Heather raised a brow. “I’ve played against this ship before. They’re really fast.”
“So ye better rally yer crew, captain.”
Oh shit, hearing his true nautical accent had her heart racing as she faced the screen again. She reset the course for her ship toward the island.
The pirate flag unfurled at the top of the mast and her virtual captain shouted to the crew, “Full sails ahead! Land ho!”
She glanced over at Drake and found him engrossed in the sailing ships on the screen. The strong angles of his profile matched the strength of his character, and seeing him enjoying something on the computer warmed her heart. If she could figure out how to get his nephew to stop haunting him, there was a chance she could lure this immortal pirate into the twenty-first century.
The Spanish ship was closing the distance between them. Heather quickly clicked the keys to load the rest of the cannons. “They’re going to be in firing range soon.”
“Aye.” Drake pulled her closer and pressed his lips to her temple, short-circuiting her brain for a moment. “Right where we want them, love.”
This was her first time really encountering his piratical side. She liked it.
Drake leaned in for a closer look at the screen. “Tell them to drop the anchor off the bow only.”
“Wait. We’re stopping?” She frowned.
His eyes sparkled, and his devilish grin left her breathless. “Nah, the ship will swing around. Get ready to fire the cannons.”
“Okay.” She wasn’t completely convinced, but she did as he asked. Her captain shouted, “Drop the anchor! Prepare to fire!”
As soon as the anchor caught the rocky sea floor, the ship groaned, turning into the wind.
“Boom about, mateys!” the captain bellowed. “Bring a spring upon her cable. Tie down the lines!”
Heather watched the maneuver play out on the screen, her jaw going slack as the pirate ship spun around, the cannons now aimed directly at the Spanish galleon. The Spanish crew scrambled to slow the ship and turn, but the wind was at her back.
Drake placed his hand over hers, his voice deep and low. “Not yet. A little closer.”
She worried her lower lip, her fingers hovering over the keys.
“Now,” Drake whispered. “Fire.”
Heather gave the command, and the cannons came alive on the computer screen. Smoke and gunpowder turned the blue sky into a thick gray. Across the screen, the cannonballs hit their mark, opening giant holes in the Spanish ship.
“It worked!” Heather exclaimed, bouncing on the sofa.
“Fire one more round, then we plunder the ship.”
She bumped against Drake’s chest. “I love the way you think.”
“Fire!” the virtual captain shouted.
Wood splintered and exploded from the Spanish ship. Heather clicked the screen to lower the boats. Her virtual crew piled into them, rowing over to the wounded Spanish galleon.
She turned toward Drake with a grin. “You’re a genius.”
“Nah.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m a pirate.”
He stared into her eyes and slowly kissed her. She set her laptop aside as her lips caressed his. His arm slid down her back, and he pulled her closer. She didn’t resist, in fact, she pivoted toward him, sliding her leg over his until she was straddling his lap.
His growl of approval sent a tremor of lust through her entire body.
Whatever insecurities had taunted her earlier, her desire for this man blotted them out. He stood up, taking her with him. His strong hands gripped her ass as she clasped her legs around his waist. He carried her toward the stairs, and from the couch came the familiar ping of the Skull & Crossbones messenger.
Queenie could wait. She’d tell her all about it tomorrow.
Chapter Fourteen
Drake reached the top of the stairs, Heather in his arms like she’d always belonged there, and forced himself to break the kiss. “Which way?”
“You can put me down,” Heather whispered, her lips brushing his.
“Just guide me.”
She pointed to the left. “My room is at the end of the hall.”
Her teeth teased his neck, and the heat of her tongue on his skin had his erection threatening to burst through his jeans. He lurched forward with a steady pace toward the mahogany door. Freeing one hand from her backside, he twisted the knob and stepped into her room, but as he turned to close it, she reached over and gave it a push.
“I got it.”
The breathiness in her voice added to his hunger for her as the door slammed behind him. If he wasn’t buried inside of her soon, he would go mad. He headed for the antique queen-size bed, and even delirious with desire, the carpenter in him couldn’t help but admire the polished walnut sleigh-style bed.
Sturdy.
He lay over her on the mattress, his hand sliding up underneath her skirt. Her skin was soft against his calloused hands, and he struggled to keep from gripping her too tight as he claimed her lips again. Heather’s hand covered his, encouraging his fingers to be anything but gentle.
Smiling as he moved his hand farther up her leg, he kneaded the curve of her arse. Her moan tempted him to strip off her thong, open his jeans, and take her right now. He ground his teeth struggling to slow down. He hadn’t been with a woman in…decades. And never a woman he had real feelings for, not since he’d been mortal, not since Lucy.
Heather was special. She made him yearn to be the man he’d thought lost centuries ago. Tonight, he needed her naked in his arms. He wanted to lose himself in her. And he ached to give her more pleasure than she’d ever had in her life.
Even if it killed him to take it slow.
He traced his other hand down her body and removed her underwear, dropping it on the floor as he lifted her skirt even higher. Her pale skin seemed bathed in eternal moonlight, and it
