Pulling off her mask, Aurora bit her lip hard, wondering if she was going mad. She had been unable to forget Nicholas, but she had never before so vividly conjured his image -
"Aurora." The low murmur came from behind her.
She went completely still, memory slicing at her heart. It couldn't be his voice. The man she remembered so poignantly was gone.
"Aurora, look at me."
Slowly she turned around. The pirate was standing there, just inside the room. Dear God, he looked so much like Nicholas… despite his black hair and marauder's attire.
Her fingers gripping the back of the sofa, she squeezed her eyes shut, but when she opened them again, the image was still there.
"No…" Her denial came out in a hoarse rasp. "You are dead…"
"Not quite, love."
Slowly he removed his eye patch, letting her look fully at his features. She could not have mistaken those eyes. Those dark, beautiful eyes. Nicholas.
"Oh, my God," she whispered.
His mouth curved in the faint semblance of a smile. "Aren't you glad to see me, angel?"
Unable to answer or even catch her breath, Aurora raised a hand to her temple. She felt faint with shock, her knees so weak they started to give way. She would have sunk to the floor but for Nicholas. In two strides he had reached her side and grasped her beneath her elbows, lending her his strength. His touch felt very real.
"I don't understand…This can't be."
"It can, Aurora. I am truly here, in the flesh."
She stared back, her gaze riveted on his face. "How…?"
"At the last moment Commander Madsen balked at giving the order to hang me because of a service I had once done a family relation. Instead, he had me transported to Barbados so the British navy could carry out my sentence instead."
"But… I saw your grave…"
"What you saw was a deception, I'm afraid. Percy believed you wouldn't leave unless you were convinced you could do nothing more to save me, so I asked him to feign my burial. He arranged it with Madsen – although he had no notion of the commander's change in plan."
The grave was a deception? Stunned, she searched his face, trying to take in the enormity of the revelation. Nicholas wasn't dead. For a dozen heartbeats she remained unable to speak, her emotions a turmoil of shock and bewilderment… anger at his deceit… joy at seeing him again.
Still not quite believing, she reached up to touch his face. His skin was warm and smooth shaven. His hand closed over hers, holding her palm to his cheek, and for a breathless moment they remained that way, staring at each other.
When another wave of weakness hit her, making her sway, he bent and swept her up in his arms. Aurora suddenly found herself held against a hard male chest. The feel of him was just as startling as his sudden appearance.
She murmured a protest, but Nicholas shook his head. "You should lie down. You've had a shock."
He carried her around the sofa and settled her there, then went down on one knee beside her.
"I'm fine, truly," she murmured as he unfastened the top clasp of her domino.
The further shock of his warm fingers on the bare skin at her throat made her shiver with remembrance. Nicholas seemed aware of it as well, for his hands suddenly went still. He was looking at her breasts, she realized. Abruptly her nipples tightened and pushed against the bodice of her gown in twin, hard peaks.
Her breathing faltered as his heated gaze lifted to her face. "I didn't dream it – how beautiful you are." His voice had fallen to a husky whisper.
Aurora's lips parted, but no sound came out.
Then Nicholas drew an unsteady breath of his own and released her. To her relief, he rose and went to a side table, where he poured her a brandy.
Not wanting to remain in such a vulnerable position, Aurora sat up and smoothed her disheveled clothing. When he returned, Nicholas settled on the sofa beside her and ordered her to drink.
Obediently she took a sip of brandy. The fiery liquor burned her throat, but at least her senses stopped swimming.