Swing (15 page)

stage. The music stopped and he launched into his introduction to the show. Melissa hardly heard a word he

said over the drumming in her ears. Her stomach clenched as she waited for her cue. The satirical production he

described was a diversion so the audience would be surprised when—

One of the waiters shouted, then ran onto the stage and whispered in the announcer's ear. Melissa stiffened.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please stay calm," the announcer said in a taut voice. "I've just been told that there are—"

A loud blast fil ed the room, like a cannon being fired. The audience gasped and glanced around nervously. The

waiter pointed toward the doors behind them.

"Pirates!" he shouted.

Several shouts pierced the uproar from the audience and everyone stared toward the back of the room.

This was her cue. She glanced at the pirates swarming into the room, all but two the male volunteers for

tonight's show. A man with long dark hair drawn into a ponytail and a large gold earring charged toward her,

grabbed her wrist and dragged her to her feet. She struggled, as she'd been instructed to. Shane grinned at her

and winked.

She staggered along with the pirate as he led her up the stairs to the stage, on the tail of the other captives.

Within seconds, she found herself center stage. The curtains had opened, revealing a pirate ship with the mast

looming behind her. The other women were being bound to various props around the stage, the pirates leering

with obvious sexual intent. The women, although they tried to look fearful, appeared more turned on than

anything else, gazing at their partners with a sweltering heat.

"What have we here, mate?" A second pirate, with blond, shoulder-length hair, approached her, a lascivious leer in his eye. "You seem to have the fairest of the fair."

Both the man who'd captured her and this man were professional actors. Two of the three in this performance.

During the ruckus, the announcer had disappeared backstage so he could change. He would reappear shortly as

another pirate.

"Aye, she's a pretty one."

Melissa stiffened as his hand stroked across her bare shoulder, then her stomach did a somersault as the second

stroked her other shoulder, then slowly tugged the fabric lower.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

"No," she protested, but the first man tugged her into his arms and smothered her words with a kiss.

Such a strong, good-looking man—and with an actor's charisma. She felt herself reacting—wanting him to kiss

her, to caress her. The other man moved in close behind her, stroking his hand down her arm, sending goose

bumps quivering across her flesh. The heat of both their bodies enveloped her, exciting her.

The man behind her grasped her arms and panic raged through her. This wasn't supposed to be happening.

Would they force her into this? Given the scenario, no one would realize it was against her will, believing it to be

part of the captive tale being performed.

"Ahrrr, me maties. Stop or I'll chop you into shark food."

The men stepped back, glancing at the newcomer.

"Captain, we were just—"

She glanced around to see the announcer, now dressed as the pirate captain, in a wide-legged stance, hands on

his hips.

"I know what you were doin'! I'm no fool, man." He strode toward her, his gaze raking her up and down. "She's a lovely lass, 'tis true, but you'l be keepin' yer hands t' yerself." He tilted his head toward the mast behind them.

"Tie 'er up."

The men dragged her to the large wooden mast and fastened her hands behind her with manacles.

"This one is a virgin and, as such, wil bring us a pretty penny when we put into port." He drew a dagger from his waist and held it under the tal er man's chin. "She's untouched now. Make sure she stays that way."

"If she's innocent, she shouldn't be seeing this." The other pirate smiled as he glanced around the ship at the other captives.

Melissa kept her focus on the three men in front of her, trying to ignore the clothing fluttering to the floor as the

pirates stripped women, and themselves.

The captain nodded.

"Yer right about that." He tugged a cloth from his pocket as he strode toward her, then blindfolded her with it.

The black satin cloth blocked out the disturbing images of sexual foreplay going on al around her with the

audience smiling and watching intently. She felt enfolded in a cocoon of darkness, safe from the goings on

around her.

"Maybe we can't touch her," the blond pirate said, "but at least let us look at her."

The captain grunted. "I suppose that's fair."

A second later, Melissa felt her blouse ripped from her body. Her nipples tightened from the sudden rush of cool

air. Her skirt deserted her body as quickly, leaving her in only a brief, white thong—and the blindfold.

She could imagine the gazes of the pirates on her . . . gliding along her body, spiraling around her breasts . . .

coming to rest on her nipples. Those traitorous buds of flesh hardened even more. She imagined the audience

staring at her.

She imagined Ty staring at her.

Her knees felt weak. She jumped as a hand stroked along her waist to her hip.

"Captain, are you sure we can't touch?"

A loud bang, like a gun firing, startled her.

"Do you want to question my orders, too?" he demanded.

"N-no, captain."

"Wise."

Melissa felt someone close to her, leaning toward her.

"Don't worry, my pretty. You'll be safe." The captain chuckled. "For now."

She heard his footsteps against the wooden floor, as he traveled a few paces.

"Now to enjoy our plunder, mate."

"Aye, captain."

She could hear the sound of heels clomping on the deck as two of the men strode away. Jaunty music played

and the sounds of sex surrounded her. Clearly, the other couples had progressed in their fore-play while Melissa

and the actors had been commanding the focus of the play. Now she heard women moaning. One gasped and

wailed in orgasm. Another begged for more and yet another demanded her captor to fuck her now. A man

groaned, tel ing his partner how good her mouth felt, tel ing her to keep sucking him deep. The sounds melded

together into one mass of sexual energy thrumming through her. Although she was certain the audience would

be total y enthral ed by the sex around her, she felt as though every eye were on her. Caressing her naked flesh.

Stroking her to arousal.

Another woman moaned, and a man grunted in climax.

Melissa felt herself grow wet with need, and she couldn't understand why. This whole situation was extremely

uncomfortable yet it seemed to turn her on. Confusion swirled through her as the players around her took their

pleasure. As in a dream, she listened while her insides swelled with excitement.

Things quieted on the stage and she could tel that the lights grew dim. The music softened and lul ed for a few

moments, then the lights came up.

Ty and the others watched as the stage lights came up, signaling that a new day had dawned on the pirate

vessel. The naked bodies of the volunteers so recently in the act of sex, lay slumped on the floor, as if in sleep.

Ty's gaze remained locked on Melissa, total y naked except for a brief, white thong, and tied to the mast.

Good God, he wanted her. His cock throbbed with the need. Why did she have this intense effect on him?

Maybe once he had her, this obsession would fade. Surely it was just the chal enge of conquering her inhibitions

and allowing her to embrace her sensuality.

Whether his body still craved her or not, he would never see her again once she left the resort on Sunday. He

didn't want an entanglement with her, married or not. He didn't want a woman in his life, period. Most wanted

to control a man, like Celia had. Melissa seemed like the type who expected commitment. Those kind never

knew when to let go. Like so many of his clients who hung on, even knowing their spouses had started sowing

greener pastures.

"Land ho!" one of the actors shouted.

The captain leaned close to Melissa, and Ty wished it was him so close to her sinfully sexy body.

"Well, me pretty. 'Tis almost time."

The volunteers roused and skittered off stage. Two pirates—the actors—moved to center stage and stared

across the audience. The captain strode toward them.

"There're a lotta people here, Cap'n," the one with the eye patch said.

The captain nodded. "Good. We'll draw a fair coin for our treasure. He strode forward, and struck a pose before

them, his hands on his hips, and addressed the audience.

"Are ye ready to buy pirate's treasure?"

Applause, mingled with hoots and shouts, greeted his question.

He swung his arm wide, gesturing broadly to his men. "Bring 'em on, swabs."

The volunteers returned to the stage, the men dressed again as pirates, the women wearing nothing but

manacles.

The captain winked at the audience. "Ye weren't thinkin' gold now, were ye?" Then he laughed with a pirate's

cheer, and stepped to the side of the stage.

One naked woman, a blonde with waist-long hair, stepped to the center of the stage.

"Now how much do I hear for this fine lass?"

The bidding started fast and soared, until finally the pirate in a red bandana, acting as auctioneer, declared the

winner at $560,000. One of the volunteers, Ty was pretty sure it was her husband, accompanied her from the

stage and handed her over to the winner, who led her away.

Bids ran fast and furious as two more women were sold. Ty watched as two pirates unfastened Melissa from the

mast then chained her hands together in front of her and led her to the side of the stage.

Next, two women were led forward.

"Now these two . . ." The captain stroked his chin. "They want to be kept together. . . and I saw no reason to turn down their request." He glanced around the room. "What man here is up for the chal enge?' He chuckled. "O'

course, don't be worrying too much about it. If ye get tired I'm sure they can amuse themselves for a bit."

This time bidding rocketed in a burst of shouts. Five hundred thousand. A million. A million and a half. All in the

blink of an eye. At three mil ion, the bidding died down, then trickled to 3.8 mil ion, more than triple the

previous highest bid.

The man who'd won the pair walked away with a broad smile and a glazed look in his eye, the two women

pressed tight to his side, his arms around their waists.

"Now, my friends, time for the highlight of the evening. The virgin slave." The captain's gaze shifted to Melissa.

Ty felt heat in his groin as they led the blindfolded Melissa forward. Bidding started at a hundred thousand. Ty

jumped in at two. It rose rapidly to two million, then the other bids began to die off. By three million, Ty had

only one rival. Clearly, from the disappointed faces and the mild curses, the others simply didn't have that much

money. Ty's competitor matched every bid Ty made. By four mil ion, the other man paused and Ty thought he

had it, but people at the other table tossed money in the center, which Ty's opponent collected, then bid again.

Ty kept bidding, but every time the other man ran out, someone else tossed him some money. Since Melissa

was the last prize, the others couldn't use the money anyway, so they used it to keep the auction going—to

extend the fun.

"Five mil ion, five hundred thousand," the auctioneer said, glancing to Ty. Ty stared at the money in his hand.

Damn it, he didn't have enough.

The auctioneer started counting off, and Ty was sure he'd lost, when someone tugged on his arm. He turned to

see two of the women he'd played poker with.

"Here." One handed him a wad of money. "We col ected it for you. There's two hundred thousand there."

Ty smiled his thanks and raised the bid, then watched as the other man scrabbled around, imploring those

around him for more money. A few people searched their pockets and tossed bil s on the table. He scooped it

up, doing a quick count, then raised the bid to $5,800,000 . . . a hundred thousand above Ty's.

"Going once . . ." The auctioneer glanced at Ty. "Going twice . . ."

"Oh, wait." Suzanne grabbed her small evening bag from the table and opened it. "I forgot about this. Here, Ty."

She handed him a wad of bil s. A quick count told him there was just enough.

He raised his arm, snagging the attention of the auctioneer.

"Five mil ion eight hundred and fifty thousand!"

Ohhhhs and ahhhhs emanated from the crowd. The other bidder glanced around and, when no further funds

came forward, he shrugged.

"Going once . . . going twice . . . sold!" The auctioneer pointed at Ty.

Adrenaline thrummed through him at his victory—and the thought of what was to come. He and Melissa alone.

Her naked. His cock struggled against the constraint of his pants.

The crowed broke into a cheer. The captain removed Melissa's blindfold. Her wide-eyed gaze shot straight to Ty.

Ty watched as a pirate led Melissa down the stairs. He took the chain from the pirate and let his gaze wander

over her delectable, naked body, more than ready to claim his prize.

Chapter 11

MELISSA SHIVERED AS TY'S GAZE RAKED OVER HER NAKED BODY. Heat shimmered through her and goose

bumps raced across her skin.

He tugged off his jacket and threw it over her shoulders. She grasped the lapels from the inside and pul ed it

closed, hiding her naked breasts. He's protecting me again. The thought skimmed through her consciousness.

Ty pul ed on the chain and led Melissa toward the door. She fel in step behind him, holding the fabric of his