Part 31
Liz stared at him, shock rippling through her. Her brain would not function properly.Especially when he was holding her tight enough to prevent her from breathing deeply and evenly. His arms were like warm iron bands, wrapped around her,pressing her hard against his solid chest. She could feel the heat of him, where her skin touched his. It was heady, but in a way, it was also frightening. For at the moment, this was not a passionate embrace, no lovers caress. Not one she could lose herself in and pretend the real world did not exist, as had happened those times before.Right now, her senses were most definitely attuned to the harsh reality that was now holding her in its claws. She now truly felt like the prisoner she was told she was.
She did not stop to digest the implication of his words. Words that would have made her think, and wonder. Words that would have probably changed her view of him completely. She felt too trapped, held there in his arms. Too frightened from the onslaught of his anger. She trembled in reaction. Her mouth worked several times, looking for something to say, anything to make the awful 'calm after the storm', disappear. For while everything stood silent, in his eyes, she could see, lay turbulent emotions that would equal any squall.
His fingers bit into her arms, and she cried out, springing into action.
" No! let me go..." her voice trailed off, unable to think of anything more to say. Nothing that would appeal to him in any case. She doubted he would listen to her pleas. He looked as if he had come to a decision, and was quite determined to carry it out. She also guessed that whatever it was, it did not include letting her go.
"Let you go? Tell me...where would you go?" he asked in deceptive softness that belied his earlier outburst. Liz swallowed and tried to think of an answer to his question. In truth, should he allow her to leave now there was no place she could go. It would be virtually impossible to get anywhere, given the circumstances she was in.
" Home." she answered simply. For even if she couldn't really get there, it was where she wanted to go.
"Home." he echoed, as if the word was foreign to him. "And where is home Liz?"
And there she could not answer him. For what could she say? That home was in Florence...particularly the Parker house, because-oh yes- her father was Lord Parker himself and she was his beloved daughter for whom he would pay a fortune to have restored to him? She gazed defiantly into the stormy amber eyes of the man who was every inch the pirate at this moment. Never.
" I thought so." He spoke so quietly she doubted for a moment she heard him right. But she had no time to even think about it because his hand was wrapping itself around her neck and pulling her head towards his. Her lips, towards his. Inch by slow agonizing inch, until they breathed the same air. Until his breath puffed hotly against her tingling skin. Until she could see the moistness that covered his lips making her throat parched for a sip.
And right now it was something she wanted to do more than anything. If only to drown herself in his embrace as she knew she would. To give way to the passionate fever that always burned low within her with him and lose herself in a world made only for the two of them. For no other reason but to forget the real and horrible world existed, with this vast chasm between them that could not possibly be bridged.
"My sweet sprite, what do you do you to me?" was whispered huskily right before his mouth crushed hers deliciously. She yielded to his mastery and eagerly joined in, forgetting for now the rage that had taken hold of him, the pain as he gripped her and the fear that made her shiver. She was shivering now, but it had nothing to do with fear. She was lost.
Her arms snaked around his neck and her fingers threaded through his thick hair, marvelling at the softness. In turn his own arms came around her waist to draw her firmly to him, molding her curves against his own hard male angles. His hands began to rythemtically move over her, from her back to her waist, up to her breasts. Liz gasped in pleasure when he held them in his palms, weighing them. Applying sweet torture to their sensitive tips, his thumbs moving in never-ending circles.
Liz threw her head back in absolute pleasure, giving him complete access to her throat, which he took advantage of completely. His mouth disconnected from hers, only to latch on hungrily at her neck, devouring the swanlike column. His tongue licked at her jumping pulse. Liz shuddered and caressed the shoulders and back, feeling the hard muscles flex and contract beneath her fingers. She inwardly was in awe of the great unleashed power that she knew lay underneath his flesh.
The hazy pleasure she was in made her blind to reality and anything else. So when he suddenly pushed away from her and gripped her arms roughly, she was damned confused. Owlishly she blinked up at him, the glaze in her eyes slowly clearing. It was then that she saw the anger, swirling in frustrated whiskey whirlpools . It was only when he finally spoke, that she understood it.
"Do not think to distract with your sweet kisses and melting touches little sprite," he still spoke softy but she heard the anger underlining it. And wondered at it.
"D-distract y-you...? she repeated dumbly, unable to fathom the very idea. She didn't know what he was talking about.
"yes, little witch. Distract me from my anger at finding you attempting to throw your life away but a few moments ago..." he bit furiously and then stepped away from her, raking a hand through his hair. making it stand up at an odd angle. Liz had the ridiculous urge to laugh.
"Throw my life awa..." she began faintly as she considered his words, and then stopped. Suddenly she remembered the first words that he had spoken at her. Shaking with so much anger and a suppressed emotion she couldn't understand.
What the hell did you think you were doing you stupid girl! Trying to kill yourself? Be free of me!
And also suddenly, out of nowhere, she felt the most powerful anger rise within her. It almost choked her. Furiously she glared him, brown eyes spitting fire, too angry to keep quiet and face whatever blows he chose to hurl at her. Enough was enough!
" Be free of you! I very much doubt I ever will be Captain. I rather think you will haunt me for the rest of eternity, and I would have to endure it." She spoke in contempt, aiming her mot lethal look at him. She saw his eyes narrow, and his lips tighten until they were white around the edges. But she was beyond the point of caring.
" That is the most ridiculous statement I have ever heard! You speak as if the mere act of getting out of bed is the equivalent of signing one's own death warrant!" She was shouting, she realized. And it felt damn good!
" You have suffered a great injury to you head. I suppose in you own temporarily deluded mind you wished it so!" He shouted right back. Fighting the urge, she knew, to grab her and shake her until her teeth fell out.
Hands on hips she glared at him. "And why, pray tell, would I wish death upon myself?" she asked in an icy voice.
His jaw locked and nerve ticked. "Perhaps, because you reasoned it was your only escape." he finally said in a deliberately low voice, struggling not to shout it.
Liz's eyes widened, stunned. "You talk nonsense!" she exclaimed, " Escape! I wouldn't go as far as killing myself to obtain my freedom I assure you.." she crossed her arms. "And besides, I haven't exaughsted all my attempts. What makes you so sure I have lost all hope?" she hadn't meant to, but it came out softly anyway, instead of haughty and confidently.
He reached for her hand. Liz tried to jerk away but the pressure was insistent and she thought it safer in the end not to fight him. His strength by far surpassed her own, she definitely knew that from past experience.
She watched warily as her held her small hand in the palm of his own larger one. Distractedly she wondered at the great difference between every part of her body and his...Liz suddenly blushed a furious red and looked down, hiding her face, hoping he wouldn't notice and demand a reason for it.
But he didn't seem to be paying close attention to her face. Instead his entire concentration was on her hand. He raised it for closer inspection. Slowly turning it this way and that, watching the way it slid over his own. He turned it until it lay palm up. His thumb moved and began to gently and every so softly move in small circles in the centre. Liz shivered, nit too happy at the moment about the feelings he was evoking in her at the moment, but somehow helpless to do anything but anticipate what he was going to do.
Before she could begin to speculate, he raised it higher, until it was inches away from his lips. Those tempting lips. Was he going to kiss her hand? Did she want him to? Would she stop him anyway? All those questions went unanswered as he bent his head and lifted his eyes to stare right at her. His eyes hypnotized her.
And then he was tilting her hand and placing a butterfly kiss, so quick and soft she barely felt it, at her upturned wrist. Huskily he spoke, " I am sure, because I know, I will not let you go."
He yanked her hard against him once again, and Liz had no time to fight. "Ever." he growled.
It would arouse the passion of any woman to hear a man like him say that. But in Liz it only raised her indignation. Forcefully she pushed at him. He was caught offguard by the action and let her go. Probably expected her to be small and helpless in his arms. Well- she jutted out her chin- she'll show him.
"That," she began in deliberate tones, " was the most arrogant, presumptuous, and possessive remark I have yet to hear from you. " She shook a fist at him. " Just who do you think you are? I may be your prisoner here but you do not own me! And therefore you cannot keep me if I wish to go! You are nothing but a greedy pirate who wants everything and will not be denied. You are selfish and heartless!" Liz regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. They may be what she truly thought of him, but that did not mean she had to foolishly recite them to his own face. She was doomed!
But to her infinite surprise he only asked quietly. "And do you wish to go?"
The question was so unexpected that she did not know what to say. It took her a moment before she gathered her wits and answered decisively. "Yes." She would purposefully ignore that strange and unfamiliar reluctance.
Max laughed softly and shook his head, eyeing her with bland amusement. " Then you may go."
Liz started. Her eyes flying to his, full of incredulity. Did she just hear him right? Had he truly just said that she could go? Just like that! Liz thought the anger and hurt she felt at his quick dismissal from his life was very irrelevant. She wanted to go home. Back to the safe haven with her parents and live once more in innocence and simply happiness. With money at her disposal, balls to go to and a pair of gloves to buy. She wanted to go back to the security, even if boring, of her home, with parents that smothered her with love and protection.
Didn't she?
Ofcourse! Liz shook her head mentally. What absurd doubts. A pirate's life was no life for her. She needed land beneath her feet, stability. A home, a family. She proudly raised her head and opened her mouth to bid him farewell, then march out with dignity and be out of his life.
One thing stopped her however. The fact that the first thing her feet would touch was thin air, and then water that would last for eternity. Abruptly she closed her mouth. She gave Max a covert glance and found that his eyes were now laughing. At her. Why of all the insolent-
" 'Tis as I thought sprite. You cannot go." he laughed.
Her eyes narrowed and she stared steadily at him, gathering up her calm and courage. "Not now, I confess I am rather stranded with you. But soon, when we touch land. I will go." It took her a moment before she suddenly realized that in truth she had no idea what land they would be touching next. They had gone to England and now have left it in less than a day. She didn't have time to register it, no time to walk to the deck, or even the porthole and look at it. It was gone in the blink of an eye. It didn't help ofcourse that she had also been bedridden-not by her own choice.
" You are a stubborn little thing aren't you." he murmured softly, eyeing her in speculation. His eyes raked over her form and she felt herself blushing.
She shook her head. " Not stubborn. I simply know my own mind." she refuted.
"Unlike most women." he added, speaking what she had indeed been thinking.
Liz straightened her shoulders regally and gave a proud toss of her head. " They do not have a choice do they. Men seem to think they rule the world. When indeed, they would not even exist, were it not for the women."
"You cannot argue though, that men are a very important part of human reproduction. " he arched a brow at her. "Not to mention...very pleasurable part." Liz could have sworn her entire body would have combusted, if it were able to, from the heat that assailed her. Especially the one coming from his eyes.
"Indeed-I cannot argue with that- I suppose-" she broke off, her attempt to show that that remark did not affect her not working. She shook her head. "How can one argue from first hand experience?" she asked softly, a sensual look clouding her eyes.
She head his sudden indrawn breath, saw his eyes grow dark and his body tense. If he could unnerve her with his words then she could atleast return the favour. It pleased her immensely to see that she was not the only one affected by this strange...thing, that she could not even describe. Whatever it was between them.
She must have looked too smug for he broke into wry laughter and shook his head. "Vixen." he murmured softly.
Strangely...she found herself laughing along with him. Something she knew she had never done before, and it warmed her.
Three days have passed since the confrontation in his cabin and Liz felt that there was some uneasy truce between them. He had firmly ordered her to rest for a few more days to be sure there is not real injury, especially in her head. She had obeyed in the end, on the promise that she would get to get up and walk around the deck to exercise her body and get it used to movement.
She revelled in the sweet breeze that blew across her face and the wonderful heat of the sun that caused her skin to tingle warmly. She had already gotten her sea legs and moved easily about the deck, smiling everywhere and at everyone. She felt strangely happy and content. It was a weird feeling, but one she chose not question. If she was feeling that then all the better in the circumstances. It helped her disposition.
She stood at the rail, watching the sun now setting over the horizon. A hand snaked around her and she gasped as it drew her back against a solid warm chest. She tensed. The arm relaxed slightly, to give her space.
" Liz." a low voice in her ear. One she knew so very well.
"Max" she gasped in surprise. After that day, he had virtually left her alone. Other than the polite greetings and questions he hardly came near her and was always off doing something else. Always busy. At night she always expected him to walk in and start making love to her once again. But he never did. And she couldn't deny, that in her heart, she felt disappointed.
But now he was here.
"I like how you say my name." he growled. "Say it again."
"Max." it was a sigh on her lips.
And then she frowned slightly as she repeated his name in her mind several times. It was not an odd name, yet she never wondered before if it stood for a longer name or even where he came from to be name so. Now she really wanted to know. She wanted to know everything she could about the enigmatic captain Max.
" Tell me, what does 'Max' stand for? I have wondered-" she broke off and quiet ensued. She dared not turn around and confront him head on. If he didn't like the questions then she would rather face his wrath from behind.
"Maxwell." he finally said. Liz tried the name on lips silently. It was a elegant name, a gentleman's name. Somehow, she didn't think it fit a pirate's. 'Max' was most definitely more suitable.
" It's a nice name." she offered.
"My thanks." his voice was amused, and she wondered if he had guessed her thoughts.
"And what of you? I have hardly head a of a 'Liz' before. And an Italian one at that." he questioned and Liz saw no reason why she shouldn't tell him her full name. After all...what harm could it do?
"It stands for Elizabeth. 'Liz' is simply a nickname. And I am not Italian. I simply live there." But that was all she was willing to disclose. For some odd reason, she thought he knew that.
" A lovely name," he said, his breath tickling the hair at her ear, " But I prefer 'Liz' better. Elizabeth is just too formal for a little sprite like you." His fingers splayed open over her stomach. Liz sucked in her breath.
" I shall take that as a compliment." she replied lightly, trying to ease the sudden tension that sprang up between then. This was the first real, unthreatening conversation they have had and for some reason, she did not want it ruined. She really wanted to find out more about him. For heaven's sake she'd been with him for days and days and she hardly knew anything at all about him.
She did not know why. But she desperately wanted to reach him. In every way.
" What is it Liz?" he whispered and Liz closed her eyes, wondering for the millionth time why she wasn't fighting him. Why she wasn't pulling away from his touch and trying to find words to describe him as the rake and pirate he was.
The sunset was just too beautiful she guessed. The water like crystal.
" Nothing..." her voice trailed off. His arm tightened for second around her. "Don't lie" he muttered into her hair. "Tell me."
Liz swallowed. "Well...it's...it's just that I- simply wondered...about-your-life and..." she didn't go on. She guessed that he understood what she meant to ask. Before she knew it, she was spun around and was looking up at him with wide guileless eyes. She was relieved to see there was no anger in his. But they were blank and she would derive nothing from them, nor from his expression.
His hand came up to push a stray hair back behind her ear. The darkness began to swirl around them. His lips curled, in smile that wasn't really a smile. " I am a pirate sweet Elizabeth. I plunder ships for their treasures and ravish innocent maidens. I am a thief and a cad and I am never to be trusted. The sea is my haven and the ship, my home. There is nothing more to say about the life of a pirate." His words ended, softly mocking.
And then before she could even blink he leaned forward and brushed his lips to hers, then straightened, his lips curled again and whispered, "Sleep well sweet Elizabeth." He turned on his heel and Liz heard them clicking on the hard wood, turning faint, as he disappeared from view.
Liz didn't know how she managed it but she slept throughout the night. Peacefully even. She'd thought the disturbing events of during that quiet setting of the sun would keep her awake all night, but she was wrong, and she wondered at the peace and calm that had settled over her.
She was carefully getting out of bed- she was back in her own room now so the captain can have his cabin back- before the door smashed open. Liz jumped, startled and for a fleeting moment of panic thought it was going to be just like the time before. With Max barging in, kissing her senseless and then demanding to know why she was trying to kill herself.
It wasn't Max however. It was Maria, and she was as hysterical as ever.
"Liz! Oh goodness Liz you must get up, you must come! No wait you mustn't or you'll be killed, I'll be killed!" Maria shouted as she came toward her gripping her hands and pulling her toward her.
Liz saw the fright in her eyes and the strange excitement and knew instinctively that something had happened, or was going to happen. Mentally she revised Maria's words.
"KILLED!" she squeaked. "Whatever do you mean?"
"Well," Maria began, "I don't know if we are to be killed but it is a possibility since we are on board a pirate ship and when a pirate ship attacks another there are bound to be fatal consqe-" she never got to finish because Liz was up in an instant, still dressed in her dressed because she hadn't bothered to change last night, grabbing at Maria's dress and twisting the material.
"What do you mean attack! speak English woman!" Liz demanded.
Maria frowned. "But I am-"
Liz twisted the material more. "No I mean explain it coherently." she bit off.
"Oh well," Maria shrugged and looked ruefully, "In my current state I might not be able to do that so you might as well go up on deck and see for yourself."
The moment the words were out Liz wasted no more time, instead rushed to the door and ran frantically up onto the deck. Everything and everyone was moving around at once. There was not an unmoving object or man laying about. Everyone was in a flurry of activity.
She only noticed half of that, because what she was really looking at were the black cannons that were being rolled from place to place and the cannon balls being placed strategically next to them so that they can be reached quite easily-
Oh heavens! She need to find Max. She didn't stop to think. She just had to find him. Immediately she saw him on the quarter deck speaking to one of the sailors, giving orders. He looked bright, alert and full of grim determination. She didn't like that look. Not at all.
Quickly she rushed to him and without bothering with being subtle or polite she came up behind him and grabbed his arm, turning him towards her, her eyes frantic as were her movements.
"Max," she exclaimed. "What is going on? Please tell me, what's happening?"
Max only looked at her for a moment then smiled in a way that Liz did not like. Without answering her question he turned away and pointed. "Do you see that?"
Liz turned swiftly to glimpse what he was showing her. And caught her breath.
It was another ship.
Her brow furrowed. She was confused. "I don't understand." she turned questioning eyes toward him again.
This time she interpreted his smile as wry. " Do you remember what I told you last night sweet Elizabeth?"
It took a moment for that to sink again. Then she caught her breath on a loud gasp. Her eyes grew wide, her mouth hung open and her body began to tremble at the implication of his words.
"You can't mean-you can't mean..." she swallowed with great difficulty, "You cant mean-!" it came out as a terrified squeak. Max seemed to notice this. He opened his mouth, intent on further explanation of his actions but a sailor approached him then holding something black in his hands.
"Beggin' yer pardon Ca'ptn but when would ye like ol' jolly Roger up?" he questioned, shaking the material for emphasis.
Max studied the close ship for a moment then the black material. Finally he nodded. "We're close enough. We ought to atleast give them fair warning of what's to come. Pull him up." he answered decisively.
Liz watched in numb shock as the sailor tied it to something or other then began to lift it up. She gazed with glazed eyes at the nearing ship wondering briefly what ship it was and who was on it and what was on it. She wondered if there was any treasure.
Her face contorted in sudden dismay. This couldn't be real. It couldn't be happening! But she knew it was, as she looked up to were the black flag flapped vigorously in the wind. Crossed swords clashing. Skull, with hollowed eyes flashing with deadly intent.