A Pirate’s Wife (29 page)

21

Pierre was made the new Captain of the
Contra O

Vento.
It seemed that Cisco had been informed of the new

arrangements by letter and, according to the captain, was

pleased that his ship would be used in future endeavours,

still under the cover of a protector of his merchant ship.

Pierre and Nora were smitten with each other,

walking along the beach just talking about everything,

holding hands.

Nora was happy about his new assignment and told

him as much, enjoying the young Captain's closeness and

tenderness since they met. The moment they kissed the first

time, she knew this was the man for her and she was not

shy in her affections for him.

Pierre knew this was the woman for him, even if

she was very young. He spent as much time with her as

propriety dictated, not that there was any one that would

scold him, but his mother raised him to treat a lady right

and it came naturally with her. Nevertheless, the biggest

thing on his mind was that he had to be convinced when he

proposed to her that she would be content with him being

on the sea, away from her for long months.

She would stay on the farm with his mother and

sister during the long months he would be away. He told

her all about the land near Lyon and the life they led there.

The life of a sea captain was hard and lonely for any man,

but when a loving wife waits, it makes it all worthwhile.

It took her two days to think about it, talking to

Rosa-Lee and Roberto, seeking advice from them. Rosa-

Lee asked her one question: 'What does your heart tell

you?' Then and there and she knew, returning with a

positive answer. Pierre was ecstatic about her answer,

twirling her around in the air to the delight of everyone.

That night they celebrated under the bright moon and starry

sky, people laughing and eating. When he returned her to

her hut, he had a difficult time leaving her but he wanted to

do right by her.

They stayed on the island for a week to recover and

restock food and water. In that time Roberto showed Rosa-

Lee around the island. She saw all his favourite spots

overlooking the sea from different angles, and found the

natives interesting. Their nights were filled with bliss and

he took her in his arms and loved her without any pressure

or lingering uncertainty.

Pierre returned Nora to Mozambique where she had

been abducted. Nora was the daughter of a Dutch

landowner, and they went to ask for permission for their

marriage before they would set sail to France. They arrived

one night during a festival her father celebrated for her

mother.

Roberto and Rosa-Lee accompanied them on the

journey, getting to know the new country and buying

beautiful pieces of furniture for their home.

They spent a week with Nora's family, who were

relieved and glad that she was alive and well. Her mother,

Truida, had been in such a state of distress through all the

time her daughter was missing and her father had a hard

time consoling his wife.

Her father, Geert, and Pierre had long talks about

his life on the open sea. He had to convince her father that

he was the right man for her. Though he would be gone on

long voyages, Pierre assured him that Nora would be in

safe hands. His mother and sister would look after her.

The marriage ceremony was performed at the

parent's estate, to the great delight of her mother, who went

all out, creating the perfect wedding within a week, a

record for any mother.

That night he made love to her for the first time,

banishing from her memory the brutality she had

experienced at the hands of her pirate captor. When she

relaxed with him she blossomed under his loving attention,

giving herself to the man she loved in an orgasmic

euphoria. For two days, they were not seen as Pierre

indulged himself in the little lady with the heated passion.

Nora was a well-bred lady who, after the ordeal and

in his tender care, became a vibrant young woman. Pierre

loved every moment with her. Her love for the land and its

people was evident when she showed him the estate. Her

knowledge was vast and full of wit. He knew he had made

the right choice. His mother would love her dearly. She

could entertain him, playing the piano masterfully, and

made him feel like the luckiest man alive.

They laughed easily, enjoying life in general and

were a beautiful couple. Her mother was at ease when Nora

left with her new husband.

Pedro gave Rosa-Lee a letter to their parents

explaining all the events, and his employment with the

D.E.I.C. with the promise that he would see them soon.

He had turned into a responsible, hard-working man

that loved the sea, a man her father would be proud of.

Captain Alfonso was found with their father's

merchant ship, healthy and with a toothless grin. The

D.E.I.C. hid him away so that the Falcon could not find

him. When Rosa-Lee saw him, she cried for joy, flinging

herself into the older man's arms. He patted her on the

back, assuring her that he was fine. She thought that he had

also fallen under the sword of the pirates, and was greatly

relieved when he joined them on route to Portugal.

Soon all were on the deck of the Almaida merchant

ship, heading back to Portugal. The group was excited

about their new lives awaiting them, but Roberto had to

admit to himself that he dreaded meeting his new father-in-

law. What kind of reception would he receive from Cisco

Almaida?

They had not met under the best of circumstances.

He had kidnapped the man's daughter right under his nose.

How would he react to their bonding as a married couple?

Looking at his sleeping wife, he stroked the

protruding belly with a big calloused hand, a contented

smile a permanent fixture on his face now. The scar was

part of his attractiveness and not fierce-looking at all.

He loved her. There was no doubt in his mind, but

meeting this brave man he had heard of so many times

made him worry. What if he did not accept him as her

husband?

Could he really live without his Rosa? There was

just no way he could. He scowled and he pulled her closer,

leaning over the sleeping form and kissing her, demanding

attention from her sleepy form. With a sigh, she opened her

warm mouth.

He covered her with his body, desperately searching

for her, and in a daze she realized something was wrong, a

reminder of the days before they had met the Falcon. Since

then she had gotten used to her very tender husband and

she pushed him back softly, not to alarm him. Her eyes

blinked in the dark to take him in and she whispered,

'Hey, what is wrong?' He did not answer, and just

consumed her more with his heated desire, and although he

stoked the same feelings within her, something was not

right.

'Roberto.' She tried again, out of breath. 'Tell me,'

she urged him and he looked at her with sad eyes. He bent

his head low over her body again, demanding her, and she

thought it best to comply, allowing him to brand her with

his lips and body like those days at sea. An all-consuming

passion sizzled in the air, fogging their minds and the world

out there, until there were only their bodies connecting in a

euphoric bliss.

When they finally came down, back on the soft

mattress, wrapped in each other's arms, trying to get in

control of their breathing, she looked up into the gorgeous

face and asked once again,

'What is bothering you, Roberto?'

He looked at her with dark piercing eyes, tracing

her spine with a finger.

'It is nothing.' He tried to shrug it away.

'No it is not. Come on, tell me.' She started to tickle

him between the two ribs, a spot she knew by now. He was

ticklish and he grinned, grabbing her hand to stop her. She

chuckled.

'You don't play fair,' he pouted.

'Well, are you going to talk to me?' She rose,

leaning on her elbow, all her attention fixated on him. He

looked away, avoiding the piercing eyes. She turned his

face back to her, cuddling into him with a leg over him.

'I am scared of losing you,' he finally admitted, and

she gasped

'Why? I plan to stick to you like barnacles on the

hull of the ship. I'm going nowhere.'

He knew this was stupid to think like this but he

could not help it and the dread came out as a hoarse,

croaking sound.

'Your father ... ' He lifted his eyes, filled with dread

and terror instead of his normal stern expression. 'He will

hate me.'

Dumbfounded, she looked at him, her lips parted in

a gasp, and she lifted herself on top of him.

'Do you really think that?'

'Yes, I do.' She looked away, not sure what to think.

She had thought about her parents' reaction during this time

and what they would think of the union. They would be

shocked and surprised but they would not hate him. They

might be angry but they would not chase him away. She

turned her gaze back to him and laid a hand on the scarred

cheek, beautiful and full of character.

'They will never chase you away,' she whispered.

'They would trust my judgment and when they see that I

truly love you, they will love you.' Leaning closer, she

kissed his eyes and face tenderly, with words lingering

between each kiss.

'You are an amazing man and my father will see

that and love you,' she continued. 'He might be angry for a

day, but he will love you.' She sat up straight, lifting her leg

over him and straddled him, cupping his face.

'I cannot believe my big pirate who is scared of

nothing is fearful of meeting the in-laws,' she giggled, and

he grinned at her remark, but also at the perfect view he

had of her.

'My mother will adore you. My other brother may

challenge you, but he will like you.' He wrapped his arms

around her body, her long flowing hair curtaining them in.

'You are silly to think this way.'

'Your father is Cisco Almaida. Even the Falcon

admired the man, and I kidnapped you out of his house,

insulted him. If it was me, I would shoot me.' She placed a

finger on his lips.

'He will not shoot you, Roberto. He is loving and

caring, everything you are as well. He will understand.' She

placed another kiss on his plump lips.

'He is brave and caring and not a hard, careless

man. You will see.' she began straddling him with her

enticing hips and he groaned softly.

'You are a temptress.'

'You taught me, so don't complain.'