Page 11 of Paid to the Pirate

The snap of a leather belt made me jump, but no pain followed. He’d only done it to taunt me.

It worked.

“Sir, captain, please,” I begged.

I can stop this. Just tell him the truth. Whatever I was in the past, whatever made him feel he could do this to me, I do not remember.

Stubbornly, I folded my lips between my teeth.

“Your new lady act has you begging sweeter than you ever begged before. Excellent. I’m going to punish you harder than I ever punished you before.”

My stomach dropped at his promise.

Colt leaned down, his warm breath against my ear. “Let’s see what other sounds we can wring from your lips, shall we? Let’s hear you scream, Miss Charlotte. Your screams will be a balm to my soul.”

I shivered. He noticed.

Still against my ear, Colt whispered, “Scared? I’ll give you one last chance. If you’re ready to talk, I’ll untie you. We can sit at the table and if I’m satisfied with what I hear, I’ll reconsider your punishment. This is the last opportunity I’m going to give you. Think carefully. Once I start your belting, no prayers will make me stop.”

A storm of emotions rose and clashed within me. Fear from his threat, from the imminent pain. Rage from him wielding superior power and strength over me. Fury at my helplessness under it. And still that strangewarmthtingling in my lower half.

Colt’s lips were close enough they almost brushed my ear. I noticed, with alarm, that new, tingly sensation was in my breasts, too.

All I had to do was submit to a child’s punishment and this would all be over, I reasoned. I would win. I could continue my charade and use my time aboard this Godforsaken ship to learn their pirate ways and bring them down.

Bravely, I pursed my lips again.

Colt’s breathy chuckle tickled my neck. “Think you’ve won?” he taunted, almost reading my mind. “I was hoping you’d defy me. For two years I’ve been fantasizing about striping your arse. You’re giving me exactly what I want. And when I’m through with you, you’ll be begging to tell me anything I ask.”

I gulped as Colt rose.

The first blow of the belt came quickly and stung enough to make me reconsider everything. Like a branding iron, a line of fire erupted across the full center of my backside, making me yelp. The room melted away. Colt commanded my full attention as I braced for another lash.

It came, followed by a third so quickly the pain of the second hadn’t even fully set in. I threw my head back, pulling desperately at my tied wrists.

Living up to his name, the fourth and fifth lashes landed cruelly on my thighs, wrapping around to my delicate inner-flesh and making me wail. Instinctively, I snapped my legs shut.

“Get those legs spread, now,” Colt growled. “Or I’ll tie them apart and call every man on this ship to watch.”

Whimpering, I spread my legs wider than before. The act called to my attention something… sticky… between my thighs. For a horrified moment, I wondered if I’d wet myself. And then, with a flash of terror, I thought the blackhearted pirate had drawn blood. But neither of those substances felt quite right. There had been no urge to relieve myself and I didn’tfeelinjured in the crevice between my legs. In fact, a sort of hungry ache began.

Another cruel blow struck and more tears welled.

Below, I was curiously inflamed. As if engorged and needing something or someone to touch the throbbing area to relieve the swelling.

Another blow struck where my rear met the tops of my thighs and I jumped as far as the restraints allowed. Instead of giving a moment for the pain to settle, Colt belted me once on each thigh again.

“Please, not there!” I cried. Frantic, I tried scrambling up onto the bed to avoid the punishing snap of leather, but Colt’s strong hands found my back, pressing me into the mattress.

“Stay down, girl,” he commanded. “Back into position. Legs wide.”

Whimpering, I obeyed, offering Colt the area he wanted to punish. A maelstrom of confusing emotions raged within.

“You have the power, Charlotte,” Colt said, low and controlled. “You can end your punishment any time you want. Just tell me the truth about that night and tell me where it is.”

I don’t know where it is!I thought, frantically.I don’t have the power.

“Do you feel like a lady now?” he taunted. “On your knees with your slip around your waist?”

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