Rape in the time of pirates...

I just submitted the review for Ship of Dreams to The Romance Reader . An 18th century pirate novel which features not rape, but its bastard cousin, threats of rape. Now I have to admit this was a new one for me. Usually the hero just rapes or tries to rape someone (I use the term hero loosely, okay). But here the not so swarthy pirate simply agrees with the girl when she says he is going to rape her. And then brings it up again and again (the subject of rape, not you know it). Uh, where was I? Oh, yeah.
So what's the verdict here? Is it now okay for the hero to imply that he will rape the maiden as long as he doesn't mean it? Even when she is certain he does? And if she acquieses to lessen the brutality? Is that actually a yes or just a weaker no? Speak up, ladies... is rape ever okay in a novel?