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fellowshippers2003-02-15 02:07 am
estelgreenleaf.livejournal.com) wrote in fellowshippers2003-02-15 02:07 am
Pirate Prince, Part 3
Title: Pirate Prince, Part 3
Author: Estella Greenleaf
Rating: R
Pairing: Viggo/Orli; Karl/David
Warning: Alternate Universe. Karl & Orli = pirates; Viggo & David= navy officers
A/N: Finally foreshadowing for Karl/David. Was going to write a longer chapter and include the whole K/D section here, but decided I must post on Valentine's Day, so that part is postponed to the next chapter.
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It had been over five years since Karl oversaw the pre-dawn drills and the preparation of their ship for the day. Ever since he made Orli his first-mate, he had trusted the younger man with this huge responsibility. Before the captain even stepped onto the deck, his first-mate would have ascertained that their ship was on course and ready for battle. In the three times that the ship encountered a Navy vessel, the Revenge was able to disable their enemies before they could even ascertain the pirate's identity. Orli had made certain that every single crewmember on duty knew what to do the moment a Navy ship was sighted. Within one minute, everyone was able to get to battle stations, eady to fire cannons at Karl's command.
Karl's rooms were next to Orli's, and from the sounds he heard throughout the night, he doubted that the younger man would be waking in time for the drills. In fact, he highly doubted if Orli would even be conscious after spending the night with Viggo. But no matter, Karl was determined to lighten his first-mate's workload to give him more time with his new lover. The captain would take a more active role in running the Revenge as he did five years ago before Orli took over most of his duties.
The pirate captain was surprised to find all hands already on deck, looking quizzically at each other, wondering where their first-mate was. As Karl walked into view, they stared openly at the blond man before glancing at each other again, wondering what was happening. "From now on, I will be conducting these drills in person. Tell me what Orli used to go through."
The crew was curious about the reason for their first-mate's absence, but they knew better than to ask about Orli's personal life. Even if Karl forgave their meddling, the younger man would not. And they knew not to get on Orli's bad side. "Captain, we gather at 4am each morning. First, we go to normal battle stations, then we go through each of the different scenarios where part of the ship is damaged. After that, we practice emergency repair skills. Lastly, we check each weapon on deck to ensure they are in prime condition."
It was Karl's turn to stare at his crew. His first-mate was a lot more thorough than he had ever been in these drills. But then, that was why he trusted the younger man so much. Orli was smarter and a lot more methodical than he was. Karl knew that if he wanted to, the younger pirate could have usurped the ship at any time. The crew probably would not even object to the change of command. After all, the captain trusted his first-mate explicitly when it came to planning their attacks and routes; which meant that Orli was effective in charge of the Revenge and their allies.
One would never think that the Dread Pirate Roberts had allies. And he did not, until five years ago. When Karl's original first-mate was killed in a raid, the captain decided he would promote his young protégé to that position. Orli was obviously more than capable of fulfilling the duties of his second-in-command. In order to do so, he had to overlook a lot of experienced sailors who had served under him for many years. Instead of suffering the envy of these men, Orli found an arrangement that benefited everyone. Both the younger man and Karl did not have an extravagant lifestyle. Most of the fortune they plundered over the years was unspent. With Karl's blessing, Orli invested all of it into purchasing a fleet of ships and hiring crews. Those qualified sailors who had served Karl loyally on the Revenge were given positions as captain in their fleet.
Each ship was given autonomy; each captain free to choose his own path without interference from Karl or Orli. All that was asked of them was the pledging of their allegiance to Karl. If the Revenge should ever need their help, they were honor-bound to offer assistance, regardless of the circumstances. This was how the Revenge slipped past the Navy spies so many times. All Orli needed to do was to send a message to one of their allies and asked their ships to pretend to be the Revenge.
Despite all of Orli's talents, the young man seemed happy just being Karl's loyal servant. The younger man had never demanded anything for himself from the captain, until last night, until Viggo. Karl had a feeling that things would change a lot now that Orli's heart belonged to another. He could only hope the rift between the Navy Officer and himself could be fixed. Things would get difficult for his young first-mate if his loyalty to Karl were pitted against his love for Viggo. Taking a deep breath to brace himself against whatever that lied ahead, the captain gave his orders, "Tomorrow, we will resume your normal drills. Today, we will only go to battle stations and check our weapons."
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David sat alone in his room, pondering their options. Since Viggo had not come back yet, he could assume the general was successful at seducing the young pirate. The question now became what they could do to cause disagreements between Roberts and his first-mate. The captain seemed willing to allow the younger man his 'perks', otherwise, he would not have spared them and taken them prisoner. That meant making Roberts jealous of Viggo was not an option. And unless the captain changed his mind and wanted to do something horrible to them, Orli would not act against the older man. After all, keeping them prisoner here was beneficial to the first-mate; he could have Viggo as long as they stayed on board.
All this put together meant there were only two alternatives. The first was to catch Orli unaware and use him as hostage to escape. This was feasible, but with the pirates outnumbering them significantly, the chances for success were minimal. The second was to provoke Roberts into doing something terrible to them, giving cause for Orli to rebel against his captain. The older pirate would likely have a very high tolerance for any of Viggo's misgivings. David could tell that Roberts cared deeply about Orli's happiness and would try his best not to harm the young man's lover. But David, now that was a different story. The tactician knew it would not be difficult for him to enrage the captain; he was the son of a hated enemy after all. The trick would be to bait Roberts into hurting him, but not provoke the pirate enough to kill him outright. The Naval Officer knew this would not be an easy task. Thinking that fresh air would help clear his mind, he yelled for the guards. Now was the time to test the limits of the pirates' generosity.
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Viggo opened his eyes to the sight of his young lover, sleeping peacefully, head resting on his chest, body snuggling tightly against his. Relaxed, trusting, face brightened with a gentle smile, the pirate resembled an innocent cherub in his slumber. Instinctively, the older man tightened his embrace, bringing Orlando closer, wanting to shield the sweet angel from all the cares of the world with his larger frame. The gentle movement elicited a soft sigh from the sleeping beauty; without opening his eyes, the young man shifted, burying his face in the cradle of Viggo's chest.
The older man could feel himself grew hard; but determined not to ruin the perfection of the moment, he decided to ignore the flesh that was demanding attention. As Orlando shifted again in his sleep, bringing his leg up to wrap around Viggo, the Naval Officer could not stifle the lustful groan escaping from his lips. Not wanting to wake his exhausted lover, the older man relinquished his hold on the young beauty's slender waist and began to stroke himself, attempting to alleviate the discomfort in his loins.
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Orlando was having a wonderful dream. In it, he was held and loved… wanted, despite the fact that he had been used and was no longer whole… protected, though he was deadly, more than capable of caring for himself… cherished, even though he was a pirate and a whore. He sighed with content as warmth enveloped him and made him feel complete. He moved to nuzzle closer, wanting more of this wonderful sensation and found himself rewarded with heat. The intense flames were so hot that it burnt him, yet so completely irresistible that he had to touch, drawn like a moth to the fire. Sweet little sounds of pleasure filled his senses as the fire engulfed him. He moved, wanting only to please this special person, the light guiding him out of darkness, the soothing balm of his scarred heart. In his dream, his lover shuddered and cried his name, surrendering to this intimacy they shared, surrendering to his love for Orlando. Perfect bliss… finally his in this dream that he wished would last forever.
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Viggo could not believed what had just happened. It was not the fact that the slumbering angel had brought him to completion without waking that shocked him; it was how he had surrendered to the pirate's touch that left him stunned. The older man had not realized how deeply he had allowed himself to care for the first-mate of the Revenge until now. It was one thing to bed Orlando; it was another to make love as they did the night before. He had plenty of experience in the pleasures of the flesh, but he had never trusted any of his previous lovers enough to lose control, to give in completely to the sensation of the moment…until last night….until Orlando.
This was not what Viggo intended. He remembered vowing not to touch the outlaw, not to feel anything more than contempt and wariness for the young beauty. How could he have succumbed so easily to Orli's charms? Whatever the reason, this could not continue; there would be no more intimacy of any sort and definitely no more caring for the pirate. Ashamed beyond words at his inexplicable behavior, the Naval Officer disentangled himself from his lover. Donning his uniform again as quickly as possible, Viggo stepped out of the young man's bedroom without a backwards glance. He marched back to his room without pause, ignoring the strange looks the guards gave him. Only when he was safely inside the confines of his makeshift prison did the officer allow his gaze to wander to the locked door, the barrier separating himself and the first-mate of the Revenge. He had made the mistake of crossing this boundary once; he could not afford to do it again. He knew now that his confused heart did not have the strength to repel the temptation that was Orli.
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Orlando's eyes fluttered open as the afternoon light flooded his room. Still disorientated from his slumber, he tried to cuddle closer to his lover's warmth only to find Viggo missing. Startled, the young pirate leapt to his feet to be unpleasantly surprised by the soreness following the night's activities. The older man was very well endowed; and though his lover had tried to be gentle, there were only so many times they could couple without hurting Orlando. While the ache was very pleasurable when lying in Viggo's arms, it seemed not so agreeable when the young man tried to move with his usual cat-like swiftness and grace.
Ignoring his own discomfort, the pirate dressed quickly and left his room in search of his missing lover. He knew the crew disliked the Naval Officer; though Orli knew they would probably not dare to hurt Viggo, he could not help being worried since fate always seemed to be against him in what should have been his finest hour. His first trip on an ocean-liner, a birthday present his father worked extra hard to pay for, was the last time he saw his beloved family alive, the beginning of his nightmare. And now, against all the odds, he had found the man he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He knew he did not deserve the Navy General, but Viggo seemed to genuinely return his feelings. He could stop being afraid that because of his 'curse', something bad would happen, taking Viggo away from him. Having tasted the sweetness of love, Orlando would rather die than return to his previous bleak existence. He would wrestle the Devil himself if that was what it would take to keep his beloved by his side.
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David did not mean to stare, but his eyes were captured the instant they discovered the handsome pirate at the bow of the ship. Wind-swept, shoulder length blond hair framed strong, chiseled features; stunning cobalt eyes surveyed the horizon as full, sensuous lips parted in a smile of satisfaction. The man seemed completely at ease with his surroundings, completely enamored with open sea. With velvety skin bronzed from years of sailing under the sun, his perfectly toned, muscular body on full display in his thin white linen shirt and tight blue breeches, the pirate was truly a sight to behold. Raw masculinity oozing from his every pore, everything about the outlaw spoke of strength and untamed power, much like the open seas that enthralled him. The tactician could not help wondering if his finger would burn if he dared to touch the bare skin on the pirate's chest. Even as David told himself to stop this inappropriate line of thought, reminding himself that he was the composed tactical advisor of the North Sea Fleet, he began to fantasize about how it would feel to be claimed by someone so wild and powerful.
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The day was going well. No Navy ships had managed to track them yet. Karl was certain once everyone in the fort became sober, they would realize what had happened and begin their pursuit. This time, the Navy would be more thorough and persistent than before as the Dread Pirate had not only murdered the governor, but also taken the highest officers of the North Sea Fleet hostage. Considering the gravity of the situation, the captain was glad they had not encountered any enemy vessels yet. Karl really wanted to speak with Orli on this; but he had a feeling the young man was still otherwise occupied. Besides, it was almost dusk and he was quite certain his first-mate would not miss dinner. After all, the young man had already missed the other two meals of the day; even newfound lovers needed to eat at some point. He would talk to Orli then.
As the captain turned, prepared to give his final orders before returning below deck, his eyes met with an intriguing figure standing in the shadows at the top of the stairs between the decks. Their gaze locked for a moment before the other man hastily reverted his eyes and fled back into the safety of bowels of the ship. Karl knew immediately that he was looking at David, the son of his hated enemy. Strange that he never noticed the other man was so handsome the night before.
Golden hair clipped short, inquisitive cerulean eyes, aristocratic features that spoke of sophistication and a muscular, athletic build to complete the package; the Naval Officer was indeed very attractive. But what interested the pirate most was the fire he saw in those thoughtful eyes. It seemed so at odds with the other man's personality; yet, Karl could not deny that it was there as their eyes met, flames burning so bright that the pirate could feel the responding heat rising in his own loins.
Karl told himself firmly to stop appraising the younger Naval Officer. David was the son of his enemy, not to mention someone who had killed one of his crew. He could not become attracted to the tactician in any way. The pirate was not in denial of his heart's desires; he knew he wanted David in bed, but he also knew the tactician would never care for him. He was responsible for the governor's death, though he did not pull the trigger himself. There was no way the Naval Officer would ever want him as a bed partner. And though a pirate, Karl was not without principles; he would never force himself upon someone, no matter how desirable the other man might be.
But given the look in the tactician's eyes earlier, there was a possibility that David would try to seduce him. If this were true, the other man would come to his bed 'willingly' as part of a scheme to escape or capture him. And there was no way Karl would be a participant in this degrading act. Even if David was his enemy, the pirate refused to be the one to take away the other man's dignity and turn him into a whore. Karl might be a killer and a thief, but he did not want any part in destroying people's principles and innocence. No one should ever have to go through the pain of being sexually used by another for a price. Regardless of the circumstances, David was out of his reach; and it would do much better to forget about his reaction to the young Naval Officer.
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"Did he tell you anything?" asked David as he sat down on the bed beside a brooding Viggo. He needed to forget about that dashing rogue on the deck earlier and focus on the task at hand. Something was wrong with his hero; he could feel it. The older man was usually pensive, but something was different tonight; Viggo's stillness seemed more stagnant, as if his friend was weighed down by something. This did not bode well for their plans; both of them needed to be alert and ready to act if they were to have a chance to defeat their enemies.
"Nothing useful. Just that Roberts is actually Karl, Prince of Ascensia, and your father murdered the entire Royal family," replied the older man dispassionately. Ever since he left his lover, he felt the weight of his conscience bearing down on him. He had no right to ask for Orli's trust; but the young man had given it to him all the same, no questions asked. And now, the guilt of failing his gullible lover was threatening to tear Viggo apart.
"I see. Do you think you can get him to tell you more? I need more information on Roberts. I need to find a way to provoke him into hurting us. That's the only way we can get Orli to fight him," asked the tactical advisor as he paced within the confines of their small room.
But before the older man could make his answer, a soft broken whisper interrupted their clandestine conference. "Viggo…."
Both officers turned towards the door to find the first-mate of the Revenge standing there. The young man had heard everything they said. Viggo could feel his chest constrict as he realized the implications. Orli must be thinking that the older man bedded him for information; that Viggo's actions earlier were all a ploy to exploit his feelings. The Naval Officer wanted to go to his lover's side, to explain everything, to beg for forgiveness; but he was frozen in place by the controlled, detached mask on the beauty's face. Only Orlando's expressive chocolate eyes showed his true emotions, a pain so deep that made Viggo wanted to shoot himself for being the cause of it. "Was it all an act?"
It seemed an eternity before Viggo found his tongue. "No, I….." The older man stopped. He wanted to say he loved Orlando; but he knew he could not. His duty to the Navy and his country would not allow it. Besides, how could he possibly love the young man when they only met less than a day ago? It was desire, not love. Taking a deep breath as if convincing himself that he spoke the truth, he finished his statement, "I wanted you."
"I see" was the Orlando's curt reply as he locked eyes one last time with the one he loved. Viggo's grey-blue eyes no longer held tenderness, only icy resolve, telling the younger man things were over between them. No, it was worse than that; the Naval Officer's gaze was so cold that Orlando wondered if the warmth last night was just a figment of his imagination, the romantic in him seeing only what he wanted to see. Blinking to fight the onslaught of tears, Orli spoke again in a deadpan voice, a perfect match for the expressionless mask he wore, "I will ask the guards to bring your food."
The door was gently shut again, leaving the two Naval Officers alone in the gloom of their room. This was what Viggo wanted, to not be involved with the young pirate. Yet, as he stared at the locked door, he knew he had never felt such deep agony, as if his heart had been ripped from his chest, leaving only a gaping hole where the precious organ once beat.
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David was worried about his friend. Viggo was not well; the older man had barely eaten or slept ever since Orli walked out of their room three days ago. All he did was stare at the door with so much sadness in his eyes that it hurt to look at him. The tactical advisor now realized his own error; Viggo had never intended to just bed the beautiful young pirate; the older man was in love. Everything Viggo did that night with Orlando, he had done out of love, even if the General would not admit it to himself. If David had not been so blind to his hero's true feelings, he would not have discussed the couple's relationship as if the young pirate was nothing more than a pawn in their game against the Dread Pirate Roberts. But because of his folly, Orli now believed Viggo was only using him for sex and information, that the older man cared nothing for him.
David felt responsible for his savior's heartbreak. He could not stand and watch this pain ate at Viggo any longer. Soon, there would be nothing left of the older man but an empty husk. Viggo saved his life once; David would now repay the favor. He knew that despite what happened, the first-mate was still in love with Viggo. Orli's affections were what kept them alive all this time. This meant that there was still hope; that there was some way he could fix this.
David considered seeking the young man out to explain everything. But the tactician knew the pirate had no reason to trust him. His words would be wasted. There was only one person on this ship that Orli trusted - the 'Dread Pirate Roberts'. Only the captain of the Revenge could talk the young beauty into speaking with Viggo again. The younger Naval Officer knew 'Roberts' had nothing but hatred for him; but he would give anything to see Viggo happy again. He would pay the 'Dread Pirate' a visit; he would secure the captain's help even if the price were his soul.
Author: Estella Greenleaf
Rating: R
Pairing: Viggo/Orli; Karl/David
Warning: Alternate Universe. Karl & Orli = pirates; Viggo & David= navy officers
A/N: Finally foreshadowing for Karl/David. Was going to write a longer chapter and include the whole K/D section here, but decided I must post on Valentine's Day, so that part is postponed to the next chapter.
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It had been over five years since Karl oversaw the pre-dawn drills and the preparation of their ship for the day. Ever since he made Orli his first-mate, he had trusted the younger man with this huge responsibility. Before the captain even stepped onto the deck, his first-mate would have ascertained that their ship was on course and ready for battle. In the three times that the ship encountered a Navy vessel, the Revenge was able to disable their enemies before they could even ascertain the pirate's identity. Orli had made certain that every single crewmember on duty knew what to do the moment a Navy ship was sighted. Within one minute, everyone was able to get to battle stations, eady to fire cannons at Karl's command.
Karl's rooms were next to Orli's, and from the sounds he heard throughout the night, he doubted that the younger man would be waking in time for the drills. In fact, he highly doubted if Orli would even be conscious after spending the night with Viggo. But no matter, Karl was determined to lighten his first-mate's workload to give him more time with his new lover. The captain would take a more active role in running the Revenge as he did five years ago before Orli took over most of his duties.
The pirate captain was surprised to find all hands already on deck, looking quizzically at each other, wondering where their first-mate was. As Karl walked into view, they stared openly at the blond man before glancing at each other again, wondering what was happening. "From now on, I will be conducting these drills in person. Tell me what Orli used to go through."
The crew was curious about the reason for their first-mate's absence, but they knew better than to ask about Orli's personal life. Even if Karl forgave their meddling, the younger man would not. And they knew not to get on Orli's bad side. "Captain, we gather at 4am each morning. First, we go to normal battle stations, then we go through each of the different scenarios where part of the ship is damaged. After that, we practice emergency repair skills. Lastly, we check each weapon on deck to ensure they are in prime condition."
It was Karl's turn to stare at his crew. His first-mate was a lot more thorough than he had ever been in these drills. But then, that was why he trusted the younger man so much. Orli was smarter and a lot more methodical than he was. Karl knew that if he wanted to, the younger pirate could have usurped the ship at any time. The crew probably would not even object to the change of command. After all, the captain trusted his first-mate explicitly when it came to planning their attacks and routes; which meant that Orli was effective in charge of the Revenge and their allies.
One would never think that the Dread Pirate Roberts had allies. And he did not, until five years ago. When Karl's original first-mate was killed in a raid, the captain decided he would promote his young protégé to that position. Orli was obviously more than capable of fulfilling the duties of his second-in-command. In order to do so, he had to overlook a lot of experienced sailors who had served under him for many years. Instead of suffering the envy of these men, Orli found an arrangement that benefited everyone. Both the younger man and Karl did not have an extravagant lifestyle. Most of the fortune they plundered over the years was unspent. With Karl's blessing, Orli invested all of it into purchasing a fleet of ships and hiring crews. Those qualified sailors who had served Karl loyally on the Revenge were given positions as captain in their fleet.
Each ship was given autonomy; each captain free to choose his own path without interference from Karl or Orli. All that was asked of them was the pledging of their allegiance to Karl. If the Revenge should ever need their help, they were honor-bound to offer assistance, regardless of the circumstances. This was how the Revenge slipped past the Navy spies so many times. All Orli needed to do was to send a message to one of their allies and asked their ships to pretend to be the Revenge.
Despite all of Orli's talents, the young man seemed happy just being Karl's loyal servant. The younger man had never demanded anything for himself from the captain, until last night, until Viggo. Karl had a feeling that things would change a lot now that Orli's heart belonged to another. He could only hope the rift between the Navy Officer and himself could be fixed. Things would get difficult for his young first-mate if his loyalty to Karl were pitted against his love for Viggo. Taking a deep breath to brace himself against whatever that lied ahead, the captain gave his orders, "Tomorrow, we will resume your normal drills. Today, we will only go to battle stations and check our weapons."
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David sat alone in his room, pondering their options. Since Viggo had not come back yet, he could assume the general was successful at seducing the young pirate. The question now became what they could do to cause disagreements between Roberts and his first-mate. The captain seemed willing to allow the younger man his 'perks', otherwise, he would not have spared them and taken them prisoner. That meant making Roberts jealous of Viggo was not an option. And unless the captain changed his mind and wanted to do something horrible to them, Orli would not act against the older man. After all, keeping them prisoner here was beneficial to the first-mate; he could have Viggo as long as they stayed on board.
All this put together meant there were only two alternatives. The first was to catch Orli unaware and use him as hostage to escape. This was feasible, but with the pirates outnumbering them significantly, the chances for success were minimal. The second was to provoke Roberts into doing something terrible to them, giving cause for Orli to rebel against his captain. The older pirate would likely have a very high tolerance for any of Viggo's misgivings. David could tell that Roberts cared deeply about Orli's happiness and would try his best not to harm the young man's lover. But David, now that was a different story. The tactician knew it would not be difficult for him to enrage the captain; he was the son of a hated enemy after all. The trick would be to bait Roberts into hurting him, but not provoke the pirate enough to kill him outright. The Naval Officer knew this would not be an easy task. Thinking that fresh air would help clear his mind, he yelled for the guards. Now was the time to test the limits of the pirates' generosity.
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Viggo opened his eyes to the sight of his young lover, sleeping peacefully, head resting on his chest, body snuggling tightly against his. Relaxed, trusting, face brightened with a gentle smile, the pirate resembled an innocent cherub in his slumber. Instinctively, the older man tightened his embrace, bringing Orlando closer, wanting to shield the sweet angel from all the cares of the world with his larger frame. The gentle movement elicited a soft sigh from the sleeping beauty; without opening his eyes, the young man shifted, burying his face in the cradle of Viggo's chest.
The older man could feel himself grew hard; but determined not to ruin the perfection of the moment, he decided to ignore the flesh that was demanding attention. As Orlando shifted again in his sleep, bringing his leg up to wrap around Viggo, the Naval Officer could not stifle the lustful groan escaping from his lips. Not wanting to wake his exhausted lover, the older man relinquished his hold on the young beauty's slender waist and began to stroke himself, attempting to alleviate the discomfort in his loins.
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Orlando was having a wonderful dream. In it, he was held and loved… wanted, despite the fact that he had been used and was no longer whole… protected, though he was deadly, more than capable of caring for himself… cherished, even though he was a pirate and a whore. He sighed with content as warmth enveloped him and made him feel complete. He moved to nuzzle closer, wanting more of this wonderful sensation and found himself rewarded with heat. The intense flames were so hot that it burnt him, yet so completely irresistible that he had to touch, drawn like a moth to the fire. Sweet little sounds of pleasure filled his senses as the fire engulfed him. He moved, wanting only to please this special person, the light guiding him out of darkness, the soothing balm of his scarred heart. In his dream, his lover shuddered and cried his name, surrendering to this intimacy they shared, surrendering to his love for Orlando. Perfect bliss… finally his in this dream that he wished would last forever.
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Viggo could not believed what had just happened. It was not the fact that the slumbering angel had brought him to completion without waking that shocked him; it was how he had surrendered to the pirate's touch that left him stunned. The older man had not realized how deeply he had allowed himself to care for the first-mate of the Revenge until now. It was one thing to bed Orlando; it was another to make love as they did the night before. He had plenty of experience in the pleasures of the flesh, but he had never trusted any of his previous lovers enough to lose control, to give in completely to the sensation of the moment…until last night….until Orlando.
This was not what Viggo intended. He remembered vowing not to touch the outlaw, not to feel anything more than contempt and wariness for the young beauty. How could he have succumbed so easily to Orli's charms? Whatever the reason, this could not continue; there would be no more intimacy of any sort and definitely no more caring for the pirate. Ashamed beyond words at his inexplicable behavior, the Naval Officer disentangled himself from his lover. Donning his uniform again as quickly as possible, Viggo stepped out of the young man's bedroom without a backwards glance. He marched back to his room without pause, ignoring the strange looks the guards gave him. Only when he was safely inside the confines of his makeshift prison did the officer allow his gaze to wander to the locked door, the barrier separating himself and the first-mate of the Revenge. He had made the mistake of crossing this boundary once; he could not afford to do it again. He knew now that his confused heart did not have the strength to repel the temptation that was Orli.
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Orlando's eyes fluttered open as the afternoon light flooded his room. Still disorientated from his slumber, he tried to cuddle closer to his lover's warmth only to find Viggo missing. Startled, the young pirate leapt to his feet to be unpleasantly surprised by the soreness following the night's activities. The older man was very well endowed; and though his lover had tried to be gentle, there were only so many times they could couple without hurting Orlando. While the ache was very pleasurable when lying in Viggo's arms, it seemed not so agreeable when the young man tried to move with his usual cat-like swiftness and grace.
Ignoring his own discomfort, the pirate dressed quickly and left his room in search of his missing lover. He knew the crew disliked the Naval Officer; though Orli knew they would probably not dare to hurt Viggo, he could not help being worried since fate always seemed to be against him in what should have been his finest hour. His first trip on an ocean-liner, a birthday present his father worked extra hard to pay for, was the last time he saw his beloved family alive, the beginning of his nightmare. And now, against all the odds, he had found the man he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He knew he did not deserve the Navy General, but Viggo seemed to genuinely return his feelings. He could stop being afraid that because of his 'curse', something bad would happen, taking Viggo away from him. Having tasted the sweetness of love, Orlando would rather die than return to his previous bleak existence. He would wrestle the Devil himself if that was what it would take to keep his beloved by his side.
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David did not mean to stare, but his eyes were captured the instant they discovered the handsome pirate at the bow of the ship. Wind-swept, shoulder length blond hair framed strong, chiseled features; stunning cobalt eyes surveyed the horizon as full, sensuous lips parted in a smile of satisfaction. The man seemed completely at ease with his surroundings, completely enamored with open sea. With velvety skin bronzed from years of sailing under the sun, his perfectly toned, muscular body on full display in his thin white linen shirt and tight blue breeches, the pirate was truly a sight to behold. Raw masculinity oozing from his every pore, everything about the outlaw spoke of strength and untamed power, much like the open seas that enthralled him. The tactician could not help wondering if his finger would burn if he dared to touch the bare skin on the pirate's chest. Even as David told himself to stop this inappropriate line of thought, reminding himself that he was the composed tactical advisor of the North Sea Fleet, he began to fantasize about how it would feel to be claimed by someone so wild and powerful.
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The day was going well. No Navy ships had managed to track them yet. Karl was certain once everyone in the fort became sober, they would realize what had happened and begin their pursuit. This time, the Navy would be more thorough and persistent than before as the Dread Pirate had not only murdered the governor, but also taken the highest officers of the North Sea Fleet hostage. Considering the gravity of the situation, the captain was glad they had not encountered any enemy vessels yet. Karl really wanted to speak with Orli on this; but he had a feeling the young man was still otherwise occupied. Besides, it was almost dusk and he was quite certain his first-mate would not miss dinner. After all, the young man had already missed the other two meals of the day; even newfound lovers needed to eat at some point. He would talk to Orli then.
As the captain turned, prepared to give his final orders before returning below deck, his eyes met with an intriguing figure standing in the shadows at the top of the stairs between the decks. Their gaze locked for a moment before the other man hastily reverted his eyes and fled back into the safety of bowels of the ship. Karl knew immediately that he was looking at David, the son of his hated enemy. Strange that he never noticed the other man was so handsome the night before.
Golden hair clipped short, inquisitive cerulean eyes, aristocratic features that spoke of sophistication and a muscular, athletic build to complete the package; the Naval Officer was indeed very attractive. But what interested the pirate most was the fire he saw in those thoughtful eyes. It seemed so at odds with the other man's personality; yet, Karl could not deny that it was there as their eyes met, flames burning so bright that the pirate could feel the responding heat rising in his own loins.
Karl told himself firmly to stop appraising the younger Naval Officer. David was the son of his enemy, not to mention someone who had killed one of his crew. He could not become attracted to the tactician in any way. The pirate was not in denial of his heart's desires; he knew he wanted David in bed, but he also knew the tactician would never care for him. He was responsible for the governor's death, though he did not pull the trigger himself. There was no way the Naval Officer would ever want him as a bed partner. And though a pirate, Karl was not without principles; he would never force himself upon someone, no matter how desirable the other man might be.
But given the look in the tactician's eyes earlier, there was a possibility that David would try to seduce him. If this were true, the other man would come to his bed 'willingly' as part of a scheme to escape or capture him. And there was no way Karl would be a participant in this degrading act. Even if David was his enemy, the pirate refused to be the one to take away the other man's dignity and turn him into a whore. Karl might be a killer and a thief, but he did not want any part in destroying people's principles and innocence. No one should ever have to go through the pain of being sexually used by another for a price. Regardless of the circumstances, David was out of his reach; and it would do much better to forget about his reaction to the young Naval Officer.
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"Did he tell you anything?" asked David as he sat down on the bed beside a brooding Viggo. He needed to forget about that dashing rogue on the deck earlier and focus on the task at hand. Something was wrong with his hero; he could feel it. The older man was usually pensive, but something was different tonight; Viggo's stillness seemed more stagnant, as if his friend was weighed down by something. This did not bode well for their plans; both of them needed to be alert and ready to act if they were to have a chance to defeat their enemies.
"Nothing useful. Just that Roberts is actually Karl, Prince of Ascensia, and your father murdered the entire Royal family," replied the older man dispassionately. Ever since he left his lover, he felt the weight of his conscience bearing down on him. He had no right to ask for Orli's trust; but the young man had given it to him all the same, no questions asked. And now, the guilt of failing his gullible lover was threatening to tear Viggo apart.
"I see. Do you think you can get him to tell you more? I need more information on Roberts. I need to find a way to provoke him into hurting us. That's the only way we can get Orli to fight him," asked the tactical advisor as he paced within the confines of their small room.
But before the older man could make his answer, a soft broken whisper interrupted their clandestine conference. "Viggo…."
Both officers turned towards the door to find the first-mate of the Revenge standing there. The young man had heard everything they said. Viggo could feel his chest constrict as he realized the implications. Orli must be thinking that the older man bedded him for information; that Viggo's actions earlier were all a ploy to exploit his feelings. The Naval Officer wanted to go to his lover's side, to explain everything, to beg for forgiveness; but he was frozen in place by the controlled, detached mask on the beauty's face. Only Orlando's expressive chocolate eyes showed his true emotions, a pain so deep that made Viggo wanted to shoot himself for being the cause of it. "Was it all an act?"
It seemed an eternity before Viggo found his tongue. "No, I….." The older man stopped. He wanted to say he loved Orlando; but he knew he could not. His duty to the Navy and his country would not allow it. Besides, how could he possibly love the young man when they only met less than a day ago? It was desire, not love. Taking a deep breath as if convincing himself that he spoke the truth, he finished his statement, "I wanted you."
"I see" was the Orlando's curt reply as he locked eyes one last time with the one he loved. Viggo's grey-blue eyes no longer held tenderness, only icy resolve, telling the younger man things were over between them. No, it was worse than that; the Naval Officer's gaze was so cold that Orlando wondered if the warmth last night was just a figment of his imagination, the romantic in him seeing only what he wanted to see. Blinking to fight the onslaught of tears, Orli spoke again in a deadpan voice, a perfect match for the expressionless mask he wore, "I will ask the guards to bring your food."
The door was gently shut again, leaving the two Naval Officers alone in the gloom of their room. This was what Viggo wanted, to not be involved with the young pirate. Yet, as he stared at the locked door, he knew he had never felt such deep agony, as if his heart had been ripped from his chest, leaving only a gaping hole where the precious organ once beat.
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David was worried about his friend. Viggo was not well; the older man had barely eaten or slept ever since Orli walked out of their room three days ago. All he did was stare at the door with so much sadness in his eyes that it hurt to look at him. The tactical advisor now realized his own error; Viggo had never intended to just bed the beautiful young pirate; the older man was in love. Everything Viggo did that night with Orlando, he had done out of love, even if the General would not admit it to himself. If David had not been so blind to his hero's true feelings, he would not have discussed the couple's relationship as if the young pirate was nothing more than a pawn in their game against the Dread Pirate Roberts. But because of his folly, Orli now believed Viggo was only using him for sex and information, that the older man cared nothing for him.
David felt responsible for his savior's heartbreak. He could not stand and watch this pain ate at Viggo any longer. Soon, there would be nothing left of the older man but an empty husk. Viggo saved his life once; David would now repay the favor. He knew that despite what happened, the first-mate was still in love with Viggo. Orli's affections were what kept them alive all this time. This meant that there was still hope; that there was some way he could fix this.
David considered seeking the young man out to explain everything. But the tactician knew the pirate had no reason to trust him. His words would be wasted. There was only one person on this ship that Orli trusted - the 'Dread Pirate Roberts'. Only the captain of the Revenge could talk the young beauty into speaking with Viggo again. The younger Naval Officer knew 'Roberts' had nothing but hatred for him; but he would give anything to see Viggo happy again. He would pay the 'Dread Pirate' a visit; he would secure the captain's help even if the price were his soul.
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he had never trusted any of his previous lovers enough to lose control, to give in completely to the sensation of the moment…until last night….until Orlando.
This line made me hold my breath and go all dreamy-eyed...
Can hardly wait to read more. :-)
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