by Marie Hall
She sniffed and raised her head before sinking him with her words. “Why do you hate me?”
“Mia,” Devin gasped, then moved to roll her to her side and pull her up against him. She stayed stiff in his arms even as he rested her against his shoulder. “I don’t hate you. I didn’t punish you with hate or even anger in my heart or mind.”
“You hate me,” she insisted. “Put me ashore someplace. Please just let me go.”
“Mia, I don’t hate you.” He was lost. After what they shared these last weeks, how could she come to that conclusion? He jostled her a bit so she lay back in the crock of his left arm, but he kept a hand on her hip to keep her sore ass from resting on his lap. “Mia, why did I punish you?”
“Because I’m bad,” she whispered and sniffed.
“No. Why did I spank you, Mia?”
“Because I’m bad,” she insisted.
“No,” he said that with great force. “You’re not bad. Not in any way. Naughty yes, but not bad.” Some of her distress slipped. “And I’m starting to think you only pretend to be a pirate.”
She frowned at him. “I’m not a pirate, or a whore or a brat or a child. You hate me.” She lifted her arm and tried to use her sleeve to wipe at the tears. Devin bumped her hand away and brushed his fingers across her cheeks.
“Mia, I don’t hate you. You’ve been nothing but a lady from the moment we met. Now tell me why I punished you.”
He watched her searching his face for something, perhaps trying to assess how much truth was in what he said. Of course she was a bit of all those things. Pirate, brat… everything. But only if he focused on a singular aspect was she anything but perfect to him, for him. He couldn’t lose her now. And if the only way to make sure she stayed safe was to restrict her behavior and spank her aft raw, he’d do that.
“Mia?”
She dropped her eyes away from his, “Because I… I didn’t… tell you,” she finished, looked up quickly, then away.
“You acted behind my back, Mia. You can’t do that.” He moved again and she rolled into him. She hesitated and her movements were slow but she put her arms around his neck and pulled herself against him. “You can’t act against me, Mia. We can’t sail safely if I set the wheel south but you turn the sails west.” She nodded against his shoulder then sobbed. “Your way was righteous, moral, fast, effective, but wrong. It’s not allowed. We must sail this ship together, Mia.”
She nodded, but sobbed softly. Twice her hold around his neck slipped and her ass hit his lap. Each time she’d cry out and sob more. Devin slipped his arm under her knees and stood. Carrying her to their bunk he dropped her feet to the floor and turned her to face away. Her hands came back to cover her stern, although she didn’t rest them on the twin swells. Devin set his finger at the top button of her gown and leaned forward. “It’s done, Mia. Understand?’
“No,” she said and sniffed.
“It’s done. You’ve been punished. I’m not going to punish you more. This matter is finished. We can let it sink away now.” He worked the row of buttons open and pushed the dress off her shoulders then down past her hips so it pooled at her feet. He left the shift, reaching around to draw back the covers. “You behave and you’ll not experience this again. If you don’t, I’ll treat you to more of the same, worse if your actions command me to.” He took Mia’s elbow and guided her down in the bed. She rolled to her stomach, pulled the pillows under her head and buried her face as he pulled up the blanket and sat down. “Mia?” He waited until she turned those watery eyes towards him. “I don’t hate you. I don’t think I could, no matter how naughty you were.” He brushed away the tears that rolled over her lashes. “I can’t hate you, but I can spank you so you can’t sit for a month if you deserve it. Don’t make me do that, please.”
“No,” she whispered and sniffed, grabbing the loose fabric of her shift, trying to make it reach her nose.
“Mia,” Devin said with a chuckle and crossed the room to his locker. Opening it he retrieved a handkerchief and came back to sit beside her. “Don’t you own any of these?” He handed the cloth to her.
“Aye.” She sniffed and wiped her nose.
“Why don’t you use them?”
“They’re too pretty,” she informed him.
“Of course,” Devin said and set his hand on her back rubbing softly. “Use mine then, at will.” She nodded and closed her eyes. “Rest Mia I’ll bring you a tray when I come below for the night, unless you want me to send someone with one.”
“No,” she sighed.
Devin sat beside her a while longer then went on deck to batten down the ship for the night. He made fast work of it because of the nasty looks he was receiving from the crew. Seems Mia was rather loud about his measured discipline. It didn’t matter. He didn’t believe Mia would rally them to mutiny.
Devin finished seeing to the duty of the ship then stepped inside the closed quarters below the helm. The space was usually used to write messages or pay crew at each port. Devin stashed the items given to him by Smithe before the man shoved off. A small chest containing Mia’s allowance, which he was advised he could keep from her as punishment. He wouldn’t, but he made clear from now on he’d provide for his wife. She’d not get in the habit of turning to her papa when Devin couldn’t or wouldn’t give her something she wanted, but didn’t need. Also included was a lovely box he was told was a wedding gift, but he was warned not to open it publicly. That gift remained unknown. The last was a thick packet of papers. An itemized bill of everything Mia owned in her own right. As much as he didn’t want to know, he knew he’d need to in time take stock of Mia’s wealth. But at the moment, he didn’t want to know the value. She was priceless to him. He only needed to keep her safe and hope soon he’d have her away from these waters. As it turned out it, wasn’t soon enough.
Chapter 15
Mia rolled to face the wall and pulled the pillow over her head. It was getting harder and harder to ignore Hong Chin’s constant berating of her. For three days he’d been after her to get up and stop making the captain unhappy. Now he wanted to blame the entire crew’s unhappiness on her.
It wasn’t her fault the weather turned bad and everyone was trapped below deck as the rains and winds continued to hold the ship in place east of Tolfar and the port city there. No one wanted off the ship as much as Mia. Devin’s displeasure regarding her ending Gillmore made its presence known every minute. She wore bruises from the top of her ass to the place where it curved under. Strangely there wasn’t a single mark on her legs. That strap burned like fire, but an hour after he’d finished ranking her stern, her legs ached, but nowhere near the throbbing way her ass did.
She’d not been able to sleep that night either. As exhausted as she’d felt, she lay there waiting to feel a hatred for her husband. With every beat of her heart pain pulsed through and she waited for rage to wash up. But try as she might, nothing more than guilt crashed on shore.
Maybe if he’d said he hated her for what she was she’d be able to hate him back. Only he told her he didn’t even think she was a pirate. In truth, she wasn’t, neither were Papa or the crew. Although she had known for a long time Papa did things, much like she did with the slaver, in an attempt to find the one behind the attack on her childhood home of Hermosa Alma—the attack that killed her mother and infant brother when she was eight.
Mia learned her tactics from him. And she’d employed them as she, too, tried to find the people behind such a cowardly act. He didn’t want her involved, but she needed to do something. That very morning she’d yelled terrible things at her mama. She had accused her of loving the baby boy more. She ran from the house with her mama calling after her, saying she’d send Papa for her if she didn’t come home before dark. But Mia thought then Papa loved the boy more too. He was after all his real child. She’d been sure as she listened to the cannon fire roar over the port that Papa would save them. Papa would save them and not come looking for Mia. She expected he’d take Mama and Ch
arlie and the three of them would sail away. Mia stayed in the groves for two days after the ships fled the harbor. On the second day, Grim found her and carried her home to Papa who was weeping until he saw her. She remembered then how tightly he’d held her. Saying that it was a miracle she was with him. That he’d thought he’d lost her. Mia asked where Charlie and Mama were. But, it’d been Smithe who told her they were in heaven with God. Mia only cried for her mother at the time and still today she sometimes wondered. If the boy had lived, what might have become of her? Papa kept her even though he’d lost Mama and Charlie, even though she wasn’t his. She needed to be the child Papa would’ve had in Charlie. She needed to do as much as a son to help find those responsible. Taking out the slaver was little more than an opportunity that presented itself as many of Mia’s below board activities were. She didn’t seek out such things, neither did she let them pass.
Devin did seem to understand that. He just didn’t approve. At least he didn’t approve of her doing it without consulting him. That was all he said he was punishing her for. He spanked her for acting behind his back. And Mia couldn’t deny she’d done that. A little to confident or maybe not confident enough Devin would allow her to send a crew after Gillmore. Every mark on her skin was his disapproval of her not telling him what she wanted to do, what she could do. And because of that, she felt guilt. Not hate or anger. Guilt. And he only made it worse when he’d hear her crying over it and come to hold her. Telling her everything would get better. He’d sounded much like Papa following Mama’s death. He was trying to help her find peace. All she felt was more guilt. First for wanting him to comfort her and second because she knew she didn’t deserve it. Not any more than she deserved it when Papa gave her comfort. She wasn’t a pirate, but she was bad. She wished her brother gone and it happened. Everyone should hate her. She was bad. She had to do something grand enough to be redeemed. Although Devin’s manner of giving her redemption suited him, Mia didn’t think Papa would consider it just punishment for the loss of his only son.
“All right, Mr. Hong.” Mia looked over her shoulder to see Devin enter the cabin. “Mrs. Winthrop has had enough of you. Go bother Mr. Aimes in the galley. He hasn't had you there all day to tell him how he makes the soup incorrectly,” Devin said, as he carefully set the two buckets of water on the table. Heated water—Mia could see the steam.
“Mia not get up,” Mr. Hong told him, like Devin didn’t know this already. “No good lay in bed. Not happy, all the time sleep.”
“Who says she spends all the time in bed asleep?” Devin said. Hong gasped so loud Mia thought him to be scandalized. “Out with you now. The rain is letting up. We might get underway soon.”
Mr. Hong went out chattering about how husbands shouldn’t show their first wife so much attention or when he tried to take a second there’d be trouble. Not that Devin understood the man. Chinese was one of the harder languages to learn, like Arabic. But Mia had a knack for them. She’d just listen long enough and the words and meanings came to her.
“All right, Mia,” Devin said as he approached the bed. “Time to get up. I don’t think the crew believes you to be living and I’m not sure they aren’t ready to keel haul me for your murder. You’ll get up and wash,” he said and pointed to the buckets, “And you’ll dine with the officers tonight.”
“Devin, no,” Mia cried. “No, I can’t. Devin, I can’t.”
“You can, and you will,” he said yanking the cover from her. She saw him grimace when his eyes fell on her ass, but he’d seen the damage several times already.
“Devin, no. I can’t even sit. Please leave me be.”
“No. You can sit. It might be uncomfortable, but you’ll do it.” He reached out and grabbed her ankles, pulling her legs off the bed, he let go and snagged her arms before she could roll away. When she was sitting up, Devin put pressure on her shoulders. It took a little force, but he finally caused her to hiss in pain. “See, you can sit.”
“On a soft bed, Devin. Not a hard chair.” She didn't resist when he pulled her to her feet and into his embrace.
“We’ll see, Mia mine. We'll see.” His hand brushed down her back and over the curve of her ass. This time when the tender flesh was aggravated with pressure from his hand Mia let a moan slip. The pain pulsed through her differently, causing heat to swirl in her body and her legs to feel weak. Devin wrapped his other arm around her to lend support as he continued to rub and squeeze her ass. “If you're a good girl, Mia,” he spoke against her ear. “We'll try something new tonight.” He rubbed a little harder and Mia squeezed her thighs together to ward off the ache he caused between her legs. “We'll see if we can make Mia happy, aye?”
“Aye, Captain,” she moaned and pushed back into his touch.
“Mia,” he chided and pressed his thumb into a peculiarly tender spot until she hissed and pulled away. “Say my name.”
“Devin,” she whispered and was rewarded with the right kind of touch, the right pain.
“I do love hearing my name on your lips,” he said and kissed her cheek. “Come now or we'll be late for supper.”
“Oh, Devin.” She pouted, but the look on his face propelled her towards the buckets.
The washing felt good and for all of Devin's interruptions it was done before the water cooled. The rain abated and someone kindly, discreetly provided a cushion for her chair, without Devin’s notice. The meal and the company were good. No one spoke of anything more controversial than the weather and fishing in it. And when good nights were had, Mia thought she was ready to leave and spend the evening enjoying whatever her husband had in mind. She thought she was. But what came when Devin closed their cabin door, plunged her into a depth of pleasures and pains she didn't know existed.
Devin closed the door and slid the lock, then turned to see Mia crossing to the table he’d brought in to give her a place for some of her things. It was quite small and being so hastily affixed to the wall it was also crooked. But Mia was competent on a ship and didn’t leave things unsecured. It was where she’d toss things temporarily as she was doing now with the hairpins used to bind up her beautiful tresses.
He watched a moment more before crossing to stand behind her. He said nothing and held his hands still until she turned to look over her shoulder at him. Before she could say anything he reached around, took a fist full of hair in his hand and forced her to turn. Mia yelped, but given how fast the tide of passion rose in her eyes he knew it was surprise more than pain. He pulled her hair more, causing her to gasp, then covered her mouth with his.
Mia’s whimper turned into a moan and her tongue was in his mouth before he could act to invade hers. Mia’s fingers curled into his shoulders and as she often did she pressed her body against his, lifting on her toes as much as she could to align them just right. She was working to direct him, as she often did, and as he usually allowed because he’d been assessing her preferences. But he was reasonably sure he knew what she liked and he knew regardless he could bring her to climax.
Increasing his grip, he jerked Mia’s head back, breaking the kiss. Mia cried out and tried to lean in again. When he tugged her back she paused long enough to catch his expression and the curiosity he saw written on her face only fired his lust more. Any other woman, not being paid, would be crying in fear. His little pirate rose without hesitation to his challenge.
“Mia,” he said her name and seeing the wry smile on her lips knew her answer. She’d be willing to try whatever he might have in mind. Devin didn’t wait. Keeping his hold on her hair he directed her to the large table. Positioning himself behind her he forced her down then pressed up against her. She cried out as he pushed into her tender ass. “Naughty Mia,” he said letting go of her hair to set his hands on either of her hips. “Did you think I wouldn’t notice how you used a cushion tonight?” She gasped and he chuckled. “Such a naughty girl. Sitting on it,” he said while pushing against her ass more, “sets the lesson.” She gasped then groaned and Devin stepped to the side and b
egan gathering up the skirts of her dress. “But I know another way to insure you behave.”
“Captain?” Now he heard a sliver of concern in her voice.
“Ah-ah, Mia,” he warned as he shoved the skirts away, exposing her drawers. “Use my name, Mia.” He slid his fingers between the folds of material and then down the curve of her bottom.
“Devin.” His name came out on the sweetest moan he’d ever heard.
“Such a good girl, Mia,” he told her and pushed two fingers into her. At this for only a few minutes, his wife burned with her need. She was so wet and ready and he’d only begun. Perhaps he needed to take the edge off. He had no intention of rushing through tonight. Placing his left hand between her shoulders to hold her in place he began pumping his fingers in and out of her pussy. Mia flailed a moment, maybe uncertain of what he was doing, but in the next instant she grabbed the table edge so hard her knuckles turned white. Devin added a third finger and pushed in deeper. Three more strokes and Mia’s body clamped down and went stiff. She cried out and slumped over the table, panting.
Devin eased his strokes, but didn’t stop completely. Mia’s satisfied purr reached his ears telling him she was ready to be worked up again. “Stay,” he commanded as he lifted his hand from her back and reached for the ties holding the under garment in place. The flimsy thing fell to the floor and Mia’s entire backside was on display. He eased his fingers from her and set both his palms on her seat. Mia whimpered; she was still quite tender. Given how her sex continued to weep with her want, he didn’t think she disliked his touch. Stroking his hand downward he pressed his thumb into one of the dark marks. Her harsh moan rolled out and she clutched the table edge even as she pushed back into him. “Poor, Mia,” Devin cooed, “you didn’t like getting a spanking,” he said as she shook her head. “But you like this,” he pushed his thumb against the spot again, “don’t you?”