by Sophie Stern
He had killed a man.
Somehow, despite the way his mates were plundering and taking what they wanted, Nelson couldn’t take anything. He couldn’t bear to. He couldn’t handle this. He crept down to his bunk and stripped down, sitting in just his shorts on his bed.
His blood-covered clothes were on the floor. He wouldn’t try to wash them. He wouldn’t even throw them overboard, lest he attract sharks or other creatures to the ship. No, he would have to burn the clothes he was wearing today.
But that’s not what he cared about.
Nelson knew better, he thought. He knew better than to become a pirate, but still, it was an incredible chance to see the world. He had grown up in Gunthry with Julianne, working hard to make his parents proud and to look after his sister.
He had always imagined that someday, he would be like his father. Someday he would be a business man or a law man. Someday he would have money, a wife, and children. Someday he would have the respect he so deeply craved.
Someday.
Nelson hadn’t planned to kill anyone today, not when he woke up. He knew there was a chance they would pass the Forgotten Empress this week, but was surprised it was so soon. He hadn’t felt ready. None of them had, really.
But today, when he boarded the ship and began fighting the other ship’s crew, Nelson wondered if he had made the right choice becoming a pirate. There was no real reason to fight the ship today, not really. The only reason they had even decided to do so was that if they didn’t, the other ship would.
To be honest, Nelson thought The Dark Lovely had much more on board that was worth stealing. He thought they had much more of value than the other ship. Not only was his sister on board, whom Nelson considered to be quite priceless, but Wade Docherty kept an entire room of treasures downstairs.
There was a lot worth stealing, if you knew how to find it.
Nelson slipped his hands behind his head and closed his eyes, thinking of the way he had come upon Wade fighting on the other ship. His captain was doing well, but not too well, and it was clear that he was losing the battle. Perhaps Wade was tired or maybe he was just distracted. Nelson couldn’t be sure. The only thing he knew, in that moment, was that he had to do something or within moments, The Dark Lovely would have no captain.
It wasn’t simply that the ship would be in chaos.
It would.
The Dark Lovely would get a new captain, though. As fierce a pirate as Wade was, pirate captains were replaceable. The thing that wasn’t replaceable was the look of contentment on Julianne’s face every time she looked at the Saucy Devil.
Nelson wasn’t the fiercest or bravest or most worthy of pirates, but he knew that if his sister lost the man who made her smile, if she lost the man who made her feel at peace, she would never recover.
Nelson had to save Wade.
Wade and the man had their swords out and were circling one another in the midst of chaos. They were each bleeding, obviously injured from their sparring. The opposing man’s back was to Nelson. With a deep breath, Nelson had slipped out from his position and rammed his sword through Wade’s opponent. The man had sputtered before falling onto the deck. Wade said nothing as Nelson pulled his sword from the man and turned to leave.
He had never killed anyone before.
He wasn’t sure how he was supposed to feel in that moment.
But then Nelson felt his captain’s hand on his arm and looked up to see Wade’s blazing eyes.
Was Wade afraid that Nelson would tell someone he had saved him? They both knew that there was no room for error on the part of a captain. They both knew that if anyone suspected Wade of being weak, they wouldn’t hesitate to try to take his ship.
Perhaps most of all, they both knew that Wade had Nelson’s sister and was, to be honest, the only one keeping her safe from a crew of raging pirates who hadn’t seen a woman in weeks.
“Nice work, Captain,” Nelson said simply, nodding to the man on the floor. “You really let ‘im have it.”
Wade released his grip and Nelson turned to return to their ship. Each step felt heavy as he made his way back and down to his room. Somehow, thinking about it, he didn’t feel brave or strong. He didn’t feel good. He didn’t feel courageous.
He knew that Wade would probably be dead or severely injured without him, but that didn’t change much about the way Nelson felt.
No, the only thing that would make Nelson feel better at this moment in time would be the warm touch of a woman or the warm touch of whiskey.
Neither of which he had.
15
It had been an exhausting endeavor, and the captain was tired, but when he opened the door to his cabin and saw his little vixen sprawled out on his bed, he smiled. She was quickly becoming an important part of life on the ship. She was quickly becoming very, very important to Wade.
“How are you feeling?” He asked. He began to strip off his blood-covered clothes. They would need to be burned. He wouldn’t wear them again. Typically, Wade didn’t like to kill during raids. He had plenty of men to do that for him.
Besides, if the other pirates would simply hand over their goods, killing wouldn’t be necessary. For some reason, people didn’t like to hand over their gold easily, though. That was something Wade would never understand. All of the trouble could be avoided.
Julianne turned toward him and grunted.
“My ass hurts,” she said finally, watching him pull his pants down. His cock sprang free. He was already hard and ready. Wade had spent the morning fighting. He was ready to fuck now, ready to forget about how he spent his day.
Raids didn’t happen frequently, but Wade had a reputation to protect. He was feared: hated, even. He was lawless. Strong. He was a fierce seadog who never took captives alive.
Except for one, apparently.
**
Wade looked tired.
Julianne guessed that he would want to spend the rest of the day fucking. Instead of thinking about her sore bum or the way he had spanked her before he left, she rose out of bed and went to him. He was completely undressed, and she could see dark bruises beginning to form on his chest. He had fought, probably more than he was used to, she realized.
A pirate’s life wasn’t simply plundering and stealing. Most of a pirate’s life was enjoying the beauty of the sea, of exploring new places. Today was a dark day, though. There was a certain satisfaction that came from stealing, she knew, but there was also risk.
There was also a darkness, a pain.
“You were brave today,” she said thoughtfully, looking at him. She placed her hands on either side of his face and kissed him softly, slowly. “But,” she said, smiling. “I think you need a bath."
Julianne walked to the basin and poured clean water into it from the nearby pitcher. She dipped a rag in the water and went back to him. Wade stood still as she gently washed his face, his neck, and his chest. She ran her hands over his abs and down his hips, gently washing away sweat and grime from the day. She was cautious to avoid the bruises, certain those spots would be tender.
She was careful as she washed him.
Though she was here to serve Wade and take care of his needs in bed, she liked to think she was more than that. In their time together, she had begun to view herself as a part of his life. She wasn’t simply someone to warm his bed. She was his companion, as well.
Did he view her that way?
He never said that he did. He was careful to avoid making promises of a future together. Sometimes, though, in the stillness of their time together, she felt he was growing attached to her, just as she was growing attached to him.
“That feels nice,” he murmured. She smiled as she dipped the rag back in the basin, wetting it again before she washed up and down his legs. She walked around him and washed his back, cleaning him with gentle strokes. She knew the water was cool against his skin, but she’d added some oils to make it feel relaxing and to soothe his sore muscles. As he closed his eyes in relaxation, Julianne
felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
She turned to place the rag next to the basin so it could try. Wade watched her, eyeing her ass as she swayed her hips softly. She could feel his gaze on her. She sashayed when she walked just because she knew she had his attention. Did he like it? Did he like the way she looked, the way she yearned for him?
After she set the rag down, she came back over and placed her hands on his chest.
“You missed a spot,” he nodded to his cock. She had cleaned all of him but there, carefully avoiding his balls and dick.
“No,” Julianne licked her lips. “I didn’t.”
She slipped to her knees and reached for Wade’s ass, grabbing it and pulling him into her mouth at once. She took as much of his length as she could without gagging, then slipped him in and out of her lips. His cock was hard and throbbing as she sucked him. His hands rested in her hair, squeezing gently. He exerted control while still giving her the freedom to explore him as she liked.
Julianne stopped blowing him hard and began to lick him slowly. She started at his head, carefully swirling her tongue around him. Then she licked up and down his length. She ravished him slowly, then quickly, then slowly again, eliciting a quiet moan from Wade.
Yes, thought Julianne, he was quite happy to see her indeed.
**
When he was close, when he couldn’t take it anymore, Wade reached down and pulled her up, pressing his mouth to hers. He kissed her hard and fast and passionately. He kissed her with the fervor of a man who had just been to war because he had. He had killed a man and seen one killed. He had beaten others and stolen from them. He was not a good man or a kind man, but he felt, when he was in Julianne’s arms, that none of that really mattered.
He felt, when he was in her arms, that she saw him for something deeper than his job description.
She saw him for who he was.
She saw him as the little boy who had once brought his mother flowers.
She saw him as the young man who had showed off to girls at school.
She saw him as the husband whose wife had died.
She saw him as the father who had lost his only children.
She him as the man who was kind to dogs.
Most of all, perhaps best of all, she saw him as the man she wanted. She saw him as something great. She saw him as something wonderful.
When she wrapped her arms around him, Wade felt powerful and adored.
He felt worshipped.
He lifted her up and carried her over to his bed. He laid her down and smiled when she let out a small squeak. Her ass still stung as she lay on her back, waiting to see what he would do next.
“I’ve had a long day, woman,” he said as he pushed her legs apart. “But I’m sure as hell glad to be here with you.”
He plunged into her, glad that she was already wet for him, glad that she obviously wanted him even after he had spanked her. He fucked her hard and long and with endless passion. Then Julianne began to quiver, clenching him tightly as she came.
“Holy dragons, woman,” he moaned as he, too, came inside of her.
He collapsed next to her, draping a heavy arm over her stomach, and smiled.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” he said.
And he meant it.
16
Julianne had been on the ship for awhile, but she hadn’t experienced a storm quite like the one that came two days after the raid. She hid away in the cabin, throwing up in a bucket with each sway and jerk of the ship. Wade and Nelson were busy on the deck, trying to make sure the ship stayed upright.
They were running around, trying to keep everything in check. The only thing she was doing was regretting her decision to jump into pirate life. This wasn’t really what she had signed up for.
Then again, nothing had really been what she signed up for. When she fled Gunthry, the only thing pushing her was the need to run. The only thing motivating her was the need to get away, to escape from the life being thrust upon her.
And now?
Now she was floating on a giant boat in the middle of a giant ocean during a giant storm.
She wasn’t sure how much more of this she could take. Wade was still set on tracking down this lost treasure, but she wasn’t so sure he was going to find it. Julianne didn’t want to admit that she doubted anyone, especially not her captain, but she was tired of stale food and bad storms, and most of all, Julianne was tired of being stuck in the cabin when she wanted to be exploring the world.
She didn’t have much time to think about that, though. She was too busy vomiting.
**
Wade stood on the deck and shouted orders to his men. He had done this so many times that he could do it in his sleep. Directing his men was not his problem. Doing it while searching for Mad Drake’s ship? That was his problem. If Old Lester’s map was correct, they were on course to find the area the ship went missing in just a few weeks’ time. That didn’t bother him. What did bother him was trying to find the treasure when they kept hitting storms. It wasn’t storm season and he didn’t like the way the sky had been looking lately.
Wade might do a lot of crazy things, but leading his men into disaster wasn’t one of them. He struggled openly with the decision to keep going, to push through the storm. He had been a captain for a long time and a pirate even longer, so he knew the calms and storms of the sea. He knew when it was time to seek shelter. He knew when it was time to push through.
Today, he urged his men forward, through the rain, through the torrents. They would pass several islands that they could land at if they needed to. There were options. What he didn’t want was to stop before they had a chance, to lose their place on the great sea. He didn’t want the ship to crash, to wreck before they had a chance to complete their mission.
His mission.
His dream.
He shouted to Buck to hurry up to deck and help as the rest of the men scurried about. He was soaked to the bone and his men were, too. Casting a weary glance up at the sky, Wade continued yelling to his boys.
He knew they would never let him down.
He just hoped he could do the same for them.
**
When Wade returned to Julianne, she had finally calmed down enough to fall asleep. Like the day before, she slept on her stomach. He smiled a little, knowing her ass was still tender from his touch. Though Wade was not sadistic, by any means, he loved walking the line between pain and pleasure when it came to lovemaking.
And he knew from experience that sometimes, a firm hand could add an entire new level of pleasure.
He stripped out of his wet clothes and hung them over the back of his chair. They would drip on the floor, but he didn’t much care. The only thing he wanted was to wrap his arms around Julianne, to smell her hair, and to relax beside her as he fell asleep.
It had been a long time since Wade found solace in the arms of a woman. It had been a long time since he felt safe enough beside a girl to actually sleep. Since his wife died, he had been with many women and many whores, but he had never felt safe with one. He had never felt complete. He had never been able to relax.
It wasn’t like that with Julianne.
Wade marveled that anyone could try to force her into a marriage with someone who would be cruel to her. Julianne was much too kind for that. He had seen the way she managed to make her way around the ship, the way she had been able to keep the boys in line. He saw how she was always willing to offer a hand to Buck when he needed help in the kitchen. Wade even loved how Julianne was always curling up in his cabin with a book.
She was precious.
Yet somehow, this Vince fellow was going to hurt her. Anger bellowed deep inside Wade when he thought about the man who had almost stolen Julianne away. Though Wade hadn’t even known her during her engagement, he felt protective of her. He felt in charge of her. He didn’t like the idea of some other man touching his woman.
His woman.
Wade thought about that for a momen
t as he draped one arm over Julianne. She purred softly in her sleep the way a little kitten would, and then snuggled back against him. She didn’t wake up as Wade closed his eyes, she just let out a soft sound of contentment, and soon Wade was fast asleep.
17
The next morning, Wade stood with Julianne on the deck. The sun was rising and most of the men were still asleep. He didn’t worry about it. They had worked hard to keep The Dark Lovely afloat during the storm. They could have a day to relax if they needed to. Hell, for all he cared, they could have a week if it meant he’d get to watch the sun rise every day.
Though Wade knew Julianne was only with him so that she wasn’t forced to return to Gunthry, he was beginning to enjoy having her around. Part of him thought that maybe, just maybe, she wouldn’t want to disappear after they found the treasure. Maybe she’d want to stay with him for awhile.
“I love this,” she whispered, looking out over the water.
“Me, too,” he murmured, looking at her.
Julianne smiled.
“Do you ever get tired of this? Watching the sun rise over the ocean? Feeling the wind in your face?” She asked.
“Never,” he answered easily. Though he tired of many aspects of piracy, the sea herself was not one of them.
“The sea is in my blood. I could no sooner leave the ocean than I could stop breathing.”
“That’s beautiful,” Julianne whispered. “I never imagined things could be so free.”
“What do you mean?” He asked her. Julianne was facing out over the water and Wade stood just behind her. He wrapped his arms over her chest, holding her close. He loved the way she smelled, the way she sounded when she snuggled against him.
He knew that he was falling hard and fast.
That was the last thing he needed.
“I just mean that things are very different here,” she said after a moment. “In Gunthry, I wasn’t really important, you know? I didn’t really have a purpose. Well, my only purpose was to one day get married. What I wanted never really mattered.”