Page 82 of Paid to the Pirate

Oh God, oh God. Could they see in the darkness?

It was a moonless night and the torches glowed far from where we stood.

No one paid too much attention to my body as Robert held up the gauzy bands as proof. “The boy’s a thief, just like I said.”

I was sweating and shaking with fear, hearing the men either grumble in confusion or cheer Robert on. Feeling the air move behind me when Robert stepped back, I cringed. As I braced for unbearable pain, the ship rocked, riding an errant wave. It forced me to stumble backwards, away from the mast as much as the rope allowed.

“Stop.”

Captain Colt’s command sent chills up my spine. I hadn’t even known he’d arrived above deck. I heard the shock in his voice. The crew was behind me, but the captain had arrived from the side.

What had he seen?

Chapter 36

Colt, the past

Iglimpsed the side curvature of a small, milky breast, and blinked, attempting to clear my vision.

Why did Charlie have breasts? Why was he being whipped? And why hadn’t Robert come to me first?

Charlie spun and thrust himself back against the wood, but not before I caught sight of a pert, pink nipple.A supple female breast and nipple.

What the fuck was going on?

I must have gone mad,I thought, storming across the deck and shoving Robert aside.

Had I thought about it rationally, I might have made an attempt to protect any modesty necessary, but I was possessed with disbelief as I spun Charlie forward and tore the remainder of his shirt from his boyish torso.

As I stared at two small, pert breasts, I shook my head, sure I was dreaming.

What the fuck is going on?

With his hands tied high, Charlie whimpered, hiding his face against his shoulder.

Her.Her? Could it really be? Tilting Charlie’s head up by the chin, I gazed at his face, studying the delicate, feminine nose and soft jawline that never failed to catch my attention and confound me. Those long lashes framing wide, hazel eyes and pink, full lips. I turned his -- her -- head left and right, studying Charlie’s fright. He -- she? -- had been rib-thin when we’d taken him, but tall, like a boy. Or was it that Charlie was average height for a boy and unusually tall for a girl?

Jesus. A girl.Her curves stunted from malnourishment or stress, blossoming when fully fed upon our ship.

I released a short laugh at myself. There’d be time later to indulge privately in a longer one and to maybe smash something. I couldn’t decide between humor and rage. She’d fooled me. Fooled us all.

Oh, you lying little wench.

“Punish him for stealing!” someone in the back yelled. “Get on w’ it!”

I realized only those nearest could see the truth and I set my mind, making the cruel decision to continue her exposure.

“Him?” I asked, stepping aside so that the remainder of the crew could see for themselves what I’d glimpsed from the side. Charlie’s arms reflexively tried to cover her chest, but they were tied. She again buried her head against her shoulder. I could hear her crying softly above the stunned silence.

You brought this on yourself,I thought.Would you prefer I kept your secret and let them whip you?

“A girl?” they echoed, scratching their heads.

“It’s her fault for that mess back in Nassau. Bad luck to have a woman aboard!”

“Toss her into the sea!”

“Whip her anyway!”

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