A Pirate’s Wife (21 page)

lowered his head to her breast, closing hungry lips around

her. She pushed him away. One side of her dress tore under

his grip, revealing more skin, and he laughed, pinning her

down with a leg as he shed his shirt, revealing a bulky,

hairy chest.

She willed herself to be calm and to think.

Screaming would not help. They would not hear her

through the wailing winds, the creaking ship and crushing

waters. She had to act to protect herself and with shaking

fingers, she kicked and reached for the pillows in the

moment he let go of her. She knew her weapons were still

there. She had left them when they got married along with

everything else. Roberto's cabin was not bigger than hers

and there would be no room for her things. This was the

first time she had been back in her old cabin.

To protect herself, Rosa-Lee had placed a loaded

pistol underneath her pillow after the last attack. Now she

had to get to it, stretching her body as far as possible. This

could not happen to her, not after she experienced love and

pleasure at the hand of her husband.

He grabbed her feet, forcing himself in between her

legs with an ugly, lustful grin. She kicked again to move

herself up closer to the pillows. She stretched again as he

tore her petticoat, her legs exposed before him. He released

a guffaw that vibrated through her fear. His rough hands

stroking her thighs as he tore more fabric away.

With a final effort she reached the pistol, bringing it

into her hand. She looked at the man who was so engrossed

with her, muttering incoherent words she did not

understand, and lifted the barrel to his face.

He did not notice the pistol in her hand, his eyes

fixed on her inner thighs, spreading her, and she pulled the

trigger with a grunt.

An explosion rumbled loud above the winds and

Pierre, who was the closest to the stairs, heard it first.

He ran below to where he thought it came from,

down the passageway, until he reached her room. He froze

at the picture in front of him, a smouldering pistol still in

her hands, pointing at a man. The sailor's head was in

between her legs. Gunpowder smoke floated in the cabin.

He reached for the pistol in quick strides, removing it from

her shaking hands, and reached for the man's head,

removing him.

The bullet was imbedded between the beady eyes.

He was dead before he knew it.

As she covered herself, Roberto ran in, took in the

immediate surroundings, and then reached for Rosa-Lee,

still on the bed, drenched in sweat and rain. She lay there,

shocked, staring at him and Pierre, then said softly, 'It is the

first time I killed a man,' she whispered through clenched

teeth. Tears started to run down her cheeks.

'Did he hurt you?'

'A few scratches, but I am fine.'

The doctor came in, confirming the death of the

sailor, and then gave Rosa-Lee something for the shock and

pain. Bruises had formed from the manhandling. She did

not mention it to Roberto though, the shock overwhelming

her. He just held her as she clung to him. She could hear his

heart racing, echoing her own. The storm calmed down as

men's feet stopped running above them.

Roberto lifted her drenched body and walked with

her to their cabin. He sat down and placed her on his lap,

covering her face with warm kisses.

'Before you sleep we must get you out of this wet

clothing, my love.'

She nodded softly, numbness in her limbs. She was

so cold that she shivered uncontrollably, all the past few

weeks' ordeals coming down in one swift move, the cold,

the storms, the absence of her parents, the attack, and the

death. The tears were unstoppable.

Roberto could only hold her next to his drenched

body while he caressed her. His heart throbbed for her. He

made her stand up, stripping the wet dress from her. She

stood there shivering while he rubbed her dry with a towel,

drying her long hair where it fell over her breasts,

concealing them from him. Finally he placed her

underneath the covers.

Eyes closed, she looked pale and tired as he

watched her while stripping himself. He lay down next to

her, covering himself, nestling her closer to him. They both

fell asleep, once he was certain she was all right.

It was almost dusk when Rosa-Lee stirred in his

arms. By now he was already awake, watching her sweet

face next to him, propped up on one arm. Thinking of the

naked body in his bed made his own to act in arousal, but

that had to wait.

When she opened her eyes she looked bewildered.

The memories of the previous night came back in a flash.

For a moment she did not know where she was.

'You are safe.' She pulled him closer, holding him

tightly. When he put his arms around her, the sheets moved

down, revealing a soft shoulder and the slope of her breast.

He leaned down and removed her hair, the scar still visible,

but he didn't mind kissing it softly. He could feel her

tremble under his touch, relaxing into him.

He moved her up toward him pressed against his

hard chest. He held on tightly and enjoyed her soft body

against him, his hands brushing the soft skin.

Seeing the place where the man left a bruise on her

soft skin, he touched it. Rosa-Lee watched as he traced the

long bruise over her nipple, raw emotions playing over his

face echoing her own feelings. His gentle touch was so

different from the brute of last night and she moaned with

delight.

'I am so sorry for not being there,' he finally said in

a whisper. Just thinking of what could have happened

replayed another time, a time he would much rather forget.

He had almost lost her like he had lost his sister, and tears

rolled down his cheeks.

Rosa-Lee felt the wetness on her skin and lifted his

face. 'This is not your fault my love. I do not blame you.'

'I vowed to protect you,' he said. 'So far I am not

doing a very fine job of it.'

'You are everything I want in a man. Please, love,

don't punish yourself about this,' she whispered and kissed

him, wiping away the wetness. I am here and safe. That is

all that matters'

'If any harm should come to you I would never

forgive myself,' he said softly.

'Nothing can happen to me. Beside I am married to

a mean pirate.' She smiled at him and he chuckled.

'I do not feel like that right now.'

'What, my brave and fearless pirate is terrified?'

Trying to make light of this Rosa-Lee could see the effect

of it on him. 'Nothing has changed, love. You are still the

only man for me. I trust you.'

He looked at her as if she was saying something

profound. 'Really?'

'Yes, my love, really. Now go and get me some

clothes.'

'Yes, ma'am.' He kissed her before he jumped out of

bed. Rosa-Lee fell back on the soft mattress where she still

could feel his warmth. Taking deep breaths, she would not

show him how much last night shook her. It was over. She

was safe. That was all that mattered.

'I will get Enrico to get you a dress.' She nodded as

she watched him putting on his now familiar black

breeches and white shirt followed by long black boots and

black belt.

He pulled a cord and in a few seconds Enrico was at

the door.

'Enrico, please bring the señorita's night gown and

then prepare some food for her.'

'Yes, Captain.'

Rosa-Lee protested. 'I want a dress, Roberto.'

'No you will stay in bed and that is an order, Rosa-

Lee.' His tone was stern and authoritative.

'Yes, Captain.' She smiled. It was no use to argue

with him once he made up his mind.

Enrico was back in minutes with her nightgown.

Roberto helped her to dress and Enrico asked. 'Should I

bring your food here as well, Captain?'

'Yes.' the moment Enrico stepped out Roberto

placed a kiss on her cheek and she smiled.

With the brush she started to brush her hair, all

tangled with sea salt.

'Let me.' He took the brush from her and continued.

At first, he had to remove many tangles but eventually her

hair was straight and shining. The simple act was

reassuring as the silk fell through his fingers.

'Thanks, Roberto,' she whispered, feeling loved and

cosy with the ample affection. She never thought that a

man could be so caring like this man. Since they got

married he cared for her. Nothing was amiss and she felt

truly loved and adored. There were times that her thoughts

wanted to overshadow the happiness but then she would

push them away. She made the choice to marry him and

what she got was a loving and caring husband. The mean

man she met months ago was gone. Even his crew treated

her with respect.

She looked around his now-familiar cabin.
A man's

holy place,
her father had once said.
If you want to know
the man you must look at his room that will tell you much

about him.
His scent was all over the cabin, a distinct smell that mixed with sea, wind, cigars and earth. Not even her

own fragrance could extinguish his smell. And she loved it

would not change it for anything.

Books filled a bookshelf near the window and on an

end table. A book lay open next to an easy chair, worn out

at the armrests.

That was his place of solitude. Many times he

would sit there and pull her in his lap and they would listen

to the crashing of the waves against the hull of the ship or

the wind's wailing when the sea was boisterous and playful.

Those were the times she cherished the most because then

he opened himself to her and she would learn more about

the man. The pirate was in the back, lingering.

Dark colours covered the bed and windows. In the

one corner was a glass cabinet filled with weapons and

swords.

The desk was well-organized. No papers lay

around. In fact, everything was organized neatly, and yet it

had a sense of homeliness.

Roberto watched her as she studied his cabin and

then asked, 'Do you like what you see?'

'Yes, it is you. I don't want to change anything.

Your love for books astounds me.'

He chuckled. 'Why? Do you think all pirates

ignorant?' he asked as he walked toward her.

'No.' She chuckled with a blush. 'You are quite

surprising for a pirate.'

'I am glad to have the lady's approval.' He kissed

her soundly. 'You are everything I want in a man,' she

added. He chuckled. 'I am glad to hear that.' He kissed her

again and rose once again 'You can read some if you like.'

'I would like that,' and closed her eyes for a second.