When the ship stopped at port, Nelson kept good on his promise to bring Julianne ashore. After the rest of the crew had left The Dark Lovely, he grabbed his sister and dragged her through the tiny ship. Julianne did her best to be quiet as they made their way down the narrow hallways and up the tiny staircases.
Once, they were almost caught by the cook, but Nelson pushed Julianne quickly against the wall and pressed his body against her. He ducked his head near her neck so that anyone walking by would think they were involved.
“Sorry,” he murmured against her, but Julianne was just glad that Nelson was keeping her safe.
He always kept her safe.
Though they had very different upbringings, the twins had always been close. While Julianne had to spend her days learning how to cook and please a man, Nelson had gone to school each day until he was old enough to quit, which, to their parents utter dismay, he promptly did.
Both of their parents were quite disappointed in how their children had turned out: as dreamers. Neither one of them had any desire to stay in Gunthry, which is the plan William and Margaret Rye had laid out for their children.
Now, trying to escape from this pirate’s lair long enough to get some fresh air and some fresh food, Julianne felt crazy. Maybe it was selfish to want off the ship, but she wanted to see the world. She wanted to see the port. Most of all, she wanted to see the whores.
Maybe she could join them.
She would never tell Nelson, never admit to her sinful desires, but she wanted something more than just being hidden away. Neither one of them had talked about what would happen when Wade stopped chasing whatever secret he was pursuing, but Julianne knew a pirate could not last forever. Most lived short, passionate lives that ended in gruesome deaths.
She had no intention of becoming a captive.
No, if Julianne was going to serve a man, it would be because she wanted to. It would be because she desired to. It wouldn’t be because one had taken her.
She was not a toy to be kept.
“Come along,” Nelson gripped her hand and yanked her across the main deck. Though it was early in the morning, the sun was already rising and she hadn’t seen such brightness in weeks. She squinted as he tugged her across the deck, urging her to be silent and stay close. She knew Nelson was taking a risk in letting her free, but she had to get off the boat, even for a little while. She had been locked away for so long she almost forgot was freedom felt like, but as they stepped off the ship and onto dry land, Julianne remembered how wonderful walking on the solid ground really was.
**
Wade leaned against an old palm tree and smoked. It had been too long since he’d had a good pipe and a good fuck. He was working on the first now and would soon be buried hilt-deep in one of the beautiful women that Port Darnial had to offer, satisfying his second desire. Oh, he would take care of business first, but if he finished talking with the innkeeper quickly enough, the old man would certainly give Wade some time with one of his fair ladies.
After all, it was just good business.
Being a captain was a lot of work: a lot more work than most people imagined. Not only did he have to find and hire the best crew he could afford, but he had to keep them in line. He had to keep them fed and clothed. He had to keep them healthy during lengthy excursions. Most of all, he had to keep them happy enough that they wouldn’t mutiny, but disgruntled enough they wouldn’t grow lazy.
It was a tedious balance: one Wade was growing weary of.
Not that he could let his crew know any of that. Should they sense that he was becoming tired, or worn out, or bored of his sea days, they would be quick to take his ship and his reputation that he had worked so hard to procure.
No, what Wade needed was a distraction, one that came in the form of a slender waist and long brown hair, one that was walking close to Nelson Rye as the boy left the ship.
“Oi,” Wade called out to Nelson as the boy tried to sneak away from The Dark Lovely undetected.
Nelson immediately turned toward Wade’s voice, then blushed fervently. Was the boy ashamed to be caught with a woman? Wade stifled a chuckle. Nelson was many things. Naïve was one of them. Though the boy had only been sailing with him for a short year, Nelson had become more and more comfortable with the life of the old sea dogs, but he was still rarely seen with women, much to the amusement of the other sailors.
Now, here he was, caught red-handed with a beautiful woman. Wade couldn’t miss the opportunity to tease him a little.
“Having fun, mate?” Wade quipped. Nelson, blushing, looked fervently from side to side, as if trying to find a place to hide. Seeing none, he sighed and gripped the hand of the lady with him. Then Nelson made his way over to Wade.
“Good day, Cap’n.” Nelson said quietly.
“A good day indeed,” Wade said, puffing on his pipe. “Enjoying some quality time with your lady friend, I take it?”
Nelson nodded.
“Well, get her back to the brothel in one piece, lad. Can’t have you getting in any fights before we leave.”
Nelson nodded again, saying nothing.
“I’m sure he’ll get me back safely,” the woman spoke up, surprising Wade. Rarely did he hear the whores at Darnial say anything, much less anything so polite. “Nelson has been nothing but a gentleman.”
Wade met her eyes and stopped smoking for just a moment. She knew his name? Strange that Nelson would freely give that information to a whore, then again, Nelson was young and reckless. The girl was beautiful, Wade would readily admit. He could see what the young sailor saw in her. Her long hair fell over her shoulders in waves. Though she looked dirty and unwashed, there was a sort of raw beauty beneath the dirt and sweat. With a good bath and a good dress, Wade imagined she was quite the beauty.
Before he could continue oogling, however, Nelson gripped her hand and pulled her away, leading her down the narrow path to the town of Darnial.
As he disappeared around the corner, Wade felt a quick sense of unease as he wondered how Nelson had managed to sneak past him and pick up female companionship, then leave the ship again so quickly.
Wade must be losing his touch, he realized with a soft laugh, if Nelson was already about to start in on his second woman of the day.