Page 44 of Paid to the Pirate

There was a tense pause between us before he concluded, “Such behavior threatened our welcome in certain establishments. As you’re well aware, my crew has enough of a reputation that we don’t need theatrics of any kind to intimidate anyone into compliance.”

Yes,I thought wryly,I’m not only aware as your reputation preceded you, I’m familiar with your intimidation first-hand.

“You didn’t feel the need to bathe before raiding our settlement,” I pointed out.

“That’s because it was a raid,” Colt said, as if I tested his patience. “Didn’t know if we’d only bloody ourselves further in the process.”

“But in the pirate capital of the world your band of sailing heathens act as civilized men?” I scoffed. “What is it, honor amongst thieves?”

“Flawed as it may be, you’ve always known I find more honor in our democratic world ofheathensthan in that oppressive one of kingly privilege you’re so determined to defend.”

Conks and Johnson, who’d been politely trying to pretend they weren’t listening up until this point, nodded their heads in agreement.

I could tell from Colt’s tone I’d struck a nerve. Head bent, I must have looked shocked or chastised at his temper, because Colt softened and amended, “I concede your point that merchant ships do not feel very honored to have their cargo plundered at the hands of my men. But there’s honorbetweenpirates.”

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Once we reached the shore, Conks and Johnson rowed back while Colt took my hand and led me to the edges of the rocky cove where the men before us had bathed. I’d imagined they simply dipped in the sea and called it cleaning, but I was surprised to find rough wedges of soap and scrubbing brushes scattered about the rocks.

Colt wasted no time in stripping his clothing and jumping into the turquoise water so quickly I didn’t even get a look at his manhood.

Not that I was trying.

Grinning, his head appeared above the surface.

“Your turn, Lady Charlotte,” he commanded.

I clutched the neck of my shirt. It was one thing to be naked in the seclusion of the captain’s cabin, it was another matter entirely under the open sky.

“I’ll stay in the water,” Colt said. “Take off your clothes. Now.”

“I can’t,” I protested, glancing over my shoulder. The cove was hidden from view ofThe Dread Night, and no one seemed likely to happen upon the beach, but that didn’t make it right. “Not here.”

“I can come up there and do it for you.”

“No.”

“It’s safe,” Colt teased. “Sharks tend to stay by the reef out there.”

My eyes bulged and he laughed. I couldn’t tell if he was joking or not -- cruelty was Colt’s currency after all, paving his way forward in this new world. Or repaying in merciless doses those who defied him.

So why hadn’t he simply threatened my life to learn the truth?

Because it’s crueler this way,I argued.To drag it out.

Colt tilted his head, eyebrows raised -- a command. Impossibly, with rivulets of water dripping from his thick, dark hair and down his strong, bare chest, he was even more handsome. Too handsome to trust myself near.

“Strip, Charlotte,” Colt said, his tone alone a warning.

Reluctantly and as slowly as possible, I removed my recently-acquired boots, skirt, and shirt before the setting sun. Standing as bare as the day I was born, I crossed my arms over my chest and made no further move. The water looked shallow enough to stand, but I didn’t want to get into it naked, and not with Colt especially.

“Now jump. Jump or I’ll belt you,” Colt said. He thought a moment, then corrected, “I’ll get your bottom wet andthenI’ll belt it and it will hurt a lot worse.”

I groaned, knowing that option only pleased him more.

When he made a move toward the rocks, I jumped --

-- and screamed as I hit the water.

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