Taken by Pirates

With a quick look around, I saw there were no crewmen in sight. Pulling her tightly against me, I kissed her slowly, deeply. I wanted the echoes of what we just shared to ring through her for a long time.

“My lovely Maggie, you’re even more beautiful when you’re breathless and squirming.”

Her deep flush was so precious, then she reached out to give my chest a smack that wouldn’t have harmed a flea.

“Don’t be saucy in front of the others,” she said quickly. “They’re not supposed to know about us, are they?”

I felt like a monster all over again. I’d been hiding our feelings from the crew, but not because I was ashamed of them. I had simply wanted to be certain before sharing everything. Both physically and mentally, a Captain knows to never rock the boat.

“We’ll have a little chat about that later,” I said, kissing her forehead before she dashed downstairs.

As I went up to the chart-room, I realized I had a decision to make. Possibly several.

The most important one was that I needed to decide whether being on the ship permanently was the right thing for Maggie. I couldn’t make her mine if she wasn’t cut out for the sea.

No matter that my heart clenched at the prospect of losing her. No matter that my blood ran cold from the thought of ever sailing away from her.

I wanted her with every bone in my body. Yet in my quest to be a better man, I could only do so if it was genuinely the right thing for her.

~ Ch apter 15 ~ Maggie ~

* Private Business *

There was something about cooking that I always found very relaxing. It was the ritualistic, repetitive movement.

Peel a potato, quickly rinse it, peel another. It required no thought.

Which left my mind free to spiral wildly with all of the other thoughts crowding my head.

The way Levi had played my body like a musical instrument… I was still shivering slightly every time I thought about it.

Even though I needed to focus so that I didn’t cut my thumb with the sharp knife, that astoundingly intimate experience in the cupboard would stay with me for the rest of my days.

It wasn’t just the way he had made me feel so wonderful. It was the way he had gripped me so tightly. Possessed me. It made me want to be his completely, sending fire through my belly, and lower...

“Maggie, do you feel alright?” Cookie asked, staring at me with concern. “You look a bit flushed.”

Bringing the back of my hand to my cheek, I laughed lightly, trying to hide my embarrassment. “I got quite a bit of sun yesterday, and again today,” I said. “I’m going to have to work on my sailor’s tan, apparently.”

His warm, rich chuckle filled the room, as he stirred the stew on the small iron stove.

“I’m glad you’re fitting in so well, lass,” he said as Dobbs and Dwyer came to the table, immediately grabbing a dinner roll each.

“Thank you. I really do like it here.”

“Is that because of the ship, or because of the Captain?” Dwyer asked, wide-eyed. Dobbs elbowed him in the ribs, causing his brow to furrow in confusion. “What? Why can’t I ask that?”

“That’s personal,” Dobbs explained. “Remember? We don’t ask questions about somebody else’s private business.”

“It’s all right,” I said gently. I didn’t want Dwyer to feel that he wasn’t permitted to ask questions of his crewmates. “I guess I’d have to say, both.”

“Good to hear.”

I spun to see the Captain standing in the shadows near the door.

He was even more handsome by lamplight. Dark and rugged, stern, but with an undercurrent of fire. I could feel myself blushing furiously again.

“We did well today, men,” the Captain said as Willy joined the table.