Free Sapphire Dream by Pamela Montgomerie

but I’m not used to following orders. I’m not one of your men, in case you haven’t noticed.”
    “Och, I noticed.” His gaze dropped to her chest, his scowl matching her own. “Ye shouldna have . . .”
    “What? Lifted my shirt? I admit it wasn’t the most lady-like thing I’ve ever done, but I had to do something. I had to get their attention.”
    “Aye.” As he met her gaze, his eyes took on a silver cast that made heat ripple over her skin. “You got their attention, Wildcat,” he said softly. “And mine.”
    The sudden intensity of his gaze set off tremors deep inside her that had nothing to do with fear. But when he stepped toward her, she put up her hands, warding him off.
    “Don’t even think about it, Pirate.”
    “I promise ye, I can think of little else.” His voice had turned husky and raw, sending shivers of awareness rippling over her skin. He took another step and another, stopping inches in front of her, his eyes gleaming silver.
    Her heart raced. He was too close. Too wild. She tried to back up, but there was no place to go.
    “I’m warning you, Pirate.” She fought to steady her voice as she pressed her palms against his chest and pushed. “Don’t mess with me.” But he didn’t budge. Her heart contracted as she wondered if she’d thrown in her lot with the wrong man after all.
    His hands rose to cover hers lightly. “Do you try your wee tricks on me, lass, I shall throw you into the surf to be snatched away by the earl’s soldiers.” His eyes were sharp with warning, but within their cool depths she saw a flash of humor, maybe even admiration.
    Keeping hold of her hands, he eased back, letting her fear fall away.
    Brenna watched him. “Would you really give me to them?”
    “What do you think?”
    Twice he’d saved her from Cutter, then dived into the frigid North Sea to rescue her, and not, as she’d originally thought, to capture her. And when the bluecoats caught sight of him, he hadn’t run as he could have. He’d intentionally given himself up to give her a chance to escape.
    “I think you wouldn’t. You’re a decent man, even though you insist on pretending you’re a pirate—”
    “I’m not a pirate,” he said evenly.
    Her gaze fell to his broad, calloused hands holding hers with surprising gentleness. “You’re not like your crew.” The thought of those beasts made her shudder. If one of them had come after her instead of Rourke, she’d be bleeding by now. Probably dead. “I think you’re a good man.”
    She’d known he wouldn’t admit it. Bad for the image and all. She half expected him to try to intimidate her again. What she didn’t expect was the bleakness that entered his eyes.
    He released her hands and turned away to peer out of the cave, his back rigid, a muscle working in his jaw. “I assure you, Wildcat. I am not a good man. Dinna make the mistake of thinking I am.”
    But as she watched his rigid back, she knew she was right about him. She felt it, deep down. But the bleak look in his eyes told her he’d done things he couldn’t live with. She’d seen him kill with ease. He might be a decent man at heart, but he was still dangerous. Very, very dangerous. She’d be a fool to forget it.
    They waited in tense silence for a long time. Brenna tried to listen for sounds of their pursuers, but she doubted she’d hear them over the crashing of the surf and the crying of the gulls outside the cave.
    As the tide came in, Brenna took off her boots and set them on the rock beside her. The water soon rose until it began to lap at her ankles. Finally, the pirate turned and motioned to her.
    “We must go. We’ll be trapped by the tide if we stay much longer.”
    Brenna grabbed her boots and stepped forward as the man held out his hand to her. She reached for him, feeling a sense of rightness as his calloused hand closed warmly around hers.
    She followed him out of the cave, the water now lapping at her knees with each roll of the surf. There