Page 83 of Paid to the Pirate

“Punish her for lying!”

“He ain’t no girl. Let’s see the rest of ’im,” Robert demanded, stepping forward as if to pull down his breeches.

I wondered if it was instinct when Charlie cringed toward my chest for protection, as if deciding I was the lesser of two evils.

It was my instinct to protect her. But it was my decision that I become her punisher, as well.

The lesser of two evils.

“I can see with my own eyes, mycaptain’seyes, that this is a girl. And I’ll further confirm it after she’s sufficiently punished back in my cabin. In a manner befitting her status as a woman,” I said, feeling Charlie shudder against me.

“Punish her for stealing!”

“I wasn’t stealing,” Charlie whimpered. “I just needed to change my soiled… rags.” She turned her head down, clearly embarrassed and scared.

Good. How dare she lie to us for almost two years? Make a bloody fool of my captaincy?

A girl. Charlie is a girl.

“Punish her, captain!” the crew cried, echoing the desire rising in my chest. We wanted the same thing, I just wanted it in a manner I had difficulty sorting out as I mentally shifted from thinking of Charlie as a boy, to seeing her as the girl she was.

There was another emotion I didn’t want to admit.

Relief.

How many times had I stared long at Charlie with a fondness other than friendly? Other than one of mentorship and protectiveness, just like any other member of my crew? How many times had I questioned things about myself for my attraction to a boy?

Could this even be real? Or was she some mystery of the sea? A siren or enchantress?

Still forced on display, Charlie sobbed, and I spared some pity. Using my dirk, I cut her ropes, quickly shrugged out of my coat, and covered her.

“Colt.” Maurice’s voice was a caution, a warning.

“I’ve got it under control,” I dismissed. I looked over my shoulder to see him standing above everyone, surveying the chaos.Allowing it.The bloodthirsty side of Maurice had likely given Robert the permission he needed. Maybe this was another of Maurice’s games, pitting Robert and I against each other or using Robert to test me. Perhaps the men would be stirred to replace me if this didn’t play out in my favor. Robert was always nipping at my heels to take my place as captain.

Devil’s bones.Now was not the time to lose control of the crew. Not when I now had an errant girl loose on a ship full of men. Maurice would never hurt her in that particular manner -- he had a type of woman and Charlie wasn’t it. But he wouldn’t protect her either. Besides, Maurice loved a good whipping.

I braced for an argument, but eyes locked, Maurice gave a dip of his head in something between permission and agreement. I was a little surprised that he didn’t encourage the bloodlust of the crew, but I knew he had his reasons. Maurice did nothing without good reason.

No time to speculate on it now.

“Who are you?” I growled, turning back to Charlie.

“I’m Charlie!” she foolishly insisted. As if her breasts hadn’t been in plain view seconds before.

My hand rose high in the air, a threat to strike, and Charlie cringed in anticipation. “Lie to me again and see what happens. For the last time, who are you?”

“I – I’m Charlotte Clarke. Daughter of Edmund Clarke, the man you slew in his own home!” she cried the words with a wrath I could practically feel coming off her in waves, as if she’d waited years to declare them with her true tongue.

“How old are you, really?”

“Eighteen,” she whispered.

A girl of eighteen, passing as a boy of sixteen. She’d been scrawny enough to look fourteen when we found her. Eighteen. Jesus. Just coming into womanhood and finding it harder to hide her distinction aboard a ship full of men.

A woman with a mere few years of difference between our ages. Old enough to marry, to bear children.

With me,came the unexpected and desirous thought.

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