Enslaved By The Ocean (12 page)

GG chuckles. “There ain’t nothin’ fictional about us, Indi girl.”
 

“Okay, so…is there like some big story behind it? Your papa’s granddaddy was a pirate…it’s in your blood…”
 

They all shake their heads.
 

“Ain’t no different to a motorcycle club on the land. We’re like them, but ocean-style.”
 

“The rebels of the ocean.” I grin.
 

Jock laughs. “Exactly. We just do our business out here. Less laws.”
 

“Smart thinking, ninety-nine.”
 

GG snorts, and hands me the bottle of rum again. I take it, swallowing it far easier this time around.
 

“How long have you been with Hendrix, then?” I say, leaning back and feeling myself sway.
 

“Ten years, maybe more,” GG says.
 

“That’s a long time. You are all older than him. Isn’t that weird?”
 

“Hendrix started his own crew, and he gave us all freedom by taking us on. We all have our own problems, our own secrets, and he lets us escape them. Young or not, he gave us something we couldn’t find on the shore.”
 

They make a valid point.
 

“So, do you, like, talk pirate?”
 

GG raises his brows. “No, love.”
 

“Well that’s no fun. I think I need to introduce that to ye scallywags.”
 

They all burst out laughing.
 

“I see you decided to join in like I suggested,” comes a husky, sexy voice from behind me. Oh damn.
 

I turn and grin up at Hendrix. “Aye cap’n, I took ye advice and joined in this party.”
 

He raises his brows. “Seriously?”
 

“Arrrr, seriously.”
 

GG laughs so hard he snorts, and that gets Jock going.
 

Hendrix raises his brows at me, and oh, he
’s so
gorgeous standing there, looking down at me. His dark hair is all ruffled, and I want to put my fingers in it and tug, I want to hear him growl. He’s so damned yummy; it’s rude to be that perfect.
 

“Have you been drinking?”
 

“Arrrrr, I have had a clap of thunder or two with these scallywags. And they haven’t yet drawn their cutthroats and sent me down to Davy Jones’ locker.”
 

Hendrix’s lips twitch, and my heart swells. Maybe Jess is right. Maybe there is a chance of changing his mind. Jock is laughing so hard he falls off the back of his chair, and it smashes loudly onto the ground. I watch as another group of pirates come into the room, the group that bothered me up on deck. They stare over at me, then at the men laughing, and their expressions seem to soften. Drake notices me, and I watch his eyes light up. I wave to him like a crazy lunatic.
 

“Hey Drake!”
 

Hendrix turns and stares at Drake, then turns back to me.
 

“I’m guessing dinner will be a good thing
. Yo
u’ve had far too much to drink.”
 

“Nay, cap’n. I am just getting started. Ahoy!”
 

He shakes his head, and pulls out a cigarette, lighting it. He turns and walks over to the large table at the back of the room, and he sits down at it. A moment later, Senny saunters in, wearing a pair of too tight jeans and a top that has her breasts overflowing. I watch as she slides onto the table in front of Hendrix, and says something that has him chuckling. Oh lordy, when he smiles, he has these killer dimples. My heart begins thumping, and my head spins, giving me a light airy feeling.
 

“Is there any music on this here ship?” I say, turning back to the guys.
 

GG nods, and stands, walking over to a large stereo in the corner. He flicks it on, and moments later, some ridiculous seventies music comes blaring out. I raise my brows, horrified.
 

“Seriously, seventies?”
 

GG shrugs. “It’s the radio, Indi girl. We don’t control it.”
 

“Boo!”
 

I stand and walk toward the door. I really need to pee.
 

“Going already?” Hendrix says, just as I reach it.
 

I turn, meeting his gaze dead on. “Oh, I’ll be back, don’t you worry your pretty head about that.”
 

His lips twitch again.
 

I’m softening the shell….
 

I stumble out the door and down the hall until I find Hendrix’s room. I walk in, hitting four walls before reaching the bathroom. When I’m done, I wash my hands and head back out to see Drake standing at the door. He smiles at me.
 

“The boss man sent you to make sure I didn’t drop over the side of the ship.” I smirk.
 

Drake walks over, hooking his arm through mine. “Yeah, something like that.”
 

“Well then, Drakey-boy, let’s get this party started. Do you want to hear a joke?”
 

He snorts. “Not really.”
 

“I’m telling you anyway. Why can’t
a
pirate watch a horror film?”
 

He shakes his head, smirking. “You’re about to tell me.”
 

“Because it’s rated ARRRRRRR!”
 

He chuckles. “That’s the worst pirate joke I’ve ever heard.”
 

“Oh, oh, oh, I have another one. Why are pirates awesome?”
 

He doesn’t answer; he just shrugs.
 

“They just ARRRRR!”
 

Laughing, we walk back to the dining room. When we step in, Hendrix appears in front of us. “She causing problems, buddy?” he asks Drake.
 

“If you call bad pirate jokes problems, then sure.”
 

Hendrix raises his brows at me. “Bad jokes, eh?”
 

“You want to hear one?” I cry, removing my arm from Drake’s and putting it through Hendrix’s. He stiffens, like he’s shocked, but I don’t give him a chance to react.
 

We join the other guys, and I sit in the middle on the floor. GG hands me another shot, and I clap my hands together, shooting it back before beginning my jokes again.
 

“You boys want to hear the best joke?”
 

GG nods,
chuckling
“Go on, hit us with your best shot.”
 

“Why do pirates wear eye patches?”
 

GG shrugs.
 

“Because they can’t afford iPads!”
 

GG snorts and Drake chuckles.
 

“That the best you got,
inocencia
?
”
Hendrix purrs.
 

I crack my knuckles. “I’m just getting started, pirate. Why did the pirate go on vacation? He needed some ARRRR and ARRRR!”
 

Hendrix rolls his eyes.
 

“I’ll make you laugh, pirate,” I vow. I wiggle on the floor, and cross my legs. “What’s a pirate’s favorite doll?”
 

Hendrix’s eyes are dancing with amusement as he shrugs.
 

“A BARRRRBIE!”
 

He snorts, and a lazy half grin appears on his face.
 

It’s working.
 

We’re bonding.
 

“Oh my God!” I squeal, standing and spinning in a big circle. I am so drunk I can’t see straight, but I haven’t had so much fun in years.
 

I shouldn’t be having fun, this I know, but I have to believe there is hope for me if I get to know the crew. Maybe Hendrix will change his mind. Maybe he’ll let me go, or hell, keep me here. I’d rather spend my life here than as someone’s slave. I have better chance of escape
 

“I love this song!”
 

I spin in the middle of the dining room while the rest of the crew eat. I dance and twirl, completely oblivious to the people around me. I’m having the time of my life. I begin singing at the top of my lungs, waving my hands around. I spin too
fast
and trip, landing on my ass so hard I bellow a curse and fall backwards, flopping onto the floor like the tragic drunk girl I am. We girls
are really classy drunks.
 

“Think it’s time for you to go to bed,” Hendrix says, suddenly appearing above me.
 

“You’re beautiful, do you know that? Oh yes you ARRRRRRR,” I slur, squinting my eyes and taking him in. “Ohhh, so beautiful.”
 

He shakes his head and leans down, wrapping his fingers around my arms and pulling me up with one quick movement.
 

“You’re drunk, come on, before you hurt yourself.”
 

“Would you save me, c…c…c…cap’n?” I chuckle.
 

“Unlikely, you’re a messy drunk.”
 

“Dance with me, buccaneer?” I giggle, spinning and wrapping my arms around him. He stiffens, and reaches back, gripping my hands and leaning down close.
 

“No, now come on, quit while you’re ahead.”
 

“Fun spoiler.”
 

He gives me a look, and then turns us both and leads me out of the dining room. I can’t lie and say I don’t enjoy the feeling of having his arms around me, drunk or not. When we get to his room, he walks me in and takes me over to the sofa, gently dropping me down. I flop back, giggling.
 

“Were you impressed by my pirate jokes?” I grin.
 

He grins at me. “You should have been a comedian, now go to bed.”
 

“I don’t want to. This might be the last night of fun I’ll ever have.”
 

His eyes grow serious, and he stares down at me. “Sleep,
inocencia
.”
 

I shake my head, and lean back, staring up at him. “How did you become a pirate?”
 

He tilts his head to the side, and watches me for a moment, before pulling out a flask and taking a swig.
 

“I got tangled up in some bullshit when I was fifteen,
I had some things go down and eventually, when I was about twenty-five, I started forming a crew
. Being out on the ocean away from it all, it made me feel free. I
also
realized running illegal stuff was easier out here, and so here we are.”
 

“And it’s okay with you, to live a life on a ship?”
 

“A life is only as good as you make it.”
 

“So wise.” I giggle.
 

He shakes his head,
digging around in his pockets until he finds a cigarette. He lights it,
bringing
it to
his lips and inhaling. Why does he look so good when he does that?
 

“You need to get some rest,” he says when he lowers it.
 

He stubs it out on the ashtray sitting on the coffee table, and then he turns and goes to walk out.
 

“The scars are from him,” I blurt out.
 

He stops and turns, staring down at me.
 

“How long?”
 

I know what he’s asking. How long was he beating me?
 

“Over two years.”
 

“He got charged?”
 

“Yes,” I hiccup. “After I shot him. He threatened me when he got out, so I got on a yacht and ran…and here I am.”
 

Hendrix stares at me, his eyes holding an expression my drunken mind can’t read. “And he’s after you?”
 

I shrug. “I don’t know. If he is, he won’t find me here.”
 

He makes a grunting sound, and then goes to turn again.
 

“Hendrix?” I call, my voice loud and high-pitched.
 

He turns again.
 

“I don’t think you’re as bad as you think you are.”
 

His eyes search my face, and his jaw flexes. “You don’t know me.”
 

“Would you let me know you?”
 

He studies my face, and then turns and walks to the door. Just before he gets to it, he murmurs, “No,” and then he steps out and closes it behind him.
 

Well, he can “no” me all he likes.
 

I’m not giving up.
 

Shiver me timbers!
 

**
 

I blink, and my head spins. It’s dark and I can’t see a thing. I need to pee, but the idea of getting off this sofa is really not appealing. I manage to struggle up into a sitting position, and I try to reach forward for the coffee table. I reach too far in the wrong direction, and end up crashing onto the ground with a loud squeal. I fumble around on the floor. Goddammit, I can’t see. My head is still spinning and I am disorientated. I pat the ground, trying to find something to give me an indication of where I am.
 

I touch a set of feet.
 

Oh.
 

Hendrix.
 

If I wasn’t drunk, I’m sure I wouldn’t have done what I do next, but I am drunk, so I blame that. I reach up, as if going for his hand, only to grab his cock. I literally grip hold of it, and wrap my fingers around it. He hisses, I realize what I’ve done and squeal, and I launch myself backwards, landing against the coffee table with a cry. Hendrix is there in a second, lifting me into the air. I lose my footing and fall into him, wrapping my fingers around his arms.
 

I stop breathing.
 

I’m almost sure he does, too.