I had a ball writing this pirate adventure. I would listen to the soundtracks to all the Pirates of the Caribbean movies as I imagined Captain Jason Flint strutting the deck of his pirate vessel, The Sea Hawk. In the scene below is a duel on the beach between Jason and Captain Lorenzo Mendoza, Spanish pirate who took Jason’s mistress, Shelley, in payment for stolen goods–namely The Sea Hawk.
I remember when I got the cover for Sea Hawk’s Mistress. I did a happy dance. Jason is exactly how I pictured in my head. This is still my favorite cover.
See more about Sea Hawk’s Mistress (included in the trade paperback Pirate’s Mistress)
EXCERPT from Sea Hawk’s Mistress
Out of the green foliage walked a group of men—led by Jason!
His face was hard, his mouth drawn in a grim line. His eyes were like stone and he walked past her without a glimmer of recognition.
“Mendoza, I believe you have something of mine,” Jason said commandingly.
Lorenzo laughed and waved Jason to come and sit outside his tent, where there sat a few chairs and a small table set for morning refreshments.
“I do not recall having anything belonging to you, Capitán,” Lorenzo said as he sat. “You had stolen my ship and I collected on that debt. We are even.”
Errol Flynn in "The Sea Hawk"
Jason refused to sit and stood glaring at the Spaniard. “We are not even.”
Lorenzo thought for a moment. “Yes, perhaps it was not an even trade. She is worth much more to me than any ship.”
“The girl is mine. I’m here to take her back.”
Lorenzo clucked his tongue. “No, Capitán, she is mine. You have a fine ship and I have a beautiful woman. My hunt for revenge is over. Now leave this island before I grow angry and teach you another lesson.”
Shelley stood stunned, watching the exchange. Jason acted as though she was invisible, yet he demanded her return. A shiver of anticipation skittered down her spine at the thought of his naked body sliding along hers. She almost moaned at the mental image of being tied to his bed, ass in the air, ripe for a paddling. Cream gathered between her legs and her cunt clenched in want for his touch.
Her reaction to Jason was so much deeper than that to Mendoza. She was attracted to Lorenzo, but she was in love with Jason. Her pirate lover awakened the woman inside who yearned to emerge and experience sexual pleasure—and love.
“Careful, Captain, I am not feeling forgiving this morning.”
Lorenzo leaned forward in his chair. “Don’t threaten me, Capitán. The senorita remains as my lovely hostage.”
Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Carribean
Jason laid a hand upon the hilt of his sword. “She comes with me. The woman is my slave, and as such, she is my property.” He drew his sword and pointed the tip at Lorenzo. Jason’s command faltered for a split second before he fought down the outward sign of weakness.
Shelley took note of the painful wince upon Jason’s face. She wanted to go to his side and help him. But his countenance was firm—his heart was ice. He wouldn’t even spare a glance in her direction.
“I fear you take your life into your own hands. You are not well enough to face my blade.”
“Afraid to find out, Mendoza?”
Lorenzo’s face turned angry. “You are a fool, Capitán.” He stood and pulled his blade from the sheath at his side. “You see her as only a slave. I see her as my future wife. I will fight for what I claim as mine.”
Wife? Shelley glanced from Lorenzo to Jason as they stripped away their side arms and began to circle each other on the beach.
Lorenzo wanted to marry her. Jason wanted to possess her. What did she want?
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Tags: Action, adventure, Ellora's Cave, Marianne LaCroix
Often when I have a new book out, I’m spending a huge amount of time promoting and not writing. I think like most writers, though, as an innate introvert, after a while, the promo really drains me. Yet it’s important. If we, as writers, want to actually make a living (however small) with this someday, then we need to get out there and connect with readers (as well as other writers). So off to promo we go. And this is where I end up doubting myself more than anything. When I do things, I like to think I put my all in them. It may not appear so, but I do. However, you get to a certain point where you’ve overdone it and need to back away. This is where I’m at right now. I’ve hit all the promo angles I know for Claimed, at least the ones I can afford. Now it’s time for me to back up and regroup.
