Page 29 of Paid to the Pirate

What choice did I have?

The crew would have noticed her soon enough in that cramped tavern. And I couldn’t let her go. My fingers twitched as if I could grasp her at that moment.Couldn’t.

No, it was better to take her under my protection. But even I couldn’t shield her forever against a majority vote to lash the truth from her.

I tossed back a swig of the reserve rum I kept in my cabin, then poured and drank another.

I needed to convince Charlotte to tell the truth, not just for me but to save herself. Yet I had no wits about me when she was in my presence -- never had.

I snorted to myself as I thought,maybe it’s better to simply allow her plan to unfold. Clearly, she has one. And it seems to involve allowing me to do as I please to her body.

I laughed, spurred by lewd imaginings and rum. Letting Charlotte win didn’t feel like losing.

Not if it ended with my cock sheathed inside her wet and willing cunt.

Chapter 17

Charlotte

Icould not confess to that which I did not know.

I’d tossed and turned in the brig’s hammock all night, formulating a plan.

I had two hopes for escaping the lash and it would be best to employ both, I reasoned. One, I needed to learn more about the events of that fateful evening so that I could somehow begin to piece together the truth, and two, I needed to escape once we docked in Nassau.

There wasn’t much I could do to prepare for the latter until we reached port. But if I could speak with Miguel privately, I thought, I could begin uncovering information about my past.

Figuring out a way to bring down Colt’s piracy from the inside would need to play second fiddle to ensuring my own safety. I came first, after all, and there wasn’t much I could do to tear him down if they’d already torn the skin from my back.

A terrible shiver ran through me at the thought.

Focusing on my plan, I spent the morning above deck but feigned lightheadedness from the sun by midday. Retreating to the shade below, I took my first opportunity to slip into the galley unnoticed.

Miguel was arranging pickled vegetables when I arrived and looked up with alarm, but shortly thereafter a warmth softened his gaze.

I knew it. We’d meant something to each other in the past; been friends perhaps. He was a weak link on which I could apply pressure to snap, but only because he cared for me.

I wish the same could be said for Captain Colt,I thought wryly.

“Miguel,” I greeted him smiling, helping myself to an open chair. I wanted to work quickly in case Conks came sniffing about and I wanted to position myself below Miguel, to look up at him with the best doe eyes I could manage. I placed my hands demurely on my lap.

Miguel roared with laughter. It was a side of him I hadn’t seen and I jumped at the sound. For the first time, I noticed he had the most adorable dimples if he smiled widely enough.

“I’ve spent too many nights watching over you not to know your tricks, Charlotte.”

My mouth dropped, affronted, but it only made him laugh harder.

Miguel set aside the vegetables and took a seat across from me, offering the bashful smile I remembered from our first meeting. “I’m sorry to speak so bluntly and I didn’t mean to give offense. I just want you to know you don’t need to put on your lady act -- or any other -- here with me.”

Relaxing into my chair, I nodded. “Thank you for granting me the permission to speak freely but I assure you, I am a lady.”

Miguel shrugged. “If you say so.”

“Only,” I smoothed a stray hair behind my ear, “I was hoping to get your version of the events that happened -- that Captain Coltbelieveshappened on this ship two years ago.”

“Not this ship,” Miguel corrected. “You know that. We tradedThe Dark BladeforThe Dread Night.”

“Right. Of course. I meant, the events that happened two years ago on that ship.”

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