by KT Grant
"Sorry, lass. I'm confused. I would have thought you’d be enjoying the wench's sweet, succulent flesh."
"Her name is Daisy," Chelsey whispered longingly.
Martin raised an eyebrow at the unfamiliar tone in Chelsey's voice. "You know her name? Did she tell you in the throes of passion? The boys and I heard her screams from one of the open portholes."
Chelsey didn't blush or act offended. It wasn't the first time her crew had heard the cries of a woman's pleasure coming from her cabin.
"She didn't have to tell me her name because she is someone from my past. Our hostage is the daughter of that exiled king my mum and I used to work for. Now, how is that for an unfortunate coincidence?"
Martin frowned. His eyes went wide and his mouth dropped open. "Are you telling me that Humphrey's fiancée is the same girl you once worked for?"
Chelsey nodded and pushed her fingers under her mask, rubbing her eyes and yawning.
"Not only that, but we were lovers for a short time, about eight years ago. Her father found us in the barn together and blamed me for engaging his innocent daughter in unholy pleasures of lust."
She caressed her scar. "He gave me this for my trouble and threw mum and me away as if we were horse dung. That was why we came to live with Uncle Wallace."
"And does she know who you are?" Martin crossed his arms and scratched his cheek.
"She has no idea… but her body certainly knows. Those screams were definitely of passion and not of fear. I wish…"
"Wish what?"
Chelsey fixed her mask and fiddled with her belt. "I want to tell Daisy who I am, but if I do, she may hate me even more. She told me she loves Humphrey." She frowned and clenched her fist. "All I have ever wanted was to be with her, to go away where we can be together and not have to worry about people judging us or afraid that we may be persecuted because of our passion for one another."
"Chelsey." Martin placed an arm around her shoulder. "Much has changed in the eight years since you last saw one another. You are very different women and no longer young girls.
She is a rich, entitled lady destined to marry a man who is revered and admired. You, on the other hand, have the reputation of being a bloodthirsty killer. I hate to say it, but there is no possible way for you two to run off and have a future together. At least you have these next few days to enjoy yourself until we get the ransom."
Chelsey laid her head in the crook of Martin's shoulder and closed her eyes. "I'm so tired, Martin. Tried of being Dread and tired of always being on my guard. After we finish this with Humphrey, I'm retiring. Pirate Dread will disappear and only her memory will remain."
Martin placed a soft kiss on top of her head. "I will support you in whatever you feel is best. But for now I think some breakfast is in order. Cook made some of his homemade biscuits and gravy."
Chelsey let out another yawn and stretched. "Why don't you go down and enjoy the eats?
I should go check on our hostage and make sure she is comfortable." Chelsey gave Martin a loud smack on top of his head and walked away.
Martin finished his coffee and watched his Captain walk down into the depths of the ship.
He took one last look out on the horizon and, as a breeze drifted around him, he couldn't help but shiver. He had a feeling that a storm was brewing, and Mother Nature wasn't the one responsible, but Lord Humphrey.
****
Chelsey stood over a snoozing, lightly snoring Daisy. Chelsey found this quirk adorable and would have loved nothing more than to lie down and hold the sleeping princess in her arms, feeling her breath against her face as they slept side by side in an embrace.
But that was impossible, for the sweet Daisy hated her deeply.
Chelsey released a loud sigh. Daisy smacked her lips, wiping her nose with her hand and pulling her knees up to her chest as she lay on her side. Chelsey couldn't help but pick up a stray curl lying over Daisy's hands as they were tucked under her chin. She released that precious lock and gently drifted the back of her knuckles over Daisy's cheek. Daisy muttered something and moved her hand away. Chelsey stood there staring down at her as she moaned and turned onto her other side, facing away.
"Oh, princess," Chelsey said in yearning as she covered a yawn. She walked over to her desk and looked down at the tray that hadn't been touched. She frowned and tapped her foot, wondering if Daisy would starve herself until she was rescued.
A mirage of images played through her mind of Daisy running into Humphrey's arms, kissing him… lying in bed under him as he sucked on her bountiful breasts and feasted in between her thighs. She clenched her fists, stomping back over to awaken her sleeping beauty, when the room spun and went fuzzy. She almost stumbled and righted herself as she stood by the end of the bed.
The sudden rage Chelsey had felt gradually lessened, and exhaustion overcame her. She yawned again and stretched.
"Perhaps a short nap is in order…" Chelsey murmured around another yawn as she walked over to her dark green fainting chair and sat down heavily. She watched Daisy's back moving up and down as she slept on, taking in deep breaths.
The urge to lie down and spoon Daisy made her arms ache. Instead of doing what she longed to, she lay down folded her hands over her stomach and released another sigh.
She would rest for an hour or so. If Daisy was still sleeping, she would wake her from her slumber in her own special way. Damn the consequences.
****
Daisy opened her eyes and blinked. She pressed her face deep into the satin sheets that smelled faintly of sand and musk and rolled onto her back. She felt the lump behind her head, pleased it wasn't as tender and pronounced as yesterday. Except for a slight throbbing, her bruised cheek didn't pain her either. "Oh." Daisy sat up, ignoring the growling in her stomach. She couldn't remember the last time she had eaten. She refused to consume anything these villains had for food. She rubbed her eyes and blinked again. She longed to splash cool water over her face… actually, a warm bubble bath would be ideal.
She wrinkled her nose. She wouldn't be surprised if the pirates didn't care for modesty and took care of their toilet out in the open, where all could see...
"Oh my," Daisy whispered again when she glanced over to her left, spotting her kidnapper.
She shook her head over the way her nipples hardened and blamed the ocean breeze coming from the open window for the way her body was reacting. Her bosom had never been so exposed as it was now, although she would never admit that the lack of a high neck bodice or dress front was actually refreshing in the balmy heat.
Daisy shook her head to erase these silly musings of hers when Dread let out a loud snore. She crawled off the bed and stood there, shaking out her mess of a ball gown. There really was no need for her to do so. With the amount of filth and rips, the dress couldn't be salvaged.
She tugged on her hair and wished for a mirror to look into so that she could see the damage to her body, mainly of her face and hair.
Dread mumbled in her sleep. Daisy tapped her mouth with her finger. She found it very strange that this pirate captain was sleeping in the same clothes from yesterday, as well as in her eye mask. She pondered over the idea of what a female pirate would possibly wear to sleep.
Most definitely not a long white sleeping gown like she usually wore. The odds were that Dread had many dark colored nightgowns, mainly black because of her reputation of always dressing in that color.
I would not be surprised if she wore nothing at all… the satin sheets wrapped around her naked arms and legs as she moved… as she placed her hand over her thighs, rubbing slowly across her tender skin there….
She shook away the wicked thoughts that caused a deep twinge in between her legs. For some odd reason, she found herself standing over the sleeping Dread. A soft smile rose from her lips as she looked down at the woman who didn't seem as pushy and powerful while she slept.
And that mask could not be that comfortable, seeing as she probably wore it most of the day.
&n
bsp; Daisy's hand seemed to have a life of its own as she leaned over and ever so carefully grabbed the edge of Dread's mask. She pulled it up, and as she uncovered the pirate captain's face, Dread's eyes popped open and she swiftly sat up.
Daisy yelped and tore the entire black silk fabric away, doing a double take when she finally recognized the face. She stumbled back and tripped, falling to the floor and crawling backward until she met the edge of the bed. A ghost from her past stood before her.
"Chelsey?" Daisy asked in disbelief, staring up at her former lover who stood there with her arms crossed.
Chelsey gave her a fierce frown." How dare you… why did you do that?" She grimaced and turned away, sitting back down on her makeshift bed.
"I-I don't understand. How can it be you? I thought you were dead!" Daisy pulled her knees to her chest and rubbed her forehead against them. "I'm so very confused."
"Dead? Why did you think I was dead?"
Daisy's head shot up, her mouth dropping open. She sat there staring at Chelsey and held out her hands. "You promised to write me! You said you would return to me when you made your fortune. And you never did. The only conclusion I came to was that you had died. I guess I've been made into a fool. The joke is on me. Here you are, playing pirate with a bunch of burly men, kidnapping and ravishing innocent maidens!"
Chelsey dropped her head back against the arm of her chair and laughed. "She says I'm playing pirate!" Chelsey spoke up at the ceiling. "That is a real hoot, princess."
Daisy climbed to her feet and walked over to Chelsey, wagging her finger. "Do not laugh at me, and do not call me ‘princess.’ You have no right."
Chelsey stared up at Daisy who stood in between her legs. She placed her arms behind her head and laughed again. "Oh really? And what are you going to do, your highness? You are not the ruler of this domain. I am."
Daisy's closed her hand into a fist. "You… you…"
"That must be your favorite word, or maybe you just can't get past that stuttering problem you still have."
"You bitch!" Daisy screamed, flying at Chelsey and reaching for her throat.
Even with her lack of sleep, Chelsey still had fast reflexes, and when Daisy came at her, she grabbed her by her wrists and tumbled her onto the couch. Both women pushed and pulled until Chelsey had Daisy under her. She held the other woman’s wrists high above her head with one hand while she grabbed Daisy by her chin in a hard grip in the other.
"You liar! Release me this instant!" Daisy struggled, kicking at Chelsey's legs.
"Daisy darling, cease this. You will hurt yourself." Chelsey let out a whoosh when Daisy almost kneed her in the stomach.
"Oh… you… evil woman," Daisy snarled and arched her back, trying to escape Chelsey's hold.
"What's this, princess?" Chelsey glanced down at Daisy's bodice where her nipples poked out into little points. She licked her lips. "Perhaps you aren't as angry as you want me to believe."
"Stop staring at me that way! It's indecent"
"Indecent? After what we've done… ah, fuck this." She smashed her lips against Daisy’s, kissing her hard and pushing her tongue in deep.
Daisy bit down on Chelsey's lip. Chelsey released her mouth and snarled. "So you want to play it that way, my lady?" She grabbed hold of Daisy's face in her hands and sucked firmly on her mouth, using her tongue and teeth until Daisy stopped slapping her on the back and joined in.
Daisy took hold of Chelsey's face and gave her long, wet kisses, nipping and licking at Chelsey's lips as though she were her favorite sweet she had been denied for so long. When Chelsey pressed her deeper into the cushions, Daisy wrapped her arms around her and pushed up, latching more onto Chelsey's lips, whimpering when Chelsey cupped her half-naked breasts in her palms and gave them a squeeze.
Daisy lay back, gasping for air. "Chelsey, I've missed you so!"
Chelsey nipped at Daisy's chin, taking in deep breaths. She moved her face down and gathered up Daisy's breast and swallowed her nipple whole.
"Hmm," Chelsey said against Daisy's oversensitive flesh and cupped her other breast as Daisy panted loudly over her head.
Chelsey released Daisy's breast, and with one last nip over her nipple, she cupped Daisy by the face again and gave her wet pecks across her mouth.
"You… are… mine… forever."
Daisy wrapped her arms tighter around the woman she had always adored. She turned her face away as Chelsey bit down lightly on her shoulder.
"Humphrey can't make you feel the way I do." Chelsey reached up under Daisy's dress and slid her hand around her ankle.
Daisy shook her head, leaning up on her elbows." What did you just say?"
Chelsey pulled Daisy's ruined stocking off her foot and threw it behind her. She was busy taking the other stocking off, when Daisy sat up and pushed her away. Chelsey fell back and looked at Daisy through hooded eyes.
"Does the princess want to be on top this time?" she asked, unfastening her shirt.
"Is sex all you can think about?" Daisy pulled up her bodice and pushed back her hair.
She rolled off of the couch and looked down at Chelsey, who had already opened her black silk shirt and was in the process of unlacing her chemise. Daisy swallowed as Chelsey's chemise gaped, and one of her hardened nipples stood up at attention for her to taste. She licked her lips.
Chelsey pulled at her nipples and moaned. "Come here, my beauty." She opened her legs wide and slowly unfastened her breeches.
Daisy almost reached out, but stopped. "Chelsey, we must talk."
"Why?" Chelsey sat up, placing her arms over her head and waggling her eyebrows.
"Why? You can't be that obtuse. Have you forgotten that you have been missing for eight years? And not only are you some feared pirate who has caused such havoc for my people, but you’ve kidnapped me because of some silly vendetta you have for my fi—"
"Do not –" Chelsey bolted off from the couch, grabbing hold of Daisy's arms and giving her a light shake, "call him your fiancé. He does not deserve you. You will never be his if I have any say in the matter."
"Oh, and he does not? And why do you have a right to say who I should or should not belong to?"
"You belong to me!" Chelsey pulled Daisy up hard against her chest and reached down to give her another kiss. Daisy turned her face away.
"You are certainly living up to your name, Pirate Dread. You think you can take whatever tickles your fancy. Well, I refuse to be tickled, thank you very much." Daisy pulled out of Chelsey's embrace and backed away, walking behind the desk.
"Oh I see. You are still upset with me for not writing you." Chelsey sat down on the edge of her bed and tapped her scarred cheek.
"You think the only reason I'm upset is because you never wrote me? Have you forgotten what you did to me last night?" Daisy held up a piece of her torn bodice for Chelsey to inspect.
"I can assure you if we fight about that, you will not win." Chelsey pressed her fingers into the sides of her head and cracked her neck.
Daisy's anger for her former lover was very strong, but as she watched Chelsey sit, looking tired and dejected, she wanted nothing more than to hold her close and spend the day in her arms and in bed.
She sat down in a chair and folded her hands on her lap. "Yes, I'm very upset. You promised you would write and… come back for me." Daisy's voice broke, but she cleared her throat and continued. "That first year you were gone was very hard for me. I stood by my bedroom window practically day and night, waiting for you to come walking down the path, to sneak into my bedroom and carry me away. But you never did. I waited and waited. And when papa died from a stroke, I still waited, thinking there was no one else who could stop us from being together. But days and then months went by and you never returned. I... decided you either had forgotten me or found another to lo-take pleasure in, or you were dead. Silly me. Here you are very much alive and whole, playing with your swords and guns as if you haven't a worry in the world."
Chelsey folded her arms o
ver her knees and stared off in the distance, as if she was lost in a memory. "Daisy, my plan was to come back to you. And I meant to write, but everything happened so fast. The morning I left you, mother and I traveled all day to my uncle, where he took us straight away on his ship. We sailed away soon after. I was away at sea for almost three months, and during that time I found out a shocking thing about my Uncle Wallace. He was a pirate."
Daisy didn't respond but, when Chelsey glanced at her, she motioned for her to continue.
"He’d kept his lifestyle a secret from even my mum. We had no other options and joined him on his travels. I learned how to run a ship from top to bottom while mum cooked for the crew. I found the open sea was in my blood and thought it was a perfect way to make my fortune, even if by begotten means. The reason I became a pirate was for you, Daisy." Chelsey looked down at her lap and peeked through her eyelashes. Daisy sat there in silence, looking at her coldly. "I knew it wasn't right, but Uncle Wallace made sure no one was hurt from our pillaging. Most of the ships we captured were only filled with rich foods and silks and no passengers. Most of the time, we tied up the crew and left them without hurting a hair on their heads. But then the papers got hold of the story, and people started talking, spreading rumors and telling lies."
"I assume you will get to the point of why you have been targeting Lord Humphrey."
Chelsey stood and walked over to the desk. She sat on the edge. Daisy pushed the chair back, glancing at the closed door.
"Do you wish for me to finish with my story? If you think you can make it to the door and leave this room before I can catch you, go ahead. I can promise you, I will have my arms wrapped around you and you’ll be naked in my bed before you can blink. And there will be no talking, because our mouths will be otherwise engaged."
Daisy laid her hands on the arms of the chair. She nodded. "Very well Captain, continue."
Chelsey gave Daisy a small grin, but it went unreturned. Daisy sat more comfortably, crossing her arms.
