Page 94 of The Worst of Them

Even though she was a pirate.

“If I wasn’t willing,” she said, “I’d be filling my pockets. As it is, there’s only one thing I want in this house.”

He gazed at her solemnly. Held at the mercy of his intense focus, she felt like a book opened to reveal her innermost pages. The ones that had only just been written, the ink so fresh it was still wet and capable of smudging.

But permanent nonetheless.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered. There was no hint of teasing or lust, and for a moment, Cecily was taken aback.

She’d heard of her beauty plenty before, but not in the way he said it now. It wasn’t intended for his benefit, to flatter her or indicate his interest. He said it like it was for her sake alone, like telling her it was time to wake up. Like telling her she was home.

Home. The word lifted in her mind and heart, and she wondered if it was because of love, or foolishness, or hope that she thought it. She wasn’t sure if it was true yet, or if she wanted it to be. It would be too soon to know such a thing.

At least, it felt like it should be too soon. Still, she knew it anyway.

She studied his fake scars and the real one hidden beneath, and wondered openly what she had once asked in desperation. “Do you think you deserve me?”

The first time she’d asked, he’d given no answer. She was determined to have one from him now. After all his questions about her being a lady or pirate, and for all her thoughts about goodness and deserving, she wanted to know what she was to him. He’d called her a blessing last night, but was a blessing for a pirate less than that of a higher man?

His hand moved beneath her chin, tilting her face toward his. “Does it matter so long as I want you? So long as I have you?”

“Humor me.” The candle flickered as her breath passed over the flame.

“I do deserve you,” he said, boldly and without hesitation. “And I’ve thought so since the day I saw those bloody teeth and knew I’d be locked in a stalemate with you forever.” His eyes followed his thumb as it drifted over her bottom lip. After a moment, he met her gaze again. “You are my equal, Cecily, and for that I deserve you. And it’s neither bad nor good, but I believe it’s for the best—mine and hopefully yours as well.”

A slow grin spread over her mouth. “A simple yes would have sufficed.”

Jack blew out the candle. Then he plucked it from her grip with one hand as he hauled her, squealing, to his chest. “What am I to do with you,” he said, his smiling lips at her ear.

“Decide later,” she said. “We’re out of time.”

He kissed her cheek and grumbled, “Convenient.”

Nevertheless, he wound his fingers through hers and pulled her from the room.

22

WHO RUINS EVERYTHING

The others hadn’t returned yet. Hidden away in Marín’s office, Jack handed Cecily a length of rope and turned his back.

“Is this really necessary?” she asked as she wound the rope around his wrists.

“Yes.” He wiggled his fingers. “Tighter, darling. You’ve got to make it believable.”

“Why?”

“Because no one’s going to believe I was overtaken by a bunch of weaponless nobodies if you do a shoddy job.”

She huffed and started over, cinching the rope tighter. “No, I mean why is it necessary?”

His smirk was practically audible—or perhaps it was his ego eating up the air in the small space. “It’ll make it better next year. If this lot can overtake Marín after all I’ve done to appear so unbeatable, the governor will be beside himself trying to make it harder for us next year.” He chuckled. “It’s more fun for— Can you tie a decent knot?”

“If you think you can do better—” She cut off, hearing her mistake as she said it, and she rolled her eyes as he started speaking.

“I know the uniform is distracting, but I’ll not have you forget I’m a sailor. I can do better, but I can’t very well tie myself up from behind.”

She started looping the ends of the rope together, tying the most complicated knot she could come up with. Jack sighed and turned around before she could finish.