t deny it,” he said, husky voiced, his hand coming up to cup her face. “I’ve been aching for ye and ye keep looking through me, what have I done?”

“Noth-,” she cleared her throat gone suddenly thick. “Nothing.”

“Then why?” he bent closer, and she lost the ability to think abruptly, as her senses got filled with him and visceral memories invaded her body and her mind.

“I-” she began and stopped.

He closed the gap between them and kissed her lips, softly, as if her mouth were precious petals that would bruise or crush easily. Tingles exploded outwards from his touch, as her knees buckled, and with a moan in her throat, she clutched at his shoulders to keep herself up right.

His wrapped his arm around her, bringing her tight against his chest and his lips ever so gently teased a kiss from her in return.

“I’ve missed you,” he said softly against her hair as she buried her face in his chest and inhaled his scent, salty male with a hint of spice.

She closed her eyes and said, her voice muffled by his shirt, “this is why. I can’t think when you’re too close.”

“What was that?”

She pushed her hands against his chest and repeated herself more clearly, raising her head to look up at him. “You scramble my senses. I need a clear head and focus to deal with Perez. When we’re done with Perez-”

He cut her off with a kiss that seared her to her bones and made her knees buckle again. “I can’t wait,” he said his voice thick with desire. “Wanting you is driving me mad.”

“God Connor!” she moaned. “Alright a quick one then.”

“No,” he said. “I want to make love to you properly. Let me come to your cabin tonight.” His eyes, molten sapphires, devoured her and set a heat humming between her legs. She swallowed, God she wanted to give in so badly. Then something filtered through her sex-soaked brain. He’d said, make love, not fuck. He always said fuck...and her heart melted at the notion…

He was falling for her, and he was getting under her skin. Panic made her heart flutter and stampede. No! No!This is dangerous territory, and I am not giving my heart to anyone ever again. It had been kicked and pummelled and trod on too many times to count. Every time she slid down this precipice it ended in pain. It felt delicious until it didn’t. Why can’t I learn? She had been so sure she had herself under control with this one.

Tears of frustration and self-loathing stung her eyes and made her even angrier. I never fucking cry. Not anymore and I sure as hell am not going to cry over him!

She wrenched herself out of his arms and retreated to the other side of the room. Assuming her captain’s stance she crossed her arms and said, “No dice Irish. Open the door, and that’s an order.”

He gaped at her. “Callista-!”

“I said, that’s an order!” she firmed her voice, but there was a quiver in her belly. Have I lost control of the situation? Will he obey me? He is bigger and stronger and oh fuck if he kisses me again, I’m not sure I can say no a second time...

His fists clenched and the muscles in his jaw tightened as if he was grinding his teeth. He turned towards the door, fished the key out of his pocket and opened it. He held the door for her with a bow.

As she approached cautiously, he said, his voice low and menacing. “Until Perez and no longer.”

She nodded in acknowledgement and forced herself to walk past him slowly with her usual nonchalant swagger. In reality her stomach was quivering, her pulse thudding and her knees felt weak.

As she got past him, she felt his gaze boring into her back between her shoulder blades and for the first time she felt a tingle of fear. Have I pushed him too far? The man is a street warrior after all, he’s done his fair share of killing. He’s indicated as much to me before. Not that he would kill me...would he?

She shuddered and a flood of heat between her legs made her flesh throb. She was so tempted to turn around and fling herself back into his arms. Any other man confronted with that challenge from her would have used his strength to subdue her, but he didn’t.

And suddenly she knew why. Her heart flipped and a hot cascade of emotion flooded her chest. He cares for me. He does. I’m more than a fuck to him. She closed her eyes and kept walking until she ran into the ladder to the upper deck.

She wiped the tears off her cheeks and reached blindly for the ladder.

Slammingthe door shut behind her, Connor paced to the other side of the small storeroom and back, swearing. “Fucking, stubborn bitch!” He ran his hands through his hair disturbing its neat queue and pulled the ribbon out irritably.

“Fuck!” he roared at the ceiling, his fists clenching. He ached for her, not just his cock, his whole body wanted to hold her, kiss her, love her...

He slumped against the shelf pole behind him and slid down until his bum hit the floor. The ache of longing was so intense it brought tears to his eyes. He pressed the heels of his hands into the sockets to stop them and swallowed against the ache in his throat. Fuck what is wrong with ye... She’s just a woman, Con, get over yerself!

She’s not just anything ye fuckwit! She’s the most wonderful woman ye’ve ever met and she doesnae love ye! She’s too broken for that. Perez and whoever came after has ruined her... He swallowed, but the sob in his throat that rose at the notion of the pain she had been subjected to, wouldn’t be subdued, and it burst out in a strangled gasp.

“Callista, my love...” he whispered brokenly. “Jesus, Mary and all the Saints, I love yer...” saying it out loud made his heart pulse and a flood of warmth filled his chest. He rested his head back against the pole, his eyes closed as the reality of his feelings settled into his body. A rush of excitement, pain, heat, fear, euphoria flooded him and dragged a laugh from him. He wiped his face and sniffed. “Ye conceited twerp ye thought ye’d make her fall for ye and it’s the other way around. Fury was right, she’s got yer cods in a velvet bag and she’s welcome to squeeze the livin’ daylights out of ‘em if it’ll give her pleasure.” Anything to make her smile.

He stared foggily at the other side of the side of the storeroom, but it wasn’t the shelves of provisions he saw, it was her face, lifted to the sun, smiling, and laughing. That vitality and energy, that pleasure in the moment, that confidence and strength; everything she exuded just by breathing. He craved her more than air and water.

She wants Perez, I’ll give her Perez’ head on a platter with his balls for garnish. And then, then my love...

A commotion outside the door dragged him from his reverie and he rose and opened the door. It was Dev and Jabari racing down the corridor pursued by a goat and two chickens.

He roared at the lads, who stopped and turned, then with a giggle fled up the ladder, leaving him to deal with a corridor full of loose animals.

Mick appeared just as he was herding the cursed animals back into their pens and helped him finish the job.

“Thankyee,” he said as he shut the door of the chicken coop.

“You’re welcome, those lads are pests.” Mick smiled ruefully. “Reminds me of the trouble me and my brother used to get up to when we were lads.”

Connor nodded absently; his mind still full of Callista.

“You and the captain had a falling out?” asked Mick abruptly. “I’ve noticed she’s giving you a wide berth these days.”

Connor flushed. “She’s obsessed with Perez.” he said turning away.

“Funny. I thought she was obsessed with you.”

Connor closed his eyes, keeping his back to the other man. “Ye’d be wrong about that.”

“No, I wouldn’t. I’ve known Callista since she was born.”

Connor swallowed a lump in his throat and turned. “If you know her so well, can you tell me why she is so guarded? What happened to her, apart from Perez?”

“As if Perez weren’t enough?” Mick snorted. “Can you even imagine how difficult it is for a woman to hold her own among pirates? Men who kill with no conscience, take what they want when they want it? Men with no moral compass but what drives their desires and appetites? Her father raised her tough because he knew it was the only way she could survive in this world. But she’s human, and she’s a woman under the shirt and breeches, as you have reason to know- don’t deny it!”

Connor opened his mouth and shut it, nodding.

“She’s lonely! She lost her father and the crew rebelled and deserted her, including the man she thought she loved.”

“Who-” Connors heart thudded as that green monster tore at this chest.

“A man called Robert Baines.”

“She’s never mentioned him.” He must be the one she took to the lagoon?

“She wouldn’t. He was the last straw, I think. She only had me and Ayo and this damned ship. Her whole focus for the last twelve months has been chasing down Perez.” Mick paused and went on quietly. “And then you show up. She was taken with you from the first. I could see that, so could most of the crew. If you hurt her-”

“No! No, that’s the last thing I want to do. I-” he paused his throat thick with emotion. He swiped at the moisture on his cheeks. “Fuck Mick I love her. I only realised it this morning. I think I fell for her the minute I clapped eyes on her. But I was too full of meself to realise it until now. I’m a dick!”

Mick’s lips twitched, and he extracted his flask and offered it to Connor. “We’re all dicks when it comes to love.”

Connor took the flask and knocked back a swig, wiping his cheeks with his fingers.

“Have you told her? How you feel?”

“No, I- no we had an argument. She left and–that was when it hit me. Felt like I’d been felled by a hundred weight of potatoes. I- she’s the most extraordinary woman I’ve ever met. Brave, strong and beautiful.” He sighed and sniffed. “I miss her so damned much it fucking hurts! I love her Mick, with all me heart.”

“Well, if you do, you’ll support and her and stand by her. She needs a friend more than she needs a lover, especially now. Someone she can rely on, apart from me and Ayo.”

Connor nodded. “I’d die for her.”

“Well, I think she’d rather you didn’t. That would defeat the purpose.”

Connor smiled wryly. “Perhaps. I offered to kill Perez for her, and she told sharply I would not. That was her privilege and she’d not thank me for taking it away from her.”

Mick laughed. “That’s Cal all over. She’s not an easy woman to handle, are you up for it, Connor?”

“Aye. If she’ll let me.”

“I know you don’t want to hear this, but I truly think you’ll have to wait until she’s done with Perez.”

Connor sighed. “I know, I’d already resigned myself to that.” He handed back the flask and Mick put it away before drawing Connor in for a man hug.

“You’re a good man, Connor Mor.”

Connor shook his. “No, but I’ll try to be now.”

“You’re a damned sight better than all the other men she’s tangled with.” Mick smiled and gave him one more slap on the back.

“Thank you.”

Mick nodded and left him to the sounds of scratching, pecking chickens.