I’d worried about him last time I waited and I had no idea how dangerous it truly was out there on the sea. Knowing now the things that could happen, I began to panic about his safe return. “You’re going out to rob the Spanish? That is so dangerous. Isn’t there another secret treasure you could uncover instead?”
“Ah, if it was that easy to get gold then everyone would be a buccaneer.” Then he flexed his arms. “A man doesn’t build this kind of muscle by sailing easy seas.”
His confidence made it easy to have faith. Squeezing his flexing bicep, I reminded him, “And I wouldn’t love you so much if you were a soft-handed lubber boy anyways.”
“That’s right, so don’t worry about me, beauty. I’ll be fine. But what about you? Are you going to run off with a rich man and forget about your lowly old buccaneer?”
“Nonsense, Sterling. You are all the man I need.” Kissing him on the cheek, I flirted, “And now you are wealthy, too. What more could I hope for?”
“Speaking of my wealth…” he proceeded to show me the new weapons he had bought. I played with them all and asked him many questions about them, as well as about his last few days in port. As we talked on, the clouds finally covered the stars. With the sound of raindrops pattering upon the world around us, he began to tell me who would be on Flynn’s privateer crew, but I interrupted, “What about Mary? Where is she?”
His eyes lit up with humor. “I am glad you asked. You’re going to love this. While the crew cursed and hooted over the notion of privateer work, I went to lay aloft to think things over by myself. While I was up there I saw Faron take Mary aside to talk to her. At first they were all boring and mushy together so I looked away, but I could hear him telling her about her opportunity to return to shore. He even offered to give her enough loot to get herself established, but she cried like a blimey woman as he held her and stuttered to convince her that was best.
Then that brazen little strumpet lured in my interest. With that pompous ol’ captain finally trying to be sweet, she swished her leg around his and dropped him to the deck. Landing flat on his back with a thundering thud, he opened his eyes to see her pointing her pistol at his chest. I had half a mind to help the old dog out of his predicament, but the look of shock on his face was too priceless to interrupt.
While catching his breath he heaved, What the bloody rotten hell is this, Mary?
Holding her pistol steady, she barked, This is me telling you that you aren’t leaving me anywhere.
Faron teased that she loved him too much to kill him, so she clarified, You’re damn right I love you too much, and though these tears are just as real as this threat, I will shoot you in the leg. With any luck, you’ll get a wooden stump to hobble on, slow you down enough to make you wish you would have kept me around to take care of your arse.”
The story itself, alongside Sterling’s imitation of Mary’s feminine voice caused me to burst into laughter. “Oh my! That woman is impeccable. She didn’t follow through, did she?”
“No, but when she told him she wanted to be an equal member of his crew, with a vote, and her own share of the plunder, he laughed at her. So she tossed a blade at him. It landed on the deck right between his legs! Got him to shut his blathering ol’ mouth for once. While she had his attention, she also mentioned something about him committing to be faithful to her, but when he told her she was asking too much, they compromised.”
“And what was the final accord?” I yelped in suspense.
“Ah, he told her he’d rather have a blasted woman on his crew than be loyal to one. And she agreed that she would rather be one of his pirates than his personal whore.”
“So Mary Daley is officially one of Faron Flynn’s fearsome buccaneers? Oh, I am so happy for her. But I must say, Captain Flynn is quite the fool for denying her his loyalty.”
“He’s a sea dog, Charlie. And really, so is she. I think they’ll get along fine.”
“I suppose. I’m just glad she found her place in the world.”
Climbing up on Sterling’s lap, I said, “And at least I know that if another woman tries to touch you, Mary will have her throat.”
He laughed and assured me I didn’t have to worry about that. I knew I could trust him.
The rain kept up with a light drizzle, and as the thunder slowly rolled across the sky, I played with his hair and braided his goatee. We laughed about the silliest things. I loved the way we could talk for so long without a dull moment in our conversation. Though I tried my best to focus on the enjoyment of his company and the romance of his kiss, the beauty of the moment seemed to linger with an underlying pain. All too soon he would be sailing away.
Eventually his kiss ambled across my chest, and with the warmth of his mouth pressed between my breasts, he playfully suggested, “Are you going to give me something sweet to dream about while I’m away?”
I shrugged my shoulders with a bashful giggle, but as he moved his hands up my thighs and pulled me closer to him, I realized he was serious. Nodding my head, I rubbed on his sideburns and suggested, “Why don’t you take me to my bed?”
So he did. He carried me into my room and got me out of that uncomfortable dress. Then he pulled my shift over my head and laid me down. My door was locked and the night was quiet, but there was an air of risky pleasure wafting between us as he unbuckled his belt. He looked stunning in his coat, and though I thoroughly enjoyed the sight of the well-dressed buccaneer moving over me, he became hot and removed it. I undid the buttons on his waistcoat. Before long he was just as bare as I was.
The mist of the rain wafted through my open window and lightning flickered across the sky as he loved me. In the dim light of night I could see his silhouette, and in the comfort of my bed, our passion rolled like the thunder tumbling through the clouds. Holding me close, he rolled over to his back and pulled me on top of him. After I traced the northern arrow of his tattoo with my tongue, he grabbed my shoulders and pushed me up.
“Stay there where I can see you. Remind me why I want to hurry home,” he insisted as he grabbed my hips and moved me over him.
He looked at me like I was a goddess. Any lingering traces of my sensual novice melted into the heat of his hands. Wanting to be the best he ever had, I let my ecstasy lead me. The way he was breathing assured me that my plan was working. He told me I would be his sweetest memory, no matter how far he’d have to sail away from me. Then he pulled me down to hold me, and as he wrapped his arms around me he told me, “You make me sorry that I’m leaving.”
He didn’t let me go, and as he held me close, the tingling sensation intensified. I sucked on his neck attempting to maintain my silence, but the way he moved made it impossible to keep quiet. My temperature rose and my heartbeat increased, until the sensual fire exploded inside of me.
After the unexpected rush, all of my energy deflated and I collapsed into his embrace. Continuing to hold me close, he chuckled, “You like that?”
My breath was too shallow to answer clearly, but I managed to exhale a hardly audible huff, “Don’t laugh at me.”
He kissed my forehead. “Remember that feeling while I’m gone, beauty.”
I laid on top of him for what seemed like forever. He ran his hand through my hair as we talked. I knew he would be leaving me soon and I wanted to absorb every ounce of his aura before he sailed away.
I hardly remember him getting dressed, but I sure as hell remember how good he looked as he pulled me out of my bed. I put on a nightgown and then hugged him with all my might. It took all my strength to hold back the barrage of tears welling in my throat. Making me look at him, he assured, “You’ll be all right, beauty. There’s no fear in your love, and I know you’re strong enough to do this. Just don’t try coming after me this time. All right?”
Respecting his sacrifice far too much to make any attempts to sabotage his efforts, I agreed, “I won’t. I promise.”
Holding me close, he let me pout for a moment. While he continued to reassure me of my own strength, I
struggled to convince myself to be as strong as his faith in me. I wanted to be. I had to be, yet, it was nearly impossible to let go of him when he stepped away from our embrace.
“You’ll be on my mind, beauty.” He kissed me on my cheek and repelled down the wall.
As he wandered off in the rain, the dam of strength retaining my tears finally broke. The pain gushed out of my heart like a flash flood, and as he slipped out of my sight I cried like an orphaned child.
X
I paced the floor. I laid in bed. I tossed and turned. Finally confessing that sleep was beyond me, I got up, lit a candle, and began writing a letter to Isaiah about my adventures.
While explaining our story to my brother, I came to understand it better myself. Sterling was doing the right thing, and I certainly loved him even more when I was finished writing about him.
The rain finally subsided and the sun began to rise. Taking out my new spyglass, I looked through it to the west. The sky was breathtakingly clear after the rain, and as the morning light warmed the air, the few remaining clouds reflected the golden rays of light.
Then I saw her. Endless Horizon was slicing through the tide with full sails and even speed. The magnificent sight seemed to reflect its graceful image on my soul, painting the pace of my heartbeat with a rainbow of emotions.
The love of my life was at the helm of that beautiful ship—steering it away from me. Though he left me his loot and his last name, he would be gone for months on end. Yet, beyond my pain, I understood. Our love story was far from a fairytale and I knew our life together would never be proper or predictable. The green eyed buccaneer who I chose to spend the rest of my life with could not be contained by a woman who was faint of heart.
No matter how much it hurt watching those sails vanish into the western horizon, I loved him even more for it. I knew it wasn’t about the women, the gold, or the freedom; it was about me. Of all his reckless and lawless pleasures, I truly believed he loved me the most. Though some called him a pirate, he was my hero and my shield, and no matter what struggles I may face while he is away, I will patiently await his return.
X
Be sure to look for more out & upcoming
Endless Horizon Pirate Stories
Justified Treason
Justified Treason
Tarnished Persuasion
Wicked Rose
Gunpowder & Gold
*Honorable Betrayal
X
Uncharted Secrets
Uncharted Secrets
Queen Of My Nightmare
Every Time It Rains
Never Surrender
*Relentless Storm
X
Tales Of A Navigator
The Only Life For Me
Bloodstained Blade
Tale Of A Traveler
*Two Days From Tortuga
*Upcoming
EndlessHorizonDesigns.com
PIRATE STORIES ARE ENDLESS LIKE THE HORIZON
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
My name is Cristi Taijeron (Better known by the pirates as Ivey Taijeron) Other than writing pirate stories, I’m a stay home mother who also does the bookkeeping at the auto shop my husband and I own. I enjoy off-road adventures through the desert as much as I love building sandcastles at the beach, and at home I have a flower garden I tend to. Though I have been passionate about drawing, painting, and writing for most of my life, it has always been my greatest dream to publish a novel. Inspiration is everywhere, and seeking it daily, there is never a dull moment in my world.
To learn more about my inspiration for these stories, along with more information on the history of pirates, please visit:
facebook.com/EndlessHorizonPirateStories
EndlessHorizonDesigns.com
Brighten Your Horizons
Tarnished Persuasion (Justified Treason, Book 2): Endless Horizon Pirate Stories Page 27
