Rino whistled. "I don't believe it. You're moonin' after a woman who bought you as her slave. You know she really can't think you're good enough for her. Women like that bed down men like us for one reason, Lock, and I thought you'd be smart enough to know it. She thinks you'll show her something wild, and I'm sure you already have. She'll get bored of you and look for someone else to fill up that innocent side of her with stone-black l.u.s.t."

"Has it really been so long since you've had a woman that you spend this much time thinking about her?"

"Feeling for a woman can kill a man, Lock. Remember that."

Lock watched Rino as he sauntered away. Feeling for her surely can kill a man, Rino, and I think that man will be you.

Sparrow nearly stumbled as she hung pans on the metal hooks in the galley. The sea felt especially rough that night. Above, the crash of thunder joined the sound of waves smashing against the side of the ship. It had been hours since she'd last seen anyone, and in spite of the storm raging above, she needed to find out what was happening.

She no sooner stepped on deck when the wind struck her, strong enough to nearly push her back below. Fat drops of ice-cold rain shot from the black sky. Crewmen scattered across the deck, securing the sails and checking the ropes on cargo.

"Turn her about!" A familiar voice bellowed from the crow's nest. Sparrow glanced up at Lock who clung to the mast with one arm while the other pointed to a small island of jagged rocks in the distance. "Move! We're going to run aground!"

The ship swung fast. Sparrow grasped the rail, her heart pounding as she nearly fell overboard.

"Sparrow!" Lock shouted. "Get back below! I-"

He stopped speaking, his eyes fixed on the distance. Sparrow as well as many other crewmen glanced in the direction he was looking. A spiral of wind, even blacker than the sky, churned across the sea.

"G.o.ddess help us," Sparrow murmured, clinging harder to the rail as an enormous wave crashed over the deck. She closed her eyes tightly as water soaked her. Her fingers slipped, but she managed to hang on.

Someone grasped her waist hauled her toward the hatch.

"Get below, Sparrow," Ilias told her, his brown eyes worried. "This is bad."

He joined the others, and Sparrow glanced up at Lock. The crow's nest swayed precariously, and she wondered how he still held his footing after the last wave.

"Get out of our way!" Rino brushed by her, almost knocking her down the hatch. The Captain paused, grasping her arm and hauling her back on deck. "Second thought, we need all the hands we can get. Check those knots."

He flung her between two crates while she plotted his death.

A bolt of lightning ripped through the sky and struck the topmast. It splintered and crashed onto the deck, pinning a crewman beneath. Sparrow gasped as the man's terrified eyes fixed on hers, blood spurting from his mouth and nose. The mast had crushed him from the middle.

The tornado whirled across the sea, rising high then dipping to touch the waves. Another wave covered the boat. Sparrow felt the water pushing her across the deck. She reached for a loose end of rope and held fast. She looked up to the crow's nest and felt her stomach drop to the bottom of the sea. Half the rails were ripped away and Lock was no longer in it.

A body suddenly covered hers. Teeth tore at her ear and a hand buried in her hair.

Rino's breath hissed close to her cheek. "Think we're rid of him, girlie, and when this storm is over, it'll be you and me." He punctuated his last words with painful thrusts of his c.o.c.k against her backside.

Panting, Lock released the sail and dropped onto the slippery deck. Gut feeling had told him to abandon the crow's nest before the next wave hit. With the help of the knife he carried in his boot, he had managed to climb down the sail. He glanced around for Sparrow, the wind and rain rendering him almost blind. He bellowed for her before another wave crashed over the deck. Grasping the wooden rail, he managed to keep his footing as he saw several men tumble overboard into the dark, churning water.

"Sparrow!" he bellowed again. The pounding of his heart caused his ribs to ache even more. Once again, his nightmare-his vision-was coming true. He'd been unable to protect Sparrow from what he'd foreseen.

Suddenly, he caught sight of her lying on deck, covered by Rino's hulking form. Her fingers stretched for a slab of wood splintered from one of the fallen masts. She smashed it across the Captain's face. He fell aside. As she scrambled across the deck, he reached for her ankle and dragged her toward him.

Lock ran across the neck, but the ship tilted and he caught the mast to keep his footing. Sparrow and Rino struggled together. He saw Rino wrap her hair around his ma.s.sive fist and pull. Ignoring the pain exploding across his ribs, Lock dove at Rino, his hands clutching the Captain's thick neck as he squeezed while his knee rammed into Rino's ribs.

The redhead bellowed in pain and rolled backwards, freeing Sparrow. Lock held fast as the men skidded across the deck. Another wave struck, and they slipped toward the rail. In the skirmish, they'd changed positions and faced each other, each with his hands around the other's neck. Rino's green eyes spat hatred into Lock's, but the look only flared Lock's rage. Since he'd stepped on board, he'd wanted to kill Rino but had managed to hold his temper until he'd seen the Captain on Sparrow.

Around them men shouted and thunder clapped. The wind was overpowering as the tornado neared. As Lock and Rino grappled, the ship tilted again, flinging them both overboard. Amazingly, each caught the rail, his feet dangling.

"Lock!" Sparrow shrieked and leapt toward him. His heart nearly burst through his chest in fear of her slipping, but the ape-like crewman caught her waist before another wave crashed.

"Son of a b.i.t.c.h!" Rino bellowed at Lock, his voice nearly lost in the wind. He kicked Lock who was grateful his broken ribs were on the other side. He doubted he could have held the rail otherwise. His leg lashed out in a kick, the ball of his foot striking Rino in the head. The Captain lost his grip and fell into the sea.

Summoning the last of his strength, Lock pulled himself on deck where he sat on his knees, panting, every breath painful. He crawled toward Sparrow and Ilias as the tornado approached, dipping its funnel into the water. Rino disappeared into the heart of the fierce, black storm. The crew clung to the ship, everyone watching in terrified silence, waiting to be blown apart by the tornado. It pa.s.sed them and continued across the sea.

"Lock!" Sparrow reached for him. He pulled her close, resting his cheek against her wet blond hair.

If any G.o.ds or G.o.ddesses exist, thank you, he thought. He glanced at Ilias who sat with his back against one of the crates, looking bewildered. "Thank you," Lock said to the man.

Ilias shook his head. "Couldn't let her go over. She makes the best squid of any cook we've had...Captain."

Lock glanced around, aware that most of the men were watching him, waiting for his next action. He'd killed Rino, and by the unwritten laws of the SothSea pirates, he was now the Captain of the Lady Fire.

Though the tornado had pa.s.sed, the sea was still fierce and Sparrow stumbled as Lock guided her below.

"Where did you put the bag from Shea-Ann?" he asked.

"In the galley." Sparrow pressed a hand to her ear, feeling warm blood against her cold fingers. She still felt the sting of Rino's teeth, and she shuddered with horror and disgust.

"Sit there." Lock, still holding her hand, brought her to a corner of the galley.

"Are you all right?" she asked. "I thought you were going to fall overboard with Rino."

"Not from the lack of his trying." Lock stooped beside her and chose a jar filled with herbal paste. He gently took her face in one hand and tilted it sideways so he could better examine her ear. She wondered how he could see in the unlit galley, since they dared not light a lantern while the storm still rocked the ship.

"How bad is it?"

He half smiled. "It won't kill you, unless you get mad dog disease from Rino."

"What?" Sparrow felt her heart drop.

"Just a bad joke, girl. You'll be all right." He cleaned the wound and applied the paste. When he'd finished, he brushed her mouth with his and stroked a tendril of sea-soaked hair from her eyes. "Stay here and rest. I'm going topside to get this ship back in order. As soon as the storm clears, we'll start repairs as well as we can."

As he stood to go, Sparrow reached for him and buried her face in his chest. Her arms tightened around him, and she felt him flinch slightly as the gesture squeezed his ribs. She loosened her grip and looked up at him. "Let me wrap those again before you go up."

He agreed, removing his wet shirt and unraveling bandage beneath. She took a dry one from the bag and bound his middle. When she'd finished, she rested her hand against his muscular chest, feeling his heartbeat against her palm. Injured and all, his body was still a marvel of male beauty. If she hadn't been so tired, frightened, and worried, she would have wanted him then and there.

She felt her own concerns combined with attraction in the kiss he pressed to her mouth before leaving the galley.

Chapter Twenty One.

Sparrow sighed, rubbing one of her sore palms with her other aching hand. She sat on her heels and glanced around the hold at the trunks she'd just secured. Most of them had held through the storm, but Lock wanted the ropes checked again.

Lock wanted the ship repaired yesterday. If possible, he was even more diligent running the ship than he had been rebuilding the village. He was as hard on every crewman as he was on himself.

Early that morning, once the storm had pa.s.sed and everyone knew Rino was dead, Sparrow had sensed tension on board. All the crewmen, first mate included, accepted Lock as the new leader-except for the second mate. At the man's first gesture of rebellion, Lock had, to Sparrow's horror, run him through with the short sword he'd taken from the Empress's guard and flung the carca.s.s overboard. The crewmen had watched then gone about their work, attempting to turn the ship back on course and make as many repairs as they could under Lock's direction.

"You had to kill him?" Sparrow had snapped. Several of the men glanced at Lock with raised eyebrows, wondering how their new captain would react to demands from a woman.

"Get back to work, or else you'll be swimming to sh.o.r.e, wherever the h.e.l.l it is!" Lock had growled at the men, causing backs to turn and heads to lower over busy hands. Remote blue eyes met Sparrow's. "Any act against my authority is as good as an act against my life. It's an unwritten law of the Archipelago. Every man here knows about it. We have work to do, Sparrow. I need you below."

She turned on her heel and stormed down the hatch. Halfway to the galley, Lock caught her arm and tugged her toward a hold. "In here. I'll teach you how to check these knots."

"Take your hand off me!" She'd shoved him.

"You never minded my hands before."

She'd drawn a deep breath, closed her eyes, and willed her temper under control. "That was before you started booting people overboard every half hour."

"I tossed two men: one of them threatened me, the other threatened you. Would you have rather I let Rino rip you apart?"

"I can't wait until we land somewhere and get away from this ship!"

"I would have thought you'd be in a bigger hurry to get away when Rino was Captain. Now at least you're as safe as can be. We can go anywhere we want in this ship."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, we're no longer running, girl. We have the means to survive and survive well."

"Lock, this isn't your ship."

"Ain't it? I d.a.m.n near drowned securing it, I'll say that makes it mine." He'd held her eyes, and by his expression noted the anger and disbelief she felt. "Just get to work, Sparrow. We can talk about it when she's back on course."

"Oh, we'll talk about it, Lock! You can wager on it!"

Sparrow pressed her palms to her eyes. That conversation hadn't gone well at all, and since then she hadn't spoken to Lock other than brief words regarding repairs. Part of her understood his hard manner toward the crew. They were a bunch of pirates who would as soon cut out a man's heart as look at him, but his new att.i.tude bothered her. When they'd first met, he'd been like an animal, but after months together, he'd become human. They'd laughed and talked. They'd fallen in love. Now he'd reverted to the animal again, and if they stayed on board the Lady Fire, Sparrow was afraid she'd lose her Lock forever.

Sparrow slowly climbed onto the deck, her body aching and her ear stinging. Though she'd managed to get some rest the previous night when Lock had taken her to the galley, it had been a light, agitated sleep, and now she felt more than ready for bed. Lock hadn't slept at all, but as she stepped into the sunlight, she noticed him standing by the mast speaking to the first mate. His legs were spread in a wide stance, his feet planted firmly on the swaying deck. His arms were folded across his broad chest, the long, curved muscles visible in the mist-dampened tan vest he wore. Thick brown and white hair blew like knotted spirals around his shoulders and across his face. She knew he must have felt tired, but in spite of his injuries and lack of sleep, he looked strong enough to fight an army of Rinos.

"Come here, girl!" he called.

She resisted the urge to turn away from him and go back below. She approached, glaring at him.

He smiled and reached out to touch her face, but she stepped way. "What do you want?"

The first mate-a man of middle height and st.u.r.dy build-watched her with amused brown eyes. Lock ignored the man's expression and said to Sparrow, "Nice morning."

"For some, maybe."

The mate smiled. "I like this woman, Captain."

"So do I, if you get my meaning," Lock growled.

The man shook long, black hair over his shoulder as he walked away.

"What is wrong with you?" Sparrow demanded. "All he did was make a comment."

"Let him make it about some other woman, not about mine." Lock grasped her arms and kissed her before she had a chance to refuse. She stiffened, but as his lips gently moved against hers, his tongue tenderly tracing the shape of her mouth, she forced herself not to melt into his arms. He whispered against her ear. "You're mine, Sparrow, and I've made sure every man on this ship knows it. There won't be a repeat of what Rino did do you. Believe me."

"I'm more concerned with what Rino did to you."

"To me?"

"You're changing, Lock." She held his eyes, her fingers braced against his shoulders.

"I'm doing what I have to. Believe me about that, too." He released her, his gaze sweeping the deck. Men stood at their posts while others sat or gazed over the rails. All looked worn, and several were injured. Lock strode to the quarter deck and bellowed for attention. Sparrow stood beside Ilias as Lock spoke. "Last night's storm did damage. You all know that, but we're in decent shape. As soon as we dock and make repairs, we'll make this ship the most formidable vessel to sail out of the Archipelago. This benefits me and that means it benefits you. Some of you know me. You know I'm not easy. What I am is fair. Work with me, and you'll all go home rich men."

Sparrow noted the pirates' weary expressions turning to ones of interest. The crew shouted and cheered at Lock's words. He held up his hands for silence, and they obeyed.

"Work against me, and the bottom of the sea will be your home. Now keep this ship headed North." Lock stepped back onto the main deck and glanced at the first mate. "Mingo, you have her. I'll be in my cabin shoveling out Rino's s.h.i.t." He took Sparrow's hand. "Come with me, girl."

If Lock's speech had pleased the crew, it unsettled Sparrow. What did he mean, they'd all go home rich men? Surely he didn't intend to continue pirating? What about they plans they'd made? What about marriage?

As they disappeared below, Sparrow tugged her hand from his. She was losing the man she loved. Perhaps he'd never really existed at all.

In the Captain's cabin-a small room, but far more comfortable than anywhere else on the ship-Lock bolted the door. He sat on the bed and tugged his shirt over his head, pausing in the middle of the motion, his ribs most likely hurting.

"We need to talk." Sparrow folded her arms across her chest and paced the cabin.

"Sparrow, I have to get some rest."

She glanced at him, noting his eyes were lined with fatigue, but he'd put on a fine show of power on deck. Besides, she was far too angry to sympathize with any discomfort he might be feeling.

"You asked me to marry you, now you want to make me some nautical wh.o.r.e on this floating den of wolves?"

"I don't recall saying I didn't want us to get married."

"So what do you want to do, Lock? Take wedding vows then go out pirating?"

"I'm a pirate."