A Pirate's Bounty

by Eliza Knight

  “I want…I want ye to…”

  “Suck on your nipples?” he murmured, sucking one into his mouth.

  “Oh…” Her back arched.

  He chuckled against her flesh, delighted in her innocent reaction, her pure expression of pleasure and desire.

  She raked her nails down his back, thrusting her chest upward. He answered her call for more, teasing her relentlessly with his mouth against her flesh.

  He moved upward and buried his face against her neck, caressing her thighs up and down with his fingertips, tugging the sheet higher and higher.

  His pants grew tighter and tighter as his cock engorged. He’d never been harder in his life. What was it about this lass that gave him this reaction?

  He couldn’t wait any longer to touch the center of her. Shifting to the side, he trailed a hand over her hip, across her flat belly and to the triangle of soft curls covering her core. He moved his mouth to her lips and kissed her gently, teasing her lips as he teased the folds of her sex with his fingers. He found her pleasure bud and stroked over it with his thumb. Faryn moaned into his mouth, her hips bucking upward. He smiled against her mouth, continuing to stroke her pearl as he moved two fingers to slide inside her wet warmth.

  She was tight, so damn tight, against his fingers. His cock jumped as he imagined burying himself to the hilt within her. But before he did that, he needed to show her the pleasure he’d promised. He wanted to feel her flutter and clench against his fingers, feel her writhe and pulse beneath him, hear her cries of pleasure before he took her. He wanted to hear her tell him that she wanted him. That she needed him.

  Needed. Where had that come from? He’d never wanted anyone to need him before. No indeed. Even scarier was that it wasn’t just a want for her to need him, he needed her to need him. Wraith thrust the disturbing thoughts aside and focused on the woman beneath him. Her hips moved against his hand as he stroked. Her moans were more frequent, her breathing erratic. The walls of her slick sex grew tighter and tighter as she clenched her muscles.

  Then, there it was. The flutter and clench against his fingers that he sought. She writhed beneath him. Fingernails raked down his back, her mouth open against his as she shrieked her pleasure.

  Wraith did not wait for her to recover. Instead, he demanded she look at him. Her eyes opened slowly and something jerked inside his chest. Her gaze was passion filled, needy.

  “Noir… I…”

  “Shh… Just tell me ye want me,” he whispered.

  “Aye, aye, I want ye,” she said quickly.

  He unlaced his breeches, too desperate to be inside her to yank them off all the way, only releasing his engorged arousal.

  “My legs,” she protested. “I want to wrap them around ye.”

  His blood surged at her words, and he was eager to have her long, soft legs wrapped around him. He’d forgotten all about her legs being tied up. Forgotten all about their audience as well. Someone stepped forward and freed her legs, which she lifted her legs tentatively and curled around his hips. There was a spark of panic in her eyes that made him wonder if she hadn’t been aware of their audience after all. He leaned down, their gazes still locked. “Look at me, Faryn. Only me.”

  She swallowed, her lower lip trembling but still she nodded, eyes fastened on his. Wraith pressed his forehead to hers, kissed her lips, sucking the bottom one into his mouth to still her trembling.

  “Will ye say it again, lass?” he murmured.

  “Say what?” Her fingers on his shoulders trembled.

  “What ye said before,” he urged, not wanting to put the words in her mouth, needing her to realize that she had desired him of her own accord.

  “I want ye?” she questioned.

  “Aye, that.”

  “I want ye.”

  “Och, but ye dinna know what that does to me, lass. Tell me ye need me. Ye want me inside ye.” He licked at her mouth, pressed his hips against hers, his shaft teasing her folds. Her eyes started to roll back and she let out a soft moan, rocking her hips with him.

  “Aye, I need ye. I want ye inside me.”

  Finally, the moment came where he placed the tip of his arousal at her entrance. Wet, slick, hot… He gritted his teeth in ecstasy as he slowly inched forward until he reached her barrier. His forehead pressed to hers—he wanted to thrust deep inside but had to go slow. He pressed forward. She was tight. Heaven help him… He’d never experienced the pleasure of loving a woman as he did now with this blonde-haired beauty. He wrapped her hair around his fist and tugged lightly. She nipped at the skin of his shoulder and he buried his head further against her neck, sucking at the skin pulsing with her heartbeat.

  He sank a little deeper. He’d bedded a virgin once—so long ago he’d nearly forgotten, and now wasn’t the moment he wanted to remember, but he’d yet to feel Faryn’s maidenhead—and he should have already. Perhaps he remembered wrong and her maidenhead was in a little farther. Soon…he’d be there soon, and then he’d have to drive home, quick and easy as to lessen the pain of it. Inch by inch, painstakingly slow, he plunged a little deeper.

  The walls of her center pulsed around him, stretching, and she moaned against his ear. He wouldn’t be able to stand the torture much longer.

  Faryn arched her back, tilted her hips up and thrust against him, impaling herself all the way. There was no breach, there was no cry of pain.

  What the—?

  One thing was for damn sure, Faryn was no virgin.

  Chapter Five

  Wraith’s eyes popped open and he tried to meet Faryn’s gaze but her eyes were closed tight against flushed cheeks.

  “Are ye all right?” he asked, just in case he had in fact torn through her barrier and not been aware of it.

  “Aye.” She blinked her eyes open, hazy with desire and wonder. “Please, dinna stop.”

  Starting into her eyes, Wraith pulled out slowly, then just as slowly eased back in. Faryn moaned, her head falling to the side, legs clenching tight around his hips, and her hands roved over his back.

  As much as he wanted to stop, to question her further, he couldn’t. His desire for the lass was overpowering. Beneath him, she lifted her hips encouragingly. It felt too damn good. To hell with questioning. He plunged deep inside her, withdrew and drove home again. He gripped her hips, tilting them farther upward as he plundered deeper inside her treasure.

  He shouted out encouraging words, her answering cries leading him to a point of no return. His control was lost. On the outskirts of his consciousness he could hear those around them moaning with delight, cheering on the pirate as he took what was his. But that mattered not to him. What mattered was this woman in his arms—that she was a perfect bedmate for him. A match to his lusty desires.

  He would enjoy taking her back to her family. There would be many nights upon his ship for him to do this again and again.

  Faryn tightened up around him, her back arching as once again she found climax. With four final thrusts, Wraith grunted deep inside her.

  They stilled on the bed, both of their breathing labored as they came down from the heavenly height of pleasure.

  Bones of the sea devil, what had just happened? Wraith buried his face in the crook of her neck and worked to gather his breath. Never before had he lost control with a woman as he had just now.

  Faryn jerked her head up, eyes wide as she stared at their surroundings. The blood drained from her face and she bit her lip hard to keep from crying out in surprise.

  How could she have forgotten where they were?

  Her legs were still wrapped around Noir’s hips. Her arms still on his shoulders. He was still inside her, although softer now.

  How could she have forgotten what was expected? They wanted to see blood on the white sheets.

  Orelia stepped forward, a cruel smile on her lips. She clapped her hands slowly.

  “My, my, slave. You are an ardent and passionate lover for one who claims to be a virgin.” Her cold dark eyes bore into Faryn’s gaze be
fore slowly moving to meet Noir’s.

  Oh, nay! How could she have let herself go so completely? How could she have lost all control and acted the wanton? She knew exactly how. Noir was a masterful lover. His mouth, fingers, body had stirred something primal within her. She’d instinctively heeded the call. But only to her detriment. The queen knew. Faryn felt naïve for thinking she could keep the knowledge of her not being a virgin from their minds. But her loss of virginity was too painful to recollect. Her virtue had been lured from her by lust and empty promises. Had Noir suspected she was not pure? Did he know?

  Noir fiddled with something between them. He turned his gazed toward her own and his eyes flashed warning. Before she could understand the meaning in his expression, a sharp sting came from high up on her thigh, near her groin. She cringed and bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying out.

  His actions answered her question. Once he’d entered her fully he’d been aware she was no virgin and yet still, he’d continued to make love to her. He’d delved inside her body with an exuberance and delight she’d never known possible and he’d pleasured her. He’d cried out to her, whispered nonsensical words of her beauty, of her passion and his desire for her.

  Yet, he’d known.

  Faryn swallowed hard. She couldn’t read too much into it. He was doing what he needed to survive the queen’s wrath and to keep Faryn alive. He knew the only way to get her out of here was for her to bleed, and if he didn’t get her out of this place, he wouldn’t get his coin from her family.

  Noir withdrew from her slowly and, using the sheet that had covered her to keep her warm before, he wiped at the inside of her thighs. The sheet came back stained red with blood.

  She studied his nails, which were neatly trimmed. How had he cut her?

  “The answer to your question could go one of two ways. Either I’m a lucky pirate or I’m that good, my queen.” He laughed and showed everyone the stained linen.

  Orelia was naturally shocked, as Faryn was sure she’d figured out her secret. Her eyes widened and she nodded. A hungry look came into the queen’s eyes. “I see,” she said toward Faryn and then turned back to Noir. “You’re that good.”

  Captain Noir stood, putting his breeches and the rest of his clothing back to rights.

  Faryn felt suddenly vulnerable. She was on display for all to see. She crossed her legs and her arms over her chest to hide her areas. She turned to Noir, wondering if he would take her to safety now or if his tenderness had been a ruse to get her to willingly spread her legs.

  Something glinted on his finger in the candlelight as he handed her the sheet to recover herself. A skull-shaped ring. But it was a strange ring. She narrowed her eyes to look closer and saw that it had a very tiny dagger coming out the length of his finger from the ring. Before she could look further, he pressed a button and the dagger disappeared. So, that was how he’d cut her.

  Though it had been a risk to slice her so close to her nether regions, she was grateful for his quick thinking. She’d never seen a weapon like that before, and it sent a shiver running through her. How many others’ blood was on that tiny dagger?

  “Anyone else want to taste the blood of a virgin?” Orelia shouted to the crowd, her arms spread wide before she pointed at Faryn.

  Faryn started to protest but the captain stepped forward, cutting her off.

  “We had a deal, Orelia.”

  “Deals can be broken.” The queen’s eyes narrowed.

  “Not this time.” Noir had a deadly look on his face. Judging from the muscle jerking in the side of his jaw, Faryn would venture to guess he was reaching the limit of his patience. “I’ll take my booty and be on my way.”

  Orelia turned fully toward him, her face away from Faryn. They stood that way in silence for several moments. Neither moved. It was a battle of wills that Faryn was glad she didn’t have to participate in.

  “You’d best be on your way then, Captain, before I change my mind.”

  Noir nodded, gripped Faryn’s hand and yanked her to her feet.

  Orelia’s head fell back and she laughed aloud as Noir walked fast, pulling her behind him out through the crowd of undulating, moaning bodies.

  “Avast, men! Ye landlubbers! Back to the ship! We sail within the hour or I shall see ye to Davy Jones!” the captain shouted.

  At his authoritative words and commanding voice, men pooled around them. The whines of women and men accompanied the loss of their sexual partners as the pirates gathered to serve their master. A servant rushed forward and handed Noir a jingling bag, which Faryn assumed must be his payment for delivering Orelia’s shipment.

  Faryn stumbled between Noir and his men out of Orelia’s lair, to the docks and back up the gangplank. The captain didn’t stop, even when she nearly fell to her knees. His strides were determined. He barked orders left and right and all around her, what at first appeared to be chaos was actually quite orderly as the men pulled up anchor, set the sails and prepared to shove off.

  Noir took her up a series of narrow short stairways, dodging ship’s equipment and men until they entered a large oak door, which he promptly shut behind them. The room was vast with a gigantic bed piled high with pillows and what appeared to be thick blankets made of woven plaid. A large table with several chairs around it stood in a corner, piled high with papers.

  Before she had a chance to look anywhere else, her attention was caught by the captain who’d flung open the doors of his wardrobe and was rifling through its contents.

  “Ballocks.” He came back and rubbed at his chin, still staring into the wardrobe. “Thought I might have had something for ye to put on, a gown or some such, but it appears that whatever women’s wear I may have once had on this ship has disappeared.”

  He grabbed a white linen shirt and tossed it to her.

  “Wear that for now. It will at least keep ye somewhat warm.” He narrowed his eyes and licked his lips. His gaze fell to where the sheet was pulled taut to her breasts, causing her heart to pump faster. Her belly warmed and a frisson of the same desire she’d felt before flashed through her veins. “Aye, put my shirt on quickly, else I have a mind to take ye to bed again, which at the moment would not be a good idea.”

  She nodded and tugged his shirt on.

  “I’ll be back later. The sooner we leave port the better. Orelia is known for changing her mind often.”

  He left the cabin without a backward glance. She scowled at nothing in particular with the realization that she’d wanted him to embrace her, kiss her before he left. Their lovemaking hadn’t felt like a duty but something more. She had to stop thinking on it for it would only bring her disappointment.

  Noir was a pirate. He wanted something that she’d promised. That was it. Nothing more. Nothing less.

  Faryn sighed heavily. Relief flooded her. They were away from the queen. They were away from the den of vileness. She would be home soon. Relief was replaced with trepidation and then relief again.

  Back and forth. What would she do when she returned home? Would she even be accepted? Would her family pay the pirate? Or toss her out?

  Knowing her virtue was compromised, there was no telling that her family would want her back. Already she’d been the cause of pain and shame.

  A shiver chased down her spine.

  Noir would surely punish her if they didn’t.

  She would have to strike a deal of her own with him. Something he couldn’t refuse. But what? Already she’d promised him a fortune from her family. He’d already had her in bed. What more could he want?

  She shook her head and sat down on the pirate’s large bed.

  Hope filled her when she’d realized that she was soon to be going home. But now there was no trace of hope left. Only dread.

  “Where to, Cap’n?” asked Churl, Wraith’s first mate.

  “Go west through the Mediterranean Sea. All the way to Ireland. We’ll dock at Clew Bay and go to her family’s estate by horse. The lass goes home.”

  Chu
rl raised his brow at that then narrowed his eyes. “Either ye’ve fallen for the gel, or she’s worth more coin to ye than the queen was offerin’.”

  Wraith nodded but gave no more away than that. He was conflicted himself. Faryn touched him in a way he was unaccustomed to. Och, he wanted her money, but he wanted so much more than that too.

  He paced the deck of The Avenger, hands behind his back and gaze toward the open sea. Occasionally he glanced at his men and barked orders that really had no need of being voiced as the men were already immersed in their duties. Shouting made him feel better. But what he really needed was a fight.

  “Full speed ahead!” he bellowed. The first voyage they’d made had been long, nearly a month of moons. This trip he wanted to see done in a fortnight, not thirty days, and since they’d not be making as many stops as they had before, he saw no reason why his wishes could not be made a reality.

  He walked to the bow of the ship and stood, head back to look at the sky. The wind riffled through his hair as they picked up speed and spray from the salty sea splashed against his skin.

  He sighed with contentment. The sea was his home, always had been, always would be. Whether he was gliding atop her fair waters or looking down at her from a window on the shore, the sea was his maiden.

  Anger sliced at him as a vivid image of his childhood home flashed before his eyes. He could picture walking up the outdoor covered walkway, with arched stone ceilings and a gravel path that crunched beneath his boots. The walkway led to a doorway and beyond, winding stone steps that took him to the top of the tower. He’d lean out through one of the narrow windows, reaching his arm as far as he could, imagining droplets of water from the waves splashing up to meet his outstretched fingers. At his back were the heathered fields that lead up to the Highland mountains.

  Hell and damnation!

  All of it had been ripped away. His whole life taken in one night. A bloody massacre of all he knew, and his future shredded and bloody as the bodies around him.

  “Cap’n?”

  Startled, Wraith whipped around and growled, “What?”