When he removes his hand to unbutton his breeches, I arch my back again to give him a full view. A sharp gasp escapes my lips when he plunges into me in one motion. My gasp quickly turns to moans with his thrusts – furious and rough, matching my mood. Just when I think he’s about to come, he stops and pulls out of me, turning me around and lifting me onto the desk. He pulls his shirt over his head as I part my thighs, begging for him to rejoin me. He doesn’t disappoint, driving into me as I move with him.
“Oh Goddess, Lennox,” I moan.
“This is what you wanted,” he snarls as I begin to lay back on the desk, grabbing my hair and forcing me to watch as he slides in and out of me. “Now watch me fuck you, Andromeda. You’re mine.” I moan at the sight, and rub my hand over the apex between my thighs, greedy to come.
“Uh-uh-uh,” he grabs my hand, forcing it away. “I’ll let you come when I want you to. I’m not done with you yet.”
A whimper leaves me in frustration at the denial.
Lifting me off the desk, he carries me to the bed, laying me on my back before kicking out of his boots and pants. I squeeze my thighs together, seeking any friction to relieve the ache between my legs. Once he is naked, except for the bandage around his midsection, he kisses my stomach, alternating between trailing his tongue over my heated skin and nipping my flesh. I arch as he dips below my navel, and my knees fall to the side, all but begging him to lick me between my legs. But he smiles up at me, denying me again. The bed dips as he lays down next to me, then reaches over and pulls me onto him.
“Ride me, Andromeda. Ride me until you come all over me,” he commands, finally permitting me to seek my release.
I almost scramble in my urgency to straddle his length and slide slowly down on him, enjoying the look on his face as I take my time. When he is seated deeply within me, I rock my hips in earnest, his large hands grip my waist as I rub my own over my breasts. I can’t get enough friction all over my body.
This isn’t gentle and loving like when we made love under the trees at the rites – that innocence is gone. I lean forward and slide up and down his length, causing him to throw his head back in pleasure as I near my climax. My muscles coil and the waves of pleasure overwhelm me once I get into a rhythm. I grip his inked forearms, digging my nails into his flesh as I cry out when I come. He smiles and pushes me off of him, pulling me on my hands and knees before taking me from behind again.
He slaps the same place as when he carried me up to his quarters, grabbing it in his hand to soothe the sting, and I know I will bear his mark on my behind in the morning. The thought inflames my senses and causes me to push back harder, meeting him with each thrust. His grip is firm on my hips, squeezing the flesh beneath him, and after a few more deep thrusts, he growls when he finds his own satisfaction. After, we lay side by side on his bed panting, my makeup smeared and my dress destroyed, staring at the ceiling of his cabin.
“Is that what you wanted?” he finally asks quietly.
“Is it what you wanted?” I return.
I will not be the one to say how I truly feel. I am used to wearing a mask; I can continue to do so until I leave this ship.
“I certainly didn’t want you bending over so my entire crew can imagine your pretty pink pussy when they abuse themselves,” he looks over at me with a slight frown.
“Well, after the frosty reception you gave me after you woke today, you didn’t seem like you’d mind what I did. Or with whom,” I say, trying to keep emotion from my voice. “You seem to be healing nicely, no issues in manhandling me.”
I stand abruptly and find one of his shirts to pull over myself, then head toward the door.
“Where are you going?” He sits up quickly when he realizes I aim for the exit, grimacing slightly at the sudden movement.
“To bed. Most of my customers don’t want me to stick around.”
“Nerissa, wait –”
“Oh, I’m Nerissa again, now? Andromeda the whore, Nerissa the saint? Let me tell you something — the girl you think you fell in love with that midsummer night died the night her temple and the life she knew were taken from her. The things that have happened to me –” I pause, swallowing bitter tears that threaten to escape. “The things I have had to do to survive killed her. Just like the things you’ve done killed Billy. If we are being honest, we are exactly who we present to the world – Andromeda and Captain William Lennox. Nerissa and Billy are a dream that died, another victim of the King.”
I turn to the door. I cannot allow him to see me cry; if he does, he will know how badly the words hurt me to say. If I can just get on the deck before he sees, it will be fine; I can choke down my feelings again.
Before my fingers graze the doorknob, his hand lands gently on my shoulder. He spins me to him, tucking me in tight against his warm chest. “I’m sorry,” he says to the top of my head. “I’m sorry for what you’ve endured. I’m sorry for how I treated you. I’m sorry.”
I let him hold me as I cry, releasing the anger and hurt from his earlier dismissal along with the losses I have experienced over the past eight years.
“A Captain on a pirate vessel is by vote. I hold this rank at their pleasure. I had been abed for a long time and had no idea what was happening while I was out. For all I knew, Erik had taken over, and we were halfway across the ocean. I trust him, but I just… I needed to get my affairs in order. To make sure the plan was still in place. I also… I’m ashamed to say… well, I was embarrassed at having told you the truth. I didn’t know how you felt about it,” he confides into my hair.
Enveloped in his warmth, I take my time to process his statement as my tears dry. “I see. I understand. Like I said before you fell into a weeklong fever dream, I think I knew it was you. I started having dreams about the rites once I boarded the ship. I was never one with a talent for divination, but things have been coming to me — memories resurfacing — and I think it was my subconscious pointing to the truth.”
I don’t tell him what’s truly in my heart; I’m not ready to be completely bared to him yet — to admit my feelings.
“I’m sorry if… if I hurt you. Tonight.” He stumbles over his words, examining my face. I can’t imagine what I look like to him right now with my heavy makeup smeared and the flush from the strong drink coloring my skin.
“Oh, Captain — I can handle much worse,” I smirk at him with a twinkle in my eye. “How many weeks do we have left on this voyage?”
“At least two, I’d say.” He looks at me with uncertainty, a furrow between his brows like he is sizing up a wild animal.
“Plenty of time for me to show you, then,” I reply, raising my eyebrows.