Juan had been sitting in a chair across the room putting his boots on when, seemingly out of a deep sleep, Olivia suddenly gasped awake. He went over to her side and spoke quietly, “Miss Clairmond, you’re safe. You’re in my cabin, no one will harm you.”
Olivia stopped thrashing once she heard the familiar voice. Belatedly, she realized that her head was pounding. And tried to cradle it against her arm which was once again extended above her head. “Are these really necessary?” she asked, moving the ties with her arms. “If I promise to leave the blindfold on, may I please have my hands free? My whole body is aching and it’s adding to the discomfort.”
“Well, therein lies the problem...I recall you promising before that you were done fighting and were not going to try and escape--so, you must see why I can’t trust you,” Juan stated, Olivia heard the mocking in his words. He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. “May I ask what your escape plan was? We’re too far from any land for you to swim, there are no boats coming to rescue you, and I can’t imagine you’re going to successfully take over this ship--so what scheme had you concocted?”
“Well, eh, I’m not exactly sure what, eh--” as she stumbled through her words her anger grew, until she exploded in frustration. “Oh, bloody hell! Will you please untie my hands and take this infernal thing off my eyes! I don’t bloody well care what you look like. According to you I’m never going to leave this ship anyway, so what difference does it make if I see your bloody face?!” Olivia’s face was flushed and she took deep breaths. After her third deep breath, she realized that her corset wasn’t laced. A panicked look crossed her face. “And, good heavens, why on earth is my corset unlaced?!” she demanded.
Olivia was unable to see the guilt cross Juan’s face as he spoke, “After Miguel hurt you, you were having trouble breathing. I figured you would value breathing over modesty.”
“Well, you certainly didn’t ask my opinion,” she countered.
“You were rather unconscious and having trouble pulling in air at the time,” Juan replied wryly.
“Well, untie me at once so I can remedy the situation,” Olivia commanded.
“What you don’t seem to understand is that you are on my ship and I will be the one giving orders,” Juan shot back.
Olivia balked at this, “But someone might come in and see me like this--”
“This is my cabin. No one else will enter--”
“What about Richard?” Olivia asked, remembering the last events. “Is he okay?”
“Richard did not do what he was supposed to, he has been assigned to other duties. And, I apologize for Miguel. No member of my crew should ever have spoken to or treated you that way. He has been, eh, well...he is no longer a concern.” Juan let this hang between them for a moment. Then continued, “I’m the only one that will attend to your needs. And you can trust me.”
“Be that as it may, I would feel far less vulnerable if my corset were refastened. Now, please release me,” she said, a touch of saccharin in her voice.
Juan gradually moved toward her. He dragged his fingers up her arm, to let her know exactly where he was, her body tensing as he touched her. He got to the top of her arm and he skimmed down her side. Without a word, he picked up the ends of the laces and began the process of lacing her corset. He did so slowly and gently, pulling the strings taut at the end of each row.
Olivia had a range of emotions coursing through her. She was angry, grateful, shy, and strangely aroused all at once. The blindfold seemed to give her a feeling of distance, like what was happening to her was really happening to someone else and therefore there were no consequences. She didn’t speak for fear of what she may say or do. She just continued to breathe in and out and to focus on the feelings thrumming through her body.
Juan noticed the subtle nuances of her breathing, which had gone from normal to small gasps as he laced each row of her corset. Finally, when she bit her bottom lip he broke the silence, “You know, this goes against my pirate code--generally I’m undressing women.” Olivia could feel the deep vibrato of his voice.
“Well, I would hate to make you stray from your pirate code,” Olivia said, then clamped her mouth closed mortified by what had just escaped her mouth.
Juan grinned at the effect he had on her, even without her vision. “How old are you anyway?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.
Olivia jutted her tiny chin out with pride, “I’m nineteen, plenty old enough to know my own mind.”
To this he laughed again, “You’re a woman--you knew your own mind before you could form words.” His accent wove through the words making even the most mundane statement sound alluring. Olivia noticed not having the ability to see was heightening all her other senses; this was both tantalizing and frustrating.
“Why, how old are you?” she purred back trying to sound seductive.
He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Old enough to know not to trust women,” he snickered as he pulled away, his warm breath caressing her lobe.
Olivia leaned toward the sound of his voice and said in her best sultry tone, “That’s probably a good instinct.”
The next thing she knew, Juan leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on her mouth, “You have no idea,” he whispered, his lips grazing her ear.
It took every element of discipline for Juan to rise from the bed and leave Olivia alone in his cabin.
Chapter Five
The days melded together. There was a routine to their days: Juan would fetch her food and drink and allow her to take care of her personal needs throughout the day. At night he would come into his cabin and sleep across the room. He had not dared to come too near to Olivia again for fear he might not be able to stop himself from taking her. He avoided his cabin as much as possible, knowing that seeing her tethered to his bed only left him with sinister thoughts and a hard cock.
Olivia was dying of boredom. She kept thinking back to the feel of Juan’s skilled fingers lacing her corset and kept fantasizing about him unlacing it instead. Imagining what he might look like and hearing his silky voice speaking her name over and over. She had never felt this way before. She wondered what her life would be like if her father’s ship had never been attacked, how far would she be from England? What prospective husbands would be awaiting her arrival? Would she be half as aroused by the men of English society as she was by this velvet-voiced Spanish pirate?
She wondered what he looked like--she had only caught glimpses of his outline, not really any specifics other than he was a massive man with a hard, strong body. She had seen the shadow of his chiseled jawline and had felt his coarse stubble against her delicate skin...did he have a kind or devilish smile? Were his eyes ominously as well as alluringly dark? Was he bald or did he have a plait? So many questions were flitting through her mind when the cabin door creaked open.
“Good evening,” Juan said, as he entered the cabin. Olivia could smell the distinct aroma of fresh sea air and spices that he brought into the room with each night.
“Good evening,” she replied politely. “Will you do me a favor and allow me to take my hair down? The pins are digging into my scalp.” She finished with a small pout.
Juan crooked an eyebrow at her, wondering what she was up to now. “How about I dismantle your hair for you?” he responded after some careful consideration. He untied one wrist at a time and then tied them behind her back.
He led her over to the wash basin and placed her on a chair. He undid her curls and gently removed the pins one at a time. The feeling of her hair being released was pure bliss. She gave out a small moan as he slowly massaged her scalp. The feeling of his hands running through her hair was ecstasy and she hummed with contentment.
She purred, “Thaaaank you. You have no idea how good that feels,” she rolled her head back languishing in pleasure. Juan looked at the expression on her beautiful face and he could no longer keep himself from her. He yanked her head back and clamped his mouth on hers in a passionate kiss.
Olivia was surprised by his strong lips against hers. She enjoyed the texture of his manly facial hair, his arms encircling her. Olivia had only been kissed twice by suitors, but those kisses were chaste and friendly compared to this powerful man. She was just starting to relax into the kiss when his tongue parted her lips and dove into her. She gasped, which allowed his tongue further entrance into her tiny mouth. His tongue explored her with the days of pent-up passion.
She was surprised by the new sensations flowing through her. Olivia wished her hands were free so she could take off the blindfold and see the man who was giving her such pleasure. Also, she longed to run her hands through his hair and down his body. As if Juan read her mind, he undid her hands only to sweep her up and carry her back to the bed. He re-tied her hands above her head to the bedpost. He broke away from kissing her long enough to say, “I can’t have you tricking me again, you spiteful vixen.” Olivia could feel the smile as his mouth found hers again.
Her loose hair flowed around her neck and he moved it aside to kiss across her cheek and down her neck. She wiggled and squirmed with excitement, trying in vain to hold and feel him. Juan’s hand rested on her ribcage and she could feel the heat through the layers of clothing. He rubbed his hand against the side of her breast, and even through the fabric she could tell he knew how to touch a woman.
“I’m guessing you’ve done this before,” she said seductively into his ear as he continued to pleasure her. Suddenly, her words registered and he abruptly pulled away. He knew that he could not compromise her. He needed her unharmed to collect the full ransom.
He was off the bed and pacing back and forth. Beneath the blindfold, Olivia’s eyes darted around trying desperately to see what had happened. “Wha--why did you stop?” she asked innocently in confusion.
He was silent for a long moment then she could hear him slowly exhale, “I shouldn’t have done that. I told you you were safe with me and then--”
“I am safe. You make me feel safe,” she said pleadingly.
“No! I can’t compromise your virtue,” he said the finality ringing through his words. “I am accurate in believing you to still be chaste?” he asked.
“But, I...” she stumbled over her words, “Of course! What kind of woman do you think me to be?” she spit back outraged.
“Not the kind to lose her maidenhead to a pirate holding her hostage,” he said, his sense of humor at least returning.
Her face blushed, “But, you said it yourself, I am not leaving this ship--so what difference does it make?” Olivia sputtered still trying to assuage her arousal.
Juan laughed quietly, “What exactly do you think I am planning to do with you?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I believe you are going to keep me as a prisoner aboard your ship, until we port somewhere where you will kill me or leave me. If I am to die one way or another I may at least know a man’s touch before I perish,” she stated rather dramatically.
Juan tried to withhold his laughter and compose himself before answering her, “So, you believe me to be the kind of man to deflower and then kill an innocent young lady?” he asked, taking a step towards her.
She could feel him inches away and every part of her tried to reach for him. The bindings on her wrists stretched and tightened as she moved her body towards his. “I think that right at this moment I don’t care what my fate may be as long as I can be touched by you again,” she said quietly, almost embarrassed that she would crave the touch of her captor.
“You would surrender your most sacred gift to a man that you haven’t even laid eyes upon?” he spoke these words so close to her she could feel the heat from his breath upon her skin. His very presence gave her gooseflesh again.
“You stated I was going from one prison to another, and you’re right. What’s the difference between being a prisoner here or in a loveless marriage in high-society England? The difference is here, I am making the choice; there, the choice is being made for me. Besides, if I am defiled, maybe no one will want to marry me?”
Juan marveled at her logic, but he needed her to refuse him--he didn’t know if he had the strength to tell her no a second time. “You don’t know anything about me--” he began.
“So, tell me about yourself,” she said in a sultry tone. “Again, no difference between this and the stranger I will be forced to marry.”
“The difference is your life will be secure and predictable. You will have money, and a fine home and all the luxuries that your class can afford you. You will attend and host lavish parties and raise highly-educated children…” his accent grew thicker the more quickly he spoke.
For a brief moment, Olivia could see her whole future laid out before her. And it did indeed include every detail Juan had just mentioned. She thought about what that future would be and how it would differ from her carefree existence in Barbados. And she grew increasingly less interested. There really was no way to achieve the future she wanted, but it certainly did not include stuffy English society and social rules too numerous to count.
“None of that sounds like anything I want for my life.” She bite her lip thinking of how to proceed, “Juan, I want to see your face. Please let me.”
“No, because then I truly can’t return you to family. And I need to be able to deliver you safely and collect the ransom,” he stated without emotion.
“If it’s the money, my father will give you whatever you require,” she said.
“My family requires it,” he said quietly, not intending to share that information.
The look on Olivia’s face was one of shock, “Oh! Oh...you’re married and have children depending on you. Oh, I feel so stupid,” she pulled back on her restraints and tears began to roll down her face.
It was now Juan’s turn to look surprised, “No. No, Olivia--I’m not married, it’s for my siblings,” he ended softly. “Please stop crying,” he placed his large hand on her cheek. He started speaking quietly at first, “My parents were killed when I was fourteen, by rich merchants like your father. I am the eldest and was left with caring for my five younger siblings.
“I have spent the last thirteen years working at sea. First, with legitimate merchants but money was tight. Eventually, I began intercepting other ships, taking the goods, and selling them off. I have been able to buy this ship, a home, and land for my family. I have been able to put two brothers through school and marry off two sisters, each with a sizable dowry.”
Though Olivia’s tears had ceased while Juan was speaking, her heart continued to break for him. He had stopped talking for a moment and looked at her anxiously.
“So, you’re not married then?” she asked, a small smile breaking the tension.
He grinned back at her. Though she couldn’t see it, she could feel it. “No,” he simply stated.
Olivia leaned towards his voice, “Will you please untie my hands?” she asked hopefully. To her surprise, he acquiesced and gently untethered her hands, kissing each before placing them in her lap. She kept her blindfold in place and extended her fingers to make contact with the side of his face.
She traced a single finger along his jawline and to his mouth. Then her finger outlined his mouth and she quirked a smile as he kissed her finger. She leaned forward to find his lips with hers and gave him a reverent kiss. “If I must stay blindfolded, so be it.” Then, she kissed him passionately.
The benefit of having the eye cover was the heightening of her other senses. Olivia noted the sharp edges of his facial hair. She felt the heat of his breath and the warmth of his body near hers. She could smell the spice and salt on his skin and could feel each hair on the back of her neck raise as his mouth got closer to hers. Suddenly, she couldn’t bear it any longer, “I need to see you,” she said imploringly.
Juan pulled back for a moment, “If you see my face, I can’t risk returning you to your father.” He stroked the side of her cheek lovingly.
Olivia exhaled deeply and then made her decision, “So be it.” Her finger slid u
nderneath the blindfold. His hand stopped hers, but then she said, “I’ve made my decision. There’s nothing back there for me anyway.” She slipped the satin fabric off.
Juan inhaled quickly, as he was greeted with the deepest blue eyes he had ever seen. They were like the depths of the sea. “You are even more beautiful than I imagined. Your eyes are like blazing sapphires.”
She smiled at his words, but also at the robust figure in front of her. She had never seen such an exotic and desirable man. Juan was tall, broad and dark, which she knew; Olivia did not know that he was heartbreakingly handsome. His tanned face had dark, chocolate brown eyes that seemed to have some charcoal surrounding them, making them even more mysterious. His mouth was wide and sensual. He had a heart-melting smile with straight white teeth that stood out against his swarthy skin. As she had felt, he had about two day’s stubble on his strong jaw and chiseled cheekbones. His dark brown hair was loosely gathered at the base of his neck with a few stray pieces outlining his striking face.
“You’re the most beautiful man I have ever seen,” she stated simply, unable to look away from his alluring face.
He laughed to himself, “Well, I’m glad I wasn’t a disappointment,” he said, tracing his rough hand down her soft cheek. “You are truly stunning.” He leaned in and gently kissed her lips. She hungrily kissed him back, the need within her uncontrollably building. He pulled back briefly, “Are you certain you want this?” he said in a husky tone.
She looked at him incredulously, “What kind of a pirate are you? Aren’t you supposed to indiscriminately pillage and plunder?”
The Spiteful Vixen Page 3
