Within A Captain's Soul

by Lisa A. Olech

  He shifted in his seat at the tightness in his trousers and tugged on his hems. Damn it all, he needed to get to the village.

  Will tore his gaze away from Jun. Behind her Peng stood with a dark scowl setting his features. Will focused on Peng’s hand as it clenched and released the pommel of his sword. An impatient gesture? A brooding hovered around the man until his attention was captured by the arrival of a small contingent. Will recognized two of them. They were the same men he had seen that morning.

  Peng’s chin raised a fraction of an inch in acknowledgement of their arrival. Sliding Jun a side glance, he backed away from her without notice and slithered off the dais. Had he gone directly toward the group, Will would have ignored his growing suspicion, but the man feigned nonchalance while masking his movements through the room. All the while sending covert signals to the waiting men and furtive glances back at Jun.

  It was after the group left and Will watched Peng from his vantage point, when all Will’s warning flags began to fly. Peng waited. Almost counting the minutes before he could slip away. Was he meeting the men outside? Peng’s gaze swept the room once more. Will lowered his head to disguise his gaze behind the ropes of his hair, but he never averted his eyes. Peng paid him no notice. Giving Jun a cursory glare, Peng darted from the great hall in a purple flash.

  Perhaps now was the perfect time to head off to the village. Kill two birds…or one bird, one purple weasel.

  Chapter 16

  “General Peng, the crew of this ship has grown too large. We will do better to transfer half these men over to Commander—” Jun realized she was talking to herself. Peng was nowhere to be seen. He was just here. She scanned the hall. When had he slipped by her?

  She frowned. Will was gone as well. Nothing remained from where he’d been sitting but a borrowed bottle of ink and what appeared to be a handful of berries. Where had he disappeared to and why did she have a sneaking suspicion the two vanishing men had something to do with one another?

  Jun didn’t see either man for the remainder of the day, and she’d grown tired of being distracted from her work whenever someone entered the hall eagerly hoping it was Will returning. It was bad enough getting through the day interrupted by constant thoughts of her night with Will. Reliving every moment, every touch, the pure magic of being with him.

  Last evening had been beyond anything she could have imagined. Part of her felt disloyal comparing Will to Fu, but the truth was Fu was a selfish lover. It had always been her place to please him. She had been trained for it. Even though he rejected some of that training, he expected her to behave as a wife should and follow his wishes. Jun never initiated their lovemaking, but always came to him willingly when he wanted to lie with her. Their joining, however, had never inspired the passion she experienced with Will last night.

  She barely recognized the woman she’d become in his arms. The play of his mouth and his touch both satisfied and tempted. As if each caress soothed and tortured at the same time until her body seemed to burst into a million stars.

  And when she positioned herself atop, straddling him, taking control of his as well as her pleasure, she had unleashed something within herself. All at once she was powerful in a way she’d never known power before, using her body to push them faster, stronger, driving each of them to an amazing climax.

  Jun pulled her swollen lip between her teeth and shifted in her seat. Even now, her body hungered for him. Craved to feel him fill her. Touch the deepest part of her. Jun trembled with want. The tender ache of her sex pulsed for more.

  Where was he?

  It wasn’t until she was finished for the day and retreated to the sanctuary of her rooms and garden that she found him again. Seeing him brought another fevered flush of heat to her skin and a renewed rush of wetness to her sex. Had she ever seen such a beautiful man?

  Gone were his traditional Chinese clothes, which, in truth, hadn’t suited him at all. In their place, he wore the more western style of trousers. They hugged the strength of his thighs in a rich cinnamon brown and tucked into beautiful high-polished black boots. A long, woven shirt of raw cream-colored silk fell over the contours of his shoulders and opened invitingly at the neck. Its full cut to accommodate the breadth of his shoulders was caught with a wide sash the color of dark wine to emphasize the taper of his waist. An open leather vest stained the rich hue of burnished copper completed him.

  The sight took her breath.

  If that wasn’t enough to set her heart skipping about the confines of her chest, he was posed on one knee seemingly teaching Qi how to use a wooden spooled top. To Jun’s amazement, it appeared he was being successful.

  He showed her how to wrap a length of jute around the teardrop shape of the top before pulling sharply to set the top spinning. Qi was delighted and scrambled to catch the toy before mimicking Will and attempting to spin the top herself.

  When Will saw Jun, he rose, leaving Qi to continue practicing. Closing the distance between them in one determined stride, he tipped Jun’s chin with the tip of his finger and covered her lips with his before coaxing open her mouth with a sweep of his tongue. He was like a sensual wave, washing over her, surrounding her, carrying her away.

  Qi stomped her feet behind him. Jun broke the kiss and peered around Will to find the child grinning at them.

  “So much for being discreet.” Jun pointed to Qi. “We’re lucky she talks almost as much as you,” she teased while stroking his cheek. Jun ran a hand over his new clothing, and made the only sign that was even close to the word she wanted. “You’re beautiful…if only I knew the gesture for devastatingly handsome.”

  Qi’s top skittered across the floor and Jun stepped away from Will to hand it back to her as Ting entered the garden bringing Jun’s evening tea. Her cheeks brightened when she looked at Will. Setting the tray down, she bowed. Woven into the dark length of her hair was a pale-yellow ribbon.

  “Shall I help you change, Mistress, before your tea?”

  “Yes, please.” Jun stroked the long sweep of Ting’s hair. “You look lovely.”

  Ting tugged on the tail of the ribbon and flushed a brighter shade of pink. “Captain Quinn has given us many gifts today. Sweets for your tea, toy for Qi, a ribbon… He is a most generous man.”

  “I agree.” Jun watched as Will stooped to set the top spinning again.

  Moving into Jun’s private rooms, Ting worried. “Is it right that we accepted his gifts before you could approve?”

  Jun slipped out of her rigid attire. “Captain Quinn’s actions do not fall under my command. What he chooses to do is his own. I’m happy he’s been so kind to you and Qi.”

  “Have you seen how she works her top?” Ting poured warm water from a tall silver ewer. “He shows her such patience.” She helped Jun with her ties and confided. “He has brought something else for you as well.”

  “Other than sweets for my tea?” Ting nodded with a wide smile. A gift? For her? A tickle of childish excitement rushed through her. When was the last time she received any kind of gift? Fu was not given to lavish her with trinkets or ornaments. Her family had been too poor to know such indulgence.

  “I have been so curious to see what it is.” Ting handed her a fat sea sponge.

  Jun lathered the sponge and began wiping the grime of the day from her skin. “I’m curious myself.”

  Ting gathered Jun’s discarded garments. “Perhaps he wishes to give it to you when you are alone. He has a great fondness for you, I think. I’ll be quick to finish here and take Qi away.”

  “Let her play. Whatever my gift, I’m sure it can wait.” Jun said, even as her inquisitive nature nibbled at her.

  A short time later, Jun sipped at a cup of tepid tea as Ting gathered Qi for the evening. The child wasn’t as eager to leave, however, and wound herself around Will’s lower leg. But Will shook his head, tapped his chin and with a stern point of his fi
nger Qi heaved a dramatic sigh and went away with her mother.

  Jun wrote on the slate tablet, You are very good with her. She has never responded to anyone like she has with you.

  Will took the slate from her fingers. There is more to her than you believe.

  Jun read his words with a frown and Will responded by wiping the stone clean and continuing. She’s not simple. Very smart.

  Jun was quick to add a note below his words. She doesn’t even speak. As soon as she had written the words she tried to erase them before he could read them as if she were implying that somehow by the same logic, Will was simple as well. A shadow passed over his eyes. She’d insulted him. Jun shook her head. “That isn’t what I meant.” She signed ‘Sorry.’

  Will pulled back the stone. She counts. Knows that half of ten is five. Has made secret passageways for herself throughout the palace. Follows instructions easily. Quick to learn. He wrote so quickly, Jun reached for his hand as he wrote, Qi can’t hear.

  The air left her lungs in a rush as Jun stared at his words. He erased them and wrote, Not totally deaf. She may hear some sounds, but I see the signs.

  Are you sure?

  Will nodded. I was like her. Needs a way to communicate. Already taught her some words. Come. Go. Mother. Good. Bad. Yes. No. My name is Qi. I want more berries. As Will wrote them on the stone, he made the simple gestures. There are books she needs.

  “So we can help her.” Jun whispered in awe. She slipped her hand over his and gave it a squeeze. “I wouldn’t have guessed, but now that you say it, I see where you may be right. Many will still believe she is cursed for her mixed heritage, but if she cannot hear… I’ll see to it she gets the books and tutors she needs. Help Ting understand.”

  Will studied her mouth. It was as if he touched her with his gaze. He may have saved that sweet child from a life of silent despair. Her heart filled to overflowing. He may have saved her from a similar fate, as well. Had anyone ever made her feel this much joy?

  Setting her cup aside, she leaned over to Will and kissed him. ‘Thank you.’

  The kiss deepened. Will slipped his hand behind her neck and held her to him. Stroking a lazy pathway down the front of her throat and back again with his thumb.

  Will eased away. His gaze roaming over each of her features as if he were trying to commit them all to memory. After dropping another quick kiss onto her mouth, he stood and moved into a shadowy corner of the garden where he retrieved a long parcel wrapped in coarse cloth and tied with a length of hemp.

  Excitement flared in her as he placed it in her lap. Jun pointed to her chest coyly asking if it was indeed for her. Will smiled his beautiful smile as she tugged at the twine.

  Unwrapping the gift, tears filled Jun’s eyes. In her arms, she held a stunning pipa. The neck of the instrument swept into a gentle arc like the squared hull of a junk, carved with roses and vines tinted in deep reds and greens with sweeping touches of gold. Below, four onyx tuning pegs were inlaid with bands of golden filigree. The carvings and rich painting continued along the fingerboard and swept into the rounded base. Rich glossed wood bowed the back of the pipa with a thin tendril of gold gracing the center spine.

  “Where did you find such a magnificent instrument?” Jun reverently traced the fragile gilt-tipped petals of a rose.

  Will lifted the neck of the pipa and put it to her shoulder before placing her hand on its strings. He wanted her to play.

  Blinking back tears of gratitude, she plucked a few strings and adjusted the tuning pegs. Jun played a gentle tune for him. One she played often. A soft song that spoke of a maiden’s loss of her true love. Her fingers moved over the silken strings. Will crouched before her and slipped his hands to rest on the instrument’s bellied base. “Listening” to the music with his fingertips. Feeling the instruments vibration.

  A look of pure wonder crossed Will’s features as he followed the movement of her fingers. His smile spread across his handsome face…and squeezed at her heart. Jun kept playing as her tears fell unchecked and realization caught her breath.

  She loved this man.

  Her fingers stumbled over the chords. She loved him. Her heart nearly burst with the intensity of it.

  When she stopped playing, Will’s eyes flew to hers. Seeing her tears, he was quick to set the pipa aside and pulled her into his arms. He crushed her to his chest and rained kisses over her cheeks before taking her mouth with his.

  Jun clung to him, grabbing a handful of his thick hair; she parted her lips to the imploring sweep of his tongue. She responded with a ravenous kiss of her own. Their heated breaths danced as their kisses became more demanding.

  Will’s hold tightened to press her to him. The long, hard ridge of his arousal constrained between them. His obvious want of her needed no words.

  Jun’s head spun. Her body shuddered with need. This was senseless. Wonderfully, ridiculously irrational. Yes, he was handsome and strong, but he was a total stranger. An unexpected gift cast at her feet from the sea. He had also shown himself to be caring and devoted to his lost crew, and the kindness he showed to Qi and to her…

  And in her bed, he’d shown her a passion she had yet to discover. Her body responded to his as if she was finally breaking the surface of a dark sea. Jun was lost. Swept away. Hopelessly and completely. She was in love.

  Will shifted his hold and rose with her in his arms. Her body lay flush against his. Tight to him. Their mouths hungering for one another as he carried her into a shadowed corner of the garden.

  Amongst the vivid blossoms under the darkening sky, they lay together on thick cushions. Jun fought her impatience and removed each piece of his clothing with gentle care as if she were unwrapping yet another gift. Playing his muscles like the silken strings of her lute. Strumming her fingers over the satin texture of his skin. Jun’s being sang as they came together in the unrushed, quiet music that only lovers know.

  And when it was over, when they lay spent, entangled arms and legs, each struggling to catch their breaths, Jun breathed against his warm, damp skin.

  “I…I love you.”

  Will lifted his head to look into her face. He ran his fingertips over her mouth with a frown. He hadn’t heard her, of course. Had it been easier for her to say those three words knowing full well he couldn’t hear them? Jun gave a tiny shake of her head before kissing his fingertips and guiding his arm around her. She rested her cheek against his wide chest.

  With her ear to Will’s chest, she could hear the strong beat of his heart. His lungs pulled in deep steady breaths. Her sex still shimmered with tiny tremors, and the only thing she could think of was that Will would never hear her tell him she loved him. Could she have uttered the words otherwise not knowing if he shared her feelings? She knew the answer to that. Jun closed her eyes tight. When had she become such a coward?

  Drawing her sword and fighting for her life was one thing. Opening up her heart to a man, any man, was far more dangerous. Jun risked her life every day. Fought to stay at the top of her pirate kingdom. Sailing into battle was part of who she was. It was her life.

  But to risk her heart… Her belly tightened at the thought. That would mean jeopardizing more than her life and her empire; it would be endangering her soul.

  Chapter 17

  Jun lay in the warmth of Will’s embrace for a long time, listening to the gentle breathing of his sleep, while she wrestled with the reality of what was happening between them. Yes, she loved him, but he was still so much a stranger to her. An odd thing to think when you’re lying naked with a man, your body still craving his, but it was the truth. Was that part of his allure? His mysterious appeal?

  She closed her eyes and tried to find her own sleep, but her thoughts kept churning in her mind. There was a reason she hadn’t been close to a man in the years since Fu’s death. Relationships complicated things, and a future with a man like Will was riddled
with complications beyond the fact that she was a bloody pirate trying to rule a legion of cutthroat outlaws. She was a criminal. Whole countries wanted her head on a spike. Such a life was no place for dreams of love and life and happily ever after.

  Even if her life wasn’t full of violence and peril, there was little hope for them. Will was a westerner. Her culture alone forbade any union between them. If she defied convention and continued to be with him…and a child was conceived? While she and Fu used every precaution to assure no children would be a result of their union, a tiny, idealist part of Jun still hoped that one day she would be a mother. But if a child were conceived, it would be shunned by her own people. Like Qi.

  Watching Ting and Qi together was bittersweet for her, because until lately, Jun hadn’t even considered the possibility of holding her own child in her arms. But to subject a child to the life of an outcast…quite possibly a deaf child.

  In her mind, she could still see Will teaching Qi to spin her top. Recognizing her hearing problem, teaching Qi her first words. He would make a fine father to some lucky babe. Of course, in Jun’s mind, he would have a son first.

  Jun sat up and shook her head. She had to get these ridiculous thoughts out of her head, but when she looked down at Will’s sleeping form, she disregarded all her objections and concerns and could almost picture their sweet baby. He would be beautiful. Smart, strong. A perfect son with his father’s insightful, soulful topaz eyes.

  Stop it! Jun rose and stepped away from Will to find her robe. After donning it, she covered Will with as much as his shirt would cover and moved away from him.

  Back at the small table in the alcove, Jun finished her cold tea and nibbled a tender bit of sweet honey cake. Another of Will’s gifts. He’d shown them such kindness. Her new pipa was stunning. She didn’t dare touch it with her honeyed fingers, but knew she would treasure it always. And she would never forget the look on his face when she played. As improbable as it all was, Jun’s heart refused to let her give up on the idea that perhaps Will shared some of her feelings as well.