“Mason?” she ventured.
“Captain,” he corrected sharply causing her to jump. “Captain, when you act the mutinous little wench.” He took hold her chin and lifted her face. “I was completely ready to set aside your little run to escape. I’ll not ever fault you for what you do when you don’t know anything else. But that bit of female pique. That’ll never be acceptable.”
“I’m sorry Ma—Captain,” Nox said praying that’d be enough because the way his dark eyes bore into her right now she could again feel heat rise up inside her and that place between her thighs began to ache.
“If you aren’t now, you’ll be shortly.” He stepped around her, passing behind and took a seat. “Only because I feel like it, are you getting any mercy. Turn,” he commanded grabbing her arm and forcing her to face him. “You’ll not strike at your captain again. Am I understood?”
“Yes?” It seemed an odd thing that he was upset she slapped him when she’d intended to stab him. But what he was going to do now she couldn’t tell.
“Bend over,” he said pulling on her arm and causing her to trip forward so her knees hit his thigh.
“What?” she asked as she was jerked forward over his lap. The position was unfamiliar for her personally, but not unknown. Only he couldn’t mean too… The cry burst from her lips when his hand slammed down on her venerable backside. “No,” she cried out, reaching back when his hand landed again. “Stop,” she begged, but he didn’t. No matter how she twisted, squirmed, or kicked, his hand continued to crack down with a force she never would’ve guess a hand could hold. When she reached back to try and catch his hand he in turn caught hers and pinned it to the small of her back. “Please stop, captain,” she begged again but if anything the speed and strength increased. She couldn’t even catch her breath and the pain was draining her strength. She could no longer form words and soon after couldn’t catch her breath. At least until he began landing blows to the top of her thighs. She found air enough to scream then, but only for a brief time. She was burning again and not the way she wanted to be.
Before he ended it her backside from hips to thigh, left to right felt as if she’d not only sat in the fire pit but been kicked by a mule. Pain throbbed so deep she could feel parts of herself she’d never felt before. She could hardly breathe for the tears and snot on her face. And if she though being naked before a strange man, allowing him liberties no man, not a husband, should take, was humiliating… hanging over Mason’s lap, being treated as anything but a grown woman… she prayed for death.
The release of pressure in her shoulder and her knees hitting the floor conveyed the message she wasn’t hanging over his lap any more, but she’d no reference either for what happened or how she should feel about it. She might have gotten her sobs under control but for that aspect. She hated not know a situation. Not being able to think about how to respond. She couldn’t even think beyond the burning, ache in her ass. Reaching back, she intended to rub away at least some of that distraction.
“No,” Mason’s hard voice startled her. “Hands here,” he said. She couldn’t bring herself to look up and see what he might mean, but she didn’t have to. Mason grabbed her hands and placed them flat on his thigh. She could feel the warmth of his body, maybe warmth caused partially by hers as she’d struggled against him. “You want to rub your ass?” he asked, she sobbed and nodded. He took awhile to answer. “No,” he said and the finality of it increased her tears. His next words were right next to her ear. “Ask me to rub out that ache for you.”
Lord help her, she wanted to, but what if he said no again? She was going to, even if he again denied her. Maybe a final denial would end her and the misery would be done. “Captain,” she started then faltered. How exactly did one ask such a thing?
“Captain, Sir, please rub my ass,” Mason supplied for her.
“Captain…sss..sir..please…ru…ru…” she swallowed and tried to breath. “Rub my…ass?”
“Very good,” he said as his hands slipped under her arms and he lifted her from the floor into his lap. Turning her to sit on her hip and leaving his thighs parted so the most wounded area was hanging. He forced her arm around his neck and then wrapped one of his around her back holding her against his shoulder as his other hand settled gently on the batter flesh. For a time all he did was rub circles over her skin. Eventually though she heard him whispering in her ear, all was well, to hush. Awhile more and she took note of the gentle rocking and knew it wasn’t the motion of the ship. When he tried to pull back, roll her off his shoulder she didn’t want to go. Again for every damn thing which already transpired, for all yet to come, for the first time since her parent’s death she felt truly safe. Even not knowing fully the situation didn’t worry her when she was being held like this. “Nox, look at me,” he said and his fist pushed her chin up. “Do you understand what happens when you mutiny, when you’re insubordinate, break rules?” She nodded and tried to duck her face again. “Ah,” he chided and lifted her chin again. “What’s the rules so far?”
She felt the sob well up again. She didn’t know, he’d not told her. Had he? She couldn’t bear even one more blow to her backside. All she could do was guess. “Don’t… hit you?” Maybe? His frown said, wrong answer.
“You won’t do things that could harm yourself, the crew, or me. First because, harm, and second because you put the entire ship in peril with such acts. Everyone on this ship is a valued member of the crew and right now that includes you. No one can be spared. Understand?” She nodded. “No, answer me. Understand?”
“Yes.”
“Yes, Captain,” he corrected.
“Yes, Captain,” she repeated.
“And the other rule I’ve given you?”
She hazards a guess again. “Obey you?”
“Obey me, even if you think I’m wrong you do as I say, after it can be discussed. You obey me. Disobedience will earn you far worse than this,” he said as his hand went back to rubbing circles on the hot skin. “And you don’t want worse,” he added his fingers brushing between her thighs every time they passed. He shifted, rolling her back against his shoulder and began rocking again. His hand focusing on a spot which kept his fingers almost in constant contact with what lay between her thighs.
She said nothing, moved only when he didn’t quite touch her where she’d hoped he might and as a new fire kindled in her she reminded herself she’d asked and it was going to happen anyway.
Chapter 6
Mason stopped rocking to adjust Nox more to his liking. He wanted a bit more access to those folds now that they’d slickened up so much. That her recovery was so quick told him much. He did like a bit of pain in his bedsport and he liked women to liked it as well. It could be taught though and tolerance built. Of course he’d not been overly harsh, though the way she’d wailed he might have been killing her in her opinion.
He did wonder though at her initial confusion. A servant, even a bastard child should’ve at some point been subject to such punishments. But a true daughter? Unless she was a rebel Mason doubted she’d ever be upended for a spanking such as he delivered. Still what madness led one to risk the wellbeing of a legitimate heir in a game of chance? It couldn’t be Jane was more than an indulged bastard child. Perhaps she’d some peculiar ability to charm. He’d make sure to look for it so he didn’t succumb. On her own she drew her leg a bit higher, opening up more for his touch.
Perhaps he’d indeed succumb to a charm or two. Boldly pushing a finger through those folds, he found exactly what he sought. One touch to her hidden pearl and she jerked up and grabbed for his hand. He shook it off and tried to touch her again only to have her cover her sex with her hand.
“Don’t,” he warned.
“Please, I…” she pleaded.
As much as she wanted to, as much as she already enjoyed this, she simply couldn’t break free those inhibitions pounded into her. Pushing her off his lap and between his knees he reached back, pulling one length of rope forward. “Han
ds,” he commanded, and though she obeyed the act didn’t only renew her sobbing it intensified it. “Nox look at me.” She shook her head but raised it. When he caught her eye he didn’t mistake the complete terror he saw. “What is this?”
“Don’t restrain me, please captain. Please.”
“Why not?” Certainly he could think of a hundred reasons she might not want to be tied but he wanted hers.
“Please,” she begged.
“Tell me why, I’ll consider it.”
“I… I don’t want to die,” she sobbed out and leaned forward to rest her forehead on his knee.
“I am not going to tie this around your neck. Only secure your hands. There’s nothing harmful or dangerous in that.” Why did she jump right to it would kill her?
“But…”
“But?”
“The others.”
“Others? What others?”
“The others on the boat.”
“Ship,” he corrected out of habit then shook his head. “You mean the rest of the crew?” She nodded. “What have they to do with this?”
“They’ll be able to get me and I can’t get free if I’m bound, chained…”
“They aren’t going to get you if I both chain and tie you and set you directly among them. Jane, what is this? What is it you think would happen if you are tied?”
“I know,” she snapped then lost that heartbeat of courage. “I know.”
“You know because you… heard something? Saw something. Tell me.”
“I was in the loft,” she whispered like it was a secret she needed to keep. “They brought in that girl and tied her to the pole. She screamed and screamed and she tried but she couldn’t get free,” her voice pitched up a moment then dropped back t o a whisper. “They did things to her and I think she was even dead before they finished.”
That certainly explained things. Sex was not only shameful and hurtful, Nox knew it as something that could kill her. Of course he’d teach her she was wrong about all of it, but he’d have her trust him, and trust him completely, before he taught her that. “That’s too bad, Nox. That you saw those evil men do that. There are no evil men on this ship though, so obey me and give me your hands.” She sobbed but again offered her hands up. He placed them together so from wrist to elbow touched. “Watch what I do Nox, watch how I tie you.”
“Please don’t.”
“Watch Nox, and I’ll promise not to leave you bound anytime I’m not with you,” he said. He’d give her that because he had no plan to be so careless anyway. “Now watch how I make this knot.” He heard her sniff but saw her take focus as he carefully created a secession of clove hitch knots down the length of her arm. He made them only tight enough she couldn’t easily wiggle free. He stood and pulled her to her feet. Turning her towards the bed he grabbed the rest of the rope and ushered her forward. She never took her eyes off the bindings. But when he sat her down and knelt before her she looked up quickly then back down.
“You won’t leave me like this?”
“No, I’ll only keep you like this until we’re done,” he told her. “Lie back,” he instructed softly, she obeyed. He quickly used two more lengths to secure her feet to the sides of the bed frame. Her protest then was all about being spread wide. The last rope kept her hands above her head, and again a reassure he’d not leave her vulnerable drowned the fear in her eyes. “Now,” he said lying down beside her. “Let us see what pleasure we might find.” She turned her head towards him an odd look on her face. “What?” he asked, using a single finger to smooth her brow. Color rose in her checks and she lifted her head to look down, then laid back and looked back at him. “What?” he chuckled as again she’d that perfect mix of passion and curiosity he now firmly associated with her.
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth looked one more time down the length of the bed then Turned those eyes on him and quietly asked, “Don’t you have to be… ah… naked too?”
Mason squeezed his eyes closed and took a slow deep breath. How this little siren could provoke him so easily he’d no idea. But her simple question fired his blood and stiffened his cock to the point of pain. If he’d not already set this course he’d strip and give her exactly what she believed he’d give her, a hard fuck, meant only to satisfy himself. Only that wasn’t what he wanted for her. It was rarely what he wanted for any lover, though for some that was their only satisfaction.
“Captain? Sir?” she called causing him to pull back his lust.
“Here’s a new rule,” he said setting his palm against her cheek. “In this bed, no, anywhere, anytime, we are engaged in these… activities, you should use my given name. I expect the formality when you are acting as a member of the crew and I demand it when you are accounting for your… naughtiness. Any other time you’re free to address me as you will. Understand?” She nodded and for the first time she smiled at him and something new started to burn in him. Shaking it off, he drew his hand down her neck and between her breasts, her nipples stood up almost instantly. He continued to draw his hand downward as he spoke. “As for my state of dress, it’ll vary. Know this. If I keep my boots on, everything I do is for your benefit.”
“This,” she queried, looking up where her arms were bound above her head. “Is for me?” That she didn’t sound completely doubtful gave him more hope she’d turn out to be a better lover than he might thought.
“All for you,” he said letting his hand skim over her flat belly. “Today I’ll convince you there’s nothing shameful or painful about what we’ll do.” She flinched when his fingers brushed over her ribs and he returned to the spot to assess if there was injury. She flinched again but her gasp had a giggle in it. “Are you ticklish right here?” He honed in on the spot and she gave her best effort to prevent him from enacting this torment. In no time he had her crying out with laughter, pleading between gasps to stop and growling out he was bad man.
“Stop, Mason,” she yelled. “I don’t like to be tickled.”
“Everyone likes to be tickled,” he countered, shifting to lay over her a bit more now that she was relaxed and confident.
“No one likes to be tickled, you ass,” she said trying to blow hair from her eyes.
“Ah now,” he chided dipping his head, seeing her eyes dilate with desire, “It’s not nice to call me names. I might have to clean out your mouth for that.” His timing was perfect. His mouth met hers exactly when she opened it to speak. His tongue dove straight in, his lips covered hers completely, smothering the harsh moan that rippled out of her. She tasted like sugar cane and smelt like Jasmine and when she lifted her hips against him the heat was more intense than the sun at the equator.
Sliding back he released her lips and nipped her chin, thrilled again to see her mouth curve upward before forming an ‘o’ when his teeth nipped at her neck then open to let out a loud gasp when he took her nipple between his teeth. The ring above the headboard rattled and he knew she was straining to get her hands free. But she said nothing so he continued, taking the deep rosy flesh in his mouth and sucking until she cried out before turning his attention to the other side. Cries, gasps, panting, moaning she made every guttural sound a woman enjoying herself might make. Sweat broke out on her flushed skin, she kept her eyes squeezed shut and did as much as the ropes allowed to move against and away from him.
Easing off her breast, now slightly discolored from his attentions, he gave her a chance to take in a few deep breaths. When she again had control he slipped back a little more and placed tiny kisses on her stomach. He watched her though, saw her trying to work through everything she’d experienced and when she lifted her head and looked down at him he hid his grin against her.
“Why did you do that?” she asked and sounded honestly unsure.
“Didn’t you like it?” he wouldn’t let her lie about what did and didn’t please her. Honestly from a lover was the only way it worked well.
She licked her lips, nodded but then catching his eye, “Yes, but why did you d
o it?”
“Mostly,” he said thinking he knew what she was asking now. “Mostly, because I knew you’d like it. But also because…” he’d use this as a way to prepare her for what came next. He shifted and worked his arms under her thighs which lifted her a bit. “I like the taste of you.” Her scent was so strong he couldn’t smell anything else. Not the hard wood of the ship’s build or the salt on the sea air. Every fragrance he used to ground himself was washed away with the tide she brought in.
“The taste of me?”
For a moment he wondered if she was going to try and lick her arm. “Yes, you taste so good. I could feast on you every day until my last. And not just your flesh, but…” his tongue flicked out on the swollen but still tightly closed pedals that covered the pearl he was seeking.
“No,” she cried out and jerked away. “What are you doing?”
“Tasting you, eating you,” he said and made a mental note to tie her a bit more securely next time. He wrapped his arms around her thighs. And lowered his head, using enough force this time his tongue parted those fold.
She cried out again, fear edging the sound. “No.”
“Talk to me Nox,” he coaxed, “Tell me what you feel.”
“What are you doing?” she asked again.
“I told you, I am going to taste you,” he said but when she dropped her head back with a defeated sigh he knew better the assurance she needed. “Nox,” he waited until she again looked at him. “What I did to your mouth, those lips, with my mouth,” again he waited. “I’m going to do to these lips.” He drew his tongue up the full length of her slit.
Pirates, Passion and Plunder Page 73