The Pirate Wench Page 6

  "Perfect until we get arrested,” Russell replied. “The guy's a lawyer. I imagine he has the police on speed dial. He's probably friends with the mayor."

  "I'm a lawyer and I don't know the mayor,” Royce said, a mock hurt look on his face. Russell scowled at him.

  "The guy's a louse,” Melani said. “He stole her most precious possession so that he could hold it for ransom. Are you a pirate or not? She's the underdog who needs help."

  "I'm not a pirate, Melani,” Russell said. “I'm a businessman who dresses up like a pirate. I'm also getting married Saturday afternoon, and have better things to do than break into someone's house and steal back an employee's pearls. I'm sorry for Jaynie, really I am. But, this is ridiculous. You can count us out."

  "What if I don't want to be counted out?” Ellie said. “I happen to think this is a perfect plan. And I want to help."

  "Absolutely not,” Russell said. “You want to trade your wedding dress for stripes?"

  "Russell, that's so unfair. I..."

  "OK, hold up,” Royce said, setting his glass on the table with a thump. “I have to agree with Russell on this one. The danger of arrest is there, and you two have a major event to attend on Saturday. Melani and I can do this. It'll be easier with just two people anyway."

  "And safer with four,” Ellie said. “More lookouts. Plus, you guys have to go, too. Who would give us an alibi if you weren't there?"

  "Shit.” Russell leaned back in his chair and ran his hands through his hair. “I don't believe this. Four days before our wedding and we're planning a heist?"

  "It's more of a retrieval,” Melani said. “After all, he stole the jewelry from Jaynie. We're just taking back what's hers. So, instead of being pirates, I guess we've being privateers, right? Pirates who are hired for a specific purpose?"

  "We'll need blueprints of the house,” Royce said. “Plus the access code to an alarm, if there is one."

  "We'll have to figure out a way to see if anyone is home without leaving a number on Caller Id,” Ellie said. “And we have to get in without the neighbors seeing us."

  "We'll have to figure out where he would hide the pearls,” Russell said. “He might have them in his glove box for all we know. X doesn't mark the spot on this one."

  "And we have, basically, two days,” Melani said. “If we plan tomorrow, we can do it on Thursday and be ready for the rehearsal dinner on Friday night."

  "Red, don't act so excited about this,” Royce said. “Russell's right. This could be dangerous. If he catches us, he could shoot at us."

  "Well, we'll have Jaynie set up a meeting with him and then we know he's out of the house,” Melani said.

  "Does he live with anyone?” Russell leaned forward and Melani fought back a laugh. Despite his misgivings, she could tell the idea excited him.

  She gently caressed Royce's leg. He'd had no misgivings. When she'd told him about the theft, and about her plan to steal the jewels back, he'd laughed and said, “Let's do it, Red."

  "I don't know,” Melani said. “We'll have to ask Jaynie."

  "Fine,” Russell said. “Tomorrow morning, you ladies sit down and discuss it. Get a layout of the house from Jaynie and find out where she thinks the most likely hiding place would be. Then, we'll meet again tomorrow night and steal the jewelry on Thursday. Maybe Jaynie will bail us out of jail in time for the wedding."

  "Think about it this way,” Royce said, raising his glass. “If we get caught, my license is still good and I can defend us, pro bono."

  "Yippee,” Russell said. “That makes me feel so much better."

  * * * *

  Melani stood on the deck, looking out over the moonlit sea. She wasn't sure exactly how much help she'd been to Royce on the trip out, but it had been a great deal of fun.

  "Tell me again what type of ship this is."

  "This is a Bermuda rig sloop,” Royce said, bustling around the deck. “The rigging consists of a mainsail and a headsail. She's controlled by the halyard, the outhaul, the sheet, and the kicking strap. She's thirty-two feet wide, and comes complete with berths, a galley and a head down below."

  Melani nodded. Royce had explained all those things to her before they'd set sail, but she'd been more interested in watching him hoist the sails and control the boom. She'd done what he'd told her to do, when he'd told her to do it. And it had been a great deal of fun.

  Now, they'd dropped anchor and Royce was storing the sails.

  "You know, sloops like these have been around since the 1600s,” Royce said. Melani smiled at his professorial tone. It was the same one he used when he gave his lecture on pirates. “Of course most pirates wouldn't have used them. They would be too small. Pirates used tall ships like the one we'll be sailing Saturday afternoon for the wedding."

  "Do you think the idea will catch on?"

  "Is this part of the interview?"

  "Would it make a difference in your answer?” She sat down on the narrow planks in the stern.

  "No. Because yes, I think it will catch on. I mean it holds more than a touch of romanticism. Getting married on the deck of a pirate ship, and then holding the reception on Pirate's Isle? The couple gets their own private cabin, complete with hot tub? It's pretty cool."

  "Yes, it is. And you're the brains behind it, right?"

  Royce tied his last knot, then sat down next to Melani. He put his arm around her shoulder and leaned her into his chest.

  "Not really. Russell and I have been friends and partners for years. If you want the truth, it was Ellie who came up with the wedding idea, which is very interesting considering the fact she and Russell have been together forever, and never once talked about getting married."

  "I've thought that too,” Melani said, leaning further into him. “I even asked her about it and she just said that it was time. She assured me she wasn't pregnant, but I think they're thinking about it."

  "A rather cool idea, having babies."

  She turned her face to his. “You think?"

  "Yeah, I do. Sarah and I, we..."

  He stopped mid-sentence and Melani watched him turn toward the sea.

  "Tell me."

  "Nothing to tell. I was married, now I'm not."

  "Royce?” When he didn't say anything, she cleared her throat. She tried to make her next statement come out as a joke. “I'll make you walk the plank if you don't tell me."

  "Speaking of walking the plank. Someone promised me a midnight skinny dip.” He leaned down and kissed her. “Time to pay up."

  He stood so quickly that Melani almost lost her balance. She watched in appreciation as he stripped off his clothing and made for the edge.

  "How are we supposed to get back on the ship?"

  "It's a little thing called a ladder,” he said. He picked up the object in question and tested its ropes, then threw it into the water before going over the side himself. Melani heard the splash. She eased toward the side, watching as his head broke the surface.

  "Is it cold?"

  "Yes. Come and warm me up, Red."

  She shook her head. “Cold wasn't part of the deal."

  "Get in here. Don't make me come after you."

  "Hmm, well, I think not. I prefer making love in the nice warm berth. Or on the deck. It's small, but I'm sure we could make it work."

  "Melani.” The warning in his voice was clear. “Get naked and get in this water. Now."

  "Do you think my editor would appreciate the sidebar, I Had an Affair with a Pirate? And not just any pirate, but the bad pirate. Might make for some interesting reading. Tell me, Mr. Bad Pirate, what first attracted you to the sea?"

  "I'm warning you. If you don't get in here, important parts of my anatomy are going to shrink due to the cold water. Then you'll go to bed without an orgasm."

  "Oh my goodness, Mr. Bad Pirate has a complex about shrinkage. That will be an interesting tidbit to include in my story."

  Melani squealed at Royce's growl. He swam toward the ship, and too late, she realized there weren't
many places for her to run. The deck was crowded with sails and rigging, and the stairs leading down below would take her to the small galley, and the two berths, one of them with a double bunk.

  Somehow, though, she didn't think it would matter much. Royce wouldn't be interested in taking her in the berths. He wanted her in the water. She could pull the ladder up, but that would be just plain rude. She walked to the side and peered down at him.

  He grinned. “Are you chicken?” He made a squawking noise and Melani bristled.

  "Hey, I'm not chicken. I skydived for a story once."

  "Really, and yet you won't get in the ocean?"

  "I didn't say I wouldn't. But you said it was cold."

  "I'll warm you up."

  "Are there sharks?"

  "Only one. And he's a real woman eater.” He put his hands together in a fin shape and moved them through the water.

  "Will you protect me?"

  "Of course I will.” In the moonlight, she could see his face light up in another angelic smile. She grinned back and quickly shed her clothes. She swung her leg over the side on the ladder, easing herself down.

  Seconds later, Royce grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into the water, ducking them both under the surface. He brought them back up quickly and Melani spurt out water, laughing as she wiped her face.

  "That wasn't fair."

  "I told you I was a shark. Are you OK?"

  "Yes."

  He let go of her and swam a few feet away. The water was cold on her bare skin but still, she felt warm. She knew it came from Royce swimming nearby. He could probably make the temperature shoot up in a hot tub, she though with a grin.

  He swam up next to her and took her hand.

  "Come on."

  "Aren't you worried about getting too far away from the boat?"

  "Relax. Trust me. Lie on your back."

  She did as he asked, focusing on the stars above instead of the fact that her body floated over several feet of ocean and nothing more.

  "Just relax.” He gently caressed her breasts, his fingers finding the hard pebbles and twisting them gently.

  Melani moaned under his ministrations, wiggling and relaxing.

  "Close your eyes."

  She did, relaxing into his touch, feeling the waves flow gently over her body. When he swam under her and fitted his body to hers, she gasped. He put his arms under her breasts and she could feel his hard cock in the ridge of her ass.

  "Float with me. Just relax. Let the water take us."

  She laid her head on his shoulder. She could tell from his muscles that he wasn't relaxed. His body supported both of them. He pushed away from the boat and she didn't balk, loving the feel of being alone with him, and so wonderfully free.

  "I want to know you,” he whispered in her ear. “I want to know your stories. Tell me the most embarrassing thing you and Ellie ever did when you were kids."

  "Well, we shoe-polished a friend's car one night, and cut a few classes."

  "Child's play. I want the juicy stuff."

  "She'd kill me."

  "Tell me.” His voice caressed her ear.

  "Royce."

  "Tell me.” His breath was hot against her skin, cooled by the water.

  "We got arrested once. Well, not really arrested, but detained."

  Royce laughed so loud that Melani felt his chest rumble against her back.

  "You're kidding me?"

  "I shouldn't have told you."

  "So, Thursday's little B&E won't be the first time you've broken the law. Interesting. Give me the story."

  "OK, but you have to promise not to tell Ellie that I told you."

  "We'll consider this attorney/client privilege."

  She laughed and took a deep breath. She knew they were floating farther away from the boat, but she didn't care. In Royce's arms, she felt safe and protected.

  "We were in high school. One teacher in particular, Mr. Michaels, didn't like Ellie. He said she was smart, but played dumb and that bothered him. He used to call on her all the time in class, and then make her stay after school for detention for the least little offenses."

  "Okay, go on."

  "Well,” Melani said. She focused on the stars above her. “Ellie wanted to toilet paper his house. But she wanted to do it during a time when we couldn't get blamed for it. That meant doing it during school."

  "In broad daylight?” Royce's voice sounded incredulous. “That's pretty ballsy for teen-age girls."

  "Ellie has always been ballsy."

  Royce turned them back toward the ship, and Melani kicked her feet along with his.

  "Anyway. Her plan was for us to sneak out of school after roll had been taken in one class, do the deed, then sneak back in, just in time for our next class. No one would know we were gone. And Michaels couldn't blame us, because we were in school, and had the roll sheets to prove it."

  Royce laughed. “Criminal masterminds. Go on.” His hands found her breasts again and began to massage.

  "Anyway,” Melani said, moaning softly. “His house wasn't far from the school, and he wasn't married so we knew there would be nobody home. Still, there was the possibility of neighbors. So we parked a block away and walked down the alley."

  "The alley?"

  "Yes, we'd decided to do the backyard. Less chance of someone seeing us, and an even lesser chance of someone driving by."

  "Good point. Then how did you get caught, because I assume this is where this is leading."

  "It is.” She sighed when his hand slipped down between her legs. “You're making it awfully hard to concentrate on this story."

  He didn't answer, just continued to gently caress her slit.

  "So. We did the deed, using four rolls of toilet paper. We walked back to the car, congratulating ourselves on getting it done and not getting caught. Then, the car wouldn't start."

  Royce barked out a laugh. He put his hands around her again and turned them back toward the open ocean, kicking off from the side of the boat.

  "So you got caught because you had to walk back to school?"

  "No, we got caught because when we were trying to get the car started again a cop drove up behind us. He said the woman who lived a few doors down had noticed us in the alley and wondered what we were doing. We tried to lie, but it didn't work. A second cop had driven down the alley and seen the toilet paper. We were busted."

  "They arrested you for criminal mischief?"

  "No. We just got tickets and had to pay a fine. Plus, we had to clean up the mess. But they took us back to school in the back of the squad car. People were changing classes and saw us. One of the school photographers was outside with his camera and took pictures of us getting out. The little stunt made the yearbook, which made my parents furious."

  "My little jailbird."

  "I wasn't in jail,” she said with a huff.

  "Sure. And all my clients were innocent."

  She tried to break out of his arms but he held her close, chuckling lightly.

  She settled back into his chest.

  "This feels so good."

  "It would feel even better if I was buried deep inside you, holding still and just enjoying the warmth of your sweet little pussy."

  Melani gasped when he moved further down on her body, his chin resting on her shoulder. She spread her legs and left the tip of his cock probing for entrance.

  "Can I come in?"

  "Oh, yes. Royce."

  "Hush, Red. No more talking until I say so. Hush and just float with me. Watch the stars twinkle. Feel me as I feel you.” He slipped into her wetness, his hard length filling her completely.

  Melani focused her eyes on the heavens, even as she thought that the real heaven was below her, holding her safe in his arms as they floated on the ocean waters together. She knew that it must be hard for him not to thrust. She could feel even muscle in his body, tight with tension as he held back from the natural inclination to push in and out of her pussy.

  They floated
together for a few moments, both of them trembling with need and desire. The water lapped at their bodies and soft moans escaped their lips from time to time.

  Melani felt as if she were floating on a cloud, freer than she'd ever been in her life, more alive than she'd ever felt.

  After a few moments, his hands gently caressed her torso, teasing her bellybutton and tracing over her breasts.

  "Play with your clit. Come for me, Melani. Tighten around me."

  Melani dipped her fingers into her slit, her natural wetness mixing with the water around them. She found her clit easily, the bud hard and ready for attention. It pulsed under her touch and when Royce hissed, “Do it,” in her ears, she almost came undone.

  Her fingers began to whirl around her button, warmth spreading through her body. She traced the vein above her clit, then parted her hood to press against it more firmly.

  It didn't take long. A few hard strokes and she felt the wonderful beginnings of an orgasm blossoming in her stomach. Under her she could hear Royce fighting to control his movements.

  The hardness of his body fit so perfectly with her own. She took one final hard stroke against her clit and she came.

  "Royce! Oh fuck me, please!"

  Her muscles clamped around him and he growled. His hands went to her hips and he began to pump furiously. She felt his seed fill her and panic hit, but left just as quickly. They hadn't used a condom but right now she didn't care. All she cared about was Royce, and the pleasure that both of them were feeling.

  His hard thrusts took them both under the water. Despite the fear she felt at being so in the open, Melani relished the feelings that were running through her. She touched her clit and came again, opening her mouth and swallowing water before shutting it quickly. He brought them up just as fast, both of them sputtering water as he continued to pump.

  "Melani!"

  He clasped his arms firmly around her waist and held her tight as she spit out the water she'd swallowed.

  "Are you OK? Talk to me, baby."

  "Are you kidding me? That was so ... so fantastic.” Her body trembled as her nipples and clit continued to tingle. She'd never had an orgasm hit her that fast, or that completely. She felt like she'd come down to the ends of her toes.

  "Yes, it was. You were so relaxed. And you came so hard."