Cutlass Anne

Cutlass Anne - Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Captain John Jacks was in good spirits. He poured us all another shot of his whiskey. I tried my best to carry on with the two men. I did not drink the shot as quickly as the last. As the two men hooted and hollered I sat there. I plotted. They had no idea what was coming to them. The anger and hatred bubbled in my belly. It stewed in my mind and it seeped into every pore of my body. I had never wanted to kill someone before. I had never been so prepared to take another life. They were going to die.

Gregory's attitude and demeanor had changed drastically. "Let's go, Thomas!"

While he was still an evil and vile bastard, he no longer seemed threatening. His face had contorted into some sort of perverse happiness, no doubt from thinking about kidnapping my poor Jane. Then the horrible thoughts crept into my mind. What if he had done something to her? What if he touched her? What if any of these men did? How many on this ship are part of John Jacks's pirate crew. I wished I had the dagger tucked into my waistband. I wanted nothing more than to murder them where they stood. They deserved no mercy or pity, and the hangman's noose was too good for them.

I did not know whom to trust. The only person I knew for sure was not a pirate was Flynn.

I downed the drink as my companions got up from their seats. They discussed what they were going to do when The Cutlass made port in Tortuga. I was disgusted at how brazen they were and how little they valued life. I followed behind as they climbed back on deck. I lingered behind on the empty ship.

"Anne?" Flynn called softly.

I turned and looked at him, tears stinging my eyes. I said nothing. I went to my quarters to retrieve the dagger I had hidden there the week prior.

"What's going on, Anne?"

"He is John Jacks," I sobbed, sinking onto the cot.

"Who is?"

I let my head fall into my hands. "Your father!"

He stopped in the doorway and stared at me with a confused look.

"No, he's not. I know he can be an asshole, but there is no way he's a pirate."

"Yes, he is. He told me himself. He asked me to join his pirate crew."

"I-I don't understand." He narrowed his eyes at me in disbelief.

"When The Gilded Lady is in port, does your father seem to vanish for days or weeks on end?" I asked, wiping at my eyes.

"At times, yes."

"How does he explain those disappearances away?"

"He always tells me he has business in another town and that I'm to stay with the ship and ensure the crew does not start a mutiny."

"He has business, pirate business," I mumbled, shaking my head.

Flynn bit his lip. "He's the one who took your sister?"

"Yes."

"Are you going to join his crew?" He moved closer to the bed.

"It's the only way I will ever find Jane," I said, staring into his wondrous blue eyes.

He sat down beside me, grasping my hand in his. He was the only one who kept me from feeling so lost and alone. He was the only one besides Juliana who cared what happened to Jane or me. He reached his hand up and wiped the tears from my cheeks. My heart sped up, and my breathing became harder. His hand slid around to the back of my head, and he pulled me close. I could feel his breath on my face as he stared at me. His lips parted slightly, and before I knew what had happened his mouth covered mine. I felt his tongue begin to explore my lips, and I yielded to its advances. I let it slip between my own lips and play with my own. I had never known a man in such a way before.

It was exhilarating and sent a rush of excitement coursing through my veins. I wanted more. I wanted to know what the rest of his body was like. His mouth alone was no longer acceptable. I lusted for more.

Was this how a pirate felt towards everything they did? Did they lust for treasure, mayhem, and chaos? Was their way of life like living in the throes of ecstasy?

I gave in to some of my lust and wrapped my arms around Flynn's neck and knotted my fingers in his hair. He pulled off my hat and grabbed my ponytail. Gently tugging my head back he abandoned my mouth and aimed his attentions to my exposed neck. I could feel my veins throb under his lips. The blood coursed faster through my body the more he touched. Every part of me wanted to lose myself in him and give in.

"We can't," I breathed into his hair as he continued his barrage of tender kisses on my neck and collarbone.

"Why?" he asked, lifting his lips from my skin for but a moment.

I closed my eyes, contemplating letting him finish. "The rest of the crew is going to wonder where we are. If they catch us, that blows my cover." Damn my sensible side.

"Nobody will look for us," he protested, holding me tighter.

I tangled my hands in his hair. "Not to mention, I've never even kissed any other man besides you. I am definitely not ready for anything more."

He stopped and sighed heavily. Sitting up, I could see why he was disappointed. His pants were stretched tightly across the incredible bulge that had developed while we had our minor tryst.

"I'm sorry." I blushed at the sight of what I had done.

He looked down and sighed heavily. He closed his eyes and breathed heavily for a few moments until the erection had subsided greatly. I fixed my hair and tucked it back under the hat. The warm Caribbean air was a pleasant change to the cooling Atlantic weather.

"Meet me in the pub in town. We need to make a plan about what to do," he said, rearranging what was left of his erection.

I couldn't take my eyes off of it. It was still massive. "Okay." I should have done it. I already threw caution to the wind. Why not continue with my debauchery?

I hurried off the ship and disappeared into a crowd of sailors and merchants. I scanned the dock and surrounding area, looking for someone that looked familiar. Nobody did, of course. It was all so strange. The smells, the way the people looked, and how they seemed to act was the opposite of what I was used to back in the colonies. Despite my attempt at a brave face, I was terrified. I wandered around the port town looking for a pub, any pub, since Flynn failed to give me a name.

Turning a corner, I bumped into a woman wearing a very low-cut blue dress. Her bosoms looked as though they were about to fall right out, and her midsection was very plump. Her dark hair was piled on top of her head, and her face was painted.

"Ay, boy. Lookin' fer a good time?" she asked.

"No, thank you."

"Oh, come on now. I'll give ye the whole night for a pence."

"I said no. Now shove off," I said a bit sterner.

She scrunched her wide, flat nose and staggered off to harass the next person who happened to bump into her.

I kept walking down the roughly cobbled street, trying to find this pub that I was to meet Flynn in. I rounded a corner and saw a faded sign swinging in the gentle breeze. The green and blue paint said The Crow's Nest. I pushed open the old door into a dimly lit room. A few people sat around tables, others were at a bar, and they were all drinking.

I had found the pub.

Captain John Jacks and his crew sat at one side of the room, clearly drunk. Beer sloshed around and loud singing could be heard; off to the side a man sat with his back to them. A black hat was pulled down over his eyes, and his dark blue waistcoat was tied off at the waist with a black sash. A long sword rested on the table in front of him, along with a tall stein of frothy liquid. Across from him was a stein filled with a frothy liquid of the same color. A bar wench stood close enough to him that her midsection and most private of areas kept brushing against his arm. He did not appear to be paying her any mind. Her face was turning red, she pursed her lips, narrowed her eyes, and stomped her feet a bit. I couldn't help but smile at how flustered she seemed to become. After a few more attempts, she threw her hands up and stormed off to another table where she was met with more enthusiasm.

The mysterious sailor turned his head slightly to the side, and I could see his face. It was Flynn.