“Be that as it may,” I started. “My grandfather raised me when my mother died, but he was ill as well. I took to the water, and your father became my captain. For many years I believed if I had been on the ship when that mast came loose I would have been able to save him.”
She took in a shaky breath. “From what I remember Henrietta being told, no one could have saved him.”
I nodded somberly. “Aye, that’s the truth of it. The mast fell too fast and hit him too hard. There was nothing to be done.”
A long moment of silence passed.
“What made you take to pirating?” she asked, obviously wanting to speak of something else.
I tilted my head, studying her closely.
“As I said, I fared better at sea than on land.” I gave my round-about answer, not willing to tarnish what was sealed for protection long ago.
More questions lingered on her lips, but she kept them to herself.
“We’ll be on land in the morning.”
“I thought we’d be going ashore tonight.” She raised her chin.
The ship swayed sharply, and she stumbled back against the wall, holding herself up.
“A storm has delayed us,” I informed her.
She righted herself. “Is it a bad one? I remember my father talking about horrible storms at sea.”
“No, lass, it won’t be bad. Just enough of a nuisance to keep me from finding my treasure.”
“You mean our treasure,” she corrected me with a finger in the air.
I wrapped my hand around her finger and brought it to my lips.
“Aye, my little stowaway, our treasure.”
Her cheeks brightened with her blush.
“But, for now, since we have time, I want to find another treasure. One that is all mine.” I stepped to her, towering over her.
“Why do you stake claim to what isn’t yours?” she asked with more joviality to her tone.
I delicately touched her jawline.
“You were in my chest when I found you. In my cabin. On my ship.” I moved closer, pinning her to the wall.
Her throat worked as she swallowed. I moved my hand down to her throat, wrapping it around.
“I…that doesn’t mean…”
“Maybe not, but this morning, when my fingers were deep inside your pussy, when you screamed my name as your release swept over you—that made you mine.”
“I…that was wrong. I shouldn’t have—”
I cut her off with a kiss. Only when she moaned sweetly, relaxed beneath me, did I break away.
“Aye, you should have. And you should take off this awful dress now.”
She shook her head slightly. I put pressure on her neck, feeling her pulse beneath my fingers.
“I won’t be disobeyed, my little stowaway. Was I not clear on that earlier? Should I repeat the lesson?”
Her eyes widened.
“N-no, no need.” She gripped my shirt but didn’t claw at my hands the way I would expect a frightened woman to do. But this woman didn’t seem frightened. Her pupils enlarged, and even through the material of her dress I could feel her nipples harden.
“Then, remove your dress. I want to make sure your ass bears my mark before I lay claim to the rest of you.”
She sucked in a breath as best she could with me holding her the way I was. A fresh blush tinted her nose.
“Will you be a good girl and obey your captain?”
She nodded.
“Answer me, Elizabeth. Tell me what a good girl you’ll be for me.” I pressed forward, being sure my hardened cock could be sensed through her skirts.
“I’ll be good,” she promised, her hands dropped to her sides.
I released her throat, checking to see only a slightly pink mark was left from my hand. I had no desire to bruise her, but I’d be a lying beast if I didn’t admit how much my handprint around the delicate flesh of her throat aroused me.
“Then do as your told. Remove the dress.” I moved, to the bed and sat down to watch her movements.
She huffed and turned her back to me.
I’d give her a moment of privacy, as though she had any actual privacy with me sitting right behind her.
She worked the buttons of the awful colored dress and tugged on the sleeves until she managed to get herself out of it. She shoved it over her round hips until it pooled at her feet.
I’d expected a chemise. I got her naked body.
Did she not pack well enough, or did her horrid stepmother not equip her with the proper clothing?
A small bruise marked her right ass cheek. Other than that, no evidence of her earlier belting was displayed.
“Come here, Elizabeth.” I said, standing and shucking out of my shirt.
When she turned to face me, she took a step back, agape.
I looked down at my chest, at the ragged scar cutting across my torso.
“It was a long time ago, lass.” I held out my hand, motioning her to approach.
She came to me, her fingers seeking out the puckered flesh. Tracing the scar from one end to the other, she examined it.
“You could have been killed,” she whispered.
“Aye, that was the aim.” I laughed but sobered quickly when her worried eyes met mine. “He didn’t succeed, as you can well see,” I brushed her hair from her face, taking a moment to enjoy the softness against my hand.
“And I’m glad for it,” she spoke softly. She reached up, moving to her toes and pressed her lips to me.
When her tongue darted out to tangle with mine, any hope for slow control jumped out the port window.
Chapter 7
Elizabeth
Before I could stop myself, I was touching him. Feeling every inch of his chest, his arms, that horrible scar. I wanted to feel the warmth of him pressed against me. It made no sense, this urgent need I had for him, but there it was, all the same.
His hand snaked behind my neck. Fisting my hair, he pulled my head back.
“I will own you, Elizabeth. Every inch of you, every breath you take, every beat of your heart will belong to me if you climb into my bed now. Understand that I won’t be letting you go.”
The fire in his tone scorched me.
“Don’t say things you don’t mean, Sebastian.” I warned. “Entering your bed doesn’t have to require a lifelong bond.” He was a good friend to Madame Castelle; I wasn’t a fool.
He tugged my hair harder, making me wince at the sharp pain.
“I never say what I don’t mean.” His words were gruff, hard, much like the rest of him.
“You know nothing of me,” I whispered when he kissed my neck, my jaw.
“That’s not true, lass. I know plenty.” Before I could utter another word, he swooped me into his arms and dropped me onto his bed. I righted my stance while he shoved out of his breeches.
He climbed in beside me, taking my face between his hands again and kissing me. Really, truly kissing me. His tongue lashed at my lips until I gave him entry. Pressing me down to the pillows, he covered me with his body.
His hard body.
“Tell me you want this, Elizabeth. I won’t go further if you tell me to stop,” he said, but the words seemed to strangle him. As though my denying him would be the end of him. Surely, it would be very last of me—the urge to have his touch, his possession was so great.
“Yes, Sebastian. I do…I do want this.”
He pushed his knee between my legs and settled between my thighs, bracing himself above me on his elbows. I ran my fingers over his arms, his shoulders, up to his head, trying to urge him to me again. To get him to kiss the very breath from me.
“This might hurt, Elizabeth, but only for a moment and then I will make you feel better,” he promised with tenderness I had not seen from him until then.
Mute from the emotions warring inside me, I nodded.
He lowered himself finally to me, giving me what I wanted. His touch, his kiss, his possession.
His cock pressed against my entr
ance, ready to take what belonged to him. Even if only for the moment, for this voyage, I would belong to the Pirate Sebastian Treach.
In one hard thrust, he seated himself inside me. Fire burst through my veins, igniting every nerve ending.
He stilled over me, his hot breath washing gently over my face as my body adjusted, accepted him.
“Don’t stop,” I breathed out, and arched toward him, wanting more of the same.
“Wait for the pain to ease—”
“I want it. I want the ache, the burn, all of it, Sebastian. Give it to me.” I reached up and bit his shoulder.
He chuckled and grabbed my hands, pinning them above my head.
“Aye, I’ll give you what you seek, and more, but it will be done my way. Understand?”
His gaze burned.
“Yes, Sebastian, I understand.”
He let go and brought his fingers to my nipple. With a light squeeze, a new flame came to life. Just as I became engrossed in the sensations his fingers were bringing, he began to thrust within me. Small, short movements at first, but then longer and harder.
I cried out as he slammed inside of me; the pain blended so sweetly with the gentle caresses he now gave my breasts.
His lips painted a trail of pleasure across my shoulders until he claimed my mouth once more. All the while plowing his cock within me. I moaned, unable to fathom the heated joy bubbling within me.
“Elizabeth,” he growled, stilling his movements again.
“Don’t stop.” I grabbed hold of his arms. “Please, don’t stop.”
His lips kicked up into a playful grin.
“Please,” I begged softly. I couldn’t stop the little whine in my voice. My body needed him like the spring flowers needed the sunlight.
His hips bucked once, and then he unleashed the full power of his possession. Harder and harder he plowed into me, and the faster he moved, the tighter my belly twisted. I needed more, something more. I had no idea what it was or what was coming toward me, but something intense barreled its way to me.
Sebastian slipped his hand between our bodies. Lightning struck when his fingers found my sensitive nub. I screamed his name, just as I had that morning.
Over and over, I called for him, but I was lost. My mind spiraled away from my body. My nerve endings split at the ends, firing off too much too soon, and it shook me.
As everything started to come back together, his kisses to my cheek brought my attention back to him.
He bucked his hips again and again, harder until he stilled. He let out a curse then a growl, low and fierce as he froze over me. His cock thickened; his heated seed filled me.
Our actions sank into my mind in those moments where we chased our breath. His eyes bored into mine; his fingers lightly touched the hair at my temple.
I’d lost myself to him.
I’d given myself to a pirate.
Chapter 8
Sebastian
The storm passed overnight. Intense winds rocked the ship, but I’d grown accustomed to such weather long ago. Elizabeth had not. Several times I woke to find her pacing the room. It only took calling her name to get her back into bed with my arms wrapped around her to anchor her to me.
“We’ll be dropping anchor soon, Cap’n,” Tulley informed me while we walked the deck.
“Have the men ready. I’ll fetch Elizabeth.”
“You’re bringing her?” He raised his brows.
“Why wouldn’t I? We have an agreement and, as I told you, I believe there’s more to finding the jewels than finding the rock formation. We might have need of her.”
“Some of the men—”
“All of the men will do as their told, or they’ll be finding themselves kissing the gunner’s daughter before they sleep tonight.” Several crew members stopped working and took to watching the exchange.
“They have concerns she’s playing you for a fool.” Tulley lowered his voice. At least he showed me that much consideration.
I lifted my gaze to those surrounding us.
“If any man has issue with Elizabeth accompanying us ashore, speak the words to me directly. And do so now,” I commanded.
“So she is Wallace’s daughter?” one man spoke up.
“Aye, she is. And if we are to find the Jacobin Jewels on this journey, she can prove useful,” I explained, looking at each man in the eye and waiting for an objection. “Any issues, lads?”
“Better to have the advantage, I say.” One crewman nodded and nudged the man next to him.
“Aye, I agree. In the end, we’ll get our cut of the cake.” Another man called out.
I turned to Tulley. “I’ll fetch her, you ready the boats.”
When I turned, Elizabeth stood at the steps. Her hair was pulled up into that same mess she’d had the day I met her. She’d put on another pair of breeches and a white shirt, thankfully one that fit her better and covered all the curves I didn’t want my crew to put their eyes on. I won’t lie—I’m a possessive man.
I shot a glare at the men to get them back to working then made my way to her.
“I told you to stay below,” I said with my eyes pinning her to where she stood.
“You did, yes.”
“Then why are you standing here on my deck?”
“Because we’ve stopped, and I wanted to be sure you didn’t leave me behind.” Her chin rose a fraction.
Leave her behind. Leave her abandoned on the island.
“How many people have simply left you behind?” I asked the question while I had her full attention. Once the men started getting ready to launch the boats, she’d be preoccupied with getting on one of them. Even after a short time with her, the ways of her mind had become clearer to me.
She blanched. “No one has left me behind. It’s only—”
“Only that you’ve lived in fear of your stepmother doing just that, isn’t that right? You’ve been afraid you’ll be cast aside and left to rot.” Wrapping my hands around her stepmother’s throat would be a pleasure.
Clearing her throat, she looked away from me. She took in several breaths, I assumed to compose herself.
I’d been wrong.
I’d thought she held no fears. She certainly didn’t show any when she angered me. The reality for her was that at any given moment her stepmother could have tossed her aside, left her with nothing. She could have been truly abandoned. My anger, my focus on her obedience gave her no cause for worry. Because punishing her meant she mattered.
I cursed myself for pushing the topic so close to leaving the ship. We needed to get to shore.
Stepping to her, I pulled the cap from her hand and gently placed it upon her head, tucking the loose strands of her hair beneath it.
“You’ll stay close to me, Elizabeth. No wandering off, do you understand? Every soul who leaves this ship will return to it. If you put yourself in undue danger, I will not hesitate to take my ropes to your backside when we return.”
Her cheeks brightened with my promise of retribution for disobedience. I’d meant every word of it, too. Losing her would be a travesty I was not sure I would overcome. The entire situation unsettled me, but there it was. For the first time since I could remember, I wanted a woman to share my adventures. But not just any woman.
This woman.
I wanted Elizabeth.
“Yes, Sebastian,” she said with lowered lashes.
“That’s my good stowaway—”
“Cap’n, the boats are ready,” Tulley interrupted me.
I gave him a curt nod.
“She’ll be with you then?”
“Of course.” I glared him down until he finally understood his presence wasn’t needed and left.
“How are you feeling today, Elizabeth.” I asked her, nudging her chin until she looked at me once more.
“Fine, I swear it. I’m ready,” she hurried to say.
I laughed.
“I mean—” I leaned forward until my lips touched her earlobe. “How is your cunny
?”
She sucked in a harsh breath, but I did not pull away from her. I wouldn’t allow her to put distance between us, not when I could smell the sweetness of her skin by being so close.
“It’s—I’m perfectly fine.” Her tone sharpened.
“Hmm, I’ll check for myself when we bunk down for the night.” I pulled back so she could see me clearly and winked. “You can be sure of that, my little stowaway.”
Her lips scrunched up together as though she were readying for an argument, but the call went out to man the boats. I laughed at her adorable pout.
“Now, put away your dirty thoughts so we can go find the treasure.” I winked and turned my back on her.
I couldn’t help the bubble of laughter popping from chest as she mumbled curses at me from behind.
At least she was no longer worried about being left and abandoned.
She had something else entirely to focus on.
The idea of me bedding her again, and again, and, if I had my way, again.
Chapter 9
Elizabeth
“Stay close, Elizabeth,” Sebastian warned me again. I grunted my annoyance but remained silent. His men were surrounding us, and, if I were to pop off to him, he’d surely find a way to show his displeasure. Not entirely up for an afternoon of humiliation, I kept my peace but lined up all the things I wanted to stay to him once we were again alone.
We’d been walking through jungle for over an hour already and still no sign of the rock formations I was told of. Sebastian stopped our group and consulted the map he’d brought along.
“Hot as the devil’s playground.” Jack, the man I’d heard talking about me in the hold, approached me.
“It is rather warm, yes,” I agreed.
“These rocks we’re looking for, you know where they are?” he asked, crowding me a bit and forcing me to take a step back.
“I’ve already told Captain Treach what I know.” I looked over at Sebastian as I stepped farther away from the main group. Jack closed in again, and warning set my nerves on edge. I shouldn’t be alone with him. I needed to get closer to Sebastian.
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