Page 94 of Paid to the Pirate

A gift?

Slowly (Timidly, I wondered?) Colt produced a small box from his waistcoat.

I stepped back as if the thing could injure me.

“I want nothing you have to offer,” I replied. “Except my freedom or your death. Preferably, both.”

Colt’s nostrils flared. He held the box aloft. My refusal to take it spurred his anger and he opened it himself.

Curiosity got the better of me and I peeked down to see the box contained a pretty gold locket.

Raising the necklace, Colt declared, “I bought this for you in port. It’s engraved with your name on the back. See? Charlotte,” he said, turning it to show me. Colt approached, fumbling with the necklace clasp. “I want you to wear it.”

I snorted and stepped back again, this time hitting the wall. “And I want you to shove it up your arse but I have about the same odds of that happening as you do of putting that thing on me.”

“Why are you so obstinate, Charlie? It’s agift.I wanted to do something to make you feel better about… what happened,” he said vaguely, and I knew he meant my mother.

I could tell I’d wounded Colt’s pride and that pleased me greatly. He had no right to speak of my fatherormy mother, let alone to purchase baubles in an attempt to soothe my pain.

“It’s a horrid, ugly thing, as horrid and ugly as you.” I smiled with venom, though neither statement was true. The necklace was stunning and Colt… I had to admit the cruel captain possessed an equally cruel beauty.

“You will put this necklace on right now,” Colt insisted, now thoroughly insulted. “If you fight me, I will strip your clothing first and then put it on. Are we clear?”

I huffed, knowing he meant it. When Colt came closer, I hung my head in defeat. Deft, surprisingly gentle fingers brushed my neck as he fastened the necklace. The gold oval hung nearly to my breasts.

When I next looked upon the captain, he bore a strange expression. Maybe he simply gazed upon the necklace with appreciation. But it felt as if he gazed upon me, with… affection?Attraction?

The emotion in his eyes frightened me enough that I ducked past the captain and fumbled at his table, grabbing the best weapon I could find -- a knife.

Was I overreacting? Or had he been wanting to… touch me?

Why was he making me wear a locket anyway?

“Don’t come near me,” I commanded, raising the sharp knife. “I’ll cut you!”

Perplexed and annoyed, Colt advanced.

He was in for a surprise if he thought I wouldn’t do it.

Colt raised one hand to grab me and I slashed it right across the palm.

Immediate panic set in.Stupid Charlotte. Would he wrest the knife from my hand and cut me in retaliation?

Blinking, Colt looked down at his hand. Wild eyes returned to my face and he charged. I had nowhere to go but scurried until my back was against the wall. Colt grabbed my wrist and squeezed, forcing me to drop the knife. He was so close our breath mingled as we both panted. I didn’t feel much better with the blade on the floor. Colt could kill me with his bare hands.One of which I’d just bloodied.

The captain seized my necklace and I flinched at the unexpected move. With his good hand, he thumbed the locket open. Transfixed in terror, I watched as Colt brought his other hand to the necklace and fisted it. Blood dripped from his cut into the open locket. Smearing it to the edges for good measure, he clasped the oval shut and let it fall back against my flesh, where some extra blood stained my skin.

“Let this serve as a reminder. You will wear this locket around your neck for the rest of your life. You will never take it off. If I see you without it, I will strip all your clothing and this necklace will be theonlything you’re allowed to wear.”

Colt’s thumb traced the golden locket, as if sealing in his words.

“You’ll wear the blood you drew. And if you ever try to draw my blood again, I will draw yours, and I’ll repay it tenfold.”

Colt backed away, but it was as if a piece of him remained. The gold oval fell heavy upon my chest, like a collar that would not be ignored.

#

The next week, my escape plan began to grow.

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