Bad Boys Ahoy!

collapse.'

Pulling her upright, Sebastian possessed her mouth, thrusting his tongue inside just as he had thrust his cock. His skilled hands caressed her curves with disarming familiarity. Within moments, she was clinging to his powerful body, gasping with pleasure. He ripped her gown open, sending scores of tiny cloth-covered buttons flying in every direction. Excitement coursed through her blood, even as her mind still waged its protest.

'This changes nothing,' she repeated.

'Remind yourself of that when I'm done,' he growled arrogantly, shoving her dress to the floor. He spun her around and tore at her tapes, quickly divesting her of her petticoats and corset without care for the costly garments.

'Sebastian-'

'Umm… say my name again, sweeting. I love the way you say it.'

She melted. 'Sebastian.'

He pulled her chemise over her head and tossed it aside before lifting her and carrying her to the bed, his mouth pressed firmly against her forehead. 'I've missed you terribly.'

Olivia shook her head, her eyes burning with unshed tears. She tugged the ribbon from his queue, freeing his silky raven locks. 'I should be stronger. I should resist you. You've hurt me terribly. Perhaps if I had a blade or a pistol-'

'Neither one could keep me from you.'

Then why had he left? More important, she needed to know why he'd returned.

'I love you, Olivia.'

Stiffening against him, she leaned back to search his face. Sebastian stared back with tender blue eyes, and Olivia bit back a sob. She'd longed for his love, and she longed to believe it was real. But she couldn't trust him, and because of that lack, instead of joy, his words brought only pain.

'Why do you look so shocked, sweet? Surely you must have suspected how I felt.' He laid her on the bed as if she were the most priceless of treasures.

'You came back because you love me?' she queried bitterly. 'Only a besotted fool would believe that.'

'I didn't come back because I love you.'

She frowned, confused.

'I left because I love you.'

Sebastian settled atop her and lowered his lips, effectively silencing her forthcoming questions with devastating kisses. His hard, expert mouth moved over hers, weakening her defenses, reminding her of the pleasure to be found in his arms. He rolled, taking her with him, freeing his hands to roam with questing tenderness. Hot flicks of his tongue caressed the roof of her mouth and stroked against hers. Lord, she'd almost forgotten how well the man could kiss!

His mouth was wicked, divine, and he kissed her as if he were feasting on the taste of her. Her womb clenched on the verge of orgasm. She wiggled her hips until his cock was wedged at the moist entrance to her body.

'Wait!' he gasped, tearing his mouth from hers, but she paid him no heed, sliding onto his throbbing cock with a pleasured moan. 'Olivia!'

Instantly his torso bucked off the bed, lifting her with him, and he was coming deep within her, crying out hoarsely as his hot seed spurted with wrenching shudders. His arms came around her in a crushing embrace, his body shivering with powerful tremors.

Olivia held him close, wondering at the feel of him, hot and hard and jerking beneath her. When he was drained, she followed him back into the pillows.

'Ah, sweeting,' he murmured hoarsely, stroking her spine. 'I'm sorry. I couldn't stop it. It's been too long.'

'I understand.'

'Give me a moment to regain my senses, and I will pleasure you until morning.'

His words, meant to entice, filled her with dread. She slipped off him while he was still too sated to stop her. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Olivia ran a hand through her hair, dislodging her hairpins. 'You left me, Sebastian.'

'I had good cause,' he insisted, rolling to face her. 'Originally I agreed to stay only for the short time you asked of me. But when you told me you loved me, it changed everything. I realized I loved you and wanted to be with you, but I had my men to take care of, and my ship. I had to sever my ties with them before I could begin anew with you.'

Olivia brushed away the tear that escaped and took a deep, shuddering breath. So much resentment, fear, and even a touch of wary hope warred within her that she was overwhelmed with emotion.

She looked over her shoulder at her husband, her heart aching at the sight of his resplendent nakedness and his beloved hair, spread out across her lacy pillows. Somehow the highly feminine trappings of her bed only emphasized his potent masculinity. But it was his gaze that most devastated her, full of longing and love and a hint of fear. She looked away, unable to bear it. 'You were gone for four months.'

His fingertips moved over her back in a rhythmic caress. 'I gave my ship to Will and settled my accounts with the crew. It was my intention to cast off immediately and return to you.'

'But you didn't.'

'No,' he agreed. 'For good reason. There are twin brothers-pirates, I'm ashamed to say I associated with. I've angered them, and they are not men to forgive a perceived slight. The night we left Barbados they demanded you in payment of my debt.'

'Me?'

'Yes, you. Will informed me that the serving maid at the inn where you stayed was approached by one of the brothers. He asked questions about you, Olivia. He learned your identity. I could not allow the situation to progress any further. You were in danger because of me.'

She spun to face him. 'What did you do?'

Sebastian reached for her hand and laced his fingers with hers. 'I waited for the pirates to return to the island, and when they did, I fought with the more vicious of the two and killed him. The other managed to escape. I hunted him, but he's hidden himself away. I have every reason to believe he'll stay hidden. Pierre was never much of a threat without Dominique.'

Olivia traced the swirling pattern in the Aubusson rug with her toe. 'You could have told me of your plans.'

'You were asleep,' he explained defensively. 'I'd kept you awake the whole of the night and thought it best to leave quietly. I wrote you a letter.'

She stood and paced the length of the bed. 'That was no letter, my lord. That was a few lines of hastily scrawled words.'

'I was reluctant to write more,' he admitted.

She paused. 'Why?'

He met her gaze with such earnestness that her barely mending heart broke all over again. 'If I'd delayed too long-if I'd attempted to say good-bye-I never would have been able to leave you, especially if you'd begged to come with me, which I suspected you might. Denying you would have been impossible, and it was too dangerous for you to accompany me.' Sitting up, he crossed his long legs. 'Olivia. My wife. My love. Can you understand?' He held his hands out to her, pleading.

'No, Sebastian.' She shook her head. 'You left for yourself. Not for me. You-'

'That's not true, damn it!'

'It is! You ran because that is what you do. You've been running your whole life-from your family, your responsibilities, everything. This time you were running from me.' She growled with frustration and clenched her fists. 'Beautiful, damaged man that you are. I thought I could fix you, heal you, but I cannot.'

He leapt from the bed and caught her by the shoulders. 'Listen to me.'

'No, you listen to me!' She stomped her bare foot. 'You broke my heart, Sebastian Blake. Left me to the wolves while you regrouped and gathered your defenses-against me't I was getting too close, becoming too important, you-'

'Important?' he scoffed, shaking her. 'You are everything to me. I've given up all that I had for you!'