Forced

by Daniella Wright

  I see images of my own face on missing person posters as I explore the town by night, and though I realize it’s truly not her fault, I can’t help but curse Crissy. If she hadn’t interrupted our moment, perhaps I could have explained my feelings to Edmund.

  As I hopelessly return to our shared home for the night, I slump in the front lawn, burying my face in my hands. The sun will rise in scarce hours, and I can’t afford to lose track of time on my hunt for the man. There are days I have been tempted to simply let the sun take me, but I know that will accomplish nothing. In spite of the rationality of that thought, I can’t help feeling as if everything from this step forward is pointless. How long can I fruitlessly search for Edmund? How can I possibly find him if he does not want to be found? What seems the reality of the situation is slowly beginning to settle on my shoulders, and I wonder if he simply got what he wanted and left. It made no sense, seemed too prolonged a process just to take advantage of me. At any time during my stay in his home, he could have easily overpowered me and gotten what he apparently wanted. I just don’t understand. Sobs shake my body as I realize that there is nothing for me to understand. Edmund captured my heart, had his fill of my body, and now he is gone. Allowing the sun to take me is sounding more appealing by the second.

  As tears stream down my face, I feel the slightest tingling in the back of my mind. It’s a feeling that’s only vaguely recognizable, a feeling I’m too desolate to try and place. Suddenly, I’m jolted with a sense of awareness. It’s impossible. After all this time, it couldn’t be… yet, it very much was. I draw my hands away from my face, looking into the distance where my mind is telling me to look. His body quakes where he stands, and he seems to echo my own despair back at me. I blink the bleariness from my eyes, and he steps towards me.

  “Janine…” He murmurs, like some soft spoken prayer. All at once, I am on my feet rushing towards him. He hesitates, but obligingly takes me into his arms as I slam into him. It seems he had not expected the sheer force of my embrace, and I nearly knock him off his feet as I bury my face in his chest. He wraps his arms uncertainly around me, and I find myself repeating his name in that same reverent tone he had used. He continues to shake, and our combined despair continues to wash over me in waves. I draw my head back just slightly, tilting my face up to consider his anguished expression. In spite of myself, I can feel the despair that clutches me slowly giving way to anger.

  “Where the hell have you been!?” I shout angrily, pushing him away from me. He stumbles back, obviously not having expected the shove. I round on him, anger and misery mingling to spill ever bitter tears down my cheeks. “You just take what you want and leave? You just… you just… Edmund, how could you leave me alone after all we’ve been through!? You have to have known I was looking for you. I searched for days.” I blurt angrily. For the first time since I have met him, the sheen of tears glimmer in his dark eyes.

  “I ruined your life…” He murmurs softly, and at first I simply can’t believe what I’m hearing.

  “You… ruined my life?” I repeat incredulously, and he chokes out a sob, drawing his arms around himself. “You ruined my life!? Are you serious Edmund?” I demand, stepping towards him and grabbing him by the chin.

  “Your friends… your family. Everyone who loved you, and who you loved in turn… I stole you away.” He gasps out, and I meet his gaze, understanding lancing me through the heart.

  “That’s why you left. You… you…” I trail off, and he braces himself as if I am about to strike him. I brush the tears from his cheeks, drawing him into my arms and burying my face flush against his neck. “You’re an idiot.” I murmur softly. He hesitantly wraps his arms around me, as if afraid to touch me.

  “Janine-” He begins, but I cut him short.

  “Edmund, I’m not going to lie. You absolutely ruined my life. You took away everything I was striving for. You took away my chances at school, a degree, a career. You took me from my friends, my family… I hated you for it.” I mutter, and he chokes back a sob.

  “I’m sorry.” He blurts, and I chuckle softly, tangling a hand in his hair.

  “But that’s not why I’m angry. I’ve forgiven you for that. In fact… I rejoice in it. Because the life I had before I met you was a meaningless one. I may not have a heartbeat now, but when we were together… I’ve never felt more alive in my life.” I murmur, and he tenses in my grasp. “I’ve come to a realization in the days I’ve been looking for you. I thought you were gone forever, or worse.” I continue, drawing away from him to look him in his deep brown, almost black eyes. He searches my expression, presumably for some crack in my armor. I suppose what I’m telling him doesn’t make much sense, but I’ve never been so certain of something in my life.

  “What are you saying, Janine?” He inquires hesitantly, reaching up to palm my cheek.

  “What I’m saying is… I love you, Edmund. I’m head over heels in love with you.” I say, biting back a laugh at the sheer disbelief he meets my gaze with. He opens and closes his mouth, looking much like a fish out of water.

  “You… wha?” He says, ever the picture of eloquence. I brush my thumb against his bottom lip, reveling in the softness of his skin. Reveling in everything about him.

  “You shouldn’t apologize for changing me. I won’t accept that apology. Being changed is perhaps the greatest thing to ever happen in my life, because it brought me to you.” I pause, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to his lips. Just as he begins to reciprocate, I pull away, meeting his gaze. Then, I slap him with as much force as I can muster. “You should apologize for leaving me and making me worry about your bloodsucking tail for this past week!” I shout, throwing my hands up in exasperation. He touches his fingertips to his cheek, staring at me through wide eyes. For a long moment, neither of us say anything more. Then, he begins to laugh. It starts as soft snickers, shifting into uncertain chuckles before blooming into full, unrestrained guffaws. In spite of myself, I find myself beginning to laugh as well. He wraps his arms around me, resting his chin atop the crown of my head as our bodies shake with irrational laughter. I imagine we must both look utterly insane, but the anger I felt at being abandoned is being washed away with sheer joy at being in his arms again. It seems ages before we regain our composure. He tightens his grip on me, his body continuing to shake with barely repressed giggles before he manages to compose himself enough to speak.

  “I’m so sorry I made you worry.” He breathes, and though the situation could quickly turn serious again, a sense of calm washes over me. He draws away just slightly, worrying his bottom lip with his fangs. He hesitates for a long moment before speaking earnestly. “I love you too, Janine. But I’m pretty sure you already had that figured out…” He murmurs uncertainly. I smile mischievously, brushing my fingers to his cheek. He predictably winces, and I can’t help but snort.

  “Well, you did let me get away with slapping the taste out of your mouth. I figure you must be a little sweet on me at least.” I muse, and he rolls his eyes in amusement.

  “I’m letting you get away with it for now. We’ll properly discuss your punishment later.” He retorts. I smile knowingly, kissing the tip of his nose. I consider making a snide remark regarding the punishment I had yet to receive for destroying his irreplaceable furniture, but I find myself getting lost in his eyes again instead.

  “What now?” I murmur, and he steers me towards the house. I realize there are scarce moments before the sun rises again. Life goes on, as it invariably tends to do.

  “Ah, my dear. We have the rest of eternity to concern ourselves with what happens next.” He hums. I grin as he presses his lips to my own, the gravity of the situation settling comfortably within me. An eternity doesn’t sound bad at all.

  BLURB

  Janine Rigby is a young and vivacious woman, who is filled with the exuberance of life. She harbors her share of hidden insecurities, but hey, who doesn’t? She has her friends at the Ivory Fang to sweep her worries away, and where the alcohol c
omes short, the dancing is sure to keep the pace. However, when her dangerously fun night turns simply dangerous, Janine finds out that she has much more to worry about than petty insecurities. Turns out, there’s more to fear than ending up alone. Her newest fear just so happens to have the darkest eyes she’s ever seen, and a particularly killer smile. There’s no doubt, it’s high time that Janine faces her fears head on. This time, she’s resolved to do just that. Now, all there’s left to do is hope she hasn’t bitten off more than she can chew; lest she end up bitten herself. Sounds easy enough. Right…?

  Captive

  ~ Bonus Story ~

  An Erotic Pirate Fantasy Romance

  I was Slade of the Seven Seas. I had been to every corner of the world, in search of treasure, but in the end, there was only one jewel I ever really wanted: Nixie. Some pirates roamed the Earth, looking for gold, but I roamed the Earth looking for her. But after two hundred years of searching, I started to have my doubts.

  In my hunt, I wound up in modern day London, selling jewelry out of a little shop people barely stepped into. With online shopping, why would anyone bother anyway? But, to my surprise, my failing jewelry busy would lead me right to the hope diamond I had been looking for all along.

  Her name was still Nixie but now she believed she was the daughter of two scuba divers. She had no idea what magic she held as a water nymph. Worst of all, she no longer remembered me! But I was determined to make her remember, or I wouldn’t be Slade, King of the Pirates. I just had to. Life wasn’t worth living without her. But with the will of the Gods against us, would I ever get her back into my arms again? Or would I drown in the depths of the ocean, a victim of vengeance?

  * * *

  Chapter 1

  The sun was at its highest point in the clear blue sky. Down below, the Caribbean Sea dazzled brilliantly as if a million dancing stars twinkled across its surface. The wind was tame, lapping at the water ever so gently, creating minuscule waves that lulled the hull of the large pirate ship now cutting through the water.

  The vessel was just like any other, with its various cannons, and woodwork finish. Unlike most, however, the sails on this ship were completely black, looking like an ominous sign in the otherwise perfect day. They lay limp now, occasionally billowing before becoming flaccid once more.

  “Roll up the sails, men. The wind isn’t on our side today!” I yelled out, standing near the wheel of the ship, calling out at my crew. Immediately, the dirt-covered men obeyed my orders, climbing masts and swinging on ropes until the sails were neatly rolled against the masts. I grinned to myself, seeing how efficient my crew really was.

  Finally, I looked away, glancing at the horizon, seeing sea and sky blend together. I narrowed my eyes, looking for something.

  “Captain Slade!”

  I turned around, addressing my first mate. “What is it, lad?”

  “Do you want to drop anchor?” He asked, fixing the red sash he had tied around his waist. His fingers were knotted and full of grime, but after all, those were some hard working hands. Part of his pinky was missing, but he no longer seemed to notice as he continued to fiddle with his sash, ignoring me for a moment.

  “No need. We’re sailing above the Coral Reefs. Do you know what that is?”

  The first mate looked upwards, giving me a quizzical look. “No, sir.”

  “Red Coral is the rarest of all corals. It’s rumored that little sea nymphs guard this place and if anyone dares to harm their precious reef, they board the ship and gut the crew like fish while they sleep!” I leaned in close, letting my voice drop as I recounted the spooky tale. The first mate gulped.

  “That be just a tale!” He exclaimed, trying to convince himself that I was simply trying to scare him.

  “Maybe…” I ran his fingers over my chin, feeling the pinpricks of my facial hair. “Maybe…” I repeated, dropping my arm. “But I’ve been here once before… and I can tell you, those creatures are very real.” I grinned at my first mate’s expression, patting him on the shoulder. “But don’t sweat it, lad. As long as you’re with me, no harm will befall you!” I gave a hearty chuckle, shoving him off.

  I turned around, placing my hand back on the wheel, guiding the ship toward a small formation of rocks. It was currently low tide so most of them were on display, looking like a statue crafted by the hand of nature.

  When the ship was close enough, the wind died down completely. The boat would no longer move on its own accord. Satisfied, I stepped away from the wheel and grabbed one of the ropes tied to the main staff. I yanked on it, testing its strength before I let out a loud shout, swinging off the boat and onto the rocks. I landed gracefully, a proud expression on my face.

  “Sir! What are you doing out there?”

  “Don’t mind me! I plan to wait for the nymph who saved me from drowning many years in the past. Wait for the wind to pick up again and guide the vessel around that bend yonder. I’ll be back by the end of the night!”

  ***

  Hours passed and I found myself sitting idly on the rocks. I sighed, thinking of the beautiful nymphs called Oceanids. They were tiny creatures, with petite frames and delicate features. I smiled, thinking of the time I had been a naïve first mate. I had fallen overboard, with no knowledge of how to swim and quickly found myself drowning. The rest of the crew ignored me, thinking it was funny to see me struggle. In the end, just when I thought I would find myself in Davey Jones’ locker, a beautiful, woman-like creature swam up to me, kissing my lips and filling my lungs with air. It had been one of the best moments of my life and something I could never forget.

  I had come to learn that she presided over the Caribbean Sea so I never hesitated to pay her a visit if I was in the area. Today, however, it didn’t seem like she would appear. Around me, the water was already beginning to rise. The wind had picked up, lapping at the rocks, threatening to pull me into the watery depths. Even now, I didn’t quite know how to swim. I would never make it back to the ship alive.

  Finally, just as I was starting to get desperate, something broke the water’s surface. Strands of silver hair sparkled in the moonlight, getting closer and closer. Eventually, a face emerged. I smiled, instantly recognizing her. She was just as gorgeous as ever with her ocean blue eyes, button nose, and coral-colored cheeks. “Nixie!” I called out, waving my arms in her direction.

  Her pink lips transformed into a radiant smile. I felt like my knees would buckle at any moment. My heart started to hammer in my chest. It was always like this whenever I laid eyes on the beautiful nymph. “Slade.” She whispered, her voice whimsical, casting soft lyrics in my direction. “Forever my bane.”

  “Whatever do you mean?” I inquired, a grin on my lips as I looked down at the near-naked female. All she had to cover herself up were a few shells and pieces of coral. It was impossible to take my eyes off her.

  “You know I’m forbidden to talk to humans, and yet, I always find myself coming back to you.” She giggled, the sound harmonious and perfect. “I’ve already saved you once, and by the looks of it, I might have to do it again. Father will be furious.”

  “He doesn’t need to know.” I let out a hearty chuckle, winking in her direction.

  “Oh, but when the heart yearns, it’s hard to keep secrets.” She said with a mysterious look in her eyes.

  Chapter 2

  I stared at her a moment, trying to interpret what she could mean with such a statement. She giggled once again, breaking the silence that had settled between us. “What brings you to my domain, anyway?” She asked.

  “I came to strike a bargain with you.” I sat down, taking off my boots and rolling up my pants, letting my legs dip into the warm water. Nixie positioned herself between my legs, her hands on the rocks, dangerously close to my thighs. She gave me an innocent expression as if such a position wasn’t immediately scandalous.

  “And what would that be?” She batted her eyelashes, small pieces of coral decorating their tips, making them look even longer than they
actually were.

  “I believe it would be beneficial to both our races if we struck an alliance between the Pirates and the Oceanids.” I paused, gauging her expression. When she didn’t comment, I continued. “The Inland people are starting to disrespect us Pirates, calling us vermin. They don’t trust us and think that we use dirty tactics. Now, I’ll admit we occasionally bend the rules, but we aren’t crooks.” I balled my hands into fists on my thighs. “If we formed an alliance, the Pirates could protect the reefs.”

  Nixie seemed to contemplate this for a moment before she laid her head on my thigh. Her long, silver hair glittered in the bright moonlight. Her eyes gazed into the distance as if she were in deep thought. Then she let out a long sigh. “I wish I could help you… but alas, it’s my nine hundred and ninety-ninth year and when I turn a thousand, I’m destined to marry Poseidon, God of the Sea. I don’t have the authority you need. Only after my marriage would I be able to aid your cause, but I fear that by then, it’ll be much too late.” She looked up at me, her eyes full of longing. In that moment, I was possessed with a need to kiss her sweet lips, but I refrained. Instead, I laid a hand on her wet hair, gently smoothing it against her skull.