Calthraca: Secrets And The Sea [A Calthraca Novel]

by Camryn Cutler

  Esteban had given it long consideration and found that in addition to wanting her physically, he felt a tenderness for her that he didn't normally feel with other women. He had an irresistible urge to protect her despite her brave façade. Perhaps, as Aria suggested, he should try to romance her rather than making demands she was unable to meet.

  "Katherine, I will not hurt you. Relax, you are too tense."

  "I ... okay.” She hung her head forward a bit and he rubbed her neck and shoulders.

  "I know you were treated harshly at the slave market. I hope you do not fear me, or worry I will treat you the same way?"

  She groaned as he pressed his thumbs into a particularly hard spot and shuddered when she felt his lips touch her there, soothing the pain.

  "No, I'm not afraid of you, Esteban."

  He continued massaging her neck and she closed her eyes, enjoying his strong hands on her muscles. He was warming her and relaxing her more than she had been since she'd come here.

  As he worked, she thought about how much she longed to be held and comforted.

  True, she barely knew him, but from what she'd seen, he wasn't a particularly violent or evil man. He was caring enough to apologize to her when he'd acted like an ass, and that was more than most of the men she knew were willing to do.

  With him standing so close and touching her, a strong wave of desire ran through her. What would it hurt?

  Deciding, she stood and faced him. “You want to sleep with me, don't you?” she whispered.

  Esteban looked down into her face and a small smile lifted the corners of his mouth. “I want to make long, slow, passionate love to you. I want to hold you and comfort you, and make you feel safe again, but only if that is what you want, Katherine.” He brought his hands up to either side of her head and bent, gently touching her lips with his.

  "I'm not a whore.” She wasn't sure precisely what he was expecting, but she didn't have a whole lot of experience at this, despite her age.

  "I know.” He pushed a lock of her hair back over her shoulder. She was so beautiful it made his heart ache.

  Kate swallowed and stepped into his embrace, hugging him tightly around the middle and resting her head on his chest.

  Please God, let me be right about him. I haven't had much luck lately, and I could really use a little bit right now.

  She moved away from him toward the bedroom and he hesitated.

  Esteban knew if he went in there with her, he would take her. It was that simple. He'd managed to dampen his desire for her so far, but he didn't think he could hold out any longer if she changed her mind.

  She turned back and gazed into his eyes. “Come with me now."

  He blinked and looked away. “Katherine, I will not be able to stop.” He hated the hesitation in his voice; the indecisiveness was maddening, and unlike him.

  "I know.” She took his hand once more and tugged gently. He let her lead him into his bedroom.

  Kate closed the door and Esteban stood motionless as she slid her hands around him, moving to face him once more. “I want to see you."

  He pulled the ties on his shirt, his eyes never leaving hers. She leaned in and kissed him, pushing his shirt back while letting him deepen the kiss, but stepping back when he moved to embrace her.

  He pulled the buttons of his fly and dropped his pants. Standing before her naked, he held his arms out at his sides, displaying himself as a slave would—the way she had.

  "God, you are so well made,” she breathed.

  He had a broad, muscular chest, a flat, defined torso and long, powerful legs. In short, he had the type of body men spent months and years in the gym to achieve, the sort that women lusted for. She ran her gaze downward.

  His cock was nestled in a thick mat of hair that grew from his chest down. Katherine raised her eyes to his and stepped into his embrace. She cupped him and he groaned at her touch, then closed his arms around her.

  "Are you sure?” he asked.

  "Yes, Esteban, I want you.” She kissed his chest, circling one of his nipples with her tongue, smiling at the shudder she felt run through him. Her free hand explored his back, tracing the long firm muscles there. Her other hand continued stroking him gently and she could feel him rising further.

  He bent his head and took her mouth in a kiss that was in turns frightening and thrilling in its intensity. Pulling her in tightly, he kissed her long and hard and her legs gave out, something she thought only happened in cheesy movies and trashy books, but he was there to catch her and hold her up and she made a small desperate sound as he scooped her into his arms and laid her upon the bed, then kneeled beside her.

  He took the two sides of her caftan and pulled slowly, tearing it down the middle. The thin silk parted like the water before his bow and he bent his head to suckle her breasts, nuzzling into her softness.

  Be gentle, go slowly. The words sounded over and over in his mind even though every fiber of his body begged him to take her hard and fast.

  He fondled one breast while he sucked the other, loving the way she arched slightly as he drew hard on her nipple. Kate made a small sound, pain and desire combined. She felt completely safe, and his sexy attentions were making her wetter by the second.

  He brought his hand down lower and slipped within her cleft. He made a lustful growl and her hips moved upward to push him deeper. Obliging her, he ran his fingers within her folds, tracing lazy circles around her clitoris. He wanted to taste her, to suckle upon that tiny button of her sex. He wanted to hear her scream his name.

  He moved slightly to her entrance and pressed one finger gently within her.

  "Dear God, you are tight,” he said roughly. He wasn't sure he wouldn't hurt her when he penetrated that tight sheath. He slowly removed his finger then tasted her, and smiled at her shocked look.

  Her eyes widened as she watched him, never suspecting how hot it would make her to watch someone taste her!

  He chuckled quietly, then moved down her body, kissing her soft breasts and stomach. Moving lower he pushed her thighs apart, revealing the honey-colored curls that concealed her treasures. He slowly drew his tongue along her soft slit and she gasped when he touched her.

  "Ah! Oh ... my God, yes!” She was shocked at what he was doing, but wasn't about to make him stop. She watched him move to take her with his mouth.

  Kate's hips moved seemingly on their own, rocking to meet his tongue and lips. He pushed her thighs farther apart as he pressed deeper, nibbling her labia, darting and teasing, licking a hard arch around her clitoris, finally dipping his tongue within her sheath, teasing until she was nearly whimpering.

  "Ah...” He hesitated and she pulled his head back down, “Don't stop!"

  She peaked then, releasing a long high-pitched sigh, nearly crying at how incredibly good it felt. She squirmed under him as he lapped at her juices, causing sharp darts of pleasure to continue shooting through her.

  "Oh, sweet,” he murmured. His cock was rock-hard and nearly painful but he was enchanted by her reaction to his lovemaking, savoring her every sound and movement. He knew she would be exquisite.

  He rose over her and kissed her mouth, dueling with her tongue. “Do you taste how sweet you are, Katherine?” he breathed. “Like wild honey."

  "Yes...” she moaned. She trembled at the onslaught of sensation. She'd suspected he would be a good lover, but she had never anticipated just how good he would be. This was easily the most erotic experience she had ever had! Every nerve in her body was alight and firing rapidly. She could feel everything, from his intimate caresses to the cool breeze coming through the slightly opened window. The tiny hairs on her arms stirred, making her shiver.

  Esteban shifted his position, dragging her attention back to what he was doing. He moved over her and nudged her thighs with his knee. “I do not wish to hurt you,” he murmured.

  "Just do it, Esteban."

  He took her hands in his, lacing his fingers through hers, drawing them up and resting upon his elbow
s above her. There was no way to escape hurting her slightly, he knew, but perhaps he could lessen it.

  "Look at me,” he growled. She looked up into his incredible eyes. “Tell me where you are from.” His long hair hung down, tickling her face, and his golden earrings gleamed mellowly in the dimness.

  "What?” She couldn't fathom why he wanted to know this all of a sudden.

  "Your home, tell me about it,” he said gruffly, startling her.

  "I told you ... it's called—"

  He thrust hard, striking the mark on the first blow. Her eyes widened at his entry and she caught her bottom lip with her top teeth, inhaling sharply. He groaned at the sight of her eyes sliding shut, passion and pain mingling. Her pleasure made this even better for him.

  He seated himself deeply within her on the second thrust. His hips found a comfortable fit within the wide embrace of her thighs and she arched to accommodate him further.

  "Mmmm,” he exhaled. “Oh yes, I recall now."

  He was huge—bigger than her first lover, her ex-boyfriend, the only other man she'd ever been with.

  Tears had sprung to her eyes and one rolled down her cheek, but she held his gaze. “Oh, good.” She took a ragged breath.

  "Am I hurting you?” he asked, his voice full of concern.

  "Only at first ... I'm fine now,” she breathed.

  He let go of her hand and reached to touch that tear with his thumb. He kissed her cheek softly and bent his head to her shoulder. Even as ready as she had been it was still painful for her, he knew. She was as unused as Abdallah had promised, and he regretted having hurt her.

  He moved slightly to his side, drawing his hand down between them with a tenderness she never would have expected.

  "Dear God, Katherine,” he groaned. “You are as tight as a glove,” he breathed raggedly in her ear.

  She felt his hands stroke her; her own hands had twined themselves in his dark hair, caressing his head and his face as he dipped to kiss her again. His hair was as thick and luxurious as she thought it would be.

  Esteban ran his tongue along her upper lip and hers slipped out to tease at him, then retreated back into her mouth, begging him to follow.

  The brief pain from his initial thrust had quickly faded and Katherine took a deep breath. “Esteban ... you are so good at this.” She sighed and felt his laugh.

  Between them his fingers had begun to busily work her, circling and stroking. Her breathing now shortened to barely audible pants and he knew she was close.

  He lowered his head beside hers, running his chin along her cheek and jaw.

  "Come for me, Katherine,” he growled in her ear. His commanding tone had returned.

  "I ... ah..."

  He pressed her rigid clit and she groaned as she came again, basking in the glorious sensation. She'd never had a climax with a man actually within her, never mind on command. Usually she'd do it for herself, and then get him off.

  Esteban was not going to give her that chance, she could tell. He was most assuredly the captain of this ship.

  Her body arched into him and he could feel the powerful muscles of her sheath clenching silkily along his rampant cock, squeezing him hard. He gazed upon her face, taking in how lovely she was. The deep rose of her skin was even more pronounced and her eyes slid shut as she let her passion sweep over her. Esteban loved her reaction to his lovemaking and closed his eyes as well. Taking another deep breath, he tried desperately to keep from peaking himself.

  He made an experimental thrust and she moaned under him, a slight pained sound; still it was smoother than he expected.

  "Esteban, please...” she whispered urgently.

  He grinned down at her. “Such a greedy girl."

  He moved slowly, agonizingly, taking his time and savoring every second of their passion. With every thrust, the flat plane of his groin pressed into her clitoris, stimulating her further and she began to peak once more. He drew his length from her and she moaned softly, almost sadly at the separation of their bodies, and then inhaled sharply as he plunged back within her. Her hips thrust back to him, welcoming his body to hers, begging for more.

  They moved together that way for long moments, the tight grasp of her hot sheath gripping and releasing him felt glorious and he had to grind his teeth to keep from exploding like a boy.

  Kate brought her hands up as he rose over her, letting him watch her stroke her own breasts, pulling and twisting at the nipples, feeling sexy and hot as he made a deep male sound of appreciation.

  "You are incredible,” he growled but she barely heard him. She was spiraling upward toward orgasm again, hardly able to believe how turned on and excited she was.

  Her prior assessment of his skills was right; he was an amazing lover and his stamina was unbelievable. She could very easily get used to this.

  He continued to move slowly upon her until he felt the slight change in her body. He couldn't name what it was; it was more of a feeling to him, something vague that signaled she was once more approaching a climax. He knew it almost before she did.

  Esteban had an amazing empathy for women; he did not simply fuck them like other men. He genuinely loved them, all of them; their unique softness, and scent, their eyes, their hair. It was important to him that his lovers be entirely satisfied before he sought his own completion. He found sex so much better when both parties emerged sated and exhausted.

  She arched under him again as he moved roughly above her. She was going to come again, she could feel it rushing over her. “Ah..."

  As though she had spoken his name he turned his head sharply and looked down at her. His eyes widened slightly, amazed that she had such strong reactions to his lovemaking, then returned to the half lazy look he'd had since he entered the bedroom.

  "Yes, come now,” he said, his voice low, husky, demanding, and fully expecting to be obeyed. “Let go."

  She inhaled sharply at his words and her hips bucked into his, hard.

  "Ahh, Kate, you are so beautiful...” He smiled as he watched it overtake her. She arched slowly, and he moved to his knees to gain leverage; there was no need to increase his speed, not yet. He looked down at where their bodies were joined—the sheer eroticism of watching made him harden further.

  At his words her mouth had come open as though to speak, but no words came out. She swallowed convulsively and her whole body spasmed. He groaned out loud and lowered himself to his hands as her muscles clenched him like a fist.

  "Esteban ... Oh God..."

  He brought one hand under her and held her loosely around the shoulders as she shuddered, bracing himself upon the bed with his other arm. Now he would find his own completion.

  He increased his speed, bending to her taking her mouth in a possessive kiss. She whimpered and kissed him back, and the tiny submissive sound galvanized him further. Esteban knew he wouldn't be able to hold back much longer.

  The musky woman scent of her that had fueled his arousal all along was even more pronounced, driving his primal need to take her and make her his forever.

  He thrust his pelvis into hers, penetrating as deeply as he could. She gasped sharply again, whether in pain or pleasure he did not know, it was far too late to worry, all thoughts of gentleness were now gone.

  He could feel the tingle of his approaching climax, and growled, pouring forth within her body. Esteban pulled her up to take as much of him within her as he could manage, claiming her, making her his.

  Kate clung to him, fully there, reveling along with him in passion as he found completion.

  At last, he let her down and moved slowly above her until he had nothing left. His breathing was ragged and he was entirely drained.

  One of her hands came up to caress his face gently, like a small white dove. He caught it with one of his and kissed her palm.

  She smiled up at him tiredly, her eyes already half-closed with sated passion.

  He moved from her body and lay close, holding her around the waist and pulling her to her side so he c
ould look into her beautiful eyes.

  "Katherine, that was..."

  She swept her sea-green gaze across his handsome face and placed her fingertips against his lips. “Yes, it was."

  She bent her head to his chest and then fell quietly asleep, listening to his steady heartbeat and needing only his warm body against hers.

  He dropped a soft kiss upon the top of her head and gathered her in and then Esteban fell gratefully into the depths of sleep himself.

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  Chapter 5

  Dawn found them tangled together, arms and legs wrapped around each other at impossible angles.

  "Captain!"

  Esteban jerked himself awake at the voice of his first mate, Manuel. “Yes, what?"

  "Sir, four Andalosian ships have been sighted to starboard, and they're hailing us."

  Katherine groaned slightly and began to disentangle herself from him, then sat up.

  "I'll be up in a moment,” he said, swinging his long legs over the side of his bed. He reached for his leather breeches and pulled them on.

  She watched him walk to his wash basin where he quickly washed and dressed. He bent and pulled on his boots, then lifted his belt and put a dagger along his back before he shrugged his coat over his shoulders.

  "I want you to dress and stay belowdecks,” he said to her. He glanced at her ruined caftan and grinned in spite of himself. “Quima will bring you something to wear."

  Kate sat in a puddle of quilts. She was so very desirable and sleepy that his body begged him to crawl back in bed and love her again.

  Instead he bent and pulled her forward to his mouth, kissing her deeply.

  "Be safe, Esteban,” she whispered when they parted.

  He looked at her for a moment then nodded and left the room, pausing at his desk to pick up his sword and pistols.

  With her kiss still a fresh memory upon his lips, he made his way above. No one had ever cared enough about him to admonish safety, and he wasn't sure how he felt about it.