Page 48 of Scourge of the Shores
“Captain Jaymes,” Otto whispered. “Why ye let the Chadwick lass call ye Jaymes, not Captain?”
Robert pursed his lips. “Well, matey,” he began. “We’re unwanted, unarmed guests on her ship. But I’ll ensure she knows I’m a Pirate King once it’s all said and done.”
One corner of Otto’s mouth raised high as he gave a short nod. “Chadwick or not,” he whispered. “Don’t be disrespectin’ a Pirate King.”
“Aye. But I’m not sure it’s disrespectin’. She’s got something to prove and more to lose since she’s a woman.” He judged the amount of understanding in Otto’s eyes before deciding his next words. “Disrespect's a fine line. She walks it; I’ll walk it right back—until she sees where we stand.”
Otto huffed. “Ye’re a wise one, Captain, like yer father. Good man; good king, may Tophet keep ‘em,” Otto said, patting Robert on the shoulder as he headed topside.
Robert nestled down in the cot. The day had been worth crawling out of bed well before the break of dawn and going to bed well past sundown. One day down, four more to win her or lose her. He smiled, resting his hat over his face to block out the light. Maybe she’d dream of him as he dreamed of her.
The bark of seagulls stirred him to wake. Dawn light seeped in around the leather of his hat. He rolled up and wiped his face. He snatched his bottle of oil from his sack and pulled his teeth and tongue before rolling the crick out of his neck. He missed his Captain’s bed on Storm Rider.
He checked his breath—grimaced. Pulled his tin from his shirt, took a sip, and let the spiced rum burn through every crevice before swallowing. Checked again. Better. Much better.
He plopped his hat on his head and headed to the ladder but stopped cold. There she was in the cargo hold, counting barrels. He peered around and didn’t see or hear anyone. Why was she down there knowing he was there alone? She could have sent Scotty or even one of his men to count. A flicker of hope ignited in his chest. Maybe she was down there to be alone with him, out of sight of their crewmates. He walked on light feet toward her, kept his distance, but leaned on a barrel near her.
He let himself believe she was there for him, but she jolted, like she hadn’t realized he was there at all. His grin slipped as the fantasy cracked.
“What are ye doin’?” she gasped before waving him off. “Ten, eleven,” and kept counting.
“Did ye miss me?” he asked, tilting his head.
“Hardly,” she said. “Glad to be away from ye, and I meant to kick ye awake. Ye overslept.”
“Not used to crew quarters,” he said, approaching her until he shadowed her and all the barrels around her.
“Ye’re in me light,” she barked, but he didn’t move.
She spun around but stiffened at how close he’d come. Lanternlight caught the smirk on his face, but the space between them belonged to him now.
“Question, Captain,” he whispered, unwilling to give up his earlier observations. “If ye knew I was down by my lonesome, why would ye come down too?”
“Had a job to do,” she said and pushed past him, but he stepped in her path, blocking her.
“Ye could’ve sent Scotty,” he said.
“Scotty was busy helping yer sorry mates with the mainsail,” she said and tried to sidestep him again, but he blocked her path once more.
“What’s so important, ye couldn’t wait til I woke and went topside?” he asked, his eyes searching hers.
She did something she hadn’t done before—stepped back. He felt it. The irritation crossed her eyes before he stepped forward, closing the gap she’d just created.
“Just because ye saved me life, doesn’t mean I’m yers,” she gritted.
“I never said ye were,” he murmured, his eyes tracing the shadows of her face.
He let the sway of the ship bring him a little closer. Her moonflower scent grounded him and pulled him in. His gaze fell to her lips before returning to her eyes. Her breath shook as the silence persisted between them, but their gazes never unlocked. He lifted his hand slowly to her cheek, brushing his fingers against the smooth, sun-kissed skin as gently as he could. She didn’t recoil, so he leaned in close.
But before he could kiss her, she shoved him aside. Harder than necessary. “I only came down to tell ye that.”
And she took the ladder two steps at a time, like she couldn’t get out of the hold fast enough. He let her go, but still, he grinned. If what she said was true, she had come down there for him just as he thought. He leaned against the barrel and crossed his arms. His finger rubbed his bottom lip, remembering the heat of her breath.
“Sneaky lass,” he muttered. His gaze dropped to the barrels. He curled his finger into his fist. He’d cornered her, though. Maybe she feared what he might take. But she didn’t seem the fearing type. Did she push him away because she didn’t want his kiss—or because she wanted it too much? The question lulled in his thought until he realized she hadn’t finished counting, so he finished for her before ascending himself.
The morning sun stung his eyes, and he lowered the brim of his hat to counter it. Thane and Ethan were descending to their time to sleep as Robert scanned the deck to find Danna at the tiller. He made himself useful by tightening some rigging before he made his way to her.
“Two hundred eleven,” he said. Scotty was in earshot, so he had to be careful with their conversation.
