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Betrothed Ch. 01

By: cellophanesmile



The night was calm and peaceful, an ironic contrast to the thunderstorm of nerves and trepidations washing around in the pit of his stomach. He stood outside her balcony. His betrothed. Although he supposed that that long ago promise wouldn't be considered binding by any sane person. But Nick wasn't any sane person.

He remembered back when he was twelve and she was eight. They had played out by the ocean, and then laid on the beach, soaking up the sun.

"Nicky, do you think I'm pretty?" she suddenly asked.

"You're fine."

"Do you think I'm prettier than Shelly Hopewither?"

"She's got bigger breasts."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"Huh, I thought it did." Allison rolled over and got up with a distinct "humph", and started to walk away. Nick scrambled after her. 

"What's with you?" he asked. 

"Nothing," she replied nonchalantly, but she quickened her pace. 

"Come on, don't be a baby, you know I was just teasing."

"I'm not a baby."

"Then stop acting like one."

"Stop being mean to me. You're just like Howard and Zachary, why don't you just go be their friend and leave me alone," Allison said this with a distinct sob in her voice and took off in a run. Nick stared after her for a moment then took off in a run after her, catching her easily, and pulling her to him. 

He held her by her upper arms and looked down into her tear stained little face. "What did Howard and Zachary say to you?" He would find them later and make them pay for whatever they said that hurt her feelings so badly.

"They said that I was ugly and a brat and they didn't know why you let me hang around you, and--that's it," during her speech she started to cry harder and harder. 

"What else did they say?" 

She blushed and looked away. "They said that I must have more under my dress than they could see, for you to put up with me all the time." Ally didn't comprehend fully what they meant by that last comment, but she understood it was bad. Now she couldn't keep herself from bawling. 

Nick looked ready to murder, "I'm going to kill them," he muttered under his breath, to her he said, "Ally, don't listen to them, you're fun, intelligent, and I love you hanging around me all the time." 

"I"...sniffle..sniffle... "don't believe"...sob... "you."

"You are also the prettiest girl I have ever seen."

"You're just trying to make me feel better. You don't think I'm pretty," she said between sobs. 

"Yes I do."

Nick really meant it to. She looked like a little wood sprite with her big green eyes, and little button nose. Her wavy blonde hair was so smooth and soft, that he would find himself stroking it absently sometimes.He had loved her from the first moment he had seen her, though he was too young to really understand his feelings, or what to do about them. Instead of telling her he loved her and would do anything for her, which he would, he teased her and poked her and pushed her. 

But today, with her being so upset, and him staring down into her pretty little face (even with her puffy red eyes and snotty nose), he couldn't make a joke, instead he did the only thing that entered his mind to do. He kissed her. He pressed his lips ever so lightly to hers, and he felt a spark of fire race through him so intense and wonderful he never wanted it to end. 

When he finally pulled away she asked, "Do you really think I'm pretty?"

"Yes."

"Pretty enough to marry?"

"Absolutely."

"Will you marry me then?"

"Of course."

Allison gave him a cute little smile, and a kiss on the cheek and ran off home. Nick thought that she would forget about her marriage proposal, but she didn't. After that, she would tell him about her plans for their future, whether it was that they were going to run a circus, and he would be in charge of the lions and she would be the tightrope walker, or they were going to open a vineyard, he would plant the grapes and she would smash them. And even though her plans were wild and impractical, Nick liked hearing them, and picturing the two of them together, married, in the future. So soon, for both of them, it was a given that they would get married one day, and they would talk about where they were going to live and what they were going to do, and no matter their planned future, they were always together. 

So here he found himself, standing outside her balcony, on a calm and peaceful night. The eve before her wedding, ready to kidnap the bride. He climbed her balcony, and up into her room. He saw her for the first time in what seemed like forever. She took his breath away, she was how he remembered her, but different. She was older, of course, and she had only grown more beautiful. He could see her body because she had kicked off her covers in her sleep. While she was still tiny, she looked ripe and full in all the right places. Her nightgown had ridden up to reveal one creamy white thigh, and Nick could all but resist to reach out and stroke it.

He thought about what he should do from here. He didn't want to scare her, but he had to wake her and take her out of here. He wondered what she would do when she saw him, if she would be angry of if she would hug him and welcome him with open arms. Well, he would find out one way or the other. 

"Allison?" he said gently. She opened her eyes groggily, then upon seeing him, let out a blood-curdling scream.

Betrothed Ch. 02



Nick quickly put is hand over her mouth to stifle her scream. She looked at him with terrified eyes and started to thrash and claw at him. Nick heard footsteps outside her door, and wondered if someone had heard her scream.

Nick didn't know what to do. There was no time to explain who he was, because she would just ask questions about where he had been, and refuse to leave with him until she got the answers. And there just wasn't any time. "Don't scream or I'll kill you," he whispered in her ear. She must have believed him, for she didn't make a sound when he pulled his hand away. 

He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He was just climbing out the window when he heard a soft knock on her door. He climbed down the balcony as fast as possible with a wiggling woman over his shoulder. He threw her over the front of his horse and climbed up behind her. 

He knew she would be uncomfortable, but he had to get away as fast as possible. He sent his horse off in a run, and when he was convinced that no one was following them, and they were a safe distance away, he stopped and pulled her up to a sitting position. 

"Who are you? What do you want?" She immediately demanded as she twisted around to look at him. She didn't recognize him. The thought entered Nick's head, and he didn't believe it at first. She was staring right into his face, yet she didn't even show a hint of recognition. 

"My fiancé will pay any ransom. If you hurt me he will track you down and kill you." Little did she know, she had said the one thing that would anger him most. Nick didn't want to hear about her fiancé, who from the sound of it, she obviously cared for, if not loved. And he certainly didn't want to hear of the other man's devotion to her, he wanted to pretend this other man didn't exist. 

"I don't want any ransom." Nick growled out, no way would he let her go, not for any amount of money. 

"Then what do you want?" Allison cried out hopelessly, if he didn't want money, would he rape or kill her? And who was he?

"Shut up." Nick kicked his horse and took off in a steady gallop. Allison was scared to death, who was this man and what did he want? Looking into his eyes, she got the odd feeling of knowing him from somewhere, but quickly dismissed it. This was some scoundrel; she couldn't possibly know him from anywhere.

***

Allison sat in the small locked cabin where he had put her. He had taken her to a beach, let his horse go, and had rowed her out to a ship. When she had first seen what he had planned, all hope of escape had rushed out of her like a rain cloud suddenly opening and pouring out its contents, drenching her in despair. 

Now, she couldn't escape the horrible feeling that she was being taken away from her home, and might not ever return. Not that she would have much to miss anyway, since her parents had died, leaving her with nothing and no one, she had stopped caring what happened to her and had just gone along with what others told her to do. She had gotten engaged, since she didn't have any money, and didn't really have much of a choice. She didn't have any love for her fiancé, but she didn't feel that her fiancé had any love for her either. The real reason she didn't want to leave her home was that's where all her memories of Nick were. But he was dead, now. 

Allison laid down on the bed and closed her eyes. She couldn't stop the memory of the horrible day coming back. She had been twelve years old, and an aspiring artist. She had loved to paint, and most of her paintings had gone to Nick. She had just finished her latest one, and had gone over to his house to give it to him, but he wasn't there. His brother informed her that he had died just that morning. He had fallen off the boat they were sailing, and had drowned Allison was just starting to let the pain she had felt overtake her when her kidnapper walked in. 

"What are you going to do to me?" Allison asked. She was scared of him, but she was more scared of not knowing what was going to happen to her. 

"I'm going to keep you," her kidnapper said, looking at her like this was a normal occurrence, and he didn't know why she was so upset. 

Allison stared at him for a moment, what was he talking about? "Keep me for what?" she asked, completely perplexed. 

"You're going to become my wife." Allison couldn't believe she had heard him right. His wife?

"Wait, what? What are you talking about?" Allison stared at him, befuddled. 

Nick walked over to the bed and sat down next to her. "You are going to become my wife," he repeated gently, as though her were speaking to a child that didn't understand what was going on. 

"No I'm not," Allison was still confused. She didn't even know this man; she wasn't going to marry him. 

"Yes, you are," he told her, a little more forcefully. 

"You don't understand, I can't. I'm getting married tomorrow."

"No you're not," he roared at her, "You can just forget your old life, and your old fiancé, your never going back to him, so you can just resign yourself to staying with me." Nick couldn't believe he let his temper get away from him like that, but she was making him angry. Why didn't she recognize him? Maybe she just didn't remember him altogether. 

"But who are you?" he heard her whisper softly. He couldn't tell her. If she had forgotten about him, he couldn't let her know he had thought of little else besides her these six years he had been away. 

"You can call me whatever you want." He said. 

"Fine, you vagabond."



Betrothed Ch. 03



Allison sat next to Nick in stony silence, eating her supper. He made sure she got the best of what cook had to offer, but she clearly didn't appreciate it as she shoveled food down her throat. 

"I'm done," she said after a few minutes.

"Can I get a thank you?" Nick asked, for some reason wanting her to acknowledge his effort. 

"Why should I thank you when you are the one who kidnapped me?" Allison had been like that for the three days she had been on his ship, unduly contrary, Nick felt, for the amount of consideration he had shown her. He had even given up his bed and slept on the floor, due to the fit she had thrown when he tried to climb in next to her.

"I have put up with your attitude for long enough, Allison. You have done nothing but complain and sulk since you got here and frankly I'm sick of it," Nick said, demanding she get over her anger so they could get on with their lives together. 

"Oh, I'm sorry that I've not been in such a pleasurable mood. I hope that you can forgive me, seeing as how I have just been forcibly dragged out of my bed in the middle of the night and onto a ship, and then told that I was to marry a complete stranger," Allison's voice dripped with sarcasm. Nick longed to shove it in her face that she was only being made to fulfill a promise that she herself made, but still wanted to keep his anonymity.

"Well whether you like being here or not, you are at least going to act civil. Now I want you to thank me for your supper," Nick said in a voice that brooked no refusal. Allison however, ignored the warning in his voice. 

"I shall not, you miscreant" Allison said, crossing her arms and sitting back in her chair, ready to sit there all night before allowing a "thank you" to escape her lips. 

"You will say thank you, or I will take you over my knee and blister your backside so bad you won't be able to sit for a week." Nick was also ready for a fight, but was not willing to have it take all night. 

"If you even dare, my fiancé will track you down and kill you for touching me," Allison once again used her fiancé to hopefully scare him from carrying out his threat. Little did she know, she had said the one thing that would actually make Nick put her over his knee. 

"That's it," Nick said, bodily picking her up and sitting down on the chair. Allison struggled as much as she could, but was no match for his strength, and in a few minutes he had her laying face down over his lap, with an arm on her back, anchoring her to the spot. She hit his leg with her fists and yelled at him to stop, but stubbornly refused to say she was sorry or beg. 

She was utterly humiliated at the indignity of her position when he lifted up her dress and pulled down her pantalets, exposing her bare bottom. She cried out more from surprise than pain when the first smack came. It was immediately followed by a second smack, and a third, and a fourth.

"Are you going to say thank you?" he then asked, but Allison stubbornly kept her mouth shut.

"I guess you haven't learned your lesson then," he said as he continued to spank her. What hadn't hurt so much the first time, now was horribly painful, as he continued to smack her already stinging bottom. Allison felt tears roll start to roll down her cheeks and let out small cries with each smack. 

Nick's anger had faded by now, and he longed to end the punishment, but was too stubborn to be the one to give in. He tried not to look at her rosy backside, for fear that he wouldn't be able to continue beating the sore flesh, and he hardened his heart against her pitiful whimpering. 

"Say thank you," Nick said again, letting his hand slow, and allowing longer pauses between each smack.

"No." Nick wanting to end this, allowed his hand to fall much harder than the couple previous times, and his heart nearly broke at the painful cry that escaped her. 

"Say it," he practically begged. 

By this time she was crying her little eyes out, "Thank...you," the words were wrenched out of her between sobs. Now that she had finally said it, Nick felt no happiness at having won; he didn't feel like he had really won at all. He allowed his grip on her to loosen, and he pulled her undergarments up, and her dress down. Allison scrambled off his lap as soon as he let her go, and huddled in the corner of the room. She put her face in her knees, and cried and cried, and when she was finally out of tears, she stayed there, refusing to look up or move. 

Nick didn't know what to do now, he didn't want to leave her, but she probably would rather be alone. He walked over to her huddled form and picked her up, she stayed wrapped in a tight little ball, and he carried her like that over to the bed, gently laying her down before quietly leaving the room. 

***

After the day Nick spanked her, Allison started acting exactly as he had told her to act. She hid her displeasures, and acted polite. Though only now, Nick would have preferred her the way she was, rather than the cold and distant way she acted now. 

She said a polite "thank you" for pretty much anything he gave her. Answered his questions with cool impersonal responses, while asking none of her own, and instead of the varied insulting names she was wont to call him before, now restrained to calling him captain, like the rest of the crew. 

Nick, in an effort to win her favor, gave her a pair of breaches and a shirt so that she could go up on deck. He knew her, and knew that she would be longing to get out of the cabin and into the fresh air. She had eagerly gone on deck that day, and everyday since. 

Most of the men were upset at first by her presence on board, deeming it was unlucky to have a female on a ship, but soon however, all the men were thoroughly charmed by her, and had no trouble taking time out of their work to show her around or talk to her. Allison enjoyed their rough company, and Nick was jealous that she would open up to his men and not to him, but didn't say anything about it. At least she seemed to be happy, even though it was when he wasn't around. 

One day Nick came back out on deck after a short time in his cabin to find his men in a tizzy. 

"Come on lass, ye can do it," he heard one of his men shout. This couldn't be good he thought, and went over to find out what was going on. To his horror, he saw Allison climbing the rigging, and was almost at the top.

"What is going on here?" he bellowed, consumed by nothing but fear for her. All the men turned to look at him, but none said anything. They knew it was obvious what was going on, and they knew he was mad about it. 

"Allison get down from there," he yelled up to her. Allison, upon hearing him, turned around and looked down. She immediately knew that was the wrong thing to do, because she saw just how high up she was. She held on to the rigging tighter, and tried to get her foot to move downward, but it wouldn't obey. She couldn't move, fearing that if she did, she would plummet to her death. 

"Allison, get down here right now," she heard the captain yell again, and for the life of her she tried to obey, but was just too scared. She dreaded the punishment she would receive for this, but just held on tighter. 

Nick saw that she wasn't moving, and started up the rigging after her. Upon reaching her, he said, "What are you doing up here, madam?"

"I'm sorry, I thought you wouldn't mind if I climbed it, and I tried to obey you and come down, but I couldn't," Allison's voice shook slightly while she was explaining. 

"Why couldn't you come down?" Nick asked gently.

"I was too afraid. Please, you don't have to punish me for this, I really tried to obey you, and I'll never do it again," she said humbly, looking at him pleadingly.

"Oh no, sweetheart, no," Nick said horrified, realizing she had been so obedient because she had feared what he would do to her. She was afraid of him. "I won't punish you. No, nothing like that will ever happen again."

Allison nodded, but he could tell she didn't quite believe him. "Allison, listen to me, I'm sorry for what I did. I let my anger take control, and it was wrong of me. I promise I won't ever let it happen again. Do you forgive me?"

Allison was surprised at the emotion and sincerity in his voice. She could tell he was truly sorry. 

"I forgive you," she said, really meaning it.

"Okay, are you ready to get down from here?" he asked. She nodded, and he continued, "Alright, just don't look down, and take your time. I won't let anything happen to you."

Allison believed him, and was somehow less scared knowing that he was there beside her. They started to climb down side by side, him going slow to match her pace, and everything was going good, until she slipped. It happened so fast, she didn't even realize what had happened, but she just knew that she was no longer hanging onto any rope. For a brief moment, she saw herself falling to her death, but then a strong hand grabbed her wrist. 

"Hang on, Ally, I've got," Nick said. Holding her wrist in a death grip. He pulled her up with one arm as if she weighed no more than a doll, and held her until she found her footing. 

"Don't scare my like that," he scolded gently when she was secure again. Allison felt her heart racing and she held onto the ropes as tight as she possibly could. After a long time, her heart beat finally slowed, but she couldn't relax. 

"Are you ready to try again?" Nick asked her, but Allison firmly shook her head no.

"That's perfectly okay by me, we can just stay up here for the rest of our live," he said teasing her. Allison smiled, but still didn't want to go again. 

Nick scooted a little closer to her, and put his arm around her back, so he was gripping the ropes on the other side of her body.

"I've got you, I promise. I won't let you fall," he whispered in her ear. Allison for some reason felt that he would fall himself before letting her fall, and was comforted. 

"Okay, we can go," she said, albeit hesitantly. And they once again slowly made their way down the ropes. Upon reaching the deck, a cheer went up from all of Nick's men, and they all congratulated Allison and told her how brave she was. She thanked them, but was glad that the captain ushered her back to his cabin. 

It wasn't until they reached it that she realized he had called her Ally. And there was only one person who had ever called her that, Nick.



Betrothed Ch. 04



No, it couldn't be. Nick was dead, wasn't he? Allison stared at his face, though the face before her was rugged and very manly, she could see a hint of the boy she used to know, now that she was looking for it. 

"Nicky?" she said hesitantly. Nick, who was now turning down the covers on the bed, his back to her, snapped to attention immediately. He spun around to face her, and in that moment she knew for sure. This was her Nick. She didn't know how it happened, but it was him. 

"Oh Nicky," she said flying into his arms. Forgotten for the moment was the time she had recently spent with him, and she was just greeting her childhood love. She hugged him like she wanted melt her body into his, and he held her tightly in return. Nick was at first surprised by her greeting, but soon was immersed in the memories of when he had last seen her, and felt guilty for thinking she would greet him in any other way. This was his Ally. She would always be his.

After a long time of the two of them just holding each other, Allison pulled back and unceremoniously punched him in the arm. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"It seems stupid now," he said, not wanting to admit he didn't tell her who he was because he was scared she didn't love him anymore. 

"Oh, Nick. Where have you been? I thought you were dead," she said, once again wrapping herself around him. 

"Dead? Wherever did you get that idea?" Nick asked.

"You're brother told me. But it wasn't just me; everyone thought you were dead, even your family, your father. Oh Nick," she said her voice growing mournful for him, "Your father..."

"I know," he cut her off, sparing her from having to tell bad news, "He died last year. I heard. I also heard about your parents. I'm so sorry, sweetheart."

"It was hard, especially since you weren't there," she said burying her face in his neck. Nick felt regret that he wasn't there for her when she needed him, but also felt his heart do a little flop upon hearing her say she had needed him. "And then I found out that they left me with nothing, all the money was gone. Even our house no longer belonged to me, but had been sold to your brother. He was very kind though, letting me live there, and then offering to marry me when I had nowhere else to turn."

Nick had listened to her with growing pity and compassion, but had stiffened when he heard the last part. He pulled away from her, "You were going to marry my brother?" he asked, not really grasping what she was telling him. 

"What else could I do?" she said, trying to make him understand that it was her only choice.

"So that's who was going to save you, who you were so desperate to get back to. Do you love him? Do you make love to him?" he said so cruelly, that Allison reeled back. 

Nick was desperately hurt. Here he was, thinking that he had her love, but now it seemed to him that she was just greeting an old friend. In his jealousy, he could only see her hug as the hug for the brother of a fiancé; she had not kissed him. 

"How can you say that? I only said those things to keep you from killing me. As you know I thought you were a ruthless murder. I suffered in terrible fear of you, while you laughed at your little trick." Now that Allison was over the shock of seeing him again after six years, she had time to be angry with him. 

"Why didn't you tell me who you were?" she asked angrily.

Nick looked at her sheepishly, ashamed with himself. Of course she was scared of him, he had kidnapped her. "You didn't recognize me, and I waited until you did," was his reply.

Allison's anger raged to boiling point at his words. "I didn't recognize you?!" she screamed at him. "Is that really so unexpected? Do you have any idea what I went through when I thought you were dead? How I mourned you? I had to train myself not to think about you, not to look for your features in a crowd, not to expect to see your face. You were dead and I had to stop dreaming that you weren't, it was the only way I could get on with my life."

Nick felt overwhelming guilt at what she had said, not only that he hadn't told her who he was, but also that she had mourned him. "And just when you did get on with your life, and got engaged, I had to come along and ruin things for you. I'm sorry," he said, avoiding her eyes. 

"Nick, once again you completely misunderstand me. Haven't you been listening to a word I've been saying?" She said in a much softer voice, "I tried to get on with my life, but I didn't really. I just pushed you to the back of my mind and forced myself not to think of you, because it was too painful. You were always there though; I never got over you. I love you Nicky, I always have and always will."

Nick instantly pulled her into his arms, feeling as though heaven had opened up to him. She loved him! Nick bent his head and kissed her: a sweet, sensual kiss. They had shared kisses as children, soft kisses of affection, but this was their first kiss shared as adults. They had adult hearts now, and adult bodies. And both could acutely feel the difference between this kiss and the kisses of their youth.

"I love you," he said pulling his lips away from her, "I love you so much, oh Ally, the only reason I didn't tell you who I was, was because I thought you loved your new fiancé, and I was scared that you would find out my love for you, and it wouldn't be returned," he confessed, glowing in the passion of her love, and wanting to share his secrets. 

"Don't worry, I could never stop loving you, nor could I love anyone else. Only you. Only you." And they kissed again, deepening it even further. They touched each other, each rediscovering the other's body. Feeling the changes in the curves and the valleys, exploring what areas were fuller or harder or leaner. 

They clumsily disrobed each other, both eager to be naked in the other's arms, and when they were, Nick reached his head down and kissed her breasts. He lavished kisses over every inch of them then gently sucked a hardened nipple. Allison gasped when she felt his teeth close lightly, gently biting her nipple, and she would have fallen if not for his strong arms holding her up. 

"Oh Nick," she moaned, "I feel so funny," she said innocently, not really understanding the feeling between her legs. Nick touched her there, and felt her wetness. He couldn't wait any longer to take her; he had been waiting practically his whole life. He took a few steps over to the bed, pushing her back onto it. Allison looked up at him with such trust in her eyes; he climbed on top of her and gently probed her tender folds with his manhood. 

Allison spread her legs further, wanting him to take her. Nick slowly pushed into her, and suddenly she cried out in pain, but just as soon as it had come, it was gone, and Allison felt nothing but the building pleasure. "Please," she begged, wanting more. His thrusts quickened, and they found a rhythm together. They rose and rose, until they finally reached an explosion of pleasure, a pleasure like neither of them had ever felt before. Finally, both collapsed onto the bed, and they just held each other, completely at peace. 

Afterwards, Allison snuggled up to his side and rested her head on his arm. "Nicky?" she asked lightly stroking her fingers up and down his chest, "What happened those six years ago? Why did everyone think you had drowned? Why did you leave?"

"Mmmm," Nick let out a groan from deep in his throat, pulling Allison even closer to him with the arm that was wrapped around her, "I was out on the boat with my brother, we were just fooling around, but the weather started to get pretty bad. I was making sail for home, and the next thing I know I'm in the water.

It was pretty bad and I don't really remember the details. All I can remember is swimming as hard as I could for the surface, with wave after wave pounding me. I just had to swim long enough for my brother to rescue me, and I was almost out of energy when I felt a rope that was tossed to me. I could barley hang on, but I was pulled up to a ship before I passed out. 

I was surprised to find out that I wasn't on my brother's ship upon awakening, but rather a pirate's ship. They had pulled my out of the water. I tried to tell them I was a duke's son, tried to get them to take me back, but of course they didn't believe me. They made me their new cabin boy, and I learned to sail and sword fight. As I got older, I rose the ranks, and eventually became captain. I'm ashamed to say that I didn't want to come back. I liked my new life too much, without all the pomp and responsibilities of being a duke's son. But I always intended to come back for you, Ally, and I would have come sooner if I had known you needed me."

"So you're never going back?" she asked, "You're not going to claim your title and your money?"

"Well I hadn't planned on it," he said.

"But what about me? Don't you realize that I can't live on a pirate's ship the rest of my life? What about when we have..." and she stopped abruptly.

"What about when we have what?" Nick asked.

"Never mind," she said shaking her head, "I got ahead of myself."

"What? What is it?"

"Never mind," she said and Nick didn't think she would continue, but then she abruptly said, "I was speaking under the impression that we were going to get married, but now I've realized that you haven't even asked me. Of course a wife would get in the way of your pirating," she said and turned her back to him. 

Nick snaked his arm out and turned her back to face him, "I didn't think I had to ask you, you asked me. Or had you forgotten that we are already engaged?" he said with a hint of teasing in his voice. 

"Oh Nick, then you have to go back. Don't you see that a ship is no place for a baby?" she asked. 

"Yes, yes," he said wrapping both his arms around her and resting his chin on her head, "Anything you want sweetheart, we'll go back...but first, I believe you mentioned a baby? I think we should get started on making that happen right away, you know how I aim to please," he said as he bent down and kissed her. 



Betrothed Ch. 05



Allison stood on the prow of the boat, letting the wind stroke her hair. She was going home. With Nick. She couldn't quite believe that it was really happening. Then all of a sudden, strong arms encircled her waist from behind, and she knew that this was real. 

"Look Nicky, I can see land," she said pointing it out to him.

Nick chuckled, there was no way you could miss it. "Oh yeah, there it is."

She turned around in the circle of his arms, and wrapped hers around his neck. She pressed her face into his shoulder, and breathed in the manly smell of him. 

"Can you believe it? We're finally together again," she said, pulling back and looking in his eyes.

"I knew we would be, we are meant to be together. Nothing can keep us apart."

"I didn't know. I thought you were lost to me forever."

Nick couldn't stand the hurt that suddenly came into her eyes. She always got that look on her face when talking about the years when she thought he was dead. He groaned and bent down to kiss her. It seemed to be the only thing that soothed her hurt, the only thing that could convince her it was all real, the only thing that made her believe they wouldn't be separated again.

Allison stood on tiptoe so she had better access to his mouth. She deepened the kiss, ravishing his mouth with hers until she heard catcalls behind them. She pulled away, and didn't have to look to know the men were staring at the scene they were making. 


"Hot damn," one of them said, "You got a real affectionate girl there, captain. Better be careful to keep her or I might just try my hand at it."

"Not a chance, Hubert," Allison said good-naturedly. Despite the fact the men were crass and fought constantly and stole anything that took their fancy, they all had good hearts. Allison could see that in them, and had formed a sort of bond with the rag-tag bunch. 

She turned back around to face the ocean, and the faint line of land in the distance. Nick kept his arms circled around her, and she set her hands on top of his, which were resting on her stomach. He leaned his chin down on the top of her head. 

Allison remembered another time they when they were in the exact same position. She had been twelve and he sixteen. It had been only a couple of weeks before he had died, or so she had thought. 

She had been over at his house, and they were out in the garden, eating blackberries off the bush, when all of a sudden Nick bent down to kiss her lips. He often pressed chaste kisses to her mouth, but this time she pulled back before he got the chance. 


Nick looked confused and tried again, but again she pulled back. Allison had giggled at his annoyed expression, loving to tease him like that. All of a sudden she stood on tiptoe and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, then took of in a run.

"Get back here, you little minx," he called after her, taking off in a run to follow. Allison had giggled in childish delight at their game. She ran into the house, running along the hall, in and out of rooms, Nick chasing after her. 

She had finally stopped in his room, catching her breath, and when she looked up, she saw it on the wall. It was one of her paintings, a portrait she had done of herself. And it was hanging right there, framed on his wall. She just stood there staring at it, her face staring back at her. The fact that he had hung it up made her feel special, like she was a real artist. 

She hadn't heard him come into the room, but she felt his arms go around her and his chin rest on her head. 

"Oh Nicky," she had said, "You hung it up."

"Of course I did, it's beautiful."

She had turned in the circle of his arms, and this time let him kiss her. She felt like she was the most precious thing in the world to him when he held her like that. And that day he had done something he had never done before, he let his tongue hesitantly leave his mouth and brush her lips.

Allison had jumped back in surprise at the unexpected sensation. He had just smiled at her astonished expression, and she had giggled nervously, before taking his hand in hers, and leading him back outside to eat more blackberries. 

"What are you thinking about?" Nick asked. The question jarred Allison from her memories, and she turned once again to look at him. 

"I was just thinking about the day we ate all those blackberries. Do you remember?"

"How could I forget?" he said, allowing his lips to softly touch hers. He then quickly swiped his tongue across her closed mouth. 

Allison pulled back and giggled up at him.

"You were so young, and I had to be slow and gentle with you, when all the time I was tempted to go further."

She smiled and rested her head against his chest, his heart beating in her ear.

"You can go as far as you want now." 



"Okay, you two are going to have to row in from here," Smithy said a while later, when they were much closer to shore.

"Drop anchor," Nick ordered, and Smithy repeated the order louder to the men. 

"In you go," Nick said, picking Allison up around the waist and putting her in one of the rowboats, before climbing in himself.

"Bye Nick," Smithy said gruffly, trying to hide the emotion in his eyes.

"Bye Captain," Nick proudly said back, having left the position to his former first mate. 

"Goodbye everyone," Allison called out to the crew, despite the fact that they had all had their farewells earlier. 

The ship was taken up into a general hum of parting words and waves of goodbye, as the little rowboat was lowered to the ocean. 

When they hit the clear, blue water, Nick took up the oars and started in a slow and steady pace toward shore. 

"Are you nervous?" Allison asked.

"No." 

She could tell he was. " Don't worry, everything's going to be fine." 

He just glowered at her and kept rowing. Allison smiled to herself, and hid it by looking down at her lap. 

She turned to look back at the boat, which had its sails up and was leaving again. She let her fingers trail over the top of the water, and watched the muscles in Nick's arms work as he rowed. 

She was relaxed with the sparkling ocean surrounding her, and Nick by her side, but she got more and more excited as they got closer to land. 

When they were only a few yards away, she couldn't hold her enthusiasm in any longer, and without a word, she hurled her self out of the boat and into the cool water. 

"Ally," she heard Nick call behind her. She swam rapidly away from the boat. She was only wearing a thin day dress, and was unhampered by any corsets or petty coats, so she swam easily through the water.

Nick watched her swimming away for a moment, then jumped right into the water after her, the boat forgotten. His fast, sure strokes caught up to her in no time, and when he came up behind her, he pulled her down by the legs, until she was under water with him. 

He grabbed her waist and held them both under the surface. His eyes were closed, and he searched for her lips with his own, kissing her chin and cheek before he found them. 

When he did, he nudged his tongue into her mouth, tasting the saltwater that flowed past their lips. 

They broke the surface still kissing, before they broke apart, gasping for air to catch their breath. 

Allison giggled when she had recovered, and put both her hands on top of Nick's head, using all her weight to push him below the surface. When he came back up he splashed her full in the face. She angrily splashed him back, and it turned into a full out war. She had to squint her eyes due to the cloud of foamy water that was surrounding them. 

After a minute or so, she realized that he had stopped splashing her, and was nowhere to be seen. "Nick," she called, looking about for him. Just then, she felt a hard pinch on her butt, and she squealed and jumped away as best she could in the water.

Nick broke the surface laughing. She couldn't help but laugh too, and she pushed his chest playfully and started swimming for shore again.  

They had just gotten close enough for Nick to be able to touch the sandy bottom with his feet, when he grabbed Allison again. He held her up in his arms, and kissed her forcefully, trailing kisses down her salt tinged neck. 

He held her waist in his big hands, and lifted her up higher until her breasts were eye level with him. Holding her easily, he kissed and bit the fabric-covered mounds. Allison could feel the tingling between her legs, and kicked them ever so slightly, restlessly. 

He lowered her back down, still holding an arm around her waist so her head wouldn't fall under water. He used his free hand to search under her dress, and rub her pussy beneath the wet fabric of her pantalets. She squirmed in pleasure. 

"Grab my shoulders, sweetheart," he told her. She did, holding herself up by them. And he used both hands to lower her undergarments to around her ankles. Then touching her pussy again, nothing separating it from his hand but the accession of cool water. 


Allison moaned as the fingers spread her pussy lips, letting the water run in as the massaged her gently down there. 

Nick let her hang from his shoulders as he turned to his own clothes. He undid the belt, and struggled to get the wet fabric down around his legs. When he was free of any constraints, he hiked her skirt back up around her waist, and pulled her to him. 

He lowered her gently onto his erection, and she gasped at the welcome intrusion between her legs. He used his arm muscles to move her back and forth in a steady rhythm on his cock, letting the pleasure rise for both of them. 

"Nick," she screamed as she came, feeling his seed spill and mix with the salt water that was already inside of her. 

She breathed heavily and rested her head against his shoulder, keeping her legs wrapped around him. They held each other in a gentle hug as the both recovered from the aftermath of their orgasms. 

Allison soon became aware that they were out in the open, in the middle of the day, naked from the waist down. The only thing protecting them from prying eyes was water that flowed gently about them. 

Allison self-consciously detangled herself from him, and swam awkwardly as she pulled her pantalets back up around her. Nick also pulled his wet pants up around him, but with decidedly more trouble. When he buckled his belt, he held his arms open for her, and she swam into them, hugging her arms around his neck. 

He put one of his arms around her back, and the other under the back of her knees, and he carried her toward shore. He started to feel her slight weight in his arms as the water level got lower and lower around him. He didn't put her down when they reached the sandy shore at last, just continued to carry her up the bank. 

Allison didn't mind, having lost her slippers in the ocean. She wiggled her toes as her bare feet dangled in the air as he carried her. 

"Do you remember the last time you carried me like this?" she asked. 

"Mmm hmm, you were six, and you fell and twisted your ankle by those rocks over there." He gestured his head to the left of them. 

"Yeah, and you had to carry me all the way home," she nodded.

"You were crying so much. You said the only thing that would make you feel better is if I sang to you." 

Allison laughed. "And you hated to sing, but you did it anyway. You sang to me all the way home." She rested her head against his shoulder. 

Nick held her closer, and carried her up to his house, stopping at the front door. She knocked lightly on it, and he swept her inside when it was opened. 

The butler looked aghast at the two wet, disheveled people who had just walked through his door. 

"Mistress Allison," a maid said disbelievingly. Nick recognized her as his old nanny. A woman who had practically raised him, and Allison too, since they spent so much time together. 

Allison wiggled in his arms, and he let her drop to stand on her own. Her bare feet pattered against the marble floor as she ran over to Mrs. Heegle. She gave the old woman a giant hug, and was hugged forcefully in return. 

"Oh, Miss Allison, I feared you were kidnapped for good," the old lady said as she patted Allison's cheek affectionately. "What happened to ye? And who's this man that carried you in here?" 

"Mrs. Heegle, don't you recognize him? It's Nick," Allison said turning to look at him. 

Nick stood awkwardly, not sure what to do. He watched as Mrs. Heegle stared at him in amazement, and walked closer to him, examining his features with rapidly moving eyes. 

"By the saints' almighty, it is Nick. Our Nicky has come back from the dead," she reverently touched his shoulders, then pulled him to her for a hug. Nick wrapped his arms around the old woman's brittle shoulders. He hadn't realized how much he had missed her mother-like hugs, the warmth and comfort they could bring. 

She pulled back and he reluctantly released her. And before any questions could be asked or answered, the study door was flung open, and Nick's brother, Aurick Bancroft, along with several other well-dressed gentlemen, walked into the front hall. 

"What the hell's going on here?" Aurick asked upon seeing the wet and grubby urchins in his house. But no sooner as he said it, than Allison turned around. 

"Allison," he gasped, "I assumed you were dead." He grabbed her by the arm, and pulled her into his embrace. "Thank god you're all right."

He only held her for a moment though, before Nick roughly jerked her out of his arms and into his own. 

"And who do you think you are?" Aurick asked condescendingly to the man now holding his fiancée.

"Don't you recognize me?" Nick asked his brother. They had never really been close, but still, he was the only family he had left. 

"And why should I recognize an urchin like you?" Aurick asked, "And kindly take your hands off my fiancée." 

"She's not your fiancée anymore," Nick said, his voice as cold as ice. 

Aurick got a deadly look in his eye, and he stepped menacingly forward, "Now you listen here, I--" 

"Stop it," Allison interrupted him, "You're brothers." 

At her words, Aurick glanced at Nick with incredulous disbelief. "No...it's not possible, Nicholas is dead."

"No it is really I, brother," Nick said stepping forward. 

Aurick stepped back, "This is insanity," he said shaking his head, "Allison?" He looked at her for confirmation.

"Yes Aurick, it is really Nick. He was never dead after all."

"What she says is true." A white haired man that had come out of the study with Aurick stepped forward, Nick recognized him as one of his father's closest friends, the Marquess of Rothburn, "I remember the boy, and this is him. Oh, if only your father were alive to witness your return." Nick felt a sadness sink into his heart at the mention of his father. 

"You can't be Nicholas," Aurick still argued, "I saw him drown six years ago."

"Please brother, recognize me," Nick begged. 

"What's the matter with you boy," the Marquess of Rothburn addressed Aurick, "You're brother has returned to us alive, by some miracle, rejoice in his return."

"Of course," Aurick said, stiffly stepping forward, "It's good to have you back," and there was a long pause before he added, "brother." Then he wrapped his arms around Nick, and the brothers embraced, but it wasn't a warm and loving hug. It was cold and brittle, and was over in a second. 

"Come son, tell us where you have been," the Marquess insisted, drawing Nick into the study. Allison made to follow him, but Mrs. Heegle stopped her. 

"Allison, come with me before you catch your death," she held her arm. "We need to get you into some dry, proper attire."

Allison followed Mrs. Heegle, but her eyes lingered on Nick as she walked away. He watched her helplessly in return until he was drawn into the study. 

***

Allison rolled restlessly around in bed. She and Nick had been back a week, and most of that time was spent visiting old friends and acquaintances, dealing with the bank, and all the paperwork that went along with Nick's sudden return from the dead.

She had been staying in a guest room in Nick's home, Aurick having sold hers while she was away, and dismissing all her servants. She could have been mad, but thought that it didn't really matter, Nick and she would be married soon anyway. 

The only thing was, she had gotten used to his presence beside her while sleeping on the ship, and now she missed him terribly. Made even worse by the fact that he was only a couple doors down, but separated by the rules of polite society. 

She didn't want to cause a scandal for him after he had only been back such a short time, plus he was probably exhausted from his long and hectic days. Still, she lopped over onto her stomach, she craved his touch and hungered for his kisses. She hadn't been able to spend as much time with him as she liked to.  

The few times they were alone, they were interrupted by his brother. Allison wouldn't have minded Aurick's presence if he had wanted to catch up with his brother, to get to know him again. But all Aurick seemed prone to do was sit and scowl and sneer. 

She knew that Aurick had never before showed any love for his brother, but she had hoped that he could find it in his heart to accept Nick with love and compassion, now that he had returned. Sadly however, Allison was coming to realize that that probably wasn't going to happen. And it broke her heart, because she knew how much Nick longed for his brother's love. 

Allison rolled onto her back in frustration. She needed Nick, and she was sure that Nick needed her right now, too. She was past the point of caring about the scandal, and she climbed out of bed and tiptoed to his room, silently opening the door and slipping inside. It was unlocked, but she locked it behind her. 

She heard his even breathing and saw his still figure. Not wanting to wake him, she climbed delicately under the covers and into bed. 

"I was wondering when you would come," he said softly. 

Allison started, "I thought you were asleep."

"Mmm," he nuzzled her neck sleepily, and wrapped his arm around her, "I missed you." 

"I missed you, too."

He kissed her mouth, "I missed your honeyed lips."

Allison smiled. 

He licked her cheek, "And your dulcet skin." 

He brushed her nose with his, "And your dainty nose." 

She wrinkled it. 

He bit her ear, "And your pliant lobe."

She giggled. 

He nestled his head in her chest, "And your comfortable breasts."

Allison pushed him off of her and onto his back, straddling his hips, the covers falling off of them. "Oh, you don't have any night clothes on," she said in surprise. 

"Have I offended your delicate sensibilities?" he teased.

She nodded, "So much I might just have to leave." 

He grabbed her hips before she had a chance to roll off of him. "Don't get distracted so easily, little one. I believe you came here to ravage me?"

"You know me so well, kind sir." 

Allison grabbed the hem of her nightgown where it was lying on his chest, and sat up slightly, pulling it up over her body and off her head, tossing it on his face. 

She giggled when he instantly jerked it from his head and threw it to the floor. 

"Don't do that, the view from here is fantastic."

She felt his hard cock pressing against her thigh, and she grabbed it in her fist, running her hand up and down the length of it, feeling it get even larger and harder in her hand. 

She used her hand to guide it to her entrance, slowly lowering herself onto the length of him, until she had him fully inside of her. 

Nick watched her breasts jiggle and bounce as she worked a steady rhythm above him, moaning louder as she moved faster. 

She had her hands braced on his chest, and in the back of his mind, he felt her fingernails dig into him as she climaxed. But he was so swept up in his own orgasm, that he didn't even feel any pain. 




Betrothed Ch. 05



She eventually collapsed down on top of him, simultaneously rolling off his chest so she lay snuggled against his side, her thigh still flung over his hips. 

They didn't speak as their heartbeats slowly went back to normal, their breathing calming down. 

Allison moved to cuddle her face against him, but found her self nuzzled right in his armpit. She huffed and pulled back.

"What?" he asked, smiling down at her dotingly. 

"Your armpit's so hairy," she grumbled. 

He laughed. "You're hairy too, but you don't see me complaining," he said, cupping her pussy in his palm. 

She gave him a light punch in the stomach, and he groaned in mock pain. 

She adjusted herself so her head was resting on his shoulder, and he wrapped both his arms around her. They lay there for a few minutes.

"Nick?" she said hesitantly, hugging him tighter. 

"What is it, sweetheart?"

"What's that noise?" she whispered. 

"What noise?"

"It sounds like...breathing."

No sooner than she said it, a dark figure emerged from the shadows. Allison's shrill scream filled the room as Nick pushed her behind him. He jumped up out of bed, and took on a protective stance in front of her.

The figure stepped into the light, revealing Aurick's grinning face. 

"What are you doing here?" Nick demanded furiously. Then he caught the flash of metal in Aurick's hand. 

"What do you think?" he laughed maniacally. All vestige of normalcy was gone from his face, replaced with pure insane hatred. "I'm here to kill you."

Nick heard Allison gasp behind him, but he didn't take his eyes off his brother. 

"I shouldn't even be in this situation, you know. If you had just died six years ago like I'd planned, I would be duke, I'd have all the money, and I'd be the one in Allison's bed."

"You pushed me in the water that day, didn't you?" 

"Of course, it was the perfect way to get rid of you. You were always the favorite, the first born, but with you gone, I'd have all the attention, the power."

There was a knocking on the door, but all three ignored it. Aurick leered over at Allison, where she was huddled in the bed, the covers up under her chin. "It wasn't until later that I realized that Allison was a bonus, she really did turn out to be quite a beauty.

I admit I was surprised to see her sneak in here just as I was about to kill you. And when I realized what you were up to, I just couldn't resist waiting to watch the show. Of course I'll have to kill her now, too. Really is a shame, but don't worry, she won't go to waste. She looked like such a good fuck, I'll have to try her out for myself first."

With that, Nick lunged at Aurick with an angry snarl. In his rage, Nick forgot about the knife Aurick had, and it caught him in the side, drawing a healthy amount of blood. 

Allison screamed again when she the red liquid dripping from Aurick's knife. The knocking outside the door grew more urgent, and she could hear some muffled voices calling out. 

Nick quickly twisted around, ignoring his wound, and grabbed the wrist with the knife in it. With pure brute strength, Nick twisted Aurick's wrist until the knife fell out of his grasp and landed on the floor. Then Nick drew back his hand and landed a powerful punch straight to Aurick's jaw.  

Aurick staggered back at the pain, and Nick hit him again. Aurick quickly jabbed out, hitting Nick right where his wound was. The blow wasn't powerful, but it was strategic, and Nick yelled at the pain that went through his body. 

Aurick took that time to grab for the knife. He was wielding it menacingly when Nick charged him again. Aurick lashed out with the knife, but Nick was too fast, and Aurick missed him. 

Nick grabbed at the knife again, and Aurick used his other hand to hold onto it. Nick also grasped it with both hands, and they struggled to gain control of the knife that was between them. 

Nick used his body strength to slam Aurick against the wall. Aurick turned and did the same to Nick. They were banging and struggling about the room, until they both fell to the floor. When Nick stood up, the knife was protruding from Aurick's chest, stuck right in his heart. 

Nick stumbled away from the body, and Allison jumped up and led him to the bed. She was unaware of the tears streaming down her face as she pushed a pillow to Nick's bleeding wound. 

"Oh Nicky," she moaned. 

"Shh, it's okay," he comforted. 

"But you're hurt."

"It's barely a scratch, I've had far worse." 

Nick and Allison became aware of the banging on the door at the same time, and had just covered their nakedness in the blankets when a pile of servants crashed into the room. 

"My god," Mrs. Heegle said, averting her eyes from Aurick's dead body on the floor. 

"Hans," Nick demanded, "Go fetch the head of police, Aurick just tried to kill us."

The servants gasped, but the ever-efficient Hans seemed unfazed, and nodded obediently. 

"And get a doctor, too. Nick is hurt," Allison added. Hans nodded again and briskly left the room. 

"You're hurt, dear? Where is it?" Mrs. Heegle said, worriedly coming forward. 

Nick just cleared his throat, embarrassedly. "Nothing serious, it can wait till the doctor comes."

Mrs. Heegle blushed to the roots of her hair, realizing why they were both huddled under the blanket. "Of course children," she turned to the servants, "Get Aurick's body and take it downstairs, everyone else out." 

Two men stepped forward to carry the body, and Mrs. Heegle ushered everyone else from the room. 

"Are you okay?" Allison asked when everyone was gone. 

"Yes, I told you it was merely a scratch."

"No, I mean about your brother. He tried to kill you, and now he's dead."

Nick just looked at her, and shook his head sadly. "He was my brother, but I'm not sorry I killed him. I would do anything to protect you, you know that right?"

"Yes," she said and hugged his neck, "You saved my life."

"You saved mine as well. It's a good thing you came to me when you did, or I would be dead in my sleep right now."

Allison shuddered. "Don't say things like that," she reproached, hugging him closer. 

He kissed the top of her head. "You better put your nightgown back on before the doctor gets here, or one of the servants comes back in."

Allison slipped out of bed and picked her nightgown up off the floor, slipping it over her head. He laid back in bed, keeping the pillow pressed tightly to his wound. 

Allison came over to sit next to him, covering him with a blanket modestly, then stroking his hair from his forehead. 

"The doctor's here," Mrs. Heegle came in a little while later. 

"Ally, put my robe on," Nick told her, gesturing to his robe, which was lying on chair. She smiled and slipped into his oversized robe, the thing swallowing her up, but covering her more efficiently than her flimsy nightgown was. 

She stayed with him while the doctor examined his wound, then cleaned it and sewed it up. 

"Now don't strain yourself for a while," the doctor ordered, "You don't want to open those stitches. And take two of these a day with plenty of water and rest," he handed him a bottle of little pills. "I'll be back in three days just to make sure it's healing properly," and with that he got up and strode out of the room. 

"Shall I send in the police to get your statement?" Mrs. Heegle asked when the doctor was gone. 

"No, he can talk to them tomorrow, right now he needs his rest."

"Nonsense," Nick said, "I'm perfectly capable--" 

"No," Allison calmly cut him off, "You heard the doctor, you need your rest." Nick would have argued further, but he was feeling a bit tired.

"I'll take you back to your room before I tell them to go," Mrs. Heegle told Allison. 

"No, that won't be necessary," Allison refused. Mrs. Heegle just looked at her for a moment, then let out a defeated sigh. 

"All right, but I caution you to be discreet with the other servants," she said as she left the room. 

"It's probably too late for that," Allison said when she was gone. 

"It's definitely too late for that," Nick said, pulling her down and against his good side. 

"I know this is a weird emotion to have, with everything that just happened, but I'm happy. I'm wonderfully, joyously happy."

"I'm happy too, sweetheart. How can I not be, with you in my arms and our future in my eyes?"  

The End.

(Thanks for reading my first story. Please leave comments and e-mails to tell me what you thouhgt :)