First Comes Desire. Tina Donahue

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СКАЧАТЬ to know me.”

      “I’ve no desire to know you.”

      “In time you will.” Longing radiated from him, rather than insolence.

      She should have backed away. His presence held Diana, baffling and intriguing her.

      “I did not abduct Peter.” He glanced past. “If you refuse to believe me, ask him.”

      “Diana?”

      She turned so quickly her cap slipped off, releasing her braid. The fire silhouetted a man. “Peter?”

      He stepped into the light. The boy she recalled was no more, a stranger facing her.

      Sun had lightened Peter’s dark hair and baked his once pale skin as bronze as Tristan’s. He was nearly as tall too.

      Her chest cramped at changes she hadn’t expected. The last time she’d seen Peter he was twelve years old, smaller than she, and far too thin.

      Even with his new height, he was still more boy than man, all arms and legs, no fat. Only marks from work he’d done or beatings he’d endured.

      She winced at the cruel bruises, the horrible cuts on her brother’s bare chest and arms. “Turn around.”

      Peter looked at Tristan.

      He nodded. “Go on. Show her your back.”

      She pressed her hand to her throat. Scar after scar crisscrossed Peter’s skin. She whirled on Tristan. “Liar. You claimed no one had harmed him. You did that.”

      “I never touched the boy.”

      Then his foul crew had, and he hadn’t stopped the assault. “You’ll pay for this.” She sheathed her rapier and spoke to her men. “Restrain Kent and his crew.”

      Peter gaped. “What?”

      Diana struggled over the sand to reach him, ready to hug.

      He sidestepped her and marched toward Tristan.

      Her other men arrived to help their mates fetter the prisoners.

      Peter stopped and growled. “What do you think you’re doing?”

      He shoved Reeves away from a pirate. To the man, they were drunk and swearing at having their slumber interrupted, but offered little fight.

      “Stop it.” Peter grabbed another man, who easily pushed him aside.

      “Peter.” She gripped his wrist to keep him from drawing his pistol, snatched it instead, and flung it into the sea.

      He gasped. “What are you doing?”

      She clasped his upper arms and forced him to face her. “I’m saving you from being hanged. This isn’t a game. If you’d been captured with these animals, you would have faced the gallows as surely as they.”

      “You can’t fetter them and leave. They’ll starve. It ain’t right.”

      But him being whipped and driven to work like a man was. Rubbish. “Peter, love, we—”

      “Don’t call me that. Why are you doing this to me?”

      “To you? This was done for your safety and freedom.”

      “I ain’t exactly in irons.”

      Diana had no idea where her sweet, proper brother had gone. “I was speaking of your future freedom. In exchange for it, I’ve promised to bring these men to England where they’ll hang.”

      His blue eyes nearly popped out. “You have no bloody right to do this to me or them.”

      “Enough, Peter.” Tristan’s rumbling voice cut through the other noise. “Your sister deserves your respect.”

      Peter lowered his face and stood silent as a statue, obeying Tristan far too readily.

      Even with his hands bound behind his back and facing certain death, Tristan was quite relaxed, his stance belonging to one who ruled and seduced.

      Unnerved, she stepped back. “Reeves.”

      The muscular seaman finished restraining a pirate. “Yes, miss?”

      “If Captain Kent’s unable to hold his tongue, gag him.”

      Peter inhaled sharply. “No.”

      “Quiet.” Tristan gave the boy a hard look. “Not another outburst, understand?”

      Peter nodded obediently.

      She frowned. “You just gave your final order, Captain. You’re no longer my brother’s master to whip and beat him as you see fit.”

      “You’re making a great mistake about what truly happened.”

      “I’m warning you.”

      He lifted his dark eyebrows. “Against what? I have no desire to do anything except to please you while you please me.”

      Her pulse raced. “Please you? I’d rather die.”

      A smile played across his sensuous lips. “You want the same as me. You’ve much to learn. I look forward to teaching you.”

      Heat flooded her chest and throat. She took Peter’s arm to hurry him along. “We must go.”

      He wouldn’t budge. “To where?”

      “I’ll explain further once we board the Lady Lark.”

      “I can’t leave these men or me captain.”

      “It’s my, not me, as you well know. Please stop speaking like a common pirate.”

      “Why? It’s what I am.”

      “No. Never say such a thing again.” She tugged his arm, but couldn’t pull him more than a few steps. “Will you move, please?”

      “Not from here.”

      She’d risked everything to save him and received this behavior in thanks? She wanted to shriek. “Be grateful for my rescue. Don’t you understand? Your time with Kent has come to an end.”

      “And yours, Diana, has only begun.” Gone was Tristan’s patient manner and seduction. He was determined and dangerous now, befitting the pirate he was.

      She tingled with fear and an emotion she didn’t want to identify. Something akin to excitement, which was mad. She pushed her feelings aside. “It would be best you heed your own advice, for words do have power. They should be used with great care.”

      “They have been.”

      Chapter 2

      Diana СКАЧАТЬ