Daniel grabbed hold of her wrist to stop her from finishing her task. He stood, towering over her. With his other hand he took hold of her chin and moved in closer.
They were both staring into one another's eyes, not speaking. Maura didn't know what was to happen next. Her heart was pounding inside her chest.
He bent his head to hers, lifted her chin and pressed his lips to hers.
She had never been kissed before. She felt an overwhelming sense of pleasure from this. His kiss was warm and gentle. Her thoughts were racing, now. How should she respond? Any decent girl would not allow this to continue. She should fight against his advances.
Why was it then when Kilern tried to ravish her she instinctively fought with all she had in her? But this man... Oh this man, she did not fight, she could not fight, and she did not want to fight.
For this she felt some shame, but did not seem to be able to stop her own feelings of pleasure.
Daniel had thoughts of his own running through his head. He instantly knew at once she had never been kissed. She was so inexperienced. So he further surmised, as well, she was probably a virgin.
This, in and of itself, was something new to him. He had always had very willing and experienced partners, but never someone so chaste, so pure. His thoughts reeled in his head. Nervous? A little. Excited? Very much so. This would have to be done delicately and in good time. He must not rush this. He, too, was enjoying this very long and sensual kiss.
He advanced a little further by taking her petite face into his oversized hand and in forcing her lips apart to accept his tongue inside her mouth, while comforting her by stroking the skin of her soft velvety neck.
Maura rolled her eyes back into her head as if to swoon and she responded in kind with her own soft little moans way in the back of her throat, while relaxing up against Daniel's chest.
Daniel knew if he did not stop now, he would not be able to. In a rough manner he let go of her wrist, backed away from her and suddenly became cold in his verbiage.
"I'll finish the front. You'd better get started with ya other daily chores, before the day gets past ya. Mind ya, I want every last chore done by days end with no excuses. You're lucky ya still standin' and not swinging from a yardarm, you and Godsey both." He turned to his trunk and pulled out a clean shirt and trousers, donned them, tugged on his boots and left the cabin, without so much as looking back in Maura's direction.
Maura stood dumbfounded. She could not imagine what she had done to make him so angry, all of a sudden. She was certain he was enjoying the passionate kiss and embrace as much as she had. She closed her eyes and reached up to touch her lips. They were still burning from his passionate ravishment. They felt slightly swollen and warm. What was this feeling she was experiencing? She hugged her self about the waist, tight, and pretended he was still holding her, and then wondered when he would hold her again. The first thing she had to do, though, was to figure out what on earth she was doing to make him angry, so she wouldn't do it again!
Ӝ
Chapter Seven
Daniel stood at ships helm. The wind was blowing its icy winds into his face. He welcomed this numbing feeling. Any feeling was welcome that helped take his mind off of Maura and what to do about her.
He leaned on the great wheel of the ship, with his forearm. Try as he would, he could not drive his thoughts of Maura from his mind. He instinctively ran his fingers across his mouth, where just moments ago, Maura's lips were pressed to his. He had felt an electricity with her he hadn't felt in many a year. Possibly since he himself was an inexperienced wet behind the ears pup, feeling those sensations for the first time.
From the bow, Kilern spied his Captain for clues to his mood. In an attempt to find out if his Captain really had no idea he, too, knew of the cabin boy's identity, he approached Daniel.
"Cap'n, ya be lookin' a bit tense, sir. Anythin’ I can do for ya?" The old liar stated as he feigned, friendship and concern.
Daniel ran his hand through his long black mane, in frustration. He turned his face toward Kilern. "Nothin' I can't figure out in time, my friend." Then continued to stare out toward the overcast ocean sky, as dark and gray as his mood.
Kilern was satisfied, for now anyway, that he was safe from retribution. He went back to his post at the bow of the ship.
"Cap'n, Cap'n." Godsey's voice broke his trance. "I can see a ship comin' up behind us. Looks like a military flags, sir."
Daniel pulled out his looking glass and extended it off the port bow to get a better view of the approaching ship. It was the Avalon.
The Avalon was captained by Daniel’s friend and former shipmate, Donald Robertson. They had become friends when in the military. As soon as the Avalon was close enough, Daniel shouted out to Captain Robertson for permission to come aboard. Captain Robertson shouted back his greeting and gave his permission for Daniel to board.
"Daniel, how ya be farin’ up, my friend? I haven't seen ya, man, for nye a year!" They gave each other a hearty slap on the back. "Looks as though you've had some trouble?" Donald remarked as he eyed the enemy ship Daniel was holding prisoner.
"Aye Donny, I need ya ta take hold o’ these prisoners and bring them back ta Ireland. They're guilty of tryin' ta pirate my holdin’s, the night before last. It has held me behind schedule."
"Where ya be headin' this time, friend?" Captain Robertson asked.
"Back ta Boston, New England. I'd like ta make it by spring. I figured three months, barrin’ any further hold ups, storms, and the like." Daniel answered his friend.
"Sure mate, I can transport the buggers back ta stand trial for their thievin' ways. Come on down ta my quarters and have a snort or two of brandy, before we shove off.” Captain Robertson escorted his friend below deck, to his cabin.
Hours had past while the two friends caught up on old times of their youthful years in the navy and of their raucous escapades with the ladies of the bawdy houses. They drank more than a few brandies, and then moved onto Captain Robertson's private stock of Scottish whiskey.
Daniel was not always listening intently to his friend, as his mind was otherwise engaged in matters awaiting him in his cabin. The more inebriated Daniel became the more he focused on Maura and less on the histrionics of he and Donny’s friendship. Finally Captain Robertson began to wane as the hour was becoming late. He begged forgiveness from Daniel, but needed to get some shuteye for the long journey back to Ireland. They had their men transfer the prisoners from their ship to the Avalon's lock up, below deck. The two old friends bid each other farewell and hoped to run into one another, again, soon.
Daniel entered his cabin to find Maura sleeping on her bunk, curled up in a wool blanket. It was evident the fire in the woodstove had gone out a while ago as it was cold in his cabin. He wasn't feeling the effects of the cold, as he had quite a bit if liquor in him to keep his body warm. He threw a few logs in the stove and began to stoke the embers.
He looked over at Maura and was absolutely captivated by her innocence and her natural beauty. He had thought for a brief moment he'd confide to his friend, Donny, of his predicament and send her back to Ireland with him. But something inside would not let him. He reasoned with himself she'd only end up in the same quandary she was presently in, which is to hide her identity from the men aboard Captain Robertson’s ship. But if he did send her with Donny, then she'd no longer be his problem.
He went back and forth in his mind. Should he let her stay with him or have her go and become someone else’s problem? Looking over at her, right now, he couldn't see much of a problem. But he knew living in the same quarters, with her, for the next few months would definitely be a test of his will to be able to keep his hands off of her, for sure. He wanted to go to her right then and there and awaken her with lustful kisses, to climb in beside her and warm her body with his own. To give Maura her first lessons in the pleasures of lovemaking. But he knew he was too consumed by all the liquor he had ingested to be able to make good judgment of his though
ts. He would wait to see what the light of day would bring. If he took her before they landed in Boston, it would be when he was sober and she would hopefully be willing and unafraid. He continued to stoke the embers in the stove while reasoning with himself over how best to manage this delicate dilemma. He was not a rapist, he told himself. But he did think back to earlier in the day, when she was assisting him with his bath that she seemed willing to succumb to his passion for her. But, that too, could have been a young woman’s curiosity, and should he have advanced further, would it have become rape? He knew, in earnest, he would not have been able to stop, once he got started. So he relented to himself he had made the correct choice to stop and walk away.
The cabin was beginning to warm, nicely. He undressed and climbed into his bunk, but sleep would be very difficult with Maura just feet away from him and this morning's lustful kiss still burning in his memory.
§
The sunshine poured through the panes of the bay window above Daniel's bunk. He awoke to the smell of pork, eggs, coffee and freshly baked Irish soda bread.
Maura had awoken hours before the cook and rest of the crew. She went to the galley and collected all the ingredients she needed to make a most wonderful breakfast. She even coaxed the hens into giving up a few extra eggs. In order to assemble the soda bread, she had to make a few substitutions. But all in all the bread didn't turn out too awful bad. It was warm, that's all that mattered to her. She was tired of the same breakfast of warm cornmeal and weak coffee.
"Good morn to ya sir", Maura greeted Daniel with a soft voice and a warm smile. Maura sensed she may have better luck not angering him if he were gently awoken with a smile and a decent meal. She was definitely more happy this morning if for no other reason than she did not have to be careful of giving her secret away. When Daniel first awoke he thought he was at home, in Boston, lying in his own bed. He rubbed his eyes, and gave a long luxurious stretch that pulled the bedcovers, to just below his narrow hips. His abdominal muscles resembled a washboard, strong as steel and rippling.
He raised himself up on one elbow and was lying on his side she could almost see below the covers to his most private area. She looked away in shame for noticing. She cleared her thoat, “Would ya like a cup o’ hot coffee brought to ya, sir?”
He had to hold his own feelings in check for you see at this very moment Maura had no idea just how beautiful she was. Her hair was a mass of black silken curls, all tousseled every which way and her skin was like that of a porcelain china doll. Her cheeks possessed a natural rosy hue, lips of dark pink velvet, and eyes of emerald with thick, dark, smoky eyelashes.
He definitely needed cold water splashed in his face, about now. Still he kept his senses about him and answered her question coolly.
"If ya wish." She brought the coffee and a plate of food to his bedside.
He propped himself up with a few pillows from his bunk, and took his first sip. "My God, woman! This is real coffee! Since when did the cook learn how to cook?" He said derisively with a hint of laughter.
Maura felt a sense of satisfaction he was pleased, and replied, "I cooked breakfast for ya, sir. This mornin’, before anyone was awake." She said with great pride and an angelic smile upon her face.
He stopped eating and swallowed hard, then immediately his jaw got that now familiar tightness to it whenever he was angry with her. Through his grinding teeth he said, "You cooked breakfast… You cooked breakfast!" The second time he repeated it his voice was even louder than the first time he said it.
Maura's eyes were squinting in unison with his shouting tone towards her.
"I told ya, woman, I didna want anyone ta know ya are aboard ship for fear of an uprisin’ amongst the men, and you deliberately disobeyed my direct orders to you!" Daniel’s voice was even louder, now. "Must I chain ya ta your bunk ta protect you and my men?!" He threw his legs over the side of his bunk.
Now Maura could see him completely naked and this was most disturbing to her.
He could sense this and grabbed for his trousers, at the end of his bunk, and donned them immediately. He tugged his boots on and moved over to the table. He sat for a long few minutes running his hands through his hair.
Maura had come to know this as a sign of his frustration with her, and learned quickly this would be a good time to remain silent until he collected his thoughts.
"Captain, may I speak?" she asked softly.
"May you speak? He said acerbically. ”Could I possibly stop you madam?"
Maura waited a few moments and then with a softened tone she spoke in her defense.
"I made sure I was up before anyone else. I was very careful, sir. I only wanted ta please you. I only wanted ta do somethin’ nice for ya, and ta thank ya for not floggin’ Godsey. I didna mean ta spur your anger, Captain." Then without realizing what she was doing she reached out her hand to touch his, while she was engaging him in her apology. Immediately the electricity was felt again by both of them.
He looked up over his folded hands, into her eyes, and could see she was sincere. Daniel also knew she really had no idea what feelings she was stirring up in him. He moved away from her touch and leaned back into his chair. He picked up his mug, finished the remainder of his coffee and then said to her, "Well is there any more coffee left, woman? God knows when I'll ever get another really decent cup of coffee." She beamed a great smile of victory for she knew she had won this battle.
Maura noted another important detail. He had been addressing her as woman, rather than girl. To her this meant she has risen up a notch in his mind. This pleased her though she did not know why.
Daniel began to devour the scrumptious breakfast set before him. "So ya can cook, too? Tell me, woman, what is it that ya can not do?" He conceded a wink and a smile in her direction.
She blushed with his obvious flirtation.
As if he read her mind he said playfully, "Aye, Darlin' I'd love ta be teachin' ya that." She began to wriggle in her seat and a warm feeling washed over her breasts all the way down to the pit of her belly. It had suddenly become difficult for her to breathe. Her chest began to heave with the intense beating of her heart. She was so completely confounded by the feelings she had whenever she was around Daniel. Maura looked directly into his eyes, now, not backing down from his intent stare.
Daniel tipped his chair back on the rear cane posts and rocked back and forth, while sipping his coffee. Looking up over the top of his mug he continued to stare into Maura's deep emerald eyes. Daniel devilishly conceded, in his mind, he wanted to play this game with her a while longer. At any rate it kept her quiet, he'd figured that out quickly.
The tense quiet between them also gave him time to think. This was something new to him. He'd never even courted any woman. Not even his betrothed, Mallory. Daniel had always considered himself much too busy in his business affairs to engage in such nonsense.
As for Mallory, she was already bedded and experienced many times over, by the time he'd gotten to her. No, this one was a real challenge to him. He sincerely wanted to know more about her than just how good she would taste when he finally bedded her.
"Tell me some things about yourself, woman." He said in a low, seductive voice.
"Well, I am the only daughter of a longshoreman. My mother died when I was two summers. My aunts raised me when my father was away at sea, but when he was home he raised me like the son he never had." She laughed, as she talked of her father.
Daniel liked seeing her relaxed and off guard.
"He taught me to hunt, shoot, ride a horse, cook, he was the cook on the ships he sailed with. In the last few years he has become more ill and unable to work. He managed to send me to one of the finest schools in all of Ireland, once I was of age. But as you may know King George III, hath carried over King Henry the VIII’s ruling. You see during his tyrannical reign, King Henry VIII made it a crime for any woman of Ireland to seek to educate herself.” Maura continued on her with historical dissertation. “This would put women at
the mercy of the English lords and soldiers, to force us ta marry and forge together our cultures and to obtain our lands as part of our dowry brought ta any union between the English and the Irish.” Maura shuddered a bit at that notion, and then continued. “So ya see if an Irish woman refuses, well, then she must take her chances on the streets or in the brothels ta support herself because, as I said, she would not be allowed ta work ta support herself.”
Daniel sat quietly sipping his coffee and intently watching her mouth as she formed each word and was daydreaming about taking that mouth and…He shook himself back to the conversation to avoid ceasing her right then and there in midsentence.
“My father knew Mr. Godsey from their sailin’ days together. He begged him ta take me to America, so that I might meet up with another friend of his, Mary Turlington and her son Thomas, in Boston. My father has sent my dowry monies on ahead, in the hopes they will take me in when I get there and provide me with work until I can support myself. And that's the whole of it Captain.” Maura paused briefly then she continued on.
“My father is dying, Captain Hargendon, and he did not want me ta be at the mercy o’ the English, for fear they would abuse me or that I would be in a loveless marriage o’ convenience just to survive. I cried and begged him not ta send me away. I wanted ta be the one tendin’ ta him in his last days.” Maura rubbed her hands over the whole of her face and breathed in deep. “When I finally do reach America, I am goin’ ta write and send money when I can and if my father has survived, I'll send for him. I just pray it is not too late by then." She went quiet, now.
Daniel sat forward in his chair, elbows leaning on the table, captivated by her tale. Then just as sudden, he became suspicious of Maura's motives. She sounded most sincere. But females have a way of deception he has had the poor fortune to have experienced in the past, just to gain what they want from a man, like marriage, for instance.
Mayhap she believes me ta be an eligible, single, wealthy tradesman that could support her and give her an honest name for her brats, as he so often thought was the goal of all women.
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