Page 48 of Paid to the Pirate

I’ve never felt a part of anything before. Not like this.

Sadly, the connection began to fade as the spell ended with my singing. And yet, something had irrevocably changed. Something began to forge that wasn’t there before.

When I could sing no more, the men crowded me, congratulating my talent. Some clapped me on the back, as if I were one of them. From the corner of my eye, I noted that Colt hadn’t moved. He sat on the bench like a statue, staring at me with wide eyes.

I felt someone edge close to my body and turned to see Robert the Red amongst my crowd of raucous admirers. My stomach instantly tightened.

“My, my,” Redhands whispered in my ear, “look at what you can do, Charlotte. I can’t wait to hear how prettily you’ll sing under the lash.”

I felt Colt’s protective grip on my arm.God, he was fast.

“Lady Charlotte is tired from the gift of her entertainment this evening,” he announced. “She will retire to my cabin now.”

Colt’s proclamation was met with groans and protests, but he quickly escorted me away from Robert and below deck. Colt didn’t speak a word to me. His jaw remained clenched, his grip on my arm almost painful.

Slamming his cabin door behind us, Colt said, “You’re just full of secrets and surprises, aren’t you?” His lips were inches from mine as he demanded, “What other talents have you hidden from me all these years?”

Taken aback and a little fired up from the rum, I countered, “They are my talents to hide, captain. It is for me to decide what to share and with whom.”

“And what have you shared, Charlotte? Your lips? Your cunt? Answer me!” He squeezed my arm and wild, frantic eyes searched my face. I could smell the rum on his breath too. “You’ve always been a liar, are you a lying whore as well? Do you sing men to sleep at night, fuck them, steal their gold? What have you been doing these past two years?” he shouted, squeezing my arm harder. “I deserve an answer!”

I almost didn’t blame Colt for his anger and confusion, and that scared me more than anything.

“Stop acting as if you own me,” I shouted back. “I am not one of your crew you can command!”

“You are correct, Lady Charlotte,” he said, sneering. “You haven’t the privilege of my crew, you are my captive.”

“Then lock me away!” I cried, hating my helplessness. In an effort to seize back some control, I demanded it before he had the chance. “Put me back in the brig.”

I’ll escape tomorrow, somewhere in town. Forget my plans for justice. I can’t stay on this ship any longer.

“You think I’d shy away from it?” he scoffed. “You think you haven’t earned it?”

I lifted my chin and taunted, “Do it then. I do not wish to stay here tonight. Will you tie me to the bed to keep me? Tell me, if you’re incapable of being without me this night, which of us is truly the captive?”

Colt jerked his head back, eyes full of rage. He opened his mouth to speak, but a knock on the door interrupted us.

Until then, I hadn’t realized how loud we’d been shouting.

“Captain?” Conks’s voice rang out from the other side. “You alright in there?”

“No, we are not,” I proclaimed, lifting my head higher.

A pause, and then, Conksopened the door.I was sure Colt looked incredulous at his crewman’s audacity, but I didn’t spare the captain a look.

Stepping away boldly, I declared, “I would like to sleep in the brig this evening. I think I’ve earned a night of peace.”

“That is not for you to decide,” Colt growled, grabbing my arm and yanking me back to him.

My stomach sank. I had no way to fight the captain and I’d only hoped he wouldn’t protest too much in front of Conks. Clearly, I was mistaken.

“Technically, it’s for the men to decide,” Conks said, rubbing his gray beard. “Do you really want to put it to vote and chance them overruling you?”

Was it true?My chest filled with hope.Colt did say a ship is a democracy and a captain had less exclusive authority than I’d once believed.

“A few songs and she’s enchanted you?” Colt asked in disbelief. “Don’t forget who she is. What she’s capable of.”

“She was capable of saving your life,” Conks pointed out.

---