Page 51 of The Pirate's Daughter

Mia inhaled sharply at his words. Perhaps because she knew he teased or maybe because she wasn’t sure he did her whole body flushed hot. This morning when he’d put her over his knee again to rub in the cream his every touch sent a spark through her. She was no longer able to hold off and hope he hit something painful enough to distract from the experience. Worse, she knew he knew how she felt. He’d called her a hedonist right before he stuck two thick fingers in her channel pushing her overboard into the sea of bliss. She was shocked then when he set her on her feet and stood. But his next words again made her need to clench hersex.

“Tonight, Mia my love. Attend your duties first and tonight I’ll pleasure youproperly.”

Her duties, as it turned out, were book work. Payrolls and bills for supplies needed, but she didn’t mind. It was good work and left her free most of the day to wander on deck. She made sure to tell both Mr. Cruise and Mr. Potter she was sorry for making them faint and for the injuries they sustained when they did. All they could manage back was their sustained disbelief she’d actually jumped from so high up. Mr. Coventon saved her then, telling them they should cultivate such a brave or mad heart, before he winked at her and walked away. Everything only served to make her comfortable. Not something she’d thought she’d feel on a Royal NavyShip.

Or perhaps the comfort was caused by the man standing behind her, leaning past her into the wind. Even as her body ached for him, from him, she knew she was safe. She belonged where he was. They sailed the exact same course and Mia trusted he’d captain them through any storm. She could live this life. And she’d find her happiness standing beside him rather than out on thehorizon.

“You like it up here, pirate?” he asked, turning to look ather.

“I’d like it better on the top,” she laughed when his expression turned dark. “Aye, this is a beautiful place to be. Do you have glass withyou?”

“No. Why” Is something outthere?”

“Not that I know, but we are heading into a shipping lane. There might be,” she said and turned again to look over the waters. “Thereshouldbe.”

“Well unlike fine naval craft, merchant ships have no concept of time and schedules,” Devin said, his tone and looksmug.

“Beg pardon, Captain, but yes we do. Time is money, sir. I’d rather have coin than bragging rights to show for keeping my schedule,” Mia informedhim.

“That’s because you’ve never had to listen to the admiral chew your stern for missing port call,” he firedback.

“Well, you’ve never heard the commodore ranting about a missed sale for thecargo.”

Devin threw his head back and laughed. “Was itterrible?”

“My ears bled,” Mia said then grabbed him as his laughter made himslip.

“Something to avoid I think,” he said and movedcloser.

“Aye, Captain.” They eased into a silence and spent an hour or so standing over the deck looking out towards sea. When they finally climbed down, Mia took some teasing about how she’d tied her skirts to climb up. It seemed there were a few biblical scholars on ship who heard her remark to gird loins. Devin broke it up before the remarks going back and forth became too raw but everyone had a good laugh. And she found as she took a seat on a coiled rope next to the rail to watch the sun go down the men of the crew passed her with smiles and kind words. She didn’t need to spend time scrubbing decks or polishing the brightwork. She was here and part of them without force. With a sigh she set her arm on the rail and then her chin on her arm and took a moment tolisten.

“You’re not hoping to hear the sun hissing as it sets are you, Mrs.Winthrop?”

Mia looked up to see Mr. Asher standing by. “Perhaps. It’s easier to hear that sound when nearer the poles, colder water and all.” The man snorted and covered his mouth. “No, I’m just listening for the sea to say good night.” She again set her chindown.

“Does it?” he asked, then took a knee besideher.

“If you listen, itdoes.”

“What do I need to listenfor?”

“I don’t know. It’s a sound, a difference. Listen now and what do youhear?”

He was quiet a moment, “The boat creaking, the wind in thesails.”

“You listen to close, listen out there,” she said and waved her handout.

“Yes, I hearwaves.”

“Count them, count between them.” A long silence ensued. “Do you hearit?”

“Are they pullingdifferently?”

“Aye, now look east, what isthere?”

He turned and gasped, “The moonrises.”

“And it’s full, isn’tit?”

---