SCARLET RAVEN 

By

Jewel Adams

 Corin McCloud stows away on a refurbished schooner—the Raven. The journey barely begins when a violent storm rolls over the schooner, throwing her world upside down and lands her in Charlotte Amalie, 1725.

Rogan Drake spent the last two years building his reputation as the infamous pirate—Dragon, in order to revenge his brother’s murder. He forgoes following the pirate Billings, to keep an eye on a girl that just entered the city. She certainly wasn’t from here, not dressed so…openly. “Brave little woman, but hardly wise.” The exotic shape of her eyes reminded him of a wild cat. Add in the sensual blend of amber and chocolate, and a man could drown in their depth. “Are you untamed my little stranger?”

Can Rogan give up his quest to revenge his brother’s death in order to keep Corin safe? Will she accept her new life as his wife? Can they both survive the anger of Black Diamond, the most notorious pirate in the Caribbean?

Time Travel Historical Erotic Romance

ISBN:  978-1-935048-11-4   1-935048-11-2

Word Count:  92,141

...

Large mast ships of all sizes and shapes dotted the water. At the docks stood what couldn’t be mistaken for anything but a “Spanish Galleon…”

“She’s beautiful, I’ll give you that.”

Not looking at the voice that cut through her astonishment, Corin suddenly grew very nervous and moved off the walk to avoid the man.

Rogan had been following her for some time. The beauty caught nearly every man’s eye since she entered the town. His heated gaze fell to the natural swing of her fully curved and enticingly small hips. Raising his gaze to the satin flatness of her bronzed waist, Rogan felt his loins tighten with an alarming velocity.

The exotic caress of that thick roped hair held the color of polished teak and his fingers itched to feel the softness fall through his fingers.

Wherever she appeared from he knew she certainly wasn’t from here, not dressed so…openly. He would give her credit, she was braver than most the women he knew, but hardly wise. Looking closer, Rogan watched the way her eyes took in the docked ships, floating from one to the next, all the while their deep rich brown grew larger. No, he was wrong, her eyes weren’t just brown, but amber and chocolate all mixed into a sensual blend a man could drown in. Their shape intrigued him, almost wild like a cat. “Are you untamed my little stranger?”

Keeping his distance, Rogan ignored Big Dan’s wave to go, Billings could wait, Rogan suddenly found a more interesting priority.

Corin nervously ran her fingers through the feathered bangs that hid her eyes from his. He still followed her. She pretended to stop and look over a frigate showing an odd but decidingly British flag. Her gaze seemed unable to get their fill of the man.

Man, oh yes he was more of a man than she’d ever seen. Broad, powerful shoulder, she needed to breathe hard over the temptation they inspired. For a second she let herself daydream over how it would feel to be held by such strength. She could envision her fingertips tracing the bold line of rigid muscles. They would travel down across the large wall of copper skinned chest, sprinkled with bronze hair. Heavens, he looked like Hercules, only better with that wild blonde mane of silky waves.

Corin swallowed hard, she didn’t dare look beyond the deep open vee that exposed the corded expanse of his trim waist. She forced her eyes away from the bulging thighs and, other more potent evidence of his masculinity and looked directly into those relaxed blue eyes.

Sucking in her breath their crystal depths trapped her own. He definitely witnessed her brazen scrutiny and silently told her he liked what saw when he took the liberty to see of her as well.

A firing blush crept up her graceful throat, inflaming her high cheeks, deepening the rich hue of her smooth complexion. Unable to end what she started, her eyes fell upon the parted lips smiling confidently at her from that fierce square jaw. Instead of being insulted, Corin felt an unfamiliar heat strike hard and fast in the most womanly part of her body.

What the hell was wrong with her? Corin never reacted to any man like this, never wanted to, but she seemed incapable of breaking the spell that wove between them.

The sudden ringing of a loud bell made her jump. Having broken his invisible hold over her, she moved with the crowd, hoping to lose the man and the unwanted power he could wield over her.

“Hear Ye all, citizens and visitors of the gracious Governor of Charlotte Amalie. ‘Tis a warrant for the arrest of the pirate called Dragon.”

Someone in the crowd called out. “How much is the bounty man?”

“Thirty gold pieces my friend, if you’re brave enough to bring him in alive. Twenty if he’s dead.”

A man in back of her laughed out. “Taint’ worth me life! That one’s no ordinary pirate.”

Corin didn’t know what to make of all this. Their jest didn’t camouflage the serious intensions. Her own humor deserted her.

She rubbed her bare arms when the man began to hammer the notice on the board. She didn’t like any of the feelings taking hold of her since seeing the harbor and what it held. Whispering to herself, “Charlotte Amalie? But how?”

The crowd began to break up. She walked on unsteady feet, drawn to the notice, yet afraid of what she might find. The elaborate hand writing flowed over the crisp parchment. Her eyes raced over the words until they found what they searched for. With shaking fingers she traced the date as if confirming its existence.

“June 18th, 1725…”

“It should be at least 100 gold pieces.”

Jumping back, Corin’s frighten voice spoke out, “What?”

“The reward, ‘tis not enough.”

Confused by her thoughts, having Hercules standing in front of her made Corin sway. When his hand captured her wrist she tried to break free from the burning in his touch.

“Dear lady, I fear you are overcome by Charlotte Amalie’s noon sun.”

“Yes, I guess. Please let go of me.”

His release came slow as if he regretted obliging her request.

“Thank you.”

Something close to anger flared inside him over the fear stealing the beauty’s vibrancy. “Does the talk of pirates frighten you?”

“What? Oh no, I guess not, I’ve never known any.” Her words sounded as ridiculous to her ears as the soft laughter they earned from the man. His nearness must be confusing her. Corin couldn’t stop feeling that she’d missed something important. She needed to think and started to walk away, but he fell in step with her.

“I hope you don’t have the call to see any, my lady.”

“Why would I?”

Rogan’s brows drew close over her lack of knowledge. The fear he glimpsed wasn’t because of the notice. Neither did he think that his presence confused her. He quickly lost any argument he should not care what her problems were, he couldn’t make himself leave her side. Rogan didn’t have to look around to know of the hungry eyes following her.

“The waters are full of them.”

Corin heard about the thieves on the open seas. How unsuspecting ships stumbled onto drug drops and were killed for their mistake. But why didn’t she think he meant that. Why?

“Then I will be careful.”

“Are you sailing soon?”

“I…no, maybe.” Corin’s thoughts became occupied by the coach coming down the street, causing her to stop and stare as it passed.

“That’s a coach.” She could have kicked herself for not keeping her thought to herself.

His blue eyes were following her intent interest in the common vehicle passing them. “Where are you from?”

“New Orleans.”

Rogan hid his surprise.

“Well, originally Bridgetown, Massachusetts.”

He started to ask her what part of New Orleans but she abruptly stopped, he almost overran her.

Her ashen pallor made Rogan fear that she’d swoon. “What is it? Answer me!”

Her arm came up and pointed, he could see her lips were shaking too much to speak. The girl’s enlarged eyes never left the unfortunate soul the governor hung that morning. Rogan detested the practice of leaving such a sight up as a warning to others not to thieve.

Taking hold of her shoulders he turned her about and away from the ugly scene. Rogan brought his arm about her waist and gently drew her against him. An unfair advantage, due to her shocked senses, but he wasn’t beyond taking it as he led her away. His palms were alive against the gentle woman in their hold. Slim, she felt like satin and she moved sensually beneath his hold. The slight flare of her lovely hips brushed against his thigh, creating a fierce response in his tightening groin. Pure strength and willpower kept him from embarrassing them both by displaying what he wanted from the lady. Rogan didn’t remember experiencing such a strong and instant attraction for any woman, it felt unsettling yet extremely stimulating.

But for all her bold attire or lack of it, he didn’t believe the lady would willing submit to the roughish thoughts taking hold of him at the moment.

“Why did they do such a thing?”

Caught off guard, “What?”

“Hang that poor man and then leave him there. Why it’s barbaric and sick!”

“‘Tis the way and not uncommon, why even in New Orleans they still practice hanging.”

His statement made her steps falter.

Corin wanted to run, be sick and cleanse away the fear taking root. It couldn’t be possible. Pushing the thoughts away she tried to concentrate on why she came here.

“I must find the police.”

“Po…lice?”

“Law, someone in authority.”

“There is the Governor…”

“I guess he’ll do. Where is he?”

He fought with answering, “It is that way.” No, he couldn’t tell her how inappropriate her attire might be. Rogan searched the crowd looking for Big Dan and Terry, waving them back to follow.

Corin didn’t understand why he stayed with her. The eerie feelings inside her only grew more pronounced as they walked through the strange streets. The looks she received made her grateful for the large man’s presence. More than once she caught the lecherous way men’s eyes followed her. But the disgust she glimpsed and felt from the women made her begin to shake. It didn’t take a fool to realize she wasn’t up to their standards. The only group she came close to fitting into made her own sensibilities revolt.

He felt every response, no matter how slight from the woman at his side. That she didn’t refuse his hold stopped surprising him, he almost wondered if she realized he remained. No, the lady’s attention became captured by what she saw around her and she’d taken the insults given to her entreating smiles very hard. Instinctively, Rogan realized this woman wasn’t what she appeared to be. Women that gave their treasures freely weren’t affected by what the others thought. She suffered the reaction of a lady unaccustomed to the ways of the streets.

And yet he couldn’t place her with the women proper or society dames.

When they entered the cool interior of the place he brought her to, Corin took a moment to adjust to the opulent surroundings.

The nervous way she tucked her hair in back and tried to straighten her slight blouse tore at Rogan’s senses.

When the uniformed man looked curiously up from his papers Corin couldn’t put it off any longer. She turned to her escort. “Thank you for bringing me, I hope it wasn’t out of your way.”

“You can be sure it wasn’t, my lady.”

The formality he used made Corin straighten. Calling on her pride she didn’t want to show him anything that would demean herself in his eyes. She didn’t care why she felt so strongly, she just wanted the respect he held her in to stay in those beautiful blue eyes.

“I better go.” Turning away from him she forced herself to walk determinedly to the desk.

“I need to see the Governor, please.”

The man’s eyes were shameful the way they went over her. The half smile he gave her infuriated Corin beyond all the others.

“He’s busy.”

“Really, and if I screamed at the top of my lungs, would he still be busy?”

His eyes grew large over her threat. Corin took a deep breath to insure he believed her. She’d done the same thing once in grade school and both times it worked beautifully.

“Come this way please.”

He opened the double doors and she followed. A portly man was seated behind a ridiculously large desk. The brocade waistcoat and vest he wore over the lace ascot shirt nearly became her undoing. All she could think is that the man must be dying in all those garments and in this heat. Taking a peak beneath the table, she almost spoke out her thoughts over the lace stockings and garters that he wore.

“Whom shall I say is requesting an audience?”

“Miss Corin Elizabeth Ann McCloud.” She wished she possessed ten more names to throw in just so the pompous ass would have to repeat them. The whole procedure sounded comical, the man being no more than ten feet in front of them.

All he got for his effort was a rude ‘humph’.

Turning back to her, he asked. “And what is the nature of your audience?”

Having had more than she could tolerate, Corin walked past the red faced man and came to stand directly in front of the desk. She waited patiently for the man’s spectacled eyes to come up and look at her.

“Good day Governor.”

She put him in an uncomfortable position and enjoyed his dilemma.

“Good day to you, Miss McCloud.”

“I have some very tragic information to tell you, sir. If it is alright I would prefer to tell you face to face.”

The man leaned back in his chair and seemed to contemplate her rather rushed outburst before waving the man throwing daggers at her away.

Corin couldn’t help but turn and watch him be dismissed. It was then she realized her escort never left at all, but stood only a foot or so behind her. Flustered, she didn’t dare look him and maintain her composure, but before she turned back to the Governor, her self appointed guardian winked at her.

“Well young woman, what is the tragedy?”

She came here to tell them, but suddenly it seemed so pointless. “I, there was a fierce storm at sea.”

“How long ago?”

“I’m not sure exactly, I must have been unconscious for sometime.”

“What port did you sail from?”

“Port? It would be New Orleans.”

“When did you leave?”

“Saturday morning…”

“That’s only five days ago. Rogan, isn’t it too far to be that much off course?”

Corin tried not to show her agitation over the man bringing him into their conversation. Rogan? Such an unusual name, but it did fit him.

“Miss?”

“I’m sorry.”

“I asked what happened?”

“The storm, it was awful, there was this frightening blue light…When I came around there was no one left.”

“You mean the whole crew washed over?”

“Yes sir. Can you take out a search party?”

“And where might we start? You hail from New Orleans and in five days you are in Charlotte Amalie. I’m sorry, but you were unconscious for some time I’m afraid. When did you wash up?”

“Wash up?” His words and the meaning seemed to move through her at an incredible speed, like the blue light. Closing her eyes at the memory. “I…the date…on the notice…”

“Rogan! For God’s sake catch her!”

John didn’t need to yell, Rogan sensed her weakness even before her knees gave out, lifting her up in his arms.

“John, I’ll take care of the lady, she obviously has no relatives about.”

“I think it would be wise, she must get some decent clothes Rogan. Though it is a treat…”

Rogan gave his friend a warning glance that ended an old man’s musing.

“If you don’t mind I’ll take our leave by the back entrance, she’s already created quite a stir in your city.”

“By all means.”

John held the door for the man. “Rogan we need to talk.”

“Tonight John, right now I’ve other more enticing duties to perform.”