Paid to the Pirate by Una Rohr

Chapter 26

Charlotte

My cheeks still flamed at the memories the next morning. Colt made good on his promise and didn’t allow me to leave the room until I’d climaxed so many times that my legs shook when I tried to walk down the whorehouse stairs and he had to support my weight to make it to the bottom. By that time the roosters had long since crowed and the sun was high above the hills. Never in my life did I imagine I’d find pleasure in a pirate’s arms.

But he’s not just a pirate, my heart argued. He’s… everything.

Bewilderingly, Colt made me confess to the proprietor, Lady Wick, what a jolly time I’d had the night before. To further shame me, I was sure of it, though I wasn’t sure why he spoke with the madam privately in a little alcove, whilst bidding me to wait alone. I suspected Colt was going to tell the madam about the mix-up, to whisk me from the brothel without trouble, but he acted strangely.

Never having excelled at following orders, I crept along the wall until I could spy on the pair whilst remaining hidden. I frowned as I saw Colt push his bag o’ bits across the table to the proprietor. Was he buying me outright? A hard look flashed across Colt’s face and then I watched him work a sapphire ring from his finger and toss it onto the tabletop.

A small fortune, I thought, watching Lady Wick snatch up the jewel. Colt didn’t wear much jewelry and what little I’d seen had been precious.

Was this for me?

Colt managed a gracious smile and a dip of his head before spinning out of the alcove to collect me. He moved so fast, I hadn’t time to re-position myself and a jolt ran through me at Colt’s admonishing scowl.

“You’ll pay for that later,” he warned, dragging me out of the brothel.

The reminder his words brought to mind made my stomach lurch -- not for the threat from Colt, but at what Redhands wanted to do to me once we departed.

Yanking my hand from Colt’s, I shook my head vehemently and declared, “No. I cannot return to your ship. Not if you plan on sailing anytime soon. Did you forget your bargain with Robert?”

Colt ran a hand down his face, sighing.

“I can handle Robert, but I’m not in total disagreement with him. I’m playing your game Charlotte because I’m hoping you’ll grow weary and confess.”

Scowling, I returned, “I play no game, captain, but if I were, surely you’d be playing it because you like what transpired between us last night.”

The captain cocked a brow. “Are you going to dare tell me you did not? Because every whimper, every moan and cry and scream told me something else last night.”

Blushing, I averted my eyes.

Colt sighed again. Reaching out one finger, he lifted the gold locket around my neck, tracing the oval with his thumb.

“Listen to me, Charlotte. Nobody cares about my lost bag o’ bits and half of the men are glad you killed Maurice. But they don’t know you stole the Eye because they don’t know it exists. The sooner you tell me where you hid it, the better I can protect you.”

I swallowed. Shuffled my feet. What could I possibly say? Other than the truth, and I didn’t see a happy outcome to that. Either Colt wouldn’t believe me, and I’d enrage him for the lie, or he would believe me, and I’d enrage him for the deception up until then.

I had no plan, other than to wait and hope. Earn his trust, maybe.

Colt sighed a third time as he took my hand and led me back to The Dread Night.

#

Our return to the colonies was very different than our departure. Perhaps not outwardly, but within. I no longer fought the hot rivers of desire running through my veins whenever Colt set his dark gaze upon me. We made no attempt to hide from the crew our lingering glances, our overlong disappearances.

The nights became a wonder of exploration.

In Colt’s increasing boldness, one evening he spread me upon the bed before supper, teasing my slit until I dripped. Captain Colt took that same wetness and spread it across my neck like perfume. He even ringed his own neck with my sticky lubrication, inhaling deeply. Without any shame he told me he wanted to smell my arousal as we dined, as a reminder of what was to come after. And he did -- leaning over and inhaling at my neck throughout our meal, until I’d turned as red as an apple imagining the whole table could scent me.

True to his word, Colt spoke with Redhands and put him off his plan to whip me. For now. I knew I’d only bought time, but I prayed for a miracle to help guide me to my lost memories or at least, to the Crimson Eye itself. When Colt turned his back as he undressed at night, I’d kneel and pray beside our bed. But I wasn’t sure if God’s ears reached a pirate’s cabin, so I prayed upon the forecastle deck as well. With wide seas and open skies, where better to have my pleas reach the heavens?

The only problem was, having succumbed to sin so thoroughly, I wasn’t sure the almighty listened any longer.

Yet if my soul was tarnished, half-claimed by the devil, I’d never felt more alive.

Something I hadn’t truly known before came over me as we sailed. Beyond contentment, beyond happiness. A feeling like bliss surged through me when Colt took me to bed. A feeling of finding home soothed my soul in a way I’d never imagined. In the evenings, we read to one another or Colt told me stories of his youth. As I suspected, Colt was raised to be a gentleman. By his mother, at least. His father preferred a bottle of whiskey over the company of his family and the more their money slipped away the more he raised his voice… and then, his fists. When his mother passed away, Colt ran away. Maurice had found him and taken him under his wing. Maurice was an even more brutal man, but he was never cruel to Colt, or Robert, his other adopted son.

It wasn’t just my pirate captain; the ship and the sea worked its magic on me too. I’d awaken to the crisp salt air each morning and sing the men my favorite shanties as the moon rose and the endless glitter of stars shone above.

When we finally reached my settlement… my home… it looked curiously smaller than when I’d left it. Dirtier, even.

I dreaded facing Daniel at our rendezvous. For some reason, I was sure Mrs. Penningham would understand. A part of me wondered if she even knew before I knew, if she’d read something in Colt the night he whisked me away, if she’d recognized that a passion borne of the wilds existed between us -- or could, if we let it.

But sweet Daniel… I was about to break his faith in me, and his heart.

#

We arrived late into a sleepy port, and I was glad. I wouldn’t face the many questions of the townsfolk who’d long since retired for the evening.

The steadfast torchlights of our tavern still flickered, of course.

Mrs. Penningham rushed to greet me, wrapping me in the tightest hug anyone had ever given. She fussed over me like a child returning to her mother, which, I supposed in a way, I was. When Colt stepped behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, a knowing smile touched her lips.

“Have a seat, have a seat,” she said, with a knowing smile playing at her gently wrinkling lips. “I’ll fetch some ale for you.”

Noting the crew filing in behind us, she added, “For all of you.”

I fidgeted nervously upon my stool as Colt regaled Mr. and Mrs. Penningham with anecdotes of our battle on the crossing to Nassau, as well as tidbits from other journeys. The conversation flowed with unusual ease, making me surer that Mrs. Penningham had suspected this outcome.

It didn’t take long before I spied a head of light-brown hair peeking around the corner to the kitchens and my heart thumped.

“Mrs. Penningham,” I said, interrupting the happy flow of conversation. “Thank you for the drink but I have had too much ale and must excuse myself.”

Colt’s gaze was immediately suspicious as I rose, and I couldn’t blame him, given what I’d recently done. But he made no move to stop me.

There’s nowhere to hide in this small settlement and you can’t think I’d run away now, could you?

For a few seconds we stared in a tense stalemate until Johnson burst through the door.

“Captain,” he called, hurrying over to us.

I froze. Had they caught Daniel? Did someone know what I was up to?

“You’re needed back on the ship. There’s been an issue with the rigging and a dispute has broken out.”

“I’ll be there in a moment,” Colt gritted out. “When Charlotte is ready.”

“No,” I quickly protested. With a feigned smile, I said, “Please. Go on. I need to take care of myself and then I’d like to speak with Mrs. Penningham and collect my things… half your crew is here, I’m quite safe. And I’m not going anywhere.”

Don’t you trust me? I asked with my eyes. Where would I escape to anyway?

“Johnson can escort me back once I’m ready,” I added, helpfully.

It was difficult not to wither under Colt’s hard, dark stare. But he said nothing as he turned to Johnson and gave a curt nod. My whole chest sank in relief with the breath I released. It would be easier to speak with Daniel now. Smiling, I gave Colt a quick kiss.

“Please trust me,” I whispered in his ear as I hugged him. “I’m not trying to give you the slip. Where would I go?”

“Wait for her,” Colt said to Johnson, tilting his head in my direction as he turned to leave.

Walking slowly and with purpose, I slipped through the door from the tavern’s main seating area and into the hall leading to the privy, the kitchens, and the rear of the building. Stepping through the darkened hall, I saw no one.

“Daniel?” I whispered.

No answer.

Forced to travel further, I walked all the way to the back of the tavern and slipped out the door.

“Daniel?” I asked again, this time a little louder.

From my right he appeared, grabbing and hugging me.

“Daniel!” I cried, annoyed at the lack of propriety.

But why was I so shocked when I’d promised to consider his proposal? Why was I outraged when Colt had done far worse, far faster?

I had no time to consider as Daniel leaned in to kiss me and I was forced to push him away. What in the world made him so bold?

I remembered the possessive caress of Colt’s fingers, low on my back as we sat. I’d grown so accustomed I hadn’t thought about it at the time. But surely, Daniel had spied the intimacy.

“Stop,” I demanded, holding him at arm’s length.

“Are you unharmed?” Daniel asked. “Did he hurt you? Touch you? What have you learned?”

A barrage of questions followed, but I was only half-listening. My stomach knotted as I prepared to confess the truth.

“Daniel,” I began. “Know that I’m sorry for everything I’m about to tell you.”

Quickly, I thought. Best to get it over quickly.

“But I cannot marry you and I – I don’t know anything that might help us bring an end to Colt’s piracy and… and… I’m not sure he’s as bad as we all thought…”

Perhaps the truth behind my words was obvious as I averted my eyes. It didn’t take Daniel more than a moment to accuse me. Perhaps the truth was obvious in whatever he saw between Colt and me as he spied on us from the kitchens.

“He’s had you, hasn’t he?” Daniel spat, fighting a sneer.

“That’s none of your business!” I scolded. “And no gentleman would ask such a question.”

“No lady would find herself in a position where it needed to be asked,” he returned. “You’re a ruined woman now.”

His words stung. Maybe because they were true. Who would have me now, if not Colt, who was not my husband and had not made any such proposal? And all my hopes of being a lady… I’d dashed them upon the rocks myself.

But I still had my pride. “So be it,” I said, falsely brave. “I am ruined. Too far beneath you to be a desirable bride.”

I couldn’t make sense of the emotions crossing Daniel’s face. He seemed to have difficulty finding words.

“And what of our plan, hm?” he finally demanded. “Will thousands more lose their livelihoods, lose their lives, all because you want to spread your legs for some scoundrel of the seas?” Before I could reply, he pressed, “How many times did he have you, Charlotte?”

“It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I cannot betray Colt and his crew. You don’t understand. You don’t know them like I do.”

“I should have known what you were the day I found you,” Daniel said with disgust.

I shouldn’t let it hurt, but Daniel was growing to be a respected young man in our community. He’d been clever enough to develop the wealth he’d come into. He’d been my savior that day. And he’d been my friend and companion ever since.

“You’re no mermaid, no goddess of the sea. You’re less than a pirate, even,” he declared. “You’re nothing but a pirate’s whore.”

Tears welled in my eyes and Daniel’s face softened.

He shook his head and covered his eyes, ashamed. “I’m sorry, that was cruel. But you’re… I can’t…”

He gave me a lingering look and I could see the pain, anger, and disappointment on his face, along with a host of other emotions I couldn’t identify.

“Daniel, I-” I began, but he cut me off.

“I can’t even look at you,” he said, re-covering his mouth as if it sickened him. Daniel spun on his heel and left before I could say more.

I swallowed back the lump in my throat as he scurried away. If Daniel felt this way about me, surely the rest of the townsfolk would as well. I’d participated in my own ruination and would have nowhere to turn if Colt turned me out. Mrs. Penningham would never shun me, but perhaps she’d be forced to, if everyone shunned the tavern, should I continue to be associated with it.

It doesn’t matter, I told myself, standing alone in the darkness. Because I don’t want this life or any of them. I only want Colt.

I heard a noise coming from the shadowed trees behind the tavern -- the snap of a twig. My stomach knotted in fear as a familiar and unwelcome face appeared from woods.

I should have known Colt had me followed.