Free Perfect Strangers by Samantha LaCroix Page A

muttering. She felt herself being placed in a boat, the hard wooden plank beneath her swaying with the waves. Oars splashed the water and some number of minutes later she felt the bump as they reached the shore. She was lifted by her arms and made to walk God knows how far until finally she was shoved down roughly onto the ground, a man grunting violently overhead.
    A moment later the blindfold was taken off, but the hands that did it were gentler than before. Violet was lying down and she looked up at the man, Emmanuel, who was kneeling over her. A quick glance at the ocean sounds showed the pirate ship anchored half a league away.
    "Where am I?" Violet said, but Emmanuel put a finger to her lips, quieting her.
    "Shh," he said with a hushed voice. "We can't make much noise. I'm supposed to have concussed you."
    "Oh!" Violet gasped, putting a hand to her mouth. "But ... pirate, why haven't you?"
    "M'lady," Emmanuel answered, his gaze trained on her. "These past weeks you've been on board have been ... different for me. I can tell you I've been on this God-forsaken ship for too long, raped and pillaged more villages than I can count, have seen my own friends die by my ruthless hands. But in all that time, never before have I been shaken as much as when I first looked into your eyes."
    Violet was speechless. She had no idea that this pirate felt for her the same way that she felt for him! Every moment that she saw him she longed to feel him next to her, to know his rugged, manly body. But never in her life did she imagine that the feelings were mutual. And to find out now! Mere hours before her husband were to come to her rescue!
    "Pi- … Emmanuel," she began, but again he put a finger to her lips. She closed her eyes at his touch, savouring the sensation.
    "Please, m'lady," he told her. "There is nothing we can do right now, we have no time."
    He took the finger away and Violet opened her eyes.
    "Perhaps," he went on, "perhaps you will see me again. I do not know as of yet, it is too early to tell."
    "What are you saying?" she whispered to him.
    Suddenly a yell came from the ship: "Emmanuel! What is taking so long?"
    Emmanuel lifted his head at the sound, his lips pursed.
    "I must go," he said. "Lay here and wait for your man. He will come to your rescue."
    "I do not want to be rescued," Violet said. "Not from you."
    Emmanuel looked deep into Violet's eyes. Without another word he lowered his head and placed his lips upon hers, the two embracing for the first time. Violet felt his rough lips caress hers so sweetly, and when the yelling came again and he pulled away she felt a part of her being taken with him.
    "Fare thee well, m'lady," he said, and swiftly he turned and walked away, leaving her there alone.
    Violet lay down in the grass, her body weak from the night. She fell into an unrestful sleep, and now here she was, still in her husband's embrace. He slowly lifted her to a sitting position and held her at arm's length, looking her up and down.
    "My dear Violet, you look terrible. Tell me, did they do anything untoward? Did they violate you in any way?"
    Violet's mind fluttered for a second to her last moments with Emmanuel, the feeling of his kiss still lingering on her lips.
    "No," she said at last. "They did not a thing."
    "Good," the Lord Roland said. "Then we shan't have to attack them after all."
    ~~~
    Veronica heard Greg swearing loudly, her concentration being pulled from the story.
    "Greg?" she called into the kitchen. "Is everything all right?"
    "Yeah!" he called back. "I just burned myself, it's no problem."
    She hesitated. "Do you want some help?" she offered.
    "No, I've got it!" he called, and she let out her breath.
    Veronica went back to reading, engrossing herself in the story. In the kitchen, Greg finished making his meal -- Kraft macaroni and cheese -- and took it to the dining room table to eat. Veronica only half-listened to him eating in silence, and when he was finished he took the bowl back to the