She had awoken a little after dawn and noticed that he still slept. Not wanting to face him, she slowly bounded off the bed and made her way out of the room.

She tiptoed away from big Johns's outstretched limbs as the large man lay against the wall snoring only to turn and bump into Bellamy.

"What are you doing out of the room, lass?" he stretched out his arms and steadied her.

She looked up into his eyes and noticed he was not drunk. She lowered her head and stepped back.

"I...Need fresh air."

He looked down at her saddened by her look knowing all too well that the cause of her woes was a 6ft 3 drunken brute.

"Are ye hungry lass?" he asked hoping that would put some warmth back into her cheeks but the hope simmered away as she declined.

"I need to be alone, somewher....," she lifted her gaze that stung with tears threatening to fall, barely able to finish her words the way her throat tightened.

He nodded softly and said no more as he turned with her and slowly lead her below. She was surprised as she cleared the last step and looked around at the empty Tavern in contrast to what is was the night before.

"Everyone is still heavily drunk lass," he smirked leading her towards the back entrance of the Tavern. They stepped out into a cloudy bleak morning. The gush of humid wind and promise of more heavy rain was in the air. At a distance, they slowly followed a small walkway covered in shrubs and grass towards an abandoned greenhouse.

"T'is the quietest spot I could think of," he mentioned stepping through the door. And looking up at the glass dome that literally lacked glass as he shook his head.

"You may not want to tarry here long as the storm has not let up. It will rain again," she followed his gaze looking up at the dark clouds still slowly floating by.

"Thank you, Bellamy," she whispered swallowing heavily at the lump in her throat.

"If the Captain asks where..?" he began but was cut short as she looked away.

"You don't know where I am," she whispered.

"Lass?..." he began.

"He knows better not to lie to me," The velvety deep voice came from the door.

They turned together to look at Justin standing there. He said nothing as his gaze barely touched Bellamy but landed directly on her.

"Cap'n..." Bellamy stepped forward with a sad pleading gaze.

"Leave us!" Justin ordered.

Bellamy stopped mid-stride and lowered his shoulders. His attempt at calming the ever-rising temper in his Captain was futile. He dared not question him although deep down he knew Justin would not harm her. Not intentionally.

He slowly stepped away giving her one last glance before disappearing and leaving them alone.

Justin slowly stepped forward and closed the door and leaned against it. She slowly inched away to lean against a worktable; her eyes downcast not looking at him.

The tension between them was as thick as the scent of rain in the air. The balmy tropical heat did nothing to ease her discomfort. The rush of air only heightened the silence around them.

"Are you done acting like a child and ready to talk?" he folded his arms against his chest.

"If you're done sticking your tongue down the barmaid's throats, I am," she quipped raising her heated gaze to his.

He chuckled. "I am beginning to think you are jealous, love," he teased.

"Don't call me that! And why should I be jealous if you are nothing to me," she said angrily.

"Then why the temper?" he gritted his teeth, his gut clenched with her words.

He drunk in the sight of her and it was nothing like what he remembered last night. Now, she was a spitfire before him.

"Because I was foolish to let you get to me. To seduce me. Mayhap I should do the same, find some willing pirate to kiss," She said with malice watching his eyes darken with her words.

His jaw clenched at the thought. He would murder any bastard that touched her.

He stepped closer. "Curb your tongue," he warned her.

"Or what? " she shoved his chest. "The Black Scourge of the Sea is going to flog me?"

He glared at her. Little vixen, did she think he would not? He lunged for her and wrapped his fingers tight around her arms and pulled her close. She struggled against him to get free.

The howling wind finally touched the surface of the island as the clouds grew dark around them. They were oblivious to the storm brewing above them as the one between them had long started. Their heated words came and went with the wind as he yelled at her and she yelled back. Then the slow mist of rain pelted down on them.

"You're a scoundrel. You have no honor," she cried out as he squeezed her wrists tight and pulled her towards the door.

Frustration grew in him.

"No honor? No honor! " he shook her. "I have been nothing but honorable with you. I could have cheerfully had my way with you and cast you out like chattel for my men to enjoy," He hissed furiously.

She recoiled from his furious glare; his words cruelly dug into her heart.

"Then why didn't you?" She sobbed and shoved him furiously.

A grimace of pain crossed his features with what she said. Regret grew within him for what he said.

"You could have saved yourself the trouble and tossed me overboard when they were done with me," she cried out enraged freeing herself from his hold and walking away.

But his strong arms caught her tight around the waist and pulled her roughly around to face him.

"Let me go!" she shoved his chest as he tightened his arm around her waist and cleared off the table behind her and sat her on it. Furiously he held her there as she fought him.

"Be still," He commanded. "Or I will throttle you here and now," His eyes flamed aqua blue, with the determination of a man to be reckoned with.

Her seat on the table had her at eye length with his. It gave her position to stare directly into Justin's marvelously handsome face, mottled with fury. The threat of his words glittered in his eyes. But what he saw in hers.... was nothing water could squelch.

His gaze lowered to her lips.

"Touch me devil's spawn and I will make you pay," she trembled furiously in his hold, the tears that gathered in her eyes held something more and promised something he was willing to see.

"Hellcat, you forget I am a pirate, I don't need your permission to touch you," She gasped when she felt his hand none too tenderly take hold of her face, forcing her to look at him, the expression of frustration, of anger was on his face.

"I plunder and take what is mine, Remember that..." he growled. Capturing her mouth as she struggled against him, he kissed her fiercely with a pleasing brutality emanating from the force of it. He pulled her tightly to him, bound her in the strength of his arms. As his unyielding kiss sustained her, his hands traveled to her hair, wrapping its soft tresses in his fists in a tight unforgiving hold. He clutched her waist, held her head between the power of his hand, all the while the dark sky above them opened with an unrelenting downpour drenching them. Her fingers shoved at his chest as he continued his kiss steady, dominant, and harsh.

A demon, he was! A scoundrel! And a lowly heathen! To have thought he could touch this girl and remain in control of his desires for her. Who was he fooling? By giving in to his want to taste of her kiss, he had jeopardized his entire purpose now more than ever as she softened in his hold and he tasted the saltiness of her tears and felt the scrape of her nails through his scalp and how she gripped his hair only to return the kiss with equal fire and fervor. He groaned.

The feel of his mouth to hers, the moist heat of it unlocked her inhibitions.

Swept away by their passion, eagerly he removed his shirt and discarded it. Then quickly undid the front of her gown and lowered it. His lips kissed and his fingers caressed. An aching welled up inside her and she gave in to her need. Tempest moaned sweetly in her throat and melded her body closer to him, fitting perfectly into the hard planes of his as he lifted her legs to circle his waist.

He took her lips once more. His kiss deepened and their tongues spared as he hungrily glided his finger up her legs lifting her chemise above her thighs and caressing her bare cooled skin. Desire raged in his blood as he gripped her thighs harder and pulled her to the edge of the table. His head bent to kiss her again and a tremor shook through her as his fingers slipped from between her thighs, then reached to free the buttons of his breeches.

With her legs parted about his, she was open to him, ready, and hot, wet. So very wet. He looked down to her juncture and touched himself against her nectar. Her fingers did not lift to touch him but merely continued gripping the table as he angled himself, watching with a blissful hunger for what was to come.

He entered her warm silky sheath, stretching her slowly to fit his size, But he stopped when he felt the barrier within, the urge to press further made his senses reel with anticipation. He was only inches away from making her his. He heard her gasp and felt her tense. He held still as he felt her pain.

He dropped his forehead to rest against hers, breathing heavily, his desire urging him to keep going. His erection still nestled in her warmth, just one last thrust and it would be done but he dared not go any further. He could not. Not like this. Drenched to the bone, taking her above a table like some common whore.

But. He had morals. Very little left. If not a few...

"Did I do something wrong?" she asked. But he did not answer.

She is entirely innocent. She must have sensed his inner battle.

"Does my inexperience displease you?" she whispered, tears gathering in her eyes. She gasped when she felt his hand none too gently take hold of her face, forcing her to look at him.

"No, I just choose not to take you like some trollop out in the open," he growled.

"You deserve to be bedded properly," he whispered heatedly. " Not like this." He gently pulled away with so much pain. His gaze lowered the expanse of her. Enticing as ever, Drenched and exposed...

Flushed with passion.

His mouth claimed hers once more in a dizzying molten kiss that shook them both soul deep.

When next he released her, he braced himself against the table and caressed her cheek. His sculpted chest rising and falling heavily with scarcely controlled breathing.

"A word of warning, love," Justin growled.

"Keep yourself from my company for a day...lest you will find this circumstance of me being an honorable pirate, null and void."

Justin stormed off and slammed the greenhouse door behind him. In his wake, he'd left her confused, enchanted, trembling, aroused, and alone.

Storming into the Tavern, he said nothing to Quinn and Big John as they stood staring at him, eyebrows raised in astonishment at his drenched state and his lack of clothing.

"Keep her out of my reach for today, if you can at least follow that order," he growled.

"And bring her bath and dry clothing before she catches her death," he ordered storming out the front door.

"Now what has he done?" Quinn asked Bellamy as he entered with Tempest sobbing on his shoulders.

Bellamy's eyes narrowed. "He's lost his footing, that one," he muttered shaking his head, disappearing up the stairs with her.

"The young miss is itching him under his skin." Big John smiled, triumphantly thwacking Quinn on the back.

"Aye, Big John she most definitely is."

*******

Here you go.....