Damned (3 page)

“You hate it?”

“Sure, what’s there to love about parades, morning teas, being ordered around and not being able to have even a quarter of a normal life?”

He nods. “Make’s sense.”

“What about you pirate, tell me about yours? I can clearly see you don’t fit the
typic
al impression. I always pictured fat, dirty old men.”

“You
do not
wanna know about mine.” His
tone
becomes serious.

“How do you know that?”

“Nobody wants to know about my life, pretty girl.”

“I do.”

“You like hearing about killing, battles and death?”

I shrug. “It’s better than ponies, parades and dresses.”

He laughs now. “I like you, you
a
re certainly not what I imagined all these months.”

“You had images about me? That
i
s kind of creepy you know?”

He smirks. “We all knew how hot
you a
re, it
i
s hard to live next door and not wonder.”

“So here I am, what’s your opinion now?”

“Hmmmm?
Sexy, witty and certain
ly NOT a princess in nature.”

“Did you really think I was a prissy, little princess?”

“Did you really think I was a fat, dirty old pirate?”

I laugh. “Well, I guess I did.
It is
an image, isn’t it?”

“Precisely.”

I smile and drink another whiskey. “It’s kind of funny don’t you think? A princess and a pirate?”

“Yeah, who knew either was real eh?”

“I suppose fairy tales were
no
t so far off were they? I mean; pirates are real and princesses are most certainly real. There is good and evil, just like the movies. I think they were onto something. Perhaps the next one will be called the pirate next door.”

He roars with laughter now and shakes his head. “You’re a real character, you know that?”

“I try.” I grin.

“There you areeeee.”

I turn to see Casey and Sandra sauntering over, with a definite wobble about them.

“Just chilling out, like you wanted.” I mumble.

“Have you taken a liking to our man here? You
a
re in a big line up you know…”

“Oh, I am aware of that.” I laugh, watching as Jax shakes his head.

“Me first!” Casey cries. “Then Sandy….then maybe you.”

“Do I get a say in this?” Jax asks, grinning.

“Sure, who’s first gorgeous?” Casey purrs.

“Definitely the princess.”

I blush. “I think it
i
s time I went home.”

“Aw Jade, you
a
re a suck.” Sandra teases. “Knew you would
no
t stay.”

“I
have issues to deal with tonight.”

“Stay…” Jax says, his eyes meeting mine.

“I can’t, really…”

I turn and make my way out the door. Knowing if I do
no
t escape now, I won’t.  As soon as the
cold
air hits me, the alcohol tears through my body. Suddenly my eyes are blurring
;
my feet do
no
t want to go where I ask them, and I can’t hold myself up straight. I stumble; it
i
s only the hand gripping my upper arm that keeps me from falling ass overhead.

“Your parents will kill you if you go back so drunk.” Jax says, hauling me to my feet.

“I can’t stay here, you
a
re far too dangerous for me.” I
mumble
, turning to face him.

“I will behave, come on you need to sit down.”

“Here is fine.”

I slide to the ground and he kneels in front of me, handing me a bottle of water.

“Don’t drink much huh?”

“No, it’s not in the princess book.”

He
grins, touching my cheek
. “Come back over here tomorrow night, I want to see you again.”

“Now we know that
i
s just playing with fire.”

“I like fire.” He murmurs, leaning close.

“You said you would
behave,
” I remind him “And I don’t like fire, fire burns.”

“I won’t let you get burnt.” His gaze is intense, damn look away Jade.

“You just want what you can’t have, princess or not, I am not stupid.”

“You think that’s it do you?”

“Of course it is.
I am a princess; I am forbidden fruit. Don’t make out as if you want to see me again and it has nothing to do with wanting to screw me. I am not stupid pirate
;
I am not coming back either.”

“Yeah, you are forbidden, yeah I would like to nail you but you fascinate me. You are a princess
,
and yet you talk like a normal girl
. Y
ou do
no
t live a normal life, and you are pa
rticularly
fascinat
ing to talk with
. I want to see you come back, because I enjoy talking with you and I can’t say I have
no
t wondered about you all these months living next door. Especially after that bikini photo.”

“I was in the palace walls.” I protest.

He laughs. “Come on, I am not so bad. Ask your friends.”

“You don’t even know me, you talked to me for less than an hour.”

“And I liked it. Not often I get someone
fresh
in my club.”

“Aren’t you meant to be on a ship or something?”

He grins. “I am taking a break.”

“Won’t
your
Captain be angry?”

“I am the Captain.”

I gasp. “You’re the Captain? You
a
re too attractive; it’s not possible.”

He laughs, throwing his head back. “I am a true blood girl, I had rights to that ship the day I was born. Most of my crew are older than me, all of them,
however, respect me.”

“You’re a vampire?”

He snorts and shoves me
sof
tly. “What is with you young people? A true blood is not a vampire.”

“What is it then?”

“I come from the original
set
of pirates, I am not a created pirate, and I have original pirate blood.”

“And
your
crew?”

“Created.”

“That’s kind of crazy. H
ow old are you?”

“I got a solid ten years on you pretty girl.”

I glance at him. “You’re thirty?”

“In two months.”

“You’re far too sexy, I
cannot
believe that.”

“You just said I was sexy you realize?” He teases.

“I do
no
t lie, Captain.”

“Neither do I.” He says, running a finger over my thigh.

“We can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“One, I don’t know you. Two, I will be killed if I am caught. Three, I am engaged.”

“Which of those bothers you the most?” He whispers.

“Being caught.” I stammer;  he is too close, too close.

“I won’t let you get caught.”

“We are leaning against my boundary walls.”

“Nobody has noticed though, have they?”

“Please,
” I tremble. “I can’t do any of this. I came out to prove a point.”

His finger inches further up my thigh and fire erupts between my legs. I ache for him to touch me, but I know it
i
s wrong. I shove his hand away. He leans over
and
I expect him to kiss me
;
instead he snatches my phone.

“What are you doing?” I demand.

He opens it and begins typing. “Putting in my number.”

“That’s not wise.”

His pocket vibrates and he pulls out his phone. “And now I have yours, cheers.”

“Give me that!” I cry, grasping my phone.

“Nope.”

“You
can’t just take my number.”

“Too late.”

“You don’t need it.”

“Yeah, I do.”

“I am not coming back, you just want to screw me. I refuse to let you.” I pout.

“Ok pretty girl.” He says in a tone that indicates he is speaking to a child.

“Stop doing that.”

“I want you to come back and see me.”

“You’re just a whore and pushy.”

He laughs. “I can’t deny that and I can’t deny that I am not thinking about fucking you
,
but you truly do interest me further than a bit of rough and tumble.”

“You’re a pig. What a line. I would like to hump you
,
but I want to talk first. Go to hell, I am not a skank. You my friend, are probably riddled with diseases. Just how many women have you screwed?”

“Enough.”

“I do
no
t want to sleep with some
one
and be number three thousand on the belt. Sorry, forget it.”

“I am a pirate, what do you expect?”

“Nothing more than you
a
re giving. I do
,
however, respect myself. I am going now, you
will not
see me again.”

“Yeah, I will. I
tempt
you too
;
you just won’t admit it.”

“I don’t know you.”

“You will.”

“Goodnight Jax.”

“Goodnight, princess.” He winks, before standing up and walking off.

CHAPTER 2

I crawl back to my room unnoticed and take off my clothes. My body tingles every time my hands
touch
it, god he has made me way too aroused tonight, I will not go back again. My phone vibrates and I open it.

Sleep tight pretty girl, I will see you soon.

As if! I slam
it closed. He will
go away eventually, I
am
forbidden fruit
to him. Nothing more. He will
be out screwing some
one
else tonight, no doubt. I fall asleep quickly and dream all night of that damn face with those damn eyes. When I wa
ke in the morning, I feel great. This wonderful
gift of mine makes it impossible
for me to feel pain or feel
unwe
ll for long
.
My phone beeps beside me and
I see it is Jax.
P
ersistent, isn’t he?

I am still thinking about you, did you have good dreams?

Go away.

Don’t be like that, are you coming to see me today?

Why on earth would I do that?

Coz I am sexy, remember?

Sexy or not, I am busy. And as I said, I am not interested in being a play thing.

I will play nice, come and see me.

Can’t.

Yeah you can.
Don’t you have
a m
oment
to spare before your affairs?

Stop it. Go play with some
one
else, I am sure it will help
.

Ok, have it your way. I will only a
ggravate
the crap out of you until you come back

What on earth for?

You made me feel good, not many do that. I enjoy you, come and talk with me.

I am sure you have plenty to make you feel good.

True, but you are actually worth having a conversation with.

Go play Jax.

See you later, darlin.

Or not.

You’re not a morning person huh?

I have a fiancé, what do you think he will do if he finds out? Hmm, can you take that?

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

I do
no
t even
dignify
that with a response, arrogant man. I dress and make my way down stairs, my parents are already at the breakfast table. I glare at them, just to show I am still angry.

“I see we are not over it.” My father says with a sharp look.

“No, I am not over it. What if I do
no
t want to get married and have kids?”