The Ladys Pirate

by The lady's pirate (lit)

"Yes, milady."

  Glad she'd kept the note impersonal, she handed it to the girl.

  "Tomorrow morning, get an escort from the Governor and take this down to the docks to the ship Spring Moon. Give it directly into Captain Merritt's hand."

  "Should I wait for any reply?"

  Considering Hal's changeable nature, Elspeth didn't know whether there would be a reply.

  "Only if he has one."

  "Very good, milady."

  After Jeannette had gone, Elspeth relit her pipe and sat at the window alone for hours.

  Would he come? Or would he decide to let the break with her heal cleanly?

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Hal thought about it all night. Should he go or should he stay away? Whenever she was around him, he lost all control over his actions and ended up with her in his arms. Sooner or later, he had to let her go completely.

  But today was not the day. In spite of all his good intentions to the contrary, he found himself sitting in the Governor's parlor with the Governor himself, sipping tea and waiting for the lady's arrival.

  They both rose when she entered the parlor.

  "Captain Merritt, how nice to see you. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

  You sent for me, he almost said, but realized from the pleading look in her eyes that she didn't want the Governor to know.

  "I recall I made a promise to show you the islands. As I have some free time, I thought I would offer to fulfill that promise."

  "How delightful. I shall get my maid to accompany us."

  Sir Charles piped up. "Lady Greymere, I fear that will not be possible. I cannot spare any men to accompany you at such short notice."

  "Nonsense, Sir Charles. I shall have my maid. And Captain Merritt is supremely honorable and able to see to my safety."

  "Nevertheless, my lady, I cannot permit it."

  Elspeth turned on him. "Excuse me, sir?"

  Sir Charles hemmed and hawed and stuttered.

  "I did not ask for permission." She turned back to Hal. "We'll be ready in just a few minutes, Captain."

  Since she'd put him so perfectly in his place, Sir Charles took out his frustration on Hal.

  "Captain, surely you can see this is improper?"

  Hal shrugged. "The lady's will be done, Sir Charles."

  * * * *

  They left the maid at Mrs. Carberry's shop, which suited Hal just fine.

  "Where do you want to go?" he asked her.

  She gazed directly into his eyes. "You may think me wretchedly forward, but... I wish to go somewhere where we can be alone."

  Did she know what she was asking? Her honest eyes held his and he could see in them she did. He'd tried so hard to keep his hands off her, and here she was offering, no, asking that he do what he'd said he wouldn't do.

  Once he'd thought he could refuse her nothing. Now he knew that was true.

  "Please, Hal. If I'm to leave you, do this one thing for me."

  "My lady's will be done."

  After renting a small sloop from a fisherman at the docks, they set out on their cruise. He had just the place in mind. A tiny cove on the far end of the island, where they could be absolutely alone.

  They sailed with a good wind for two hours. Not once did she complain of the heat or the length of the trip.

  Finally, Hal steered the small sloop around an outcrop of coral jutting into the crystal clear water. Foamy caps rolled toward the shore and once there, lapped gently against the sugar white sand. A breeze kissed their cheeks, and he gazed at the rosy glow of Elspeth's face, the sparkle in her eyes as she took in the new sights, her delighted smile as she twisted from one side to the other to stare down through the glass-clear water right to the bottom. She sighed continually, seemingly delighted by everything.

  "It's beautiful." Her whisper was so awe-fully soft, Hal almost missed it.

  "Oh, look!"

  The boat rocked as she stood, pointing to the sea.

  "Sit down, sweetheart." Hal glanced out to the place where she'd pointed. Triangular fins broke the water. "Dolphins."

  One huge gray body flew out of the waves, then crashed on its side with a plume of spray.

  "How magnificent." Elspeth leaned over and placed her hand over his on the rudder. "Thank you, Hal. Thank you for bringing me to such a splendid place." She stretched across the rudder and placed a kiss on his cheek.

  "May I have no more than that, my lady?"

  He slipped his free hand behind her head. She followed his gentle pull, closer, closer. He slipped his tongue against her wind-dry lips, tenderly moistening them, then pressing his own hungry mouth against hers.

  Her hands trembled against his cheeks. The pulse in her throat beat hard against his palm.

  He deepened the kiss, putting all his desire, all his need into the contact between them. He wrapped her in his arms and pulled her to sit in his lap, then leaned her back and bent over her, deepening the kiss and his possession of her. He sucked her breath from her, then gave it back again. He tried to breathe himself into her, to make her his own, to take her-once and for all-from the man who legally called her his.

  The boat bumped the shore as their lips parted. Elspeth gasped a huge breath.

  He jumped from the boat and pulled it up on the sand. Offering his hand, he helped her out. She kicked off her slippers and wiggled her toes in the sand.

  "Get my bundle, please."

  He reached back into the boat and fetched the lady's bundle.

  "What's in there? Food, I hope."

  Her expression changed to dismay. "No. I didn't even think-"

  "Fear not, my lady, we can find food a plenty on the island. Things you've never tasted, I'll wager."

  Her smile returned. "That's a relief." She glanced around. "Do you think it's safe for me to change into more comfortable clothing?"

  "There's no one here but us. I'll turn around and you'll have privacy as though you were in your own rooms."

  A moment of hesitation passed over her face. Her smile bloomed.

  "All right."

  Hal turned as promised and enjoyed the torture of wondering what he was missing.

  "Drat."

  "What's wrong?" He kept his face averted.

  "I can't undo my buttons."

  A moment of silence followed.

  She appeared in front of him. "It's rather silly, isn't it, for me to be wary of asking you for help. Please, kind sir?"

  "Certainly." He unbuttoned her gown and pushed the shoulders down her arms. She shivered beneath his touch, then gathered her gown modestly around her and dashed away.

  Was she changing her mind?

  "I'm finished," she called.

  He turned and was greeted by Ellie again, with her auburn hair sweeping her shoulders. A smile spread over his face.

  "There's my girl."

  Elspeth walked toward him, barefoot, in clothing a common woman would wear.

  "You've spoiled me, I fear. Last night, I thought I would die in that corset."

  "I'm relieved your life was spared, Ellie." He drew her to him and kissed her, more tenderness than passion this time. When he drew back from her, still holding her in his arms, he asked, "How about a swim?"

  "I can't swim. And I have no swimming clothing."

  "As I say, there's no one here but us." He let her go and stepped away, unbuttoning his shirt. "There's a pool just over there that at low tide provides a quiet place to play."

  "Play?" Her voice was husky.

  He nodded. "I've wanted to play with you since I first laid eyes on you. Well, maybe not the first time, but soon thereafter."

  "What was wrong with me the first time?" she asked in mock indignation.

  "I couldn't tell you from your maid. As I recall you were both swathed in long cloaks and running toward the stables."

  "You were there?"

  "Yes. I followed you."

  "Ah. I wondered how you happened to find us."

  He pulled his shirt from his
trousers and tossed it off.

  Her eyes devoured him.

  "I told you once, you are beautiful," she said.

  "And now, what do you think?"

  "I was right."

  He laughed. "Ellie, you are beautiful and wonderful." He held out his hand. "Come, let's go swimming."

  * * * *

  She took his hand and followed him to the pool. Hal waded into the clear water, still in his breeches.

  "Come on, Ellie. Strip down to your chemise and get in here."

  He'd teased her before, but never like this. She imagined he'd treat a lover so. And he would be gentle and kind in his lovemaking, too. The lovemaking she wanted more than anything.

  As she obeyed, untying the tapes and lowering her skirt, he watched her, his eyes appreciative. She pulled the bodice over her head and tossed it with the skirt on the sand, then stepped into the cool water.

  A shiver of delight coursed over her. The water lapped around her ankles. The grind of the sand against the soles of her feet made her curl her toes.

  "Watch out for the-"

  Suddenly, she was under the water. Thrashing about, trying to find a place to put her hands or her feet, she found Hal. He pulled her up.

  She coughed and gagged and swept her hair out of her eyes.

  "There, sweetheart. All right?"

  She nodded.

  "I'm sorry, darling. I should have warned you sooner."

  She realized she should have known about the drop before he said anything. He was up to his neck in the water.

  "I'm all right." She squeaked. "What was that?"

  "What?"

  "Something brushed my leg."

  He looked down in the water. "Probably just our dinner," he said unconcerned.

  "Dinner?"

  "A few fish always get left behind by the tide." He fingered her wet hair. "Shall I catch him for you, punish him for disturbing your swim?"

  "No," she said with a smile. "Let him swim for a bit longer."

  He nodded and hugged her tight, stroking her back.

  No one had ever hugged her before. It was such a comfortable feeling. She let her arms go around him, her fingers explore his hard muscles and warm flesh.

  He kissed her cheeks. Her neck. Her chin. Her nose. His fingers caressed with such tenderness, tears filled her eyes.

  "What's this?" He placed his fingertip at the corner of her eye.

  She sighed. "I'm so glad I'm here with you." Impulsively she threw her arms around his neck. "Hal, my darling, thank you for abducting me."

  His chest rumbled with his laughter. "You're very welcome, sweetheart." He leaned away from her and looked into her eyes and added, "I'm so very glad you're here with me."

  His lips pressed against hers, gently at first, then with more demand. She happily gave him what he wanted and made demands of her own.

  The pressure of his hand against her breast made her tip her head back. He bowed his head and put his lips to the linen of her chemise, his tongue roughed against her nipple. The sensation shot through her.

  "Ellie, sweetheart," he murmured against her breast, "let's go back up on shore."

  Had he changed his mind again?

  "I thought you wanted to swim."

  "I do, but I was mistaken about where."

  That made no sense to her, but she followed him out of the pool. He ran to the boat and got a large knife and started hacking down branches from the palm trees.

  She watched in confusion as he lay the palm branches on the ground in a secluded area of the beach behind a grove of trees.

  "What are you doing?"

  He came to her and took her hand, his thumb stroking the back. "That, my sweet, is our bed."

  "Now, in the daylight?"

  "In the daylight. In the moonlight. By candlelight. In pitch dark." He led her to the pile of branches and sat down, pulling her to join him. "You asked me once to tell you of lovemaking."

  "You said it was better done than talked about."

  "Indeed it is."

  His mouth captured hers in a kiss of devastating power. Her head spun and she wasn't aware he was pressing her to her back until she lay beneath him.

  "Tell me to stop." His voice was husky, as though he had trouble speaking.

  "No." Her own sounded as rough as his. "I don't want you to stop."

  He possessed her again. Demanding of her until she felt he was sucking her very life from her body. She knew she would gladly give it for him.

  His hands moved over her, tenderly, then with more insistence. He nudged her knees apart and caressed the insides of her thighs, sending shards of sensation all through her. One finger teased the opening of her pantalettes. She gasped as he touched her, again and again and again.

  "Oh, my."

  He said nothing but stroked rhythmically, over and over. Elspeth felt her body take up his rhythm. She was an instrument and he was a master musician.

  And such music he made with her. Something deep inside her curled and wound around the place where he touched her, tightened, tightened.

  "Let it go, Ellie."

  Her eyes closed. She couldn't bear this. But she couldn't tell him to stop. She cried out, in pain, but not pain. The coiled sensation inside her snapped, releasing a shower, no, a storm that raged over her.

  She arched beneath him, crying out once more.

  "Hal!" Then the only sounds she was capable of making were whimpering noises.

  He gathered her into his arms. Elspeth gasped for breath.

  "What happened to me? What did you do?"

  "I only served the first course, my lady."

  "There's more?"

  "Oh, yes. Much more."

  * * * *

  Hal held her to his heart, where she belonged.

  "Hal?" she asked in a small voice. "Show me more."

  "The lady's will be done."

  He pulled her over him and kissed her, pulling up her wet shift to get to her skin. She was soft and rounded and felt like every dream he'd had of her.

  Her moans of pleasure spurred him on. She rubbed against his engorged cock, making him more urgent.

  He flipped her onto her back and raised up over her. She opened her wonderful green eyes filled with such tenderness. Her hand traced his cheek and he turned to kiss her palm. Her fingers outlined his lips. He sucked one into his mouth and played his tongue over the tip.

  "These clothes are in the way, Ellie."

  "Yes, they are, aren't they?" she said breathlessly.

  He helped her out of her shift and pantalettes and sat back on his heels, worshiping her. She turned shy and started to cover herself. He took her hands and held them away from her.

  "Don't cover yourself, sweetheart. I want to look at you." He released one hand and swept his fingers along her neck, down her shoulder. "You are so beautiful, so perfect."

  "Let me see you, too."

  She reached for the buttons of his breeches. He let her, though he didn't know how he could bear her touch without exploding.

  When he sprang free, her eyes widened and a blush flooded her cheeks.

  "My goodness."

  Their laughter blended together in the air.

  She reached tentatively to touch him. Hal gritted his teeth to endure it. He wouldn't deny her anything she wanted.

  Feather-light, her fingers grazed the length of him.

  "It's so smooth."

  He grabbed her hand. "Careful, Ellie. We don't want things to end too quickly." He was sure she had no idea what he meant. He'd have to show her.

  He shed his breeches and leaned over her, covering her with his body. She welcomed him with arms wide open, holding him in her embrace, returning his kisses as an equal partner, drawing him closer and closer.

  He drew her legs up to wrap around him, opening her for him. As he entered her, she drew a breath.

  "Oh," she whispered.

  Gazing into her eyes-he wanted to know everything she felt-Hal leaned forward a bit at a time, letting her
get used to the feeling, letting her relish the sensation as he did, of him inside her.

  A look of wonder settled on her face.

  God, how he loved her.

  He withdrew and entered her again and again, holding back as long as he could. She began to move with him, meeting his thrusts and urging him on.

  She moaned, "Oh, Hal, it's happening again."

  "Let it happen, Ellie. Come with me."

  He rocked forward again and felt her inner muscles clutching at him.

  "Ellie," he groaned.

  Her arms tightened and she murmured his name in his ear, and more.

  "I love you."

  Her words drove him over the edge. With one last stroke, he came.

  So did she.

  Chapter Twenty Five

  They lay on their rough bed for a long time, arms and legs entwined. They didn't speak, for no words were necessary. The only sound from either of them was the grumbling of Elspeth's stomach.

  Hal laughed. "What's this, wench?"

  She threw him a saucy look. "Man does not live by lovemaking alone, Captain. I believe you said our dinner swims in the pool?"

  "Yes, my lady. I'll get right to it."

  He rose from the palm branches and picked up his machete. Gazing around, he selected a young tree that would make a good spear and started toward it.

  "Aren't you going to put something on?"

  "Why? You've seen it all now." He glanced down. "Though it's somewhat less impressive."

  She laughed. How he loved to hear her laugh. To hear that every day of his life...

  But that wasn't possible. He had her for this day alone. It would have to be enough.

  He came back to her and leaned down. "Give me a kiss, woman, and I'll go catch your supper."

  She tipped her sweet lips up to him. He stirred to life again. She glanced down and back up at him with a wide smile.

  "Perhaps I'll come with you and help you fish."

  "You do and I don't know much fishing'll get done." Nevertheless, he took her hand and helped her up.

  Between kisses, Hal managed to catch a few small fish. He foraged for fruit, adding a couple of coconuts and some berries. A bottle of port he'd brought along completed their meal.

  Elspeth picked up the last hunk of coconut. "Want some?" She held it to his mouth. Hal took a small bite, kissing her fingers in the process.