PIRATE’S REVENGE (PT 7)
Finally she stilled. Alex pulled himself from her, moving backwards to fix his trousers, his eyes taking in how sensual she looked, the only clothing she wore being the corset at her waist and the pushed down cotton shirt, her wonderful body causing him to feel himself harden again as he groaned gently.
“What you do to me”, he whispered, his eyes holding hers, as she stared back at him. Her confusion at what had just happened was obvious, her colour heightened by the intensity of what had transpired, her lips so red and swollen from his mouth. With small noise of pain she took in her appearance, and dropped down to pull the skirt back over her legs, quickly redoing it. Fixing the top, she whimpered with embarrassment that her still-tight nipples pushed through the material, still showing her body’s state of arousal.
Finally dressed, she took deep calming breaths until her body stopped shaking. Only did she looked back up to him, Alex seeing as the shutters came down on her eyes as she stared steadily back at him, a calmness within which belied the way her heart pounded so hard within her chest. “It would seem that I have little choice”, her voice husky but cold.
With a frown Alex made to move back towards her, a loud banging on the door halting him, his brow creasing in a scowl. “What!”, his frustration obvious in the one word.
“Captain, captain…You’re needed up top” the voice of one of his crew returned, a small expletive leaving him. Pausing, his eyes took in the way her eyes followed his every move, before he grabbed his belts, reattaching them to his waist and around his chest, moving to the door.
“We will continue this later”, he bit out, his voice controlled, before leaving the cabin once more. The sound of the key being turned signaled that she was once more alone, imprisoned in his quarters, her whole body in turmoil as to what had just happened between them. With her back still against the hull, she slowly sank down to the floor, her arms moving around her legs as she hugged herself, her feelings in complete disarray and turmoil. This man, this cruel and handsome stranger was slowly tearing her apart, and for once in her well-ordered and controlled life, she had not the ability to stop the way he seemed to be able to entice from her such passions. Dropping her head against her knees she moaned with real pain “Help me…Oh dear Lord help me” she.
After nearly an hour Elizabeth heard the door once more being opened, and to her surprise, the cabin boy from the previous evening entered, smiling shyly at the woman who now sat reading on one of the couches. “G’day Miss”, he said respectfully, moving into the area, struggling as he carried a large basin full of water.
“Cap’n said you would like these”, he grinned, placing the basin on the table along with what appeared to be soap and hair cleanser along with washing and drying cloths. Unable to hold back the small sound of pleasure, she moved closer as the cabin boy bowed respectfully and once more left the room. To her surprise she realised that it was not sea water, but fresh and that the water was not cold but tepid, having been partially heated.
Another knock on the door saw two more of the pirates moving into the room, carrying what she quickly realised was one of her trunks, Elizabeth only able to stare in surprise, flushing seeing how the two men stared back at her, their eyes travelling over her in a most unpleasant manner. As they left she once more heard the door being locked, the sound this time filling her with a sense of security as she shuddered at the way the men had watched her, their lewd thoughts unmistakable.
Looking back at the basin she felt herself smiling at the thought of being able to wash, and quickly she pulled the servant’s clothes off, using the soap and cloths to cleanse herself, luxuriating in the feel of the water bringing life back to her body. Once she finished she then washed her long hair. Unlike many Elizabeth always enjoyed the way washing would make her whole being tingle with freshness, and she frowned at the consideration of the Pirate captain. He was, she knew, manipulative and ruthless, yet he had shown many moments of kindness in his treatment of her, along with removing Maria from the danger posed by his own men, her mind in turmoil once more with this man. She could understand his anger towards her family. He had been treated in the cruelest manner imaginable, but she could not ignore that he had chosen a life so terrible, although frowning she briefly wondered how many opportunities at that point had actually been open to him.
With a small sad smile she remembered Queenie. Her whole life, while given every luxury afforded to a lady of her status, she had never been shown real kindness or love. Queenie had been the one exception and she had loved the little dog with all her heart. Making the decision to give her away to save her life was one of the hardest she ever had to make, and it had been this man who gave her that small time of happiness.
Swathed in the drying cloth, Elizabeth opened her trunk, pulling from it one of her day-gowns along with undergarments. The feel of them was comforting, their familiarity pleasant to her. Her mind once more returned to earlier and the frantic lovemaking that had gone on against the wall, her face flushing with shame at her own behaviour as she groaned with the way her body jumped once more to attention at the memory of it.
“You are turning into a wanton whore”, she hissed angrily at herself, pulling the clothes on and brushing out her long thick hair allowing it to dry, before pulling it into a more appropriate style away from her face, securing it with ornate pins. Finally dressed, she once more took a seat, her spirits greatly raised as she continued to read.
After a short time, there was a small rap on the door before it opened as the same cabin boy entered, this time Elizabeth smiling at him. “What is your name?”, she asked, seeing the look of surprise in the young man’s face, as he flushed beet-red “It…It is Jim Miss”, he stuttered, staring at the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his young life, before quickly cleaning away the table and placing cutlery there.
“Cap’n says he will join you for breakfast”, he whispered shyly before picking up the basin and once more leaving the room.
At the news that he was to join her, Elizabeth felt her heart beat faster, her pulse racing with the knowledge. She admonished herself, totally confused with how she reacted so physically to just the thought of this man’s presence.
Soon the boy once more returned, smiling as Elizabeth greeted him kindly, moving to help take some of the food that he was balancing precariously on an oversized tray. He looked at her, his eyes betraying the infatuation he already felt for the woman, as he blushed, his smile wide and genuine. Only after she had thrown him a return one which lit up her wonderful features had she become aware of the other man who silently entered the room. The cabin boy had been flustered seeing the captain, quickly nodding his head respectfully as he moved quickly out of the door.
Alex Hunter looked at Elizabeth, a small grin on his features. “I think that my boy is already half in love with you”, he chuckled, as she flushed with embarrassment, not used to such talk.
“He seems a very pleasant young man”, she returned before adding more stiffly, “For a pirate”, seeing as his mouth quirked before he nodded. “Yes for a pirate, because as you know all us pirates are backward, cutthroat killers”
She moved towards the seat which he held open for her, before ensuring that her chair was pushed in and seating himself. “Your words, not mine”, she replied, hearing the small chuckle from him. “So spiky Elizabeth, and I hoped to soften you up with the clothes”
Trying hard to hide the small laugh which rose to her mouth she flicked a look at him, once more feeling the rush of desire filling her just seeing him seated before her. “Well for that I would like to thank you”, she replied softly, “And for the water too”
He looked over at her, his eyebrows raised. “Well in fairness that was as much for my benefit as yours. Having someone who smelled as pretty as you makes for a very pleasant change on this ship”
Elizabeth felt herself grin widely, and Alex was once again reminded how that smile could light up her whole face, making it almost shine. “Ah…well then, I withdraw my thanks”, she chuckled before becoming more serious. “Thank you for releasing Maria”
His face too became more sombre. “Lizzie…I do not like to see women mistreated…and while I try my best to ensure their safety, there are members of my crew who are…not so bothered. In here you are safe, where I can keep an eye on you, but for her I could not be sure of that same protection…Therefore, it was the right thing to do”
She nodded, once more looking over at him as he cut up fruit for them. She frowned gently, once more confused by this man, as he raised his eyes catching her look. “I do not understand you”, she finally managed, seeing as he gave a small smile “What is a man like you doing as captain on a pirate ship?”
She watched as he looked back at her, his hand stilled, his eyes colder as old memories returned to him. “After your father left me bleeding in a trench, I was helped by some sailors, who offered me the chance at a new life, the chance to sail the world. I signed up…not realising how hard a life it actually was. I learnt the skills for running a ship, and was in the admiralty for nearly five years. When our ship was nearly destroyed in a storm we only just made it to harbour in the Orient”
His eyes softened, the anger melting away at this memory. “When I got there Lizzie I was so full of hatred for what happened and how my life turned out, but I spent 3 years there, learning a great deal about myself, and learning that perhaps my life was not so bad after all. I gained the opportunity to see places that I never would have if I remained at Hunter Estate…some pretty wonderful things”
Elizabeth smiled gently back at him as he continued “However, it was time to go, and the only ship leaving I soon learnt was a pirate ship, but only after I had joined the crew. With my previous skills I was soon second in command, and when the captain was killed, I took over, and that as they say is how I came to be captain of a pirate ship”
She looked carefully back at him, sure that there was a lot more to the story than that, remembering how respectful and in fear of him the other pirates seemed to be, but leaving it.
Silence once more fell between them as both started to eat the fruit he carefully placed between them. It was he who eventually spoke. “We will make land by tomorrow evening”, his eyes watching her carefully, seeing how her hand once more started to shake gently.
“Has my father drawn up the paperwork you talked about?” Her voice was almost inaudible, seeing as he nodded softly. “Yes I was there before coming here, and believe me I read it very carefully” With a small chuckle he added, “I did have to make a few alterations to parts he tried to slip in”
Elizabeth gave a small nod, her eyes sadly looking at him. “So it is done, and I am to be married off”
Next installment 17th June
