“No, sir.” She shook her head emphatically. “I’m sorry, four, sir.”
The warmth of Edward’s hand disappeared from her behind, and this time, she anticipated its return almost as much as she dreaded it. When it came, the sensation it brought was hot, intense, and distracting.
“Five.”
Alice could hear how breathy her voice had become, the desire that stirred within her lacing into her indignation and injury.
“How many more?” he probed, idly grazing a single digit over her left cheek.
Her gaze fluttered closed at the feeling. It was almost sensual.
Could this really be happening to a lady like Alice Jaggers?
“Fifteen more, sir.”
There it was again, that soft raspy tone. Alice had never heard it in her voice before, but it was there, and she could not deny it.
The finger at her behind slipped south, traveling between her legs and pausing just short of the nest of hair that protected her most intimate areas. Alice gasped, her hands balling into fists, though it was not the indignity that inspired the action. It was the warmth pooling at her core, the moisture she could feel at the apex of her thighs, and the odd need that seemed to be building.
Alice could not understand it.
She had never known anything like it before.
“Well, this is curious,” Edward’s voice floated over her head.
She twisted her head, conscious she should show acknowledgment of his words, yet unsure how to respond.
“It seems the lady is enjoying her punishment.”
His finger pressed deeper, and at that moment, Alice could feel the thing tickling those soft hairs between her legs. She panted in response, aware she should protest and seek to throw the man from his inappropriate pursuit, yet also conscious of the way the deed had made her feel. His exploration felt good, and to be frank, Alice wanted more of it—a lot more.
“Is it true, Alice?” Edward’s voice was insistent.
“I…” She hesitated. How could she possibly admit such a thing? “I do not know, sir. No one has ever done these things to me.”
His dark laughter filled the room, echoing around the walls of the chamber.
“I like your answer.”
“It is the truth,” she told him ardently.
“Oh, I believe you,” he replied. “And that fact makes me happy beyond reason, Alice.”
He edged further around her body, curling not just one, but two, or maybe three fingers until they cupped the warm place between her legs, then just as Alice thought she could no longer contain the emotions his touch produced, one of those digits slipped into her hair.
“You are wet for me,” he declared in a low, throaty tone. “Wet already, Miss Jaggers, and your penance is not even finished.”
Swiping his hand away without further explanation, Edward laughed as he spanked Alice again.
“There shall be time for that,” he advised when he caught his breath. “First, let us finish what we have begun.”
Chapter 12
Edward
Alice trembled over his thighs as he concluded her final few strokes. There was still tension in her body, but less than before, and if he was not mistaken, Edward thought he could sense her arousal growing even bolder than before. He had been genuinely shocked to find the evidence of her carnal response to the spanking. Edward had expected fear, angst, even indignation, but the last thing he had anticipated was Alice being excited by the treatment. It was surprising, but also fortuitous.
Edward had enjoyed tanning the pretty hide of a woman for many a long year and paid extra at brothels on dozens of occasions for the opportunity to haul a woman over his lap. One of the main disadvantages with his chosen profession was the lack of female company and attention. Piracy meant many months away at sea at a time, and inevitably, that implied no corporal punishment—save for the often-grim task of delivering a whipping to an unruly crew member—and no wanton antics at all, but having Alice here changed all of that. His unexpected stowaway had gifted him the chance to indulge in his erotic whims as often as he desired while they crossed the ocean. His cock throbbed urgently at that prospect.
He waited while she numbered the final spank before helping Alice back to her feet. Invariably, her skirts fell toward the ground, concealing her delectable, punished behind. Alice pulled in a shaky breath, refusing to meet his eyes as his stare drilled into her blushing face.
“You survived your first spanking, Miss Jaggers,” Edward told her in a sardonic tone.
Of course, it was obvious she had made it through the penance, and he had already ascertained how much she had come to relish the treatment, but Edward could not resist the urge to say so aloud. He wanted to remind Alice what would happen if she acted against his will again, and he wanted to reinforce her unusual reaction to it.
“I cannot believe you made me endure it.”
Edward’s lips curled at her petulant response. She had only been free of the sting of his hand for a matter of seconds, and look at her—already sullen, sinking back into ill-tempered habits.
“You deserved your sentence,” he reminded her. “But do not think I shall not take you back over my knee if you continue to brood and fail to address me properly.”
Alice sucked her lip between her white teeth. “As you wish, sir.” Her arms fell to her sides with a sigh. “I still do not see why you needed to bare me so.”
Edward chuckled, “I exposed your flesh because it was my desire to do so, Alice.”
Her gaze widened at his admission.
“Since you’re on my ship, it is my will which matters.”
“And that means you can do whatever you like?” she queried, those small hands rising to her slim hips. “Take whatever you want?”
The defiance was in her tone again, but while it riled Edward to hear it, there was a part of him that admired her pluck. He liked a woman with fortitude and determination, and whatever Alice’s flaws, it was evident she was not lacking in either of those traits. Yet had he not just warned her what the ramifications of her disrespect would be? Edward shook his head as he reached for Alice’s hand.
“That is exactly what it means.” His words made Alice gasp, his low tone resonating around the room. “And what did I tell you about addressing me correctly?”
She squeezed her eyes closed. “My apologies, sir,” Alice just about managed. “I am not used to showing deference to pirates.”
Alice practically spat out the final word, her gaze narrowing with the apparent accusation. Edward smiled at the venom in her voice. So, his beautiful stowaway had managed to identify his way of life had she and now, she disapproved? Well, that was hard luck—for her at least.
Edward Law was a pirate and a damn successful one. He had accepted the judgment that came with the role many years ago and avoided the noose ever since, but he sure as hell was not going to accept condemnation from a woman who broke the King’s law when she had skipped onto his ship without so much as a word of permission.
He dropped her hand, rising to tower over her as he lifted his palm to capture her chin between his thumb and his forefinger.
“Well, you best get used to it, Missy.” Edward ensured the full weight of his stare pinioned Alice. “Because from the moment you saw fit to climb onboard my ship, you became my problem, and every soul on my ship addresses me as their captain.”
Her expression hardened as that thought seemed to resonate.
“Yes, Captain.”
Now, that was more like it.
“I appreciate you feel an attachment to The Dexterity, but as you yourself have recognized, she is not your responsibility.”
Alice inhaled. “I know,” she muttered. “And I understand it, sir, though I do not purport to like the reality that faces me.”
“Do not look so glum, Alice,” Edward grinned. “It seems your body is not so distraught about my punishment.” He paused, reveling in the bloom of a fresh blush on her cheeks. “Perhaps you
r time aboard the Dexterity shall not be so onerous, after all?”
Alice’s chest rose and fell between them, and unthinkingly, Edward’s gaze fell south to her bodice. She had a full pair of breasts laced into her dress, and his already excited erection strained furiously at the thought of getting his hands on them.
“I cannot think what to say to such a thing,” she huffed, though her face was almost crimson by this point.
“Of course, not, Alice,” Edward laughed at her supposed innocence.
He had no doubt she was still a maid, yet the idea she did not comprehend her own lust seemed ludicrous. Surely, even a woman could recognize when she had enjoyed a deed, and Edward knew firsthand, Alice had taken pleasure from the spanking he had bestowed upon her. There seemed little benefit in either of them denying it.
“But do you deny you were affected by the sting of my palm?” Edward shifted the afore mentioned palm toward her burning cheek, covering the heat radiating from her face with his skin.
Alice blinked wildly at him, and he half expected her to try to pull away from his touch, but interestingly, the lady did not.
“It is not right for me to answer your query, Mr. Law.”
Edward smiled in response. “Is it right to deny an order from your captain?”
She shuffled her weight awkwardly, one foot to the next. Edward had her there, and he knew it. Miss Jaggers may not be used to the ways of the high seas, but she seemed to know enough about the rules of society. Jaggers had been a man of some wealth and influence, and surely, his daughter would have known about hierarchy. It was one thing to ignore those of a lower social standing, but to flout the conventions of social order would be unthinkable. However much she begrudged the fact, Edward outranked her onboard the Dexterity, and he would wager she would feel obliged to obey.
“No, sir.” She tried to lower her gaze, but his hand held her chin firmly in place.
“So, tell me, do you deny it?”
“I cannot deny it, Mr. Law,” she said at length, swallowing down her obvious embarrassment. “Although I did not wish for this to be the case, and neither do I understand it.”
Edward smiled. It was only a small breakthrough, but a victory, nonetheless.
“Thank you, Alice.” Her eyes flitted back to him as he said her name. “I appreciate your honesty on this delicate matter.”
“What happens now, sir?” Her query was a breathy pant. “What shall you do with me to occupy the many hours of endless ocean?”
Edward wanted to laugh at her question. He had a great many things in mind for the wonderful Miss Jaggers, yet he suspected none that would bring her reassurance.
“I do not want you to fret.”
He stroked the underside of her chin as he spoke, relishing the way her eyes fluttered closed at the sensation. Alice clearly was affected by his touch, even if she had trouble vocalizing her experiences.
“We shall settle into a new way of life. I shall feed, clothe, and protect you, and you, Alice, I am certain there are things you can do for me in return.”
Alice’s eyes were as wide as saucers. “Do you speak of my virtue, sir?”
That was precisely what he spoke about. “I speak of your desire, Miss Jaggers. The way you sought out my kiss, the way your body reacted to the spanking—these are the things we can explore.”
She was practically panting at his words. “Sir, I…” She hesitated, looking anywhere but at Edward directly. “I do not. I cannot.”
Smiling, he pressed his fingers to her lips to silence her. “Enough now,” he told her. “Let us get you some fresh air.”
Alice pulled away, fluttering her lashes at him. “Fresh air?”
“Aye,” he confirmed. “No doubt, you have been contained in my quarters for some hours already. It is not good for you.”
“But, sir. Where can I go?”
Edward ran his fingers down the arm of her gown. “That’s easy, Alice. You’ll accompany me on deck.”
Chapter 13
Alice
Despite her better judgment, the idea of leaving his quarters was good. Alice had been hidden away for some time, and all the unexpected emotional passion between her and Law had drained her, leaving her exhausted. She reconciled a short walk on deck may be just the trick to clear her head, yet she still did not relish the attention of the rest of the crew.
Edward pulled the door back. “Stay close,” he ordered as she scurried past him. “My crew have been given their instructions, but they are only men and as flawed as any man can be.”
She gulped at his warning. “I shall, sir.”
Alice had no desire to find herself at the mercy of any of the bandits on board. It was terrible enough she seemed unable to resist the allure of their captain.
They climbed down the wooden steps, which led to his quarters, and Alice found herself back on the deck of the Dexterity. She was not entirely sure how long they had been at sail, but as her eyes drifted to the horizon, she found there was no land in sight. Alice’s belly lurched at the reality. London was gone. England was gone. She was all alone at sea with only the moral compass of a pirate and his band of renegades to see her through.
She had truly outdone herself this time.
Wandering toward the port side of the ship, her gaze landed on the craftmanship. Her father would have been so proud to witness this—the maiden voyage of the ship he had lovingly designed from scratch, though goodness only knew what he would have made of its new owner. The Dexterity had been planned for His Majesty and was never supposed to fall into private ownership, but her father’s ill health had brought lengthy delays, and in the end, the King had commissioned a new ship. Alice was grateful her father had been too unwell to recognize the loss, but she had been made to bear it. All those years he had spent creating this masterpiece, ultimately, her father had never even laid eyes on her. The thought made Alice melancholy.
“Hello, missy.”
Alice’s heart leapt at the unknown voice and she spun on her heel to find not one, but two lanky looking men leering at her. Instinctively, she backed against the side of the ship, her hands gripping the wood as she eyed them.
“Leave me be!” she commanded in as stern a voice as she could muster.
Her gaze darted around the deck, searching for Law. Where in God’s name was he? Had not he just warned her about the hazards of his anarchic crew, and now he had seen fit to abandon her. Perhaps this had been his grim plan all along—to lure her out of his quarters and dangle her as bait. Her hands balled at that suggestion. She had been a fool to trust anything Edward had told her.
“Are you lost?” The dark-haired one advanced slowly, his grin revealing a mouth of unsightly teeth.
Alice gasped. “No,” she insisted. “I am not lost. I am a guest of the captain.”
The sandy haired one smiled menacingly. “I don’t see no captain, Miss. All I see is you, a young, beautiful lady out here all on her own.”
He took a step forward, and Alice’s heart pounded with trepidation. She knew instinctively she was in real trouble unless some sort of miracle was sent to save her. These men were pirates.
Pirates.
The word resonated around Alice’s head.
Pirates had no qualms about morality, and she guessed they did not mind taking a chance on their rosaries if indeed, any of them even owned one.
“Stay back!” She raised her palm in a vain attempt to halt their pursuit, but it was futile. Long-limbed she may be, but they were both taller and no doubt stronger than Alice, and she already knew her resistance was futile.
“Smith! Walker!” Law’s voice echoed through the air like the sound of a whip, and both approaching men froze before turning slowly to address their officer.
“Aye, Cap’n,” the blond one, Walker, answered as he edged away from Alice.
Smith took a stride away from her as well, revealing the looming frame of Edward. His face was like thunder, those muscular arms crossed in front of him, and reflexivel
y, Alice began to pant again, but it was not fear at her welfare which inspired this reaction. It was the foreboding presence of Law himself.
“What were your orders?”
Other men had paused in their duties to see what the fray was about, and it seemed dozens of eyes were on Alice. Her gaze flitted to her skirts instinctively. This plan was supposed to have been about stealth and ingenuity, and so far, all she had managed to achieve was the opposite—that and a thoroughly spanked backside. She gulped at that thought, ignoring the tingly sensation that radiated from there beneath her gown.
“Lookout, sir,” answered Smith as Edward moved closer. “We were just on our way to the crow’s nest.”
Edward arched that brow at his story, the gesture making heat pool between Alice’s legs.
“Then you should go,” Edward advised them in a firm tone. “We may not be far from English shores, but who knows what we will encounter. I need my best men on lookout duties.”
“Aye, sir,” they parroted in unison as they began to move from Alice’s proximity.
“Oh, and gentlemen.” Law’s voice had that knowing tone, and Alice held her breath out of instinct.
Smith and Walker seemed to recognize the timbre of his voice as well, their gazes wide as they glanced back at their captain.
“You shall both meet me here at sundown for a whipping.”
Alice gasped at Edward’s verdict, her gaze flitting wildly between the three men.
“But Cap’n,” Smith started. “We didn’t touch a hair on her head.”
Edward lifted his chin. “Oh, but you would have done,” he growled, approaching them slowly. “You would have done far worse than that, Mr. Smith, knowing full well what my feelings are on the matter.”
Smith’s jaw tensed.
“You have both sailed alongside me many times, and I count you both as some of the best pirates I have ever had the honor to work with, but let’s be clear, gentlemen.” Edward’s eyes slid to Alice momentarily, the look in his gaze sending an involuntary shiver down her back.
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