"I can't believe this!" Sparrow muttered, slapping fat squid into an enormous pot. "Bunch of animals! Tossing people overboard! Cursing like...devils!"

For the brief moments she'd spent on deck, she'd heard more vile language than she had in her lifetime-except a few words from Lock when he was angry.

Sparrow had only been on the ship for two days, and already she hated it. She spent most of her time in the stuffy, smelly kitchen-galley-but at least there she could avoid the crew. Between their scuffles, bellowing, and bawdy songs, she was ready to leap overboard herself. Twice a day, she was forced to distribute the food she cooked, mostly fish and squid, but also beans, hard, flat bread, and some fruit. Though the men said little to her, she felt their eyes on her as soon as she stepped on deck. Their expressions of l.u.s.t made her uncomfortable. She knew it wasn't because she was an incredibly beautiful woman, but because she was the only woman on board. Still, no one approached her, and she knew it was because they feared Lock. They feared his reputation, his size and strength. They feared the harsh expression in his pale blue eyes.

Truthfully, for the first time in months, he frightened her as well. Almost as soon as they boarded, he'd become distant, cold. Hard. She knew he had to act rough as a matter of survival-both his and hers, but she missed the Lock she'd fallen in love with. She missed the farm, Shea-Ann, and Daphne. She missed sharing her bed with Lock. Two days they'd been on the ship and he hadn't slept. He worked all day with the crew and Rino had given him a double watch at night.

She hated Rino. Hated him!

He was so envious of Lock his face was nearly as green as those fiendish eyes that undressed Sparrow every time she crossed his path. The other men looked at her with desire, but Rino was worse. Rino looked as if he wanted to tear her apart like a beast in heat then toss her bleeding carca.s.s into the sea. Lock was right not to trust him, and though he'd promised to keep her safe, she wondered if he really could. Several hundred men made up Rino's crew. How could Lock defend her against so many?

She stirred the pot and began mixing ingredients to make more flatbread. Once she distributed the meal and cleaned up, she could go to sleep for the night. Hopefully Lock would join her. Rino had to let him sleep sometime. Sparrow was more concerned for his injured ribs than his lack of sleep. She'd given up worrying about his shoulder. After two attempts at st.i.tching and bandaging it, he'd had her cauterize the gash. She'd nearly been sick when she'd burned the oozing, inflamed skin, again thinking how she'd never want to be a healer. He'd told her how to treat the wound with an herbal paste from Shea-Ann, and she prayed it would be enough to ward off infection.

"Infection, broken ribs," she muttered, using her shoulder to brush a loose tendril of hair from her face. "I'll just be happy if he lives to see the next port."

He was so stubborn! The last time she'd gone on deck, she'd discreetly asked how he was feeling, and he'd snapped, "Fine! I'm busy."

She told herself he was as worried as she was and he must have been tired and sore, but still his tone had wounded her. She felt completely alone on a ship full of animals-her own lover being nearly as bad as the rest.

It was nearly dusk when she lugged food onto the deck. Men grabbed bowls and chunks of bread, nearly trampling her as they s.n.a.t.c.hed, slurped, chewed, and belched. Sparrow curled her lip in disgust and approached Lock who stood by the main mast knotting a spiky length of rope.

"Here." She extended a bowl to him.

He tossed the rope aside and took the bowl. His hand brushed hers, rough and dirty, yet it made her tingle inside. The setting sun cast reddish shadows on his face. She noted his jaw and chin were stubbled from the beard growing in. Beneath his dark skin, his face looked unusually haggard. Still, his pale eyes gleamed with fury whenever Rino pa.s.sed.

"I won't ask how you are." Sparrow tried to sound aloof.

Lock cupped her face in his hand, his thumb gently stroking her cheek.

"If you're gonna hump her, take her below!" Laughed a short, st.u.r.dily built man to Lock's left, exposing a missing tooth in his skinny lips.

Lock's elbow shot backwards into the man's face. The crewman dropped the bread he was eating and clutched his mouth. He leaned over the deck and spat blood. "b.a.s.t.a.r.d! You knocked out my other front tooth!"

"Be glad I didn't knock off your head!"

"He'd do it, too," said a gravel-voiced, gray-haired man seated by Sparrow's feet. He chewed on a hard piece of bread. "Sailed with him on the Shana Wh.o.r.e once. Seen him knock off heads, chop off hands, and other things that would make you think twice about crossing him. Lock the White. Never thought we'd be working the same deck."

"Just atill the next port, he says." A third man -rather short-legged for one so tall, giving him the look of an ape-joined their group. "Ain't that right, Lock? Then Rino be rid of you."

The gray-haired man snickered. "Ain't so sure Rino wants to be rid of him. I think he likes him where he is." He glanced at Sparrow. "Heard you bought him out of slavery, girlie. That so?"

Sparrow placed a hand on her hip and lifted her chin. "I know a good hunk of manflesh when I see it."

Lock raised an eyebrow and the men laughed.

"I like you," said the ape-man. "You got spirit. You'll need it on the Lady Fire."

Sparrow glanced at Lock before she gathered the empty bowls to clean below deck. His gaze swept her once from head to foot before he turned back to his work.

Several hours later, Sparrow curled up on a blanket in the corner of the galley. Tired, she closed her eyes, though she found it difficult to relax in the midst of such a crew.

She'd begun drifting off when she felt the presence of another in the room.

"Who's there?" she demanded, reaching for the rolling pin she kept close to her blanket.

"It's all right. Just me," Lock said, groaning softly as he settled beside her.

"You must be exhausted."

"Wouldn't be so bad if my ribs weren't killing me."

"You're never going to heal like this."

"I'm fine."

"You keep saying that." Sparrow offered him part of the blanket.

He tugged her against his chest.

"I smell like fish," she said.

"Who doesn't? Kiss me."

"Won't that destroy your illusion of frigidity with your mates up on deck?"

"I said before sarcasm doesn't suit you. Just kiss me."

Sparrow slid up his body and touched her mouth to his. His lips were soft as she remembered. She kissed his upper lip then his lower before placing her mouth over his, her tongue slipping into his moist heat. He buried a hand in her hair as his tongue met hers. When the kiss broke, he lay beneath her in silence, his breathing slow and even.

Thinking he was asleep, she lit a lantern and unb.u.t.toned his shirt to examine his ribs.

"I'll be fine," he murmured.

Her eyes shot to his. She unraveled the bandage, exposing a bruise that discolored most of his side. "That's awful. Lock, this is crazy. You can't-"

"I've had worse. Remember? Don't worry about it."

She moistened a cloth with cold seawater and placed it on his side.

"Everything's my fault anyway." His eyes slipped shut. "If I'd have asked the Empress for my freedom like you wanted me to, you wouldn't be here."

"I don't think so, Lock." She smoothed a loose white curl from his forehead. "I think once she saw you, she'd have tried to take you for herself no matter what. You wanted to avenge Thea for me. No one's ever done anything like that for me before."

"I'd do just about anything for you." He took her hand and entwined his fingers with hers as he fell asleep.

Sparrow kissed his cheek and rested her head against his shoulder. "I love you."

Lock awoke with Sparrow still cuddled beside him. The ship was silent, and he guessed it was several hours before dawn. His body ached and he dreaded the coming weeks. Without the possibility of resting his injuries, work would be painful a and plentiful, no doubt. He and Rino had hated each other for years, and had their positions been reversed, Lock would have treated Rino no better. His own discomfort meant little to him, however. The thought of Sparrow trapped on the Lady Fire twisted his gut. She didn't belong on a pirate ship with a bunch of stinking SothSea pigs. Sparrow was too good for that.

"Lock?" she whispered.

"Yeah?"

"I thought you'd sleep right through." Her fingers stroked the hair at his temples then moved to his chest.

"Hard to sleep when I'm spending so much time thinking. I'm sorry you ended up here."

"There's no use worrying about it. Once we dock, everything will be all right."

"You know what I'm thinking now?"

"Tell me."

"That I wish we were back on your farm in your bed." He tugged her close and whispered in her ear. "I wish my ribs were good so I could f.u.c.k you into oblivion."

"Umm. That sounds so good." She slipped down his body and tugged at his trousers.

"What the h.e.l.l are you doing, girl?"

"It's the least I can do after you risked your life to kill Miska."

Lock's c.o.c.k popped free and Sparrow's warm fist closed around it while her other hand grasped his b.a.l.l.s and gently squeezed.

He drew a sharp breath, his eyes slipping shut against the pleasure of her touch. "Are you crazy? We can't do this now, Sparrow."

"Shh," she breathed against his c.o.c.k head.

Lock's heart pounded when her soft, moist lips closed over the tip of his c.o.c.k. Her tongue tickled the head then ran from top to base and back again. She lapped the length of him and swirled her tongue around the head. Resisting the urge to moan his pleasure, Lock's hands sifted through her hair. He tried not to squeeze her head too hard, difficult when she began sucking him so deep into her mouth he thought she might swallow his c.o.c.k.

Lock's back arched and his head sank into the blankets as she lapped, sucked, and tickled his c.o.c.k.

"Sparrow, you better stop," he gasped, trying to keep his voice hushed. "I can't take much more."

Ignoring him, she continued her carnal work. The sensations flooding Lock's body and concentrating around his engorged c.o.c.k were enough to make his eyes cross, if they'd been open. He couldn't have forced them open if he wanted to. Trying his best to keep his panting quiet, his hands gripped her head and his hips thrust in ecstasy. He exploded, his neck throbbing and heart hammering. Somewhere in the mix of pleasure, he realized his ribs ached, but not nearly enough to keep him from enjoying one of the best o.r.g.a.s.ms of his life. Perhaps it was the danger of being discovered, or the idea that she still loved him after all, but it was a climax he'd never forget.

He lay for several moments, nearly asleep. Sparrow curled up beside him and kissed his cheek.

"I owe you, girl," he murmured.

"One day I intend to collect."

"You can wager on it."

Rino spat a mouthful of stew into the sea, wiped a gnarled hand across his mouth and narrowed his eyes in Sparrow's direction. "Tastes like s.h.i.t."

"I can only cook with what you give me."

"Put more spice in it. Cover the taste of the eel."

Sparrow s.n.a.t.c.hed the bowl from his hand. "Too much spice is not good for your stomach."

Rino grasped her upper arm and ran a tongue over his lips. "Just do what I tell you, woman."

Sparrow tugged away and walked below deck, an unsettled feeling in her breast. They'd been on the ship for almost a week, and neither Rino nor the other men had touched her. Oh, they made rude comments and the occasional bawdy gesture, but she attributed the lack of serious a.s.sault to Lock's presence. Even the Captain knew better than to push her too far. He knew Lock had little choice but to obey him, but Sparrow sensed a part of Rino didn't want to risk inciting Lock's wrath. Perhaps Rino was beginning to relax and realize she and Lock had little choice about his treatment of either of them. He kept Lock so busy that even on board the ship, she scarcely saw him. When she did, her worry only increased. Though he never complained, he didn't look well. She knew his ribs hadn't healed and had probably worsened due to heavy labor. He needed rest, but she knew he wasn't about to get it any time soon. Lock had said he wouldn't have been able to ride fast or far enough to escape the Empress's guards, but surely the work Rino forced on him was worse than riding would have been. Still, according to Lock, they were far safer at sea than on land. Sparrow wasn't so sure.

I wish I could put poison in Rino's stew, Sparrow thought as she stepped into the galley. The water was rough that morning, but the motion didn't affect her. If she hadn't been so miserable, she would have enjoyed sailing-not stuck below, but up on deck with the salty wind blowing and spray from the water cooling her face. During a few brief moments with Lock one afternoon when he'd called her to the rail and pointed to dolphins playing in the water, he'd said she was a "born sailor." She'd been a bit concerned about seasickness at first, having heard awful stories about it from Shea-Ann. Fortunately ship travel agreed with her.

"Complaining about the food," Sparrow muttered as she dumped handfuls of spice into a smaller pot of stew, just for Rino. "I'll burn his filthy tongue off. Maybe his insides will rot out. Putrid b.a.s.t.a.r.d."

She paused and shook her head. Her tongue was becoming as vile as the other crewmen's.

"Eh there, girlie." The ape-like man stepped into the galley. A red scarf tied at his nape half concealed his stringy black hair. His short legs were covered in cutoff pants that made them appear even shorter. He made an almost comical character, but Sparrow had to admit she rather liked him. He never spoke to her rudely and often volunteered to bring her buckets of water and fish to cook with.

"I told you my name's Sparrow." She cast him a half smile.

"You ain't never called me Ilias."

"You're right. I'm sorry, Ilias."

"No matter." He shrugged and stole a chunk of fish from the pot. His eyes teared as he spat into his hand. "b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l! Too much spice, don't you think?"

"Captain's request." She touched his shoulder. "Don't worry. I made a special pot just for him."

Ilias dropped the chewed food from his hand back into the small pot and winked. "Don't tell him I done that, Sparrow, else he'll toss me over."

"I won't say a word."

"You know what I hate most about you, Lock?" Rino leaned against the foremast, watching Lock as he mopped the deck.

"If I don't ask, are you still going to tell me?"

"I hate how you always thought you were so much better than the rest of us. You were never just interested in spoils and cargo like normal people. You stopped at places and talked to people. Thought you were so smart cause you can read and write. You thought yourself royalty, and you're the worst of us all. No matter how many languages you speak or whether you know the history of the b.l.o.o.d.y Kennas, you're still nothing but an Archipelago wh.o.r.e, no better than the b.i.t.c.h who spat you out of her pock-ridden chute."

"The pocks she had she most likely got from you, Rino. I get a clear memory of two years ago. You standing in back of a SothSea tavern p.i.s.sin' enough fire to keep a lighthouse burning for a year."

Rino laughed long and loud. "Then I been with your mama for sure. You was probably born p.i.s.sin' fire. How'd you end up with that pretty little girl of yours? She's got the muscle of a farmer but the manner of a Lady. How did you convince her to buy you, or do I even want to know?"

Lock glanced at the deck, his hands tightening on the mop. Two seconds it would take him to ram the handle up the Captain's a.s.s. Two seconds to start a brawl that would end in someone's death. Two seconds that might leave Sparrow at the mercy of Rino.

"You know what I think, Lock?" Rino grinned. "I think that little girl means more to you than a good bed-warming. I think she's got to you."

Lock glared into Rino's eyes. "I think now's a good time to stop talking about her."