Taken by Pirates

He said good morning to everyone, greeting most of them by name. He even introduced me to a few of the women.

By the time we made it to the end of the pier, the lads were right behind us with the cargo. The Captain took my hand, slipping it into the crook of his arm as we strolled along a beautiful street straight through town.

The little shops were old but clean, and obviously well loved. Everything was so quaint and perfect that I could honestly imagine living here someday.

Once we were through the town, we turned along a side path that led to several large houses up a bit of a hill. I could see that they would have a clear view of the inlet and the dock from their front porches.

As we reached the end of the row, a tall woman in a dark gray dress was waiting in her doorway.

“Levi!” She squealed like a schoolgirl, even though the bright white hair pinned up in a tidy bun and the lines around her eyes made her seem at least sixty.

She ran down the path, and I stepped back as she barreled into the Captain’s arms. He swung her around, laughing merrily before setting her back on her feet. Then he took my hand again. “Aunt Clementine, I’d like you to meet my beautiful lady, Maggie Douglas.”

He called me his lady.

To someone outside of the ship’s crew. To family.

My head was momentarily woozy at the realization of how serious this moment was.

I held out my free hand. “It’s lovely to meet you.”

Ignoring my offered hand, Clementine threw her arms around me in a fierce hug. Then she stepped back, holding my face between her palms. “What a beauty,” she whispered. “With fiery, soulful eyes.”

“Thank you,” I managed to breathe. I’d never been examined so carefully in my life.

She released my face with a light laugh. “I’m sorry, Maggie. My Levi has never brought a ladyfriend home before.”

I wasn’t quite sure why that made my heart jump up into my throat from joy.

“May we stash a few things in your cellar?” the Captain asked.

Clementine raised an eyebrow. “Anything that I’ll find interesting?”

“Aye, you’ll like this barrel of rum,” Dwyer grinned.

Clementine nodded. “That I will.” She took a string from around her neck, pulling it off to reveal a key hanging from it. She tossed it to Dobbs. “You’ll find two bottles of wine missing from your little stash, but it was for a good cause. My friends now understand how important you boys are.”

The men chuckled, hauling their crates and the barrel around to the side of the house, where I saw there was a flat angled door down to the cellar.

“I’ll put the kettle on,” Clementine announced. “Levi, why don’t you show Maggie the flower garden for a moment before you join me in the kitchen?”

Something about the way her deep eyes sparkled made me wonder if she knew we had been dying for a moment alone to steal a kiss.

Levi took my hand again, leading me around the far side of the house, and through a gap in a tall cedar hedge.

“Oh,” I gasped weakly, staring around an absolute amazement.

The deep perfume of dozens upon dozens of rose bushes was tempered with the heady scent of a large lilac tree, and some little white flowers I’d never seen before, but smelled like honey.

The Captain gathered me into his arms, holding our bodies so close together that there was no mistaking his arousal.

&nbs

p; He kissed me gently, our lips melting together so naturally that I almost lost my breath. Then he kissed down my throat, making me tremble right down to my knees.

“My lovely lass,” he murmured. “May I touch you?”

I could barely manage a squeak, but nodded.