"Sure. Why not?" She shrugged, enjoying his stumbling.

"Before men?" he exploded. "Like this?" He waved the paper again.

She rummaged in the bag and came out with a hot pink Italian design that would fit in a Band-Aid box. He lifted the sc.r.a.ps and strings, unable to discover the proper angle in which he could imagine-ahh, b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l! he thought, tossing it in her lap.

"You may as well discard the thing," he said mat-ter-of-factly. "You will not be wearing it again."

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"And what if I want to?" she said defiantly, trying to keep a straight face.

"Sweet Christ, Tess!*' He leapt to his feet, grabbing the bikini and holding it under her nose. " Tis no more than spinnakers of a child's sail toy!" he raged, then threw it aside and rubbed the back of his neck, looking at the floor. "G.o.d's teeth, to think you paraded before a pack of rutting stags in that-that- dressmaker's leavings-!"

"I meant just for you, Dane," she cut into his tirade.

Dane's head jerked up, and he finally noticed the laughter in her eyes. "You did that a'purpose," he accused softly, his shoulders relaxing.

"Guilty as charged," she giggled. Seeing him openly display his jealousy made her feel all warm and b.u.t.tery inside. "You're heartless, Tess."

"Hey, you wanted to know. Believe it or not, this will be the height of fashion," she taunted, the bikini dangling from her fingertip, and he groaned miserably. "Cost me sixty dollars."

"Sixty?" he sputtered, dropping into the chair. Dane thought of the cargo equivalent to that exorbitant figure and shuddered at the comparison. His gaze rested on the contents from her satchel and he scowled.

"This is your time, Dane, and I'll play by your rules." She paused, mischief making her cheeks rosy. "Well, most of the time."

Only his eyes shifted. " "Twill be a first, for you have not as yet."

She tried to look indignant. "Are you accusing me 270.

of improper behavior, sir?"

"For my century."

Her face fell. "Have I embarra.s.sed you that much?"

"Nay, the thought never occurred to me!" He seemed surprised she would ask. Then he caught her hand. "But I fear tis me that has embarra.s.sed you."

She frowned. "How could you possibly?"

"We've shared this cabin, Tess, yet have spoken no vows."

She jerked free. "Don't do this, Dane."

"I must-"

"Look -in the twentieth century men and women don't marry so they can enjoy each other."

"But you are no longer there, Tess." His voice was tight.

"I know that!" she snapped. "Let's just leave it to my upbringing, okay? Jeez," she rubbed her forehead, "I can't believe we're having this conversation. Any man would be delighted not to be chained just to sleep with a woman!"

His eyes narrowed dangerously, his words cool and measured: "I am not like-!"

"I know, I know," she interrupted, her temper suddenly defused. Her expression went all soft and feline as she looked him over. Yeah, he was different all right. "I was well aware of that when we first slept together, Dane."

He flashed her a c.o.c.ky grin, lopsided and s.e.xy, and Tess wanted to climb all over him when he looked at her like that. "My memory of that night, love, is definitely not of sleeping."

"Mine either," she murmured huskily, slipping off 271.

the desk. He stared at her, not saying a word as she climbed easily onto his lap. The look on his tanned face was suddenly fierce, agonized, yet so hotly possessive that she frowned, reaching up to touch his cheek. "Dane?"

Abruptly his hand dove into her hair, the other wrapping tightly around her as he claimed her mouth, feasting on her lips as if to draw her inside himself and keep her there. During the past hours a bizarre fear had engulfed the sea captain. Aye, he silently admitted, deepening his kiss. He was deathly afraid of losing Tess~to her own time.

272.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO.

Like a black sabre slicing through azure silk, the Sea Witch plunged across the sparkling waters. Canvas snapped, filling with power, carrying the frigate to her charted destiny. On the quarterdeck, Dane sighted through the gla.s.s, scanned the surface, then called out his orders. The boatswain's whistle shrilled, singing across the wind. Bare-chested men in tattered breeches hustled up the rigging to do as they were bid.

"Have you mola.s.ses in your veins?" Gaelan bellowed cheerily to the crew. "Stand fast, mates, we've new lands to discover!"

The spygla.s.s poised, Dane measured his first officer. "You seemed rather pleased this morn, Gaelan?"

Gaelan glanced to his right, looking a bit sheepish. "I admit I thirst for solid ground beneath me this voyage, sir."

A ghost of a smile danced across Dane's lips as he raised the gla.s.s to his eye. "I daresay you thirst for more than ground beneath you, man."

"Aye, sir. A soft, sweet-smelling la.s.s would be to my liking," he said dreamily. "Wearing those whatever- 273.

they-are that rustle so delicately, enticing a man to imagine the warm treasures that lie beyond-" He cleared his throat and straightened when the captain lowered the spygla.s.s and looked at him with raised brows. " Tis difficult not to think of much else, Capt'n," he flushed, "with the Lady Renfrew about- ah - sir."

Dane said nothing, returning his gaze to the sea. Aye, he thought, he had been sorely tested not to keep the woman thoroughly occupied in his bed since they'd met.

Gaelan made a sound of pure misery, then said, "Ahh G.o.d. Twill never be soon enough, sir."

Tess stood on the lower deck in a soft cloud of royal blue silk, searching for Dane. She spied him on the quarterdeck, did a sedate spin, then curtsied primly. She felt wonderfully pampered. This morning she'd awakened to a woman's fantasy: a roomful of new, expensive clothes. Surrounding the bed were three sea chests br.i.m.m.i.n.g with gowns in silk, lace, brocade, rich velvets in hunter green, black, burgundy, subtly trimmed and elegant. The height of eighteenth-century fashion, she knew, still awed by the extravagant collection. Each gown was accompanied by matching corsets, petticoats, stockings, and dainty satin slippers adorned with little bows or beads. But it was the slip of parchment scrolled with dark masculine writing that touched her most: Welcome to my century, love. Oh Blackwell, what am I going to do with you? she wondered happily, then walked aft.

A sharp oof spilled from Gaelan's lips when the captain, without looking, shoved the spygla.s.s in his stomach and strode toward her.

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"No, don't come down. I can manage," she said, gathering her skirts in one hand and ascending the nearly vertical steps up to the quarterdeck, unaware that every man aboard had paused in his work to view the brief display of trim ankles. Over the top of her head, Dane sent them an icy look meant to maim as he leaned down to help her.

His gaze drifted from the silk draped in lush folds like a shawl about her bare shoulders to the swells of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s br.i.m.m.i.n.g the delicate fabric. The la.s.s was asking to be ravished.

"Sweet Christ, Tess. I'd no idea 'twas so revealing," he whispered close to her ear as she stepped onto the deck.

"I know." She fought the urge to tug at the low cut bodice. "Just compare this to my bikini, and you'll be fine," she replied in a husky tone, and he groaned, winding her arm through his.

"The woman has come two hundred years to prove me naught but a rutting beast in her presence," he murmured lowly, his gaze caught in hers.

"A rutting beast, eh? Care to elaborate?" She stole a quick look down his body, and those tight green pants left nothing to her imagination. "Or maybe demonstrate?"

His breath hissed through clenched teeth. "Woman, do you seek to torture me before my officers and crew?" His breeches tightened across his hips, and he shoved a hand in his pocket. She laughed, quiet and throaty, the sound snapping further at his control.

"You know, you didn't have to leave last night."

"Aye, 'twas necessary," he chided softly, failing to ignore the invitation in those smoky eyes; like last eve, 275.

when she was drowsy and playful, purring like a soft kitten, trying to entice him to join her on the coverlet. I should receive a b.l.o.o.d.y commendation for gallantry, he decided. "And I seem to recall a promise to yield to the ways of this century, Tess."

"Hey, I'm dressed for the part, aren't I?"

His grin was quick with approval. "Change naught but the clothing, love."

A little spark burst in her chest, and the soft squeeze on his arm kept him from taking another step. "I want to thank you, Dane. You've got great taste. The clothes-they're like a fairy tale. I've never worn anything so -"she spread the skirts sprinkled with gla.s.s beads-"breathtaking."

He turned fully, his smile revealing straight white teeth. " Tis time, then."

Tess's heart skipped a beat, then tumbled in her chest. Time. It hit her all over again where she was and with whom.

"A good morning to you, Lady Renfrew," Gaelen said with slight bow.

"Yeah, it is, Mr. Thorpe." Her skirts swished in the breeze and she thought she heard him moan. Dane fought a smile, and out of the corner of her eye she saw sailors removing crates through the forward hatch. "Is that more booty from one of your captured vessels, pirate lord?" She nodded toward the bow. Dane chuckled, catching the shocked look of his first officer. When Gaelan opened his mouth, the first mate felt the captain's silencing glare like a sabre's p.r.i.c.k.

Gunfire cracked, and she jolted, b.u.mping into Dane. His hands rested on her waist with a gentle weight, and he could feel her tense fear give release.

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Trust. She trusted him. He'd cherish the garnered honor close to his heart.

Shielding her eyes from the sun's glare, Tess watched as the Tt.i.ton came swiftly about the windward side, moving so close alongside the Witch she thought they'd collide, but the meeting was smooth, graceful, like lovers*sweeping into a gentle dance. Ramsey was perched high on the mainmast rigging, swinging with the dip of the vessel, and Tess felt Dane's grip tighten.

They watched as Ramsey adjusted his footing, then pushed off the spar, sailing across the water at the end of a thick rope. He landed with vibrating thump on the deck a few feet before Tess.

He took in her attire from slippers to bared shoulders as he straightened.

"Morning, m'lady," he murmured with a quick bow, his eyes feasting on the delectable sight as he tugged at his cuff.

She nodded in response, her lips twitching. "You sure got a thing for grand entrances, don't you, O'Keefe?"

"The lady prefers something more subtle?"

"From you? You've got to be kidding." She laughed, and Ramsey was caught again by the stunning beauty of this woman.

Ram turned to Dane.

" 'Tis there," he said excitedly. "By G.o.d, man!" He smacked his fist into his palm. "Exactly where you predicted!"

"Whoa, wait a sec," Tess interrupted, wondering if she'd heard right. "What's there?"

Ram's gaze shifted briefly to Tess. "The island we've sought, m'lady," he replied as if she should know, then 277.

looked back to Dane. "Her port is small, yet her township is nothing like we imagined. The Barstow is moored in her harbor,'.' he added with a touch of rancor. "She's been repainted, but her figurehead is unmistakable."

"You mean you've been there?" she nearly shrieked, her temper boiling.

"Aye, from a distance, of course."

Petulantly she folded her arms over her middle. "When, O'Keefe? Exactly?"

He frowned. "Why, the morn after the squall, m'lady."

"What!" She rounded on Dane, hands on her hips, her body trembling with anger. "You-you sent the Triton ahead-!" Before he'd found the coin, flitted through her mind, and she nearly choked on what that meant.

Dane smoothed a thumb and forefinger over an imaginary moustache, trying to hide his smile as the fire suddenly fizzled out of her. Her features softened into a tender smile, and her eyes misted as she stepped closer, lightly resting her hand on his forearm.

Ramsey tensed, unable to tear his gaze from the delicate fingers smoothing over Dane's skin. "That was sneaky," he heard her say. "Just like a pirate."

Ram's head snapped up, his brows raised in astonishment. Surely the woman knew 'twas not the case? Yet Dane seemed to enjoy the insult, making Ramsey wonder what else he was keeping from the lady.

Dane had read her pamphlet that told of the history of the small island. For over one hundred years the small paradise had flourished as a haven for hardened criminals fleeing the law. A true pirate's lair, he 278.

thought, looking down at Tess.

But her attention was riveted somewhere beyond him. Dane followed the direction of her gaze.

Sailors reached into wooden crates, removed pistols and muskets, loading the weapons with quick, efficient steps. Tess stared, somewhat awed at what she saw. The crew was acting differently now, no unnecessary chatter, their movements practiced, professional.

She looked questioningly at Dane. "You aren't going to attack this puny island, storm the beaches, that sort of thing, are you?" Reality suddenly crashed in on her. What kind of future do I have with an outlaw? Then wondered why she was thinking along those lines to begin with.

Dane seemed to struggle with a decision, then burst with, " 'Tis not your concern."

Flame lit her silver-gray eyes. "Don't give me that c.r.a.p again, Blackwell! 'Tis my concern, I deciphered those rudders." She poked his chest, "I told you where this island was, so don't go spouting that 'I am man, you are mere woman' crud. Are you going to attack?" She thumped his chest with every word.

Dane looked down at her. G.o.d, she was glorious in her rage. " Tis not my intention to -"his lips quivered-"storm the beaches, la.s.s."

"Promise?"

"Aye," he answered without hesitation.

"Good," she harumphed, then moved toward the rail to watch the sailors. Dane turned to Ram, who was looking rather strangely at Tess.