The Buccaneer(48)

A shadow fell over her and she looked up.

“Does it pain you?” Lucian asked.

Her knee barely caused her discomfort. The pain that filled her was from Lucian’s sharp tone. Captain Lucifer had returned.

“Answer me, madam,” he snapped, annoyed with her brief hesitation and annoyed with himself for needing to hear from her own lips that she did not suffer.

Catherine tossed her petticoats and skirt over her injury. “I’ve suffered worse.”

“That’s not what I asked you. Do you suffer now?”

A sigh proceeded Catherine’s response. “No, Captain. I suffer no pain, only a mere discomfort.” She had thought to argue with him, but that would only spoil the rest of her day and she refused to allow him to ruin her adventure.

“If it should bother you—”

She finished for him. “I shall most certainly tell you immediately.”

“Landin’ ahead. Landin’ ahead.” Bones called out.

“Remember,” Lucian warned. “You stay by my side and obey my every command.

She nodded, attempting to peek around him at the island’s approach.

“Believe me, Catherine,” he said with a dangerous smile. “It’s not what you expect.”





Chapter Thirteen



Catherine choked on the stench. She covered her nose and mouth with her hand while rushing to keep up with Lucian’s powerful gait.

He had been right. Tortuga was like nothing she had ever expected. Men lay in a stupor in the street and in doorways. Women bartered their bodies for naught but a few pence, brazenly displaying a breast or hoisting a skirt to show the buyer her wares.

And smells? Catherine pressed her hand closer to her nose, sniffing the salty sea scent of her palm. She couldn't determine if it was rotting fish, days-old body odor, or the garbage cast along the dirt streets that stunk the worst. Moreover it was probably a combination of all three and then some.

What shocked her the most, though insignificant in contrast, was the lush foliage and beautiful flowers that flourished amongst the filth and rabble of the island. It stunned the eye and presumably favored the nose.

"A short distance and you'll find a marked change." Lucian said, grabbing hold of her arm as they moved along past two burly and exceptionally drunk men.

"She for sale, Captain Lucifer?" one man daringly called out.

To Catherine's surprise Lucian stopped right in front of the large man. His hands were meaty, his girth equally so, and his head as bald as a baby's bottom. And the smell?

Catherine stepped behind Lucian and planted her face against his shirt. Fresh sea air, warm sun, and Lucian's own distinctly pleasant odor rewarded her nostrils. She breathed deeply relishing his rich and breathable scent.

An icy tone marked Lucian's every word. "Big John, have you ever known me to sell a woman?"

Catherine peeked around Lucian's arm, her nose still plastered to his shirt. The heavy man rubbed his bald head and attempted to take a step back away from the feared Captain Lucifer. But he had difficulty performing two tasks at once. So he stopped rubbing his head and took a stumbling step back.

He looked at Lucian for a mere second, rubbing his bulbous nose, and then casting his glance down at his scuffed boots. "Nope. Sorry, Captain Lucifer."

"Go sleep off your stupor before you find yourself gutted and left for dead," Lucian warned.

Big John's eyes widened three-fold. He dropped his whiskey bottle and hurried off in a stumble. The smaller man beside him stared at Lucian briefly, threw his bottle down and ran after Big John.

Catherine giggled as Lucian reached behind himself and yanked her around in front of him.

"You find my shirt comforting, madam?"

She smiled, and surprising herself and Lucian, she buried her face against his shirt at his chest. "I love the scent of you," she whispered, and snuggled her nose against the white linen.

Lucian yanked her away. "Behave," he warned with a shake. "I want no man knowing you a harlot."

Catherine stiffened and retaliated so incensed was she by his crude remark. "I do not give myself to just any man."

His lips curled in a sardonic smile. "Only the gentry?"

Catherine returned his smile with a disdainful one of her own. "Only a man of my choosing, Captain. Or did you forget the stable boy?"

Lucian roughly dragged her alongside him as he moved on and beneath his breath, barely audible to Catherine's ears he said, "Thank you for reminding me that you're a whore."

Her heart shattered upon hearing his vulgar remark.

It is necessary, Catherine, the small voice reminded her. You do this to save your father. Do you think he would do any less for you? In the end it will all work out for the best.