by Marie Hall
“Mia, you can’t sit in this hard chair for hours on end. It isn’t good for you.” He took her hand again and tried to tug her forward.
She pulled away and crossed her arms, so he couldn’t take her hand again. “I wouldn’t have to sit in the chair if I could go to the offices and work.”
“Oh, so you might stand on your feet all day?” Devin countered and took her by the upper arm. “I think not. Let’s go.” With that he tugged her hard, causing her to stumble forward and making it so he managed to get her to the bottom of the staircase.
“No, Devin,” Mia said refusing to lift her foot and climb the stairs. “I’m not going to lie down. I’m not tired.”
“Mia, I saw you at the table, you were asleep in the chair.” He pulled and she had no choice but to step up.
“No, I wasn’t,” she denied, though it might have been true.
“Aye, you were.”
“Even if I was, it isn’t because I’m tired,” Mia said, now that she was halfway up the stairs. “I’m bored. It’s dull staying home all day.” She was losing this battle as with one more tug she stepped on the landing. “Devin, I don’t want to lie down.”
“You want a proper spanking?” he asked and Mia’s whole body flushed hot. “Stop behaving like a stubborn child.”
He wouldn’t, would he? Was she that desperate to feel something other than this doldrums existence? Maybe, but could she get that with a proper spanking, rather than a good one? At the moment, feeling the wetness building between her legs, perhaps she might. She grabbed the door jamb and pushed back refusing to step inside the bedroom until she knew she might be going in for more than a nap. When Devin moved behind her to pry her hands off she sat down on the floor.
“Mrs. Winthrop,” Devin almost shouted, though she detected a bit of humor and far too much patience in his tone. “Stand up.” His hands went under her arms so he could lift her, but she wouldn’t put her feet down. “Mia, stop this or you’re going to get hurt.” She refused to cooperate with him. “Mia, you’re going to be sorry if you persist.”
“I doubt it,” she tossed back at him.
“Mia, I’ll—”
“You’ll not do a thing.”
“I will. Now stand up.”
“Won’t,” she pushed, and his next words were as chilling as they were thrilling.
“Mia, I’ve spoken with Doctor Crane and he assured me it’ll not harm the child if I punish you. Is that what you want?”
“Aye,” the word was out with hard assurance before Mia could think about it. Nothing for it now but to add anchors and sink herself faster. “Aye, yes. Punish me. Anything to make you touch me again, anything even if it isn’t what I want.”
“Mia?” Devin said stepping around her and kneeling on the floor in front of her. “What is this?”
It didn’t work. She should already be face down with her skirts up, but it didn’t work. “You never touch me anymore,” she said quietly, more to herself than to him. “It must be a Cadley curse. Once with child no one wants us. Mama, now me.”
“God save me, Mia,” Devin cried and yanked her forward into his lap. “I’m sorry my love. I’m sorry. Of course, I want you.”
“No, I don’t think so. You haven’t touched me in twenty-eight days,” she informed him and helped him as he worked to cradle her in his arms.
“Only twenty-eight days? It certainly feels more like twenty years.” He bent and pressed his face against her neck. “I want you Mia, desperately. But you gave me quite the fright when you fainted like you did and you’ve been over wrought with emotions.”
“Have you such a weak constitution, Captain?” Mia teased and snuggled closer, glad when he slid a hand down her back and over her stern then squeezed.
“No, but I think I have cracks in my hull from your last little storm,” he said, then nipped her ear as his fingers worked up her skirts. “Took on a bit of water during all those high waves.”
“Perhaps we can pump it out,” Mia suggested and reaching up, placed a kiss under his chin.
“I believe we could, though I think you might be doing so with damage aft,” he said before his palm smacked down hard.
Mia squealed and pulled her hips in. “Ow, Devin.” She got that much of her complaint out before his hand landed again. “Ow, Devin. No. Stop.” She tried to come about so her stern wasn’t in range, but he countered the maneuver easily and his hard hand hit dead-on center. “Devin,” she whined and kicked her legs.
“I thought you wanted this,” he said, and Mia felt him pushing her skirts back up.
“I thought you wouldn’t,” she admitted.
“Yes, well, now you know I will.” His hand rubbed circles over her drawers and Mia felt the ache washing up. He leaned down to speak against her ear. “Three more proper ones, then we can see to what you really want.” Desire made her mind weak because she nodded her agreement. “Count them for me, pirate, it’s been awhile and I don’t want to get swept away in the current.” Again she nodded, felt his hand still, pull away and then come down harder than the boom. She smothered the cry by biting down on his arm. “Don’t bite me, you little wench,” Devin commanded but then chuckled.
Mia lifted her mouth, sucked in two deep breaths then moaned as he began to rub the damage. “Sorry, Captain,” she managed then before they both could forget. “One, sir.”
“Ah, perfect wife,” he cooed then his hand disappeared for a heartbeat before it came back with the power of cannon fire. Mia arched away as much as his hold allowed and gritted her teeth. “Proper spankings aren’t what make Mia happy, are they?” Devin asked then started the rubbing again.
“No, sir,” Mia sniffed and blinked back the tears. “Two, sir.” She moaned again when he added pressure to the rubs as he dropped them lower along her ass.
“Still want me to touch you, Mia?” he asked softly, his breath puffing against her ear. She nodded. “Almost done. One more?”
“Aye, Captain,” Mia said and fought not to clench her thighs as it made the final blow worse, but it would also work her channel.
“Say my name, Mia,” Devin said and lifted his hand away.
“Devin,” she breathed then cried out as heat burned across her backside. A few choked sobs were all he caused and those more from startled surprise than lasting pain or shame as was normal during a proper spanking.
“Should I take you right here on the floor in the hall or will you now cooperate and get in the bed?” Devin asked pulling her comfortably close.
“You’ll touch me?” She set a hand on his chest and smoothed down, pushing between their bodies to make sure what she thought she felt under her was there.
“Aye, pirate. Everywhere you want,” Devin said.
“Aye, Captain. Bed sounds nice.” Mia said with a sniff then giggled as they scrambled about to get off the floor to the bed. Once there Devin made sure to touch her everywhere just as she wanted.
Devin rolled to his side and brushed the hair from Mia’s face, her expression soft and relaxed in sleep. Maybe the first good sleep she had in several days. He slipped his hand under the covers and down across her belly, still flat even at three months gone. At least that was how far along Mr. Hong said she was. Though he didn’t ask the man how exactly he knew it. He did, after he was informed of this fact, insist that Mia see about hiring a maid. A female maid. She’d laughed at him but agreed. He left his hand resting over her belly and scooted closer. The bed dipped, rolling her a bit towards him and with a moan she snuggled closer. Yes, he’d missed this the last few weeks, but he’d not been able to stop thinking how delicate she was.
He had to turn his face into the pillow to smother the laugh. Delicate? Not his Mia. He’d barely gotten her dress off and she was pushing him down on the bed. Climbing on top, directing his hands, his mouth. It had been a mistake to leave her so long.
The course he tried with her once he found out she was with child didn’t work. It almost wrecked her. She’d felt adrift, like her
mother. She was pregnant, but she was still Mia. With those same needs and desires. And he knew how to fulfill those for her without harming her. It was perhaps going to become more about awareness. But if he gave her breasts more of the kind of pain she craved, he needn’t be so rough when he entered her pussy with his cock.
And after gaining her promise that no matter what she might believe about what he might want, she would tell him straight away if what they did caused the wrong kind of discomfort. He’d made her swear that even if they were in the middle of some passionate deed, she’d stop him if it hurt. And of course, she asked if that applied to any proper spankings she might earn.
He turned his face again to cover the laugh that welled up. She’d given him a good punch in the arm when he reiterated he’d spoken with the doctor attending her pregnancy. Doctor Crane told him, when Devin bemoaned the fact that Mia was getting out of control and he no longer had recourse, that as long as he didn’t beat his wife, nor make her lie on her belly, it would do no harm to take his hand to her stern. Though, the good man cautioned, with restraint.
Yesterday afternoon’s proper spanking actually came with consent and Devin knew then Mia needed that from him too. She needed to know he was still her captain. She’d be first mate, and he expected her to hold that responsibility or to face consequences. His wife wasn’t spoiled. She worked to earn what she had. It was only because she refused to accept failure that it appeared she was given everything.
Beside him Mia moaned again, rolled to her side, and draped an arm and leg over him. He turned into her and let his hand drift over her hip and around the curve of her fine stern. Her little gasp when he brushed a tender spot made his cock twitch. Damn, he should be exhausted, but he was hardening. Again, he pressed his thumb in the spot, and was rewarded instantly by Mia’s moan and her pressing into him. With her leg over his he could feel the heat between her legs and with one more tiny firm touch, wetness.
“Devin,” her sleepy voice called. And not as a complaint. She even helped him when he situated her on top of him. Moving up his body until her head was in the crook of his neck and her ass in easy reach of his hands.
“Stay close to me, pirate,” he whispered and filled his palm with her flesh.
“Might you need to be anchored, Captain? Docked, perhaps?” His chuckling almost toppled her.
“Seems your shroud might need tightening you keep listing port,” he said and lifted her back center.
“My ballast might be off in this choppy water. Perhaps you might rebalance me?” She drew her knees up on either side and back enough so his cock sat, awaiting entrance. “Permission to come aboard?”
“Granted,” Devin said, then hissed as his shaft was taken into the hot, wet hold. “Save me, Mia,” he groaned when she’d seated herself on him as fully as she could. “How are you like this?” He’d done nothing at all as foreplay, yet his wife was ready and willing to take him again.
“I was dreaming of you, us,” she said pushing up and planting her hands on his chest so she had enough leverage to push down and pull off at will. “Was dreaming we were on a ship, just us, on deck with the sun shining warm, and we were doing this.” She lifted slowly then eased down until the time it took to return to his place deep within her became torture. “The wind, the spray,” she hummed and lifted again. “All it took was the waves to rock us.”
He set his hands at her hips and helped her, but letting her set the pace. And she kept it slow and steady, every movement carried her along the full length of his shaft. Looking down where their bodies joined, Devin watched the way his cock sank in then came topside again. He didn’t think two people were ever so perfectly made to fit as they were. His eyes lifted to the soft swaying of her breasts, rolling forward then slipping back with the roll and pitch of her movements. A small tilt of his head and he could see her face. Her eyes closed, showing a bit of strain as she tried to sail herself towards the pleasure.
He might want to spend what hours left of this night they had doing this, but he wanted more to see Mia’s face, hear her gasps, sighs and cries when she found rapture. He took a firmer hold on her hips. “Let me captain this, pirate,” he told her and lifted her up as he flexed his hips.
“Aye, Captain… Devin,” she called and adjusted to his taking the helm and taking them steadily forward.
“Mia mine,” Devin whispered then set into the steady lift and drop of his and his wife’s bodies. Mia wasn’t long before she began clamping down on his shaft. Trying to again direct course. And while he set pace, her action increased his pleasures.
“Devin,” she gasped out then strained against the movements. “Devin, please. I’m not ready.”
“I’m captain, Mia. Come. Stop dragging anchor. Come.”
“Devin,” she called and tried to lift up so he couldn’t reach her so deeply. “A little more.”
“Greedy, plundering pirate,” he teased but kept up the pace and the duration of every stroke. “Come Mia, come give me your pleasure.” She needed to because he was about to share his with her.
“Please, make it last,” she begged.
“There’s always more. Take it Mia. Take it now,” he said his voice turning a little sharp. That was all it took. Mia arched back, gasped and cried out. Her juices flowing down his shaft adding to the ease at which he thrust into her the last time before his release filled her. Mia dropped down over him like a sail cut free of the rigging drops to cover the deck. She covered him with her warm body sending a second wave of ecstasy pounding through him.
“Want me Devin,” Mia said when they’d both taken air.
“Need you, Mia,” he countered and felt her lips curl into a smile.
“Don’t deny me again,” she commanded.
“Aye, aye captain,” he teased before tucking her close and pulling the covers over them.
Chapter 21
“Mia, I said no,” Devin snapped, grabbing his jacket from Mr. Hong.
“Devin,” Mia whined.
“Do I need to find a batten?” he warned and watched Mia frown at him.
“I’ll fetch you one from the docks when I go,” she sassed him.
He had to take a slow breath not to laugh. “Mia you’re not going to the docks today. None of your ships are in port and all the papers from the office were delivered here yesterday. Stay home.”
“Devin,” she shouted and stomped her foot. She was quick to realize what she’d done, but not quick enough to dodge his hand as he took hold of her arm turned her, delivering two firm smacks to her backside.
“Don’t stomp your foot at me, Mia,” he reminded her.
“Sorry Captain,” she sulked as she rubbed the area of her stern where each blow landed. It wasn’t enough disapproval to dissuade her of her want to go down to the docks in the unusually cold weather. “Please?” she whined more.
“No,” he stated emphatically. “Mutiny on the matter Mia, and we’ll be talking with Doctor Crane about applying a paddle to your stern.” Her only response was the sticking out of her bottom lip. She’d become an expert pouter in the last week and he had much to learn about staying on course when she damaged his rudder with her sulks. “Very well, I might be late tonight,” he said stepping forward and kissing her cheek before taking his overcoat from Mr. Hong and pulling open the door. “See to her, Mr. Hong.”
“Oh good, Hong know make Mia happy,” the man said and waved at Devin as he climbed into the carriage and headed towards the academy. Devin rather hoped he knew how to make Mia happy, because by the time he arrived home he knew he’d be the one making her, if not unhappy, than at least regretful for her actions.
“Mia, if you take that boat out on the water, the captain will have your skin as a sail,” Hong Chin continued to chide. “It’s too cold and you know it. Stop being stubborn and come back here to the blanket.”
Mia clamped her jaw tighter and pushed her little raft into the lapping waves. The small bay was hardly big enough for the raft she’d made while on th
e ship and even with the waters whipping up beyond the breakers, here they were hardly more wild than any found in a ship’s wake. “I need to get offshore, Hong Chin. I can’t stand the stillness any longer.” She pushed out until she was past ankle deep and then sat down and swung her legs up. She heard Hong yell when she almost tipped before she could center her weight, but she’d done this enough she wasn’t as concerned as he was. She settled and let the raft balance before she set the little rudder as far port as she could, so her creation simply bobbed in a small circle as the waves pushed in and pulled out.
“Mia, enough,” Hong called and waved her back. “You’re going to get soaked and if you get chilled the Captain will skin us both and I like my skin.”
“Five more minutes,” Mia said. Knowing with the cold wind blowing over and cold water splashing up from beneath, she’d be lucky to last that long. She closed her eyes and tried to relax into the movement. But she couldn’t quite find what she was seeking. She’d thought the only thing she’d been missing of late was Devin. But he was back sure as the tides and she still couldn’t find balance. She felt tossed about, in a storm, waves swamping over the decks. There was a disquiet abounding. Like when she sailed close to the poles, her compass wasn’t effective. She needed to know something she was familiar with. The sea she knew. The sea she understood.
But either it wasn’t enough this moment on the waves on her raft or it was something else, because her skin pricked from the sensation of being watched, the dreaded feeling of sinking had nothing to do with the fact the water she floated on was deep enough to swallow her under.
“Mia Lynn, I’ll tell the commodore and the captain if you don’t come in right now,” Hong called and Mia looked up to see Grim marching up from behind. He passed Hong and came right to the water’s edge.
With a shake of her head and a sigh, she took the rudder and straightened the raft so it would drift into shallower waters. “Fine, I’m coming,” she yelled back, but had no time to brace when she heard the water rush back and crash in from the leeside. Had she a sail up she might have countered the wave by hooking the wind, but she didn’t and before she could get a full breath she was dumped off the raft and plunged into the icy waters. She came up sputtering, able to set her feet down and grab for the rope so she could bring the craft ashore with her. Before she waded more than two steps Grim hauled her up and stomped through the waters to the sand.