Page 43 of Paid to the Pirate

I didn’t want to think about how many women he might have brought to pleasure like this, it made me insane with jealousy.

When my thrashing increased, his tongue-lashing matched my pace, driving me higher. I bucked frantically in his mouth. I prayed to the Lord Colt wouldn’t stop, though I didn’t think the Lord answered a harlot’s prayers, and certainly not in askance of sin.

With no other option, I prayed to Colt.

“Please, don’t stop. I’m begging you. Don’t stop.”

The god before me listened to my prayers. He kept going until I broke against his lips, coming apart with frenzied cries as if I spoke in tongues. Perhaps I did.This is no god,I reminded myself. The devil had me in his mouth. So what demonic spirits had seized my wanton soul in such a wicked state?

I’d never known pleasure could be like this. A fear, matching the joy in size, crept into my heart. As I came down from the heights of bliss, that fear spread throughout my limbs, causing a fight or flight response.

I couldn’t fall for a man like Colt; couldn’t allow him these trespasses upon my body. I couldn’t take down all his shipmates on my own, either. Not without poison, at least. Which meant I had to flee. Because I was in danger of losing worse than the flesh from my back or even my life.

I might lose my soul. To the devil between my legs.

What happened in our past that makes you sorry now?

Perhaps Colt had done these wicked things to me -- or at least attempted to -- throughout my time on his ship. I must not have been responsive then. At least, not to this extent. And he was sorry for his attempts, I reasoned, because they were likely forceful. Maybe, one night, they’d gone too far.

Who knows how much further we’d go if I continued on this path?

Nassau,I vowed.When we dock, I’ll find escape.

Chapter 22

Charlotte

“Land ahead!” came the shout from one of the watch crew. I hurried to the railing but as we sailed closer, I couldn’t see the comfort of civilization anywhere. Where were all the buildings, the people? Nothing met my gaze but pristine beaches and swaying palms under a cloudless sky.

I heard Colt approach behind me. “Captain,” I said, both dismayed and alarmed, “where is the town?”

“About five miles north and around that bend,” Colt replied.

At my quizzical look, he explained, “We drop anchor here first. Wash up in the cove. Sober up, if needed, as the men ready for the first roaring night at port. Conks gives the crew a last-minute talking to, we take a secondary count of our stores-” Colt frowned and scrubbed a hand down his face. “Now you’ve got me talking as if your act is real. You know all this, Charlotte. Let’s resume your little game when I don’t have my hands full,” he said, giving me a chiding look and quickly departing to manage the men.

I remained aboard for most of the day, while the crew took turns in the jolly boat, rowing out to bathe in a secluded cove. Returning to deck they stripped again and hung wet, recently washed clothing out to dry.

I couldn’t imagine this practice to be common amongst pirates. It was as if Colt wanted to make a good impression upon docking.

He’s a fastidious captain indeed.

Sometime in the late afternoon, Colt took my arm and announced, “It’s our turn.”

“Turn for what?” I asked.

He cocked that devilish, one-sided grin. “To bathe, my lady.”

I gulped but had no choice but to follow Colt down the ladder and into the awaiting jolly boat. When I reached the last few steps, he clasped my waist, lifted and deposited me on a bench. Wincing at the pain in his arm, he asked Conks and Johnson to come along to assist in the rowing, yet the captain stubbornly tried helping with his good arm. I sat playing with my skirt and trying not to steal glances at Colt’s muscles as they moved in his arms with the rhythm of his strokes.

“Why the cleansing ritual?” I asked, as we headed toward the cove. “Why not storm the town dirty and bloody and strike fear into the hearts of everyone who crosses your path?”

“Are we back to your game, Charlotte?” Colt asked, raising his eyebrows.

I didn’t answer and he shrugged.

“Men at sea forget themselves, forget they’re even men. I’ve found that taking a day to remind them helps bridge the gap between the wilds of these waters and the customs of town. Long ago, when we docked, their energies spiked too high. Fights broke out, theft ran rampant, women were not treated in a civilized manner. Maurice wasn’t a help in-” Colt cut himself off at the mention of the man I supposedly murdered.

I didn’t do it,I wanted to shout.

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