Page 16 of Paid to the Pirate

An idea for another night.

Chapter 10

Charlotte

Ibegan to understand, and I was disgusted with myself.

My own body succumbed to pleasure in a way known only to men. And whores perhaps. But no Godly woman sought such bliss. A lady wasn’t even capable. Was she?

And even if she was (which shewasn’t) a beast of man like Colt couldn’t stir such passion in a woman.

And if he had (which hehadn’t) it wasn’t because of his punishment.

No, no. There must exist some other explanation. An episode of some sort, brought on by pain and terror. The mind, in a desperate attempt to save itself, worked to find pleasure to escape the pain. Obviously.

But why did Istillfeel an ache between my legs?

Why did I have a troubling dream about Colt -- the man I hated -- relieving that ache with those long fingers?

Chapter 11

Charlotte

Reason rose with the sun.

I despised the pirate captain more than ever. Naturally.

I’d have my vengeance when we docked back in Carolina. Maybe I’d be lucky enough to seehimlashed before they hanged him.His strong back bare for my viewing. The corded muscles in his arms straining as he thrashed. His beautiful lips snarling, refusing to cry out.

Those long legs… had a man ever possessed such long legs before?

I shook my head. What was I thinking about?

Ah, yes, whipping. The tables turning and Colt being undermycontrol.

I meant ourcontrol -- the townsfolk.

Yes, he’d be punished according to the law. I’d make sure I was the last thing those chilling, dark eyes saw before they dimmed forever.

A scrape sounded from my left and I bolted upright.

“Did you sleep well, Miss Charlotte?” the man asked, coming into my room and carrying a cup of some kind.Conks,I’d heard him called.

“Very well, thank you,” I lied, jutting my chin. He’d probably heard my screams, but I wasn’t going to admit to anything unless I had to.

“Drink this,” he said gently, sliding the glass through the bars of my cage.

I hesitated.

“It won’t hurt you. It will help with the… discomfort,” he explained.

My face reddened. So, he knew.

“It’s not that,” I protested, looking at my feet. “It’s that I need to… relieve myself. I’m afraid if I drink anything more, I won’t be able to wait any longer and there’s no means to do what I need in this cage.”

“Then we should leave you in there as a lesson,” came the proclamation from the doorway.

Colt.

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