Nox couldn’t reconcile why she’d been terrified when the door opened and a strange man stepped through. All she could think was they were here to do what the captain failed to do. And when she’d been set free, she ran. Another man, carrying a tray, dropped it in his attempt to grab her and she sent her foot right into his manhood, but the delay gave the first man a chance to grab her. She’d gotten away once, pulling open a narrow second door she was surprised to find led to a balcony, before she could get out she’d been grabbed again. She’d fought but she was sure she’d not get away without being raped until she heard the captain’s voice. His very presence assured her nothing untoward was going to happen. At least nothing she didn’t bring on herself.
Had she become still when he demanded, she might not have felt the crop. It was something to remember. He’d no tolerance for disobedience. Robert was like that, though his response was more often a backhanded slap, or a closed fisted blow. She shifted again, trying to relieve the strain on her knees. She considered trying to sit again, but voices on the other side of the door stilled her. She looked back over her shoulder as the door opened. Again fear hit her as three men walked through, each carrying several items, including food trays. The smell of which made her ache to rub her empty stomach. She watched them warily as they set the things they carried down and without a word turned and left. A few muffled words from beyond the door and Nox felt the wash of relief as the captain crossed the threshold.
The look he gave her made heat crawl up her neck, and she turned to stare at the wall. His footfalls seemed more deliberate as they approached, her skin prickled. Peeking sideways at him through the hair in her face she watched him stand next to the bed. His scent again filling the air, made her stomach clench, but also her sex and with that sensation she clenched her ass which caused pain and made her moan. His soft chuckle heated her whole body. What was happening to her?
“Look at you, so… alive with it, and you don’t even know what it is,” he said, his hand reaching out. She pulled back instinctively only to stop when he clucked his tongue at her. His fingers threaded through her hair and brushed it away from her face. Damn his smile, it was almost boyishly charming and didn’t really fit with the man he seemed to be. She shifted again to stop the wetness she felt from running down her thigh. “What’s the matter?” he asked and she knew he knew something wasn’t right with her. Could it be what she felt, between her legs, was some sign of sickness? Would he toss her to sharks after all? “You look… uncomfortable.”
“My knees hurt,” she snapped and at his raised brow amended her tone when she continued, “and my back, and my shoulders and my--”
“Ass?” he asked then chuckled again when she gave him her meanest frown. “Turn around and sit down, if I’d have meant to place you in this position as a punishment I’d have said. Sit.”
“Well I can’t,” she snapped and watched him pull back at the bite in her words. “I can’t, because my ass does hurt. You left welts or cuts or som--”
He’d reached in and jerked up her nightgown before she could finish. Her attempt to twist away was both late and slow. “Be still,” he said with a sigh and she was. Time passed with the speed of a snail’s pace and her knuckles turned white as she gripped the headboard and did all she could to obey, all she could not to moan out loud when his hand smoothed over her flesh. “I think you exaggerate,” he said next to her ear as his hand slipped closer to that place which grew wetter with each heartbeat. “You’re hardly marked,” he went on. “A little spot right here.” His thumb pressed in and with a yelp Nox no longer felt that thudding in her sex. “And a littler one right here.” Again his thumb pushed a tender spot, but unlike the first when pain cooled her body this time she flushed hot. “A first time offense, when you didn’t know the rules,” he said setting his palm to cup her seat firmly. “I’d not lay welts on you for that,” he said pausing to take hold her chin and turn her face towards his. “But I’ll lay them on you should you deserve them. Understand?”
She couldn’t swallow to answer so she nodded and hoped it’d be enough. His quiet chuckle told her it was. Still he was slow to lift his hand away. But when her stomach rumbled he not only snatched it back he tripped backwards. For some reason his expression made tears well in her eyes. “I’m sorry?”
“Sorry?” he asked using long strides to cross to the table where the smell of food originated. But rather than bring her something to eat he carried back with him a set of keys. “What are you sorry for?” She didn’t know so she shrugged and looked away. “Perhaps you’re sorry you caused chaos and missed your breakfast,” he said flipping through the many keys. Her stomach rumbled again. “Next time you get spanked, you’ll be sat at the table for a meal. So you might want to remember that.”
Next time?
He reached forward. “Are you going to be a good little sailor now?” he asked some mirth in his voice. She nodded again. “Are you going to obey orders from your captain?” He looked away long enough to push the key into the hole on the iron cuffs she wore. When he looked back she nodded enthusiastically. The thought of being truly free of the bonds made her almost giddy. “I won’t stand for mutiny,” he said and she heard the first part of the lock click. “You must prove you can be trusted.” She was almost free. “Kiss me,” he said and Nox almost fainted.
“Kiss you?” she echoed.
“Kiss me, if you want to get to that table, first you must show me you can obey. Kiss me.”
Nox worked her bottom lip through her teeth and tried to discern if he was teasing or not. But when he turned the key back the other way she quickly leaned forward and, eyes closed, placed a brief kiss on his cheek. Over his bellowing laughter she didn’t hear the click of the lock but it took only a slight movement and the irons fell away. He still laughed as he stepped back and motioned for her to get off the bed. She didn’t hesitate and she didn’t wait for him to give her leave. She made for the table, his laughter rolling around her, before he could take the key from the lock.
So much food she’d not seen for longer than she could remember. Bread, cheese, meat, fruit. She snatched up the chunk of mango, shoved it in her mouth as she reached for the two long, narrow loaves of bread. She tucked them under her arm, chewing furiously and reaching for what looked to be some hard cheese. Swallowing the too large piece of fruit she opened her mouth only to have her wrist grabbed. That wasn’t going to stop her, she moved her mouth closer. But he pulled her hand back prying the cheese from her fingers. She gasped when he’d taken it and blinked hard to stop the tears when he moved to block her from reaching for something else on the table.
“Stop, Jane,” he said. “Give me the bread.” He held out his hand and waved his fingers at her. “Give it to me.”
She hesitated, even made to shield it from his sight, hoping he’d forget she had it. But when he pressed his lips firmly together she knew she was about to push him too far. She handed over the first but took a large bite from the second before she threw it at him. The bite was too big to get all the way in her mouth. He let both loaves drop to the floor, reaching out to take what she’d bitten off out of her mouth.
“Stop now before you choke,” he snapped ripping away what bits she couldn’t get behind her teeth. “Stop,” he finally stopped trying to pull the food from her lips. “You better chew that properly. There’s no reason to gulp down your meal like a starved dog.” His eyes roamed down her body then up and down again. “Stand up straight,” he said pushing her shoulders back and again letting his eyes take in her whole person. At least what he might be able to see with the oversized night rail she wore. Shifting he half sat on the table’s edge and reaching out pulled her closer. Now it was his hands and not his eyes assessing her person. And this time his touch annoyed her. No it angered her. The way his frown increased and his eyes narrowed as his palm bumped along her ribcage. She didn’t need any corset to tuck her waist and yes her hipbone might be a bit more noticeable but it hardly denoted grotesquen
ess like she saw in his expression. Jerking back Nox glared at him. Let him do what he would, he was no one to judge her. She made to take another step away but his hand settled softly at her elbow and with hardly any effort he pulled her back, then closer. Close enough to stand between his knees. “Missed a few meals have you?”
Shame made heat rise in her face. How far she’d fallen. Her family was once prominent figures on the island. The plantation growing cane sugar and tobacco bought all over the world. The horses bought by royalty. The death of her parents and the complete mismanagement by first her uncle and then her cousin ruined all of it.
“You’ll not miss any again, Nox.” She heard him say over the sound of his heart beating under her ear. She wasn’t sure when she came to be in his arms leaning against him with his hand gently stroking her hair. They stayed that way until her stomach rumbled and he pushed her back, stood and moved aside. “Eat, Nox, but like a lady, not a shark.” He didn’t stop her when she reached for more cheese. In fact he moved around to the other side and removing the rope keeping the chair lashed to the table, pulled it out and took a seat. She watched him watching her but she didn’t stop taking from what was offered. “Sit down, eat, enjoy it,” he said using the knife he was spreading honey with to point at the chair she stood behind.
She shoved the cut of hard meat in her mouth then reached back and rubbed her ass. “I don’t think I’d enjoy the chair,” she mumbled around the food in her mouth. She saw him tip his head to the side then push back making the chair screech as it dragged the floor.
“Come here,” he said, “Come.” He waved her over when she hesitated. “Nox, come here.”
She went because what else could she do, but she didn’t go fast. She watched as he licked something from his fingers and reached for her. She nearly ran when he started lifting the hem of her gown, but he only took it as high as her knees. His foot pushed her feet apart and he moved her to put both his feet between hers. Before she assessed what he was about she was sitting straddling his thighs, her legs wide, his legs wide, and her sore bottom suspended in the space. They both shifted and adjusted but in the end Nox couldn’t say it uncomfortable. Perhaps inappropriate, but then in the last two days of her life, nothing was overly appropriate.
“Now,” he said reaching around her and retrieving a large piece of mango from the table. He held it up so she’d clearly see it, but she didn’t sense he wanted her to just take it. “That was a rather poorly done kiss.” She felt her face heat. “I think you should try again.”
Her mouth went dry, perhaps all the moisture had fallen between her legs for she feared she was dripping from there. She tried wetting her lips but her tongue got hung up when she saw the dark blue of his eyes grow even darker. Swallowing she leaned forward and again with her eyes closed she pressed her lips to his cheek. Slower to retreat this time she took the opportunity to breath deep of his scent before pulling back. His chuckle jostled her.
“Better, but not quite,” he said his hand going around, behind her neck.
“You didn’t say how,” Nox breathed as she let him pull her back down.
“Because it’s better understood by doing,” he said before he leaned forward and joined their lips. The connection was soft at first, the pressure of his hand behind her head kept them touching, but then he started moving his lips, nibbling at her. A bit more pressure from his hand and his mouth was making bigger movements and to her surprise she found her own lips following his lead. The meshing of their mouths rather pleasant and becoming more so the more pressure given to the act. He tasted of honey and mango and on him it was a combination as heady as rum. She felt the force of his hand drop away and he might have pulled back but she set a hand on either side of his face and held him for a moment longer. It was the feel of his hand sliding up her leg that brought her to her senses.
She jerked back, breaking the kiss. For a brief moment she caught his eye but she didn’t know what she was seeing. A mortifying shame washed over her, dropping her head and wrapping her arms around herself she waited to hear him tell her she was some whore, some doxy without morals or good upbringing. She’d almost heard the words now, only in her uncle’s voice, or Robert’s. Damning her for things she’d no control over, taunting her with threats, promises to sell her off, turn her out to work the taverns. Telling her it was her fault she couldn’t find a man with money to wed and save the family. Reminding her constantly it was only by their good grace she’d a roof over her head. Never mind it was the roof built by her father. A worthless whore, no man would pay two coppers to bed. She couldn’t save herself let alone her family.
“No, Jane,” his firm tone broke through those echoes. “No.” More heat this time. “Look at me.” When she shook her head and kept it down he repeated the command. “Look at me Jane. Look.”
With caution she did. Her eyes finding focus on his chin with its rough stubble and small dimple, then higher to those lips, the very reason she now felt dirty, a bit more to his nose, which but for the slight bent was almost aristocratic in its form and finally those eyes. Eyes that a moment ago she’d thought condemned her seemed to pity her. She tried to drop her head again but he caught her chin.
“You’ll not be ashamed by what we do. Do you understand?” he said, voice firm but not unkind. “There is no shame it any of it. Understand?”
“It’s why I’m here, isn’t it?” She didn’t want to know last night but now. “To be your… whore.”
“You’re here, Jane,” he said wrapping his arm around her back and pulling her down against his chest. “But not as a whore.”
Nox sat up and started at him. “You don’t intend to bed me?” she squeaked out. What was so wrong with her even this man didn’t want her as a woman? “I mean, I… I mean you’re not going to…”
“In every wickedly, pleasurable way I can manage,” he said again pulling her down to lie on his chest. “But that’ll not make you a whore.”
“It does, if there is no protection of marriage, it does. I’ll be ruined and when you are done with me…” All the while she spoke she made herself more comfortable against him, Even lifting her arms around his back.
“I won’t lie and say I don’t hope I ruin you for any other who might turn your head, but having a lover, being a lover doesn’t ruin someone. There’ll be give and take between us, and when I’m done I won’t simply abandon you to the world.”
“But you won’t marry me?” She didn’t need to ask, something about him at the moment told her he wouldn’t.
“I’m not in a position to take a wife. But I’ve made sure your… compensation, for the time you give me, will be adequate.”
It still sounded like he was going to pay her for bedding him and therefore like she was indeed to become his whore. “How much time will that be?” Already she was ending a second full day and he’d yet to do it to her.
“I’ll return you to a port at the end of September.”
“September?” she gasped. Six months? What could he want her for that took so long? And after so long there was no possibility she’d not be completely ruined so he’d be abandoning her to the world. But maybe there was something else. Some reason she might tell herself years from now as to why he’d take her, use her and then discard her. Could it be he’d no family, was a bastard son or… “Are you a pirate?”
She wanted to take back the careless words as soon as they passed her lips and she tightened in preparation for his response. The long minute of silence though was broken when he burst out laughing. He laughed so hard he sat up to catch his breath though he managed to hold her against him. “Not enough of one to find myself swinging over gallows point. I’m only a ship captain, doing ship captain things.”
Perhaps he lied about what he was, did. Regardless of what he was, she was going to have to do things with him, like it or not. At least for the time, he wasn’t doing anything to her. She twisted back and picked up the bread he’d spread honey on before they were both so distracted,
as long as she was fed and safe, she held the bread a minute where he could see it, saw him looking like he was ready to receive it from her, then watched his jaw drop open when she shoved it all in her mouth, she’d perhaps make the most of this whole thing.
He reached past her and tried to bring a slice of meat to his mouth, she plucked it away and ate it too. “So your… master?”
“Who?” she said mouth full.
“The one who handed you over and didn’t look back,” he said slapping her hand down when she reached for the cheese he picked up and feed himself this time.
“Robert?” she asked and he nodded. “He’s my cousin.” Why did he think she’d a master?
His brow rose at her tone. “So your cousin has money to game but no money to feed you?” This time he broke the softer cheese and handed her half.
“He’s no money to game,” Nox snapped. “Is that what put me here? Am I paying his debt with my body? Are you the only one he owes?” Maybe it’d take six months for every man to have a chance to get his from her. She groaned. Why was she even surprised? It was hardly the first time Robert took something which was implicitly hers and used it to take care of himself. The last was her mother’s pearls. That lost cut her deeply as it was all she had left.
“It’s what got you here, but you’re not paying anything with your body.” He seemed ready to say more but a sharp rap at the door turned his attention. “Yes?”
“Captain, the water you asked for,” someone called from behind the door.
“Ah, yes, come,” he called back and when Nox tried to scramble from his lap he put both arms around her and held her in place as several men came through the door. She was left to curl against him in hopes of staying out of sight. “Put it there. Leave the extra buckets.”
Pirates, Passion and Plunder Page 71
