When her captor forcefully shoved her hood down it literally blew the breath right out her, and not because of the force. Before her stood the most amazingly handsome and rugged man she had ever seen. Straight with long muscular legs under black breeches and knee high black boots, to a lean waist, then a muscular chest behind the linen shirt he wore, broad shoulders that show immaculate authority, a thick neck which was connected to the most beautiful face. Thin lush lips, a straight nose giving his face a profile and the most remarkable set of brown liquid eyes. Those eyes that seemed to darken and light ablaze all at once as they stared right back at her.

Liz stared right back and could not find her voice when he started demanding and attacking her with falsehoods. Amidst the sight before her she was too confused with what was going on to be able to form a question. Suddenly the fact that he was calling her a thief and asking for his gold back unfolded her curled tongue and she began thrusting arguments right back in his face. Obviously he did not like that one bit because in the end she found herself flat on her back with him on top of her declaring her his prisoner. She afeared her virginity and she had no idea if he would take it as a forfeit.

"P-please let me go" she asked of him softly and his hand stopped stroking her cheek. Oddly she was disappointed. He looked at her hard.

"No"

"Why n-not?" she inquired her voice coming out in a whine she did not appreciate. His brows knitted and he sneered.

"You steal from me, try to escape and now you think to try and sweet talk your way out of it?! I think not" he said and began to rise off her body. Liz's heart beat so fast she thought he could hear it. Was this it? Was he about to make her pay for something she did not do?

"What are you going to do to me?" she asked quietly accepting defeat for now and hoping to gain more information about her mysterious pirate. He turned and looked her up and down.

"You will work aboard my ship until you have paid your dept or you give up my gold" he said casually as if the fact that he had taken a woman hostage and forcing her to work was just a usual occurrence to him. Liz raised an eyebrow. Perhaps it is........well not exactly the kind of work she was about to be put through though. Liz blushed at her wicked thinking.

Her pirate noticed and couldn't help but allow a small smile to tug on his lips. When he spoke his voice was strangely soft.

"I do not do this often you know" then the hard look on his face returned and Liz wondered if the gentleness was there in the first place " do not think to try and lure me with your femininity, I will not be merciful just because you are a woman. You are plain and pale anyway and not my type....but if you wish, I'd be more than happy to oblige" he said the last part with a cocky grin and a suggestive gesture to the bed.

Liz gasped in outrage at his suggestion and also his conclusion about her blush. However his words sent an even deeper, unwanted, blush to cover her cheeks. She turned away trying to calm herself, because heaven only knows she'd try and rip his head off if she allowed herself to.

"No, i do not wish anything from you" she turned back around and said curtly. He sighed mockingly and gave her a pointed look.

"A shame. It's useful to be on my good side at times like these" he said looking too disappointed to truly be.

"I thought my femininity would not change your decision?" Liz reminded him with a glare.

"No but it could change my current state of erection" he said that so bluntly Liz's gasp of horror could be heard miles away as he gaze shifted to his groin area to witness the huge bulge there. She looked back up to his neutral face. He was waiting.

"I thought I was plain and not your type" Liz repeated his earlier words. Her was voice shaking with fear and nervousness.

He shrugged "you're still a woman, and I'm still a man."

"Not a gentleman it seems" she huffed. He chuckled, the sound oddly erotic.

"No, not a gentleman" he repeated. There was a long pause before he spoke again.

"You may stay here for the night. Tomorrow you begin your chores and you will be taken to another chamber". That splashed a bucket of ice cold water on her as it finally dawned on her that she really was being taken away from her family and home. It brought tears to her eyes and she'd be cursed to cry in front that monster before her.

"How long will you keep me here?" she asked in a low choked voice. He turned to her.

"As long as I want" he replied.

"What?! I thought it was until I pay my debt" Liz yelled in chagrin. He did not seem affected by her outburst.

"You are my prisoner-"he started then stopped abruptly "What is your name?" he finally asked.

"None of your business" Liz replied angrily. His stance grew rigid and he took a few strides to her until he was able to grab her arms. Not roughly but not lightly either.

"Don't start defying me, i don't want to call you thief the whole time so tell me then what I may call you" he said softly. Liz wanted to shout out that she was no thief and argue her case but she knew it would do no good. He would just call her a liar. Perhaps she should tell him that she was the daughter of Lord Parker? That her father would pay his stupid sum and then she'd be free. But free to what? To an unwanted marriage? To a disappointed father and mother? And anyway, if her pirate ever found out she was the daughter of an extremely rich Lord then he would seize the opportunity to demand more and possibly bankrupt her family. She would still be thrust into a marriage, because Lord Deluca only cares about her body and also because of lack of funds, and her father would not only be disappointed but he would hate her for it. She didn't want that. She would not give her pirate the satisfaction. Never.

"Liz" she finally said not wanting to give him her real name and yet not wanting to be the liar he accused her of being. 'Liz' was her nickname and it would do.

"Liz" he repeated still softly. His hold loosened on her arm but did not disengage. The heat from his hand seeped into her skin and began to fan out all around her body and ending between her thighs. She shivered against the unwanted responsiveness to her savage pirate's touch. Liz jerked away from him and he let her. Swiftly he walked to a dark oak chest at the end of the bed and opened it. When he stood a blanket rested in his palm and he set it on the bed. It occurred to Liz that he thought she was cold. The gesture felt oddly intimate.

Without a word he crossed the room to the door. He opened it and turned to cast one last look her way. "I shall be back later tonight" he said and the door was shut behind him. As soon as the door clicked Liz lunged at it turning the knob furiously until it turned red, but to no avail. Her pirate had locked the door and it suddenly occurred to her that she did not even know his name.