Page 20

“You thought I’d gratefully open my tentacles for you when I wouldn’t open my legs? How dare you try to manipulate me!”

I push him away with both hands, but he doesn’t move more than a sway.

With a feminine shriek, I slide out from under him and storm away.

He grabs my wrist, and my fist connects with his shoulder as I whirl around.

The momentum wraps my arm behind me, locked to my lower back by his grip.

He’s stronger than I thought. My bare feet slide on the oiled wooden floor as he hauls me against his muscular body.

“I wouldn’t do such a thing for two reasons—” he pauses to inhale my scent on the sensitive place where my neck meets my left shoulder, “—mostly because I’d never force my intentions on a woman. I never need to—”

“Ego,” I spit. I feel his masculine chuckle in my bones like he’s crawled inside my skin to share it with me.

“Reality. The second reason is a confession. I’d break all my colonial morals and civilized veneer for a night with you.

You toyed with me to the point where I’ve snapped.

I would force you, Bettina, not manipulate you with sweet promises.

What I feel for you isn’t a calculated seduction where I’m in control.

I’m that crazy about you. The more you push me away, the harder I want to fight for you.

Your smiles will be mine, your sneers, too.

If I have my way, I will occupy your thoughts from sunup to sundown when I burn your prim little dreams to ashes. ”

I gasp at his confession and the way his fingers close around my buttocks to squeeze me. Do I dare tell him the filthy things we did together in my dreams last night? Or do I protect my shredded heart?

“Bettina, if I didn’t suspect you’d be dry as sand in your dainty short trousers, I’d pry your legs open right now.

You fog my brain with desire, but your surrender will only satisfy me if it’s given freely.

I know how you tick. You won’t be wet unless I’ve proven I can love you—that I’m falling for you—because your past makes it impossible for you to believe my words. ”

“You lie,” I reply, running my hands up his chest. Whether it’s a statement of his character or how I feel about his words is immaterial.

Warning bells ring in my head, but I ignore them.

My arms twine around his neck as I rub against him shamelessly.

The ties on my top lose the battle against the friction and allow the garment to flutter to the floor.

“I know sex and love are on a singular path in your heart, so I’m trying to change my ways for you. I want you, but I want forever more.”

Richard said those words. He said we could continue forever, and I guess we could have…

if I’d been okay hiding from his wife. I savored his words of love and flattery.

Hybris says sweet words to every woman and admits they’re lies.

As Flint, he flirts shamelessly with my crew, but he hasn’t made the beast with two backs with any of them.

It’s possible that with the rise of Flint, a new man emerged who is loyal to one woman, or it could be the same routine as with the old Hybris. In my heart of hearts…

I don’t care.

My virginity is gone. My destiny is written in the stars. I want what he offers.

No turning back. I jump and wrap my legs around his waist, holding a breath of daylight between our sexes.

“You lie when you say the passage between my thighs is dry as sand,” I whisper.

His lips don’t move from their shocked, round shape as I nip at them.

I grab his wrist and tug his arm between us.

My arousal has soaked through the linen, but I thread his fingers into the opening around my thigh anyway.

When he reaches deep into my slit, I rock my hips so his fingertips breach my marriage entrance.

He bends his wrist severely to press his palm against me as I take what I need.

Grinding, moaning, and digging my heels into his back, I race for my climax.

It’s hot because he watches me like I’m an exotic creature that he doesn’t know what to do with.

The known liar who wants to spew words of forever is speechless.

He’s pleasured countless women in this fashion, but for some reason, I’ve stunned him into a statue.

Is it because he thought I was too cold, proper, or detached to feel passion?

I’ll show him what I’m capable of! I squirt and drench his hand, shirt, waistcoat, and trousers with reckless abandon.

He shifts just right, and I detonate. I throw my head back and my arms toward the ceiling. My scream rattles the walls and makes the pawns dance across the map. I pump my hips to milk every last drop of my peak into his palm. Trembling and gulping for air, I flop onto his chest with a sigh.

“Eyes open,” he commands, removing his hand from between us.

He presses me closer, so my hypersensitive folds envelop his hard bar of arousal through our clothes.

His fingers rise to my eye level. I smell myself on them.

In silent question, I ask him with my eyes what he’s going to do next.

Maintaining our locked gaze, he licks between his index and middle fingers.

His moan awakens something primal in me as he sucks my climax off his hand.

Each flick of his tongue and flutter of his eyelashes brings my arousal out of its slumber.

“You will get more,” he says in a dark, growly whisper I’ve never heard him use.

It’s not a question. He’s not checking on the well-being of my marriage box.

He’s quelling my fears by telling me what’s next.

“I don’t just stick my marriage rod into any whore’s box.

You aren’t my first, but today you will be my last partner.

Next time, I will enjoy you fully. This time is to inform you of whom you belong. ”

Before I can reply, he bends me backward.

I cling for dear life, smashing my breasts against his chest. Papers fly to the side.

Pawns clatter to the floor as he sweeps his arm across the table.

His hand cushions my head as he lays me upon it.

I will never look at this table the same way again.

This is a sacred strategy spot that has been used by generations of captains to plan battles, plot escape routes, and sail the high seas.

“My bed is through that door—”

“Sh—” He puts his finger over my lips. “The only women who fuck in bed are whores and wives. When I take you in a bed, it will be as my wife. Don’t ask for things you aren’t ready for.”

I nod, but he doesn’t care as he wrestles off my short pants. With his hand pressing my pelvis to the table, he unlaces his pants. They fall to his knees, and I get my first glimpse of Flint—red, long, and twice the girth I remember a man should be…but Flint isn’t a man…he’s a satyr.

So it is true! Satyr barbs shine under the head as he strokes himself.

The purple bumps bend with each motion, so I don’t fear what they will do to my insides.

Wanton curiosity fills my mind with lustful thoughts and my mouth with drool.

He stops when a bead of white liquid rests on the top.

I open wide when he lifts it to my lips on his thumb.

Sucking enthusiastically, I learn his flavor and try to impress him with my mouth.

“I love that little mouth and that naughty tongue already, Betts. Those eyes had me first, but your dairy calls my attention today. I want to worship this belly that will grow round with my kids someday; I want to feel your legs hold onto me—tighter than the bonds of any holy marriage. Deeper and deeper, I fell in love with all of you from head to toes, and now, outside and in—” He grunts on the last word as he pushes his cock into my awaiting heat.

My body resists the invasion, but he bottoms out on the first stroke.

I freeze when I realize he’s not moving. The horrified look on his face is more frightening than my worst nightmare. Sweat drips from his brow as he holds himself still against the onslaught of sensations and passion.

“What’s wrong?” My insecurities bubble to the surface.

“You screamed, so I—"

“Betts! Betts! Captain! Captain!” Chub, Eze, and four other hearties burst into the room. They skid to a stop just inside the threshold to take in the scene.

“Go! Go! Go!” I yell with all the frustration I’ve held inside for years fueling my voice.

Chub reanimates himself first and pushes the other nutmegs from the room.

The door slams. Irish brogue colors Chub’s words as he yells at the crew to stay away from the map room and Captain’s Quarters until I say so.

“Not you!” I yell at Flint as he backs away from the table, sliding those barbs along every delicious inch of my marriage channel on the withdraw. Fire flashes in my eyes as I bare my teeth. “If you don’t finish what you started, I swear I’ll tie you to a chair and take it myself!”

“Aye, aye, Captain!” His eyes sparkle with mirth as he pets my legs about his waist, where they threaten to squeeze him in two.

His large hand plants next to my head. I grab his wrist for connection.

His other one wraps around my thighs for leverage.

Our reconnection is brutal, and I can’t help but cry out once more.

Chuckles resonate from the opposite side of the door.

The table bangs a steady rhythm on the planks as it rocks across the floor.

My chin hits my chest with the force of the bouncing.

My breasts bob and sway until he grabs one in a punishing grip.

I hold onto his arms for dear life. The table crashes into the wall.

Splinters rain over us. I turn my head to the side to avoid the debris.

“Don’t stop,” I cry. We can puncture a hole in the blasted wall for all I care. Flint’s hips snap in double time. His hair is loose from its leather tie and flicks sweat over my body as if painting me as his.

My back arches to collect all that he offers.

I let my inhibitions go and squeeze my knees to meet him thrust for thrust. His barbs rub that special spot deep within my heat.

Our eyes meet. I don’t let go, keeping his focus by grabbing his chin in my hands.

His eyes cross with pleasure, but I don’t let him retreat behind his eyelids.

“If you’re with me, you must know it’s everything.

I want your tousled, sweaty, cross-eyed, messy self, coated in dirt and wood chips.

Your worst moments are now mine. If I wanted perfect, I’d never leave my dreams. Only give yourself to me if you’re prepared to take all of me, because I want all of you,” I state as he rushes toward his climax.

“I love you,” he yells as he coats my insides with his seed.

His hip thrusts slow in erratic bursts. He reclaims the hand by my head, shaking it free from my grasp.

Still pumping into me, he thumbs my clit in aggressive circles.

“Peak for me. Suck all my seed into your little body and let it seep into who you are…because even if you hate it…you belong to me.”

His filthy words set me free, and I climax again.

If Flint has been reborn of Hybris, maybe I can have a rebirth from the misery I brought upon myself.

Blimey, the dairy chaser was right after all.

He made my wish come true. I haven’t felt this carefree since I had tentacles.

Who knew my future home wasn’t under the sea, but in his arms?