A Pirate's Tantalizing Passion (Historical Regency Romance)

by Lucy Langton

  “I’ll be gentle,” James whispered, stroking the side of her face as his hand trailed down to her waist. The other arm snaked behind her back so he could grip onto her. Then, he pushed his hips forward as Maria spread her legs, eager to feel him inside her depths.

  James slipped his manhood into her sopping channel, the tightness of it sending him into a world of pleasure. He went slowly till he felt the thin flesh she’d protected and moved past it, a wave of pain coursing through Maria as she felt it tear. But as James started to move his hips in a rhythm, allowing his manhood to slip in and out of her channel at an alarming rate, she was soon filled with a pleasure unlike anything she’d ever experienced before.

  Their breathing came in rough spurts as Maria wrapped her arms around James and lifted her hips to meet his movements. James leaned down and caught her mouth with his as her moans began to come louder. Maria could feel an intense feeling building between her legs that only continued to intensify every time James sunk into her. She tried to focus on his kisses, on the way his tongue danced with hers, but soon her mind was brought to the sensation growing between them.

  James moved up then, taking her further and further until she felt certain there was no space left in her core for him. She arched her back as she was brought to an intense high place that spread from her wet channel all over her body. She moaned loudly as James continued to pump into her, allowing the pleasure to continue for several more moments. Then, James’ own moans joined hers as she listened to him come over his own mountain of pleasure that crashed down into her. She felt the warmth inside her core as James’ movements slowed. Eventually he pulled out of her, but he didn’t move from over her as he continued to kiss her gently.

  He trailed his hands over her hot flesh, sending shivers running through her body. She rested her hands on his chest as she kissed him, wanting this feeling to never end. And when she felt the ardor begin to rise again and felt the stiffness of his manhood between her legs once more, she knew that she’d never get enough of the pleasure James caused her.

  Chapter 20

  Maria felt like a true woman as she went about her duties in the following days. She now understood what it meant to make love, to feel cherished by a man, and to bare one’s soul to another. She felt like even though she was stuck on a pirate ship, her future always uncertain, she could at least enjoy parts of life that hadn’t been denied to her.

  No matter what duties Maria had been assigned, she would always find a way to see James during the day. When she would spend a day lopping rope together, her eyes would search out James. As their eyes would meet, they’d gaze longingly at each other, only breaking sight when they were forced to. Days when Maria was assigned to work in the kitchen, she’d take time to serve the other pirates, always bringing James something a little extra, and even oranges when she could smuggle them out of the kitchen. Their days consisted of finding spare moments to be together, even if it was just to brush against each other in passing.

  At night, Maria would wait till it was dark and the ship was quiet before she’d tip-toe lightly to James’ room. There, together they’d explore all manner of passion as they brought each other to new highs again and again. Maria and James couldn’t get enough of being able to touch each other’s bare skin. Sometimes they’d even just cuddle on the bed, naked and together, as though the world outside the bedroom door didn’t matter.

  And though they were both careful not raise anyone’s suspicions of them, even having to cover each other’s mouths while they made love to each other, there was one who could see through any layer of deception. As a master of fooling others, especially his own crew, Captain Maidus was able to spot the way Maria and James looked at each other during the day; the flush in Maria’s face and the yearning in James’ eyes.

  At first, when Captain Maidus started watching the two from the cover of his private quarters, looking out the peephole of his door, the sight of them near each other, lightly touching their hands together in passing, had filled the Captain with rage. He wanted to humiliate James in front of the crew and throw Maria back into the slave quarters. But the more he watched, the more he began to lust after Maria.

  At times the Captain would pace in his room, thinking of how he’d like to handle the matter. He could kill them both, punish them for the way they acted together. Perhaps he could get more proof, have Horus watch over Maria at night and see what was going on while everyone else was sleeping. The Captain had plans to sell Maria once they reached Tripoli, knowing that Maria would fetch a high price for being an innocent. But if she would be willing to share his bed, the Captain would at least consider selling her to a kinder master. Then, a plan came to mind. The Captain could accuse Maria of not fulfilling one of her duties, and blame her for stealing or plotting to cause mutiny amongst the crew with her womanly ways.

  “Yes,” Captain Maidus spoke out loud to himself as he paced rapidly in his room in front of the desk. “I’ll have her thrown into the slave quarters and make the crew turn against her. Then, I’ll bring her back here in the dead of night and make her an offer she can’t refuse. I’ll bed that wench before James has a chance.” Being filled with resolve, Captain Maidus set out from his quarters to confront Maria and finally take her before the clock could strike midnight tonight.

  “Oh, Miss Maria,” the Captain called as he crossed the main deck, gathering a crowd with him as the crew stopped to see what their Captain was about to do.

  Maria had been on the starboard side of the ship, washing the deck with her filthy mop. She didn’t know if her work had allowed the ship’s deck to appear any cleaner, but she had tried her best. When she heard the Captain call out her name, fear filled her. She turned just as the man struck her, the back of his hand hitting the side of her face so hard that she hit the deck with a thud.

  Murmuring filled her ears as she slowly turned her head towards the Captain, anger filling her as she waited to hear what the reason for this outbreak was. Her green eyes pierced his, causing the Captain to hesitate before he addressed his crew.

  “Men, I’ve discovered that this wench has been stealing oranges and hiding them in her room!” he shouted over the men, causing some to cry out in outrage. “She’s been using her female ways to deceive you and has been stealing whenever she gets the chance. I fear I’ve become too lenient and must punish this girl for turning her back on the crew!”

  Shouts of agreement rose up in the air while others considered the Captain, wondering if his words were true. Their thoughts were voiced as someone spoke up from the crowd, saying, “What proof do you have?” All eyes turned and focused on James as he pushed his way to the front of the men. Murmurs continued as the eyes of the crewmen started to dart between the Captain and one of the most trusted pirates on the ship.

  James came to stand in front of the Captain, his own anger boiling to the top as he glanced down at Maria to where she’d fallen after being struck. James wanted to deal the same damage to the Captain but decided to hurt the man in another way.

  “How dare you oppose me, James? Do you really not believe the words I have spoken?” Captain Maidus asked, a chuckle rising from his voice, a few around him joining in.

  “I believe only what I can see, Captain. You taught me never to take a man for his word and only see the truth with my own eyes. So, Captain Maidus, what proof do you have that Maria has been stealing and keeping oranges in her room?” James asked, not willing to back down this time. He’d be damned if he let anyone harm Maria or have her tied up and thrown back into the slave quarters.

  A few started to murmur in agreement with James, causing the Captain to look around him in wonder. Had he acted in haste? Would there really be those of his crew who would oppose him and demand proof as James had? Captain Maidus shook his head as he pointed a finger at James. “You can join that wench in the slave quarters if you dare defy me, James!” the Captain yelled, hushed murmurs circling around them as everyone waited to see what James would do next.
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br />   The moment that James’ fist connected with the Captain’s face, all hell broke loose on the ship. At first, it was crew members trying to pry James off the Captain. There seemed to be a division amongst the crew as other skirmishes broke out. Maria pulled herself up to her feet and made a mad dash for the wheelhouse, knowing she couldn’t fight and needed to get to safety.

  But the next thing everyone realised was that the ship was being attacked. Cannon fire reigned around them as several impacts hit the hull, sending shockwaves through the ship. Maria stumbled, her footing uncertain as she continued on her way to the wheelhouse. She crawled up the stairs as debris flew around her, panic filling her chest as she tried to work out what was happening around her.

  As Maria reached the wheel, which had been abandoned, she looked out over the main deck as pirates scrambled to see a ship swiftly approaching. She casted her eyes to the ship’s flags, a wave of relief crashing over her as she noticed England’s flag sailing proudly. She couldn’t believe that the pirate ship was being attacked, or that no one had seen an enemy approaching. The Captain’s accusation of her had brought everyone’s attention to the Captain and had allowed the English ship to attack without further notice.

  Now, Maria watched as cannon fire came again from the English ship, creating holes in the ship. Captain Maidus was quick to give orders, to have his pirate crew fire back on the English ship, but they were too slow, too disoriented from the fight they’d waged on each other. Soon, the English ship was close enough that the men in uniform could fire their rifles onto the main deck.

  Horror filled Maria’s eyes as bloodshed commenced in front of her. First, she cowered around her feet, wanting to turn her eyes from the fight. Then she made herself move as she climbed down the wheelhouse and made it to her room, closing the door behind her and landing hard on the floor as a cannon hit close by. She screamed in response as her hands covered her ears, trying to block out the cries and sounds of death. She prayed it would be over soon, that she’d survive the attack and perhaps finally be rescued. But as her thoughts began to wonder, she thought of James.

  Here she was cowering on the floor when she knew that James would be out there fighting for his life. Should she go to him and try to protect him from the English? Would they recognize her, a lady dressed as a man with tanned skin and little resemblance to a lady? As the sounds of rifle fire ceased, Maria knew that she needed to try to save James before her chance was gone.

  Pushing herself to her feet, Maria walked carefully from her room. The deck was splintered from cannon fire, making Maria walk slowly down the stairs in case the wood caved in and she fell to the decks below. Reaching the main deck, Maria’s eyes glazed over at the chaos. Men lay dying or dead – men she’d been forced to live by for the last five weeks.

  Amongst the dead she spotted Louis, his lifeless eyes looking back at her as his body lay crumbled on the deck, riddled with gunshot wounds. She cried then, thinking that such an innocent man shouldn’t have received such a fate. As her eyes continued to wander, she watched as the English stormed the ship, quick to either kill or capture those who opposed them. Several had surrendered and were now awaiting the moment that they’d be shot down or bound for trial.

  Maria didn’t hear much of what was happening as shock washed over her. There was so much blood and death that she couldn’t quite rationalize what she was doing. Why had she left her room? Who was she looking for?

  She felt a hand on her shoulder and immediately turned around. A navy officer stood in front of her, his eyes narrowing at her as he realised that she wasn’t a pirate, or a man for that matter. He shouted something over her, causing other navy officers to surround her. She felt all eyes on her as she folded her arms around her, knowing that these men were Englishmen and would judge her for the way she looked. Maria might as well have been standing in a ballroom dressed as she was with every eye of the Ton upon her, already deciding her fate amongst them. She’d be an outcast for the rest of her life, no matter how foul the experience she’d just endured had been.

  Maria felt startled then when a young man pushed past the group of officers surrounding her. She couldn’t believe her eyes as they settled on the man’s blond hair and his bright blue eyes. She was shocked all over again as her brother Gregory wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight against his body that smelled just like home. Maria crumbled then, relief falling over her as it finally dawned on her that her brother had come to rescue her. She didn’t know at the time how all of this could be possible and wondered if she was dreaming still, lying in bed with James after another night of love making.

  But as Maria felt her brother gather her in his arms and start walking towards the English ship that now had planks connecting it to the pirate’s ship, Maria knew she wasn’t dreaming. Sound seemed to come back to her as pirates were taken hostage and quickly brought on the deck of the English navy ship as the Emerald began to sink into the sea. Cries of agony and gunshot continued to ring out, but the further Gregory carried her away, the less the sound assaulted her ears. The emotion of it all astonished her, causing her to faint in her brother’s arms.

  Chapter 21

  Visions passed before Maria’s eyes as she dreamed. She saw blood and gore around her as she tried to look through the bodies on the main deck for a familiar face. Tempests swirled around her as the sound of thunder rang out. Sometimes she’d feel weighed down by the dead bodies, as though she was drowning in them. And just when she’d lost all hope, he’d reach through the chaos and grab her hand, bringing her back to the surface and into pure white light.

  Maria startled forward, her eyes opening to an unfamiliar place. Panic ran through her as she quickly looked around the room, holding a blanket to her chest. She appeared to be in a small cabin upon a ship as she felt the familiar sway around her. The room was rather elegant and as she looked around her to see what she’d been sleeping on, she was rather surprised to find herself in a bed much like her own back in London. Memories flooded her mind as she remembered the attack on the pirate ship, seeing her brother amongst all the navy officers.

  When she heard snoring, she looked towards the sound in the corner and realised that Gregory was sleeping in a chair behind the bed. She stood then, slightly embarrassed to be still dressed in men’s trousers and a muslin shirt, and went to Gregory to wake him, slowly nudging his shoulder until his bright blue eyes opened to hers.

  “Maria, you’re awake,” Gregory exclaimed as he quickly stood and wrapped his arms around her. “My God, have I prayed hard for this moment.”

  Maria couldn’t help the tears that came to her eyes as she held her brother. She smiled and laughed with him, relieved to be with him. She leaned back after a while so she could see him clearly and took a moment to wipe the tears from his eyes.

  “You’ve always been so protective of me, Gregory. But you’ll have to forgive me for losing hope of being rescued a long time ago,” Maria admitted as they sat together in two wingback chairs that framed a small window. Maria could look out and watch the sea as the ship sailed quickly across the waters.

  “I don’t fault you for that, my dear sister. It’s been almost two months since the attack on Portsmouth. I would be a liar if I said that there weren’t moments when I too lost hope,” Gregory said, still holding his sister’s hand as though afraid that at any moment he might lose her again.

  “You must tell me all of what has happened, Gregory. I must know how our parents are faring and however you came to be on a navy ship this far south,” Maria said, wanting to know so badly what had transpired since she was away.

  “Worry not, Maria. When I left the ports of England, Mother and Father were well enough. Mother has been fairly weak since you’d been kidnapped since she’s been very worried with grief. But I hope that the knowledge of me leaving aboard a navy ship brought her some peace. And since there is no mail ship faster than the ship we currently sail on, we will then be able to share the good news together,” Gregory explaine
d as he squeezed Maria’s hand. He simply hoped that his words would ring true and that their mother would still be with the living when they returned.

  “And this ship, Gregory. How did you convince the navy to come after me?” Maria wondered, looking around the fine room and thinking that this room wasn’t as lavish as the Captain’s room aboard the pirate’s ship. There were gold and silver inlays in the carved wood, and small designs that adorned the rafters, making her feel more like she was in a sitting room than aboard a ship.