Beneath Black Sails (Beneath Black Sails, #1)

by Clare Sager

On the hull painted in gold, Venatrix. Huntress. Oh, Lords and Ladies. Something like that. That was a ship of beauty. A perfect vessel for piracy. A perfect vessel for her.

With a feline smile, Vice slid her gaze back to said officer. “So, Captain Blackwood, what brings you to the shores of Xaymaca?” “A woman.” Blast. She angled her head in question, and his cheeks flushed. “Not in the way you might imagine. She’s a pirate—perhaps you’ve heard of her. Even back in Albion, she’s rather notorious.” Her throat constricted with the threat of a laugh. Oh, this was just too— “They call her Lady Vice.” Of course they did. He cleared his throat. “Though I’d wager that isn’t her real name.” She scoffed and drained the rest of her punch. “You’re the pirate hunter.” She’d come to find him, hadn’t she? Damn the gods and the Lords and Ladies, they had sent her a truly tempting huntsman.

“If something happens to me, it happens.” She shrugged. “And what about if something happens to you, and others—fools that they are—come running after you to help? Then what?” Vice scoffed. They should know she’d be fine. She didn’t need anyone chasing after her, saving her—she hadn’t needed that in a long time. When she’d been young and stupid enough to believe she needed rescuing, the gods had taught her just how much of a foolish notion that was. Her thumb ran over the smooth opal ring on her left hand. She clenched her jaw for a second. “Then make sure they don’t come after me. I can look after myself.”

Why sail all over Arawaké searching for Lady Vice, when he could make her come to him?

He squeezed the trigger. Smoke plumed and the crack echoed around the harbour. Eyes wide, she ducked, glancing over her shoulder where the shot had sailed, clear of her by a foot, and— And she laughed. Laughed.

“Come on, lads,” Saba huffed, “surrender.” “Don’t listen to the she-devils,” the captain growled, “they seek to tempt you with their wicked bodies, their wicked tongues, their wicked wiles.” “That’s a lot of wicked.” Kicking a short man in the belly, Vice scoffed. “I’d be more worried about our sabres than any of that.” Lip lifted in a sneer, the captain shoved the poor man forward. “Kill the bitch.” “Fine.” Vice sidestepped, and Aedan slammed his tattooed fist into the man’s face, dropping him to the deck, groaning. “How about I kill the bitch?” She drew her third and final pistol, levelled it, and shot the captain clean between the eyes. He blinked, red trickling down his face before his features slackened and he fell.

Leaning close, she ran her hands up and down his back. Her breasts brushed his chest, sending unwelcome sensation streaking through her body and forcing her to bite her lip. It was a small victory to hear his breath hitch. She smiled and turned her mouth to his ear. “If you call me ‘Miss Vice’ ever again, I’ll cut out your tongue with your own dagger. Got it?” She released him and swayed back but didn’t leave his space, chin raised in question. He moistened his lips and swallowed slowly. “Yes, madam,” he murmured.

Well, he had taken over her cabin, so that was probably fair. Though he’d done her the favour of tidying it. The first time he’d walked in, he’d thought the place had been ransacked in the fight. But when she hadn’t commented on it, he’d realised she was just that messy. How did anyone think in such an environment?

It’s probably best not to trust me. She laughed, its volume not out of place here in the bustling streets of Nassau as it had been in Governor deLacy’s ballroom. “Sensible! That’s the first time I’ve ever been called that.” Grinning, he shook his head. “I can imagine.” Her eyes widened, and she grabbed his arm, angling them towards each other. “My word, have I cracked a smile on the face of the dread pirate hunter Blackwood?” Damnation, she had. And he hadn’t even intended to do it as part of his efforts to win her over—it had just happened. He straightened his expression. “It was only a mild grin, don’t get too excited.” She clapped him on the shoulder, smiling as they strode on. “I’ll still take it as progress. We’ll make a pirate of you yet, Knigh.” “Knigh?” He’d been promoted to first names now? “Blackwood’s too many syllables.” She shrugged. “Plus, I probably shouldn’t say it around here, since you have such an appalling reputation.” “Fine, Vee.” “Vee?”