Her heart hammering, she handed Morgan his clothes. “I’ll wait outside.”
Morgan came to his feet, biting back a curse. His teeth clenched, he tossed the quilt to the floor. “You know, Barney, there are times when I wish I’d left you on the Jiminy Bly.”
Barney’s eyes widened. “What did I do?”
You interrupted what could have been a most pleasant distraction.
Sighing in frustration, Morgan pulled the dry clothes on. “You didn’t do anything. Hell, I ought to thank you.”
“For the food?”
No, for keeping me from making the biggest mistake of my life.
“Aye, Barney. Thanks for the food.”
Frowning, Barney scratched his head.
As soon as he was dressed, Morgan opened the door. Serenity, her face ashen, was standing on the other side of the narrow hallway holding on to a grab rail. Feeling for her panic, Morgan took the three steps that separated them and pried her grip loose. “Everything is all right, Serenity. The worst of the storm is behind us.”
“Are you sure?”
He gave her a warm, reassuring smile. “After twenty years at sea, you get rather good about guessing these sorts of things.”
Serenity nodded. The cabin door opened behind Morgan. “If you won’t be needing me further, Captain, I’ll be heading back to the galley.”
“Butter beans, butter beans!” Pesty squawked.
“That’ll be all, Barney.”
Morgan had to move closer to her to let Barney pass. He stood so close, Serenity could feel the heat of his body, feel his breath fall lightly against her cheek. His still-damp hair curled around his shoulders, and she longed for the courage it would take to touch one lock.
It was so overwhelming to be this close to him, to be able to smell the raw scent of man and ocean.
Kiss me, she pleaded silently, craving the feel of his lips against hers, of his arms wrapped tightly about her.
He cleared his throat. “If you don’t mind, Miss James, your fingernails are biting holes in my arm.”
It was only then that she realized she had reached out for him and grabbed his biceps.
Heat flooded her face and she instantly let go. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”
Kiss me, Sea Wolf. Kiss me now!
She wanted to scream it, but her lips and mouth were so dry that she couldn’t speak.
Morgan had seen plenty of come-hither looks in his time, but never on so innocent a face.
It would be so easy to sweep her up in his arms and carry her back to his bed. To peel her dress from her and run his tongue over every inch of her body until her taste was branded in his memory.
She was an innocent. And no matter how much he might want to, he wouldn’t rip that innocence away from her the way it had been stolen from Penelope.
The way the Brits and Winston had whipped the innocence out of him.
No, he couldn’t do it. Having been used, he refused to use another.
He could…contain himself.
He was used to disappointment. Had swallowed that bitter taste many times in his life. It was just a little more bitter than the others, but it would go down.
Even if he had to chase it with a barrel of rum.
“If you’ll excuse me, Miss James. I need to get back topside.”
She frowned. “You haven’t eaten anything. You just changed into dry clothing!”
He snorted and said under his breath, “Yes, but I feel the need for another cold bath.”
Serenity sat alone in the cabin. Morgan had been right, the worst of the storm had passed, but the ship continued to creak and moan as it pitched and dipped on the choppy sea. She wasn’t sure how long it’d been since Morgan left, but the sky had turned darker.
She was anxious and bored and desperate for someone to talk to her when a knock sounded.
“Enter,” she called.
Morgan came in with Court, the cook’s son, a step behind. The boy placed a covered platter on the table, then quickly took his leave.
“Why is it, Captain, that you always seem to be wet when you’re near me?”
He muttered something about her and his wetness under his breath that she couldn’t decipher.
Peeling off his jacket, he said louder, “Cookie didn’t dare light a fire, so we have cold food this evening.”
As hungry as she was, it could have been shoe leather and she would have been grateful. Pulling back the lid, she quickly realized it probably was shoe leather.
She wasn’t really sure what the dried brown lump was. “Yum,” she said aloud, “Hard-boiled wood, my favorite.”
He grunted. “It’s dried beef and onions. You’ll get used to it.”
Morgan grabbed more clothes out of his trunk, then went outside. After several minutes, he returned with his wet clothes dripping from his left hand.
“You can hang that up over here,” she said, pointing to the makeshift clothesline she had secured from the end of the bunk to the window. She’d found a ball of thin cord in his chest of drawers and she had used it to hang up his other clothes.
She didn’t know what he thought about her ingenuity. He kept his thoughts carefully guarded as he crossed the room and added his wet bundle to her growing collection.
Morgan grimaced as his gaze swept over the articles of clothing. He recognized his own, as well as Serenity’s attire from the night before.
But what caught and held his attention were the frilly intimate underthings that were also hanging up. Frilly things that made him wonder what secret delights they covered.
“Been doing laundry?” he asked, his voice nothing more than a hoarse croak.
“Well, you said fresh water on board was scarce, so I thought I’d take advantage of our sudden surplus and use it.”
His hand brushed against her soft cotton chemise and his body instantly reacted. Rolling his eyes, he stifled the urge to return back to the storm. One more dousing and he was sure he’d catch his death.
That is, if being this close to her undergarments didn’t kill him first.
Clenching his teeth, he turned around and purposefully kept his back to the drying clothes. Not that it helped. Serenity had brushed her hair out and left it to hang about her shoulders. The candlelight caught in the chestnut waves, adding reddish and gold highlights.
She set the food and plates on his table like a proper dinner setting. A strange feeling came over him. One he couldn’t quite define.
He knew he’d never experienced anything like this in his life. It was almost a feeling of longing. But even that couldn’t quite explain what he felt.
It was just different.
She poured them each a mug of milk, and it amazed him that she didn’t make a comment about his choice of beverage. Even Barney couldn’t resist nettling him every now and again about it.
Then she did it. “Where do you get the milk from?”
Clearing his throat, he pulled a chair out for her. “We have a cow on board.”
“You do not!” she gasped in disbelief.
“It’s not the usual thing, but Cookie insists. He claims Court, being a growing boy and all, needs fresh milk.”
Her smile was enchanting. “Where do you keep her?”
“She roams below deck with the other livestock.”
Cupping the mug in both hands, she took a sip of her milk, then set it aside. “Well, I’m certainly glad Cookie insisted. I love fresh milk.” She wiped the traces of milk from her lips and picked up her silverware.
Morgan took his own seat across from her while she started on her food. He watched her saw at her meat until she had a bite-sized piece. No small feat that, and he had to admire her determination.
But it was Serenity that caught most of his attention. Her wrist had a delicate curve to it as she gently picked up the meat and opened her mouth for it. White, perfect teeth flashed an instant before her lips came together to cover the fork, and she slid it slowly out.
The very tip of her tongue p
eeped out for just an instant as she licked a tiny spot of cold gravy from her upper lip.
Never before had Morgan noticed just how arousing the process of eating could be. But with every graceful move of her body, and with every flash of teeth on her lip, he felt as though he were being tortured.
“I’m sorry it’s not more palatable,” he said, his voice strained.
“Oh, no, it’s fine. Why, it’s a lot better than what Honor made after our first cook quit. She made porcupine meatballs, and all I have to say is that the porcupine part was definitely right. I think I still have a…” she looked up at him and caught his stare. “Is something the matter?”
If you lick your lips one more time, I swear…
“No,” he said gruffly. “Nothing’s wrong.”
“Are you sure, Captain? You look as if—”
“I said nothing is wrong,” he snapped with more malice than he’d intended.
Her face fell and he felt like a bastard. “I’m sorry. It’s just been a long day,” he offered as an excuse.
That seemed to console her. “You know, I was thinking this morning about the fact that it really isn’t right for me to take over your room. I know how men are when it comes to their territory and—”
He interrupted her with a short laugh. “Men and their what?”
She shrugged. “Territory. My brother and father get quite insane anytime anyone intrudes on their private sanctuaries. I’m sure you view this room as such, and I wouldn’t want to put you out.”
Uncomfortable with her choice of words, Morgan shifted in his seat. Well, put out would definitely describe that piece of his anatomy that was currently ramrod stiff.
“And where do you propose I put you?” he asked.
“I was thinking we could put a hammock up by the window perhaps.”
“Have you ever slept in a hammock, Miss James?”
“Well no, but I’m sure it’s not that hard.”
It’s harder than it’s ever been before, he thought, shifting once more in his seat. “A hammock is no place for a woman.”
Serenity stiffened at his words. Words that set a fire raging in her belly. “And why is that, Captain Drake? Why is a hammock fine for a man and not a woman?”
By his face she could tell he didn’t want to explain himself.
The answer he gave her rated right up there with her father’s because I said so, and as long as you live under my roof…
“It’s just not fitting.”
She set her fork down and eyed him with all the malice she felt. “Says who?”
“Everyone.”
“Everyone?” she repeated, her eyes wide. “I certainly don’t say so, and I believe I count as someone.”
He had that look on his face, that exasperated why can’t you see reason look that her father always got when she confronted his more ridiculous notions.
“Where do you get these ideas?” he asked after several seconds of silence.
“My ideas are my own, Captain Drake.”
He snorted. “Well then, that’s comforting. I would hate to think these novel ideas of yours are catching among women.”
Insulted, Serenity glared at him. “I’m not the only woman to hold such views. Are you familiar with the writings of Mary Astell?”
“Never heard of her.”
“What about Lady Mary Wortley Montague?”
Now, that was a name Morgan knew—everyone in polite society was aghast at her exploits. “What about her?”
Her face lighted up. “Then you know her views on women. We are not addle-pated, goose-twits who have no other purpose than—”
“Goose what?”
“Goose-twits,” she repeated. “Women do have value in this world, Captain Drake. We can hold our own!”
“In case you haven’t noticed, Miss James, this is a man’s world. Women need protecting from it.”
Serenity came to her feet and narrowed her stare on him. “I’ll tell you what we need protecting from. Thoughts like those and men who think the only value a woman has is to be a pretty little decoration on his arm, or some trophy conquest.”
She put her hands on her hips. “The day shall come, Captain Drake, when women will take their proper place in society. And I assure you, that place is not the drawing room.”
His laughter rang out, and he applauded. “Bravo, Miss James. Tell me how long you have practiced that speech.”
She saw red.
Ignoring her, he continued to dig himself in deeper. “And who put such ideas into your head?”
“Are you saying that I can’t have my own thoughts?”
At least he had the decency to look a little sheepish. “That’s not what I meant. But let’s face facts, those aren’t the normal ideas. You didn’t come up with this mutiny on your own.”
“Mutiny?”
“Aye, mutiny. You stand before me, hands on hips, and defy every time-held belief. If women were meant to be the equals of men, then why since the very day God gave Eve to Adam, has man ruled woman?”
She inched closer to him, her hands itching to strangle sense into his male brain. “Need I remind you, Captain, that God did not make Eve from Adam’s foot so that he could tread upon her. She was created from his side to be his equal.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and eyed her. “Then why are women by nature, by God’s own design, the gentler sex? Women faint at the slightest scare.”
Oh, how she wanted to knock the smug look off his face! He was so proud of that argument—well, she had an even better one.
“Slightest scare, Captain? I assure you, sir, that I have seen women suffer for days to bring a child into this world. And I have yet to see a woman faint during the labor of it. I beg you, show me a man who would willingly bear that much pain for that many hours, and not cry out for his mommy! In fact, you want to know why women have a higher tolerance for pain, Captain Drake? I’ll tell you why, it’s so that we women can put up with you men!”
He laughed.
By heaven, the man’s audacity knew no limits. He actually threw his head back and laughed at her!
“I don’t see the humor, Captain.”
“No,” he said, sobering—well, all except the corners of his lips, which continued to turn up in a smile. “I don’t suppose you do.”
Morgan tried to force the smile from his face, but she stood so proud and fierce before him that he just couldn’t. She was a rare treat.
He’d never in his life met a woman who could have phrased her views so eloquently—or so amusingly. In truth, he had known a few men who did just what she said, sailors who’d been wounded and had in fact cried out for their mothers.
“You make a most convincing argument, Miss James, but it doesn’t change anything.”
Serenity folded her arms over her chest in a duplicate of his pose, and looked away from him.
Men! Would they ever see past their own narrow views of the world?
Suddenly Morgan was beside her. He lifted her chin with a knuckle until she had no choice but to meet his eyes. Fire and longing burned in their dark depths.
Morgan brushed the pad of his thumb against the soft underside of her chin. Her skin was so soft, so warm. She had a strength of courage that would indeed rival any man’s. It must be hard for her to face the laughter of people and not give in. He admired that in her.
And he swore that he would never again laugh at her—not even if she told him that one day a woman would be prime minister of England.
“I don’t want to fight with you, Serenity,” he whispered.
“Then what do you want?”
To make love to you.
Morgan clenched his teeth, knowing he could never say that to her. So instead, he switched to a safer topic. One that needed to be spoken before she really did find out the truth of what he’d once been. “I want you to forget about the article you’re writing. Leave my crew alone to attend their duties.”
Anger sparked in her eyes, turning them a
vibrant shade of blue. “Why?”
“Because everyone on this ship has a duty, mine is to run it, Barney’s is to keep peace, and yours is to stay out of our way.”
She knocked his hand away from her face. “I didn’t realize I was in anyone’s way.”
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “This isn’t a game, Serenity. You need to—”
“Mind my sewing, read some nice, sweet poetry, and do the laundry.”
“Exactly.”
If looks could kill, Morgan decided he would now be splintered across the far wall.
“Very well,” she said, her voice ice. She moved over to where his laundry was drying. She grabbed his still-dripping coat and threw it over his shoulders. “Since my job is to sit here and keep out of the way and yours is to run the ship, I suggest you get to it!”
“But I—”
“But nothing, Captain. Heaven forbid you leave the helm for more than a minute. Anything could happen. God could toss down a lightning bolt and set fire to the ship. A sea monster could rise up from the depths of the ocean and swallow us whole. Or, dare I say it? The weight of male egos may be so great that it plops a hole right in the center of deck and we sink from it!”
And before he could protest, he found himself standing outside in the hallway, the door closed firmly behind him.
Now, how did she keep doing this to him?
Just as he turned to confront her, the door opened.
Serenity shoved his plate into his hands. “And whatever you do, don’t forget your shoe leather.”
Once more, she slammed the door shut in his face.
“Serenity!” he bellowed, knocking against the door with his clenched fist. “Open this door!”
“Go to the devil, Captain Drake.”
Incensed beyond reason, he snarled, “That’s not very ladylike!”
The door opened and she came at him, her nostrils flared, her eyes smoldering. “Then try this one. Go to hell, and…and rot!”
And before he could move, he once again confronted a shut door. “Serenity!”
“Oh, forgive me, Captain,” she drawled in the most helpless voice he’d ever heard. “But I can’t open that huge old door by myself. Why, I fear I might get a splinter. If only there was some strong, able-bodied man who could save me from my weak and helpless plight…”
A Pirate of her Own Page 10