THE SAILS OF THE HIGH SEAS

- Chapter 44 -

Just as Sandokan suspected, Tremal Naik was no weakling. He was as strong as a bull, as healthy as a wild horse, and as courageous as a tiger. Which meant one thing. He would survive being shot by one obviously unskilled British dog of a servant of Lord Guillonk's estate.

After coming to visit the wounded man, Sandokan examined Tremal Naik's back himself. The wound was serious, but rather superficial. The ship's doctor removed the bullet from the open wound, and left it on a little plate on the side table by the captain's cot in Yanez's stateroom. Per Tremal Naik's request. Though, the doctor could not fathom why anyone would want to keep a bullet they were shot with. But Tremal Naik did. He demanded it so firmly that it even surprised Sandokan and Yanez. He did so, because he knew that the bullet would come to remind him of the amber-eyed, raven hair beauty that twisted knots in his gut the moment he laid his eyes on her.

Though Sandokan, Yanez, and Marianna had visited Tremal Naik, Ada did not. She may have been quick-tongued, and stubborn as a mule - according to pretty much everyone who knew her, but deep down Ada was also as delicate as she was fragile. And worst of all, it took one piercing gaze from Tremal Naik to make her realize that he figured it out. And for a woman not experienced in dealing with a man on a deeper level, it scared her, to say the least. That was why she waited to visit Tremal Naik for as long as she could.

When Ada saw that others had left the stateroom, and after she overheard that Tremal Naik had fallen asleep, she snuck into his room, and watched from afar as he slept. Realizing he had fallen into deep sleep, Ada walked up to the cot on which he slept, and... found it mesmerizing to admire his body. She allowed her eyes to journey across his face, down his neck, and along the muscles on his bare chest. Though he was shot in the back, the doctor wrapped the bandages around his shoulder and chest to ensure that the wound would heal properly. She noticed the tattoos on his upper arms, which she had not noticed before. As her gaze travelled upwards, she noticed the scars on his chest and his chin. She also noticed how masculine and royal his face looked, even as he slept.

"Admiration is only good for those unwilling to take the next step," Tremal Naik said suddenly, with his eyes still closed. Ada was thankful to her lucky stars that he did not see the way she jumped as he spoke up.

"You are awake?" Ada asked, shocked that he could feel her presence.

"Obviously," Tremal Naik replied, and chose to keep his eyes closed for a moment longer.

"I did not want to disturb Your peace," Ada said softly and took a step back, ashamed and feeling guilty again.

"It's a bit late for that," he replied. "I don't bite."

"What do You mean?" Ada asked, baffled.

"About You disturbing my peace? Or about not biting?" Tremal Naik replied and opened his eyes. She saw such intensity in them that it sent shivers down her spine.

"Both..." Was all she could come up with. At least she hoped that the word which left her lips sounded like the one in her mind.

"You disturbed my peace in an obvious way," he paused but did not take his eyes off her. "And You don't have to step back. I don't bite."

"How did You know that I took a step back? Your eyes were closed," Ada narrowed her eyes. "Is that some kind of a hidden pirate skill?"

"I am not a pirate," Tremal Naik replied and tried to sit up. Not only did it bring him more pain, it also caused Ada to rush toward him because she could see the pain on his face. Which, he gauged, was not that bad of a turn of events after all.

"If I could wish for time to turn back, I would," she touched his arm, but retrieved her hand back the moment he looked down toward the spot where she touched him.

"So You wish to return to Your uncle's estate?" He asked before he could stop himself.

"Never!" Ada exclaimed with such conviction that it caused him to raise his eyebrow.

"Then why wish to turn back time?" He tried to sit up again. On purpose. Because he knew she would move up closer toward him if he winced from pain again. And he did. So did she. "So, why wish You could turn back time?"

"To prevent You from being shot," she whispered.

"If it wouldn't have been me, it would have been You. Now how would that make me look?" He narrowed his eyes at her. "Besides, I've been shot at plenty of times."

"At sea?" She tipped her head, and Tremal Naik swore she looked even more alluring to him as her long raven hair touched his hand. He also had to admit that his skin burned in the spot when it came in contact with her braided hair.

"On land. I already told You, I am not a pirate," he replied with a dry mouth. He almost chuckled at himself for feeling so taken with the British noblewoman.

"If You are not a pirate, then who are You?" She whispered again.

"I am a hunter." Saying so, he raised his hand and pointed to the tattoos on his arms. "These marks signify my tribe. My people. My family."

"I don't have a family. Aside from Marianna." Ada looked away from him and tried to rise from the cot.

"Don't..." He said urgently, reached for her hand, and grabbed it. She looked down and saw his hand holding hers. That sent another shiver down her spine. "I am sorry."

"For what?" She looked up at him. His eyes were even more piercing now, but somehow it no longer scared her.

"For not being proper with You," Tremal Naik sighed heavily and released her hand.

"You must be joking," Ada chuckled and felt insulted. Her backbone was beginning to remind her that she was not as fragile after all. Likewise, it reminded her what she thought of nobility and anything remotely related to proper etiquette.

"Why would that be a joke? You come from nobility," he said in a dry tone of voice, but she saw that it made him uneasy.

"I assure You that I have more in common with my mother's blood than my father's lineage." Stubborn, and to prove to herself that she was not afraid of him, she sat back down on the cot beside him.

"Was Your mother Indian?" Tremal Naik inclined his head toward her.

"Yes. In body, soul, but especially in her heart." Thinking of her mother made her smile. That single smile affected Tremal Naik more profoundly than getting shot.

"That explains it..." He paused and debated whether to finish his thought.

"What does it explain?" She raised her eyebrow.

"Why I am so drawn to You. Why You disturbed my peace the moment I saw You," he decided to finish his thought after all.

"I thought I disturbed Your peace when I came to see You just now," she wondered.

"You brought it to me when You came to me now," he looked into her eyes.

"Are You always this direct?" Ada asked, aware that her cheeks have long passed the ruby red stage.

"Of course. It eliminates unnecessary arrogance," he replied bluntly.

"And all You have left is plain arrogance," she smiled.

"Exactly," he chuckled, but stopped the moment she laughed.

"What is it? Does Your wound hurt?" Ada grew worried and leaned in closer.

"It will." He caught her off guard. He wrapped his arms around her, disregarding his pain altogether, and crushed her lips with his. And he immediately realized he sealed his own defeat. The woman he held in arms did not try to free herself from the embrace. She deepened it. And he knew he was lost...