Ruined by the Pirate
A Totally Bound Publication
Ruined by the Pirate
ISBN #
978-1-78430-073-9
©Copyright Wendi Zwaduk 2014
Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright June 2014
Edited by Sarah Smeaton
Totally Bound Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.
Published in 2014 by Totally Bound Publishing,
Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN
Warning:
This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a
heat rating
of
Totally Sizzling
and a
Sexometer
of
2.
Jolly Rogered
RUINED BY THE PIRATE
Wendi Zwaduk
Two adventurous souls will always find their way together.
Pirates aren’t in vogue in 1910, but that’s not stopping Captain Killian Thomas. His exploits have been splashed all over the newspapers for more than ten years. He takes what he wants, no questions asked. He’s happy with life on the water—until he sees her.
Sarah Moyer, heir to the Moyer real estate fortune, is a rare jewel among the upper crust. Her independent ways are notorious. She’s driven a car, traveled to England on her own, and now she flatly refuses to marry the man her father’s picked out for her. The chance encounter with Captain Thomas changes her perspectives. Will she follow the ways of a proper lady or will she allow herself to be ruined by the pirate?
Dedication
SB—thanks for nudging me to do this
CD—thanks for the encouragement
SS—thanks for editing for me—you rock
JPZ—you’re not a pirate, but I still love you
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmark mentioned in this work of fiction:
Model T: Ford Motor Company
Chapter One
“A woman has no right traveling alone—least of all you,” Sarah Moyer said and stared at her best friend, Felicia. “Understood.”
“I’m telling you,” Felicia said, “nothing good can come of this voyage. Stay here and ride out the storm. Your father will see you’re not interested in Isaiah and he’ll let you decide what you want to do.”
Sarah shook her head. She knew this conversation all too well. She loved Felicia, but even her friend couldn’t help her. Staying away from Norfolk, Virginia, for almost a year hadn’t prevented the wrath of Nelson Moyer. No, the real estate magnate insisted his only daughter come home. She knew darn well what he wanted her to do once she reached Norfolk—find Isaiah Landry and get married. She clutched her pocketbook tighter. No. She didn’t love Isaiah and refused to tie herself down to any man only interested in her father’s money.
“Please stay. Southampton won’t be the same without you.” Felicia grabbed Sarah’s hands. “Please?”
“I’ve got to appease him.” Sarah gazed out at the deep blue ocean before her. In a few minutes, she’d be sailing and free from her cares for a few days. “Come with me. There are plenty of American men who would love an exotic British woman on their arm.”
“You know better.” Felicia blew a blonde curl from her forehead. “Your father wants you home in Norfolk. Mine wants me to be right here in Southampton.” She let go of Sarah. “Then be safe. I’ll write you and try to come visit before autumn.”
“Do.” Sarah kissed her best friend on the cheek then waved.
England hadn’t been the second home she’d been looking for. Nowhere seemed to be home. Over Felicia’s shoulder, Sarah noticed a man weaving through the crowd. Unlike the other passengers, he didn’t appear to be making his way to the main gangplank. He surveyed the passengers then hurried to the far end of the dock. She leaned over the railing to see where he’d gone.
Drat.
She waved at Felicia once more then made her way onto the small ship.
In typical Moyer fashion, her father had sent a massive yacht to bring her and a few of his friends back to America from England. She stood at the railing of The Lady Moyer and waved to the people on the dock. Once again she spotted the dark-haired man from the throng of people. This time, he seemed to be looking right at her. A shiver skated up her spine. He gazed at her like she was a piece of meat, not a lady. She should avert her gaze, but no matter how hard she tried, she continued to watch him.
“Come along to the cabin, Miss Moyer.” Frederick Rourke, her father’s right-hand man, touched her elbow. “It’ll be cold soon.”
She suppressed the urge to snort. She doubted he cared about the weather. Frederick wanted to make sure she finally went home. He probably had a fat finder’s fee waiting on him at port. She sighed and allowed him to escort her to the luxury cabins on the second level of the ship.
“Your father is quite excited about your arrival.” Frederick placed her bag on the armchair. “He’s been making plans for a month.”
“Oh has he?” She rolled her eyes. “Father doesn’t want me home just to see me. He wants to marry me off. Give a nice boy the deed to the house and the money. I can handle myself.” She untied the lace beneath her chin and removed her hat. “I’m shocked he didn’t try to convince you to marry me.”
“He did, Sarah. I refused.” Frederick’s ears turned bright red. He tugged at his collar. “I told him I didn’t fancy you.”
“Oh?” What a relief, she thought. “The rumors must be true. You and Delia are having a fling.”
Sarah giggled. The very idea of Frederick and Delia having an affair wasn’t bad. They made a handsome couple. But if Nelson found out, he’d fire Frederick for playing with the staff.
“You won’t tell. Not yet. I’m saving up enough to open my own office. I want to take care of Delia.” He gripped his hat in both hands. “You do understand, don’t you?”
“I do.” She flicked her fingers. “Go on, now. I should dress for supper.” She waited until her handler had left the room. When the door closed, she plopped down onto the fainting couch. She might as well be a prisoner. Her father wasn’t going to let her slip through his grasp any longer. She crinkled her nose and tossed the hat across the room.
“Ladies don’t get upset,” she said to herself, mimicking her father. “Ladies agree to what the man of the house decrees. She never fusses or fights. She bows to his will and sees to his delights.” She bit back bile on her tongue. Just the thought of giving Isaiah delights churned her stomach.
She caught a glimpse of herself in the grand mirror over the fireplace. Her time on the beach walking with Felicia had left a healthy glow on her skin. She smiled and admired the rosy color. She rather liked the darker look. So much better than the milky paleness she normally sported. She drummed her fingers on the mantelpiece. Frederick hadn’t said anything about not walking the decks. Besides, she could hold her new knowledge over his head. She wouldn’t—but she could. She grabbed her long coat from the hook then headed out of her cabin.
The chilly evening air curled around her, and she breathed in the salty sea breeze. Maybe Felicia was right. She wasn’t born to stay in one place, but rather to see the world and explore.
* * * *
The first three days of the voyage had flown by without problem. The crew ignored her, save for meal time and Frederick kept his distance. Sarah stared out of her window. Boredom hit hard. She wanted to be free of the life her father insisted she needed. She couldn’t get out of seeing Isaiah—not yet—but she could explore the boat. Frederick said something about pirates infesting the water. She snorted at his assumption. Pirates weren’t lurking. They’d gone out of fashion many years ago.
Sarah crept out of her cabin, careful not to arouse Frederick’s suspicion. She strode down the deck to the back but stopped short. A figure, clad in black, moved in the shadows. She inched up against the wall and waited for the person to pass her. She caught a whiff of men’s cologne. The scent wasn’t familiar. Where was the person, who didn’t want people to know their identity, going? Her heart raced. Felicia? Had she stowed away in order to go to America?
Sarah crept along a few paces behind the dark individual. The person, a man, based on his height, stopped at one of the doors. He turned the knob and disappeared into the cabin.
“That’s my room,” Sarah shrieked. She bounded toward her cabin and yanked open the door. “What exactly do you think you’re doing?” she demanded.
The figure turned around, and she gasped. The man from the dock.
He grinned and shrugged. “I believe this is called stealing, love.” He grasped her jewelry box from the mantel and tucked it into his large coat.
“Not my things you won’t.” She surged at him and swung. Instead of connecting with his face, like she’d planned, she bounced her fist off his shoulder.
Drat.
Her defensive move hadn’t stopped him.
Instead, he laughed, which infuriated her more.
“Put those down and leave my room. Who do you think you are? You’re not entitled to my things.”
“Darling, I don’t want your jewelry.” He placed the box back on the mantel. “I came here for something else. You.”
Killian Thomas watched the minx squirm. He’d knocked her for a loop by admitting the truth. Her dark eyebrows knotted as she glared at him.
“Why would you be here for me?” She gripped the front of her coat. “I’m not anyone important.”
“I suppose you’re going to tell me I’m wasting my time.” He captured her in his arms, pinning her between his body and the wall. “Sarah, love, I’m a pirate and I’ve come to collect my booty.”
“Me?” she squeaked.
“There aren’t any other eligible, beautiful women onboard.” He shouldn’t have let that slip—
never tell the person you’re kidnapping that you’re attracted to them.
He turned her around in his arms and clamped one hand over her mouth. “I bet your father would pay a hefty price to get you back, wouldn’t he?”
She nodded and dug her teeth into his finger.
Ah, the minx wants to play dirty.
He hauled her tight to his body, pressing his growing erection into her backside. “This isn’t the time for games. You and I are going to go outside where my ship is waiting. My men have overtaken the crew of this one. If you scream, I’ll whip your ass. Understand me?”