The Spiteful Vixen

by Erika Phillips

  ********

  After they departed from Abigail and the magistrate, Juan and Olivia began to make their way back to the ship. Abruptly, he whisked her up, hefty skirts and all, into his arms and carried her aboard the Vengador Diablo. She laughed until her mouth was silenced with his deep kiss. Suddenly, the mood changed and turned into a mutual desire that needed to be quenched.

  He deftly carried her through the ship to his luxurious cabin. Though Olivia had been there before, the space seemed entirely different now. She felt a small surge of excitement thinking that this was now her room as well. Juan closed the door behind him with a strong kick, still cradling Olivia. He placed her on the bed with care and took a moment to look upon her with reverence. His wife. She was his wife.

  Olivia caught his expression. “What is on your mind, Husband? Are you regretting your impulsivity?” she asked playfully. Though when he didn’t answer right away a strand of worry began to weave its way into her head.

  After a pause and an adoring look he whispered in a husky tone, “Quite the contrary. I was just thinking about how fortunate I am that fate brought you to me.” His eyes were dark and lust-filled. Olivia could see the depth of his breathing increase as his dark-rimmed eyes scanned her body.

  “Why don’t you come and claim what fate has given you?” she said, rather proud of her own boldness.

  Juan did not need any further encouragement, he launched himself forward nearly crushing Olivia on the bed. He hands skimmed up under her voluptuous skirts and found the laces on her stockings, he skillfully unlaced one, then the other as he kissed her neck, her ear, her lips. When both stockings had been rolled down he eyed the front of her gown, quickly assessing the most efficient way to remove it.

  Olivia giggled, seeing the expression on his face. “Would you care for some assistance?” she asked coyly.

  “No. If I get desperate, I have a knife,” he said in a deep-throated voice. With that, he began untwining, unlacing, and unbuttoning, until he had her down to her chemise. Olivia suddenly realized how accomplished he was with taking off women’s clothing and her body tensed. Juan immediately felt the change in her, “What’s the matter, my love?”

  “How, praytell, have you become so skilled at undressing women,” she inquired with a raised eyebrow.

  Juan chose his next words carefully, “I was only biding my time while waiting for you, my dear,” he whispered whilst nibbling on her ear.

  Olivia tried not to get lost in the sheer lust pulsating through her body. She took a deep breath and pulled away from Juan, “As your wife,” she again took great pleasure in drawing attention to the title, “would you like to tell me approximately how many women you’ve, eh...been with?”

  Juan knew he was in tenuous territory, he began carefully, “No. But, I would like to tell you that you’re the last woman I will be with.” He sighed, then said, “Anything that had happened in my previous life happened so that I could find you, so I am not going to apologize for it,” he said, gazing at her without his usual flippant tone.

  Olivia wasn’t quite sure how to feel. Juan ran his fingers down the side of her face, tucking a stray hair behind her ear, “I love you,” he stated simply. “And I assure you that you are the only woman to whom I have ever uttered those words.”

  Olivia smiled and placed her small hand on his cheek to draw him in for a kiss. He kissed her with admiration and worshipped her body for the exquisite masterpiece it was. He was slow and tender and Olivia had never felt so confident that this was the man for which she was made.

  Juan stared into her midnight blue eyes, holding her gaze as their bodies moved as one. He grasped her hand in his during the final thrusts of their coupling. Olivia was surprised that there were so many different types of lovemaking, but this was the most intimate she had experienced. She felt safe and cherished and was so grateful that this man was her husband.

  Juan rolled to his side and tucked Olivia into his chest, kissing the top of her head. “I didn’t know it could be like this,” Olivia said tentatively.

  “Like what?” Juan asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “I didn’t think I would ever love my husband or enjoy the ways he touched me,” she responded quietly. “I figured I would learn to tolerate him and his advances, not revel in them,” she said smiling up at his darkened eyes.

  “I have not hid the fact that I have been with women, and I would be lying if I said that I didn’t know the gratification of the body, but this is different. I never knew what it meant to truly love a woman.” Juan pulled her closer to him. He laughed, the echo reverberating through her body, “And now I am afraid you have ruined me for all others, because I would never be willing to settle for mere gratification again.”

  “I should hope not,” Olivia retorted, shooting her head up to glare at him.

  “Fear not, Wife. I am a great many things, but I’m not unfaithful,” he said with finality. “Now, get some rest. I am of no use to you...for the foreseeable future anyway,” he said with a crooked smile and closed eyes.

  Chapter Nine

  Olivia woke for the second time that morning. The first had been when Juan awoke her before dawn with kisses and caresses, which led to another impassioned experience. Exhausted after, they both fell back asleep, dead to the world. However, now Olivia was hungry. She began gently scratching at Juan’s sculpted abdomen with her fingernail. He grunted and rolled towards her, pulling her back into his broad body. She traced her finger through the soft brown hairs that scattered across his chest and he began to stir.

  “Good morning, my dear,” he said, sounding drained.

  “Good morning,” she responded. Then she hesitantly walked her fingers down his chest and across his hard abdomen.

  Just as she was about to venture lower, he popped an eye open. “If you’re trying to get me out of bed, moving your fingers any lower would be ill-advised,” he said his accent thick with lust.

  “I’m hungry,” she said coyly.

  He laughed thinking of several things with which he could respond, but thought better of it. “Food first, then you’ll continue with your exploring fingers?”

  She nodded, “Yes, that sounds like a sensible way to begin our first married day together.”

  “As you wish, my love,” he threw on a pair of breeches and bowed to her as he left her in bed.

  Olivia freshened up a bit and then put on Juan’s shirt. The white, billowy blouse was enormous on her, falling off one shoulder and stretching past her knees. She was admiring the frock when he came back through the door carrying a tray. There was some cheese and bread and a bottle of wine.

  “I scrounged up what I could from the kitchen, we will definitely need to re-stock before leaving Jamaica. We can go into town to get a more suitable meal after…”

  “...after you ravage me again?” she finished for him with a smirk.

  “I was actually hoping it would be after you ravaged me...but I will endure it either way,” he said with a huge grin and taking a bite of cheese.

  After they had enjoyed their picnic in bed, Juan said, “You look awfully nice in my shirt, it’s a shame…”

  “What’s a shame?” asked Olivia, confused.

  “It’s a shame that I will need to remove it,” he said, unlacing the ties at her chest. His dark eyes were filled with desire as the thin fabric slid down her petite shoulder and exposed the top mound of her right breast.

  “Well, now look at what you’ve done,” she said in mock displeasure. “What on earth are you going to do with me now?” she asked with wide, eager eyes.

  “So many things,” Juan’s seductive accent hung between them.

  He hooked his finger at the top of the fabric and slowly eased it down to her waist. She crooked an eyebrow at him, pursed her lips and then reached forward to unlace his breeches. As the laces moved through her fingers, he clasped her breast in his hand and began gently kneading it as he leaned in to kiss her. The minute his lips reached hers, something trig
gered in Olivia and she jerked the rest of the laces, ripping his pants.

  He jerked back surprised, but then with a lascivious look, he shredded the breeches the rest of the way off and pulled his shirt from her body. Juan shifted her onto his lap and maneuvered into her as she straddled him. She moaned as she felt him stretch her. She kissed his neck, his ear, the sharp stubble along his strong jawline.

  They were a tangle of limbs and kisses as she rode his desire. As they both began to come close to their release, Juan laced his fingers through her thick hair and pulled her into him for a hard kiss. He growled into her mouth as he came, leaving her softly whimpering in pleasure.

  ********

  Some time later, both Juan and Olivia were again conscious and starting to stir. “What are you doing to me, woman? We will waste the entire day in bed,” he said grinning.

  “I don’t know if I’d consider it wasted…” Olivia postulated.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked sitting on the edge of the bed.

  She nodded, “Yes, somehow I am hungry again,” she said, returning his smile.

  “Get dressed, we’ll go into town for a hearty meal,” he said, pulling his breeches on, only to notice the tears, shrug, and pull them off again, in search of another pair.

  Once they were both presentable, he escorted her from the ship to the shore. A while later, they arrived at a small pub and Juan held the door open for Olivia, “The clientele is questionable, but they have excellent food.”

  Olivia gave him a wry expression as she noted the swarthy men in every corner that eyed them suspiciously as they entered, “How comforting,” she muttered under her breath.

  A few of the men greeted Juan with a jovial, “Oscuro!” and patted his back as they walked past and sat in a secluded corner.

  “Well, it seems you are well-liked by the questionable clientele,” Olivia said with a smirk.

  “They respect the reputation, they do not know the man,” he said, his thick accent making the phrase seem more mysterious.

  They spoke quietly over their meal. Then, when there was a lull in the conversation, Juan asked, “What is your plan? Back to Barbados to let your father know you’re alive?”

  “My plan?!” Olivia looked outraged, “What is your plan? It was your idea to get married, I figured you had an idea of what would come next for us,” she said, questioning his motives.

  “My idea to get married!? I wasn’t the one in the alley trying to talk my way out of--” Juan was getting more angry as he thought of Olivia feeling she didn’t have a choice in marrying him.

  Olivia saw the frustration on his handsome face and started gently laughing, which immediately cut off his ranting. She smiled, then spoke earnestly, “I wanted to marry you. I wouldn’t have if I didn’t desire you as my husband,” she paused. “I must admit it was exceptional timing, and convenient that you were willing to wed me.” She downcast her eyes demurely as she finished speaking.

  All the fire that had ignited in Juan immediately dissipated and left him sighing and looking lovingly at his incorrigible wife. “Willing? You didn’t give me much of a choice, did you?” he asked, shaking his head, his crooked smile warming his face.

  Olivia looked as if she were going to speak, but pursed her lips instead and raised an eyebrow, “Well, I’m sure you didn’t have much of a choice...once you ruined me…”

  Juan’s expression hardened, looking as if he were ready for another verbal sparring match. Then he saw the mischievous twinkle in Olivia’s deep blue eyes and he shifted to a lustful look, “And I’ll ruin you again the next chance I get,” he said in a heady voice.

  Just then there was a mug slammed on their table in front of Juan. George Wainwright stood there glaring at him. Juan answered his glare with a death stare that made George flinch.

  “May I ask why you are disturbing my wife and me?” Juan inquired cocking his head up, the intensity of his stare not faltering.

  “It has come to my attention that you were one of the pirates that attacked The Porpoise and kidnapped Miss Clairmond. I fear that she was acting under duress when she wed you,” he cleared his throat, “Therefore, I challenge you to a duel, Sir,” George said, attempting to sound quite brave. George was not going to take the loss of his business dealings lightly, nor that of Olivia warming his bed at night.

  Juan did his best to mask the smile that was playing at his lips. “First of all, her name is Mistress Larios. As I said, we are properly wed. And if you desire a challenge, that you shall have,” Juan maintained his intimidating eye contact.

  George’s eyes darted slightly, but he continued to lurk at their table. He asked over Juan’s seated frame, “Miss Clairmond, are you well?” his voice gently cracking.

  In spite of the situation, Olivia appreciated his concern. “Yes, Mr. Wainwright, all is well and I am happy,” she responded with kindness. Then added, “with my husband.”

  George looked a little taken aback. Still he needed the deal with Olivia’s father to proceed, and without Olivia as his wife, that made things a little more difficult. “Well then, perhaps a duel would be unnecessary.” Then a crafty expression came over him, “Perhaps a game of cards instead?”

  Juan smirked, “What of the stakes?” his eyes never leaving George’s face.

  “As Miss Clairmond’s father has not heard of her fate, I propose that if I win we sail on to England immediately and you allow Miss Clairmond to continue as if this impasse had never occurred…”

  “And if I win,” started Juan before George was even finished speaking, “we are free to do as we like. I know well enough that trying to convince this one to do anything she doesn’t want to is a waste of time.” Juan couldn’t help from a throaty laugh as he saw the expression on his wife’s face. “Furthermore, sailing off to England does not eradicate our marriage vows.”

  “Perhaps not, but I believe I would be able to convince those in power over such things that this marriage was a sham and it could be denounced as a valid union,” George stated, finality edging his tone.

  “And I assure you that unless that is what my wife desires, and it is not, that you will not succeed.” Juan responded, his tone dark and hard.

  “Tonight? Shall we meet back here, say eight o’clock?” George asked, not backing down.

  “I will look forward to ending this vendetta of yours,” Juan said in a deep voice. “Eight o’clock,” he nodded his head at George in dismissal.

  George nodded back with a slight bow, turned on his heel and left the pub.

  Olivia looked at Juan incredulously. She wasn’t sure if she should be insulted for being a mere pawn for the men or beholden to Juan for fighting for her. She sat in silence a few moments pondering the events. Juan noticed her eyes had lost their twinkle and her lips were pursed.

  “What now, my love?” he questioned.

  “What if Mr. Wainwright wins? Will I have to go to England?” she asked imploringly.

  “Not a chance,” Juan said, grasping her hand and placing a kiss on her knuckles.

  ********

  It was nearly eight o’clock and Olivia and Juan made their way back to the tavern. George was already seated and shuffling a deck of cards. He looked up and noticed them approaching the table, “Pharo?” he asked continuing to shuffle.

  Olivia caught the slightest hint of a smile on Juan’s face, but it quickly vanished to be masked with Juan’s stoic expression. “Si, Pharo--do we have a banker?”

  “Yes,” George nodded towards a man walking towards the table.

  Juan smiled again, “Well, Jonathan, it is good to see you!”

  The man smiled back and came directly to Juan, his hand extended, “Oscuro, it has been a long time. How have you been?” He was a tall, thin man with a receding hairline and a crooked nose, but his smile was warm and he seemed fond of Juan.

  “You will be our Pharo banker?” Juan asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “Yes, George asked when we crossed paths this afternoon,” Jonathan nodd
ed at George, “Greetings.”

  George nodded amiably at Jonathan, “I see you are acquainted with Mr. Larios,” he simply stated. Juan nodded. Olivia seated herself at an adjacent table as the men exchanged quiet words in preparation of the game. Olivia had heard of Pharo, but had never seen it played before. She watched as the cards were laid out on the table and the men began placing their bets. As the game went on she eventually was able to follow the process.

  Juan knew that the advantage was in the dealer’s hand and that it would be rather easy for him to throw the game or cheat, but he also knew Jonathan to be a fair and honest man, so he need not worry. He was unsure of George’s ability at the card game, but he was confident in his own. This would be an easy victory.

  When quite a bit of time had passed, and after Olivia had long since figured out how to play Pharo, Juan laid down the winning bet. Olivia breathed a sigh of relief even though she had had faith in him all along. He merely turned to her and nodded with a boyish grin. He then turned back to George and stated, “So, to review our agreement, you will leave my wife and I alone and let us determine our own future...without interference from you?”

  George’s expression had hardened and he pursed his lips, but then finally stated, “You have my word.” Juan rose from the table. He nodded to George and then to Jonathan. He extended his hand to Olivia, “Come on my dear, we have much more pressing matters to attend.” With that, they exited the tavern into the night air.

  Chapter 10

  Juan and Olivia slowly walked along the dock. Olivia was the first to break the silence, “Well, now that that matter is settled, what shall we do?”