The Dubious Heir Read online

  Most times a merchant ship would let them board and take their plunder uninhibited. Her Pop’s reputation from his younger years was known from one captain to the next. The flag that was flown from the mast was his signature. No one ever was hurt and the merchant was allowed to keep half of his merchandise. It was always a fifty-fifty agreement they would eventually settle for with no battle or squander.

  Her Pop said they weren’t doing anything wrong but just charging for the use of the waters as a means of travel. These were their waters and they had the right to charge for safe passage. That was all they did.

  So why did the King decide after all this time that her Pop had done something wrong? If the first mate did not come back with an answer, she indeed would find one on her own.

  There was one thing she could do while she waited for Hurley’s return. A protection spell would suffice and maybe keep their ship hidden from the eyes of danger. Just a little something to ease her fears. It didn’t matter if the kingdom frowned upon women using magic of any kind. The Duke in particular would be after her head for using it. The King, not so much. He had mixed feelings about magic in general.

  Apparently the spell worked. They had no unwanted visitors during the middle of the night and Hurley returned just before the sun up.

  Chapter 4

  Hurley was waiting impatiently for this moment. He’d been planning this for months. Finally, the captain was removed from duty. Now Hurley would soon control the ship and the crew. All he’d left to do was deal with Treea. But how was he going to do that? Have her arrested just like her Pop, kill her, no he couldn’t do that, or find a way to control her emotionally. The later might be the easiest. Especially with the relationship he had already established with her over the past few years. For Pete’s Sake, she was a woman, and he was a man, how hard could it be to gain full emotional control? To be able to make her do anything, absolutely anything he wanted her to do, like letting him take over the command of the ship?

  She’d been on the ship working alongside the rest of the men for the past three years. Her status had grown to his equal. He hated to think that she may have surpassed his equal, though lately, the captain had been confiding in Treea more than him, which Hurley thought was not right. He was the first mate, not Treea, and he was a man and she a woman. A ship was no place for a woman.

  When she’d boarded the ship that first time, her beauty struck all the men and Captain Pellesi made certain that she was known to be off limits to all the men on the ship. The captain wanted her married to a good man. The life of a seafarer was not what he wanted for his daughter. She deserved more and a much better man for a husband.

  But the Captain’s order fell short on Treea. She pursued Hurley by spending time with him in close quarters. It all started with a subtle look, a twist of a lock of hair around her finger and a soft touch of her hand on the side of his stubbled face. An untimely wave crashing into the side of the ship sent her body against his own ending in an embrace and that first kiss below deck in the hold. The feel of her body against his own triggered a lust that had never been fulfilled until she came along.

  He thought of Treea while the guards led her Pop, the Captain away. Hurley tried to plan out what he was going to say to her when he got back to the ship. How was he going to break the news to her? Surely she should understand that her Pop is a pirate and a well-known one at that. This day was inevitably coming. It was a wonder it hadn’t happened years ago. How the man had managed to stay out of the sights of the King was beyond his knowledge.

  Up until six months ago, when they had last docked at this port, the thought of Captain Pelesii being arrested never once entered Hurley’s thoughts. Not once had he dreamed of this day or considered wanting to take over the reins of the ship. That was until the Duke approached him.

  Duke Ellington approached Hurley on the day they were setting sail once again with a proposal. He wanted to hire Hurley to do some sort of job for him. Hurley turned him down at first. Saying how he was just a deck hand and nothing more, but the Duke pressured him, telling him he could give him anything he wanted if he would do this one favor for him.

  Hurley tried to come up with an impossible answer by stating he wanted to be Captain of the Sea Wench. Not once did he ask what his task was to be in exchange for this prize. He figured by asking for such a thing the Duke would just give up and walk away. Which he did. Nothing else had been said. It didn’t need to be. The Duke had just proven moments ago how he could deliver his promise.

  Now that Captain Pellesi was arrested that made Hurley first in command.

  What would he tell Treea?

  Her Pop was in a tavern brawl?

  No, she would see right through that answer.

  Captain Pellesi had refused to pay for his woman and meal.

  No, Treea would not believe that answer either.

  The Captain was arrested for being a Pirate?

  Maybe. It was the truth, even if she didn’t want to accept it.

  Hurley didn’t waste any time. As soon as the Duke left the tavern with his men and the captain, he told the other’s he needed to go and let Treea know about her Pop’s predicament.

  Hurley returned to the inn later. After he promised Treea, he would find someone who could help them with this matter. Outside the Tavern, a figure called to Hurley, calling him into the dark shadow of the building hidden from the light of the moon. It was that of a woman. “You want to help your Captain? This here book may help you with his release.”

  Hurley accepted the package, and before he could give it back, the woman disappeared, leaving him holding it, bewildered. Who was she? Why would she want to help the Captain? What did the Duke want Hurley to do now that he had delivered his promise?

  His only clue as the woman left was her shadow, definitely that of a goblin.

  He never once expected any of this. The Duke promising him anything, nor the Captain’s arrest. When he promised Treea he would find help to see to it that the Captain was released from prison, he never once expected someone would step forth from the shadows. Not with such an answer as this, being held within the book.

  Chapter 5

  “Well, what did you learn?” Treea asked over a plate of eggs.

  Hurley tossed a small book on the table. It was leather bound and wrapped in paper tied with a thin cord. Treea pushed her plate aside and untied it, unwrapping the book. It was hand written. Even though Treea was the daughter of a pirate he had made certain that she had learned to be well read. She had no problem reading the handwriting in the book.

  “I was given this.”

  “Did you look at it?” She asked Hurley.

  “Why would I, you know I can’t read.” His brows scowled with his answer.

  She always found his scowls, grins, smirks, and grimaces attractive. It was a good thing her Pop never found out or caught the two of them down below deck. If he did, Hurley would undoubtedly be reduced to a dead man with no chest to sit upon.

  “It’s a diary. What would I want with another woman’s diary?” Treea pushed the book away and went back to her breakfast. She hated to waste food. “Where did you get it?”

  Hurley leaned back in his chair and watched her eat. “I can’t divulge my source to you at this time. I was told to keep this book a secret. It holds the answer to getting our captain, your Pop free. Some sort of secret is in there that even the King knows nothing about.”

  “Really?” Secrets, Treea loved secrets especially when they belonged to others. She carefully carved an apple she had beside her plate. Her favorite fruit was saved for last. After cutting it into slices, she returned her attention to the book. Knowing there was a secret hidden within enticed her to begin reading.

  Hurley watched her read and take dainty bites of her apple slices. He knew those lips and how they felt on his flesh. He had to leave or risk distracting her from this important task. There would be time later to frolic below the deck. “If you learn of anything, I’ll be in my cabi
n napping.”

  Typically she would make a remark of sorts. For once she was too intent on finding this so-called mystery and secret that would save her Pop. This was more important than rolling around on the floor for a little bit of frolicking fun.

  She read the diary page by page. It was written by a very young woman who was yet to grow into her prime. She was barely childbearing age. A chambermaid who found the favor of the young prince who was soon to be crowned king. Each page read of her heart stirrings for the Prince and his for her. How they would meet in the middle of the night when all the castle was still and sleeping. They would steal off into places where no one would come across them or hear them. Many times it was in the stables where they would meet. The horses would snicker softly while the couple’s sounds of pleasure would escape from their lips in the silent night.

  Treea came across a passage that told of one of these so-called nights when they met in the stable. After reading a few more words, Treea knew she would have to read this diary in a more private setting. The most private being her own cabin. She slipped the book underneath her shirt, tucking it into her waistband to prevent anyone from noticing it. There were a secret and a mystery within this book, but the strong desire of the young woman writing, brought out a twitch between Treea’s legs. An arousal all to its own.

  Within the confines of her cabin, Treea was able to continue reading. The moon had been bright that night when the couple once again had met in the stable. The prince was as excited to see her as she was to see him. They came together in the tack room and wrapped each other into their arms holding fast while their lips met. Lust need and want all at the same time fueled their fire.

  The young maid immediately felt the long hard manhood against her body when she was held fast. As they continued kissing he slowly walked her backwards until her back was up against the wall where he began pressuring his groin harder and harder against her. The barriers of their clothing were preventing its entrance into her womanhood.

  He moved his lips to her neckline and began to remove parts of clothing from her body first exposing her milk-white breasts and their hard young nipples. He could not ignore these. His lips moved from her neck down between her breasts and then to each nipple. Sucking gently at first, then harder and harder. Teasing each one with his teeth.

  By now the young maid had removed his shirt, and his pants were unlaced, hanging below his knees. She did not have to search for his manhood. It stood at attention waving before her. When she set her fingers to it, she found it pulsed in her hand. It was hot and smooth and the veins bulged close to the hard head.

  She wasn’t quite sure what she was supposed to do at this point. They had never gone this far before. It felt right. So she followed her instincts and knelt before her prince and set her tongue against the hard head and licked it gently. She looked up once to see if he approved. His head was back and his mouth was open while his hands continued to rub her nipples. Tenderly pinching each one pulling them in a teasing fashion.

  A wetness formed between her legs that made her unsure of herself.

  Treea stopped reading long enough to remove her own top and pants and laid in her hammock with her blanket close by. With her index finger, she slowly stroked her mound between her legs. Her own wetness matched the young maiden. She had to go back to reading and stroking at the same time.

  The young maid took the Princes manhood into her mouth making him harder still. His hands left her breasts and found the top of her shoulders and began to pull her on and off his cock. Now she knew why the older girls referred to this part with such a word. Rock and cock were not that far off and his was a rock hard cock. She continued to let him move her mouth up and down, her tongue stroking him each time. A small trickle ran down her throat she was not expecting and almost began to choke.

  That was how he knew she had enough of that. He quickly pulled her to her feet and turned her around to face the wall, placing her hands on it with his own. Rubbing his cock against the inner of her thighs and against her womanhood. She was not expecting to feel the sensation she felt when he did this. It made her twitch and ache for what she had no idea of. Not until he took one hand and angled his cock against her and began to slowly push himself inside.

  It hurt at first, but her body wanted it too. Once he passed her barrier and was in she let out a gasp. Once again, his fingers found her nipples and began to roll them gently sending ripples through her body while his lips set against the flesh of her neck behind her earlobe that his tongue began to tickle.

  The Prince continued to grind into her in such a way that her body shook from the pleasure, Treea began to insert her own finger into her hole and slowly worked it in and out while she read. Her juices flowed and her canal pulsed against her finger. The feeling excited her so much she had to set the book down and insert two fingers. She slowly worked them in and out of her body while she groped at her own breast with her other hand. She envisioned the prince to be like that of Hurley. She would never forget how his cock felt inside her while they were below deck while the ship was out at sea. He pushed harder and harder into her with each rolling wave while she straddled on top of him riding him as if he were a horse. She’d pull off his cock just far enough to keep him from falling out before gorging him deep inside her once again until the internal waves would overcome both of them. Her canal would pulse while his cock pulsed and his juices shot deep inside her.

  It always was over too soon. This seemed to be the young maids complaint too. She wanted more of him only to find it would not happen. The manhood had retired for the night. The prince promised to meet her there every night and exchange their juices again and again.

  But it didn’t happen. In fact three nights later the Prince was moved from that part of the castle to another wing and was forbidden to have any access to the young maid. He had been hidden from sight.

  Then the announcement came. The Prince was to marry Princess Lorila from the Kingdom of Perth. After the wedding, the Prince was to be crowned King so his father would be allowed to step down and enjoy a brief retirement before his life was cut short mysteriously. Poison so it seemed. No one could prove it. So it remained a mystery.

  During the following months, the young maid began to feel bloated in her lower abdomen. At first she thought it was the lack of exercise with her young prince. But her stomach began to grow month by month. She kept her figure hidden fearing some illness had taken over her. Then the movement in her stomach happened. It was a ripple. She lifted her top when she was alone in her room and watched her round belly move. Her belly was hard as her Princes cock had been that night so long ago. How many months had gone by since they had last met? She could barely see her feet, her belly stuck out so far. It was surprising no one else had noticed her figure while she continued to work at the castle. Or so she thought.

  Two weeks later the Duke of Luxonbulm approached her and asked her a question. It shocked her. “When is the baby due?”

  “I dear say, I don’t know what you are talking about.” She said to him.

  “I think you do. Should the King and Queen find out about you, something bad will happen to both you and your illegitimate child. Take care.”

  He walked away leaving her to ponder his words while shock took over her mind.

  She was with his child and never once considered that this could happen. The Duke was right. She had to leave the castle before anyone else found out.

  In the middle of the night, she packed her bag of few belongings and slipped out of the gates undetected. She had traveled for hours in the night before she came across a town. The tavern had a stable and she took shelter there while the babe she carried in her belly came forth from her loins.

  She named him in secrecy, Dale Montey. No one was to ever know that he was the illegitimate heir to the throne. If they were ever to find out both of their lives would be at stake.

  Treea closed the book. “How touching. I wonder where this babe is now?”

&nbs
p; Chapter 6

  Hurley, the first mate, found Treea above deck leaning against the ship’s railing looking out at the sleepy town before her. “What did you learn, lassie? Was there anything that could help in that their book?”

  “Aye, there is an illegitimate heir somewhere here in this town. We need to find him.”

  “What do we do with this heir once we find him? If it’s an illegitimate heir, there isn’t much they can do for us.”

  “I was thinking,” Treea’s wheels were turning in her head ever since reading the last line in the book about the child’s name. “Did the King and Queen ever have a child?”

  Hurley thought long and hard. “No, I don’t believe so. How would that help us?”

  “If there was no child then that means there is no heir to the throne.”

  “So, you’re thinking of exposing this illegitimate heir?”

  “Not just that. We can capture them and hold ‘em as hostage. We can ask for not only the release of my Pop but also for a ransom. Make them pay for what they have done to my Pop. He is a good man and shouldn’t have been treated as a criminal.”

  “Aye, I couldn’t agree more with you. How do you expect us to find this here heir?”

  “Well, we do have a name. It is Dale Montey.”

  Hurley’s eyes went wide. “Him?”

  “Oh, so you know of this person?”

  “I do. He is no better than a pirate.” Hurley said with a broad grin on his face. “Come to think of it, I think I know just how we can get close enough to him to capture him.” He touched a loose strand of hair hanging just below Treea’s ear and used it to tickle her earlobe.

  “How?”

  “You are going to hire him for the night. I hear he is almost as good as me.”

  Treea squinted suspiciously at Hurley. She was not quite sure what he was hinting at.

  “Believe me, you’re going to really enjoy yourself. Just don’t enjoy yourself too much.” Hurley stroked a finger across the bottom of her chin tenderly. “Remember who you belong to.”