I awoke in the dead of night to the ship hurling to the right and left. I climbed unsteadily to my feet. Ignoring the ache deep behind my pelvis, I rushed toward the porthole and peered out.

A fierce night storm had kicked up and he was gone.

Captaining the ship. Even as little as I knew about the art of sailors, I knew that when the weather was fierce the Captain was needed at the helm.

It was scary feeling the boat knocked around against the virile waves. But I remained relatively calm.

Lucien was always in control of all things. His hands were capable. He knew what to do in all situations and how to overpower any obstacle. He was the embodiment of strength.

I could envision him at the wheel. Calmly steering the ship and barking orders. Confirmed by the faint notes of his voice I could hear rising over the crashing of waves.

His commanding tone.

I put my back to the wall opposite the porthole, to steady myself and watched the vicious waves as I slid down the wall to sit on the floor. Somehow feeling very lonely without his presence with me. And wondering what would happen to me if something happened to him.

That thought made me angry. Since when did I rely on him for my survival?

I had always lived on the streets and that's why I'd snuck aboard the Mandrake to escape the life I'd known. Though I'd not intended on becoming a pirate's captive.

***

I must've fallen asleep on the floor because I awoke to a bit of cloth tightening against my eyelids. My hands flailed up to pull it off, but a hard masculine arm knocked my hands aside.

"Leave it be." Lucien's voice.

I blinked slowly trying to calm my panic from being blind. I realized that I could see early morning light seeping from beneath the bit of cloth. It's morning.

The cloth was orange and felt smooth and cool.

Satin?

"Why are you tying me up?"

"Just blindfolding you, Plaything." His hand stroked down my arm and helped me sit up on the swaying floor. "Come."

His hand curved around my wrist and under my hand to help me to my feet. He led me across the room. Slowly. "Move as the ship moves. Don't fight its motion. It's like making love to me."

"Is that what we did?"

"It's what you did. And you're quite the little lover when you stop fighting me."

I chewed my bottom lip.

Suddenly I was yanked hard enough I stumbled forward. Feeling the slap of my bare skin against his hard chest as his body stopped mine. His hand instantly pinching my chin. "It's sexy when you do that. It makes me want my cock between those pretty lips."

His thumb slid up and stroked over my bottom lip.

I felt the weight of his hardness bump against my thighs.

"Come." He urged again. Guiding my body to follow his as he backed up. He reached the edge of the cot and he sat. Pulling me onto his lap. My knees along his hips on the edge of the bed.

"What are you going to do to me?"

"Everything." He reached up to scoop my breasts. Making me gasp in surprise since I hadn't known the touch was coming.