"Oh William!" Loreli exclaimed, exasperation filling her young voice. "Come on! I'm sixteen now. There's no reason why I can't go with you!" Her arms were crossed and the look on her face seemed to dare him to tell her again she couldn't go.
Her cousin, William "Bootstrap" Turner had recently returned from a five-month exploratory voyage. He pooled money together with a few friends of his and took off for the Caribbean, eager to reach Tortuga. They'd heard rumors about the city and had to see for themselves if they were true.
And true they were! Eager, ready to please, women were on every corner as were bars full of drunken men and women, some dancing and some fighting, not to mention the gunfire heard about every five minutes. The men had never seen such a chaotic, crazy and wonderful place. William was especially fascinated and didn't want to leave when that time came.
Before he left, the last night in the bar, he met a man named Riddick Barbossa. He was just a few years younger than William, but already had goals and dreams about his future, instead of childlike ways of boys his own age. Riddick was searching for a crew to work his ship, which was scheduled to sail in two months. The goal was to sail around the Caribbean, from port to port, to see how many riches could be found. When William asked in detail how they would do this, Riddick just smiled and answered that that would be the adventure.
For nineteen-year-old William, there was no decision to be made. With his obsession and love of the sea, he would be going and made sure Riddick knew he was serious. Even though Riddick was younger than him, William saw the determination and strength in his blue eyes and knew it was where he needed to be.
When he'd returned to their home of Portobelo, telling his younger cousin of his adventure in Tortuga and meeting Riddick, Loreli, who shared his love of the ocean and of sailing, immediately wanted to go.
"Loreli I don't know how long we'll be gone," William told her, while gathering what clothes he would take with him, glancing at her as she sat on his bed with her arms crossed. "It's rough on a ship. There's no telling what could happen. It's just no place for a woman, especially a young one."
"You know I share the love of the sea same as you," she argued. "You know I'm not like all the other girls around here. I'm not interested in the clothes and hairstyles and sitting around doing nothing. I want to sail!" She glared at him. "You have a choice, Dear Cousin. Either you can keep an eye on me and take me with you or I'm going to stowaway on a ship and you might never see me again." Fire blazed in her dark eyes. "I'm not staying here!"
He sighed heavily, knowing her words to be truth. She did love the sea and knew as much about sailing as he did and couldn't deny that she would eventually find her way onto a ship and quite possibly into danger. Staring at the girl before him, their childhood flashed by his eyes. He saw them quite small, begging their parents to let them go play by the water's edge, and then slightly older as they tried to build a small boat to sail. She was always just another boy to him really, skinny with no shape. It had only been the past couple years that she had filled out and looked like a girl, as much as she tried to hide it.
"Damn you," he told her, walking over to where she sat, pointing his finger at her. "Fine, come with then. But the first time you get into trouble or the first time you cause trouble, I'll put you in a rowboat myself and send you home. Understood?"
A huge smile spread across Loreli's face as she jumped up to hug her cousin. "Oh thank you William!" she exclaimed. "There will be no trouble!"
"There he is," William told Loreli after docking and carefully making their way through the rough streets. "I know he's young but he's smarter than the two of us put together so behave."
She shot him a look as they approached the boy who looked all of fifteen sitting at the bar. His frame was small but he was tall and the look of knowledge his eyes held when he turned to face them surprised her. His eyes were the color of the sea and looked as if they belonged to a man of fifty.
"Riddick!" William greeted with a firm handshake. "This is my cousin, Loreli Spencer. Loreli, Riddick Barbossa, the captain of our small crew. "
"A bonny lass indeed," Riddick greeted, reaching for her hand and kissing the top of it. "She be sailing with us?"
William looked embarrassed for a moment. "Well…uh…yes," he answered reluctantly. "She has a love of the sea as we do and will be able to handle herself. I've warned her should there be trouble I'd send her home myself."
Riddick nodded. "All right then," he said. "Got a room for ye upstairs. We leave at dawn."
"Thank you," Loreli said before following her cousin to bed for the night.
Over the first couple months at sea, William proved himself to be Riddick's right hand man, Riddick soon making it official William Turner was First Mate and not to be messed with. Loreli had taken over keeping the cabins as tidy as she could and helping the cook with the meals. She also insisted on sword fighting lessons, which various members of the crew would give her when time permitted.
Riddick watched her often but hid it well. She was a beautiful girl but it wasn't her external beauty that reached him. She had a confident, sassy, almost defiant way about her that, while at times was trying, for the most part was captivating. Riddick had met many young girls over his journeys but never one such as Loreli Spencer.
One evening he finally gave in to the curiosity and desire that had been building within him. While he was attracted to her, she never gave him any indication she was to him, however uncertainty had never stopped Riddick before. It was late when got up hastily from his bed, left his cabin and soon found himself quietly knocking on the door of hers. Not everyone was allowed their own room but a woman on board always had one. At least on his ship.
"Yes?" he heard her say.
He slowly pushed the heavy wooden door open and saw her sitting at a small desk, the room lit only by a few candles. "May I come in?" he asked quietly, not wishing to disturb her.
Upon hearing his voice, Loreli quickly stood up and faced him. "Yes Captain?" she asked, thinking maybe there was something she'd forgotten to do or not to his liking.
"At ease," he said with a chuckle. "Riddick, please. I not behere as yer captain."
She sat back down, her long white nightgown clinging to her. "Well Riddick, what do I owe this honor?" she asked curiously, studying his eyes. God she loved his eyes.
"I've been watchin' yer sword fightin' lessons," he answered, still standing by the door. "Ye gettin' good. I'm impressed."
Loreli watched as the man who was usually large in personality and able to command his ship efficiently melted into a shy, unsure boy. She smiled, having never felt this kind of upper hand with him before, and realized she liked it. And him. "Thank you," she said. "I try very hard. I want to be one of the best." She stood up and walked towards him. "Isn't it kind of late to be visiting my cabin and complimenting me on my lessons?"
Riddick's eyes widened. He hadn't wanted to offend her. "I'm sorry, Loreli," he apologized. "I didn' mean to intrude or be…inappropriate." His eyes fell to the floor.
"Are you really here to compliment me on my sword fighting?" she asked him directly with a twinkle in her eyes.
Riddick lifted his gaze to meet hers. He saw her eyes searching his, saw her soft gown clinging to the curves she tried to cover, saw the small smile she was trying to hide. Seeing a hand on her hip, he knew she'd seen his eyes scale her body. When it came to a ship, he had all the confidence in the world, it was his life, the only one he knew. But women were different. He didn't have much experience with them and most of the few he'd dealt with ended up having their own agendas. "I…uh…honestly…I just wanted to…talk to ye," he said, hoping she wouldn't slap him.
"Well it's almost midnight and you know we're all up early in the morning to start our duties," she reminded him. "So I must bed soon." She paused, briefly seeing the disappointment in his eyes. "But there is always dinner tomorrow evening?"
Riddick smiled instantly. Why hadn't he thought of that? "Yes," he agreed. "Splendid idea. Please join me for dinner in my cabin."
"Sounds lovely," she said as he turned to leave. "Til morrow."
Riddick did his best to carry on with the daily requirements and pretend that he was not preoccupied but all he really wanted to do was kidnap Loreli to his cabin and stay with her for the next few days. He would steal glances at her whenever he thought he could get away with it, hoping to catch her eye, but she was always looking the other way. She was looking forward to their dinner together wasn't she?
Loreli chuckled to herself as she made sure she was not looking when he glanced her way. She was every bit as anxious as he proved himself to be but determined not to reveal it, not yet anyway. She might have the upper hand for the moment but knew once the door of his cabin closed behind her, it would be lost. After he'd left her last night, it took an hour to go to sleep because her heart wouldn't stop pounding.
As the golden glare of the sunset shone over the deck announcing the end of the day's chores, Riddick casually walked by Loreli and whispered, "Thirty minutes. My cabin."
"Aye Captain," she said quietly with a small smile and then took a deep breath.
"Come in," Riddick greeted when he heard the soft knock on his door. He was not prepared for the site before him. Loreli seemed to float into the room wearing a dark blue silk dress that he was sure had not been brought with her, cinching at her waist and exposing the top of her breasts. Her hair was lifted up from her neck with a few loose curls hanging down, barely touching her creamy white shoulders. His voice caught in his throat as a quiet gasp of surprise.
She smiled, pleased with his reaction but embarrassed the same. "I picked this up in Cartagena," she told him. "Did I make a good choice?"
Walking over to her, not trying to hide his scanning, Riddick answered, "Oh you made a fine choice, Loreli. Ye…ye areabsolutely beautiful." He paused, losing what little sense of propriety he had. "I'm wonderin' if I can make it through dinner."
Was that a blush tinting his smooth cheek? She noticed his attire and was equally impressed. An oversized white poet shirt was tucked neatly into a snug pair of tan breeches with a black sash tied around his waist. He had washed and brushed out his hair and it was this moment that revealed his true boyishness. "Aye. I'm wondering that as well," she confessed as they walked over and sat at his table to begin their dinner.
"So how is it you can be so young and already have a ship and crew?" Loreli asked as their conversation easily flowed from one subject to the next. "Most of the men here are at least five years older than you."
"I left home when I was nine," Riddick explained. "Me father was a pirate and me mum…well she was a wench in Panama. She loved me even though she never saw me father again but I just couldn' stay. I wasn' happy. As soon as I learned how to stowaway on a ship, that's what I did. I met up with a couple fellows who took me under their wing, so to speak, and taught me about sailin' the seas. Took me only a few years of learnin' from them to realize where I wanted to be. I knew I'd have my own ship and crew before I turned sixteen."
Loreli was beaming proudly. "I think that's amazing," she said with a slight blush. "Actually I think you're amazing."
Riddick was surprised. "Me amazing?" he repeated. "I don't know about that. Most have called me a foolish child."
Shaking her head, she said, "I don't think so. You're brave and strong and very smart. You know exactly what you're doing and what you want."
His gaze turned serious when he said, "Ye beright there. I do know what I want."
Loreli couldn't ignore the desire she saw dancing in his eyes but wasn't quite sure what to say. "Captain Barbossa," she feigned shock but then added, "I need more wine first."
And with a chuckle, Riddick filled her wine glass.
An hour passed of talking and laughing, sharing stories of their childhood, as they'd left his cabin and were walking along the deck. Riddick enjoyed the stories where Loreli had dressed as a boy to be able to hang out with the boys and play swordfights and build forts and how they were shocked when they found out she was a girl and ran her away.
"Do ye not like being a woman?" Riddick finally asked her as he admired the way the moonlight illuminated her already beautiful face, radiating off her black hair and eyes. "Ye always seem to be tryin' to hide yer…the fact ye be a girl."
She shrugged as they walked, thankful the sea was calm tonight so the boat barely rocked. "I don't think it's so much I don't want to be a girl," she answered. "It's more that I wanted to do what the boys were doing. While they were outside playing and having fun, it was expected I'd sit inside, always dressed proper and always on my best behavior." She laughed more to herself. "Propriety is not something I particularly care about. I drove my parents nuts with my antics. I stayed in trouble."
"They knowye behere though?"
"Well yes and no," she answered. "They know I've gone with William but they don't know details. They didn't want me to go as it were but I told them there was no way to stop me. I was going to sea one way or another."
Riddick had been fighting the desire to touch her all night and was rapidly losing the battle. She was an amazing woman and after learning more about her, it only caused to fuel his desire. The twitch in his breeches told him he'd better stop with the internal lusting….or do something about it.
He chose the latter.
Loreli had felt a sexual tension growing between them all evening. She was fascinated by Riddick and completely attracted to his body and mind but wasn't prepared for when he stopped at the beginning of the hallway to the cabins and gently pressed her against the wooden wall, his hands gripping her shoulders.
"Forgive me," he said, voice heavy, almost a growl. "But I'm so attracted to you, Loreli. If ye don' feel the same about me, please tell me and…"
"Kiss me," she commanded, heart steadily pounding inside her chest.
With the moonlight providing just enough light to see her eyes, noticing a desire that matched his own, Riddick leaned forward, touching his lips to hers, reveling in the softness and texture, claiming her mouth and lips, quickly sending his tongue in to swirl with hers and taste her essence. He felt her arms around his waist, pulling him in closer, deepening and extending their kiss, until finally stopping to catch their breath, chests slightly heaving.
"Can we…go back to…your cabin?" she asked quietly, not wanting to let go of him.
He studied her eyes for a moment before releasing her, taking her hand in his as they walked to his cabin in silence. Upon entering, he locked the door behind him, walking over to Loreli, standing near the table.
She offered a small smile. "I hope you do not think any less of me," she began. "I know that I should be going back to my cabin…but…I…well I want to stay with you."
His eyes met hers again. "Stay with me?" he repeated, hoping her meaning was the same as his. "As in…"
Slightly embarrassed, she glanced over towards his bed and then towards him. "I want to be with you," she said in almost a whisper.
Riddick smiled, lightly touching her cheek with the back of his fingers. "Loreli," he said. "I must warn ye. I haven't…been with many. I…"
"Doesn't matter to me," she said, relieved he was not offended by her statements. "I've been with none."
They walked over to his bed and lay down apprehensively. Facing one another on their sides, Riddick slid his fingers into her soft black hair. "I will be gentle," he promised before his lips joined with hers in a kiss that seemed to last all night.
From that night forward, Riddick and Loreli were nearly inseparable. He fought to retain distance during the day, hardly able to wait until he could hold her at night. Although he did not officially tell the crew, they knew she was his and that death could come to any man who messed with her.
William was quite surprised when he discovered their secret. He questioned his cousin, asking if she was sure that was what she wanted. The love shining from her eyes when she answered was enough for him. He just hoped she wouldn't end up hurt.
"So Loreli," James said as they finished her sword-fighting lesson for the day. "Having dinner with the crew tonight?" He winked at her.
She shot him a look that said he should know better. "What do you think?" she asked with a smile before walking away, shaking her head. James was always messing with her and picking on her, especially since it had become obvious she was Riddick's. He was a couple years older than her with little sailing experience but lots of sword handling experience, which was why he usually gave her her lessons.
"You'll miss us!" he called out, watching as she walked away to spend the rest of her evening with the captain. He shook his head. What was it she saw in the young boy captainanyway?James was older and wiser and could teach her so much more. After all, it was him giving her sword fighting lessons and not the captain. And what the captain was giving her in the heat of night, James was sure he could give to her better.