“And do not think you can escape, Alice,” he warned. “There are tens of my men beyond that door—many who have not seen a lady such as you. How long do you think you can survive in their company without my protection?”
She was panting now, and Edward could see the panic blooming in her gaze.
“Please,” she begged. “I cannot remain here with you like this. It is not what I planned.”
Edward shook his head. “Whatever you planned is irrelevant now,” he told her. “You are mine. You understand that?”
There were tears in her doleful eyes as she replied, but he could not decide if they were borne of fear or frustration.
“I understand, yet I cannot think to bear it.”
He took a step in Alice’s direction. Their bodies now almost touched.
“Sir,” he corrected her.
Alice lifted her chin to meet his eyes again. “Excuse me?”
His hand slipped to his belt, skimming the leather until he grazed the handle of his sword. Alice’s gaze followed the journey with obvious trepidation.
“That is how you address me, Alice. A captain is referred to as sir unless you use his title directly—a fact you already know, I assume?”
She swallowed. “Yes, sir.”
Edward’s already swollen erection throbbed urgently. He liked the way that word sounded on young Alice’s lips—he liked it a lot.
“Better,” he replied, shifting back toward the door. In a huge pile by the entrance were tens of ropes previously used on his voyages. None of them were ideal for binding a treasure like Alice, but needs must, and at this moment, it was all Edward had available. He swooped for the smallest of the binds, spinning on his heel to lock eyes with Alice again.
“I must see to my men,” he announced as he strode back in her direction.
Her brown gaze fixed on the rope on his hands.
“I need to advise them of the changes to our plans.”
“Me?” she gasped. “Sir.”
“Yes, you,” he replied. “And that means I must leave you alone for a few minutes.”
He was on her, only a few inches from her heaving chest and momentarily, Edward allowed himself a moment to enjoy the look of her cleavage in the pale gown.
“You need not bind me,” she said in a panicky tone. “I will do as you say, sir.”
“I think not, Alice,” Edward snorted. “I have known you for such a frustratingly short time, yet already you have proven to be defiant and strong headed. If I leave you unrestrained and unattended, I can guarantee, you will try to escape the ship.”
Large brown eyes rose to meet his gaze. Edward’s assumptions were correct, and they both knew it.
“So, you must submit to my ropes,” he continued. “At least in my absence.”
“But your men?” she panted. “If I am bound, how can I defend myself against them?”
“There will be no need,” Edward assured her. “I shall leave my first mate outside the door, and he can be trusted.”
Alice blinked away the fresh tears in her eyes.
“I cannot abide this, sir,” she practically spat the final word.
“But there is no choice, young lady,” he told her, flexing the length of rope between his hands. “Abide you must.”
Chapter 8
Alice
Events had unraveled at a fast and disturbing rate. Just an hour before, Alice had been safely hidden in her father’s concealed unit, and now, her presence was well and truly revealed to the alleged captain of the vessel, Edward Law. To make matters worse, the man was now binding her wrists with coarse rope, planning to leave her alone with some awful first mate while he addressed the rest of his men. Alice’s heart raced at the mere idea. It was terrible enough being alone with Law—no lady should ever convene with a man without a chaperone—yet here they were, just a few inches from one another as the brute bound her.
Except he was not a brute.
Alice sighed as that realization washed over her.
The man may be less smart than the average gentleman, but so far, she had to admit, he had been nothing but reasonable in the face of her crimes. Alice was under no illusion—she had committed a crime by boarding the ship and hiding behind the wooden panel. She was not crazy about the idea of being spanked by Edward, yet had the sense she should be grateful for the sentence—another man could have done far worse.
She nibbled at her lower lip while she watched him work, noticing how deft his large fingers were as they secured the wrists in place.
“That should hold you,” he announced, taking a step back to assess his handiwork.
Alice tugged at her wrists, finding they were tightly bound together and was forced to agree. The ropes would hold her.
“Don’t look so fearful. No harm shall come to you in my care, Alice.”
Her gaze darted north to meet his. Thus far, he had been as good as his word, yet there was something unscrupulous about the man—some unstated sense that told Alice to be on her guard, something that did not seem legitimate.
A knock at the door startled her, and both turned toward it.
“Sit,” he commanded, pointing in the direction of the window seat as though she was some sort of animal.
Alice’s gaze narrowed at the instruction, but reluctantly, her feet were already moving toward the place he had directed her. There was no choice anymore. She had made a miscalculation when she had decided to come here and would have to live with the consequences—whatever they may be.
The door opened as she found her seat on the other side of the decanter, and Alice’s gaze fell over the arrival. Another man, even less sophisticated than his captain, entered the room. His focus landed on Alice, his eyes widening with shock.
“Carlisle,” Law broke the silence. “I’m glad you’re here. I have a task for you.”
Carlisle’s attention shifted back to his officer. “Aye, sir. I came to let you know the men are assembled and ready for you.”
“Excellent,” Edward smiled. “As you can see, I have news of my own.”
He tilted his head in the direction of Alice, and for an excruciating moment, both men turned and regarded her. Alice’s face burned with embarrassment, and instinctively, she lowered her gaze, her attention falling on the stiff ropes at her wrists.
“A woman, Captain?”
“Very observant, Carlisle,” said Edward with a laugh. “Yes, a stowaway by the name of Alice Jaggers.”
“But a woman, sir,” the other man repeated. “It’s bad luck to have a woman onboard.”
Alice lifted her chin with interest. Bad luck, huh? This could be her way off the vessel altogether.
“Only if you subscribe to superstitions,” countered Law in an amused tone. “Which as you know, I do not. It is not luck that has brought us good fortune in the past but our own fortitude.”
Carlisle raised his brows but said nothing to protest. “How did she get on board, sir? And what are we to do with her?”
Alice’s belly twisted at the last question, her gaze darting once more to Edward Law. Until today, he was a man she had barely even contemplated—the man at the auction, a name on a list at Christie’s, but nothing more. Now, it seemed Mr. Law held Alice’s destiny in his hands, and she was heady with the new reality.
“I found her hidden in my quarters,” explained Edward as he turned to face Alice. “As for your second query, Carlisle, we are not going to do anything with her. As captain, our guest is my responsibility.”
She gulped at the way he made that sound, suddenly unsure if she should be grateful or afraid—worse was the way Alice’s body was reacting to the tattered captain. Where she had previously been disgusted by the sight of the man, she was fast becoming compelled. The weight of his stare and his authoritative presence had affected Alice in ways she could never have foreseen, and as she met his gaze again, she was perturbed by the way heat pooled beneath her gown.
“I should like you to stand guard outside my door while I a
ddress the crew.” Edward’s focus was back on Carlisle now. “I am sure you can understand I cannot have any of the men stumbling upon her by mistake.”
Carlisle turned to look at Alice, his brown eyes drilling into her. “Aye, sir,” he responded after a moment. “I can understand.”
Law moved toward him, resting his hand on the shorter man’s shoulder. “I would trust only you with this objective, my friend,” he said solemnly. “Keep her safe for me.”
“You can count on me, Captain,” Carlisle smiled, revealing two crooked front teeth.
“Good. Then I must depart.” Law turned in Alice’s direction, fixing her with a hard stare. “I shall not be long, but until that time, behave yourself.”
Alice pulled in a deep breath as both men stalked from the room. She watched as the door slammed closed behind them, imagining Carlisle waiting just beyond. A potent myriad of emotions stirred as she heard what she assumed to be Law’s boots pacing away.
No man had ever spoken to her that way. Even her father had treated his only daughter with courtesy and respect when he addressed her.
Alice blinked, shaking her head as she processed what she was feeling.
On the one hand, she was embarrassed at her current predicament, entirely of her own making, and no idea how it would be reconciled, but on the other hand, she was seething with indignation at the way she had been treated. The way Law had spoken to her—dressing her down like a servant. Her face flamed as she recalled his proximity and the way he had touched her—the nerve of the man—then had somehow made her admit the error of her ways aloud. That was a feat no one had achieved before. Alice may have been guilty, but she would never have admitted such, especially to a stranger.
She sighed, eyeing the captain’s quarters as she struggled against the ropes. Being bound this way was intolerable—just like Law’s insufferable arrogance and the way he made assumptions about Alice. He assumed she would obey him and would be pliant to his plans. She snorted—the man had a lot to learn about Alice Jaggers if he thought she would remain compliant. She had not sneaked her way on board just to end up his bound captive, yet even as resentment burned in her blood, there was also something else. His commanding presence, just like the bondage, had stirred something in Alice.
Something she had not expected.
Something that felt like desire.
Chapter 9
Edward
The assembled crew were as rowdy and enthusiastic as Edward had expected. Many had served under his command before, and he trusted them all—an important consideration when you were heading hundreds of miles out into the wilds of the oceans. Life at sea was nothing like being stuck on land. It was exhilarating and dynamic, gifting a liberty few so-called free men could understand, but it was also dangerous. At any moment, the winds could change, throwing a storm at their vessel, and every man on board had to know what was expected of them in the event. Everyone knew their place, and each man would obey his instructions without protest.
Naturally, threats did not only come from the weather. Life on the oceans was a constant game of jeopardy, and however good his ship and his crew were, Edward had no idea who they would encounter. They were not the only pirates at large, particularly in Caribbean waters, so having a reliable group of men at his command gave him peace of mind. He may be a criminal, but he needed order as much as the next officer. Besides, Edward liked being obeyed— he always had.
“One final thing, gentlemen,” he called. “Before you go to your posts, I have news.”
An excited hush fell over the group.
“What is it, Captain?” shouted Jennings from beside the mast.
Edward grinned. “This is rumor control. If you haven’t heard, I’m sure you soon will—we have a woman on board the Dexterity.”
A loud, raucous cheer rose in response, and Edward shook his head as he raised a palm, gesturing for the men to quiet.
“A woman?” Smith cried from the back. “Women are bad luck for any voyage, Captain. Why bring one on board?”
A general wave of agreement stirred throughout the men.
“I did not bring her onboard,” Edward corrected Smith in a curt tone. “I found her concealed in my quarters.”
Edward ignored the throb of his cock as he recalled the incident. Alice had been so vulnerable and tiny, yet so defiant in the face of her actions. She stirred him in ways no other woman ever had.
“Concealed?”
He missed which of the crew had spoken, the memory of Alice distracting him from the gathered faces.
“Hidden,” he clarified. “Apparently, the woman has some connection to the ship, and I intend to keep her.” Edward smiled at the leery noises that erupted.
“And keep her I shall,” he shouted over the merriment. “I know of your superstitions, but you have all served with me before, gentlemen, and you know I fear no God or man. I am the master of our destiny, men—not fate and certainly, not the little lady tied up in the quarters.”
“So, she’ll be for your personal use then, Cap’n?” asked Jennings with a smirk. “You won’t be sharing her?”
Edward’s expression hardened. “I shall not,” he confirmed in a loud growl. “The woman is my property, and any man who touches her will be dealt with in the same way I deal with all thieves.”
They were silent, save for a few labored gasps. Edward had rarely had issues with thieves on board his vessels, but there had been a young rogue named Black who had once attempted to take Edward’s purse, despite being well paid for his labor. Edward had dealt with him the only way he knew how—with brutality—before dropping his body overboard for the sharks to finish off.
Most of the men gathered around him would remember the sorry tale of Black, and he was sure the threat of that fate would be enough to scare them away from Alice. Still, they were red-blooded men, and even though they had taken their share of wenches over the last few weeks, Edward was under no illusion. Alice would make the voyage dangerous and would need to be protected.
Yet for some reason, he was compelled to keep her, though his reasoning made little sense.
“Any questions?” Edward’s words echoed out around the deck but were met only with silence. “Then let’s get this ship out to sea, gentlemen!”
A huge cheer went up at his edict.
“Mr. Carlisle will be here shortly to direct you.”
Edward turned, striding from the assembled group, heading back toward his quarters. Climbing the small stairwell, his thoughts returned to the bound woman who awaited him and the punishment he had promised her. Edward found Carlisle leaning against the door.
“Any problems?”
Carlisle shook his head. “I haven’t checked on the lass,” he replied. “But I’ve not heard a sound from her.”
Edward smiled. That was a good start.
“Thank you, old friend,” he told his first mate. “The men are prepped and have been brought up to date about our stowaway.”
Carlisle’s eyebrow arched at the news. “Aye, Captain.”
“Listen,” Edward said with a sigh. “I know you don’t think it’s a good idea to bring her with us.”
His first mate raised his palms in a conciliatory gesture. “It is not my decision, sir,” he replied, pushing himself away from the wood. “I have served with you long enough to respect your choices, Captain.”
“But?” Edward could sense where this was going.
Carlisle grinned. “But I would advise caution, sir. I know you are not a superstitious man, but the girl can bring trouble. Trouble we can do without, and frankly, she cannot be divided up between the men like the other treasure we find.”
Edward nodded at his friend’s words. Carlisle was right—Edward had already contemplated many of those risks himself.
“Agreed,” he answered after a moment’s consideration. “I will be cautious.”
“But you are set on your plan, sir?” Carlisle’s tone suggested he already knew the answer to his own question.
“That I am,” Edward confirmed. “The men will be rewarded in other ways. This bounty is mine to enjoy.” He gestured toward his quarters as he concluded, and Carlisle chuckled in response.
“You’re a lucky son of a bitch. You know that, I assume?”
“I know,” Edward replied with a laugh. Only Carlisle could get away with talking to him that way and live to tell the tale. “Now, leave us. The men are in position. I’ll be on deck when I’ve dealt with the woman’s insolence.”
“I bet,” smirked Carlisle as he brushed past Edward. “Don’t worry, sir, the ship will soon be at sail, though it looks like the Dexterity won’t be the only one losing her maidenhead this day.”
Edward glared at his departing first mate, but rather than offer a rebuke, his lips curled. He had a sense Carlisle might be right, and his balls ached at the tantalizing prospect that lay ahead.
Alice was at his desk when he entered the room, her head turning to meet his gaze.
“There you are.” He closed the door behind him, sliding the top lock in place before he closed the distance between them. “What have you been up to?”
“Nothing,” she snapped, rising from his seat to her full height as he towered over her. “What can I do like this?”
Alice lifted her bound wrists, waving the ropes in front of Edward as though he had somehow forgotten how he left her. He smirked at her tone—so petulant again, not terribly sensible, especially considering the circumstances.
“You can watch how you speak to me, Alice,” he warned in a deep voice. His cock swelled at the way her eyes widened, but she pursed her lips in response.
“I’m sorry, sir,” she said in an exasperated tone. “But what do you expect?”
“I expect what I always presume from those onboard my ship,” he snapped. “Obedience.”
Alice’s gaze flitted back to the maps at his desk for a moment. “It seems I am not so good at that.”
Edward laughed out loud at her assessment. “Obviously,” he concurred. “Yet perhaps a turn over my knee will help to bring you to heel?” He arched his eyebrow at her, relishing the way she seemed to squirm under his scrutiny.
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