Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 163328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 817(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 817(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
I faced the direction of the voice. “Show yourself, Highlander.”
The stench of body odor shifted around me before ruthless fingers captured my wrists. Innumerable hands. There were so many attackers all at once it only took seconds to restrain my limbs and shove me deep into the sticky horde of bodies.
When I hit the back wall, I could no longer see the gate. Half a dozen men held my arms and legs, stretching me like an X with my spine against the wooden rib of the warship’s hull.
Full-body tremors pummeled through me. It couldn’t be helped. My arms twisted in sweaty clutches, my hands slipping uselessly, unable to find a gripping place. The more I struggled, the stronger and heavier my attackers became, multiplying in numbers and moving like a tidal wave until they formed a single unpreventable force that crashed against me, bruised my skin, and bellowed vile promises.
“Back off!” I screamed and gnashed my teeth. “Release me! I can help you!”
Everything stopped. The pirates who restrained me didn’t let go, but the others fell back. The swarm divided, leaving a narrow path for one man to approach.
The captain.
Long red hair tangled around a matching beard that hung to his chest. Luminous green eyes shone out of a narrow face that might have been attractive, if not for the foreboding sneer that slashed across it.
He prowled toward me, tall, lean, and shirtless. The scars on his freckled torso and arms painted a gruesome constellation. Frayed trousers sagged low on trim hips. No boots. No jewelry. Nothing to indicate who he was.
But there was only one known redheaded pirate captain from Scotland, and his noxious reputation preceded him.
“Madwulf MacNally.” I jutted my chin, my nostrils pulsing with the rush of my breaths. “I’m Bennett Sharp.”
My name flickered recognition in his eyes before they hardened into cold green jewels. “I dinna care if you’re the Countess of Nithsdale. Right now all you are is caged, just like the rest of us.”
My stomach clenched, but I made my mouth smile. “I can help you escape.”
“You?” His chuckle spread a chill across my skin. “The only release you can provide is the one I’ll be taking between your bonny thighs.”
My pulse quickened, but I didn’t fight the hands that held me. I forced myself to remain calm and unruffled.
If I told him the notorious Priest Farrell was going to stop this warship from reaching England’s shore, he wouldn’t believe me. Or maybe he would, but it wouldn’t dissuade him from his cruel intentions.
No, I couldn’t mention Priest. Not without risking the commodore hearing my rescue plan.
“How about I save my bonny thighs to trap Lord Cutler?” I grinned despite my surgent nausea. “I’ll obtain a private meeting with him, put him in a scandalous position, and—”
“If his lordship was interested in you, you wouldn’t be here. With us.”
Hard to argue.
My stomach sank.
“I dinna mind his cast-offs if they all look like you.” He crowded in and traced an overgrown fingernail along my jawline, making me gag. “Prettiest thing I’ve ever seen on the high seas. Right, lads?”
The men cheered and whistled in agreement.
“Momentarily, I’ll be using your wee cunt quite thoroughly against this wall.” Madwulf pawed between my legs, beneath the shirt, skin against skin. “You’re going to cry, but dinna fash yourself about that. I want your tears, daughter of Edric.”
“No.” A hot ember formed in my throat, and I squirmed helplessly. “Not this. I’ll give you something else. Anything. Name it.”
“This is all you have to give, lassie.” He dug a thick finger into my dry flesh and thrust.
My entire body cringed and bucked, but there was nowhere to go. Too many hands held me in place. Too many mouths panting against my face. The reek of rotten teeth made my gut turn.
“But I’m nae a selfish man.” He stabbed deeper, scraping broken fingernails along my insides. “I always leave a wee bit of something to share with my laddies, and they prefer it to still be a-kickin’.”
“I don’t need her kicking, Captain, or breathing,” a voice shouted from the crowd. “Just so long as I get me some relief in one of them holes.”
Laughter erupted as the knaves shoved one another in excitement.
My joints locked to the point of pain, and tears rose, burning the back of my throat. But I kept it at bay and held Madwulf’s gaze, my eyes dry and stony.
His cock was out, the bulbous head of it ramming against my naked thigh and drooling thick beads of slime. The thought of having that thing inside me dropped a hot, jagged rock in my stomach.
There was no stopping this. Even if I possessed the intelligence to talk my way out of it, Madwulf wasn’t a person who could be reasoned with. All I had left was my anger, and I let it burn me up from the inside out.