Amazon Slave (12 page)

‘Who the hell is he?’ Judy murmured. There was a definite note of approval in her voice.

Emily glared at the captain as he waved a hand in her direction. She ignored him pointedly. ‘I have no idea who he might be,’ she said quietly. ‘And he doesn’t look like the sort I’d be interested in anyway.’ Noticing the captain cross the road and come closer to her, she said, ‘I wouldn’t say no to that coffee and a snack. Is there somewhere in your hotel?’ Without waiting for Judy to reply, Emily was pushing the woman into the doorway.

There was a small café in the foyer, and Emily hurried them both into a discreet booth. She allowed Judy to order coffees and she asked for a packet of cigarettes to go with the order.

‘Have one of mine,’ Judy said, passing her the half-used packet.

Emily took one and accepted a light from Judy. A memory tickled the back of her mind and she could feel a question resting on her lips.

As though she had seen the thought surfacing, Judy spoke first. ‘You seemed like you were in a hurry to get away from that guy,’ Judy observed. She glanced at the small case Emily was carrying. ‘Did he give you that?’ she asked. ‘Or did you have to work for it? Come on, tell me, what’s been happening?’

Emily shook her head and took a long draw from her smoke. She watched the waitress place a pair of black coffees on the table, along with a new pack of cigarettes. ‘I don’t want to talk about it,’ Emily told Judy. She glanced around the foyer, dryly admiring the plain, unimaginative decor. ‘This is the hotel you’re staying in?’

Judy nodded. ‘It’s not much, but it’s the best one here.’ She seemed intrigued by Emily’s lack of communication and leant forward in her chair. Eager curiosity shaped her posture. She lit her own cigarette and said, ‘Come on, Emily. What’s been happening?’

Emily sipped her coffee. ‘How long will Roddy be?’

Judy sighed. ‘He shouldn’t be long,’ she said. ‘A couple of hours at the most.’ Casually, she raised the cup of coffee to her lips. She glanced at Emily as the woman stared disdainfully around the foyer. With a sly smile she tipped her coffee on to Emily’s dress.

‘Shit!’ Emily stood up, exclaiming and brushing at the burning liquid.

Judy jumped from her seat, a concerned expression etched on her features. She dropped her empty coffee cup to the table where it landed with a clatter. ‘Shit! Emily! I’m so sorry. It just slipped and I…’ She exercised an apologetic smile. ‘Quick, go to the bathroom, just down there. I’ll clean things up here and join you.’

Treating the woman to an exasperated frown, Emily started in the direction Judy had pointed. She paused at the restroom door and glanced back. ‘Can you bring my case?’ she asked. ‘It’s got a change of clothes in it.’

Judy smiled warmly. ‘Sure I will,’ she said kindly. ‘And I’m really sorry about that.’

Emily waved her apology away. ‘Forget it, Judy,’ she said magnanimously. There was a small, reluctant smile on her lips. ‘I’m back with you and Roddy now. Things are working out again.’

Judy watched the door close on Emily’s back. Daggers of anger sparked from her eyes. As soon as she thought it was safe, Judy snatched the bag from under the table and headed quickly towards the exit. But before she could make it to the world outside, a thought stopped her. She paused and glanced warily at the door of the restroom. Walking back to the discreet booth they had shared, Judy picked up the unopened pack of cigarettes, then went out to Roderick’s jeep.

*   *   *

Twenty minutes later, Emily wanted to scream. She stood in front of the hotel reception desk, arguing fiercely with the stern-looking manager. She still wore the short summer dress, but now it was thoroughly soaked. She had rinsed it in the restroom’s sink, anticipating Judy joining her. Instead, the waitress had pulled her from the bathroom, shouting something unintelligible. From what Emily could glean of the woman’s tirade, the bill for the two coffees and pack of cigarettes remained unpaid, and she was being held responsible.

Neither the manager, nor the waitress spoke any English, and they did not understand Emily’s mangled attempts at their language.

She closed her eyes against the verbal battering of foreign abuse she was receiving. This was hell, she decided, and she had been sent here for some deplorable sin committed in a previous life. It was the only explanation that made any sense, and she clung to it like a drowning man reaching for a straw. There was no sense praying for salvation she realised. For her, salvation was not going to happen.

With her eyes closed she did not see the man appearing at her side. The first she was aware of him was the crisp growl of his voice, barking stern commands in an unfamiliar language.

She turned to see Captain Wilde and Vincent standing on either side of her. The manager was talking animatedly to the captain, gesturing disparagingly at Emily as he spoke.

Captain Wilde waited for him to finish and nodded agreement. He grinned triumphantly at Emily. ‘You really do have a knack for getting yourself into trouble, don’t you?’

Emily glared miserably at him. ‘I can’t find my friend,’ she said wearily. ‘Can you tell this foreign idiot that she’s staying here with my fiancé and that they will settle my account?’

He shrugged. ‘I can tell him that much, I suppose,’ he said good-naturedly. ‘Do I tell him that you think he’s an idiot?’

Emily glowered angrily and stopped herself from replying. She watched as Captain Wilde spoke quickly and fluently to the manager and was vaguely comforted by the fact that the man seemed to have regained control of his failing patience. He nodded understandingly as Captain Wilde spoke and then replied softly and carefully.

Captain Wilde nodded and frowned. He turned to Emily. ‘You have my deepest apologies,’ he said quietly.

She scowled at him. ‘What did he say?’

‘He said he thinks you are the idiot,’ Captain Wilde began. ‘He also said that the woman you were with was here with a man. They were driving a dull blue jeep.’

‘That’s them,’ Emily said excitedly.

‘It’s gone,’ Captain Wilde explained. ‘I know that for a fact actually,’ he added. ‘The mad bitch who was driving it nearly ran Vincent and I over as she headed out of town.’

Emily stared at him, unwilling to believe what he said but not doubting him for a second. ‘She’s left me?’

He shook his head. ‘They’ve left you,’ he said, emphasising the first word. ‘The manager was just saying that he’s had a maid banging on your boyfriend’s door. There’s no reply.’

Emily rubbed her fingers through her hair. She glared sullenly at the reception desk. ‘Can he get me a telephone?’ she asked.

The captain translated the question for the manager.

He shook his head sadly. Emily understood the words ‘no’ and ‘telephone’ and she waved a silencing hand at Captain Wilde before he could translate.

‘Does anyone have a loaded gun I can borrow?’ she asked miserably.

Captain Wilde turned to the manager and barked another question at him. When the man replied, the captain nodded and placed a handful of notes on the counter. He turned and smiled at Emily. ‘I really am a soft touch,’ he told her in a self-deprecating voice. ‘I’ve been sailing for the last twenty-five years, ever since I was eight, and I haven’t bailed boats out as much as I’ve bailed you out. I’ve just settled your account.’

Emily was too tired to continue being angry. She glanced at the pile of notes he had left on the desk and turned to the captain. ‘It was an expensive cup of coffee,’ she told him dryly.

He smiled. ‘You had a room to pay for as well. You’re getting to be quite the expensive charity case.’

Emily did not bother rising to his bait. ‘Why would they leave me?’

He shrugged. ‘It’s difficult to imagine anyone wanting to get away from you.’

‘I could use slightly more practical suggestions,’ Emily scowled.

The meaning behind his broad smile was so obvious she could not bear to look at him. She glared miserably around the hotel foyer trying to calculate her options. She had two choices: either stay in Port Maga and fend for herself, or ask Captain Wilde for help. It was difficult to decide which of the options was less appealing.

Staring around the seedy foyer, she realised that Port Maga was going to be as inhospitable as the rest of Amazon Basin had been. Knowing that she had no real choice if she ever wanted to get back home again, Emily turned to Captain Wilde. ‘Do I have to beg you to take me to Havalaña?’ she asked.

He nodded. ‘That was the condition,’ he agreed. ‘Would you care to start begging now?’

Emily could not stop a scowl from curling her lips.

The captain placed a protective arm on her shoulder and guided her towards the hotel door. ‘Beg me on the way down to the dock,’ he said. ‘If you’re real good, I may even let you aboard.’ He nodded at Vincent, and the blond man rushed ahead of them to open the doorway.

‘What will I be expected to do on your boat for the next week?’ Emily asked.

He laughed as they walked. ‘You’ll be expected to do whatever I say,’ he told her. ‘Having seen the pleasure you got from being tied to the mast, I don’t think it will be anything you won’t really enjoy.’

‘You have to keep bringing that up, don’t you.’

‘I do,’ he agreed. ‘It excited me quite a lot. I can see myself doing it a lot more in the next few days.’

Emily shivered, repulsed by the notion of giving in to him.

They walked in silence for a while, as though they were a group of friends enjoying a morning stroll. The streets were quiet and uncluttered, and Emily felt the tropical sun warming her body and drying out the sodden dress she wore. Her mind was hastily searching for a solution to her problem, but she could not think of anything. If the situation had not been so hopeless, she knew her desperation would have given way to panic. As it was, she could not even find the enthusiasm for that emotion.

‘You’ll have to forgive me,’ the captain said. ‘But none of this sounds like you begging me. You’ve been on board the boat for the last two days. You know what happens. You also know what you have to do if you want to get to Havalaña.’ The anger in his voice was rising all the time. ‘So, you can either leave my company now, or you can start begging.’

Emily glared at him. They had reached the riverside and she saw the majestic hull of the
Amazon Maiden
waiting patiently for them. It was still early and the lack of traffic on the river meant the port was deserted. The three of them were the only people in sight.

She felt miserable and alone.

‘Go on board, Vincent,’ Captain Wilde said quietly. ‘Prepare to weigh anchor.’ He turned to Emily. ‘We’ll be leaving in twenty minutes. Are you going to join the crew?’

Emily glared hatefully at him. ‘Please may I come on board your boat, Captain Wilde?’ she asked, spitting the question at him through gritted teeth.

His smile was ferocious. ‘That does not sound like begging.’

‘Oh! Please, great Captain,’ she said sarcastically. ‘I beseech you, oh great one. May I be permitted to –’

The palm of his hand struck her cheek hard enough to cut the sentence in two.

Emily stared at him, shocked and resentful.

‘You obviously don’t want the ride,’ he said. ‘Goodbye, Emily.’ He turned his back on her and began to walk towards the jetty.

‘Wait!’ Emily cried. ‘I’m sorry. I…I…I’m sorry, OK?’ She reached a steadying hand out to stop him. Her fingers touched the warm sun-kissed flesh of his back.

He paused and turned to face her. Studying her expression, she saw he was trying to gauge her sincerity.

‘I’ve never begged for anything before,’ she explained quickly. ‘It goes against my nature and I was just…’

‘Either beg, or go,’ he told her simply.

‘I have money,’ she told him. ‘Back at home, in England. I have money and no matter how much you want, I can…’ Her words tapered off as she saw the black plain of indifference that coloured his eyes. There was only one thing left for her to say. ‘I beg you,’ she whispered. His smile was so despicable she could not bare to look at it. Her gaze fell to his feet.

‘Beg some more,’ he told her.

‘Please,’ she said, swallowing thickly and almost choking on the words. ‘I’ll do whatever you want. I need to get to Havalaña, and I’ll do whatever you demand of me.’

His grin was too broad for him to remain indifferent. ‘Beg me on your knees,’ he said. ‘I always think that’s more convincing.’

Emily dared not look at him, for fear that he might see the mixed expressions in the back of her eyes. A part of her was considering him with loathing so strong she knew he would not allow her back on board. Another part of her was warmed by the thrill of a secret sexual arousal. She stared sullenly down at the rotten wood of the jetty and lowered herself to her knees. ‘I beg you,’ she whispered.

‘Kiss my feet,’ he told her.

Emily closed her eyes. She tried to think of another option, but she knew there was none. Slowly, praying that fate would find a way of intervening, she moved her lips down and kissed his foot. He was wearing a pair of plain black deck shoes and she kissed the bridge, above the fabric. Tears of shame welled in her eyes. It did not matter that they were all alone at the riverside and no one else knew what she was doing. Emily hated herself for giving in to the captain. She was aware of the distant pulse between her legs throbbing sullenly. It was an echo of the arousal she had experienced whilst tied to the mast. The feeling sickened her, and her self-loathing intensified. To have to do this was bad enough, she thought. To get enjoyment from it was worse.

Ignoring the throb of excitement, she continued to place soft, tender kisses on his feet. ‘Please let me come aboard,’ she whispered.

Captain Wilde grinned down at her. ‘Not bad,’ he encouraged. ‘I suppose I could use you aboard my boat,’ he said after a moment’s thought. ‘You kiss feet very well.’

Emily could detect the threat of something more in his voice. She glanced up at him and saw that in spite of their open position, on the end of the jetty, he was pulling his shorts down. She should have expected this much, she thought, knowing what he was going to ask next.