Within a Captain's Hold

by Lisa A. Olech

  Her knees weakened and she gasped at the heat coursing through her.

  “That would be your cost, m’lady.”

  His mouth brushed the side of her throat, to the tender spot connecting neck to shoulder. One arm circled her waist, pressing her tight to him, while a lazy thumb blazed a path between the swell of her breasts before clutching the leather lacings of her blouse in a tight fist.

  She whimpered as he kissed his way back to her ear. His desire surrounded her like a cloak. “Do you honestly believe after I’ve had you, tasted you, found heaven nestled between your pale thighs, I would ever agree to sail away?”

  What was he suggesting? Anna swooned at the graveled honey of his voice. It stole her breath. He released her suddenly, breaking the connection, pushing her aside. She spun around, gripping the desk to steady herself. Jaxon snatched his things and moved to the door. Pausing with his hand on the handle, he looked back at her.

  “Never.”

  CHAPTER 15

  Jaxon gripped the oak pegs of the ship’s wheel so tight, he threatened to snap them off. His hands pulsed with the effort. Coming up from leaving Annalise, he’d taken over the duty from Quinn. If he could control nothing else, he damn well could steer his ship. But the Scarlet Night was fighting against her rudder. The winds continued to blow strong, and the ship seemed to delight in her sprint through the murk of a sunless morning. Was it his lot of late to struggle with headstrong women? He set his jaw and jerked at the wheel.

  “Are you well, Captain?”

  “Aye,” he snapped. No need to take the man’s head. “Aye,” he repeated. “Call all hands, Mr. Quinn.”

  “Yes, Captain.” The man saluted. Gavin Quinn was in the Royal Navy’s service before he joined the ranks of sea bandits. He never spoke of his days of service or why he’d left that life behind. It was obvious the old habits of detail and protocol were tattooed on his bones. Not necessary on a ship full of castoffs, but a finer seaman Jaxon had never seen.

  “All hands.” The order carried from deck to deck as men scrambled to gather topside.

  Cookie came to stand next to him, handing him a tankard of ale. “Why the party?”

  “I want as many eyes on watch for Bonchette as I can muster.”

  “All present, Captain,” reported Quinn.

  Jaxon handed over the wheel to him and went to speak to the men. “I’ve a bit of news you should hear. Blood-Eye Bonchette is out to make a name for himself, lads. He wants something I hold dear--my bonny head. And seems he’s taken a dislike to some of your mugs as well. He means to see us fed to the sharks with the Scarlet laying at the bottom of the sea.”

  A grumble passed through the men.

  “If it were only my head, I’d tell the man to come get it, but when he threatens my crew and my ship, well, lads, that’s another thing. I’m not likely to sit by and give up the fiercest crew and the fastest ship on these seas.

  “I’m sure the bastard is waiting for us off the coast of Port Royal. He knows we’re coming, and he’s planning we never make it. What he can’t be knowing is we know he’s there, and we’re prepared to sail into that harbor with our red sails bowed and our heads still on our shoulders.”

  Shouts of agreement came from the crew.

  “If our holds weren’t fit to bursting with plunder, I’d say we be the ones to track him down and give chase, but with the bowsprit weak and us loaded to the gills, it puts us at a wee disadvantage. Bonchette’s going to be riding high and fast, and he out guns us by ten. His crew is light, though, and we can outfight them on our worst day. But we can’t let the bastard sneak up on us and catch us with our britches around our ankles. I’m ordering two men into the crow’s nest, and I’m putting you all on watch. I want to know the second a mast tip breaks the horizon. The first man to spot the Sea Dragon will be getting an extra share once our feet hit the beaches of Port Royal.” Cheers and boasts erupted from the men.

  “One more thing,” He yelled over the din. “When the battle begins, Bonchette is mine.”

  They roared, shook their fists, and rattled their cutlasses. Men shouted out to Jaxon their suggestions on the best way to kill Bonchette.

  After dismissing the men, Jaxon spoke with Cookie. “If I survive this voyage, it will be nothing short of a miracle.”

  “Ye’ve taken on Bonchette before.”

  Jaxon leaned his hands against the gunwales. “It’s not only that, and you know it.”

  “Ah, I’m guessing ye’re referring to the bit of weep I just left in yer cabin. Mind telling me what ye bloody did to cause that.”

  Jaxon spun on him. “Are you signing on to be her protector now?” He snorted. “Good. You can marry her.”

  Cookie eyebrows nearly hit his headscarf. “Who said anythin’ ’bout marriage?”

  Scanning the men, Jaxon lowered his voice, “She did. She proposed.”

  “Bloody hell. Ain’t it the man who’s supposed to do the askin’?”

  “Not where she’s concerned. Had everything figured. She’d be saved from the duke, and I’d become a rich lord.”

  Cookie shrugged and scratched at his chin. “Beats a sharp stick in the eye.”

  Jaxon grumbled, “I’d rather be fitted for a patch.” He ran a hand through his hair and headed toward the bow.

  “Ye mean, ye’ll not at least consider it?”

  Shaking his head, Jaxon pointed off the starboard bow. “She’s still determined to get to Port St. Maria to reunite with her friend.”

  “So you’ll send someone else to retrieve the chit.” Cookie punched his arm “Just think on it. Lord Steele.”

  “Are you daft? What do I want with a title? And a wife?”

  “’Tis a hefty title, and she’d make a tasty bit of wife. Doesn’t take a pair of lookouts to see she’s got yer knickers twisted tighter than the king’s purse. Do ye a bit of good to toss her on her back and--”

  Jaxon pushed a finger at Cookie’s face and barked. “You’ll watch your tongue, or I’ll serve it up as chum.”

  “So, that be the way of it, huh? Pardon me.” Cookie chuckled as he raised his hands in surrender and earned another hard glare.

  “One day you’ll go too far.”

  “Why wouldn’t ye consider the lass’s offer? Yer blood’s half blue. And a lord’s title brings more bounty than years of scraping and fighting.”

  “And then what?” Jaxon reached for his spyglass.

  “Say good-bye to barnacles and bilge rats and use a silver spoon to eat yer soup. Ye wouldn’t have to be killin’ and stealin’ for that silver neither. Ye’d make a fine gentleman, if ye’re askin’ me. Runnin’ an estate can’t be much different than runnin’ things here.”

  “And what about the Scarlet Night?”

  “Ye can’t be captain forever. And we both know there ain’t many ways to git off this ship. I’d be hatin’ to see ye leave feet first.”

  Jaxon shook his head. “The girl doesn’t know what she’s asking. Remember who you’re talking to. I’m a low-life pirate. A bastard. She sure as hell deserves better than the likes of me.”

  “That’s the biggest load of crap I’ve ever caught in me ear. She’d be lucky to have ye. Ye’re a good man.”

  “Not good enough.” Jaxon raised his glass and scanned the horizon without really seeing it. Annalise deserved a man of breeding, a gentleman who never had to wipe another man’s blood off his sword, who never had to steal the boots off a dead man, or roast rats when his rations ran out. She deserved someone born on the proper side of the blanket. A man she could respect. A man she could love.

  Cookie hadn’t moved. He spoke low and quiet. “Yer missin’ the most important part of this, lad.”

  Jaxon lowered the glass and glanced at him. “And what might that be?”

  Cookie leaned a bit closer. “Ye’d have her.”

  * * * *

  Jaxon paced the deck. His only glimpse of the sun that day came when it dip
ped below the roof of clouds to melt red into an orange sea. The ship held a palpable air of anticipation and competition as members of the crew spent every spare moment scanning the seas, snatching spyglasses from each other, eager to be the first to spot the Sea Dragon.

  Jaxon was confident Bonchette wouldn’t surprise them, but he knew what faced them when he arrived. Blood-Eye and his crew were brutal fighters, and whatever spurred him to attack the Scarlet Night would only add wild, irrational actions to a wild, irrational man.

  Jaxon never feared death, but the thought of losing his life to Bonchette and leaving all aboard to a cruel barbarian made his blood run cold. He would not leave Annalise at the mercy of a madman--neither Bonchette nor Wolfsan. He would battle both men straight into hell.

  Cookie’s earlier comments started another battle, one within Jaxon’s head and heart. In truth, he could argue away every point--save one. He’d have Annalise. Be it only for a short time, he would have her. And, God help him, he had never wanted a woman as strongly as he wanted her.

  He never considered taking a wife. He’d witnessed too many women left standing on too many docks waving good-bye to their men, and those same women crushed into wailing heaps when the ship came back to port without them. With enough coin in his pocket, Jaxon could always find a woman to welcome him to shore and share a warm bed.

  This was different. Annalise was different. His mind continued to conjure visions of a life with her. He imagined her in beautiful gowns, days filled with sharing meals and riding and arguing about a thousand different things. But the nights…At night, she would lie naked in his arms and they would forget about those minor spats and come together in a passionate fever. Yes, she was a virgin, but her first kisses had shown him the spark of heat lying just beneath the surface. He would be the one to fan that spark into a flame. Annalise would be his alone.

  As the last of the sun’s light faded into night, Jaxon scanned the horizon once more. What if his days were numbered? If Bonchette’s ship lay within the next crest of the sea, tonight could be his last. The thought of losing the one chance he’d have to be with her, ending his life with that regret gnawed at him.

  Jaxon headed toward the galley way. He passed Cookie. “I may need you later.”

  “I’d no plans to be leavin’.”

  * * * *

  As Jaxon entered his quarters, Annalise shot him the briefest glance before she turned her back on him. The thick rope of her burnished hair pointed to the rounded curves of her behind held snug in those damnable breeches. He chuckled to himself and welcomed her silence. Less chance to reconsider.

  He unlocked a small chest and pulled out two gold hair combs studded with small rubies, fat citrines, and pearls the size of spring peas. He had liberated them from a Spanish galleon.

  “Annalise?” He held them out to her.

  “What’s this?” She frowned.

  “A gift. A peace offering. Call them a token.”

  Golden eyes met his. “A token?”

  “It’s customary for a man to give a woman a token when he makes a promise to marry?”

  Her eyes widened.

  “That is what you want, is it not? Or have you reconsidered?”

  Anna shook her head. “You said--”

  “I know what I said, but I’ve given it a great deal of thought, and I’ve come to realize some of the benefits far exceed the cost.” He stepped closer, took her hand, and placed the combs in her palm. “These were destined to grace the dark hair of a Spanish queen, but they’ll be far lovelier in your hair.”

  Annalise stood and ran her thumb over the cluster of stones. “They’re stunning.” She peeked up at him again. “Does this mean you’re agreeing to the terms of my proposal?”

  “Not all the terms. There are certain things to be decided. Plans to discuss. Arrangements to make. But I accept your proposal. On my terms.”

  Color flooded her cheeks, but still her eyes never left his. “So it is still your desire to…”

  “My desires have not changed from this morning.”

  “Neither has the issue of my virginity.”

  He grinned at her cheekiness. “You standing in my cabin, on my ship, breaks so many of my rules. Mayhap it’s time for a few new ones.”

  “I see.” Annalise laid a hand to her throat. “Well then, how soon do you think we’ll be in Port St. Maria? I’ll start making the proper arrangements as soon as we arrive.”

  “We won’t be married in Port St. Maria. We will be married here. Tonight.”

  CHAPTER 16

  “Tonight?”

  “Aye. I dare say, we’ll be husband and wife within the hour.”

  “I…we…I thought…” Annalise cursed herself. She was stammering like an idiot. She wanted this, but she couldn’t help the thread of panic trickling down her back. “Why tonight? I thought we’d wait.”

  “I’d think you would be anxious to have me bound to you. More time would only serve to have me come to my senses and change my mind.” He gave her a quick smile. “This life I lead doesn’t come with guaranteed tomorrows. For any of us.”

  “But how could we marry here? Doesn’t the captain perform this type of ceremony?”

  “He does. I’ll have a proxy stand in as groom. Cookie’s well suited to the task.”

  Cookie? All the blood in her head rushed to her feet. Everything was happening too fast. In less than an hour, she would stand side by side with a one-legged cook with eight fingers and promise her love and fidelity. And then Jaxon would strip her and…and…Her legs turned to mush and she sat heavily on the side of the bed. Realizing where she sat, she bolted to her feet as if she’d singed her backside.

  Air. Anna opened a diamond-paned window and pulled great gulps of sea air into her lungs.

  Jaxon moved behind her. Once again, a steadying arm circled her waist. “You seem to be having second thoughts.”

  She gripped the window’s ledge. “Second, third, six hundred and twelfth.”

  He chuckled behind her.

  How could she possibly explain the sudden chaos of her mind? Tonight. A wedding. Her wedding. In all her imaginings, she couldn’t have pictured this.

  “If you’re afraid.”

  Anna pushed away from the window and skirted past him. “I’m not afraid. My head is spinning. I’m getting married tonight.” She pulled in another deep breath. “I know it’s silly, given everything that has brought me to this moment.” She threw up her hands. “I used to imagine what my wedding would be like. Alice and I would pretend when we were young and use lace curtains as my veils. I could picture the flowers in my hair, my gown with the billowing skirts and my handsome father presenting me to my groom.

  “Music would fill the church, Mother and my brother, Henry, would watch Father walk me down the long aisle, and the man I pledged my life to would be waiting for me, looking at me with love in his eyes. And now,” she swept a hand over her legs, “I’m standing alone in the middle of the ocean, bartering my family’s fortune and my body to marry a pirate, whose contempt for me is palpable, so an insane duke doesn’t rape me and beat me to death. In stolen breeches no less.” She clamped a hand over her mouth to end the hysterical tirade. Tears pinched the back of her eyes. I will not cry.

  “Annalise.” Jaxon spoke to her with gentleness. “I do not hold you in contempt. Far from it, in fact. I admire your courage. You are the most infuriating, exasperating, stubborn, fascinating woman I have ever known. Given all life has dealt you, any other woman would surely have withered and died, but not you. I’m sorry your family was lost. I would have liked to have met the people who created such a daughter.” He tipped her chin.

  “Call me a selfish, greedy bastard. I could lie and tell you that I’m not interested in your wealth or the pleasures of your body, but no. I agreed to this because I want you more than I’ve wanted any other. You have laid siege to my mind and my body, and I must have you, even if it’s for a short time. I ne
ed to be with you.”

  The intensity of his blue eyes captured her. If he were truly as selfish and greedy as he claimed, he would have taken her long before now. But he said he wanted her, even given the danger and grief she put him through. He wanted her. She wanted him as well. His kisses and the way he held her, touched her, had aroused a part of her she could not deny.

  Jaxon turned away and opened several trunks before he found what he sought. “I can’t give you a gown with billowing skirts, but perhaps you could fashion something from this.” He handed her a length of tissue thin golden silk.

  She looked at the gossamer fabric. Its fine weave slipped like water through her fingers. The threat of tears returned. So braced for confrontation with him, this unexpected kindness was nearly her undoing. She ran her fingertips over the shimmering cloth.

  “Thank you, Captain.” She raised her gaze to his. In the fading light of the day, the blue of his eyes turned a smoky gray.

  “I’ll leave you to your preparations while I go collect our groom.”

  Anna opened her mouth to say… What could she say? His tender gifts stole her words.

  He ran the backs of his fingers down her cheek. “I won’t be long.”

  She nodded. Stunned.

  As the door closed, she dropped onto the edge of the bed with her arms full of silk. The jeweled combs winked at her. Their gold lay heavy in her hand. It felt as heavy as her heart. His wife. She hadn’t expected the marriage to happen so fast. Not tonight. What was she doing? The jewels caught the light. A peace offering? She shook her head and fought against the flood of tears that threatened to drown her. A truce was far from a marriage of love and respect.

  Her parent’s marriage had forged her desire for both those things at a time when a marriage was more a merger between houses. A business partnership. She’d watched the pairings of other daughters handled like trading horses. But still, she’d hoped.

  She did have feelings for Jaxon, but were they simply a curiosity? He made her body crave something she couldn’t put a name to, but was it love? She didn’t have the luxury of time to examine her feelings and wants. Tonight she was to be a captain’s bride. A pirate’s bit of booty, bound in a golden wrapper.