Chapter Twenty
Triumph surged throughhim, and James captured her mouth in a searing kiss, needing her more than he needed air to breathe or the spray of salty sea on his face. For all their games, their deceptions and lies, this was the only truth between them. This desperate desire clawing its way to the surface with every heated glance and every stolen kiss.
Flinging her arms around his neck, Celeste surrendered to his sensual assault. Her mouth welcomed him. She tasted of sun and sea, of temptation and treasure. He managed to wrap his arm around her as they stumbled into the hut. Their drunken dance threw them into the middle of the room, grappling with the other’s garments, breaking the kiss on a gasp or a muttered curse.
“Damnable thing,” he murmured against her soft lips as he tugged the fastenings around his waist.
“Let me.” She batted his hand away. Her nimble fingers made quick work of the belts and the leathers. She tugged his shirt free, her touch branding his skin with each accidental caress.
He wanted her hands on him. On all of him. Her delicate grip on his cock, her mouth leaving him damp and panting as it trailed over his body.
But more than that, he wanted her bare. Seeing her rise from the water in such a state had left his cock aching. It had taken all of his restraint to keep from stalking toward her, slinging her wet form over his body, and taking her against the large boulder, in front of any who dared interrupt them.
She tossed his shirt aside, her eyes dark and shining with hunger. She dipped her head, taking his nipple into her mouth, raking her teeth over it. He hissed and threaded his fingers through her hair. When she did the same to the other nipple, he growled, low in his throat, needing a sting of pain to offset the surge of pleasure he knew would come.
Her nails raked his bare chest, sliding lower until they rested upon his hips and gripped the fabric barely clinging there.
“Take them off,” he commanded, his voice hoarse.
She arched a brow, but her hands began their descent, taking the garment with them. Down she sank to her knees, slowly easing his feet free of the confines of his boots before removing the trousers. She rested before him, taking in his nude form.
“Is this what you wanted?” Her lips formed a coy smile. “The princess on her knees?”
He opened his mouth to respond, but the words died in his throat as she leaned forward, grasped his cock, and licked the head.
“Davy Jones take me.” He swore as she wrapped her mouth around him, sucking him deep. James nearly fell over with the surge of pleasure racing through him.
Celeste teased him, licking, suckling, alternating between peppering kisses and sliding her teeth over his sensitive skin. His grip on her hair tightened as he watched her, the sight driving him to madness. Reining in his release proved to be a struggle.
“If you persist, Princess, this will be over too soon.” He gasped when her tongue slid along the underside of his shaft.
She drew back, giving him a delightful view of her breasts through the gap in her billowing white shirt, and blinked up at him, a picture of pure innocence. Only, he knew her. She was no innocent. Celeste was a vixen created by the gods to inflict torment and immeasurable pleasure.
And she chose him.
“Do you not enjoy it?” She pouted, but he noted a flicker of amusement in her green eyes.
“I enjoy it very much.” He pulled her to her feet and trailed the hook between her breasts, catching fabric with its sharp tip. “But I will not waste this moment. I will bury myself inside you until you scream my name in pleasure. Only then will I paint you with my seed, marking you as mine.”
He tugged down, ripping the fabric of her shirt. It fluttered open, fully revealing her lovely breasts. She drew the ruined garment from her shoulders and let it fall away.
Stepping back, she slowly removed her boots and loose trousers.
James sucked in a breath at the sight of her curves. She had tempted him in the water, but now there was nothing to keep him from reaching for her, from taking what he wanted. What he needed.
“The finest treasure in all the land,” James purred, stepping forward.
Her smile faltered for only a moment before she rested a hand on his hook. “Perhaps you should remove it? I do not wish for you to cut yourself...or me.”
He could not fault her logic. The hook had proved an impediment on many occasions, but removing it left him vulnerable and aware of his inadequacies. She was right though. James didn’t want to hurt her. He relented, removing it quickly and dropping it atop the garments littering the floor around them.
She slid her hand up the limb to rest upon his shoulder. It had been far too long for him. Letting down his guard, allowing another to explore him with unbridled curiosity. He reveled in it, and yet, the rigging around his heart tightened at the thought of yielding all control. Of letting himself go and embracing the moment.
Her tender touch seared through his remaining restraint.
James rushed forward, gathering her to his chest, letting the heat of his body tether to hers. She moaned as he kissed a path along her throat, inhaling the sweet scent of jasmine and her.
The torment he’d suffered, the anguish of every twisting thought in his mind. It all vanished, disappearing beneath the wave of possessive pleasure burning between them.
“James,” she whispered with a deep moan. “Please...do not make me wait a moment longer.”
He turned her in his embrace and guided her closer to the thatched wall of the hut. “Place your hands on the wall, Princess.” He kissed her soft earlobe before drawing it between his teeth and giving it a gentle tug.
She shivered and placed her hands where he instructed.
“Now, widen your stance.” He tapped her thigh after she obeyed. “Wider.”
He slid his fingertips along her cunt. Her arousal coated him.
“Wet for me, love?” He preened at the knowledge and licked his fingers.
Celeste moaned at the sound, her body trembling. “Captain...”
“James,” he corrected, pressing his palm to her warm, slick center. When he slid two fingers in, she cried out.
“James!”
His smile grew as she rocked back into his hand. “So desperate. So needy.”
He stroked deep, sliding against her inner walls, grinning when she clenched around his fingers.
“If you do not...”
“Say it, Princess,” he murmured against her shoulder. “Tell me exactly what you want me to do to you.”
“Cease your torment and fuck me.” She growled. “Now.”
“Your wish is my command, love.” He slid his fingers free, earning a disappointed groan.
Wrapping his hand around his cock, he positioned himself at her entrance and slid himself across her cunt before driving deep with a single thrust.
Celeste’s strangled moan echoed in his ears, making him harder than before. He wrapped his arm around her, resting his fingers on her stomach as he withdrew and thrust again.
“James,” she whimpered, arching her hips back.
With every thrust, she met him eagerly, opening for him, pushing them both higher into blissful abandon. Her hand slipped along the wall. She reached for the ache between her thighs, but he growled in her ear.
“Hands on the wall.”
“But...I...” Her panting gasps strangled her protest as he placed his hand where he’d slid into her. Out again. Her warmth coating him, pulsing around him.
“Is this what you need?” He pressed two fingers to the apex of her thighs, finding the pearl nestled between her folds.
She screamed his name, bucking against his hand.
He thrust harder, deeper, measuring every heartbeat before driving forward once more. His fingers rubbed the spot in gentle circles as she pushed into his hand then drove back on his cock.
“Take what you desire, Princess,” he murmured, kissing her shoulder. “Seize your pleasure.”
Doubling his pace, he fucked her, stroked her cunt.
Her body tensed, her fingers digging into the wall, a strangled cry ripping from her throat. She came apart, her climax pulsing through her as she gripped his cock tight.
He thrust deeper, biting back his own release until she relaxed against him. Only then did he withdraw and take himself in hand, leaving streaks of his release painted on her pale skin. Stars danced behind his eyes as he steadied himself against her.
Their heavy breaths echoed through the small hut.
Slowly, Celeste turned in his embrace, her hands coming to rest on his jaw. Her eyes sparkled in the dim light. She glowed like a star in the heavens. When she kissed him, it was not with frenzied passion but a tender expression of gratitude. He met it with an eager ache that settled in his chest.
“Have we finally come to a truce?” she asked, her tone gentle and curious.
“Aye, Princess.” James sighed, knowing whatever barrier had been between them now lay as broken as the shells along the shore.
Her smile brightened. “So what happens next?”
James returned the smile. “I have no idea.”
“We can worry about it later.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts against him. His cock twitched at the pressure.
“Aye.” He kissed her again, but an intrusive thought came to the forefront of his mind. He pulled away. “Dress.”
She blinked at him. “What?”
“Get dressed.” He snatched up his garments. “There is something on the ship I wish to show you.”
Her brow furrowed, but she relented. By the time they were fully dressed, the sun had set, leaving a faint glow of orange and blue on the horizon.
Led by torchlight, they made their way to the shore and climbed into a boat. The laughter of his men echoed through the cove, dancing amid firelight and flowing rum.
Let them have this night of celebration.
He helped her onto the ship. Most of the men were on shore, but a few remained with the Raven.
Inside his cabin, he pulled out the map and laid it on the table. The lantern danced with the sway of the ship.
“What is it?” Celeste studied the map for a long moment before looking at him in confusion.
“This map shows the passages beneath the castle.” He trailed a finger along the faded markings. “It also shows rooms hidden inside the castle itself.”
Celeste inhaled sharply.
“Did you know of these rooms?”
“Some of them.” She narrowed her eyes, her fingers skimming across the map until she noted a faint marking between two rooms. “What is this?”
“A secret passage, most likely.” James watched her response. “Between these two chambers.”
Celeste went still.
“Princess, who resides in these chambers?”
“My uncle.” She swallowed before continuing. “And my sister.”
James said nothing, allowing the implication to settle in her mind.
“It cannot be true. He is our uncle. Caroline would never...” Celeste covered her mouth with her hand.
“I have seen far worse, Princess.”
“I should have killed him when I had the chance.”
“You will have another.” He reached for her, but she stiffened in his arms. He turned her to face him. “Tell me what you want.”
“I want him dead.” Vengeance burned in her eyes, down to the depths of her soul. “I will have my kingdom restored after I drive my blade through his heart.”
“And you say you have not the heart of a pirate.” James grinned.
She scoffed, but a smile smothered her stern expression. “Are you offering to help, Captain?”
“It will cost you, Princess. I am a pirate not a merchant.” He slid his hand beneath her shirt, letting his palm rest on her breast and squeezing.
“A burden I will gladly bear.” Celeste kissed him, her fervor stealing away his witty response.
They tumbled into his bed, where she made good on her end of their bargain.