“What I mean is that you face a choice of two directions: do you want to go back to your old life, or do you want to start a new one?”
“You said I keep heading toward the wrong one?” said Aria.
“You do.” said Jack earnestly. “Do you really want to go back to the way things were for you? The barely regarded second daughter of a miserly merchant, on a planet that the rest of the galaxy only cares about for what they can take away from it?”
“What other choice do I have? That’s my life!” She hated that the pirate made her existence seem so petty and tawdry.
“But it doesn’t have to be!” insisted Jack. “That is all behind you. What lies in front of you are the stars—the whole galaxy open to you, in all its splendor. To choose a life of adventure, not knowing what tomorrow brings, to live by your wits and your strength. To stand”— Jack paused, then continued—“by my side, facing whatever the future holds, together.”
Aria dropped the blankets she had been holding to her chest and stared at Jack, her mouth open. “You can’t be serious.”
“Is the idea so terrible? This is a chance for a new beginning, Aria. Think on it.”
A terrible thought occurred to Aria. “But how could you or the crew ever trust me? I tried to betray you!”
Jack took her hand. “Yes, you did, and there must be consequences for that. But I can promise you the opportunity to earn that trust back.”
“What do you mean by consequences?” Despite her alarm, Aria did not withdraw her hand.
“The choice is yours. If you wish to remain a prisoner to be returned at first opportunity, then you must remain here. This room will be your prison, albeit as comfortable a one as we can make it. I will ensure you are given the opportunity and means to return to Palamar once we have safely disposed of the mandalum.”
Aria regarded the pirate. “And my other choice?”
“To accept that you did the wrong thing, submit to whatever punishment I deem appropriate, and work to regain the trust of both myself and the crew of theMaracaibo. To begin a new life.”
“Punishment?” asked Aria suspiciously.
Jack nodded. “If you wish to live a life with me, then you must learn to live by my rules. Your choice to break your word is an offense that lies between us. We must erase it.”
“So…you would punish me and then forgive me? Just like that?”
“Just like that,” agreed Jack. “As long as you promise to live by my rules, and accept my discipline. And along with my discipline, my affection, my care, and my attention. A companion, true as true.”
“What kind of punishment?” she murmured.
Jack stroked her hand gently. “Whatever I think is appropriate. Submitting to my rules, and to me, means submitting to my judgment as to what is needed.”
“You’re not making this easy,” said Aria dourly.
“No, but it’s honest,” Jack responded readily.
Aria stared off into the distance. What did she truly want? Was her life on Palamar really all that appealing? Aria couldn’t imagine going back to a world of social events that all seemed to blur into each other, and a great deal of boredom.
But the alternative? Well, that was where things got complicated. Piracy? A comfortable life replaced by danger and infamy?
And then there was Jack. Talk about complicated…he was like no other man she had ever known. Reckless and brave, witty, surprisingly gentle and disarming at times, and a lover who, well, blew her galactic socks off. Just thinking about their lovemaking made her toes curl.
Aria sat up straight and squared her shoulders.It’s funny. I would have imagined that this would be a much harder decision. But Jack’s the most interesting and exciting thing that’s ever happened in my life, and I’m not sure I’ve ever had a kinder friend than Felipesegundo. I guess I’m doing this?
Holy shit. I’m really doing this.
“I choose a new life, Jack. I choose you, and a life of adventure, and whatever I need to do to earn a place on this ship. And”—she swallowed—“I choose to submit to your discipline.”
Jack’s expression of surprise changed slowly into the widest smile Aria had ever seen.
“I’m…I’m very glad,” said the pirate. “First things first,” he said, and swept Aria into a devastating kiss that drove away all thought. His kiss was gentle at first, almost tender, before it built into something savage and passionate. It was the kiss of a man who was claiming a woman, completely, as his own.
As they surfaced from the kiss, Aria felt a surge of panic.What are you doing?This is your life you’re giving up! You haven’t even given this serious thought!She hyperventilated and felt the tears rise up within her.
