Page 21 of His Pirate Wife

“Aye,” Miaconceded.

“I’ll not have my wife garner such following as she has. Do youunderstand?”

“Aye, Captain. I’ll return thenecklace.”

“You will, and you’ll fetch me your hairbrush,” he said taking a seat on the chair Mia had used to buckle hershoe.

He saw Mia flinch. “Why?” she asked, her voice cracking. She very well knewwhy.

“I told you to buy things that make you happy. But I also told you not to buy that necklace because you wanted it for the wrong reasons. You chose to mutiny on the matter. Now bring me your hairbrush.” He sat back and brushed at hislap.

“Devin,” Mia whined and stomped herfoot.

“Will I need to a fetch the belt afterwards, Mrs. Winthrop?” he asked and saw her pale as she realized what she’d justdone.

“No,” it was more a plea then ananswer.

“Then fetch your brush, I’m already going to be late leaving,” he said with little compassion now that she was continuing with theresistance.

“Captain, please,” she tried again as she crossed the room and lifted the heavy wooden object from her table. He didn’t miss her eyes going to the case sitting open still or the regret in her expression for having bought it after he’d said no. Facing him again and clutching the brush to her breast with both hands she tried one more time. “Please.”

“Now, Mia,” Devin said as he pointed to the floor before him and then held out his hand. Mia took the three steps needed to reach him and set the brush, hesitantly, in his hand. He pointed again to the floor in front of him, this time splaying his knees so she could stand between them. She whimpered knowing he meant to be rather serious if he meant to keep her between his legs, but she stepped to and sank down enough Devin could ease herover.

“Devin please, I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. I wasn’t thinking about it that way,” Mia tried as he lifted her skirts and pulled the ribbon holding her drawersclosed.

“Do we need to speak to truthfulness too, Mia? That is exactly how you thought of it,” he said as he moved his right leg enough to allow Mia’s drawers to slip to her knees, then past. “You saw that thing in the shop window and it was your only thought. Wasn’tit?”

Mia’s answer was a loud wail which he took as confession. Shifting her forward a little more so her ass was high and center over his thigh, he clamped his other leg against both of hers and lifted the brush. “I didn’t wed a woman who is spiteful. I didn’t wed a braggart. I won’t let the woman I wed, who has beenperfectfrom the first moment, become the very kind of woman she despisesherself.”

Like the stroke of the brush, his scolding hurt her and Mia’s keening wail grew like a wave. And like a wave it broke hard and loud when he brought the wood down on her flesh. Lifting, he waited for the color to raise up before he brought it down again. Mia yelled and arched her back. The third blow had her trying to push off his lap and she made to reach back with the fourth. Devin captured her hand and pinning it to her side, pulled her closer to hisbody.

The brush was rather wide and covered a good portion of each cheek with every stroke. That Devin was putting some force behind each swing was evident as the bloom of red didn’t fade. He landed the next and Mia’s struggles became more desperate. Clamping his legs together he held her in place through the next six and by wrapping his left arm more securely around her he kept her still for eight more. After that Mia went limp. Sobbing and gasping for breath between each following crack of the brush. By the time he reached a count of thirty, Mia was spent. Her ass was red and bruising from her hip to the top of her thighs. Reaching down with his left hand, he took hold of her neck and forced her forward a little more, putting her thighs in the targetarea.

“You will not stomp at me, Mia,” he said as he transferred the brush to his left hand and brought his right palm down on the back of her legs twelve times. Those were more for posterity. He’d not fetched a strap, but he’d not left her free of consequences, and she’d rememberthat.

Drawing his legs apart he pulled Mia back until she knelt between them. Her sobbing was intense and if he’d not held her up she’d have lain down on the floor to have them out. It was an unfortunate moment to hear Mr. Hong call out the coach was waiting. Devin might have left this go until tonight, but he’d felt it important not to send Mia any message she might take as approval. Standing, he stepped around her and pulled her to her feet then swung her up into hisarms.

“Haul in your sheets, pirate,” he said as he set her on the bed and drew a blanket over her. “It is quite done now. Take back the necklace and we’ll be back on course in safe waters.” Kneeling beside the bed, he brushed back her hair, then used his thumb to wipe at the tears. This tide wouldn’t be as easy to stem. Mia was having a rather good cry. Reaching into his pocket he withdrew the handkerchief before she could think to start using the bedding. Dabbing at her cheek he made to wipe her nose only to have her turn into the pillow. “Mia?” Nothing but her continued sobbing. With a sigh he forced the handkerchief into her hand then stood. Bending, he placed a kiss on her head before heading for thedoor.

This would be the first time he’d left her on her own after any such discipline and it certainly didn’t feel right to do it, but as Hong called again, he gritted his teeth and made his way out. Perhaps he’d be able to finish by lunch and come back to her. But his distraction put him behind on several tasks. Enough that the commandant took notice and asked him about it. He was about to beg pardon and dismiss it as nothing but a small domestic matter when Mia appeared at the end of the hall on Lieutenant Coventon’sarm.

Already having charmed this man, the commandant gave him a knowing smile, a slap on the arm and shaking his head moved away. Coventon started them towards Devin, though Mia seemed a bit resistant. She didn’t usually come to the college, so perhaps that was the reason for herhesitancy.

“I found her pacing about in the quad, Captain,” Coventon announced. “I didn’t think it wise to leave her. Grim has glared at everyone who looked at her. It starting to create a panic. Nothing like a man who could be Polyphemus, son of Poseidon himself, glaring at you while you are about to enter life atsea.”

Devin chuckled even as Mia sniffed and looked up at Jonah in confusion. “Grim has two eyes sir,” she said, clearly not understanding how intimidating her man was. To her, Grim was a soft cushion of support and protection, not in the least frightening. And thinking on it, Devin had never seen Grim angry. Mr. Hong was the one to worry about as Coventon learned firsthand. The small man had tossed the lieutenant to the deck like a rag on their firstencounter.

“He’s no Cyclops, but he’s very much a giant of a man and not one anyone would wish to anger,” Coventon told her with a soft smile. “I need to get back. I was to see to a group of lubbers trying to learn to row in time. I’m sure by now they are turning in circles and dizzy with all of it.” He tipped his head. “Good day Captain, Mrs. Captain,” he said causing Devin to groan. The address usually made Mia giggle. Nottoday.

“What brought you here?” he asked, to get to the point. She’d not so much as spoken to him and her countenance looked far too spiritless. When she only shook her head, he took her arm and pulled her closer. “Mia, tellme.”

She shrugged but whispered, “I sent the necklaceback.”

“All right,” he hedged because he didn’t think Mia really wanted the damn thing, but something was making her melancholy. “Was there something else?” She sniffed and wiped her eyes on her shoulder. Devin pulled her a littlecloser.

“I’m sorry,” she said and sniffed then rubbed her face against hiscoat.

Devin barely refrained from growling at her smearing snot and tears over his uniform. “Mia, long agoforgiven.”

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