Elizabeth adjusted her corset and stared into the cracked and dirty mirror. If Marlin wanted to run hot and cold on her then she was damn well going to give as good as she got. Pushing her breasts up until her nipples were practically on show in the blood red dress that he'd given her along with the green one, she smiled at her image. She hoped to see him react to her like the men had reacted last night to the harlots. Looking down at herself, she had to admit quietly that he had taste in dresses. What she was wearing was more expensive than any dress she owned back home.
Letting loose her honeyed tresses from their pins, she ran her fingers through her hair and frowned. At the very least, she wanted to get him to agree to letting her have a bath, but what she wanted most was to have him chasing after her. She wanted to play on the emotions she believed he was harbouring and she wanted power over him, like he had power over her.
She ran her lips against her teeth repeatedly until they were reddened and pinched her cheeks to make them glow. When she was satisfied with her appearance, she smoothed her dress out one last time and with a deep breath walked through the double doors of his cabin and onto the deck.
Shading her eyes from the sun, she spotted him near the bow of the ship talking to his first mate and she was thankful that he had his back to her.
"Deep breath. You can do this." She told herself as she watched him.
Elizabeth felt her heart flutter madly in her chest as she took a step out onto the main deck. Whether directly or indirectly she could feel all eyes on her--all except his. Willing her stomach to settle, she strode confidently along the deck, heading directly for him.
At first, she thought the crew staring at her was going to unnerve her so much that she was going to give in and run back to the relative safety of his cabin, but as she walked on, she noticed the look in their eyes. It was the same look that she'd seen on half their faces last night in the port. She was reeling them all in. They had all stopped working the instant they laid eyes on her.
Feeling a little more confident, she held her head high and ignored them all. She was half way across the deck now. He had to notice her soon.
Marlin watched his first mate staring over his shoulder and it became suddenly clear that the ship was dead silent. Turning slowly on his heel, he was about to shout a command when his ability to speak left him. There, striding confidently towards him was Elizabeth. She looked stunning in the red Chinese silk dress he'd bought her and with the sunlight bouncing off her hair. He swallowed hard and struggled for control. She was after something, that much he could tell, and some part of him silently prayed it was his heart.
Elizabeth raised her chin defiantly as he came down the steps to meet her. She could see his fascination with her clearly written in his eyes as they scanned her body and she tried not to blush as they lingered on her.
"A word, please," she said with no hesitation and his eyes shot up to meet hers.
He couldn't read her look. Her eyes were all defiance of him once more and he had to wonder where the girl who was so submissive yesterday had gone. He tilted his head to one side and narrowed his eyes on her, sucking his cheeks into a slight smile as he worked to figure out what she was up to.
"Go ahead."
Elizabeth felt her heart beat erratically over the look he was giving her. Last night he'd shown no interest in the girls at the port, now he was giving her his full attention and she hadn't expected it to be so overpowering.
"I..." She swallowed her nerves and stepped closer to him, watching his eyes shift so they remained locked with hers. "...was just wondering something."
"Really?" Marlin felt his heart beat hard against his chest and tried to stifle his feelings.
Becoming steady and quietly confident that she could get what she wanted from him if she just let go of her reserve, she leant her head back and looked up at him, pouting as she smiled sweetly.
"This delightful ship of yours..." She watched his eyes smile at her even when his face was impassive. "I don't suppose, you happen to have such a thing..." She giggled and he blinked. "...as a bath?"
As she breathed the last word up at him, Marlin swallowed hard. The thought of her in a bath, in his cabin, her sweet pale skin awash with bubbles and pretty scents, was enough to send him in need of clarity but he couldn't move. He was a captive of her eyes as she leant in closer to him.
"Miss Miller..." Marlin whispered back at her as he lowered his voice. He saw a moment of doubt flicker in her beautiful green eyes and realised there was something wrong with this picture.
Elizabeth smiled wide at him, satisfied that she could sway him and she could rule him if she wanted to.
Taking a deep breath, Marlin stared at her.
"She would look better if she were a little cleaner," he thought as he perused her.
He watched her take a deep breath, her breasts heaving against the restrictive material of her corset and wondered what she looked like under all those layers of material. She'd be a slim little thing. Firm, pert and young. Something was definitely wrong with this picture. Governor's daughters weren't interested in pirates. They only wanted naval men, like her Charles.
Marlin growled at how stupid he'd been and saw the edge of fear she usually wore around him return for a split second before she was defiant again.
Grabbing her hair, he yanked her head backwards and grinned down at her as her body involuntarily pressed against his as she leant over backwards in an attempt to ease the pain in her scalp.
"Don't ... try ... and ... play ... me." He leant forwards and whispered into her ear and she let out a quiet whimper.
Struggling against an overwhelming desire to cry out in pain, Elizabeth tried to shut out the sounds of the crew laughing at her. She'd thought that she'd won. She'd seen it in his eyes just seconds before he grabbed hold of her.
Leaning further forwards, Marlin felt the warmth of her skin as he kept his lips by her ear. He could feel her trembling against him.
Catching hold of her arm, he let go of her hair and began striding down the length of the ship. He didn't stop the crew from laughing at her. He could feel her body shaking under his tight grip, could picture her eyes brimming with tears without even having to look at her and for one infinitesimal moment, he wanted to stop, wanted to apologise, wanted to soothe her and look after her. Instead, he flung her through the doors and into the cabin.
Slamming them shut behind him, he looked at the crumpled heap of silk covered girl at his feet. She was sobbing as her fingertips tried to dig their way into the wooden floor, her hair covering her face as she turned it away from him. Marlin closed his eyes for a second and reeled his emotions in. Bending over, he caught her arm roughly and hauled her to her feet.
"None of that," he growled at her and she sobbed harder, and again he found himself considering comforting her.
Marlin cleared the hair from her face and watched her lips trembling. He could feel her whole body quivering under his touch and it was almost too much to handle. The thought that this tiny girl had shown him more defiance than any member of his crew, that she had stood up to him no matter how hard he tried to beat her down, had him fascinated with her. The fact that she'd shown him fleeting moments of tenderness and something nearing affection had him enthralled. He wanted to see how hard he could push her, wanted to figure out what conflict was reigning inside her, wanted to know if he could be more than just a pirate to her, wanted her.
He pulled her close to him, close enough that he could feel her ragged breaths against his neck as she lowered her head to avoid his eyes and placed a single finger under her chin. He was amazed when she raised her head up without him forcing her to.
Elizabeth could feel the tension in his body, could see the indecision in his eyes and read in his look that he was planning something. She watched his long lashes as his eyes closed, hiding his deep blue eyes from her and for a moment, she felt like all the light had left the world, and then stars exploded in front of her eyes.
She felt his mouth press hard against hers, his full lips capturing and claiming them for his own. Her stomach swirled and her skin buzzed as his tongue darted out and licked along her lips, parting them slowly and begging entrance from her. She didn't know what else to do so she complied, allowing his tongue to slide into her mouth and tangle with hers. She pushed her hands against his shoulders and tried to push him away only to end up wrapping her arms around his neck as she surrendered to him. Her wide eyes closed slowly as he kissed her deeply and she felt as though she was being kissed into oblivion. Losing herself in her feelings, she didn't care if it was wrong, or if she was wicked. She wanted to remain in his arms with his lips against hers. Her heart was beating loudly in her ears, her body swimming with warmth and sweeps of tingles that ran along her nerves like shudders of pleasure.
Marlin felt her go limp in his arms and relax into him, her fingers playing in his hair. He took a step back and broke the kiss, watching her soft dream-like expression turn to horror as she realised what she'd done.
Elizabeth gasped and pressed her fingers to her lips, feeling them swollen with his kiss and tasting him in her mouth still.
He grinned wickedly at her as he turned and walked towards the door, stepping out onto the deck without looking back at her.
)
When she is kidnapped by pirates and brought onboard The Merciless, Elizabeth Miller becomes unexpectedly embroiled in a tumultuous journey of revenge and love. Five years have passed since Marlin, the captain of The Merciless, lost everything he ever cared about and swore vengeance against Charles, the man who stole the life Marlin should have had. When Marlin's crew mistakenly captures Elizabeth, a woman Charles has long admired, he thinks that perhaps the tides are finally turning. Believing that fate is providing him with a chance to do what he should have done back then, Marlin begins to plot to take the life of the man responsible for stealing his. As the previously young and sheltered Elizabeth is taken further and further from society, and her controlling father, she is transformed. No longer bound by rules, she discovers a sense of freedom on the ocean and a deep passion within herself--a passion stirred by the man who has taken her captive. Will Elizabeth have to give up what she has found and return to society? Or will she fight to remain with the roguish pirate captain who has captured her heart and earned her love?
