Thread: The Virgin Prize [Prince & LingeringDesire]

I assure you that I can return you unspoiled and virginal for marriage, but throughly corrupted in every other way, if I desire, replied Philippe, winking at the innocent girl. She might not even understand what he implied, likely thinking a lady's womanhood was the only spot that mattered in sex. A surge of heat went through his body as he imagined all the things he could teach her, while still preserving her 'honor'. But her next comments chilled his ardor and Philippe regarded the young lady thoughtfully as she morosely discussed her fate. He hadn't realized, until now, that she actually seemed to dislike her fiancee. He'd always assumed, like any blushing girl would, that she'd convinced herself that she loved the man even if it had been an arranged marriage. The thought stirred him somehow, a realization that even if he freed her, she'd still be a captive in spirit to another man that was forced on her. How like a prize she truly was, something of value bought, bargained and stolen by the men in her life, including her own father. There was little love lost there and Philippe rubbed his stubbled jaw and felt a pang of pity for her that he drowned with a swig of wine. He shouldn't feel anything for a captive, it was a weakness for a pirate to have such emotions, but she suddenly seemed less like a spoiled brat and more like a young, scared girl with nothing to look forward to at all. Full of bluster that masked an underlying sadness. Never think your fate is out of your hands. Perhaps you believe your life is set, marriage to a man picked for commercial reasons, or a life as a harlot on a pirate ship, but I assure you, men and women make their own fate, even when they think themselves most powerless, Philippe replied, finding it hard to not try and give her some encouragement. He finished with a little hint that if she cooperated, things might get better. It was really a ruse to ensure she was pliable, but it might make her feel good as well. Perhaps if you get to know me, and please me, something unexpected might even happen that may surprise even you. His little discourse on fate led Philippe to his own story. The chef arrived with the main course and he waited until the table was set to begin. The tenderloin, carrots and beans looks delicious and he was using his finest stolen china to serve the dishes as well as antique silver cutlery. The chef had even provided reasonably clean linen napkins, surprising even Philippe. As a last gesture to set the ambiance, the chef lit the candles on the table with a tinder and then gave a formal bow before leaving. With the setting sun starting to dip towards the horizon, the room was growing dim with a fiery pink and orange glow seeping in from the stern windows. It was suddenly an absurdly romantic setting, Philippe realized, with a breathtaking sunset serving as backdrop for their elegant candlelit dinner in the middle of the sea. My story is a simple one, a tale of a man mastering fate in fact, replied Philippe at last. He'd actually never told his true story to anyone, at least not in a full form from beginning to end. The idea of telling Emmeline his real background was strangely exhilarating, giving him an exhibitionist thrill like he'd felt prancing nude in front of her. He'd have to tell her his heartaches, his pains, and his successes to be honest, and with a sudden burst of courage, he decided he would do it. Why he wanted this pretty captive to know who he truly was, Philippe didn't know, but another sip of wine made him sure that it was something he had to do. My father was a captain, a commercial captain that is. We were from France and he sailed us to the New World to find our fortune. It was just my mother and I, as my younger sister had died when she was young.... Philippe told a story of growing up in small Caribbean port towns like St. Lucia and St. Maarten, and spending weeks aboard his father's ship learning how to sail and manage a crew. He was an apt learner, and by the age of twelve knew almost every aspect of being a sailor, from trimming sails, to hauling lines, and even navigation. Then his father had been killed, ironically by pirates on a short run between two islands. Their fortune hadn't been found yet, and Philippe suddenly found himself trying to earn money to support his mother as well as himself. By the age of thirteen he'd started crewing on ships, proving himself an able hand. But pay was low and his mother's health in decline, his fate had certainly seemed bleak back then. And then it happened, his ship was taken by pirates one day when he was fifteen. For Philippe, the memory was burned in his mind in perfect clarity. The terror at seeing the black flag, being pursued and shot at for hours until they took down a mast, and then the horror of the attack as two dozen crazed and wild men had stormed their relatively unarmed merchant vessel with death in their eyes. Philippe had hated pirates then, they had killed his father after all, and he had foolishly used a blunt sword he found to try and defend the ship until one had backhanded him unconscious. When he came to, he found himself the topic of humor by both crews. His captain, a seasoned veteran, had surrendered the ship without a fight to save his crew. Only teenage Philippe, of the dozen fully grown sailors on the ship, had been foolish enough to attack the boarding party. After plundering the valuable cargo, the pirate captain had taken Philippe and another crew member and press ganged them onto his crew to replace men who had died in another raid. They thought his spirit might make him a good crew member, but his hatred made him insolent and stubborn. Thankfully, that pirate captain, the infamous Gold Tooth, had some patience and took a liking to the young boy with great sailing skills who reminded him of his long passed son. Over the course of years, after many punishments and training sessions, Philippe grew to love the old pirate and was his First Mate by the tender age of twenty. After that, he took over the ship following Gold Tooth's retirement and the last five years had seen him amass a fortune in treasure that he'd hidden on some remote island. While he had no regrets now, his only concern had been his mother finding out his new career choice, but she had sadly passed shortly after his capture and never endured the shame of Philippe becoming a criminal. And soon, my dear Lady, I'll hang up the sails and hand this over to my replacement and spend my remaining years trying to spend all the money I've stolen, a near impossible task, ended Philippe with a grin. He'd told her the truth, with only minimal embellishments that a good story teller might add. The only thing missing was any tales of romance or women in his life besides his dead mother. That was a topic he kept quiet, the wound still unhealed. It's been a tough life, bloody, hard and cruel, but I answer to no one. I'm my own King, my own Governor, and have the freedom of the seas to do what I choose. During his tale, they'd finished both the meal and the first bottle of wine, with a second sitting nearly empty in its place. The sun had set and his cabin was lit just by the flickering candelabra on the table between them, giving a rich, warm glow to Emmeline's white skin. The wine was making Philippe warm, relaxed a little lightheaded. He was sure the smaller girl who had drunk a fair share was also feeling the effects. The shadows seemed to make her cleavage grow deeper and drew Philippe's eyes to that delicious canyon over and over again. How he longed to plunge into it with his mouth and explore those depths. She was a proper lady, gorgeous, educated, well mannered and so well bred, yet dressed like a whore and apparently interested in his seedy life. He felt suddenly closer to the girl, after sharing his story, and at the same time found he wanted her even more than before. A roguish grin appeared on his face and he leaned forward, blue eyes smoldering as he stared at her with a hungry gaze. Well, mon amis , shall we get you ready for bed? I'm eager for dessert myself.