Nox listed to him give the orders but didn’t look up to see what was happening. She couldn’t face being looked at sitting as she was with her legs spread and bear, over a man’s lap who was every bit a stranger to her. Wearing nothing but her nightgown not even drawers on underneath. Hair all tangled around her.
Maybe after her parent’s death she’d lost all life’s comforts, but she was a respected young woman on the island. She sighed, but she wasn’t on the island anymore and should she return after this no one would respect her. The man whose lap she sat in stood suddenly, dropping Nox to her feet on the floor. She stepped closer hoping to stay hidden only to have him take her arm and turn her sideways. The cabin was empty, the door closed.
“I told you,” he said, anger in his voice and in the hand he landed hard on her tender backside. “You have nothing…” his hand landed again bowing her out in an attempt to escape, “…to be ashamed…” again and despite her attempt to block him one more time his palm connected hard with her ass. “Of.” He marched her to where a small tub sat, steam rising from the water. “Get in,” he said no compassion at all for the tears streaming down her face. Turning he made his way to a wardrobe and Nox lifted her gown and stepped in as he’d asked. She watched him pull a sheet and then a cake of soap from the tall piece of furniture attached to the wall before closing the doors and securing them. But when he turned back to her, his look made her drop her skirts and use her hands to shield her ass. “Get undressed, Nox. I want you to bathe, while the water is hot.”
“Bathe?” she asked blinking at him. “Bathe? With you… watching?” He took one step towards her and still dressed she sat down in the water. The heat and hard bottom drove her back to her feet, when he took that second step she lean as far away as possible which left her grasping at empty space as she toppled backwards. He caught her by the wrist and pulled her right.
“Do I need to fetch that crop to make you understand you don’t have to be ashamed?” he asked while she bent to wring out her hem.
“No,” she almost yelled. “No, it’s not that I’m… I mean… It’s a bath. No one watches someone else take a bath. That is not normal.”
Maybe he never considered it, given how he stared at her. But as he held out the sheet and the soap she noticed his lips working to stay straight. With a shake of his head he turned back to the wardrobe and this time removed an hourglass. “You plan to jump ship?” he looked towards the small door she’d almost gotten out of last time. She shook her head. “You’d better not. Bathe, head to toe.” He set the glass on the floor out of reach but where she could see it. “One hour, and I’ll be back to make sure your ears are clean. Stay away from the doors and don’t touch the weapons.” This time she turned to look at the far wall. “You won’t get off a shot before I get to you and I will leave welts,” he said and raised his brow at her. “A lot of them.” He walked to the door, opened it, stepped out, and pulled it closed behind him.
She gave the wall and both doors one more look. Why she needed to bathe she didn’t know, but perhaps this was a test of how well she’d obey. Setting her hands on her ass she rubbed away the ache, before shrugging at the empty room and pulling her gown over her head.
Chapter 4
Mason stood at the door until he heard the first bit of splashing then spent every second of the long hour he’d given her trying to keep his mind off the little siren. Jane wasn’t anything he’d expected when he took the opportunity to gain control of her. It angered him, her family, her cousin, offered her up. He’d expected the woman he was getting to be a slave, to be well familiar with what he’d expect from her.
He’d not in any way intended to bring a higher bread lady onto this ship, but that was what it appeared he’d gotten. He couldn’t reconcile the two warring sides within him. Yes he wanted her, yes he’d have her and yes it pleased him she seemed rather accepting of the idea. On the other side, she was innocent enough to not know how to kiss and it could be when he’d finished with her she’d indeed be ruined. Not that he intended to leave her needing a marriage once he was done.
He hadn’t lied, he did hope he ruined her for any other man that came after. He wanted to know he’d stay on her mind. Given how easily she acquiesced each time he pushed her a little more, he might have to face the fact she might seek out another lover after him. One who could give her more of what she needed. But he’d also expected that he’d be able to forget her soon as he set her on shore. Opening the door to his cabin and seeing her standing with her nose in his wardrobe, wearing only a sheet, the sunlight through the stained glass making it as transparent as it’d made the shift she’d worn, maybe she’d be one he’d recall as he lay awake on the waves.
“Captain?” the man behind him called causing Nox to jump and then duck behind the door to his locker. He’d chide her later, for snooping. At the moment he didn’t care for anyone else to get that good a look at her.
Moving aside he motioned the men to pass and collect the tub and buckets. “I hope you washed well,” he said when she peeked around the door. “I’d hate to have to dunk you in the sea and run you across a scrub board.” He bit the inside of his cheek to not laugh at her expression. She believed he’d do it. As the last man exited and the door closed behind them Mason took a step towards her. Pausing to set the cuts of rope he’d brought in on the table. “What are you doing in my locker?” His eyes swept the room making sure she didn’t pull a weapon from the wall. He didn’t miss the two small napkins concealing something beneath the bed, but whatever she’d hid she couldn’t get to at the moment. He took another step and watched her pull back behind the door. If she’d a weapon now would be when she’d ready it, out of sight, so he quickly crossed the distance and stepped in front of her.
She’d some object concealed in her hands, pressed to her breasts. With only her elbows to hold the sheet around her she could either drop the sheet and fight, or she could hand it over. Given the deep red stains coloring her cheeks… he held out his hand and waited. She did hesitate, for a moment he almost wished she’d do something a bit more dramatic. Even if he’d promised himself tonight he’d give her a reason to enjoy her stay with him. He’d eventually like to see what she was like in bed with her aft truly welted. But as she placed the object in his hand, he knew tonight wouldn’t be the night. It was utterly disappointing to find all she held was a comb.
Stepping aside he pulled her out of the way sending her across the cabin with a sound whack to her ass. “Ask next time,” he admonished as he closed up the locker then turned to face her. She actually frowned at him before turning her eyes towards the ceiling. “The crew is battening down for the night.” He watched her spin around looking aft through the glass.
“It’s bright outside,” she remarked.
“Yes, but they’ll want to eat and enjoy some entertainments. Having the work done means they can have that without fear something is forgotten.”
“Do you…” her eyes went to the pile of coiled rope, “Still have… work to do?”
“Tonight I’ll take the watch,” he said stepping closer. “Which means I’ll take my… entertainment now.” One more step and she bolted. Across the cabin to the wall holding weapons and tools one might need on a ship. She pulled perhaps the smallest knife she might have chosen, turned and brandished it as she stepped sideways towards the door. “Jane,” he said and gave her a heavy sigh. He needed to be more careful what he wished for. “This foolishness isn’t going to end well for you.” She took another side step. “Put down the knife and I’ll forgive you this… indiscretion.” She stepped, he matched it. He could see her judging the distance to the door. “Your choice Jane, we can be pleasant about this or we can--” He dodged right when she threw the knife, the act gave her a small opening to make for the door. He caught her up before she could open it and hauling her kicking and screaming back to the center of the room he dropped her hard to the deck then fell over her.
“No,” she screamed in his face as she tri
ed to squirm from under him. “No I don’t want this. I don’t want this.” Adding more weight he forced her to be still, though her chest heaved and her heels pounded on the boards. “I don’t want this,” she repeated followed by a sob.
“You don’t want what?” Mason asked and waited.
“I don’t want this.”
“What? Tell me specifically what you don’t want, perhaps I can accommodate you.” If he’d any doubt at all he’d somehow gained himself an innocent it was gone now, and good sense told him to turn the ship and take her back, send her home. But exactly what kind of home could she have if her kin gambled her away and even if he set her out at some new port as soon as she was seen leaving this ship her reputation would be ruined.
“I don’t want…”
“Tell me.”
“Don’t… rape me,” she said barely more than a whisper.
He shifted a bit, making sure their bodies aligned and she could feel, at least for the moment that wasn’t his plan. “I’ve never raped a woman in my life,” he told her. “I’ve no plans to start now.”
“You said…” Though tears still dripped from the corner of her eyes there was a little less fear in them.
“I never said I’d rape you.”
“I don’t want…”
“You don’t want what? Tell me, it could be something I don’t want either.” She was so confused, it was all over her face. “You don’t even know what you don’t want. How can you know you don’t want it?”
“I don’t,” she wailed and arched up trying to dislodge him. Surrendering to a bout of sobbing
“How do you know?” He adjusted, lifting some of his weight, resting it on his forearms.
“Don’t use me like this,” she pleaded.
“Use? That is an ugly way to think about it. You aren’t some tool to be worked.”
“No.”
“Why?” The question startled her. Not only didn’t she know what she didn’t want to do, she, like so many other poor females, was probably told it was something terrible. Something to be endured not enjoyed.
“It’s awful. You’ll hurt me,” she accused.
“Perhaps, but I’ll also pleasure you. Enough you forget the hurt.” Her brows furrowed and her eyes searched his face. “You see, you don’t even know what you protest. You can’t name it, and though you’ve not experienced it, you fear it.” He searched her face now. The tears were dry, the fear and rage no longer burning in her eyes, her features more relaxed. Her lips slightly parted.
“It’s wrong,” she said a bit of confidence.
“How do you know? Someone told you it was?” She nodded. “Just because some said it was doesn’t make it true.”
“Just because you say it’s not, doesn’t make it true. More people say it’s wrong,” she told him.
“And yet, everyone does it.” He slipped a bit to the side, keeping a leg over her but propping his head in his hand on his elbow and using the other hand to brush a strand of hair from her face. “There’s nothing wrong, shameful, or evil in two people finding satisfaction with each other. Shouldn’t you at least like to know what it is before you choose to denounce it?”
“It’ll hurt,” she muttered. Her last argument against giving into what she already showed him she was so willing to give into.
“Not this time, Nox. And there’s no need for worry over a small renting that can’t hurt but once in all your life and might not hurt at all if done well.” The look she gave him again said curious. “You’ve done little but tell me you can hardly wait to try this.
“No, I--”
He almost laughed. Maybe she didn’t realize how her body spoke. But he could make her listen. “Shall I prove it?” He watched her eyes go wide. “Before you ask me to ruin you?” Now her eyes narrowed but he leaned in and placed his lips against her ear. “I’ll prove it and it’ll only take a moment.” He heard her little gasp, then a second as he kissed his way along her jaw, under her chin and then covered her mouth. This time he kissed her the way he had the first time. Hard, demanding and she resisted not at all. In fact when his tongue entered her mouth she pushed back with her own. Swirled it over and under so the heat in his body surged like a storm tide. When he finally pulled away her cry of disappointment rang out but he didn’t stop then. Slipping back he placed his lips in the crook of her neck and nipped her before sucking hard on the soft, smooth skin. Her cry this time was followed by a moan and when he lifted his hand to her breast she rolled her shoulder to meet his touch. He kneed the soft flesh, carefully working the sheet down as he did. Once exposed he rolled her stiff nipple between his thumb and forefinger. A bit more pressure and she cried out and lifted her hips. His last move was to cover her tit with his mouth. Sucking hard, letting his teeth scrape. Her moans became gasps and he felt her hands on his back, pushing him down more. Her hips ground up and he knew if he reached down and touched her sex she’d come.
But that wasn’t what he wanted yet. If she was going to have this pleasure it’d be on his terms. It’d be when he wanted her to have it. So in one smooth motion he got to his feet. Standing above her he watched her come back from the edge. Dazed, it took a moment before she’d completely regained her senses. He reached down and pulled her to her feet. She swayed, shaking her head, perhaps to clear it, but was quick enough to grab the sheet before it fell to the floor.
Mason proceeded to snatch it completely off of her and it wasn’t a gasp of protest that fell off her lips. “Do you understand now?” he asked waiting until she lifted her eyes to him. “Do you understand the pleasure that can be yours?” He stepped up and put his arm around her waist, pulling her naked body against his. “That was only a taste, if you want to feast you’ll ask me for it.”
Those beautiful eyes searched his face, drifting close as she leaned in. The tip of her tongue darted out to wet her lips. Her hand settled on his arm and her breath puffed out over his lips.
“Ask me, Nox, I’ll give it to you. We’ll give it to each other.” He held himself back now because as much as he’d already found he desired her, at this moment he wasn’t sure it was he who was in control. “Ask me to ruin you, Nox.”
“Ruin me,” she breathed but then froze and pulled away.
“What?” The quick pooling of tears in her eyes doused his fire. “What it is?”
“I… I don’t even know your name,” she said before she stepped back and took a closed fisted swing at his head. He ducked, but her second swing connected with his shoulder and her foot landed solidly in his shin.
“Mason,” he shouted and ducked again. “Mason Stille, Captain Mason Stille, to be clear,” he said and waited for her next attack. She didn’t make one, rather she scooped the sheet from the floor and held it balled against her body. “Are you quite finished?” She only looked away. He felt the smile lift the corner of his mouth but forced it away when she looked back at him. That she’d fight pleased him, but she didn’t need to know it did. He simply needed a minute to get his bearing.
Glancing around he found the knife she’d thrown at him. He snatched from the floor, marched over to her and held it out. “Put it back where you found it. You’ll not turn my ship into a rubbish barge.” She glared at him, but reached out, cautiously, and took the blade. “Put it back and we’ll proceed.” He let her take one step before ripping the sheet away. She cried out, but he only lifted a brow at her. Her shoulders sagged but she turned and made her way where she needed to go. While she fiddled around trying to figure out how to get the knife to hang on the wall he brought a chair around to the middle of the deck and hung the ropes over the back. He’d a clear plan and before he took the helm of the ship, he’d take hold hers and steer her, the course he wanted.
Chapter 5
Nox carefully moved her hands away and waited to see if the knife would stay put this time. Taking it off the wall hadn’t been half so hard and she absolutely was going to blame the way her whole body shook for the struggle to get it back in place.
She did and she didn’t even know who he was. What kind of immoral woman was she? Had one single day on this ship turned her into some harlot? Perhaps, because for all her embarrassment at being so easily led into it, she wanted to know what lay beyond that horizon he’d pointed her towards. Looking down at her nakedness, having already asked him, perhaps now while it was somewhat her idea. It was going to happen. If she could want it, it wouldn’t be something terrible happening to her. She just needed to keep her wits and not weaken so easily. Squaring her shoulders she took a breath and turned to face him. Any courage she might’ve had fled when she took in how he stood there, next to the chair, feet slightly apart, arms folded across his chest, and a deep frown on his face. It didn’t look at all like he might still want to… she swallowed when he turned his wrist and crooked his finger at her. No he didn’t look like a man who was going to make her feel those things again anytime soon.
“Come here,” he growled out, using that same finger to point down.
She swallowed again, but took a step towards him. He liked obedience. Maybe that was the trick. Another step and then another until she stood before him, naked as the day she was born and strangely, ready to know what this was all about. Goosebumps rose on her skin though when he crooked his finger at her again. Maybe not from fear, but in anticipation of again being so close to him. She took a step then one more until his finger dropped and his hand went back to resting near his elbow. But the longer he stood there in silence, the more all her willingness slipped.
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