And a Bottle of Rum
3
Alex woke slowly, blinking heavily as the fuzziness in her mouth and head made her wince and groan. Too much ale, her mind supplied, and she rolled onto her side as her stomach rebelled and she had to breathe through the nausea.
But then she couldn't help but smile. The time she'd spent with Kara and Winn the night before had been the most enjoyment she'd had in months, if not years, and she looked forward to seeing them again. But then she frowned as another memory rose in her mind and she gritted her teeth as she thought about her fiancé. He had always been a stoic, straitlaced man who hardly ever smiled and when he did, it was with a tightness that made her sometimes think he had a stick up his ass controlling the strings of his mouth.
Unbidden, pictures of Kara's ready, beautiful smile and mirthful blue eyes played in her mind… pictures of the tall captain pressing their bodies together and kissing her, the silken touch of her seeking tongue in Alex's mouth. She sighed softly as the stirrings she'd been trying so hard to keep at bay, returned with an insistence that made her gasp as a pulsing sensation began between her thighs. She breathed through it for a moment, willing it away, clenching her thighs together, knowing it would be wrong to do anything more, but wanting it with a desperation she'd rarely felt before, especially not thinking about Max.
And as she lay there, measuring her breath, she suddenly recognized that she didn't care one bit that Kara was a pirate. She wanted her anyway.
Xx
"Lord, Winn," Kara groaned. "What in damnation's name were we thinking?" She abruptly dunked her head into a horse trough, the cold water making her shiver but waking her up more that she had been before. She shook herself hard, spraying her friend and making him wince.
"It's Alex's fault," the first mate whined. "She drank both of us under the table."
Kara suddenly had a memory and she rubbed at the crinkle between her eyes. "Damn... did I proposition her?"
Her friend laughed and then winced at the pain it caused. "I'm almost sure you did and I'm also almost sure that she let you down gracefully."
"Actually, I was flattered," Alex said with a grin as she reached them. She was dressed in full uniform with her hand resting casually against the scabbard of her sword. Kara thought she looked gorgeous in the morning sun. "Besides, I've been on Tortuga long enough to have heard the stories of the… talented… Captain Zorel," she teased.
"I apologize if I offended you, truly," the blonde replied with a light blush. She ran her hands though her hair and then wiped them over her face.
But Alex just chuckled softly, hand reaching out to gently push one of the pirate's wet braids back from her eyes. "Think nothing of it. I live on a ship full of men. Believe me, I've heard many a worse drunken proposition than yours."
"Wait," Kara said then, her brain suddenly catching up. "You asked around about me?" Her eyes narrowed and she looked at Winn, who just shrugged.
"Of course… when I first got here… know thine opponent, correct? I was able to glean a lot of insight from speaking to people who know of you."
Kara rolled her eyes, her shoulders dropping as she nodded. "Aye, I suppose it was to be expected."
Just then, a man in a Navy uniform jogged toward them. "Captain Danvers, Sir!" He stopped before her and saluted. She straightened and returned it.
"Report, Ensign."
"Just received word from the Valiant, Sir. HMS Endeavor will arrive into port here in the next hour."
"Endeavor?" Alex repeated slowly. "Why would they…?" She looked at Kara, saw the expression on her face and quickly dismissed the ensign. Then she went to the pirate, holding her at the upper arms as fearful blue eyes looked back at her. "What… what is it?" she asked softly.
But when Kara didn't reply, Winn stepped closer. "The captain of Endeavor almost killed her two years ago. He… used her most cruelly… then slashed her belly open and threw her overboard to die."
"What?" Alex's face turned into the picture of shock. 'No… not… Captain Lord? Maxwell Lord?"
Kara straightened and eased her shirt out of her breeches to reveal a tanned stomach marred by a long, horizontal, jagged scar. Alex couldn't stop herself. She reached out and touched it with her fingertips, smoothing them across the pirate's warm skin and feeling the muscles contract under them. When her eyes lifted to Kara's she saw something there that made her want to lean forward and kiss the blonde's pain away, uncaring of who was watching.
"Rather than bringing me in for trial, he punished me himself," the pirate said. "The cat is out of the bag, Alex. I may be a pirate, but I didn't deserve this. If it had not been for the fishermen of Lamanta, I would be most definitely dead now."
Alex lifted her left hand and looked at the ring on her finger, feeling like she was going to throw up. "Oh my God."
"No…" Understanding hit Kara like a blow to the gut, but she managed to keep her tears at bay and just turned on her heel to stride back toward the tavern.
Alex looked at Winn, her own eyes welling. The first mate gently squeezed her forearm. "Go," he said simply.
And Alex ran after Kara, following as she climbed the stairs and walked along the hallway. "Kara please... wait," she said, but the blonde shook her head as she entered her room.
"Just leave me be, Alex," she warned. "He's your beloved. I understand that you must stand by him."
Kara tried to close the door, but the captain stomped her foot against it, stopping it. Then she pushed her way into the room and closed the door behind her, moving forward to stand in front of the angrily pacing blonde. "I don't love him," she stated fiercely as she pulled the ring off her finger and dropped it into her pocket. "I've never loved him. I don't want to marry him, and I don't want a life with him. I don't want ANY of it. I want to be free to love whomever I choose. To DO whatever I choose. To BE with whomever I choose. I don't want to stand with him, Kara, I want to stand with YOU. Pirate or not, I don't care. I just want..." She trailed off and caught Kara's arm, stopping her pacing abruptly and then pressing her hands to her chest as her voice gentled. "You."
The pirate gasped softly, her anger draining away at the searching look in the smaller captain's eyes. She eased closer, grasping the brunette's hips and guiding their bodies together as she gazed at the beautiful face before her. "Are you saying my proposition worked?" she teased gently as she removed both her own tricorn and Alex's to toss them carelessly onto the small writing desk by the wall.
"You may believe that it did," Alex murmured in reply as she let her hands slide up the pirate's chest to her shoulders. "But truly, I've wanted you since the moment we first met."
"You're trembling," Kara said just as softly as she cupped the smaller woman's face between her hands. "My Lord, Alex, you're so beautiful."
"Kara... I…" Alex stammered, barely able to articulate her thoughts. "I want… but I've never…"
"Sshhhhh, be easy," Kara soothed as she kissed the older woman's forehead, eyelids and nose before finally capturing her lips, gently at first and then more insistently. Alex moaned softly and then, just like in her fantasy, Kara's tongue was sweeping across her lips and then parting them… exploring her mouth… and it was all she could do to keep herself upright. She wrapped her arms around the taller woman's neck and pushed against her, wanting the moment to never end as they kissed passionately. But then Kara was easing back. "Are you sure this is what you want?" she asked breathlessly. "I AM a pirate, Alex."
"I don't care," Alex replied as she boldly slipped her hands under the blonde's untucked shirt and traced her fingertips over the ridges of her stomach muscles. Kara's eyes closed and she exhaled as the captain's hands moved higher to caress over her ribs. The pirate slowly unbuckled Alex's sword belt and unbuttoned her coat, pushing it off her shoulders and tossing them both onto a chair. Then she pulled the brunette's shirt out of her breeches, caressing the skin of her sides almost reverently and causing her to shiver.
"Allow me," she murmured as she shuffled them back toward the bed and eased Alex down onto it on her back to pull her boots off. Then she moved on top of her, pressing her thigh down between Alex's and kissing her slowly and deeply as the captain's hands slid under her shirt again and caressed up and down her back. Kara pulled the brunette's shirt off over her head and then trailed open-mouthed kisses up her toned stomach, smiling as Alex gasped and her muscles contracted as she squirmed a little. "Mmmm.. ticklish…" Kara purred as she moved higher. She sealed her mouth around one breast and ran her tongue over its tight, rosy nipple, loving the little sounds of pleasure coming from her lover as her skin around it pebbled.
"Oh… Yes, Kara," Alex moaned, her hips lifting and pressing up into the pirate's thigh.
Kara moved to her other breast, lavishing attention on it as her fingers went to the belt of the brunette's breeches, opening it and then pulling her fingers through the leather ties to loosen them.
Alex could hardly breathe as she felt the material slide down her hips and she lifted them to help Kara push the garment down and off her legs, along with her undergarment. She was laid fully bare before the woman she wanted, and Kara licked her lips as she gazed down at the brunette's body wantonly.
But then the pirate looked into her lover's eyes very seriously. "Alex," she said gently. "I don't have to… go inside."
'I want it to be you," Alex replied, tears trailing from the corners of her eyes into her temples. "I want my first to be you."
"It is my great honor," Kara murmured. "You are a strong, beautiful woman and I want so much to pleasure you." She caressed Alex's tears away and then kissed her deeply as she let her hands roam over the captain's soft skin. She took her time, finding all the spots on her lover's body that made her moan or squirm or tremble and, as she kissed her way lower, the heady scent of Alex's arousal made her growl softly and lick her lips.
"Please…" Alex moaned as her fingers ran through the pirate's damp hair. She was wet and hot and throbbing, and desperately needed Kara's touch. Then her eyes widened, and her breath stuttered as the blonde slowly laved her tongue between Alex's folds and then dove into a thorough exploration with lips and tongue and teeth. Kara groaned and lifted her eyes to look at Alex as the brunette began to feel the first aches of her climax. "Kara… Lord God..." she barely got out, voice high and tight. Then she gasped as she felt Kara's fingers push barely into her and tease her with featherlight flutters.
The pleasure built and built, and Alex's restless hands caressed her own breasts as her breaths came in ragged pants. "Kara..." she whimpered as the first waves of pleasure hit and then she was soaring on a loud cry and the pirate was pushing deeply into her, over and over, the stinging pain of the tearing of her most intimate barrier almost lost in the clenching, throbbing ecstasy of her orgasm. Then she just lay there, trying to catch her breath as Kara kissed her gently and then went to the washbowl to wet a small linen towel with cool water and bring it back to the bed.
She tenderly wiped away the small amount of blood and then her own hands before throwing the linen back into the bowl and gathering her lover into her arms to hold her tightly. "I hope it didn't hurt too much," she said softly as she kissed Alex's forehead and then lips.
"It was incredible," the captain replied in wonder, far past being bashful at this point as she ran her hand up under Kara's shirt and cupped her bare breast. "But I really want to touch you now."
The pirate grinned. "I'm yours."
"Ooohhh…" Alex grinned back. "I wager I can beat the two orgasms from last night." And as her mouth and tongue curiously tasted the ridges of Kara's stomach and along her scar, the blonde gasped loudly.
"I'll wager you can."
Xx
A while later, the two women reluctantly separated at Kara's door, sharing a final lingering kiss at the threshold before Alex went back to her own room, carrying her belt, sword and tricorn in her hands. She sat on her bed for a long moment and just breathed. She felt different... more... as if Kara had taken her virginity but left her with much more than she could have ever imagined. She felt slightly in awe of it... and of Kara's skill at lovemaking. Although coaxing the pirate into three orgasms of her own had made Alex feel powerful and just a little smug.
She stood then and straightened herself up, buttoning up her coat, fixing her hair, buckling her belt and weapon back into place and setting her tricorn on her head. She knew that, by now, Max had landed on the island and was probably looking for her. She was angry and disgusted at him for what he'd done to Kara and she knew there was no way on Earth that she would marry him now. In fact, she knew she had to return the ring to him. The sight of it made her feel sick.
Alex headed downstairs to the bar and found that Captain Lord was already seated at a table with a cup of whisky and a plate of something in front of him. He was surrounded by armed guards and Alex rolled her eyes as she realized what a coward he truly was.
"Max," she said as she approached the table and pulled out a chair to sit opposite him.
"Alexandra, My Love," he replied, face cold. "I was wondering when you would appear. We have much to discuss. Your father wrote me to say that you will be retiring and returning to the Carolina Colony for our wedding very soon."
"Yes, well, there has been a change in plans," Alex replied with a scowl as her mind replaced his face with that of a snake. She took the ring out of her pocket and threw it on the table. "I would not marry you if you were the only man on Earth!"
Lord's eyes widened and he cleared his throat as he looked around at his men, who were studiously looking at other places in the room. "Alexandra, we have been betrothed for years. You cannot break your promise now."
"If you knew me at all, you'd know that I prefer to be called Alex," the brunette replied, eyes flashing. "But you don't know me, and I don't wish for you to. So," Alex took a deep breath. "I release us BOTH from this farce." She got up and turned to leave the tavern, but Lord got up too and grabbed her by the arm.
"If you leave here, I will destroy you," he said darkly.
Alex whirled on him, hand on the grip of her sword. "Just like you destroyed Kara Zorel?!"
Lord's eyes widened for just a moment before his impassive face slid back into place. "She was a filthy pirate. She deserved to die."
"I see," Alex seethed. "And did she deserve to be raped?"
"You can't rape a whore," Lord spat, and the brunette shook her head, a small disbelieving laugh escaping her.
"It is now clear to me, Max, that you're no longer the man to whom I promised myself and that I don't know you at all either. Now let me go."
Max pulled her against him, his fetid breath whooshing into her face. "Don't test me, Woman," he growled.
Across the room in a dark corner by the bar, angry blue eyes watched and Kara half-drew her dagger from its sheath at the small of her back. She knew she could pierce his heart from where she stood but she also knew that her friend could take care of herself.
Captain Danvers straightened and ripped her arm out of his hand, locking her eyes on his. "DON'T. TOUCH. ME. AGAIN." Then she turned and headed out the door, hand firmly on the grip of her sword as she half expected him to follow her.
Max just chuckled and sat back down again, draining his whisky and beckoning for another. "Women."
Xx
Alex stood at the cliff edge, gazing down into Tortuga Bay at both her ship and Kara's, listing slightly at anchor against the outgoing tide. Part of her was utterly relieved that she'd broken her engagement but another part of her was afraid. She wondered what Max would do. He wouldn't just let her go. He was too proud for that.
It had taken the entire hike up the cliff to finally drain Alex of her anger and she just paused a moment to sit on a rock and let her breath settle. She sighed then as she thought of Kara and what they'd shared. No matter what the future held, she'd always have that precious memory. Truth be told, she wanted so many more memories with her pirate captain that her heart ached for them.
It had been Kara's eyes that had drawn her in. Those blue depths that held far too much pain and bitter experience for a woman her age, but Alex suspected that Kara may have seen the same in her own eyes. Experiences hard won.
"You know," Kara panted as she reached the top of the cliff, bending at the waist to catch her breath. "You could have just climbed halfway. The views are just as good."
Without a word, Alex got up and went to her, wrapping her arms around her and burying her face in her neck. Kara felt her shaking and hugged her gently. "I was there in the shadows," she said softly. "I'm in awe of your strength and courage."
"I don't feel very strong at this moment," the brunette replied, voice muffled. She eased back and took Kara's hand to bring her back to the rock to sit down. "I'm not sure what's going to happen. My father is going to be so angry that I broke my engagement."
"Your father doesn't know the truth about the man Captain Lord is," Kara pointed out. "Perhaps you should write him?"
Alex closed her eyes, tears slowly trailing down her cheeks. "I'm not sure he'll care," she murmured. "He just wants me to make an advantageous match with connections that he can exploit. I'm not sure he cares about my happiness at all, Kara."
"What do YOU want?" the blonde captain asked as she laced her fingers into her friend's and squeezed gently.
"You." Alex's eyes gentled and Kara pulled back a little at the need she saw in them. It was intense and arousing and it was all she could do to stop herself from taking the brunette again right there against the nearby tree.
"Alex…" She sighed and got up to walk a few paces away, putting some distance between them. "We live very different lives. I'm a pirate who steals from the rich to give to people who have nothing. You're a Navy officer whose sworn duty is to capture and hang the people who steal from the rich, no matter their intention."
"I'm retiring from the Navy, Kara, one way or another," Alex replied distantly. "It's time I chose my own path."
"Even so, you're a beautiful, amazing woman," the pirate replied. "You could have a family, children… if you went back home. You need to take time and think… without me."
Alex nodded slowly, understanding the truth of what her friend was saying. "I know," she replied.
Kara nodded then and moved close to leave a lingering kiss on Alex's lips. "Goodbye, Alex."
"Goodbye, Kara," Alex whispered in return as she watched the pirate walk away.
Back at the tavern, Kara ate quietly, feeling Winn's eyes on her but he didn't ask so she just kept her eyes lowered, her thoughts far away on a pair of gorgeous brown eyes.