Chapter seven
The memory of the kiss made her lips tingle.
She hadn’t meant to kiss him back. Familiarity and the warmth of sleep had brought her into a pleasure filled haze. And here she lay further making a mockery of herself by being quite intertwined in a ‘cuddle’ with him. She hadn’t even thought she could fall asleep after, but listening to him breath steadily in his own sleep; she had. Last night had felt- good. The warmth of his body felt deceivingly safe. She knew better than that. He no doubt had woken up as well and when she opened her eyes to beautiful gray ones staring back. A silliness mingled with inherent strength along the profile of his face.
The sexy lazy grin made her laugh softly despite herself. Obviously Derek had no shame in what he’d done. Unlike her. Elanor sat up away from him, snatching the blanket with her. Too late she realized that would uncover him. He made a showing of stretching his half naked body. She refused to give audience to his arrogance and stared out the window fighting down the laughter. It wasn’t funny. She shouldn’t be so casual or encouraging him.
The bed shifted with his weight when he rose.
He stood by the large chest, bent as he dug within for clothes. Since he wasn’t looking she let her eyes wander over. His back had gained muscle tone in the years he’d been out to sea. She’d felt them beneath her fingers last night. A sculptured back side beneath his knee pants had her face glowing red when she remembered the kiss again- this wasn’t how she’d expected the night to end. How did she expect him to take her seriously if she were so easy to arouse into acts like last night.
Lost in her self chiding she didn’t realize he’d noticed where her eyes were until he purposely started flexing muscles. His cheek had no bounds this morning.
Arrogant, cheeky, poxy ass! she railed at him in her mind. This won’t happen again.
Derek let his trousers fall to the floor, completely naked now. She gasped and looked away quickly. His back, it had been beautiful. His front made her breath catch. He thrust his legs into the trouser pants and tied them off.
“What a beautiful morning.”
The sun did cast a sparkle on the water and the warm air felt- pleasant instead of suffocating. For a moment she wished things were not so complicated. But they were. She watched him swagger with confidence around the cabin. She focused on the nerve he had to be so happy with himself. Pressuring herself to clear her mind of any nonsense.
“Grew up in all the right places didn’t we?” He surprised her by reaching out to yank on the front of the vest she wore with his fist, jerking her towards him. Before she could react, he kissed her full on the lips. “I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the differences.”
He didn’t wait for a return in words.
After the door clicked shut she heard,
“It is good to be alive gents.”
He was met with some loud but mercifully muffled replies from whomever he’d just greeted. She lifted a pillow from the bed and screamed into it. Arrogant ass!
She threw down the pillow and jumped up pacing. Her book of spells. There must be something to aid her in it. Elanor couldn’t remember half the spells she’d learned but had written them down for times she would need them. Like for instance, strange happenings where pirates and being held prisoner by your first love?
Teagan’s sunspot spell would come in handy. Oh yes, Elanor would make him dotted from head to toe with sunburns. Why did he have to go and do that? Were there no limits to this grand scheme? He managed for her Father’s ship being stolen, took her from it and now was heading deep south so that no one knew he had her! Insanity! Her hand lifted to smack her forehead. She’d encouraged it all by giving into passions. She kissed him.
On a pass by of the bed she lifted a pillow and let out her frustrations again; banging the bed with it.
Every day they had gone in the wrong direction and the distance grew further. She wouldn’t know what had become of Maegan at this rate. Already weeks had gone by. The visions of the volcano’s eruption had started to fade from her memory. She wasn’t experienced enough in mind magic to bring a vision on purpose.
She dropped the pillow, hands lifting to rub her cheeks. Even if she did manage to get out of the room and find a hiding spot, she had no idea where they were headed. And her blasted mind would not stay focused in any case. It kept wandering to thoughts that made her mind wander to his body covering hers; reliving the velvet intimacy of his kiss.
Sinking into a chair at the table, she laid her head to the smooth wooden surface. The cool top felt good on her hot cheek. She could hear Araminta telling her not to be so dramatic again. And she was. Being dramatic. This all just didn’t seem real. Just like one of Teagan’s concocted stories. But this was real. Pirates really had taken her Father’s ship. And her captive someone she knew and stubbornly wasn’t letting her leave.
She groaned. If she kept rehashing this, she’d be as mad as him.
Think only of what you can do.
Elanor lifted her head looking around the cabin room. Small spaces weren’t something she enjoyed. Even at home she rarely would be found in the house. Better in the wide open of the summoning field or by the brook, even walking in the woods, but hardly ever found inside. How did he manage to make so many trips on the sea?
By working his ship of course. She would just run around the ship this time to see what there was for tools to use. Something had to work. She moved to the door and took a deep breath, but a rap sounded against it giving her a start.
“Miss? I have your breakfast.”
She moved to the bed, lifted the blanket off it and was wrapping it around her shoulders like a shawl. “Come in.”
“Uh Miss, are you…” The hesitancy in his voice puzzled her. She pulled on the door, opening it to Steppe turning around abruptly. His back to her, he awkwardly tried to pass the tray without looking.
“What may I ask are you doing?”
“I like my eyes where they are Miss. Please, take the tray so I can get to my duties.”
“Your eyes?” She asked confused. Then she remembered. Caspin, the second mate of the ship, had said to shield his eyes less Derek cut them out. She gave an amused laugh then.
Madness for sure. Pure, madness.
“It’s alright, I do have some modesty Steppe. I wouldn’t parade myself naked in front of you or any other man on this ship.” She made sure to say the last loudly just in case the arrogant Captain was nearby.
“I am decently covered, please bring the tray.” She sat down at the table, waiting for him. Normally she didn’t like the formality of him ‘serving’ her. However, if she must be locked in, a little company would pass the time.
“Would you sit down with me for a little while?”
He set the tray down, glancing to the door.
“I won’t keep you long, it’s just that I’m in here all by myself and I have no one to talk to. It’s a little, maddening.” Her sympathetic ploy worked. Though she noted he still had an uncomfortable look about him as he sat. She acted causal to ease his disposition, reaching for the bowl of hot cereal. She smiled the cup of tea a pleasant surprise.
“Tea! I haven’t had a cup since Port NewLlynn. Thank you, Steppe.” In truth, though the last few years had been much different, she was like any other Inglanish woman. Had been raised like a Lady with teachings of sewing and afternoon tea.
A little of each of her parents realms into one.
“Wasn’t me Miss, Captain said there were some in the hold and that I could make you it. Said you were probably missing the luxury of it, like the spoiled Inganish woman.. You… are...”
“Ah Derek, you just had to ruin a good cup of tea”
She sighed, drinking the tea anyway.
“Well it’s delicious in any case. Have you eaten?”
He seemed so stiff sitting there, back straight, hands moving from his lap to the table top to his lap again. He’d never acted this way before. Now he seemed afraid of her.
She set the cup down, staring at him. She felt the direct approach would be best.
“Are you afraid of the captain, or me?”
“I’m not afraid of no one, Miss.”
“Then why are you so fidgety? You’ve never been like this before. We’ve been on the same… ships for weeks? What is the problem Steppe?” She stirred the hot cereal while giving him and impatient glance. He looked at her and then away. She hadn’t realized he wasn’t that much younger than her. He could easily be Tegan and Maegan’s age. She wondered how long he’d been Derek’s cabin boy.
How long had Derek been a pirate Captain? The reminder fresh again of what he had become. Was the crew blood thirsty? How many law breaking acts had this young man in front of her committed? It must have been hard for him to serve Richardson and his wife, to keep the secret of the double dealings. He cleared his voice a few times before speaking.
“Well Miss, the Captain said you’d try to get out again. And if I let you get past me…” He didn’t finish.
“He has no power over me, Steppe. I got past him.” She said smugly.
“He said he’d forgotten how stubborn you could be. He said no matter how fruitless the effort, you’d like to disobey him.” He shifted in his chair. “He said, you were not to be trusted Miss.”
Her brows narrowed, insulted.
“I don’t intend on trying to leave the room again. Didn’t get me very far last night did it? I was angry. It‘s not right keeping someone against their will.” Her teeth gritted with the effort not to yell she wasn’t a pet to obey or disobey. Steppe wouldn’t suffer her anger but Derek sure as day would be when he returned.
“At least I have good company to keep me from going mad. “ She said with practice patience. Her words must have sounded sincere enough, his posture wasn‘t so stiff. Another bite of the cereal and a sip of tea. She hoped to gain his trust with her own relaxed state.
“How long until we reach land?” She asked casually.
“If the wind keeps in our favor, the Captain says just another two weeks.” Closer then she’d had thought, that was at least good news.
“Is it a big Port?” Another bite of cereal.
“Oh no Miss, it’s an island that the Captain and Caspin found. They’re the only ones who know how to get to it without sinking the ship.”
“It’s a secluded Island?” The spoon rested against the bowl a little too firmly, spilling the cereal onto the table.
“Yes Miss. A few of the crew live there and some others. Caspin’s wife is there, her name’s Leelah, really nice and beautiful.” He glanced at her and blushed. “Oh you’re pretty too, I was just sayin.”
“It’s alright Steppe, you don’t have to fill my head with flattery.” She laughed.
“Yes Miss.” He rose from the table. “I better get back to work or it’ll be my as- I’ll be in trouble. Just leave your dishes by the door and I’ll come get them later.”
“Thank you for sitting and talking with me. I enjoyed talking with you.” And she meant it. Even if she had intended to gleam information from him, it had been nice to talk to him rather than sit alone. He gave her a shy smile and a nod before slipping out the door.
She pulled the blanket off her shoulders throwing it at the bed. Slamming herself into the chair to finish the cereal. In her annoyance a terrible thought brewed up. After all he’d done, she hoped Derek tripped today and fell overboard.
Her spoon paused in mid-bite.
That thought might have been a little mean spirited on her part.
Not to mention it could wind up being bad karma for her. She considered it a moment and then sighed, taking the last bite of cereal with a shrug of her shoulders. She’d risk it. It felt good to think about him and something trifling happening for once. The Goddess knew he’d had a major part in her bad luck from the start of this trip. And now even worse news. They were headed for some remote island in the middle of the ocean!
The spoon clattered in the bowl. She bet it was one of those dots on the map- the ones that had nothing nearby. Just squares and squares of water on the map.
What was she going to do now?