Pirate Princess (24 page)

“I’m trying to show her as much as I can because she can only be out to sea for one year,” Finn said.

You can hear me too?

“How can you hear him?” I asked Finn.

“Well, your ring is sort of linked to me,” he admitted.

“You can hear my thoughts?” I asked in a gasp.

He smiled. “Maybe.”

“You lying, conniving, filthy, no good…”

Children, I may be immortal, but I don’t like my time being wasted.

“I apologize, great one. I will finish yelling at him later.” I said with a glare at Finn who looked pleased with himself.

You are here to see the volcanoes?

I nodded my head.

I will grant you passage for three days.

I curtsied while bowing my head and said, “Thank you for being so generous.”

Safe travels, Pirate Princess.

The dragon dropped back into the ocean and disappeared.

“Well, that was…interesting,” Finn said as he exhaled and ran a hand through his hair.

“Are we going forward?” someone asked from behind us.

“He said we can be here for three days and I would recommend that we don’t over stay our welcome. He isn’t mortal,” I explained while seething inside about the ring.

“Why could you hear him and none of us could?” Jon, his first mate, asked.

“Only royalty can hear the dragons,” I said, “Or at least that’s what he told me.” I shrugged. “I’ve never met a dragon before, so I don’t know if he is being truthful or not, but it doesn’t benefit him to lie so I believe him.”

“Let’s sail a little closer and then take the long boats to land,” Finn ordered.

“I cannot believe you didn’t tell me that you could hear my thoughts with this ring!” I yelled at him as he walked towards his cabin. “My thoughts are personal and I don’t like that you heard things that were not ever meant to be said.” I was incredibly embarrassed because it meant he heard everything I thought about him since I put the ring on. Finn walked into his cabin and I followed him in. “What do you have to say for yourself?” I asked him.

He hugged me and then kissed me deeply. “I’m sorry it upset you, but I won’t take it back. I needed to know how you really felt about me and I was able to know when you were in danger with it.”

“You knew I was Jax beforehand!” I said.

“Actually I didn’t,” he said with a frown, “I didn’t know until the festival.”

“But I thought about it a lot when I was with you,” I admitted.

He shrugged. “Maybe you were thinking about other things and it overwrote the rest.”

“Finn, it’s not fair that you can hear my thoughts,” I whispered.

“I knew you were going to say that,” he said, “so I had this as a backup.” He pulled out a ring from one of his drawers and said, “I swear on my flag that it’s a perfectly normal ring with no magical powers or abilities.”

I took off the ring on my finger and sighed. Despite it having been used for an ulterior purpose, the ring was beautiful and it was the first gift a man had given me, aside from my guardians. “Don’t lose this one.”

He put it with the hair clip of mine in his locked treasure display. “I won’t.”

“So, you know exactly how I feel about you,” I said, “but I don’t know how you feel about me.”

“Well you are stubborn, opinionated, brave, fierce, a very talented fighter, beautiful, kind, and forgiving,” he said, “And I fear I have fallen for you very quickly in a way that I may not recover from.”

“You’re just saying that because I saved your ship from a dragon,” I said in embarrassment.

“That is just another amazing feat to add to your list,” he said. “Now shut up and kiss me.”

I obeyed and leaned my head against his chest. “This has been a very eventful month,” I muttered. I was still mad at him, but I shoved those feelings aside. I wanted to experience as much as I could and stewing over his invasion of my thoughts would damage my fun.

“It definitely has. I cannot believe a girl almost won the festival,” he said with a snort.

“Next festival we will win it together,” I told him.

“Yes, that lock picking skill will come in very handy,” he said, “And we’ll have twice as much treasure since you won’t be hoarding it by yourself.”

“I could have stolen your treasure, you know?”

“I know and I am very happy that you did not.”

“I can’t believe I cut my uncle in a fight,” I said with a laugh.

“It was very impressive. I would have enjoyed it more if I wasn’t seething with anger and fearing for your safety,” he said.

“Whose idea was it to shoot the cannonballs?” I asked.

“Your dad’s. I think he just needed to shoot something,” he said with a laugh.

“He loves blowing things up,” I admitted.

“I think all men enjoy blowing things up,” Finn said with a laugh.

“Very true.”

“Am I forgiven?” Finn asked.

“No,” I said, “I’m still mad about the ring and no amount of kissing is going to make up for it.”

“What if I wear the ring for a while?” he offered, but I could see the hesitation and nervousness that offer made.

I wasn’t really sure I wanted to know everything he thought about. I was very curious, but also very nervous. “Three days,” I said.

“Three?” he asked.

“Yes. I wore it for two weeks,” I reminded him, “three days is a bargain.”

He sighed, took the ring back out and slipped it on. He waved his hand over my face and murmured something and then I could hear him.

This is not a good idea. I am going to have to try very hard to keep my thoughts in check.

“This is strange,” I whispered.

That’s an understatement.

“You will get used to it,” he whispered.

I kissed him and wrapped my arms around his back. I was still mad, but he was at least trying to make up for it.

Worth it. Everything was worth it to have her with me now. If only I had more than a year at sea with her. Although a year of sharing this cabin is going to be a lot of temptation.

“We should get out to the main deck and get ready to head to the island,” I said to stop his thought process.

“Are you blushing?” he asked with a smirk.

I quite enjoy making her blush. I’ll have to find what other things I can do that will make her blush. Perhaps if I do this…

He grabbed me and dipped me as if we were dancing and kissed me deeply.

Mm, I could do this all day.

“Finn, I want to see the volcanoes.”

“I know,” he mumbled, letting me stand upright again.

And in three days we will have plenty of down time to spend kissing.

He smirked at me and I knew he had thought that on purpose for me to hear. I blushed and he laughed triumphantly.

“You’re incorrigible.”

I walked out of the cabin, grabbed my mask as we went, and was happy to see the crew was ready.

I do enjoy watching her walk away.

“Finn,” I chastised, putting my mask on top of my head. I would only put it on if necessary. Otherwise, I would just keep it nearby and ready for use.

He shrugged. “I can’t help it.” Maybe hearing his thoughts wasn’t a good idea. “Tristan you’re in charge while we visit the island. Crew A you come with me and crew B you stay with Tristan.”

“You have two crews?” I asked him curiously.

“No, I split the crew into two groups so it would be easier to figure out who was going to land and who was staying on the boat. It is much easier than picking individuals or telling someone they have to stay,” he advised me.

And takes a lot less time and bickering and saves me a headache.

Half of his crew climbed into three small boats and Finn climbed down into the center boat. “Come on,” he called to me.

So I can watch that cute butt shake as you climb down the ladder.

“Next time I go first,” I mumbled in embarrassment. I climbed down the ladder quickly and when I jumped down the last few feet he caught my shoulders and smiled sweetly at me.

You’re so beautiful. How did I manage to get so lucky? How could a pirate be lucky enough to get a princess?

I kissed the tip of his nose and sat down so they could start rowing. Finn took one of the oars and rowed with his crew as we headed towards the island. I could see a giant mountain in the center and wondered if that was the volcano. What if it erupted while we were there? The island didn’t look very large when compared to the volcano and I had a feeling its eruption would cover the entire island.

Rowing towards the island to see a fiery volcano. Rowing towards the island to show her the volcano. Rowing towards the island to steal kisses by the volcano.

I looked up at Finn and he smirked at me as he rowed. He was singing in his head while rowing. Did he do that often? Did most men sing in their heads while doing tasks? I could hardly believe Faxon and Jared sang while riding and now Finn was singing in his head. Maybe all men sang in their heads or out loud when no one was there to listen.

Rowing while looking at a beautiful princess. Rowing and wishing I could hear her thoughts instead of her hearing mine. Rowing and thinking she makes a sexy recruit.

I opened my mouth to tell him I was not a recruit, but realized his crew couldn’t hear him and they would think I was crazy for randomly yelling that.

He smiled wide and I heard him laughing in his head. I stuck my tongue out at him.

You should do that again when we are on the beach and see what happens.

I blushed, sucked my tongue back in my mouth, and looked down. How could this man make me blush so much? I rarely blushed before!

Victory!

“Jerk,” I mumbled under my breath.

“What was that?” Darren asked, leaning towards me.

I shook my head and frowned at Finn who was very pleased with himself. I leaned over the side and peered at the ocean, trying to see fish or dolphins.

Don’t fall in. I don’t feel like getting wet. Although seeing you in wet clothes is a very good view. Maybe I’ll have Darren push you over just enough to get your shirt wet. That sounds like a brilliant plan.

I sat back up and glared at him. If Darren tried to push me over I would send him overboard instead. After what felt like hours, we finally made it to land. I jumped out into the water, the cold ocean coming up to my knees and splashing up to my waist, as I helped them push the boat up onto the shore.

I climbed out of the water to the warm beach and Finn frowned down at me. “You could have stayed in the boat until we reached dry land.”

“I’m part of the crew, not just a visitor, and I won’t be treated different,” I informed him.

I am definitely not treating you like the others or treating them like I treat you. I do not want to kiss them or do any of the other things I think about doing with you with them.

“Finn,” I gasped, blushing.

He kissed my cheek and took my hand. “What is that? Four times today already that I’ve succeeded in making you blush?”

If you heard my normal thoughts that I think when I know you aren’t listening you would probably faint as all the blood rushed from your head to your face. One of these days I’m going to show you just how lucky you are to be with me and how lucky I feel to be with you. I think hearing her say my name is going to… Crap, think bad thoughts. Blood, guts, warts, ugly men. Garret. Yes Garret is a terribly ugly man. There, that’s better. No more thoughts about stripping her down and…dammit.

“We should get going,” I said, hiding my face from him, “We only have three days here and I want to get the most out of them.”

“Good idea,” he mumbled. “Half come with me the rest of you make camp,” he ordered his men.

The men grumbled to each other as they tried to figure it out and then someone took out a coin and they started flipping the coin. “This is going to take them a while,” Finn advised me, “Let’s start walking. They know the way and can catch up to us.”

And I would prefer to be alone so I can steal kisses without their snickering or comments.

“It’s not stealing if I willingly give them to you or let you have them,” I reminded him. I took a deep breath and noted, “It’s rather hot here.”

“That is to be expected when there is boiling hot lava basically under our feet,” he said.

“What?!” I gasped.

He laughed. “Calm down.”
Hm, maybe I should make her afraid so she’ll have to hold on to me.

He led the way and I looked around at the large plants that grew taller than even the castle in the Capitol. Birds flew from tree to tree and called to each other in the strangest sounds I had ever heard. The birds had such vibrant colors that it looked like a painter had colored their feathers. Everything on the island was vibrant, even the plants were deeper colors and so much thicker than anything in the kingdom.

I should have eaten before we left. Now I’m hungry. I’m hungry for other things too. She is so sexy. Her nice tight butt and perfectly round…

“When will we eat?” I asked him, looking up at the leaves and branches overhead since yet again I was blushing. Is that all men thought about? How could they constantly think about…that?

“We’ll eat after I have shown you my favorite part about this island,” he said, seemingly oblivious to my uneasiness. “It isn’t too far.”

I debated asking him to take the ring off to save myself any more embarrassment, but I couldn’t let him know how I felt. Something large dropped out of the tree in front of us, right in our path.

Holy mother!

“What is it?” I asked nervously.

“Draw your sword and dagger,” he whispered, “and stay back”. He drew his sword and pushed me back with his hand.

I think that’s the biggest one I have ever seen! I didn’t know they grew that big! It’s got to be at least ten or twelve feet! If I don’t cut its head off it’ll likely squeeze my guts out. That wouldn’t be very appealing to her.

Whatever “it” was moved closer to Finn. Finn lunged forward, his sword slicing through the air. It flopped around in front of Finn and then something landed with a wet thud beside my foot. I looked down and if I had been a Blith girl I would have fainted or screamed. It was a head of a snake, but the snake’s head was bigger than my foot! The jaws snapped closed and I threw my dagger right through the top and bottom of its mouth so it couldn’t open again. I walked away quickly, trying to breathe normally and shook out my hands. I put my sword away and wanted to punch the tree beside me.