Tristan (Pirate Lords Series Book 1)

by Elizabeth Rose

  “He did?” she asked, surprised that Tristan would even care.

  “Aye, that’s the truth.”

  “Well, it doesna matter. I never want to see him again.”

  “Ye’re married, lass,” Nairnie reminded her, using the wet end of the tunic to wipe a smudge off Gavina’s face. “This is supposed to be a happy time, but both of ye seem miserable. What is goin’ on?”

  “Tristan doesna want me, Nairnie. All he cares about is this stupid map.” She slapped the back of her shoulder. “I never should have been daft enough to marry a pirate. I should have figured it was goin’ to be a horrible thing.”

  “Then why did ye?” Nairnie bluntly asked her.

  “I had no choice.”

  “Of course ye did. Tristan told ye that ye could stay on the ship and marry him, or he’d drop ye off on land and ye were free to go.”

  “Ye dinna understand, Nairnie. I need at least part of that treasure to buy back my brathair’s freedom.”

  “Oh, I understand more than ye think. Ye both only married each other out of yer own selfish needs.”

  “I’m no’ the one bein’ selfish,” spat Gavina. “I’m only tryin’ to fix my faither’s mistake and be reunited with my little brathair once again. My family.”

  “Tristan is only tryin’ to find the treasure to take care of his crew. His family.”

  “I’m his family now, too, but yet he doesna care about my needs.”

  “I’m sure that’s no’ true.”

  “He is a pirate, Nairnie. He already took back his offer of givin’ me part of the booty. The treasure will be split with his crew and I canna see them willingly handin’ their share over to me since now they ken I am a lass.”

  “Then ye must find another way to save yer brathair.”

  “There is no other way. I need to find that treasure and use it for my own needs. I have to look out for myself, since no one else will.”

  “I will think of a way to help ye, Gavina.” Nairnie seemed confident that she could. “However, in the meantime, ye need to get along with yer new husband. This is no way to start out a marriage.”

  “This isna a marriage, Nairnie. No’ a real one. I dinna belong livin’ on the sea. I feel this ship is naught more than my prison.”

  “Then ye two are goin’ to need to change all that,” she said, getting up and brushing off the apron tied around her skirt.

  “I am one woman aboard a ship of men. How can I change things between me and Tristan?”

  “Give him somethin’ else to think about other than that blasted treasure.”

  “Like what?”

  “Well, for starters, ye can try lookin’ more like his wife instead of his servant boy.” Nairnie made a face and smoothed down a stray tuft of hair on Gavina’s head, surveying her from head to toe. “Blethers, lass, I really have my work cut out for me. I only hope I’m no’ too late.”

  Chapter 11

  Tristan had finally fallen asleep inside the lookout basket letting the swaying and rocking of the ship calm him down. When he awoke it was already late in the day. Golden hues lit up a silver lining of clouds, and reflected off the water. The sea was calm right now, unlike the recent storm. Up here, Tristan was able to control his emotions once again, because his troubles seemed to be far away. He understood now why his brother, Aaron, took such a liking to being up here, away from the crew and the rest of the world. It was peaceful and private, too. Sometimes while living on a ship of men, a little time away from everyone was exactly what was needed. He stretched and yawned, never having meant to take a nap for most of the day. Not having slept after his shift, he was glad he had this time, because it was definitely needed.

  He heard whistles coming from down below and knew it sounded like trouble. Whistling wasn’t allowed on board because it brought about bad luck. Those fools knew it, so what the hell were they thinking?

  He poked his head over the top of the basket and peered down to the deck. In the rays of the setting sun, he saw the most interesting sight.

  A woman in a gown with a wimple covering her hair was strolling across the deck. Nairnie was at her side like a guard dog, equipped with an iron pan and her almighty ladle gripped tightly in her hands. They stopped at the sidewall of the ship and the girl looked over the rail at the sea.

  Still half-asleep, it took Tristan a second to make sense of this. Since there were only two females aboard his ship, the woman with Nairnie had to be his wife. “What the hell is she doing?” he spoke aloud, knowing that parading around dressed like that was only going to cause trouble. His men were already drooling at the mouth.

  He grabbed a hold of the lines and climbed down to the deck as quickly as he could while all the men encircled the women.

  “What’s everyone looking at?” asked Tristan, jumping down to the deck, surveying his crew. He groaned when he noticed his brothers at the front of the group, motioning him over.

  “Tristan, come look at this. You’re never going to believe it,” said Aaron.

  “Aye, it’s amazing,” said Mardon with a wide smile. “I wouldn’t believe it myself if I hadn’t seen it with my own two eyes.”

  “Move aside,” said Tristan to his men, resting his hand atop the hilt of his sword as he made his way toward the women. When he approached, Gavina turned around.

  “Well, hello, Husband. I wondered where ye’d disappeared to.” She removed the wimple, letting it fall to her shoulders, enabling Tristan to see her face.

  “Gavina?” he asked softly, gazing upon one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen. Her face was clean, her cheeks rosy, and her lips red. Her short, cropped hair that had previously stuck out in all directions was now encircled with a headpiece that was entwined with colorful ribbons of yellow, pink, and blue. She wore the blue silk gown with the black velvet bodice that Tristan had made for his sister, Gwen. The gown was too big in the bodice for her but, still, she looked beautiful. The breeze blew her wimple from around her shoulders and it landed at her feet. She quickly reached down to pick it up, causing Tristan’s heart to beat faster. He could see right down that gaping bodice. Her creamy white breasts and those pink little nipples were fully visible and making him grow hard beneath his trews. He would have taken a moment to enjoy the view if all his crew hadn’t been looking, too.

  “Everyone, get back,” he commanded, turning around and waving them away. The men became restless. Tristan heard a few lustful remarks about the girl’s breasts. Gavina didn’t fill out the bodice like most of the women he’d been with, but neither did it matter. She had many beautiful attributes about her and looked stunning dressed like a woman instead of a boy. He glanced over his shoulder and caught Nairnie’s eye, nodding toward Gavina. “I’ll get that, sweetheart,” he said, scooping up her wimple, and throwing it over her shoulders, holding it together in front.

  “That’s for my head,” Gavina told him, as if he were being foolish. “I dinna want to cover up this beautiful gown.” When she pulled the wimple off, the men suddenly got closer.

  “The meal is ready,” announced Nairnie, coming to his rescue. “We’re havin’ chicken and vegetables with a garlic and herbal sauce today as well as biscuits with butter.”

  “We are?” asked Aaron. “Tristan only lets us eat that good on special occasions.”

  “Well, today is a special occasion. We are celebratin’ the marriage of Tristan and Gavina. Besides, it’s the food ye all brought back from the tavern so I thought we’d better eat it before it goes bad.”

  “Aye. Let’s eat,” called out one of the men.

  “I want extra food. I’m starvin’,” said another.

  The men all started running toward the galley, more interested in food right now than Gavina.

  “Wait! Dinna touch that food until I get there,” warned Nairnie. “Anyone who does might be missin’ a few fingers when I’m through with ye.” She banged her ladle against the iron pan to get their attention. “Tristan, ye and Gavina will eat yer meal in yer qu
arters,” said Nairnie. “I’ll have Ramble bring ye yer food. Now go.”

  Tristan was so lost in thought that he almost didn’t hear Nairnie. “What?” he asked, realizing she was giving him an order. “Nay, Nairnie. I’m captain and I’ll eat with the crew. It’s what’s expected of me.”

  “Nay ye willna. Ye’ll eat in yer cabin with yer wife. That is what’s expected of newlyweds,” said Nairnie, her hands going to her hips. “Remember, ye’re no’ just a captain but also a husband now. Spendin’ time with yer new bride is important.”

  “Well I –”

  “I’ll no’ hear another word about it. Now escort yer wife to yer quarters anon.”

  “Biscuits!” shouted Aaron from across the deck. “They’re hot and covered in butter and herbs.”

  “Nay! Dinna touch those biscuits yet. Didna ye hear what I said, Aaron?” Nairnie hurried away, grumbling to herself.

  Gavina stood there looking into Tristan’s eyes, barely breathing. Dressed like a woman, she saw the way he looked at her now and she couldn’t deny that she liked it. Nairnie had helped her to fix her appearance and, for that, she was ever so thankful. Even if Gavina had managed to escape the ship, she would have been all alone. That is one thing that really bothered her. She didn’t want to be alone. What Gavina really wanted was to be around family.

  “Are ye hungry?” she asked shyly.

  “Aye, I’m hungry, but not for food.” His eyes scanned down her body.

  “Och!” She held a hand to her mouth, not expecting him to answer that way. Suddenly, she started to feel very nervous because she knew exactly what he meant. He was talking about consummating their marriage.

  “Shall we go to my cabin?” He put his arm around her shoulders and escorted her to the back of the ship. Opening the cabin door, he let her enter first. When he closed the door behind him, his presence filled the small space making her feel as if she could barely breathe. “I’m . . . sorry about earlier, Gavina,” he said, clearing his throat. The room was dark and he walked over and lit a candle.

  “Me, too,” she said in a half whisper.

  “You look good in that gown.”

  “Thank ye.” She looked down and smoothed out the skirt. “Nairnie suggested I wear it. I must say I like it better than wearin’ the clothes of a boy.”

  “I do, too,” he told her. “Unfortunately, I’m afraid my crew feels the same way.”

  “Well, that’s guid,” she said with a smile. “I want them all to like me.”

  “Oh, they like you. More than you know.”

  She wasn’t sure what that meant, but figured it was a good thing. “This is the gown that Ramble said ye made, right?” Reaching out, she ran her hands over the velvet bodice, down to the silk skirt.

  “Aye,” he admitted, removing his weapon belts and hanging them on a hook.

  “Who did ye make it for?”

  “Why do you want to know?” He kicked off his boots and shoved them under the hanging bed.

  “I guess I would rather no’ wear it if it once belonged to a whore.”

  He chuckled, as if her words amused him. “Nay, I made it from pieces of other clothes we picked up on raids. I had hoped to someday give it to my sister.”

  “Yer sister? Do ye mean the girl named Gwen that Nairnie told me about?”

  “Aye.” He seemed choked up if she wasn’t mistaken. “I’ve been meaning to send it to her, but somehow I never did.”

  “Why dinna ye bring it to her yerself?”

  His eyes darted over to her in a panic. It was as if the idea frightened him for some reason. “Nay. I can’t do that. I’m a pirate now, and wouldn’t be accepted back in my hometown in Cornwall.”

  “I suppose no’. People might no’ like the idea that ye are a pirate.”

  “Exactly.”

  “How did ye learn to sew like this?” She daringly walked closer to him, her gown swishing across the floor behind her.

  “I served as sailmaker on my father’s fishing boat.”

  “I see. Ye made sails. That makes sense. Then I suppose ye would ken how to sew.”

  “The gown is lovely on you, Gavina, but it doesn’t fit you right. I need to fix it. It’s too big.”

  “Too big?” she looked down and shook her head. “Nay, I dinna think so. I like it the way it is.”

  “Bend over,” he told her, making her heart jump into her throat.

  “Why?” She held her breath, waiting for his answer.

  “I want you to see something.” He looked around the room, spying something, and came back with a silver platter in his hands. “Bend over, and when you do, look at your reflection in this platter.”

  “What?” She giggled.

  “Just do it.”

  “All right.” Slowly, she bent forward a little, looking up at him. “Like this?”

  “More. Do it like you did on the deck before. Pretend you are picking up your wimple.”

  “Oh, like this?” She bent over and touched the floor with her fingers.

  “Now stay there, but look up at me.”

  “I dinna understand.” She looked up and he held the silver platter in front of her. In it, she could see her reflection. Immediately, she noticed that the bodice bulged out and her bare breasts were clearly visible. “Losh me!” She jumped up and slapped her hand over her chest. “Do ye think the crew saw – saw me?”

  “Oh, they saw all right,” he said, tossing the platter aside. “So did I.” He came closer, staring a hole right through her. “However, I feel like I didn’t get to see enough.” He stopped in front of her, so close to her that she swore she could feel his body heat. He reached out, his fingers grazing her cheek and lightly trailing down her neck to the front of her bodice. “You are beautiful, Gavina,” he said in a mere whisper. “I’m ashamed that I didn’t notice this sooner.”

  “Mayhap it was because my hair was chopped and I looked like a lad?”

  He chuckled deeply. “I suppose that’s why. Well, you certainly don’t look like a boy now.” He gently lifted her chin and her eyes closed as he brought his mouth to touch hers in a tender kiss. “We never consummated our marriage,” he reminded her.

  “I ken,” she said, her chest heaving since her body warmed under his touch.

  “Since we’re married, we need to stick to the code.” His lips touched hers again while his hand settled atop her chest and then slowly dipped down inside her bodice. She almost cried out in anticipation as his fingers moved down and around one breast, her body growing so hot that she felt as if she would be burned. Then his fingertip swept over one nipple and her back arched of its own accord. She felt a delicious shiver run from her nipple all the way down to between her legs.

  “The pirate code?” she asked in a breathy whisper.

  He chuckled again. “Nay, Gavina. I’m talking about the marriage code. The one that says we are not really man and wife until we consummate it. We need to couple.” He kissed her again. His thumb and forefinger rolled her nipple at the same time his tongue slipped between her lips and filled her mouth. Then, to her surprise, he pulled back, looking at her like a lion getting ready to pounce upon its prey.

  “What is it?” she asked him.

  “Don’t talk.” Before she could ask him why, he reached out and ripped her bodice open. She gasped and looked down to see her bare breasts with her taut nipples pointing upward, exposed. But this time, it was for his eyes alone.

  “Was that really necessary?” she spat. “Ye’ve ruined the gown.”

  “Then I’ll fix it,” he told her, not at all concerned. “I told you I had to alter it anyway.”

  “Still, I dinna think ye should have done that.”

  “Bid the devil, I’m a pirate, Gavina! I am used to taking what I want, when I want, and without having to ask. I’m sorry if I frightened you, I didn’t mean to. I’m just afraid I’m not good with subtlety or patience.”

  “Nay, I suppose no’.”

  His fingers slid around her breasts as
he cupped one in each hand and grunted.

  “You are more of a woman than I thought. You managed to hide these well.” His head dipped down and he took one nipple into his mouth, suckling her, making her squirm excitedly beneath his touch. “Mmmm,” she heard him say in satisfaction as he continued with his foreplay.

  “What are ye doin’?” she asked, since this was new to her. Her breathing deepened every time he mouthed her, making her want it more and more.

  “I’m preparing you for what’s to come. Now, just relax and enjoy it.”

  She felt him grip the bottom of her gown and yank it upward. He continued his exploration as his hands slid up her bare legs, getting closer and closer to her womanhood, making her nervous, excited, and very randy.

  “We’re never going to be able to couple when you’re wearing all these clothes,” he said against her skin. He reached for her undergarments next and moaned loudly when his hands touched her bare skin. “You’re not wearing undergarments.”

  “Well, I noticed ye dinna wear them either. Wait!” she said, when he pushed her gown higher, meaning to slip it off over her head. “I dinna want to take the gown off yet.”

  “Then have it your way,” he said, grabbing her around the waist and lifting her up. She squealed, surprised by this and not expecting it at all. Then he plopped her down in a sitting position atop the hanging table. It swayed, and she jerked backward as it acted like a swing. Gavina grabbed on to the side rope so she wouldn’t lose her balance.

  “Why did ye put me on the table?” she asked. “I thought we were goin’ to couple.”

  “We are. I put you here because I told you I was hungry. Now spread your legs for me, sweetheart. I want a taste.”

  “What?” she gasped. “Tristan, I – I dinna understand.”

  “Then let me show you.” With that he pushed up her skirt and leaned forward, flipping her skirt over his head.

  She laughed at first, thinking how silly he was being. Then when she felt his hands sliding up her inner thighs, she realized what he was doing. First she felt his hand fondling her womanhood, playing with her folds. She moaned, liking the way it felt. Then, to her surprise she felt his cheek between her legs, followed by a quick flick of his tongue as he tasted her most private spot.