The nearnessof him never ceased to make me weak, influencing my mind and body.And my heart. “You know why,” I whispered.
Henry pinchedmy chin between his finger and thumb, forcing my gaze upward. “Iwant to hear you say the words. I deserve as much, do I not?”
The deep raspin his voice was like hot wax melting down my center. “Because… Ilove you.” I felt the breath catch in his chest as the pirate tookmy mouth in desperation, the sorrow he carried giving way andmaking room for me again. I was where I was meant to be, there, inHenry’s arms. I never wanted him to let me go. Then an idea came tolife in my mind and I laughed to myself for not considering itbefore.
“Henry,”I managed to speak. Our mouths still entwined. He moaned a responseand refused to stop kissing me. “Come with me.”
Everythingslowed, and he broke free from our embrace. “What? To the future?”He spoke the words, but I could tell he didn’t believe them.
“Yes,come back. Be with me,” I pleaded. The more I thought about it, themore it made sense. I pulled out the snow globe key chain again andhanded it to him. “We could live together in my home by the ocean.I could run my parent’s bakery. It’s beautiful and quiet, you couldfish every day.”
I could seehim contemplating it as he examined the tiny, foreign object. Isaw, then, the yearning in his eyes for the life he once wanted.“What would I do there? What about my crew?” Henry shook his headand began to walk away. “Dianna, I don’t belong three hundred yearsin the future. I have no grasp of what that even means.”
My hand tookhis and pulled him back to me. “You belong with me. Wherever thatmight take us.” I placed a gentle kiss on his mouth. “And you toldme once, Gus was a captain, right? Couldn’t he captain The Devil’sHeart in your place?” He wouldn’t respond, only stared off into avoid above my head. And then my guts turned heavy at a thought. “Imean, unless you don’t want to be with me anymore.”
Henrysnapped out of his daze and his black eyes pierced my heart.“Christ, Dianna, there’s nothing in this world I want more. I craveyou more than I desire to breathe, to eat, even. Nothing I’d experiencedaboard The Burning Ghost came close to preparing me for the tormentI’ve endured the last few days.”
His gloriousmouth, the words that spilled from it, and the delicious scent ofhim pulled me in like a siren’s call. My breathing quickened, andhot goosebumps scoured my body at the very thought of having him. Iremoved my jacket and let it fall to the floor, my partiallyexposed breasts heaving and inviting him to take me.
“No,” hesaid to my surprise, “I can’t. I won’t. Not after…”
Did he see meas tainted? Now that my body had been violated? Or now that he knewMaria’s blood ran in my veins. I recoiled at the thought. “Y-youdon’t want me?”
Henry grabbeda quilted blanket from the bed and came to wrap it around myshoulders before scooping me into his arms, something he alwaysseemed to do with ease.
“I willalways want you, Time Traveller.” I mirrored his grin at theendearing nickname. “And I shall. Soon. But not tonight.” He laidme down on the bed and wrapped the blanket tight. “No, tonight,I’ll take comfort in knowing you’re safe and in myarms.”
And that’sexactly where I remained.
Chapter Sixteen
The Devil’s Heart anchored just off the shore ofthe small coastal community of Cuper’s Cove. I laid in bed thatmorning, with the velvet curtains closing me in, while I listenedto Henry, Gus, and Finn discuss where to stop.
“Wedon’t want word to spread that we’ve arrived,” Gus pointedout.
“There’san inlet right ‘ere,” Finn jumped in, “It’s not on the map. But Iknow it’s there, I’ve seen it with me own eyes. We could dropanchor, remain hidden, and come in over the hills here.”
“Right,then,” Henry agreed, and I heard the shuffle of maps being rolledaround, “We meet landfall in two hours. Go, ready theship.”
A coupleof hours later, I found myself leaving behind ourrowboats and hiking thesmall foothillsbehind Cuper’s Cove and quickly realized where we were. Istopped and stood, placing my hand over my brow to block outthe blazing sunabove.
“This isCupids,” I said to Henry who walked next to me. He hadn’t let meleave his sight since the night before.
“What doyou mean?” he asked.
“Thisplace,” I continued but lowered my voice so only he could hear, “Iknow it. It’s called Cupids where I come from. We all know it asthe very first British settlement on the North American continent.It’s the first English and Irish colony in Newfoundland. Like,ever. It would totally make sense for a Gaelic witch to be hidinghere. She’s probably with her people.”
Henry smiled,taking it all in. “I never realized how strange you speaksometimes.” Then he took my hand in his. “But I wager we’re in theright place, then, Time Traveler. Shall we?”
We decided tosplit up into two groups, to scour the area better and faster.Finn, Gus, and Charlie–who’d insisted on coming against Henry’sorders–and then Henry and I. Before we went our separate ways, Ifelt compelled to say something to Charlie.
I cupped hissweet child-like face in one of my hands. “Now, please, be careful.Don’t do anything stupid. Don’t be a hero.” He looked confused atthe last request. “Just… be invisible. Find out whateverinformation you can and then head back to the boats. Okay?”
He nodded.“Yes, milady.” Then the boy shot Henry a brave look. “Don’t letanything happen to Dianna.”
Henry foughtback a grin and feigned a look of offense. “Never, my good man. Youcan be sure the lady is in good hands.”
I watched asCharlie skipped off to join his group.
“Finn iscorrect,” Henry spoke, “The boy adores you.”
I smirked.“Jealous?” Henry only laughed in good sport. “He’s sweet, andprobably one of your most loyal men. I think he could easily takemy place as the
