I failed tostifle a moan, but my mind spun from his touch. “Henry...”
The sound ofhis name deepened the intensity and he grabbed my legs, fingersdigging in, the pain sending shocks of pleasure through my center.The pirate lifted me up and my limbs wrapped around his waist likea snake forcing the life from its prey. His fingers twisted in myhair and then gave a little tug, so my head swung back, and ourfaces met.
“I toldyou not to speak that name, Dianna.” There was a hint of playfulness in hiswords, and he spoke my name with a deep, raspy purr. “When will youlisten?”
Ipressed my forehead to his and grinned. “Make me,Henry.”
The beast of aman walked over to the bed with me still wrapped around his waistand laid us down. His fingers still entwined in my black curls, hetugged on them once more and finally brought his mouth to mine in akiss so passionate and intense it caused me pain.
He broke awayfor a moment, leaving me gasping for air, only to whisper in myear, “Gladly.”
Chapter Eleven
I awoke the next day, the blaring morning sunhot on my face, and the events of the night before came floodingback to me. Henry laid next to me, far away in a deep sleep. Ipaused for a moment to admire the softness in his dreaming face,how the wear and tear of piracy washed away and all that remainedwas a sweet and handsome man. I wanted to reach out and caress hisjawline, to press my lips to it. But I slipped out of his bed likea ninja and gathered up my things before I snuck out thedoor.
In thehallway, I stopped long enough to shove on my trousers and blousebefore heading over to Finn’s room. I gave a quiet knock first,then heaved the door open a crack.
“Finn,”I whispered.
I noted thathis companion was gone so I slipped in and closed the door behindme. I tried to rouse him from his deep sleep, but nothing worked. Ibet the crew would be sleeping their monster hangovers off for mostof the morning, so I turned and left with a sigh. I wanted to go totown and gather my supplies but had no idea how to get there, and Ialso told Henry I would go with someone.
I glanced atthe big clock at the foot of the stairs. It was early. I couldsneak out, get my supplies, and be back before the crew was evenawake. How hard could it be to find the marketplace in a smallcommunity, anyway? So, I set out and wandered.
Itdidn’t take long to find it. The town consisted of one main roadand a bunch of smaller ones that veered off it. But the main roadled to the heart of the community where I found a nest of tablesand tents, people bustling about, and the smell of freshcodfish. With large satchelshanging from my shoulders and a wooden crate full of smallersupplies, I’d managed to get most of the items I wanted to stockthe ship’s kitchen. My arms full and weighed down by it all, a kindgentleman called out to me.
“Miss,”he called from his merchant tent. When he caught my gaze, hemotioned me over. As I neared, I saw that he sold trinkets, unlikemost of the other merchants who boasted food. “You look like youneed some help.”
I smiled. “Oh,thank you. But I couldn’t ask you to. I’m staying at The ThirstyTrout, I wouldn’t want you to leave your tent unattended for thatlong.”
Iwatched curiously as he bent behind the counter and then emerged with asmall wagon towing behind him. “Here, use this,” hesaid.
“Really?Are you sure?”
The kind mannodded. “Yes, of course. Just leave it at the Trout, I’ll come bylater to pick it up.” Not taking no for an answer, the man begangrabbing my items and filling the wagon.
“Thankyou so much,” I told him and then spotted something in histent.
A small jarturned on its side, a delicate ship inside. I walked closer to geta better look and saw that the ship bore a resemblance to TheDevil’s Heart and a grin splashed across my face. It was tooperfect. I had to get it for Henry.
“Howmuch for the ship-in-a-bottle?” I asked the merchant and fetched mysatchel of coins from my pocket.
“Now,put your money away,” he told me and scooped the bottle from histable. “I prefer to trade.”
“Oh, Idon’t really have anything of value,” I replied. “Are you sure youwon’t take coins?” I saw him eye my wrist where a small silverchain hung. It was a birthday gift from John and I hadn’t evenrealized I still wore it. What better way to get rid of it? Iunclasped the bracelet and held it up for the merchant. “But I dohave this. It’s real silver.”
The man’s eyeswidened. “Real silver?” he confirmed and shook his head. “It’s fartoo valuable. The ship is not worth it, dear.”
“Please,I insist,” I urged him, “It was a gift from a man who betrayed me.Its value means nothing to me. I’d much rather have thatship-in-a-bottle.”
He graciouslyaccepted the trade and skipped back to his tent with the bottle.“Then I insist on engraving it. Just give me a few minutes and I’llhave a name carved into the base for you.”
I was about todecline the offer but then smiled. Engraving it would be prettycool. But I knew Henry wouldn’t want his name on display for hiscrew to see. “Can you very discreetly, maybe on the bottom, carvethe initials H.W.W?”
“Ofcourse, Miss,” he replied. “Come, have a seat while youwait.”
Now that I hada wagon, I loaded up with a few more things and when I’d finishedwith the market, I made my way back to The Thirsty Trout, happywith my haul and entertained ideas of all the yummy things I wouldmake for the crew. I was still on a mission, to change Henry’s mindabout killing The
