A Pirate Stole My Heart

Chapter 8

~ Chapter 8 ~

I watched Charles’ muscular figure walk up the steps to the wheel.

“Johnson and his accusations,” Charles said with a grin, taking over the wheel and looking at me.

I nervously laughed. No babies on board. Really, Johnson? Way to make it awkward. I walked over to the side of the ship and looked over the edge at the blood-red sunset. I opened the bottle of rum with my teeth and took a swig. I usually don’t drink but today was a long day.

We stayed silent like that for a while, him at the wheel and me looking over the side of the ship.

I held up the bottle of rum to him. “Want some?” I asked.

He looked at me and nodded. I walked up the steps to him, never breaking eye contact. He took the bottle and took a few sips. He placed the bottle on the wooden planks and then looked at me again.

“Come over here, Aria.”

I went closer to him and he pulled me over to the wheel. He took one of his hands and gripped mine, placing it on the wheel.

“You’re letting me steer the ship?” I asked, surprised.

“I’m teaching you how to steer the ship, isn’t that what you’ve always wanted to do?”

“Yes,” I answered right away.

He chuckled. “Alright, so you are going to place your hands here,” his hands guided mine to where they should be on the wheel. My heart was suddenly beating very fast, realizing our close proximity, his body pressed up against my back.

“You only have to turn the wheel slightly. If you turn it too fast, then the ship will turn too much. Don’t underestimate the wind and sail power,” he said laughing lightly. His hands started to travel up my arms, away from my hands. They then traveled down my back and stopped at my waist. I shivered from his touch.

“You have to pretend the ship is part of the ocean. You have to feel the waves, how they go up and down. The current, how it can move the ship from side to side.” His head lowered so it was the same height of mine. I could hear his breathing and feel his heart beat on my back, my knees felt weak. I took a deep breath and tried to focus on the ocean and the ship.

“Did you feel that slight pull to the right?” he asked quietly.

I nodded.

“That was the current. You have to lean with it slightly but then turn it back to the left to continue a straight course.”

I did what he said and the ship continued straight.

“This is amazing,” I said quietly, talking about steering the ship.

He let out a deep, beautiful laugh that made me smile.

“Funny,” he said. “I said that same exact thing when I first learned how to steer a ship.”

“How old were you?” I asked.

“I was fifteen. The year I became captain of this ship.” He spun me around so I was looking at him. His hands took the steering wheel behind me, and then bent his head down so we were just inches apart, his blue eyes staring into mine.

“The year before you came on this ship,” he said in a low husky voice.

I took a shaky breath. “The year you kidnapped me,” I said.

“Were you mad?” he asked, concerned.

I put my hands around his neck.

“No,” I answered truthfully. “I don’t even regret anything I did that day.”

He smiled and then brought his lips to my cheek. The light kiss just seemed friendly until his lips started to travel down my jawline and down my neck.

My breathing hitched.

“Charles,” I said breathlessly.

He pinched my sides and laughed as I let out a tiny squeak. He whispered my name and I shivered. Then I placed my hands on his chest, tracing his muscles.

“Aria,” he said quietly.

“Yes?” I asked, my voice hoarse.

“Forgive me,” then he kissed me. It was rough at first, but then it slowed to a soft and gentle kiss. It sent my heart soaring. He pulled away with a smile. I giggled and then buried my head in the crook of his head. But then I frowned when his body suddenly froze.

“Charles, what’s wrong?” I asked concerned.

He said nothing, he just stood frozen, staring at something behind me. I turned around and I too froze when I saw what he was staring at. A large ship, undoubtedly a pirate ship, twice the size of ours was lurking in the distance.

“It’s The Retribution,” he said in a hushed whisper.

Silently, he walked over to the anchor and threw it down into the water.

I walked up next to him and leaned over the side of the ship to get a better look of The Retribution.

The ship was enormous. A light brown wooden color that looked moldy and worn down, but nonetheless sturdy. A huge flag with red markings on it caught my attention. the symbol looked almost royal, with four sword-like designs pointing in towards a meart in the middle and spikes around it. Why did that symbol look so familiar?

“Aria,” whispered Charles. “I’m going to warn the crew about this, okay?”

I nodded.

“Just go back to your room and stay as quiet as you can,” he instructed me.

“Well where are you going to go?” I asked.

“I’m going to stay here to make sure nothing happens.”

“Why can’t I stay up here with you?” I asked quietly. I put my hand on his shoulder.

“I don’t want you to get hurt, Aria, please, it’s an order,” he said desperately.

I nodded again and then walked to my room, feeling his eyes on me the whole time before I disappeared into my pillow, thinking about the kiss.

I’m falling for the captain, I thought before sleep took me over.

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Sorry it took me so long to update :( . I was so busy this week.

I love this song from "The Pirates of the Carribbean".

~Kristina