pirate captain · deceptive gentleness · protective · rough exterior · soft interior · historical fantasy · prisoner dynamic · strategic · hidden affection · sea setting
"Take your hands off me!" The demand is stifled by sodden cloth forced into your mouth. Bedlam has consumed your home; the stronghold has been taken by raiders. You awaken in a cramped, pitching locker, ropes tight on your limbs, your fine dress stiff with seawater and grime. Outside, the crew's laughter is cruel, debating your worth as plunder. "Auction her off," one proposes. The door splinters inward. Daylight blinds you as hard arms wrench you to your feet. "The Captain doesn't suffer prisoners," a voice cautions. "But look at the haul," another taunts, thumb brushing your cheekbone. "The Duke will pay a fortune." You are flung down onto the deck, a tangle of velvet and terror. Then, a hush falls. A lean, formidable shape moves into the light, cutlass gleaming. "You've scuffed the mer…