The Dubious Heir

by Clark, Lydia

  “Are you insinuating that I belong to you?” Treea scoffed. “You should know me better than that by now. I belong to no man and will keep it that way, especially since you didn’t want to tell Pop about us.”

  Hurley’s smug grin dropped a notch. “I will arrange a meeting for you. I think three gold pieces will do. He may want more, but I think you will be more than he is bargaining for.”

  Treea watched Hurley depart the ship. She did not like the way he was trying to lay claim to her when he wouldn’t confront her Pop about their relationship. Did he consider her to be his woman? If her Pop ever found out about the two of them on his own… Nope, she would never be his woman, since he didn’t have the courage to come forward and say something to her Pop about the two of them, but she didn’t mind being his playmate.

  Who was this so-called heir and how was it that Hurley knew them? What was equivalent to being as a Pirate? Treea could only wonder. She continued to ponder for hours while she waited for Hurley to return with news of the heir and how they could be found.

  By noon, the clouds grew grey and covered the sun. The temperature dropped. A severe storm was brewing, meaning they would have to move out to sea away from the docks in case of harsh waves and winds. Plus she did not need anyone to see her while she cast her spell of protection over the ship. It was one of the reasons her Pop had allowed her to join him aboard the ship.

  Being a Sea Witch was not something one wanted just anyone to know about. Her Pop might be a prisoner in a dungeon, but if they knew she was any kind of witch then she would be burned at the stake. That would be such a barbaric way to die. She would rather die while in the throes of ecstasy.

  “I found him at the Black Line Tavern. You are to meet him there in two hours. He will be expecting you. Sit in the far corner of the room and order a meal. I told him what you looked like and he will find you. Your time with him has already been paid for. I hope you do not overly enjoy yourself,” Hurley chuckled when her expression turned sour once again when he mentioned about over enjoying herself.

  “What did you pay for, might I ask?”

  Hurley tipped his head playfully. “I think I will leave that as a surprise for you. Though, I’m sure you will figure it out once you see him.” He whispered in her ear and kissed her on the back of her neck.

  Treea glanced about the deck, she was fearful that someone would see them. Not a soul was in sight. Thankfully.

  He continued. “When you have figured a way to capture this heir, I will be waiting out back of the Tavern to help bring him aboard the ship.” He teased her once again. “Remember don’t enjoy yourself too much.” He traced a finger down her throat gently toward her bosom and stopped. This sent ripples of forthcoming excitement within her. Making her want to take him by the hand to lead him below. Now was not the time for this. She needed to find the Tavern on her own. “Oh and leave the sword behind, and wear a dress this once. You don’t want to alert the soldiers of who you are.”

  Hurley was right about the sword. She took it off and left it in her cabin before departing in search of this Tavern where she was to find this heir. There was no need for her to call undue attention to herself.

  She walked the streets following a map that Hurley was kind enough to provide for her. The city was set up like a maze of streets. Some going this way and others making one back track. Soon she knew why Hurley felt she needed a head start in order to find this Tavern. It was nestled in a remote area with access to it being by a street off by itself, but being in the middle of the city. It reminded her of setting a snare to capture an enemy. Who was the enemy in this case, her or the heir? Hopefully, he was to be a prisoner and not her.

  The inn was busy, smoke and laughter filled. In the back corner as Hurley said was a vacant table. That was where Treea was to wait for him. She ordered a plate of food while she waited, just as she was instructed to do, and went about not calling attention to herself. This last part was sort of complicated. Being a woman and there in the tavern alone, many a man gave her an eye that she managed to deflect casually.

  Had they know she used witch’s magic on them to keep them at bay, they would have called the guard and she would have been taken immediately to be strapped to the stake. Witches were not tolerated in this land, making it best not to be caught in the act. The Duke would see to it. But had she been registered with the college, the King would have given her leniency.

  It was a sad thing though, for the many women who had been wrongfully accused of such a crime and wrongfully burned for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Those were the ones no one ever avenged. Those were the ones who continued to be scrutinized many years after their death. No one ever knowing the truth. Except for the guilty witch, who used the innocent to protect themselves from the horrific fate.

  Time passed. Treea was close to finishing up her meal. That was when she spied him entering the establishment. For an illegitimate heir, he carried himself well and joked with many of the patrons on his way to her table. He was not what she was expecting to see. She expected a haggard young man living in rags or maybe that of a thief. Instead, before her stood a man with substantial stature who carried himself well. He even looked stately. Funny how Hurley never responded when she asked him what the surprise was supposed to be, except that she would know as soon as she saw him.

  Hurley was right.

  The way he looked at her made her feel uncomfortable. A ripple of excitement crept up from her stomach making her feel queasy and nervous, anxious for the night’s event to come to an end. The dress she wore may have had something to do with this uneasy feeling. Dresses were not her usual attire. She wore this one at Hurley’s request. So that the client would be able to find her in a crowded room.

  She was surprised when she asked if he wanted to order a meal only to have him decline. But when he responded by saying she was going to be his meal, she had a vague idea to what he meant by that. He was the kind of man to say such a thing to her, being a gigolo.

  Hurley set this meeting up without telling her that she was meeting a male harlot. It was what he was hinting at when he told her not to have too much fun.

  Then fun was what she planned to do since Hurley told her not to do it. Which is why she asked him to dance with her. How else was she to put her mark off guard? She had to appear as though she were truly there to hire him for his services.

  He danced with her in a way that sent her senses crazy, firing up lust deep down inside her. Witchcraft, it had to be that, it was the only answer. His aroma increased his attraction. She would have to counter this with her own little spell. Just by dancing closer to him set that spell in motion.

  His lips touched her neckline and she could not help but begin to respond. It triggered responses in her that she could not shut off. Not like she normally could do. He must have some pretty powerful magic of his own.

  Before she realized where they were going, he was leading her up a stairway above the tavern. Away from prying eyes, behind a closed door, his lips found hers while he pushed her up against the wall. His lust activated her lust. There was no stopping now.

  What was her plan supposed to be? How was she going to capture him when all she could do was want him, excitement aroused between her legs.

  She was the one who apparently was snagged in the net instead. She had to stop him before it was too late. But the way his lips felt on her skin made her nerves tingle. Her lust had turned to want. A want she could not shut off.

  His hands found hers, he moved them up above her head, holding her prisoner against the wall. His tongue darted about her mouth tickling her own tongue with light strokes.

  Treea broke off the kiss for a gasp of breath. His lips immediately moved to the middle of her neckline, gently caressing their way down to where her two white breasts held tight against each other by the cord of the dress of her bosom.

  He used his teeth to untie it making her want him even more. Treea began breathing in small pants. She knew she h
ad to stop soon or it would be too late. But the feel of his hardness against her made it impossible to stop. He used it well with skill to entice and tease her aiming it for the area between her legs where the feeling of it made her automatically spread her legs for him to find a home for his pride. A big long hard pride of manhood that would drive any woman crazy.

  She had no intention of letting him continue. She thought of the chambermaid and the prince in the diary. Just as the young woman wanted she too wanted to see and touch it. By now her dress was down past her shoulders exposing her breast. His lips found her nipples and teased them with his tongue. Trailing in soft gentle circles around the base only to lick them up the middle to the tip making her let out a gasp she could not stifle.

  Finally, he spoke again to her softly in her ear. “You want me as much as I want you.”

  Treea couldn’t help but nod slowly. She did want him there was no doubt about that. He continued to hold her hands above her head. She was his prisoner. He was in control. With one hand holding both her wrists above her head, the other trailed down to undo his pants and let them drop to his knees exposing his long hard prime member. She didn’t need to see it, she could feel it against her body.

  His experience showed by the way he was able to hoist up her dress so quickly and tuck it out of his way finding an easy path to her womanhood. Kissing her as he inserted himself, slowly, gently, thrusting in and out. She wanted every inch of him.

  One of her legs lifted up to his hip while he wrapped his free arm under her bottom supporting her weight.

  The whole time he continued to hold her arms above her head while she moved her body in rhythm with his, seeking to send him deeper and deeper inside until he found her spot. The place that brought her over the threshold, the intensity never met by Hurley.

  But she had not satisfied him. His endurance was high along with his erection. He released her arms and stroked her hair, brushing it away from eyes bright with pleasure. Treea was not done with him just yet either. Now it would be her turn. She knew a trick or two too.

  “Sit,” Treea said pointing to a chair set out in the middle of the room. He had watched her stroll about in her buff, no modesty at all. She knew her body had the curves men liked and knew how to move that body about him.

  He sat as he was told.

  “Your headband, pull it down over your eyes, no looking.”

  He smiled at the thought, carefully making sure not to expose his half-breed’s ears. He loved these types of games. Not many women would play them with him.

  Treea used her hair to tickle around his neck while she ran her hands from behind him down his chest, slowly moving about him letting a thigh touch teasingly at his thigh but always remaining in control.

  While she continued to tease him, she looked about the room and spied a thin cord like the one in her dress. She retrieved it from a nearby table and took one of his hands and cinched it about his wrist. At the same time, she sat on his lap facing him, straddling his manhood under her. It throbbed hard in response to her touch of her body.

  She proceeded to tie his wrists together behind his back, making sure as not to cut the circulation off but snug enough so he couldn’t get away. Was she even sure that this was the guy she was supposed to capture?

  There was only one way…

  She spoke his name.

  “Dale, are you enjoying yourself?” She tried to sound like one of the tavern wenches she had seen about the crew when they had visited the last port. All the men had disappeared upstairs with one except for her Pop. He said he had to keep an eye on her. She tried to reassure him that she could take care of herself, but he would not hear otherwise. Hurley waited as long as he could until he finally gave up and left with one of the wenches.

  “Umm… that is what I am supposed to ask you, my queen bee.”

  She leaned close to his face and whispered in his ear. “So you are Dale Montey?”

  “Yes, the very one. Who else could serve your needs better? Certainly not Hector the Red. I am the best gigolo in this here town.”

  Her questions were not affecting him in the right way. It was evident by the way he went limp. Treea had enough fun for now anyways. She left him sitting naked there in the chair while she dressed. Eyeing his body while she did so. His physic was very pleasing to a woman’s eye. Biceps that rippled when they flexed. He was just well built all over.

  “Are we done here so soon?”

  Treea did not answer. She continued to re-lace her cord across the top of her dress pulling her breasts taut underneath it.

  Dale stood and almost lost his balance knocking the chair off to the side by his stumble. “Do you mind removing my blindfold and undoing my wrists? I’d like to put my pants back on if you don’t mind.”

  Treea uprighted the chair putting it back in place and directed him to sit. “Sit and I will help you dress.”

  “Is this still part of some game we are playing?”

  She smiled a thought. “Yes, we are still playing the game. A bondage game and I will be your master. You must do as I say or I will be forced to whip you.”

  Dale smiled and licked his lips in anticipation.

  Then she helped him put his pants and boots on. To him this was a sign that the game should be over. “What kind of game is this anyways?”

  Treea stroked the side of his cheek softly and kissed his lips. “I’m taking you home.”

  “That is not part of the bargain. I do not go home with any of my clients.”

  “Well now, there is a first for everything. You’re coming home with me and that’s that. You are my prisoner and I am your captor. Now up on your feet and let’s go.”

  Dale hesitated until he felt the blade at his back. He didn’t remember seeing her carrying a knife of any kind. How did she do that?

  When Hurley told her she couldn’t take her sword, he never said she couldn’t take the blade. She had strapped it under her dress on her ankle well out of sight. She had poked him one more time before he moved forward and out the door.

  Hurley was waiting out behind the tavern just as he said he would. “What took you so long?”

  Treea smiled. “A girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do, especially since you didn’t say what I had to do.”

  Hurley eyed her. He could barely make out her features in the dark. Her response was not to his liking. He would have to deal with her when they got back to the ship. She might be the captain’s daughter, but her tone did not sit well with him. She wouldn’t be in charge much longer anyways. Not with what he had in mind.

  The two of them led Dale back to the ship and shoved him down below in a holding hole. A ball and shackle were used to keep him from escaping. Bread and water would be provided come morning.

  In the captain’s quarters, the two began to argue over what they were going to do with their new found prisoner.

  “I say we ask for my father and nothing more.”

  “What is wrong with you woman. We stand to get a lot of money for this man. We could buy your Pop’s freedom ten times over. You even said so yourself.”

  Treea crossed her arms and turned her back on Hurley. She knew he was right, but it wasn’t her idea so she didn’t like it.

  “Think about it Treea. You know I’m right. We’re right. He is our only chance.”

  The room went silent. Only the sound of the waves hitting the side of the boat was heard in the room. Treea turned around to find that Hurley was gone. He knew how to win an argument.

  Chapter 7

  Hurley leaned against the side of the boat looking out over the pier. It was only a matter of time before his plan worked out. Everything was going as it should. The captain had been arrested and thrown in the dungeon. All he had left to do was get rid of the girl. Then the boat would be his.

  So why bother trying to free the Captain if it meant giving back the command of the ship?

  He had mixed feelings about the girl. Over the past few months, she started growing unde
r his skin. She was more than just a mere plaything, which was all she was at first. That is, as long as her Pop didn’t find out about the two of them.

  It wasn’t because her Pop didn’t like Hurley. In fact, Captain Pellesi was like a second father to him. Taking him under his wing over twenty years ago, back when he was only twenty-four years old. That was the age Treea was now. Age would most likely be a major factor in how her Pop would feel about them if he knew their relationship.

  So far, Hurley had managed to take care and not be caught. But now that her Pop, Captain Pellesi was out of the picture while he was sitting in the dungeon, it gave him not only free range of the ship but also that of Treea. The plan about Treea was the only part of the plan that was not coming together properly.

  He had to find a way to make certain that Captain Pellesi was never going to be released without Treea becoming suspicious. Win her over and then the Captain position would be his. Just as he planned.

  Sugar coating for Treea might go far.

  “Hurley, I’ve come to say I’m sorry. You are right. We need to ask for the ransom and the release of my Pop.”

  Her voice caught him completely off guard. It was so unlike her to agree with him so readily. Hurley whipped around to make sure it was Treea’s voice he had heard.

  “What made you change your mind?”

  “I don’t know, it just sounds like the thing to do.” Treea held out a large piece of rough paper with writing on it. “I wrote the ransom note. You just need to find someone to deliver it.”

  Hurley put his fingers to his mouth and let out a loud shrill whistle. A young boy came running. He couldn’t have been more than fourteen years of age. “Marvin, you are to run this letter to the King. Make sure he gets it and return as quick as you can.”

  “Aye, Sir.”

  Marvin took the letter never looking to see what it said. He tucked it safely in his belt at his waist and ran off at a sprint for the castle. Quickly disappearing out of sight.