"It's going to be a great article,” Melani said. “I think your mother's going to love it."
Ellie laughed, then grinned at Russell as the men came into the room. He leaned down and kissed her hungrily.
Melani turned her eyes to Royce. She was happy to see that he didn't seem quite as pensive as he had that morning. He leaned over, kissed her, and murmured, “hello,” against her lips.
"Hi."
"Did you guys start without us?” He ran his fingers down Melani's hair and she shivered.
"No, but we have a key, and a code."
"Did you call and tell him we were coming?” Russell frowned as Melani held up the key.
Jaynie quickly explained about the ex's new ex.
"A woman scorned,” Russell said. “But I want to eat first. I'm starved."
They ate steak and shrimp, then quickly cleared the table. Jaynie put out the paper she'd used to draw a floor plan of the house.
"OK,” she said. “The front door opens into the living room, which opens onto a large deck outside. The house is tri-level. Almost immediately after you get into the front door you will see the stairs that lead up. Right next to them are the stairs that lead down. The living room, kitchen and dining room are on the main floor. The bottom level has a living area, two bedrooms and a bathroom. The upper level has three bedrooms and two bathrooms."
"Wow,” Melani said. “It's huge."
"Yes. The Creep likes space."
"Does The Creep have a name?” Melani lifted her brows at Jaynie.
"Tim. But I prefer The Creep. Anyway, the master bedroom is at the back of the house. If I had to guess, I'd say that's where he hid the pearls. I'll call and set up a meeting with him, he leaves, you go in and take them."
"Good idea,” Royce said. “But I see more than a few flaws."
"Spit it out,” Russell said. “I see more than a few myself."
"OK. If you're setting up the meeting to trade jewelry for the boat deed, he might have the jewelry with him. Tit for tat."
"Doubt it,” Jaynie said. “He'd want the deed first."
"True,” Royce said. “But, he might take at least one piece to the meeting, to prove to you that he has them."
Melani smiled. She loved the way Royce's mind worked, always coming up with a different way to look at things. She supposed that was the lawyer in him. Or maybe it was just the free spirit in him who saw everything differently.
"I know Tim,” Jaynie said. “He's not going to bring those jewels anywhere near me until he has the deed in his hot little hands. Besides, I'll tell him I'm not ready to trade yet, and I just want to talk. That will ensure that he won't bring them with him."
"Still, it can't hurt to look,” Melani said.
"This whole thing is very, very risky,” Russell replied. “I think we should just call the cops."
"No!” Jaynie's forceful word shocked them all. “What if he decides to sell them? Or give them to his new friend? Calling the cops would just ensure that one of those things happens."
The table fell silent.
Finally, Jaynie shook her head and sighed. Tears swam in her eyes. “Russell's right. This is too dangerous. I'll just give him the deed to the damn boat and be done with it."
"We'll do it,” Royce said. “It'll be okay. You'll see."
Melani reached under the table and took his hand. He squeezed hers and smiled.
"Tomorrow night,” he continued, “around eight. The sun will be going down and neighbors might not be keeping an eye on the house that late. They'll be watching TV."
"The neighbors aren't close,” Jaynie said. “That's one of the reasons The Creep wanted the house when we bought it."
"Fine,” Russell said. “That's settled. Royce and I'll do our cat burglar thing. You ladies will stay here. Except for Jaynie, who will be meeting The Creep."
Both Melani and Ellie started to protest at the same time. Russell held up his hand and shook his head. “That's final. Any complaints and the whole thing's off."
"This is my idea,” Melani said. “You can't just..."
"But I can, because I'm the pirate king. Understand?"
"I can't believe you would..."
"Mel, don't argue with him,” Royce said. “Trust me, you won't win."
"That's right,” Russell agreed. “He doesn't win and he's a lawyer."
Melani turned to Royce, who shrugged. “I let him win. It feeds his ego."
Russell let out a loud growl and Ellie laughed. She winked at Melani who silently fumed.
"I won't let you keep me out of this,” Melani said. “You were against it from the start, yet you now want to be in charge. How wrong is that?"
"Listen, Melani, this—"
"If you say this is man's work, I'm going to deck you. This has nothing to do with male or female and everything to do with righting a wrong. Weren't there female pirates? Um...” Melani snapped her fingers. “Anne Bonney."
"Very good, Red,” Royce said. “We also have Mary Reade, Grace O'Malley, Charlotte de Berry, and Rachel Ward. Let us not forget, Russell, that sweet Charlotte killed the captain of the ship in a mutiny."
"All right,” Russell said. “I get the point. But those women weren't due to be my fiancé's maid-of-honor in three days time. And if you go, she wants to go."
He pointed toward Melani, then cocked his head at Ellie.
"So true,” Ellie said. “So true. I have to agree with Melani. All for one, and one for all."
"Those were the Musketeers,” Russell said with a frown. “The proper pirate term is every man for himself."
"That's not true,” Melani said. “Didn't they follow a code?"
"Pirates were cutthroats, Melani,” Russell said. “Popular fiction has turned them into romanticized heroes."
"Which makes us a lot of money,” Ellie said. “But, darling, remember we're not pirates for this mission. We're privateers, hired by Jaynie to perform a service. They had more ethics."
"And they could be killed, or jailed, just as easily as pirates."
"Not if they had authority from the king,” Royce said. “Technically, they were acting under his rule, giving part of their plunder to the crown, so they were above the law."
"Is everyone against me on this?” Russell shook his head.
"No,” Royce said. “I agree with you. But I can also see their point. It would be hard to be excluded from something you'd help plan."
"Fine.” Russell exhaled loudly. “You can come along as lookouts only. Royce and I go into the house. Alone. Agreed?"
"But, baby, looking for the treasure is half the fun,” Ellie said, shaking her head.
Melani nodded enthusiastically, but the men held their ground. Finally, in the end, they decided to use the ladies as lookouts while the men went inside. One would be stationed in the car, and the other would stay in the backyard.
"Are there dogs?” Melani asked, wondering why she hadn't thought of that in the first place.
"No,” Jaynie said. “The Creep hates animals. Says they're messy and noisy."
"A real charmer,” Royce replied.
"He was, at first. It wasn't until after we were married that things started to change."
"That happens,” Royce said. He looked at Russell and Ellie.
"Not to us,” Ellie said. “We've put safeguards in place."
"I don't think I want to know,” Melani laughed.
"Probably not,” Royce said.
When Jaynie said it was time for her to go, Royce and Melani offered to walk her to her car in the employee parking lot.
Outside, the scent from the ocean air wafted across the silent, darkened pirate village. In the moonlight, with gas lamps instead of streetlights, a person could almost believe they were back in the time before electricity.
Melani eyed the sight wistfully. She'd become attached to people here, as well as the feel of the village. It would be hard to go back to her apartment and her cat, living with take-out food and a steady diet of TV and books a
t night, when she was alone after work.
She would miss seeing Ellie every day. And she would miss Russell's rough exterior and his commanding ways. But most of all she would miss Royce, his sweet eyes and his gentle touch.
She never thought she could find a man who would attract her as much as he did. In the short time that she'd known him, he had become part of her. Giving him up would be the hardest thing she'd ever done. It would be much harder than losing Charles. That had hurt for a few weeks.
Right now, she knew she'd feel the loss of Royce long after she was gone. She thought about the feelings he invoked in her. She'd fought her initial attraction, despite the pull between them.
Then, she'd gladly given in to his charms, loving the heady feelings he produced and the fantastic orgasms he created. Not once, though, was it ever implied that their relationship would go past this week.
He'd never said anything to her about staying, and she knew that even if he did, she couldn't. It would take more than a week for her to trust him enough to change her life completely. She would need several months to get used to the idea, several months of talks and planning.
And, truth be told, she knew that once she left he would more than likely forget about her. That was what generally happened in relationships. Out of sight, out of mind.
"Are you going to say goodbye to Jaynie, or are you going to stand there and stare?” The humor in Royce's voice shocked her.
She jerked her head back and looked around. She'd been so lost in thought that she hadn't realized they were in the parking lot, standing next to Jaynie's car.
"Sorry. I was just, um..."
"Never mind,” Jaynie said, pulling her into a hug. “Thank you so much. All of you."
"That's what mates are for,” Royce said. “We'll see you tomorrow. Drive safely."
Jaynie nodded, got into her car and drove away.
Royce pulled Melani close to him. “What were you thinking about?"
She sighed. “Photos. I have to spend tomorrow taking photos."
A look of disappointment crossed his face, and quickly vanished. “Okay. Make sure you come by the ship. Either side is good.” She giggled and he kissed her gently. “Hungry?"
"We just ate."
She moaned when he rubbed his pelvis against hers.
"Who said I was talking about food?"
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Eleven
"I thought you weren't talking about food.” Melani stood in the middle of Royce's cabin, her hands on her hips and a smile on her face.
"I just want to play a little game, that's all."
She shook her head as he held up a banana.
It was amazing to her that she'd become so comfortable with him that she could stand before him naked, and calmly discuss what he wanted to do with a banana.
The walk back to the houseboat had been fun. They'd taken their time and gone by various sites in the park, discussing what might be best used for photos. At midnight, the gas lamps had gone out, and Melani had sighed as moonlight washed over the scene.
"The switch is on a timer,” Royce had said. “Actually, they're run by powerful batteries instead of gas. Rechargeable batteries. That way there's no wires. Keeps the illusion of times past."
He'd stopped her in the middle of the walkway and taken her face in his hands. Their gazes had locked and he'd lowered his lips to hers slowly, kissing her gently several times. She'd moaned when he'd pulled back.
"We'd better hurry. Kidd will be crossing his legs by now."
Indeed, the poor bulldog had run for the grass the minute Royce opened the gate on the ship. Then, he'd stalked back onto the boat and plopped down next to his empty dish, a frown on his wrinkled face.
Royce had quickly fed him, then led Melani into the bedroom.
Now, she stood watching him peel a banana, an impish grin on his face.
"So what's the game?"
Royce raised his eyebrows in answer. He crossed to the desk and moved a straight back chair into the center of the room.
"Come here."
"You think you're going to put that ... um, no, I don't think so."
"You nasty minded little wench. No, I'm not going to fuck you with it, although it is a tempting idea. We're going to eat it, together."
He sat down on the chair and crooked his finger at her. When she was standing next to him he indicated his lap.
"Straddle me."
Melani settled herself onto his lap. She grabbed the back of the chair, uneasy about the chair supporting both her and Royce. She kept her feet planted firmly on the ground and glanced down at him.
"I thought we were going to play a game?"
"We are.” Royce held the banana up in front of her. “We're going to eat this together. The first person to let their piece drop out of their mouth loses."
"And what does the winner get?"
"Full control over where, and how, we make love next."
"I'm not sure I want to give you that much control."
"Then you'd better win.” He held the banana up in front of her face. “Open up. Don't bite down yet. Just take it in between your lips."
Melani opened her mouth and Royce put the banana between her lips. Then he pulled her closer, wrapped his arms around the small of her back and took the other end in his lips.
She could feel his rigid cock pressed against her thigh and she wanted to sigh in pleasure. But if she did, she would drop the banana. She took a bite and started to chew. Holding the banana in her mouth while she chewed was harder than she'd thought it was going to be.
It was also highly erotic to watch Royce struggle with the same issue, to see the fruit stretched between their lips. She swallowed her first bite and sucked more of the slippery fruit into her mouth at the same time as Royce did. Both of them laughed around the obstruction as they took another bite.
She was just about to swallow the second bite when Royce brought a hand from behind her back and cupped a breast, his thumb pressing her nipple into the soft flesh. She groaned and almost dropped the banana. She caught it at the last minute and flashed him a look of feigned anger.
He opened his eyes wide and then dropped his free hand down to her pussy, cupping her lightly before pushing his fingers past her wet folds. With the support of his hands gone she gripped the back of the chair.
"Not fair!” She opened her lips enough to utter the words and then grabbed the banana before it dropped out. She wanted to touch him in return, but if she let go of her hold, she would fall backwards, drop the banana and lose. But would that be a bad thing, really? She wondered what wicked way he'd make love to her if he won the game.
His laugh was muted and he took another bite, sucking the banana farther into his mouth as his fingers sought, and found, her clit.
Melani fought to keep her lips around the banana. Royce's fingers worked his magic on her clit and she could feel an orgasm building. When it hit, she knew that he would win. She sucked harder on the banana in an effort to get it away from Royce. He in turn did the same and doubled his assault on her clit, his fingers pushing and teasing the area around the sensitive nub.
She tried to wiggle away by raising up as much as she could on her tiptoes, and was rewarded by a triumphant laugh. Royce placed his thumb on her clit and dipped his fingers through her wetness to her opening, inserting them as far as space would allow him.
The pressure was all it took. Melani came, hard, dropping the banana from her mouth as she cried out Royce's name and writhed against his fingers. The orgasm spread through her body like wildfire and she was vaguely conscious of Royce's hand, which had been on her breast, moving to the small of her back to hold her in place.
"Good girl. That's it. Good. Oh, baby.” His words floated around her and she shivered as she collapsed against Royce's shoulder.
"I win.” His voice was husky and Melani could feel his cock twitching against her thigh.
"You didn't play fair. You knew that if I let go
of the chair I would lose my balance."
"I am a pirate, remember?"
His hand continued to gently stroke her pussy.
"I love to see you come,” he whispered. “You get all flushed, and your body quakes in the most perfect way."
"Royce.” She laughed nervously, biting her lip gently.
She reached for his cock but her captured her hand with his free one.
"Not yet. I just want to enjoy looking at you. Feeling you. Stroking you."
She gently rocked back and forth on his hand as he cupped her.
"Is this your prize for winning the game?"
"You're my prize. Every delectable inch of you."
The look he gave her made her blush furiously.
"I don't believe it. All the times I've been inside you and you still blush at the idea? I love it."
She laughed and he put his hands on her hips to help her stand.
He led her toward the bed, lowering her down, then moving to open the windows that surrounded the bow of the ship.
When the windows were all open, and the cool ocean air wafted across the bed, he lay down next to her and gathered her in his arms.
"So, wench. How would you like to serve your captain tonight?"
"That's entirely up to you, Captain. How would you like to take your wench?"
"Roll over.” His breath was hot against her neck and Melani shivered.
She did as he asked, placing her hands above her head and relaxing into the bed.
He immediately began to caress her back with soft, gentle strokes, lightly running his fingers up and down her spine.
"You're so soft."
"Don't tease me. Make love to me."
"Shush. Relax. I want to share something with you.” He took a deep breath.
Melani turned her face toward his. “Yes?"
He laid his head down on his arm, his free arm continuing to stroke her. Several long minutes passed where the only sound was the lapping of the water against the boat.
Melani closed her eyes and moaned softly as he trailed his fingers up and down her back. His movements were soft and gentle and she loved every minute of it, every inch of his touch.
When he finally did speak, she could hear the tension behind his voice.
"Are you relaxed?"
The Pirate Wench Page 8