Alone in Paradise (The Chronicles of Anna Foster Book 2) Read online

  “Wow!” He smirked while holding the panties up and studying them. “You really need some new underwear, Angelina.”

  “Fuck you!” Anna spat at him.

  Paco looked dejected for a second. “I’m really sorry that I had to do that. But, I have my orders. I cannot untie your hands.”

  Anna stared at him as he dropped her underwear into the top dresser drawer. “What are you doing?”

  “Since I can’t untie you and you may need to take a piss again, it might be better for you if you kept these off. That way, you won’t wet yourself waiting for me to come check on you.”

  “So, I’m supposed to lie here like this?”

  Paco shrugged. “I guess so.”

  Anna shook her head as if doing so would somehow wake her from the nightmare.

  “Well, you should probably go ahead and pee, so I can clean the bedpan.”

  Anna fumed while she contemplated her choices. She could relieve herself and get it over with, or she could delay the whole thing just to test his limits. On the one hand, she would finally release the building pressure inside her and maybe finally get him out of here. Yet, she could hold out and maybe get her panties back, or even get him to untie her out of sheer impatience. However, that could have the nasty side effect of him deciding to get physically violent with her, and that would more than likely have the net result of her wetting the bed involuntarily.

  With a little effort, she managed to scoot back toward the headboard and sit up on the flat pillow. She pulled the bedpan closer with her foot, and positioned it in front of her. She moved forward, but accidentally bumped it away.

  “Here, let me…” Paco lurched toward the bed, but stopped after Anna glared at him.

  She again pulled the bedpan back into position and successfully mounted it the second time. Taking a deep breath, she prepared to relax, but saw him watching her out of the corner of her eye. “For fuck’s sake, a little privacy, please?”

  Paco frowned, but turned to face the wall.

  Keeping an eye on him, Anna did her best to relax, taking deep breaths and shutting him out of her mind. She even tried visualizing a huge waterfall, doing her best to conjure the sounds of rushing water in her mind’s ear.

  After a couple of minutes with no results, Paco shifted his weight. “What’s taking so long?”

  “You know what? Let me trade with you. Why don’t you try doing this with your hands bound and a stranger in the room with you?”

  Paco threw his arms in the air. “Fine! I’ll step out.”

  Before she had a chance to say anything more, the door shut behind him, leaving her alone.

  “Finally.”

  * * * * *

  Paco waited outside the door, leaning against the opposite wall with his arms crossed and scowling.

  “’oi!”

  He turned to see Robert pacing down the corridor toward him. The pilot was carrying a pool cue with him and wearing a big smile on his face.

  “’ow’s it goin’?”

  “Okay.” Paco shrugged and looked at the floor. “Just waiting for her to get done.”

  “Waitin’ for ‘er? What’s she doin’?”

  “She’s, uh, relieving herself.”

  “Is she now?” Robert affirmed with a smile and moved past him.

  “Robert, wait.”

  Robert opened the door and stood in the doorway. Anna’s voice came quick. “Hey!”

  Robert chuckled. “’ello, love! Excited to see me?”

  “Get out!”

  Paco moved right behind the Brit and tugged on his shoulder. “Come on, Robert. Leave her alone.”

  Turning around, Robert questioned teasingly, “What’s the matter, Paco? You gettin’ soft for ‘er? Don’t tell me you’re smitten’ with the li’l bitch?”

  “No, that’s not it.”

  “I think you’re fallin’ for ‘er, aren’t ya? Well, you know what? Get over it! All you are is ‘er nursemaid. An’ if you do your job right, maybe you can get wha’ever is left o’ ‘er after the rest of us are done.”

  “Now, hold on.”

  “No.” Robert jabbed a finger in Paco’s chest. “You need to remember your place in this ‘ere crew. Just because you ‘elp keep the ship runnin’ and got stuck wit’ bein’ ‘er nanny doesn’t mean that you can have dibs over me an’ every other scumbag on this boat. You do what the cap’n tells you an’ like it.”

  Paco puffed his chest out and pushed toward Robert. “So, why should I listen to you? Last time I checked, you ain’t the captain.”

  Robert cocked his arm back and slugged Paco across the jaw, sending the man sprawling across the corridor. Paco slammed into the metal wall with a solid thud, and the pilot was on him again.

  “Robert! Stand down!”

  Robert released Paco’s shirt and shot to his feet. “Aye, Cap’n.”

  “Get back to the bridge and check our fuel levels. Make sure we have enough to take off again.”

  “Aye, aye!” Robert ran past him toward the bridge.

  The captain’s eyes fell upon Paco. “Paco, get up!”

  He stood to attention in front of the door and saluted. “Yes, sir!”

  The captain walked toward him, his gait slow and steady. “How is our guest doing?”

  Paco glanced into the room for a brief second, seeing Anna slide off the bedpan. “Fine, sir. Just finishing up.”

  “Good. Finish the job, and make it quick. I want a word with her when you’re done.”

  “Aye, sir!”

  * * * * *

  Paco stepped into the room and the door slid shut behind him. Anna saw the red welt developing on his chin. She actually felt kind of bad for him. He had stepped up to defend her and taken a punch for it. Maybe he did care for her, however little it may be.

  He stopped inside the door and crossed his arms. “Are you done yet?”

  She nudged the bedpan toward the foot of the bed. “Yes, I’m done.”

  He snatched up the bedpan and steadied it to prevent the liquid within from sloshing around. On reflex, he looked into the container and back up at Anna with narrowed eyes. After a few seconds, he walked out the door.

  Anna wasted no time in returning to freeing herself from the bed. Knowing her panties sat in the desk drawer, she suspected the rest of her belongings were also there. She stretched her arms toward her head, hoping to get her teeth on one of the strips and rip through it. The strips proved to be too short, and a few centimeters remained between her wrist and her mouth.

  A couple of minutes later, Paco returned with the empty bedpan and set it at the foot of the bed. He turned to grab the tray when the door opened again.

  In the doorway stood a tall, thin man with short brown hair, wearing a white collared shirt and navy blue pants along with a long navy blue trench coat. Anna assumed this was the captain Robert and Paco mentioned earlier.

  “Done?” His stern query, spoken with a clear American accent, caught Paco’s instant attention.

  “Yes, sir. I was just about to…”

  “Leave the tray.” The captain waved his hand toward it

  “Yes, sir.”

  The captain nodded his head toward the door. “Leave us.”

  Without uttering another word, Paco exited the room, leaving the captain alone with Anna.

  Once the door had closed with a hiss, he looked at her for a long moment. “Anna Foster, right?”

  Anna’s eyes widened, surprised upon hearing her name. “How do you know my name?”

  “I hacked into your wristcomp. Nice little device, I might add. But, never mind that. I’m not here to ask about your belongings. I’m here to ask about you.”

  Anna clamped her mouth shut, determined not to help him with any of his questions. He had already broken into her wristcomp files. What more could he possibly want to know?

  He held a hand up toward her. “First, let me extend an act of good faith.”

  The captain strode to the dresser in the back corner and pull
ed out a white linen sheet from the bottom drawer. He unfolded it, then draped it over Anna’s hips and legs.

  Surprised at the act of kindness, she looked back at the captain.

  “I am James Renfro, captain of the Resolute. Did you tell Paco your name?”

  Anna shook her head.

  “He picked out a name for you. Didn’t he?”

  She nodded with a frown.

  James shook his head and smiled before laughing to himself. “Let me guess. Angelina?”

  Anna nodded.

  “Well…‘Angelina’, I need you to help my crew.”

  “You can help me by untying my hands. I’m afraid I can’t be much help confined to the bed.”

  “A few questions first. Are you a good cook?”

  Anna did a double take and cocked an eyebrow. “What?”

  “Are you a good cook?”

  “Why?”

  James removed his trenchcoat and laid it across the top of the dresser. “I already have a ship’s engineer and his assistant, so I don’t need another technician aboard. I need to find if you fit in here.”

  Anna furrowed her brow. “And, why would I want to stay aboard?”

  “You don’t have a choice.”

  She opened her mouth to speak, but James cut her off. “Answer the question, please.”

  “I’m not much of a cook.”

  “Domestic cleaning?”

  “No. Is this all you expect out of a woman: to be a homemaker?”

  James stepped next to the bed. “Well if you can’t do any of that, then the only role you can perform on this ship is ‘Morale Officer’.”

  Anna frowned, not liking the direction the conversation had turned in. “What does that entail?”

  James responded by whipping the sheet off of Anna, exposing her lower body again.

  “I believe it’s time to check your qualifications.”

  Anna’s eyes widened as the captain unbuckled his belt and unfastened his pants.

  “Go to hell!” She drew her leg back and kicked him in the crotch. James doubled over from the blow. Anna drew back again and smashed her foot across his jaw. The captain tumbled to the floor beside the bed with a slight groan.

  Within seconds he was back on his feet, and stared at her while rubbing his jaw. Anna prepared to launch another assault.

  “Hellcat,” he stated with a slight nod. “We’ll see how long that lasts.”

  James lunged at her, a hand stretched toward her. Anna kicked again, but he blocked the attack with his forearm. Before she could react, he was upon her, hand raised to strike.

  * * * * *

  Several minutes later, James walked out of the room to find the rest of the crew waiting in the corridor. He looked at their faces, each of them waiting in eager anticipation. The captain paused, reveling in the attention.

  After several seconds had passed, he stepped away from the door. “Next.”

  Chapter 22

  “Smooth as silk.” Hikaru smiled as he sat down next to Paco at a rectangular table in the ship’s galley the next morning. The steel walls hosted a few cabinets, a small sink, and countertop stovetop, at which Michel prepared their breakfast.

  “You can say that again.” Michel set a plate of scrambled eggs on the table. “Eat up.”

  Staring at the food, Hikaru poked a pink cube in the middle of the eggs with his fork. “Is this the ham from last night’s dinner mixed in here?”

  “Just eat it. It’s not that bad this time.” Paco rested his forearms on the table and leaned in.

  Hikaru pointed his fork at Paco. “Easy for you to say. You eat everything.”

  Paco shrugged.

  Hikaru grumbled and took the plate, stuffing a bite of the eggs into his mouth.

  “Mornin’, boys!” Robert strode into the galley, a broad smile gracing his face. “’ow’s everyone feelin’?”

  Michel looked over his shoulder for a second. “Better now that I have proven I’m a far better lover than all of you combined.”

  Robert and Hikaru affirmed, but Paco continued eating his eggs without a word.

  “Whatsa matter, Paco? You’re not cheerin’. Did you not get to shag ‘er last night?”

  Paco sank deeper in his chair and took another bite of his eggs without replying.

  “Aw, no! ‘e didn’t wet ‘is willy last night.”

  The other two chuckled.

  “Were you afraid of ‘urtin’ ‘er, or were you just not gettin’ it up?”

  Hikaru aimed his fork at Paco. “Maybe she didn’t turn him on?”

  “Wha’ are you sayin’?” Robert gasped. “You sayin’ that ‘e’s a pillow bi’er?”

  “I’m not gay.” Paco took another bite.

  Robert leaned in and cupped his ear. “Eh? What’s that?”

  “I’m not gay!”

  Robert chuckled. “I don’t know. Come to think o’ it, you do seem a wee bi’ girly.”

  Paco shot up to his feet, pushing the chair back against the wall in the process. He pressed his finger into Robert’s chest with each word. “I’m…not…gay.”

  Dropping his humored expression, Robert straightened his posture. “I don’t like your tone, poofter. Shall we ‘ave another go?”

  “Robert!”

  James’s voice broke the tension in the air, and everyone came to attention. James walked into the room and looked over each of the crewmen for a few seconds.

  “Paco, go check on our guest.”

  Paco bolted from the room, grabbing the plate of food Michel had just filled on his way out.

  “Where’s Ahmad?”

  As Robert shrugged his shoulders, Michel waved his spatula toward the door. “He was in here earlier. He said something about checking the engines after shoveling down his food. He has the table manners of a goat. I’d be surprised if he tasted anything.”

  Ignoring the complaint, James turned on his heel and left the galley.

  * * * * *

  Paco poked his head into Anna’s room to find her curled up in a fetal position – while still tied to the headboard. Her wrists were pinched and bright red from the cloth restraints. He set the plate of cooling eggs on the desk after the door closed behind him, and watched her for several seconds before clearing his throat.

  “How are you holding up?” He hoped for a response. But she remained motionless and said nothing.

  He glanced at his feet, struggling to find something to say to provide her with some comfort.

  “I… I brought you some breakfast. You must be hungry. Would you like some eggs?”

  Anna still didn’t respond.

  “They have bits of ham in them. It’s really pretty good. Michel outdid himself this morning. Of course, it doesn’t take much.”

  Paco looked at her again, hoping his attempt at humor would be enough to ease the tension in the room. He lifted the plate, carried it over to the bed, and sat on the floor next to her. Scooping up a forkful of eggs, he eased the bite toward Anna.

  “Here. Take a bite. You need to eat.”

  Anna did not stir.

  “Please?”

  She turned her head farther away from him.

  Setting the fork on the plate, Paco set it aside on the floor by the bedpost. He leaned up on his knees and placed a hand on her side. Anna jerked away from his touch, but the movement stretched her arm even more, threatening to dislocate her shoulder.

  Realizing his error, Paco settled back onto the floor and stared at her back for a few more minutes.

  She whispered something he couldn’t understand.

  “What?”

  “Go away!”

  He paused for a few seconds. “I’m supposed to feed you breakfast. Please eat.”

  Anna fell silent again.

  “You haven’t eaten in almost a day. You need to eat.”

  Again, she said nothing.

  Paco mustered as much sympathy as he could into his voice. “Is there anything I can do?”

  “Let me go.”
<
br />   “The captain would kill me if I did. He doesn’t want you going anywhere.”

  Anna paused a few seconds. “Untie my hands?”

  Paco weighed his options. On the one hand, he could release her hands, easing her pain and probably win her favor for his kindness, but he would probably be punished for disobeying the captain’s orders. Considering he was the newest member of the crew, doing so would more than likely not cast him in a good light with the others. However, he could keep her tied up, running the risk of permanent damage to her hands, and nothing would really change with how he got along with everyone else aboard.

  Rising to his knees, Paco grabbed the nearest knot and worked on loosening it. About a minute later he untied the strap around her wrist, and she weakly pulled her arm to her side.

  “Thank you.” Her words brushed his ears.

  He reached for the strap around her other hand, but could not get the leverage he needed to undo the knot.

  “I’m sorry, but I need to get on the bed to release your other hand.”

  She said nothing in reply.

  Paco planted one knee on the bed by her shoulder blades and straddled over her to loosen the remaining knot. After releasing her and watching her arm flop onto the mattress, he looked down at her face and noticed her crying. “Did I hurt you?”

  Anna wept without answering.

  “What is it?” he questioned, leaning down toward her.

  She muttered between sobs, “Please…”

  He didn’t understand why she was crying. “What?”

  “No more, please…” Anna pushed him with her forearm but, lacking the strength to move him off the bed, only managed to nudge him a little.

  Realizing she must be reacting to the night before, Paco climbed off the bed and watched her with pity as she wrapped her arms around herself. “I am really…truly sorry.”

  He left the room without another word, leaving Anna with her grief.

  * * * * *

  Zooming over the treetops some time later, Ahmad drove his skycycle toward his destination. Grumbling about having to perform the task the captain had given, he vowed to finish the work as quickly as he could and get back to the ship to finish checking the engines. As much as he liked shore leave, spending that time on a world without any form of civilization was not his idea of fun.