Once a Pirate (Mystical Realm Series Book 1) (14 page)

“Jake,” Anna’s confused expression melted into sad understanding.

“I don’t show people,” Jake informed with a stutter. “It’s disgusting.”

“No,” Anna shook her head as a tear trailed down her cheek. “Not disgusting, just sad.”

Jake watched her with caution as she sat up beside him on the bed, rising up on his elbow as she reached for him. Anna’s hand pressed back the material of his shirt, sliding it down his arms until Jake slipped it off and onto the floor by the bed. He let Anna’s eyes follow the savage line of scars across his shoulders, neck and arms. Jake sighed as her fingertips followed the path of her eyes. He shuddered as her hand pressed on his arm, turning enough to allow her sight of his back.

Anna gasped at the harsh reminder of his grandfather’s hatred, the raised marks of it clear across the expanse of scarred flesh. “Jake,” Her voice broke on his name as she wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in the nook of his neck and shoulder. Jake felt the wetness of her tears on his skin and wrapped his arms tightly around her.

“Oh, Love,” Jake moaned. “Don’t cry for me. Don’t ever cry for me.”

“It’s just so,” Anna sobbed. “How can anyone be so cruel? You were just a child. You deserved better from your family.”

“I’m not a child now, Love,” Jake stroked her hair. “I became a man without any of them.”

“You shouldn’t have had to,” Anna whispered harshly.

“It is what it is,” Jake framed her face with his hands and pulled back to look down at her tear stained cheeks. “I couldn’t stop my grandfather’s hatred any more than I could make my father accept me. I accepted my station long ago.”

“I’m sure if your father knew what your grandfather was doing to you,” Anna stopped her thought as Jake shook his head.

“He knew, Love,” Jake smiled sadly. “In his mind it would have been better if I’d never existed.”

“That’s horrible!” Anna exclaimed.

“I hold him accountable for much,” Jake admitted. “But, I can’t hold him at fault for his denial of me. My mother was a fool to believe it would be otherwise.”

“There’s no excuse,” Anna disagreed. “What kind of man has the right to refuse his own son?”

“One who has much to lose if a bastard son was discovered,” Jake hesitated, wondering if he should change the subject or tell her the secret he carried for decades.

Anna’s eyes stared into his questioningly; her body trustingly pressed the length of his. He thought of her reaction to his scars and her acceptance of the horrible deeds of his past. Jake didn’t need to keep secrets from Anna nor did he want to. Anna would be gone from him soon enough. While she was in his arms, Jake would enjoy every moment as fully as possible. With a deep breath, Jake revealed his truth.

“A King.”

Chapter Fourteen

“A King,” Anna repeated, her shock at the statement drying the remnants of her tears. Understanding dawned through the pain she felt at the past he suffered. “You mean the King who had your mother’s music box; the King of Meridelle?”

“Aye,” Jake admitted as his dark blue eyes watched her closely.

“How,” Anna couldn’t form a question through her shock.

“King Edward wasn’t the great man his subjects believed him to be,” Jake informed darkly. “He was a selfish, arrogant cad who took what he wanted without care for who was harmed in the process. My mother was young and naïve enough to believe a King would sacrifice his power and wealth for a commoner. She confused his lust with love. She died believing he would return for her one day.”

“You don’t think he would have?” Anna wanted to believe Jake’s mother could have found a happy ending.

“When she died, King Edward came to our cottage. He claimed it was to pay his respects, but it was only so he could destroy any evidence of his indiscretion.” Jake’s lip curled in a snarl. “She died believing in him; defending him.”

“Jake,” Anna hesitated, not wanting to push too hard the man who finally opened up to her. “How did your mother die?”

“When she found she was with child, my mother moved home to my grandfather’s cottage. He believed she brought dishonor to his family by keeping me.” Jake seemed lost in his memory as he spoke. “She made sure he never laid a hand on me, but never fought back when he laid hand to her. I don’t think it was intentional but when he drank he didn’t know his own strength; he didn’t know when to stop.”

“He killed her,” Anna whispered.

“Aye,” Jake nodded.

Anna placed a kiss on Jake’s cheek, wishing she could take all the pain of his past away. She couldn’t imagine a childhood as Jake experienced. Her family was overprotective and meddling, but they loved her. Jake had no one. A thought occurred to Anna. “So, if King Edward was your father, that means Char,” Anna trailed off.

“He is my half-brother,” Jake confirmed.

“Does he know?” Anna asked.

“No, he has no need to know,” Jake shook his head.

“He deserves to know he has a brother,” Anna was confused by Jake’s cruel laughter at her statement. “What?”

“He does not wish for me as his brother,” Jake assured with an indulgent expression.

“Jake, he’s not like his father,” Anna assured. “Family means so much to Char and he believes he’s lost everyone. He won’t deny you like the King did.”

“The man who would have me killed not long ago,” Jake laughed. “Char would never accept a monster as a brother?”

“You’re not a monster,” Anna placed her hand over Jake’s heart, enjoying the steady beat against her palm.

“Very few would agree with you, Love,” Jake spoke sadly.

“I know at least a dozen men who would,” Anna spoke of his crew. “I know those who follow you, kill for you and die for you.”

“The opinions of Pirates aren’t generally considered,” Jake informed.

“They were considered by me,” Anna argued.

“Is that why you came tonight, Love?” Jake asked as he pressed a tendril of hair behind her ear.

“They said you were worth the effort,” Anna admitted.

“Anna,” Jake looked upset at her comment.

“Don’t,” Anna stopped his impending argument with a quick kiss. “Monsters aren’t born, Jake, and neither are good men. It’s a choice. It’s your choice.”

“I choose whichever will keep you happy and safe, Love,” Jake answered with an odd expression.

Anna wanted to question his response, but Jake’s lips crushed against hers, igniting the fire she caught a glimpse of when he first laid her on his bed. She moaned in response to his probing tongue and caressing hands, wishing he would allow the bad boy to come out and play for just one more night. As much as Anna appreciated his respect and concern for her, she desperately wanted to experience the paradise his touch promised.

Jake must have sensed her desperation as his hand lowered to her thigh. He leaned over her until Anna’s back was on the mattress, using his hand to spread her thighs apart. Anna moaned as his thumb caressed the sensitive flesh beneath her panties. “Jake,” she whispered hungrily as her hips danced beneath his touch.

“Hush, Love,” Jake whispered back, his lips trailing down to nibble on her breasts through the thin material of her shirt.

Anna couldn’t remain still as his thumb continued its torment of her flesh through the silky garment. She felt her need pooling in her abdomen and lower, wetting the material he massaged and allowing him to feel his effect on her with unrestrained clarity. His groan vibrated along her breast as his fingers edged inside of the thin barrier of her panties.

His calloused, scarred hand was sensational against her bared flesh and Anna arched desperately to feel more of him. He entered her slowly, gently spreading her folds with one finger. The tip of his forefinger pressed into her slightly, testing her acceptance as his other hand speared beneath her shirt to fondle her bared breast. “Oh, Jake,” Anna groaned.

“Let me pleasure you, Love,” Jake’s tone was thick and strained with repressed need.

“Yes,” Anna agreed desperately. “Yes, please, Jake.”

With a groan of his own, Jake’s fingers penetrated her, stabbing at the most sensitive of her flesh as his teeth bit hard into her nipple through the cotton of her shirt. Anna screamed at the sensation as she was lost to his touch. Her hips tried to match his pace, lifting and falling, pushing toward him with a need for something she didn’t quite understand and had never experienced.

His free hand lifted her shirt, baring her chest to him. Jake groaned at the appearance of her breasts, the torture of his control obviously causing great pain. “Jake, it’s okay,” Anna assured, wanting to ease his pain as much as reach the peak she was quickly approaching. “Please, it’s okay, I want you.”

“Oh, Anna,” Jake growled, his fingers continuing to pierce her as his other hand reached for the clasp of his slacks.

“Yes,” Anna breathed as her legs shifted restlessly on the bed. She felt her body contract and release as his fingers increased their speed and depth. The knowledge he now lay next to her exposed and bare was further turn on. His mouth lowered to her bared nipple, biting at the nub hard and lighting a fuse in her abdomen. Anna gasped as her core exploded, sending a fresh wave of heat to where Jake’s fingers were joined with her.

Jake growled, burying his lips at her neck and shuddering with his own unspent need. In a moment his hand was gone from inside of her, instead joining his other to spread her legs wide so he could settle between them. “Don’t move, Love,” Jake ordered breathlessly.

Anna felt the tip of his erection pressing along her folds, rubbing up and down the length of her as he held back from what they both wanted most. Her body trembled with the force of her orgasm, but Anna already felt herself building again at the feel of his cock rubbing against her. His lips stole hers, his tongue delving into her mouth as she knew he wanted other areas of his anatomy to imitate. Wanting the same, she tried to arch her hips, but the weight of him pressed down, keeping her immobile.

Jake’s engorged hard-on throbbed where it rubbed her wetted flesh as he shifted. His movement allowed him to pierce her body with the tip of his shaft. Anna gasped at his thickness, wanting to feel more of him inside of her to ease the ache which settled at her core. “Jake, please,” Anna begged, her legs wrapping around his hips in invitation.

Jake’s groan was pained as he pressed himself into her, retreating before he breached the flimsy virgin barrier within her body. “Anna,” Jake snarled as his body jerked in denial of his retreat. He withdrew from her completely before penetrating her once more, testing the limits of her opening without taking the gift she offered.

“Jake!” Anna shouted as another wave of pleasure washed over her. Her hips bucked, threatening to take him deeper than he wished to go.

Jake’s tone matched her own as he roared her name, his body thrusting against her violently as he forced her hips to still. His shocked eyes darted to her as his hands reached between them to rip at the restraining cloth of her panties, shredding them and giving him full access to what he wanted. The head of his cock stabbed her repeatedly, careful not to take the deepest parts of her. Anna looked up at the man rutting over her, the force of his control visible on his face as he refused to bury himself too deeply. Thickness coated her core as Anna realized he would not take her virginity that night and the strength it took for him not to give in to what he wanted.

His face tensed and released as his body did the same, the wonderment in his eyes bringing her to climax just as much as the feel of his seed spilling along her walls did. Anna’s body exploded, lifting her off the bed and threatening to break the barrier Jake tried so hard to keep intact. Anna screamed his name over and over again as her core erupted into violent sensation, tearing her apart and leaving her breathless with the intensity of it.

Anna felt Jake leave her, rising from the bed and moving around the cabin. So lost was she in the aftermath of her pleasure, Anna didn’t notice his actions until he returned with a damp cloth to gently clean her swollen body. “Jake,” Anna closed her eyes against his sweetness, feeling tears breach their pressed forms and streak down her flushed cheeks.

Jake finished his ministrations and returned to her, cradling her in his arms tenderly as he kissed away the escaped tears on her face. Anna sighed in contentment, knowing she would be completely happy if every night was spent just like this one for the rest of her life.

***

The first rays of morning light sifted through the thick wall of windows in the Captain’s quarters. The sunlight chased away the shadows of the room, but not those in Jake’s mind. He stared off into the distance, seeking redemption from whatever would offer it. Finding none, he looked down at the woman curled trustingly in his arms. The sight of her sleeping form caused an ache in Jake’s chest he knew would not soon leave him.

Jake dreamed of being allowed to hold her as he did every night, waking with the gentle swell of the Ocean and her by his side. He imagined her hair loose and billowing in the sea breeze as she laughed by his side at the wheel. Anna’s brown eyes would glow with happiness and laughter as they had the night of the ball, talking on the beach. He would never allow the sadness of her past to cloud her heart again. However, like all dreams, it was no more than clouds; dissolved by morning’s harsh reality.

The life he offered wasn’t what Anna wanted. As hard as Jake tried, he would never be the good man she deserved; would never be worthy of her. There would always be someone chasing or threatening harm and Jake would always need to resort to his inner monster to ensure the safety of his ship, his crew and his woman. Sweet, innocent Anna forgave him for his actions the day before, but she would not always grant him such pardon. Eventually, she would see him for the monster he was capable of being and forget any good she saw in him.

“You look so sad,” Anna’s voice was thick with sleep. “What’s wrong?”

“I wasn’t ready for morning to come,” Jake answered honestly. “I rather enjoy having you in my bed.”

Anna smiled at his flirtation, “I rather enjoy being here.”

Jake’s chest swelled with pride and honor at her comment, pretending for a short time she would always hold the same opinion. He smoothed her hair back with his hand, still unfamiliar with the feel of warmth on the bare skin of his appendage. Jake marveled at how easily Anna accepted his scars. He always found the reminders offensive and repulsive, but she held his hand, ran her hands over his bare shoulders and kissed all of the hateful memories away. A shiver passed through him at the reminder of her tenderness, leaving a trail of sweet heat in its wake.

With a groan of agony at his lack of control, Jake leaned down and crushed his lips to hers. He rose over her as his tongue delved deep into her mouth, his hands running over her shoulders and arms before digging into her hips. He swore not to take Anna’s innocence during the night, fearing his own damnation should he claim such a gift for such a short time, but Jake hadn’t been able to deny them both the pleasure they wanted. Surely, another taste of her, another moment lost in the sweet folds of her body wouldn’t make him more of a monster than he already was. Surely, he could be forgiven for just this taste.

A knock on his door had Jake reluctantly pulling his lips from hers. Her moan of frustration at his retreat was like oil to his already enflamed senses. “Go away,” Jake’s tone was part demand and part plea. Jake knew nothing could come of the arousal which now pressed painfully at the leather of his slacks, but he still ached to feel her.

“We need to talk, Reynolds,” Prince Char’s tone came softly through the door, but the order in the words was clear.

“Later,” Jake called out as he pressed a kiss on the soft skin of Anna’s neck. Her shudder made Jake smile and repeat the act.

“Now,” Char’s tone was harder than before and Jake groaned at his persistence.

“You better let him in,” Anna said with repressed laughter.

“Are you sure, Love,” Jake’s eyes trailed down her body. “You’d have him see you in such an indecent state?”