The Pirate Prince (Pirate's Booty Series, Book Five) (6 page)

“Is it too painful?” he whispered against her cheek.

At first, she lay unresponsive, her arms gripping him tightly around his neck, letting her breath out slowly against his throat.

“Not as much as I’d feared,” she whispered.

His heart turned over at her courage. Tentatively, she moved against him then grew bolder in her responses. He pushed his cock deep inside her and heard her sigh, a musical trilling. Then she matched him stroke for stroke, arching against him, raising her legs higher, wider, opening herself to him until he felt her muscles begin to spasm and knew she was once again ready to climax. He let himself go, thrusting and moving while his own culmination washed over him like the moonlit sea when he dove too deep. But this time, he wasn’t alone. She rode the wave with him, her body striving to prolong their pleasure, her cries wild and uninhibited. She set her teeth in the skin on his shoulder while her nails flayed down his back with only enough pain to show her passion. When it was over, she lay against him, giggling a little and said something he didn’t understand.

“Hasna did not tell me about this,” she whispered before she fell asleep.

Chapter Five

What had she done? Azara sat with her knees bent and spread wide, her feet crossed and pulled forward. The backs of her hands rested on her knees in an attitude of surrender and meditation while she sought to attain a moment of nirvana. To her servants, she was certain she looked serene and untroubled, but they had no hint of the turmoil she felt. She’d given herself to Rajak, and now she cursed herself that she’d acted so hastily. What if he was as untrustworthy as his brother? The thought died away immediately. The man who had held her through the night was one she could rely on. She would be safe with him and to think that she could spend every night making love as they had was pleasing and exciting.

The fact that he was gone when she woke indicated no desire on his part to linger and claim her yet again, although he’d felt no such reluctance throughout the night. Her aching body was still dealing with the physical discomfort the night had brought her. Shrugging away the memory of such pleasure, she placed her palms together, her fingers extended and brought her hands to her forehead and bowed, praying fervently that Allah would give her answers to her unrest.

For the first time, she wished Hasna were nearby so she might question her on the ways of men after they’d claimed their prize. But Hasna was not present. Only her advice echoed through Azara’s mind.
Never give yourself wholly to a man. Keep back your heart.
Well, she’d done that hadn’t she? She’d given her body willingly, but she’d kept her heart guarded.

Hasna wasn’t here to advise her so she must decide what to do on her own. She thought of the man who’d made love to her, teaching her passion and desire such as Hasna had never taught her to expect. He was handsomer than any man she’d ever seen before, but more than that, she perceived he was honorable. He’d become a pirate only because of his will to live and reclaim his throne. If she were not a royal princess—if she hadn’t been schooled by Hasna—she might be fool enough to give her heart to such a man. But there were too many uncertainties in life, especially in the life of a pirate who had a price on his head. If he was captured and hanged, would she be put to death as well?

What had possessed her to give herself to him? She couldn’t take it back now or could she? Some of Hasna’s secrets had included instructions for duping a man into believing she was still virginal. She needed only a bit of fish gut. She would order Oma to acquire some for her immediately. Of course, she’d not spend another night with the pirate prince. She would turn him away and hope he would respect her wishes. He had said he wouldn’t take her against her will. So be it.

She refused to admit the swirl of disappointment that flooded her at such a decision. Images of Rajak making love to her danced in the back of her mind, and she couldn’t help but think of the sensuous world of pleasure he’d shown her. Surely, she’d find such excitement and fulfillment with another man. Hasna had said all men were alike, and Azara had come to believe her father’s courtesan about most things, but this puzzled her.

Rajak had been considerate of the fact she was a virgin, making sure she was ready for him, giving her pleasure above his own. A pang of regret filled her to think she’d had no chance to use the tricks on him that Hasna had taught her to inflame a man.

Shaking her head with impatience, she got to her feet and stalked about the cabin. What should she do? Should she get word to her father that she’d been kidnapped? How could she go about it? Perhaps Hestia would know. She’d ask her at first chance. For now, her attendants were playing games in the main eating area, and she was grateful for her solitude, but almost as if summoned by her thoughts, the door opened and they entered, chattering animatedly. Hestia was the last to enter, as usual, hanging back, biding her time. Azara didn’t trust the young woman, because Hasna had not. Still, she tried to keep an open mind.

“Hestia,” she called to the young woman. “Come, I would speak with you.”

The other women looked at Hestia and giggled, although their sharp gazes were assessing, wondering what their princess wanted with that woman and not one of them. Life as a royal servant was fraught with uncertainty and jealousy. Hestia ignored them and came at once to Azara’s side, kneeling beside the bed upon which her princess sat.

“I know my father sent you to be his eyes and ears and to send him back messages of the things you see,” Azara began, keeping her voice low, only for Hestia’s ears. “Have you a way of contacting my father of this catastrophe? Can you send word we’ve been kidnapped?”

“Are you sure you want to do that, princess?” the woman asked, her eyes bold yet secretive.

“What do you mean? Of course, I do.”

“How will you explain what has happened in Rajak’s chambers?” Hestia waited for Azara’s answer.

Color stained Azara’s cheeks. “That is of no account to you,” she stammered. “I will tell my father that Rajak kept me in his cabin, but was noble of intent.”

“That will make little difference, princess. You were there without a chaperone,” Hestia said implacably.

“You have no right to comment upon this. You are a mere servant.” Azara tossed her head in anger and rose.

At once, Hestia got to her feet and bowed slightly, but her eyes were bright with an emotion Azara didn’t want to explore. More than ever, her dislike of the girl flared.

“Since you have disturbed my meditation,” Azara raised her voice so all could hear, “I propose we go on deck and take a bit of air. Cover yourselves well.”

The women chattered with excitement that the princess would be so bold as to show herself to the ship’s crew yet again. Oma rushed forward.

“Azara, you cannot,” the old nursemaid scolded. “’Tis not seemly to go among the men so often.”

“We will wear our burka’s and cover our heads,” Azara replied. “I am tired of sitting below deck like a timid mouse. I wish to go up and feel the wind on my face as we did before.”

“Your father would not approve,” Oma warned ominously.

“My father is not here,” Azara said. “I have been kidnapped by a pirate and am uncertain what will occur, therefore I will go speak to the captain and discern what I must for my safety and that of all my ladies. Come,” she called and without giving Oma a chance to protest further, proceeded to the stairs that led upward to the deck.

The men spotted them as they showed themselves on deck, their silken burka’s like colorful flowers blooming at sea. They called to the women and stared open-mouthed. Azara became afraid she’d made a terrible mistake by bringing her ladies on deck so soon after their last outing until a voice called out and the men immediately returned to their work, their faces now averted from the women.

Azara turned to the bridge where Rajak stood glaring at his crew. When he was certain they were all back to work, he descended the short stairs and hurried toward her.

“You should not be here,” he said, staring into her eyes with such intensity, she blushed.

“My women are tired of being below. They wished to take some exercise on deck,” she said with her gaze averted.

Her servants tittered behind their veils, their bright eyes barely revealed, lively and unafraid.

“I will assign someone to walk with them and see to their safety,” he replied and summoned a tall, well-built man forward. “This is Kalari. He’ll accompany your ladies. As for you.” His eyes darkened and she felt heat flood her cheeks and travel down her body to the place below her belly. “I would be pleased if you would join me on the bridge.”

He held out his hand and she had no choice but to take it. As soon as she did, she felt a ripple of warmth shimmy up her arm. Without looking back, she knew that Oma had trailed along behind her. She thought of ordering her to join the other women, but reminded herself a chaperone was necessary. Oma sought only to protect her. Rajak accepted her presence without comment.

He led them to the bridge and to a place at the railing that gave her the best view of the vast ocean falling away before their prow. The wind blew the silk covering around her face, and she longed to throw it aside, but customs must be observed. Still, the feel of the powerful wind pressing against her skin was exhilarating. Rajak’s eyes sparkled as he watched her raise her face so she might experience it even more. Moved by the sheer excitement awakened by the elements, she let go of her hold on the railing and raised her hands above her head, squealing with delight. Suddenly the ship surged and she fell backwards, but Rajak’s arms were there to steady her. His arm remained at her waist and she leaned against him, sighing with contentment.

Oma made a sound, but Azara ignored it. This was heaven and she wouldn’t have a chance to enjoy this often. She refused to let fear of disapproval of people who were far away in another land inhibit her pure enjoyment. Oma clucked in distress.

“Oh come, Oma,” Azara cried in exasperation. “Come feel the wind against your face. It’s intoxicating.”

She pulled the old woman beside her and wrapped an arm around her rounded shoulders. Thus they stood, with her holding Oma and Rajak holding her, while the waves sparkled and danced before the ship and the wind sang of nautical tales they’d never known before. They stood for a long time, mesmerized and refreshed by the sight before them. Azara had never felt so safe as with Rajak’s arm around her, the feel of his strong chest at her back.

“The ocean is so vast,” she said. “It makes me feel small and unimportant.”

Rajak laughed, a sound deep and resonating. She realized she’d never heard him laugh before. She’d never known men to have such a quiet obvious enjoyment of simple things. She opened her mouth to say something else, something that would elicit that deep, masculine chuckle, but the flurry of her servants returning made her sigh and disengage herself from Rajak’s embrace, for such it had been. The spell was broken. She turned to look at her servants, giggling and chattering as they climbed the stairs and joined them at the rail. With a look of reluctance on his handsome face, Rajak turned to Kalari.

“Have you shown them everything?” he asked, obviously disappointed that they’d returned so quickly.

“There’s not a lot to see,” Kalari commented dryly.

“We must return below deck,” Oma said gruffly.

Azara noticed the reluctance on the old woman’s face. Oma had been as moved as she by the wind and sea.

Rajak took Azara’s hand and bowed slightly.

“Will you join me again for supper in my cabin, princess?”

Her women seemed to sense the emotions between them for they fell silent, their eyes sharply attuned to the scene before them.

“Thank you for asking, Captain,” she replied formally, knowing supper wasn’t what either of them wanted. “Oma and I will be there.”

Oma’s face softened with relief. Being responsible for a headstrong princess must be a thankless job, Azara surmised.

Rajak bowed to all the ladies and Kalari led them back to the stairs that would take them to their cabin. Just before she descended, Azara turned back to Rajak.

“Can you tell me where you’re taking us, Captain?” she asked lightly, although the information was highly important. “I should like to know to which desert island I’m being exiled.”

“Not so deserted, princess,” Rajak replied. “We’re going to Madagascar.”

Azara gasped. “I’ve heard of that place. Is it safe?”