Taken by Pirates: Steamy & Sweet Romance on the Sea: Shy Girl / Alpha Male Adventure

by Haley Travis

  Further down the road, I saw a tall man in a crisp black uniform staring intently at the men. The Captain’s eyes darted in the man’s direction, then I saw him mutter something under his breath to Dwyer and Dobbs as they began to walk toward us.

  As soon as they were close, the Captain said in full voice, “I’ll catch up with you two in a moment.”

  Dwyer and Dobbs slowly continued toward the docks, as the Captain came over, setting his barrel upright. Then, to my shock, he swept me into his arms.

  “Did you get everything you needed, my sweet lady?”

  “Yes.” I was flustered by his closeness, but tried to maintain my composure. “Fair prices here, as well.”

  “That’s my girl.” He set me back on my feet, but kept his arm around me.

  The way he was staring into my eyes was so intense that I nearly felt dizzy. Was he being saucy with me right here in the middle of the street in a strange town? One did not openly flirt with other eyes about. That’s what I had always been taught.

  The Captain bent down, and I suddenly knew that he was about to kiss me.

  I also knew that I’d never wanted anything more in my entire life. My breath caught in my throat as I tipped my face up to his.

  He smiled sweetly, grazing his lips along my cheekbone. “Your hair is so elegant like that, my fine lass.” He straightened up as I tried to settle my racing heart. “Let’s catch up with the others and decide what’s for supper.”

  The Captain’s gaze darted to the uniformed man who passed by, studying us carefully but saying nothing.

  I walked with him back to the ship to see the men were already on board, ready to unfasten the ropes. The moment we were safely aboard, the ship launched, as if in a fantastic hurry.

  After stowing the food in the galley, I came back on deck, looking around carefully. The only clouds were wispy bits of fluffy white. There was no sign of a storm anywhere.

  The Captain came up from below deck, giving me a wide smile. “You did well today, Maggie. We were quick as a whip.”

  Walking toward him, he seemed confused by my glare. “You kissed me so that the policeman wouldn’t ask you any questions. Didn’t you?”

  He stayed silent a moment until I felt the need to speak again.

  “There’s no storm coming in. Why did we have to rush? Were there illegal things in those barrels?”

  “No,” he said slowly. “Not illegal, exactly. It’s just rum.”

  “Then why didn’t you want the policeman asking questions?”

  His smile was so handsome that it almost distracted me from the issue at hand. “We were paid to do a job, and we did it. That’s all.”

  “What was the job?” My arms crossed in front of me. “I just need to know the truth.”

  He sighed heavily. “Noah Wescott, the Mayor of Parrinport, has been doing a fine job for years. A local upstart named Gervase Hoddnett wants to unseat him as mayor, and was planning to throw a huge party tomorrow night, bribing the townsfolk with endless rum to vote for him.”

  The Captain’s cocky grin took over. “A friend of the Mayor’s paid us to...confiscate that rum. So in essence, we’ve saved the town from dealing with lousy government for the next several years. Did them all a favor, really.” The look on his face was completely disarming.

  I shook my head in disbelief. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  He took my hand gently. “I wasn’t yet sure how you’d react, Maggie. Some people have very strong opinions on these things.”

  “But...you…”

  The Captain nodded, as his thick arm slipped around me. “You’re right. I nearly stole a kiss without permission. And it was for the wrong reason. I’m sorry.”

  That warm, solid body against my own made my irritation dissolve in a split second.

  His dark eyes burned into mine. “May I steal one now, for the right reason?”

  I stretched up, eager to taste his lips. Yet I had to ask, “What’s the right reason?”

  His eyes darkened as his voice grew thick. “That I need to kiss you.”

  There was no way to argue with his logic as every single part of me wanted to taste his warmth. His lips brushed mine in a soft caress that I felt all the way to my toes.

  My hands reached up to tangle in the back of his thick hair as his hands circled my waist. He pulled my body against his, which felt so powerfully arousing it sent tingles through my belly.

  Somehow my lips parted, allowing the kiss to deepen, as his hand slipped down my back, almost holding my behind. The way he took hold of me so possessively was so intimate. How strange that I truly wanted to feel like his possession.

  The thought of giving myself to a man had always been an idea filled with dread and terror. Now, there was nothing but curiosity, and the steamy, strange, overwhelming heat brewing in my center.

  His soft groan was almost swept away by the breeze, but I caught it. How could this incredible man be so taken with me? Our kiss deepened as we melted into each other, the exhilaration growing until I heard myself moan softly.

  I almost didn’t notice the sound of one of the men climbing back up to the main deck. Instantly the Captain pulled away, putting some space between us.

  It was clear that the Captain was fine with us being close in front of the policeman, in order to complete a job unfettered. So why did he not want the crew to see us together?

  My mind was jumbled with so many thoughts that I wasn’t sure what to think. As the Captain went to the bow to check something with Dwyer, I went to the basket of mending. Perhaps some needlework would settle my racing mind, but I knew nothing on this earth could calm my surging heart.

  ~ Chap ter 8 ~ The Captain ~

  * Drifting North *

  I hadn’t been sure at the start whether Maggie was interested in me romantically, or simply saw me as a savior who was taking her away from her terrible life in Claytonsfield.

  But even if she was a bit reserved in the beginning, there was no mistaking the fiery passion in her kiss now.

  She wanted me. I wanted her.

  Those giant blue eyes of hers were so earnest. So delicately sweet that it reminded me that I would have to do everything in my power to care for this precious girl.

  The only thing was, I wasn’t quite certain whether we should tell the rest of the crew how things were between us until we were a bit more certain ourselves.

  We had just found a good balance with the ship, the crew, and our routine. It didn’t seem like a good time to change things.

  After a rowdy supper full of strange tales from Willy’s previous adventures, with Maggie giggling sweetly at every opportunity, Dobbs came back from above deck, tilting his head to me.

  I followed him to the side of the room. “What is it, lad?”

  “I can’t quite be sure, Captain, but I may have seen some lights behind us.”

  “Consarnit,” I cursed under my breath. “Where’s Willy? We need those eagle eyes.”

  Willy had incredible eyesight, and claimed to be able to tell you whether a coin was gold or silver from a half mile away.

  We went up to the stern, and followed to look where Dobbs pointed. “There. I’m not sure whether it could be lanterns on a ship, or maybe an electrical storm far away. But it didn’t seem to be following us.”

  Willy steadied himself and focused. “It’s too far away for me to be positive, but that could definitely be a ship.”

  After a round of colorful cussing, I said, “Willy, set our course two points northerly.”

  “Off the course, Captain?”

  “Yes. Not enough that we lose too much time, but enough so that if they’re following us, they’ll be confused.”

  “Aye, Captain.”

  We all went to sleep shortly after, with Dwyer on watch. Once again, Maggie slipped into bed beside me, keeping a little distance between us. Yet she seemed to grow a bit more comfortable about touching me every night.

  I knew it was just a matter of time before she curled
completely into my arms for the night from the very beginning. I would have to be patient, since my beautiful girl was clearly quite innocent.

  It shouldn’t arouse me as much as it did, knowing that I would be the one to show her the ways of the world, and the ways of her deliciously delicate body.

  Drifting off, I felt her little hand reach out to rest over my heart as I fell asleep. Nothing could have been more perfect.

  It felt like several hours later when I woke up to feel Maggie curled around me completely. Even her legs were pressed up against me, as if she was quivering with desire. Reaching my arms around her, I held her close, stroking gently along her spine as she released a long, low sigh.

  As I pulled myself completely out of sleep, I considered how to proceed with my sweet little lamb.

  Then I realized her teeth were chattering.

  A sharp knock made me sit bolt upright, with Maggie still clinging to me.

  “Captain, I tried to bring us back, but I think we’ve gone too far off course,” Dwyer said urgently through the door.

  I realized with a start that the air around us was positively icy. The Captain’s quarters were more spacious and refined, but between the wind whipping around the walls and the large window it got colder in poor weather than the bunkroom forward.

  “I’ll be right there,” I called out.

  Lighting the lantern, I said to Maggie, “Pull your dress on, wrap yourself in blankets, then carefully take this lantern forward to the bunkroom.”

  Her mouth opened in a terrified little O.

  “I’ll be down there with you in just a few minutes,” I said quickly. “Please, Maggie, I can’t have you freezing to bits up here.”

  She nodded slowly. “All right.”

  I kissed her cheek swiftly. “That’s my girl.”

  Grabbing my coat, I tore out the door, meeting Dwyer in the chart-room. Sure enough, the compass, and the stars we could see far to the west, showed that we had somehow sailed much too far north.

  I set us back on course, then gave Dwyer my coat. “I’ll send someone up to relieve you in a spell,” I said.

  “Aye, Cap’n.”

  I raced down to the bunkroom. Since it was a fairly small enclosure, the body heat and breathing of the men plus a few lanterns heated the room fairly quickly.

  When I got there, I saw that the tiny porthole had been stuffed full of old rags and packing material, and two lanterns were on the floor below the hammocks.

  Maggie saw me staring. “Heat rises, Captain. With lanterns on the ground, it will rise up to warm people as they sleep. Also, heat escapes more easily through glass, so I asked Willy to block the window. It’s how we used to save on firewood in the dead of winter.”

  “She’s absolutely right,” Willy agreed, “I’m surprised I didn’t think of it myself.”

  Taking Maggie’s hand, I led her to the empty hammock, grabbing an extra blanket from the pile. “Dobbs, you’ll relieve Dwyer in half an hour.”

  “Aye, Cap’n.”

  “Maggie, you’ll get in the hammock with me, so that I can keep you warm.”

  There weren’t many things I truly hated in this world, but the terror in her eyes was something I would never forget.

  “Just as a test,” I said quickly. “We’ll try it for a few moments, and if you don’t like it, I’ll help you climb out.”

  She took a step closer, her little white teeth sinking into her bottom lip.

  “It’s not like being locked in the cellar, or a crate,” I said softly. “You are in complete control, Maggie. All you have to do is say the word, and I’ll help you out. I promise.”

  She took another step closer.

  “I said that I’d take care of you. Keeping you warm is part of that. I’m sorry that we ended up a bit too far north, but after what looks to be a terrible patch of wind for the next hour, we’ll be fine.”

  At that moment the ship began to rock, as a whistling wind tore across the deck over our heads.

  I spread the blanket over the hammock then swung in, leaning toward Maggie as I held out my hand. With great relief, she took it, as I helped her jump in beside me. I wrapped her in my arms, as well as the blanket.

  “Is everyone warm enough?” I asked.

  A mumbled chorus of “Yes” and “Aye” circled the room.

  As I snuggled Maggie tightly against me, I felt her relax slightly, and her teeth stopped chattering. “I’m sorry it’s so close in here,” I whispered against her ear. “How do you feel, sweet girl?”

  “I think I’m all right,” she said, her voice soft and sweet. “You’re right. Knowing that I can get out at any second really does help.”

  My fingers tangled in the back of her hair. “That’s my girl.”

  I suddenly felt her tremble again. “Are you still cold? I can get another blanket if you need–”

  “No,” she whispered, shaking her head against my chest. “I’m sorry, that shiver was... something else.”

  It took me a blink to realize what she meant. I positively loved that being in my arms excited her this much.

  Ducking my head, I tipped her chin up to mine. “Tell me, Maggie,” I whispered, “would I be taking good care of you if I asked for a kiss good night?”

  She tipped her chin up higher. Then her silky lips met mine in the most beautiful kiss. Her precious mouth was soft as a cloud. The nervous hitch in her breath made my hips tighten with desire.

  But I certainly could not think about that now. My hand ran down her back to cup her behind for a moment, then ran down the top of her thigh. The sensation of her figure trembling with desire against me was almost more than a man could take.

  Now was not the time to think of more, yet just the thought sent my pulse ablaze, as my hands gripped her tighter. Maggie’s entire body was pressed firmly to mine, the slight roll of the ship swaying us together.

  Her lips parted, and I took full advantage, exploring her sweet mouth with mine until I heard a tiny whimper.

  “Quiet, sweet one.”

  “Sorry,” she whispered, and I could hear the naughty little grin in her voice.

  I kissed across her forehead, then tucked her snugly against my chest. “Wake me if you need anything at all, my girl.”

  Again, I felt a tiny tremble run through her.

  She liked being called my girl. That thought did something very strange to the center of my chest. It honestly felt like my heart was growing. Opening. Shifting around to make more room for Maggie in my world.

  That was definitely something I’d have to spend more time straightening out. Now that I’d had a wee taste of this beautiful girl, I couldn’t imagine living in a world without her.

  ~ Cha pter 9 ~ Maggie ~

  * Icy Hot Night *

  My body and my mind had never felt so connected. The sensation of being so well cared for was still completely new to me. I felt like a bud that wasn’t quite ready to flower, but soon.

  I could feel quite plainly that the Captain wasn’t just holding me for warmth. The way those great hands traveled slowly up and down my back were more than comfort. They were causing strange tingles in strange, previously unexplored places.

  I’d heard a bit about sex from my school friends in hushed giggles, but it had never particularly interested me. I was fascinated by the connection of two people in a situation more like this. Complete closeness.

  I just didn’t think that it would happen with three other men in the room.

  Even though we were so close together, there was no chance of anything really happening beyond snuggling, which was a slight relief. If things were to take their natural course and progress, they should probably happen slowly.

  The wind picked up as we rocked gently, the soft snores of the other men filling the small room.

  As the Captain’s hand dipped lower, caressing my backside and legs, I thought to myself that so many things had happened in such quick succession that I really didn’t have any references anymore.

 
My life had been spun topsy turvy.

  For half a second, I wondered if my brothers were sorry for what they’d done when they realized I was missing. No, they were likely glad to be rid of me. As a woman, I was a waste of food.

  Let’s see how they liked cooking their own meals now, without me to teach them, or show them how to save money on food. They’d likely be broke within a week.