Unexpected Treasure: A High Seas Adventure Read online

  “I tried to tell my father’s childhood friend. He, he turned me out, sent me back to my uncle.” Her voice rose with every word, fear strangling her.

  “I will not send you back to your…” Rex stopped talking and Sarah realized that she was shaking her head back and forth. His hands reached out and grasped her around the waist. Then he pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. She tensed for a moment but it had been so long since anyone had comforted her that she relaxed into his arms and against his body. It was hard muscle against her softer curves. Her head rested on his chest and her arms wrapped around his waist. His warm masculine scent filled her nostrils and, combined with the feel of his body, a vibrating started deep within her.

  “What if the Prince Regent himself told you that you must?” Her voice was muffled against his chest but she didn’t want to lift up her head.

  One of his hands travelled from her waist and up her back. Gently, his fingers skimmed up her neck, cupping her cheek and chin. Tilting her chin back, their eyes met. His were warm and soft as they gazed into hers. A soft smile touched his lips, “Now why would the Prince-Regent concern himself with a woman who isn’t even a lady?”

  A small laugh bubbled from her chest replacing some of her fear. She pressed a little closer, drawing strength from him.

  Dipping his head, his lips touched hers. She let out a gasp but held him closer and he smiled against her lips. His lips pressed down on hers again and this time she met their demand.

  Every so slowly, he teased her lips with his tongue and, by instinct, she opened her mouth. When his tongue touched hers, she whimpered with need. It felt as though she was losing control of her body and it was divine.

  Sarah lost track of time as his mouth plundered hers but her body was acutely aware of every touch from his hands and lips. As he skimmed his fingers over her body, his lips travelled down her jaw and over her neck. She tipped her head back to give him more access.

  As he reached the neckline of her gown, his fingertips replaced his lips to trace the path along the seam of the fabric. “You can tell me who you really are.”

  Her eyes cleared and she blinked a few times. “No, I cannot.”

  He straightened then. “You want me, you want my protection. Why can’t you tell me--” he took a deep breath, “You’d be surprised what I know already.”

  She moved as far away as the circle of his arms would allow. She wanted to trust him, but once she told him everything, she couldn’t go back. What if she was wrong? The person, she no longer trusted was herself.

  UNEXPECTED TREASURE

  CHAPTER SIX

  Rex blinked at her, unable to understand. She wasn’t pretending, she had responded to his advances. That much was clear. And she wanted his help. Also crystal clear. So how could she deny him the knowledge that would assuredly help him to protect her? “You are being ridiculous. The best way for me to help you is tell me what is happening.”

  She yanked out of his arms then. Her hands landed on her hips and she gave him a level stare. “I do not need to tell you anything.”

  Rex crossed his arms over his chest. He had to, to keep from pulling her back into his arms. While she was angelic when afraid, standing defiantly in front him set him on fire. Coupled with the kiss they had just shared, he had the sudden urge to drag her to his bed and not consider the consequences. But that would not earn her trust. Still, it was so tempting.

  “You are being ridiculous,” he growled out.

  One of her fingers poked him in the chest, “Mayhap, I am. But I can always tell you. Once it is out, I cannot take it back.”“

  He stopped, she was correct and so if Sarah needed time, he would give it to her. Their eyes met and he was intent upon apologizing, but her chest heaved with her emotion and the finger that had been poking him had stilled. Instead, she slid her palm flat against the opening in his shirt. Her lips were parted, still swollen from his kisses. Without thinking, he dipped his head again for a searing kiss. She returned it eagerly.

  Her hands came into his hair and she yanked his head closer. His angel might actually be a little devil. It was intoxicating. He cupped her buttocks, pressing their pelvises closer and she groaned. Without even realizing it, he was gathering her skirts in his hands, pulling them up to her hips.

  When he had them around her waist, he wrapped one arm underneath her and lifted her up. She pressed against him and he let out groan of pleasure. He kicked open the door to his sleeping quarters and crossed the room in a few strides. Without breaking the kiss, he laid her down on bed, and she was pressed between him and the mattress.

  She let out another whimper, a beautiful little sound, and wrapped her legs around his waist. He nearly lost his senses. Dimly, he was aware that he had never wanted a woman like this. He was consumed, unable to stop the pulsing need.

  His hand ran over her legs, her pantaloons keeping him from touching her skin. With a frustrated grunt, he grabbed the fabric at its opening and ripped them down the thigh. His hand touched the soft skin of her inner leg and he throbbed with need. In response, Sarah rubbed against him, the movement urging his hand toward her most intimate area.

  From the moment he had seen Sarah, he had known he wanted her. But this, this he had never imagined. That she would be so bold, so heated under his touch. He wanted more.

  Rex’s hand came to the juncture between her legs. It was swollen and dripping wet. Trembling slightly, like a damned school boy, he lightly touched her. She bucked against him, moaning. “I didn’t know it would be like this,” she muttered against his lips.

  “Neither did I,” he ground out. He eased his finger into her tight space and it clamped around him. He wanted more. In that moment, he would make any deal to get it.

  She moved against his hand. Rex pulled his face away from hers, to look in her eyes. They were half closed, her lips parted and swollen. He could take her, she wouldn’t protest and he wanted this so much. Then again, he could try to get her to talk now.

  He took several deep breaths to try and get his own need back under control. It took every ounce of strength he had to do it.

  Rex’s thumb came to the nub of her desire, as his finger moved inside of her. “What is your full name, Lady Sarah?”

  Her eyes flew open, her mouth uttering a protest when he brought his lips back down on hers.

  His tongue danced with hers as his fingers glibly moved and she rocked against him. “I can’t tell you,” she moaned when he finally set her lips free.

  With every ounce of strength he had, he started to pull his fingers away but she bucked to keep him inside of her. “Then I can’t―“

  “Don’t stop.” She tightening around him. Her fingers digging into his scalp.

  “I was supposed to save a girl before I went to sea. She was being mistreated by her uncle and I was to rescue her and then marry her.”

  Sarah stilled underneath him. Her lips eased back, her eyes wide. His finger was still inside of her. “Her uncle is stealing from the crown. The Prince Regent intended to find the girl a powerful husband, powerful enough to protect her and punish the uncle. The bastard was about to do something terrible to his poor niece and I was to swoop in and rescue her before that could happen.”

  Sarah’s eyes seemed to take up half her face and her skin had gone pale. “Then what?” she whispered.

  He gave her a smile. “Prinny hoped that she would be so happy I rescued her that she would agree to become my wife. I am the second son and with this match, I would have a chance to be part of an estate. I would have a legacy to leave my children.”

  “What happened?” she pulled his hair and bit her lip. It made him throb but he ignored it.

  “Just as I was about to rescue her, she disappeared. I thought her uncle might have killed her. But when I started to investigate, Prinny sent me to capture One Eye. I thought he was angry with me for failing on my first mission, but somehow, here you are.”

  She pushed at his chest and
he slipped his finger out of her and allowed her the space she needed. Sarah scrambled into a sitting position and backed up against the headboard, fear etched on her face. “You’re lying to me. You’ve been sent by my uncle to bring me back―“ Her hand clamped over her mouth.

  Rex gave her a long look. This had been his fear in telling her the truth. But they weren’t going to get anywhere if one of them didn’t start talking. “I am not lying to you and I am most certainly not working for your uncle. He will get caught and you will take your rightful place as countess.”

  Sarah stared at him unblinking. When she didn’t utter a word, he spoke again, “If you don’t trust me, then trust yourself. From the fist moment you met me, you were not afraid. Doesn’t that tell you something?”

  She shook her head. “You know what he was going to do to me?”

  Rex grimaced. “I do.”

  He reached his hand out to her and she took it. “It was awful.”

  “Tell me,” he pulled her into his arms, wrapping her up on his lap. She snuggled into him.

  “They touched me, squeezed…” She took a breath. “He wanted me to suffer, though I don’t know why.”

  “How did you get away?” he asked.

  “As the bidding started, a fight broke out. I was right next to the door. I slipped out.” Sarah’s voice cracked on the last word and she stopped to take a deep breath.

  Rex nodded. As difficult as it was to hear, he wanted her to share all of it so he could take some of the burden for her.

  “I was so sure any second I would be caught and punished for running away, the way I had the first time when I had gone to my father’s friend. But, when I reached the back hall, my old driver was there. He and my father’s housekeeper were attempting a rescue. They took me to a hotel near the docks, where I hid for three days until they could collect enough money to put me on the Anna Claire. They gave up their life savings to put me on that boat. I saw the sailors that worked for my uncle pass by my window every day. We could have all been caught. They risked so much to save me.

  His lips brushed her temple. “If you hadn’t slipped out the door, I would have whisked you off. We might be married right now.”

  She tipped her head back to look at him. Her wide blue eyes met his, her swollen lips curved in a smile. Her eyebrows arched up as she gave him an assessing look. It made him hungry for her all over again. “We could be married?”

  He kissed her again. In his wild imaginings, he would never have believed that this beautiful angel could be his. The way she kissed, she might be the devil. She was tempting him beyond reason. Now that he had her in his arms, he was never letting go. “We could be, still.”

  ***

  Sarah blinked. Was he proposing? Her hand reached up to touch the column of his neck where his skin was exposed. It centered her reeling mind. He knew who she was, what had happened to her. What was more, he claimed to be her rescuer. By all intents and purposes, he seemed to be telling the truth.

  But when she had been at her family friend’s home, he had received a letter stamped with the Prince Regent’s seal claiming that he was to send her back to her father’s brother. Lord Macy had been quick to comply and her uncle had punished her with public humiliation for her crimes. That was how she had ended up at the gentlemen’s club.

  “When?” she slid open a button of his shirt. When had she gotten so brazen? He was right, she had never been afraid of him. Well, perhaps just that first second. But something in her instinctually trusted him; and he seemed to bring out her braveness.

  His lips captured hers in what started as a light kiss. But both were panting by the time he raised his lips. “Today,” he said between kisses.

  “Should…” she got out before his lips came down on hers, “We…” another kiss, “Wait?” she finally managed to get out.

  “It will be our wedding day anyway,” his husky voice rasped as he laid her back down on the bed.

  Sarah smiled. Truth be told, she could hardly wait for him to finish what he had started. His hand slipped under her gown and she spread her legs further apart to allow him access. With a searing kiss, his hand travelled up her leg but when he reached her thigh, a knock sounded at the door.

  Sarah snapped her legs closed and sat up, a blush climbing up her cheeks. A lady shouldn’t be behaving like this. As she scrambled to climb off the bed, Rex easily caught her and pulled her back onto his lap. “Ignore it, they will go away.”

  “I have forgotten myself. I shouldn’t have allowed this.” She started to push away again but he trapped her against himself with his strong arms.

  “I won’t allow you to escape so easily.” His lips found hers again and she sighed into them. The pounding at the door became more insistent.

  “Sir, you are needed below deck,” a voice called.

  “Go away,” Rex barked then captured Sarah’s lips again.

  “It’s One Eye, Captain. He says he was sent for Miss Sarah. Says he has information. I thought you would want to know.” Sanders’ voice called from the other side of the door.

  Sarah went very still in Rex’s arms. How did a pirate know her name?

  UNEXPECTED TREASURE

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Rex’s arms tightened around her. “I need to go talk to him.”

  Sarah nodded her agreement. “I’m coming too.” She bounced off of his lap and headed to the mirror, pulling pins out of her hair to redo it. She began using the shaving mirror on the wall to give her hair some semblance of order.

  “I’m not sure that is a good idea.” Rex came to stand behind her. His hands gathered up her hair, running his fingers through it.

  Sarah closed her eyes. Rex was going to distract her. The feel of his fingers in her hair sent a little shiver running down her spine. “Please, I’ve been so afraid. I need to do this. I need to know what is happening.”

  He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “All right. But you must promise if One Eye is inappropriate you will let Sanders--”

  “I will be fine. He can’t touch me, I am strong enough to withstand his words.”

  Rex gave her a glowing smile in the mirror. “That’s my girl.”

  She quirked an eyebrow at him. Was she really his girl? “All of this time, you were really plotting to save me? Why would the Prince Regent go so far to protect me?”

  He sighed. “I would like to tell you that he cares deeply about all his subjects. But the truth is, you’re estate is strategically placed for military and shipping operations. It can be used for the Crown, or in the case of your uncle, against it. Prinny would prefer the former.”

  Sarah gasped. The pieces were falling into place. “But my father’s friend, Lord Mercer? He said that he received a message from the Prince Regent demanding that I be sent back to my uncle.”

  Rex grimaced, seeming to think on it. “I’m not entirely certain. Either Lord Mercer is in league with your uncle, and lied to you about Prinny’s letter, or your uncle has acquired the Prince Regent’s seal and faked the note. But the Prince Regent did not send Lord Mercer a missive. He is actively working to rid you, and himself, of your uncle.”

  “And One Eye?”

  “Well, let’s find out.” He reached for hand and Sarah placed her hand in is much larger one. The fear she had been carrying melted away.

  One Eye was being held deep in the hull of the ship. Sarah has somehow expected an actual jail but instead he was locked in a small room. It did have a tiny window with bars, so it felt a little like visiting a prisoner.

  There was a sailor stationed just outside the door. “Captain,” he barked as Rex approached.

  One Eye instantly appeared in the barred window. “You’ve brought company.” His unpatched eye devoured her.

  Rex was still holding her hand and he gave it a squeeze. Despite the situation, Sarah straightened her shoulders.

  “I am curious to know why you were targeting the Anna Marie. It was a small ship, barely worth your tim
e.”

  One Eye’s gaze swung from her to Rex, his eye now weary. “I got information for you, but it comes at a price.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “I know what happens to captured pirates, hanged or worse. I want my life.” One Eye grabbed the bars with his hands.

  Rex cocked his head to one side. “You’ve stolen directly from the crown. I don’t know that I can make that promise.”

  “He was going to give her to us. Said she looked like an angel. All we had to do was make her disappear.” One Eye looked her up and down once again, a leer on his face.

  Sarah shivered, not only from his expression but also because of what he had said. It wasn’t just a chance pirate attack but that someone, most likely her uncle, had sent these violent men after her. She had endangered Anne and Mrs. Flannery and her attempt to keep her identity secret had been for nothing. He had known where she was all along.

  If it hadn’t been for Rex… she glanced at the man next to her. His face was set in hard lines, as though it were made of stone. Rex stood firmly between her and the worst her uncle was trying to throw at her. What was more, he had been protecting her long before she had known it. She owed everything to him.

  “Some men have been shipped to an island rather than being sentenced to death. If your information is good enough, I can arrange for you to be brought there.”

  “That ain’t a guarantee.” One Eye’s knuckles were white on the bars.

  “It’s the best you’ll get.” Rex’s voice was low, though Sarah could sense the tension in it.

  The other man paused for several seconds. “Wentworth, done sent us after ‘er.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, ‘e isn’t gonna tell the likes of me now is ‘e? But he’s been keepin’ us busy, chasin’ after the crown’s gold. ‘E don’t keep but a crate or two and we get the rest.”

  “How does he know what ships to target?”