Under Her Brass Corset (9 page)

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Captain Blackthorn, but I’m not a virgin.” She turned around and faced him, hoping her frankness wasn’t off-putting.

“I know.” He circled her, brushing her hair over the front of her shoulder, his fingers skipping up and down her neck.

“How? Have I been too forward?” Her confidence wavered.

“Never mind about that.” He unfastened the first buckle holding the brass corset together.

Excitement ran through her veins as the stiff form loosened. She put her hand against the bodice to hold the brass in place. He finished unbuckling it and moved around in front of her to take the corset away. The cool air stirred over her heated body, and her nipples hardened.

Jasper set the shaped metal aside and came back to her. He fingered open the buttons on her blouse. The fabric was damp, as she hadn’t dried completely before getting dressed. The cotton peeled from her skin. Slowly he exposed her to his gaze. The garment dropped down her arms but hung there, suspended by his grip.

Then, as if he thought she’d move away, he jerked her forward. His mouth hit hers. Her bosom pressed to his solid torso, and the ruffles of his shirt enveloped her sensitive breasts. The fierce energy in his kiss coiled through her. She tried gasping for a breath. Only Jasper’s dominating hold prevented her from moving, and his determined grasp was firm as if he aimed to possess her.

“I’m going to make love to you, me beauty.” He spoke each word between pecks to her lips. “I’ll ravish you with tenderness until you are begging me to stop.”

“Why would I want you to stop?” She hummed, enthralled by his lustful claim.

“Because you’ll be too exhausted to endure more.”

She liked the sound of that. Too tired from sex had all the right reasons for her to throw herself into the pleasures he promised.

He let go of her arms and cupped her face in his palms. With her blouse no longer hindered by his grip, it fell to the floor. She folded her arms up, embracing him, drawing her whole body tighter to his.

“I’m anxious for you to do all you claim.” She clutched at his back, balling up his shirt in her fingers, eager to feel the muscles she had watched when he’d lifted weights.

“Let me take this off.” He grabbed his shirt by the collar and drew it over his head.

Two days ago if someone had told her she’d be on the adventure of a lifetime with a handsome man, she would have scorned the assertion. She had thought Randolph had soured her toward wanting anyone the way she wanted Jasper.

Still embracing him, she let her fingers rest against his smooth skin right at the waistband of his breeches. She kissed the center of his chest, sweeping her lips from side to side against the soft, short hairs. The rapid beat of his heart aroused her to linger, to lick a circle around his nipple. His low moan encouraged her to nibble the taut bud with her lips and then her teeth. When she tipped her head back to look up at him, he caught her jaw. He held her face and his mouth covered hers, claiming her breath with a deep kiss.

Their remaining clothes fell away by the command of their hands on each other. They moved toward the bed but stopped twice in the short distance, groping and kissing, immersed in the heat of their passion. Finally, Jasper backed her to the bunk, lowered her down and joined her. His fingertips swirled over her cool skin. He warmed her belly and then her breasts. Her nipples softened until he swished his thumb over one and made it stiff again. He pinched and plucked at the knotted flesh with impatience. Blood rushed to the area, and a tingling heat zipped through to her belly.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” she said, restless from the stimulation.

“Nor I.” He kissed under her chin and along her neck, exploring the curves with the gentle touch of his lips and tongue.

She rocked her hips against him to gain attention to a needier area. He kissed downward to her breast, circled, spiraled inward and then engulfed her nipple. She shuddered and arched, thrusting her chest up to the delightful sensations whooshing through her body and making her core clench.

When his kisses moved between her breasts, the coarse stubble along his jaw brushed roughly against her smooth flesh. She moaned softly, invigorated by the clash of textures. His thorough attention to her needs kept her writhing in anticipation of the ultimate thrill.

“Soft and succulent,” he murmured, traveling to her belly.

He moved a hand along the inside of her leg, up her thigh and nestled it into place over her sex. Slowly he parted her nether lips and stroked a finger up through the wet folds. He flicked the sensitive button of flesh, and she jerked at the sudden zing of threaded heat. Involuntarily her legs squeezed shut on his hand. Then she relaxed and felt his finger, maybe two, enter her.

His suckling kisses continued, caressing her belly, her pelvis and her thighs. He withdrew his fingers from her twitching vagina and she was surprised by the feel of his moist lips on her most intimate region.

She inhaled sharply, and then exhaled in stuttering puffs. He whipped his tongue inside and swirled deep. The flicker of his licks moved in and out, driving her wild, making her crazy. She rolled her hands over his shoulders and held on. Relentless, he persisted in torturing the hard bud harboring a million nerves. He thrummed the nub of flesh until she couldn’t stop thrashing her head from side to side. Her legs tensed, clamping together, forcing him to pry them open to get closer. He must have thought she fought his actions instead of the sensations, because he suddenly lifted and stared up at her.

“Don’t stop,” she groaned, grasping his head and guiding him back between her legs.

His velvety smooth laugh funneled deep into her, shocking her aroused interior. Everything neared the intensity she had experienced in the tub. Her thighs trembled violently. With the comforting care of a man aware of everything she felt, Jasper’s hand raked back and forth along her hip and side.

Then her orgasm crested. She thought of nothing else than the extreme pleasure she felt while hardly being able to catch her breath. Letting go of him, she reached out and searched for support. Instead of a firm structure, she gripped the soft fluff of bedding and twisted it in her fists.

“Oh Lord,” she gasped, tilting back her head and arching off the mattress. There was nothing to hide the sounds of her ecstasy. Nor did she want to muffle her whimpering cries.

Then it was over.

He rose up over her and stared into her eyes.

Take me,
she silently begged.

He moved between her spread legs and lowered, granting her wish. The heat of his body blanketed her. The tip of his erection pressed against her opening. He pushed slightly, carefully, and waited for the fleshy folds of her sex to yield. He flexed his hips and his downward plunge filled her. The deep penetration of his thick cock made her stiffen. Sadness gripped her. She wasn’t a virgin, but she felt the similar pressure and discomfort, and wished it was her first time. She felt a few tears break free of her eyelids, only to disappear under the humming caress of Jasper’s lips. The tenderness helped erase her regrets.

He kissed her all over her face. The murmuring of her name followed each peck to her cheeks and nose. He moved slowly in and out of her, patiently nurturing the intimate connection between them. Once he lifted his face from hers, she swirled her fingers over his mouth, tracing his smile. She stroked his jaw and played with the gold hoop in his ear while watching his expression during the stirring movements.

The tips of her breasts heated and swelled from the stimulation of his chest brushing back and forth. Finally he shifted down to his forearms, which brought him close enough to kiss. Their lips met with caution. Eventually the expectancy of more pleasure reenergized her from her last orgasm.

He lowered farther, first tickling her nipples, and then bearing down so that she felt the weight of him. His thrusting hips moved harder upon her, teasing the throbbing twinges of another climax. Then unexpectedly, his lunges came to a halt.

In her growing excitement, she let out a disgruntled complaint. “No!” she cried.

“Patience,” he whispered, bowing his head so the heat of his breath fanned her damp neck.

He nuzzled below her ear, under her jaw, circling until his lips brushed hers. The warm splendor lasted a few seconds, and then left for the other side of her face. When he finished, he pushed up on his hands and resumed driving into her, spreading heat to all her limbs. He plunged deeper than she believed possible, pounding with fervent speed. She felt as if her insides exploded around his thick cock. His grunts escalated, signaling the nearing end. But she didn’t want it to be over, and she plotted at how to keep him from stopping.

Apparently he knew what she had been thinking when he moaned harshly against her ear. “I’m not through with you yet, me beauty.” He rose up and resumed pumping into her. His rapid moves brought her up from the bed and pressed her back into the downy softness. Another climax developed, and she drew within herself to revel in the glory.

Abruptly he pulled free with a tortured groan. A liquid warmth splashed her belly and breasts. She reached between their separated bodies and wrapped her fingers around his shaft, pumping his sheath back and forth. With her other hand, she massaged his ass. His face tensed as the final spurt tickled her navel. Through half-closed eyes, he stared at her. She tried to pull him to her. He resisted at first, obviously trying to be polite and considerate of the mess, but then sagged against her.

She tried imagining what it would feel like to have him filling her, the heat of his essence swimming inside—that creamy balm soothing the tenderness of her flesh. However, here again, Captain Jasper Blackthorn showed her the thoughtfulness of a well-mannered gentleman. He would not impregnate her on a whim.

In her euphoria, she watched Jasper get up and walk to a bucket of water. He wet a rag and came back to her. She held out her hand and let him wash her fingers. His tenderness in bathing her breasts, her belly and between her legs was magical. She had never known such care by a man. When he finished, she was clean of his discharge.

Exhausted, sated beyond her wildest imaginings, she closed her eyes. She felt a linen sheet float down over her, and then Jasper crawled into bed with her. He gathered her in his arms and gave her the best reason to sleep. Only the experience prevented her from drifting off.

“You were amazing,” she whispered, kissing his jaw.

“No more than you, me beauty.” He tipped her face up with a hand under her chin. “I suggest you rest. As I told you before, I’m not done with you yet.”

Abigail buried her face into the warm musky scent of his neck, appreciative of his continued embrace. Sex had increased the appealing manly fragrance of him. She wanted to bask in the feral opulence without thought to anything else.

Unfortunately they had an enemy and her worry forced her to ask what came next.

“If Eric found my house in London and he located us on the sea, will he also be able to find us when we reach the location of the treasure?”

Jasper’s hand slid down her arm and stroked her hip. “Probably. That’s why we’re not going to North Carolina.”

“Where are we going?” She lifted her head.

“An island in the Caribbean. I have a friend there whom we can stay with for a day while I make some repairs to the ship. I can’t let Eric get close to us right now. With the holes we have in the deck and the torn sails, we’re vulnerable.” He sat up and straightened the covers over her. “I’ll be right back.”

She rolled toward the wall and rubbed her face into the comforting scent of Jasper on his pillow. Soon after he left, loud banging echoed from somewhere on the ship. Then silence. Not the reassuring kind, but an eerie quiet that encouraged her to sit up and listen harder. Too aware of the danger Eric presented, she debated getting up and checking on Jasper. He returned before she left the bed. In the radiance of the electric light, glowing from a bubble of glass attached to the wall of the cabin, she watched him rubbing warmth into his arms.

“Is anything wrong?” she asked.

“No.” He crawled back into bed with her, coaxing her to lie down. “I was just checking on the automated navigational equipment and the fuel for the steam engine. We were a little off course, so I made the adjustments.”

“Your ship amazes me every time I think of all it does, and practically on its own.” She shivered at the touched of his lips on her back. “Did you have a lot of schooling?”

“A lifetime of it.” He snuggled in closer to her back.

“You’re cold. You should have worn your coat or the cloak to stay warm.”

“I figured I had you to warm me.” He spooned against her.

She shuddered as the length of his cool, bare skin met hers. By the feel of his cock hardening against her bottom, she knew she’d not get any sleep.

“Tell me about this,” he said, his fingers tracing the tattoo on her thigh. “What inspired you to have it done?”

She thought of the delicate rose vine with several leaves and one tiny red bud symbolizing her lost loved one. “My mother loved roses. She once told me that people are similar to them—born like rosebuds on a vine, blooming to life, and then withering and dying. When I decided to get this tattoo, I thought this was a perfect image to preserve my memory of her. Do you disapprove?”

“You’ll never forget her, Abigail.” Jasper squeezed her slightly, hugging her against him. “But I understand your desire for something symbolic. And I think it a great testament of your love.” He slid his hand up, caressing her hip, her belly and coming to rest beneath her breast.

“Randolph’s reaction was less than enthusiastic.” She paused, realizing she had never spoken about her engagement to the man. “I should mention, Randolph Humphries was once my fiancé.”

Jasper didn’t comment, and nervously she continued talking.

“Well, while he didn’t say he hated it, he called tattooing a crude indulgence for the lower class. Then realizing his mistake in forgetting I am of the lower class, he added it wasn’t very ladylike.”