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Tessa finally turns and spots me. Her mouth is a line, and I can’t read her expression. Experience tells me she’s every bit as conflicted as I feel. She’s probably thinking about leaping off the ladder and returning to her room.

But she doesn’t.

I sigh. “Let’s wait and see.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Tessa

I didn’t realize he’d be up here.

Sometimes I think back to my moments with Karri when we worked for Mistress Solomon, when I’d sigh over thoughts of Weston Lark. She used to warn me about how outlaws were just looking to string girls along.

In a way, I guess she was right. Hewastricking me.

For a moment, I wonder if Corrick is going to remain by the railing with Rocco, to avoid any uncomfortable conflict after last night.

I should know better. Corrick’s whole life is conflict.

He strides across the short span of deck, then extends a hand to me. “Miss Cade. I trust you’ve put your needles away?”

I ignore his hand and step onto the deck on my own. “I’m sure I can find another one.”

It’s the type of sharp banter I’ve grown accustomed to exchanging with him—whether we’re working in accord or not. I expect theusual flare of challenge to light in his eyes, but … it doesn’t. He meets my gaze and holds it.

“Why are you so angry with me?” he says.

His voice isn’t loud, but Corrick never is. What he lacks in volume, he makes up for with intensity. The question nearly hits me like a fist.

“You know my reputation,” he continues. “Youknewmy reputation. Better than anyone, in fact.” He pauses. “You know what I’ve done. From both sides.” Another pause. “It’s discouraging to think that you would allow a few insults from Lochlan to sway your opinion of me so dramatically. I thought your character was a bit more resilient than that. Perhaps I was wrong.”

No, wait.Thosewords hit me like a fist.

“It’s not just Lochlan,” I say, and I have to will strength into my voice.

“Then what?” he says.

Wind carries off the sea to tug at our clothes and hair. I study him, those vibrant blue eyes that I know so well, and I refuse to look away. “It’s discouraging to think thatyouwould climb onto a ship that’s out of the public eye and see it as an opportunity to get under my skirts.”

I expect him to flinch, but he doesn’t. “Is that truly what you think?”

“It’s exactly what you did, Corrick.”

“I’ll grant you that theactionis true.” He takes a step closer to me. “Yet not the motivation.”

He’s so close that I can feel his warmth. My emotions are all tangled up.

He takes advantage of my indecision to move a step closer. Whenhe speaks, his voice is low and sure. “I’m going to say something that could sound very arrogant, and very cruel,” he says. “So before I do, I want to make sure you understand that I am speaking them as … as atruth. As a statement of fact.” He brushes a lock of hair out of my eyes. “Not a means to cause harm.”

I swallow, but he waits until I nod. I have to brace myself. “Go ahead.”

He leans in to whisper, so there’s no chance of our words being overheard by anyone but the wind and sky. “You’ve known me for a long time. There have been many nights between us. Many times we were alone. Out of the public eye, as you say.”

His voice is low and husky and familiar, and I shiver even as my cheeks catch on fire.

Then he adds, “If all I wanted was toget under your skirts, I could have had you, ready and willing, at any moment of my choosing.”

I jerk back so sharply that I almost lose my balance. I’m flushed, gasping with sudden fury. My fingernails are curled into my palms so hard that I’m in danger of drawing blood.