Page 53 of Paid to the Pirate

Footsteps sounded in the hall outside the bedroom and my stomach dropped so sharply I doubled over in pain. Eyes glued to that ominous door, I waited.

The door handle turned, creaking.

The door opened, scraping the floor with a high pitch, like a squeal of warning.

I gasped to see Colt, then blinked several times to make sure it wasn’t a mirage.

What is he doing here?

My heart stopped beating at the sight of my monster standing in the doorway. He was practically tall enough to hit the low frame and he emanated so much danger it seemed to fill the room as a palpable threat. He advanced and the world around faded as I heard only my panting and theclopof his boots as he stomped across the wooden floor. We moved in tandem as we always did, him stalking toward me causing my accompanying retreat with each step, sweating and shaking until my back hit the wall. I felt as if every fiber in my body hummed as Colt neared close enough to touch.

I’d angered him -- that was easy enough to read in his face. But his eyes were wild with something else too. Hunger? Colt’s presence was like a sea storm, summoning energy to its core and channeling it outward for others to tremble at the force. With hands bound and mouth gagged, I was just as helpless as a jolly boat at the mercy of a mighty squall.

Forced to gaze upwards to meet his eyes, I gulped.

What are you going to do to me?I asked silently, blinking in terror.

Colt didn’t answer the unspoken question.

I thought he’d unleash a barrage of insults, admonishments, or at the very least jests at my expense. That he said nothing only frightened me more.

His eyes lowered, roving my chest. My jumbled thoughts flew so quickly around my head it was impossible to hold onto just one, though I kept repeating,what are you doing here?

With a quick, firm yank, Colt tore my dress downward, baring my breasts to his greedy gaze and to his bold hands, which quickly cupped them. My initial squeal at the exposure morphed into a moan I couldn’t stop and I prayed sounded too muffled to be deciphered beneath the gag. But I couldn’t hide my hardened peaks and the fluttering of my eyelids in ecstasy. I hated that Colt’s hands felt so right as they stroked my breasts and teased my nipples. I hated that he felt free to do it. I hated that Ilikedthat he felt that way.

Not your mouth,I silently begged. But I arched into Colt’s strong hands, begging the opposite. I told myself rising passion was just an unintended consequence of relief that some random scoundrel hadn’t come to defile me. But that couldn’t be true because wasn’t having Colt appear in this roomworse?

Colt’s grin was diabolical as he asked, “What have you gotten yourself into this time, Charlotte?”

To allow my answer, he ripped the gag from my mouth and I worked my jaw before gasping, “What are you doing here?”

“Didn’t I just ask you the same?”

I licked my lips, looking around nervously. “I - I tried to escape. I thought I could hide…”

“In a brothel,” he concluded.

Eyes downcast, I admitted, “Yes. Can you take me back to the ship, please?”

There was a pause and then Colt uttered one ominous word.

“After.”

I looked up to see his black eyes burning.

“After?” I echoed.

“After you fulfill your purpose here,” he said, taking my breast in his hand once more. “After I get what I paid for.”

“You… you… paid for me?”

Colt brought his lips to my nipple, muttering, “Mm-hm.”

I hadn’t the strength not to moan, but I made myself step back. Colt’s eyes narrowed, looking at me with almost boyish displeasure and impishness.

“No more games, Charlotte,” Colt warned. “It’s time to earn your fee.”

With a pounding heart, I wondered -- what did that mean, exactly?

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