The Princess and the Pirate Chapter 2

Anna woke the next morning and found the tray of food on the table. Maddy had already laid out a gold gown for her to wear. She got out of bed and slipped the gown on as she detangled the knots from her hair. She twisted her hair up and into a bun. She took the towel from the table and dipped it into the warm water. She wiped her face and had just sat down to eat when she felt the ship move violently forward. It jerked the tray of food and it slipped down onto the ground, crashing. She stood up, frightened as the door to her room opened and Maddy walked in.

            “Maddy, what’s going on?” Anna asked.

            Maddy’s face was pale and the older woman carried fear in her eyes. “Stay down! We’re being attacked!”

            “What?” Anna cried.

            She rushed to the window to see, but Maddy grabbed her and pushed her down as an explosion caused both women to scream. Anna covered her head with her hands and fear entered her as she took deep breaths to calm her pounding heart. When they heard the sound of voices shouting and swords being withdrawn, Anna knew someone had gotten on the ship and was now taking over.

            “Maddy,” Anna whispered. “What do we do?”

            “Be quiet,” Maddy whispered.

            Anna listened as more footsteps were head and then both women held their breath as they heard loud footsteps outside their door. Maddy wrapped her arms around Anna as the footsteps stopped right outside the door. The door was kicked open and Anna screamed as three men entered and they were grabbed.

            “Let me go!” Anna screamed.

            “Milady!” Maddy yelled out.

            Anna was brought kicking and screaming up to the deck where she saw Captain Norwood was standing with swords drawn to her his neck. He stared at her with fearful eyes as the men dragged her to stand before him. Maddy was brought in beside her and it was then that Anna realized the good captain was outnumbered.

            “Don’t hurt her,” Ray said.

            “What do you want?” Maddy asked.

            No one answered and Anna looked from one to the other until her eyes came to rest upon a very tall man who had his back turned to her. He wore black leather boots to his calves, black pants, and white shirt with a black vest over it.

            “What do you want to do with the women, captain?” the man holding her arms asked.

            The man slowly turned around and she gasped with shock. His skin was kissed golden by the sun and his shirt was open in the front revealing thick muscles that lay underneath the shirt. His face was carved by the angels and she found herself staring and slowly being drained of all senses. When he smiled at her, she felt her knees weaken.

            “Well, well, well,” he said as he came to her. “Here she is.”

            “She’s not yours,” Ray said.

            He turned to Ray and laughed. “Really? And who does she belong to?”
            “She belongs to the Baron Charles Hutch. She’s his betrothed. You are not to touch her.”

            He smiled again and lowered to look at Anna. Up close, she could smell a faint masculine smell that made him seem more attractive. But when he pulled a small dagger from his pocket, she lost all desire and fear settled into her. He brought the dagger up and placed it on her skin. The coolness of the knife made her skin tingle and her heart began to beat hard.

            “You’re too beautiful to belong to one man,” he whispered.

            “Don’t touch her!” Maddy cried.

            He turned to Maddy and then he withdrew the dagger. He replaced it and then straightened. “Take the women onboard. Take all the treasures and make sure they can’t follow us. Oh, be sure to take the younger woman to my cabin.”

 

            Anna was pushed into a big cabin and her hands were bound behind her. She was forced to sit on the bed and a rag was placed inside her mouth. She could hear Maddy being dragged down the hall as the door was locked behind the man who brought her in. Captain Norwood’s ship was left sitting in the middle of the open sea with his men tied to the railings and Captain locked in his own cabin. The key had been placed above the fire place mantel. If the good captain would break free from the ropes that tied him, he would be free.

            If she was fearful of the wedding night, she was wrong. It took her a few moments after arriving on the ship did she realized she had been captured by pirates; pirates were ruthless. She would die at the hands of this pirate when she should be living in a glamorous life with a husband. Would the Baron save her? She felt tears enter her eyes as the door to the room opened and the man before entered. He smiled at her and then kicked the door closed. He walked in and set a chair in front of her. He sat down and stared at her with his black eyes. She noticed that his hair was a bit curly from where it lay on his neck.

            “You’re one beautiful creature. I was looking for something else when you came into view. I knew I had to have you. It was worth risking everything for you,” he said.

            She only stared and wished he would remove the gag so she could spat at him.

            As if reading her mind, he asked, “If I remove the gag, will you play nice?”

            She nodded. He reached over and pulled the gag out of her mouth. Anna swallowed and could still taste the cotton that was in her mouth. She turned sideways and showed him her bound hands.

            “Please?” she asked.

            He sighed and removed his dagger, the same one he’d placed at her neck, and cut the ropes. As soon as he replaced the dagger, she reached for it and brought it down on him. But he had predicted that and caught her wrist. He twisted her arm back and she let out a howl of pain as she dropped the dagger.

            “Why you little wild cat,” he said.

            “I’ll kill you!” Anna cried as he shoved her back.

            He laughed as he picked up the dagger and replaced it. “I must say, you’re quite surprising.”

            “Let me go now. I don’t belong to you. I have a betrothed waiting for me!”

            “No.”

            “He’ll pay for ransom if money is what you desire.”

            His eyes lit up. “Desire? Honey, I would make you blush if I told you what I desired.”

            She took a step backward. “You better not touch me. I’m not yours for the taking.”

            He laughed. “Oh, but you are, little dove. When I caught a whiff of you, I knew I had to have you. Jedidiah Whittaker always gets what he wants.”

            “Jedidiah?”

            He smiled. “Jedidiah is my name, Anna of Henceworth. You won’t be marrying any Baron any time soon. I want you for myself and if I have to force you, so shall be it.”

            She let out a cry. “Are you mad? The Baron won’t want me if you’ve had me! You can’t return me to him damaged! Are you insane? You may take broken women all the time, but in the civilized world, honest men don’t take spoken women! I insist you take me back this moment or I’ll scream!”

            He laughed. “Go ahead and scream, little dove. We’re in the middle of the open sea and the only person who will worry is that maid of yours. If you scream, she might even believe it is me who is making you scream…of pleasure.”

            “You wouldn’t dare!”

            “Don’t test me, little dove. I’ve been known to take great challenges and succeed.”

            She was at an end and so she raised both hands in surrender. “Please, don’t do this. You have to return me to my ship.”

            He smiled. “No. But you definitely look adorable when you beg.”

            Anger shot through her and she picked up a vase and tossed it at him. He ducked and it crashed on the floor. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. When she reached him, he crushed his lips on hers. Shock filled her as she tried to push him away. He swung his hand around and grabbed a handful of her hair and destroyed the bun. Then he pushed her away as her hair came spiraling down her back.

            “You devil!” she cried.

            Laughing, he replied, “Devil it may be, but when I make love to you, you’ll be calling me a prince of heaven.”

            He turned to leave and Anna cursed out loud at the slamming of the door. She grabbed the pillows and the blankets on the bed and with one pull, they crashed to the ground. She stepped on them and shouted out in anger and frustration. When she was finished, she fell into the chair that Jedidiah sat in earlier. She let out a deep breath and covered her face with her hands.

            Here she was, bound for marriage, and now she was in the hands of a pirate. Curse him! How dare he kidnap her and hold her against her will? Poor Baron Charles, what would he do if she were not to arrive as promised? Would he come after her? Would the good captain escape and send word for her rescue? Tears filled her eyes and she suddenly started sobbing. This was going to be a long journey ahead of her and it might be one she would wish to end quickly.

 

            Anna woke to the sound of Maddy’s voice calling out to her. She had fallen asleep in the chair and when she sat up, the soreness from her body told her she had slept in a poor position. She rubbed her eyes as Maddy started pulling the blankets off the floor. She cried out and she stopped.

            “What is it?” Maddy asked.

            “Leave it. Don’t touch them,” she ordered.

            Frowning, Maddy asked, “Why? It’s a mess.”

            “I want him to know that I don’t care for his approval of anything. I’ll make a mess if I wish. I’ll make this stay a horrid one for him, so horrid he’ll have no choice but to release me.”

            Maddy dropped the blankets. “What idea do you have brewing in that mind of yours, milady? Don’t you understand? He’s a pirate! He can kill you with his bare hands. We’re not in the position to be making such attempts. You should do as he says.”

            “And if he should decide he wants to rape me?”

            Maddy swallowed hard and avoided Anna’s gaze.

            “Exactly, Maddy, I won’t allow it. I’ll fight and I’ll win him. No man touches me without my consent. He’ll be dead if he should dare to touch me.”

            Maddy looked up at her again and knelt down on the ground beside her. “Milady, I overheard the crew talking. They say that their captain, this man named Jedidiah, is not only a pirate, but he’s a warrior. He kills without mercy and he’s bound for Spain.”

            “Spain? Is he mad? Baron Charles is in France! How can he do this to me?”

            “Milady, it’s probably best not to upset him. I also overheard the crew say that he left Captain Norwood alive, but he killed the other men on the ship.”

            Anna paled and stared into Maddy’s eyes. “But I assumed they were alive.”

            “You assumed wrong, my dear. He killed those men.”

            Anna felt tears in her eyes and wondered what lay in her fate. The door opened and Jedidiah walked in. Both women looked up and gasped as he kicked the door wider and gestured for Maddy to leave. She stood up, but Anna stood up and grabbed her arm. Jedidiah narrowed his gaze realizing that she was testing him.

            “The older woman leaves,” he ordered.

            “No. She stays.”

            He laughed and was about to answer when he saw the mess of the blankets on the floor. He shifted his eyes back to Anna and his gaze darkened. “What is the meaning of this?”

            Anna turned to look at her work and then back at him. “Do you like it? This is what I think of you and your men.”

            “Really?”

            Maddy pinched Anna’s arm, but she was too far gone now. She wasn’t going to turn back. “You and your men are cowards who kill for no purpose other than sport. Didn’t your mother teach you anything? But then, if you had a mother, you would know.”

            “Milady!” Maddy cried out.

            Jedidiah let out a loud growl, grabbed Maddy by the hand, and shoved her out the door. He locked it and as Maddy continued pounding on the door from outside, Anna’s fear tripled as he shoved her against the wall. He came down real close to her and his fingers pinched her skin. Hurt and fear raced into her body as he tightened his grip.

            “If I were you, I’d be careful on what you say, woman. You’re in my ship, my territory. Remember, my men have been at sea for a long time without a woman. They’re pretty hungry for a taste,” he growled.

            Her eyes widened. “You wouldn’t.”

            “Try me.”

            She bit down on her lips and she hated herself that she was trembling. But he scared her and the thought of the men taking turns with her was scaring her out of her wits. She continued to stare at him as he made no intention of moving. Maddy’s cries outside the door had turned silent. She either had given up or was taken away.

            “Release me,” Anna whispered.

            He laughed. “No.”

            “Release me!” she shouted.

            “If you think raising your voice is going to make you win this situation, you’re dead wrong, girl. I don’t take orders from anyone, especially a woman.”

            “Fine, then don’t blame me.”

            Anna brought up her knee and slammed it against his groin. Immediately, his hands released her and covered his manhood. She ran for the door, but he recovered quicker than she’d expected and grabbed her hair, yanking her back. Anna howled out pain as he pulled her against the wall. His hands came to the front of her dress and tore it open, revealing her undergarments and her naked breasts. She screamed and when her hands went to cover them, he slammed his lips against hers. She felt his tongue forcing its way into her mouth and all she could do was muffle a scream. When he pulled away, he was smiling as he stared at her with desire.

            “You must like it rough,” he said. “If I had known, I would have just taken you the moment you entered my cabin and saved my sweet seduction for someone else.”

            “Don’t you touch me!” she cried.

            “Then you should have remained a good girl.”

            Anna gasped in shock as he hoisted her up on his shoulder and tossed her on the bed. He straddled her and pinned both of her hands on top of her head. When he lowered to kiss her, she spit at him. He laughed and wrenched her legs apart with his knees. She screamed as he removed his belt with one hand and tied her wrists with it.

            “You will remain this way until I’ve finish with you,” he said.

            Tears filled her eyes and she finally came to the conclusion that if she didn’t do something, he would rape her. She took several deep breaths as he started to unbutton his shirt. She shut her eyes and forced herself to give up her pride. When she opened her eyes, he was naked from the torso up and was working on his pants.

            “Stop! Please! I’m sorry!” she cried.

            Jedidiah stopped and Anna continued crying as he bent down and placed both elbows beside her, staring into her eyes. Then he surprised her by gently wiping away her tears from her eyes.

            “Little dove, are you frightened?” he asked softly.

            She nodded. “Yes, I am. I’m frightened. I’m deathly afraid.”

            Then he smiled and sat up. “Good. Remember this when you disobey me again.”

            He removed the belt from her wrists, grabbed his shirt, and left the room. Anna sat up and covered herself with her arms, crying. Her gown was torn in the front and as she tried, she couldn’t push the fact that she had almost lost her innocence to a violent act.

 

            Jedidiah slammed his hand against the railing and swore at himself for almost doing something he hated. He had no intention of raping her, but when she kicked him, all thoughts vanished from his mind and all he wanted was to have her. It was true, he wanted her, and he was prepared to do anything to get her. When he had caught her in his telescope, saw her standing on the deck, he knew he had to have her. No woman as beautiful as her would be one man’s alone. But now that she was in his hold, the idea of anyone touching her drove him mad with anger and jealousy. This man, this Baron Charles, was not going to have her. He wanted to be the first.

            He smiled at the memory of her kiss and his lips tingled. All of his life, he had had his share of women, but none had ever enticed him as much as this one. Not only did she have a temper, but she was quick to take back her wrong doings. He remembered her look when she realized she had to apologize and he knew she was going to in the end. But he enjoyed testing her and seeing her fight with herself.

            “You enjoying yourself?” Hank Jules asked as he came up behind him.

            Jedidiah turned around to meet his oldest and most trusted friend. Hank Jules was a few years older than he was and he had never once doubted this man’s honesty or words. Hank was a few inches shorter, but just as good to look at as Jedidiah. They had been sailing together since the beginning of time.

            “Quite, actually,” Jedidiah answered.

            Hank smiled and leaned against the railing. “You sure you want this woman on this ship? Women are bad luck, you know.”

            “Only in history, my friend; a woman on deck reminds us what we miss at night.”

            Hank laughed loudly. “Have you already bed her? You bastard.”

            “No, not yet, my friend. She’s a wild one, this one. I don’t know whether to applaud her or to threaten her.”

            “Finally, my friend, you’ve met a woman who has stunned you silent. It is a good day indeed, Jedidiah.”

            Jedidiah rolled his eyes. “It doesn’t stop me from going to where I’m bound to.”

            “And her betrothed? Will you return her to her betrothed when we reach the shores of France?”         

            “We’re not going to France, Hank. We’re headed toward Spain.”

            Hank’s smile disappeared. “I noticed we were heading in a different direction, but I assumed you were doing so in the case of the women. You’re going to search for Pedro Van Jurez?”
            Jedidiah nodded. “Yes, I am. If I find that bastard, I’ll find my mother.”

            Jedidiah left the conversation hanging as he turned to glare out at the sea. Hank knew that when this happened, the conversation was done. Jedidiah tightened his grip on the railings and the memories came back as swiftly as if it had happened yesterday. He was ten years old, happy with his parents. But later that night, Pedro Van Jurez, stormed their house, killed his father and took his mother, a woman as beautiful as a Goddess and a woman Pedro had been in love with since the beginning of time. His mother had made him hide under the bed and he had seen his father’s death right before his eyes. He remembered the name because as this man killed his father, it was the last thing he said. He heard his mother’s screams and cries as he took her away. The man would pay for everything and Jedidiah would make sure of it.