53 – Pirate King – 350

It had near killed him, Jack mused the next morning. But by God, he had done his best to teach her, slow and thorough, and the ultimate success of this careful tutelage had been a level of satisfaction that had not only not ruined her but had quite astonished them both.

In short, she was fabulous! And so was he.

It'd near killed him to slip from her side into the cool morning air to dress, too, but he had to show at the proper time to avert suspicion – hopefully the music and general revelry, which had gone on long after they'd retired, had covered the few cries they'd failed to muffle. He couldn't help smiling, though, every time he glanced over at the bed, where she lay huddled beneath the covers, sleeping the sleep of the (at least temporarily) sated.

In truth, it was her curiosity and her willingness to please and be pleased that had made the encounter so extraordinary. He had known a great many girls and women in his twenty-five years, in the biblical sense and otherwise, but Nell was something else altogether. She was an odd combination of worldliness and innocence, and he was drawn to that like silver and gold.

Not to mention she looked like a bloody goddess under those baggy clothes of hers. Not Venus. Psyche, perhaps. Very young and slender, and just a bit naughty, and lovely enough to tempt the blind bow-boy himself.

Gad's life, if he wasn't the luckiest man afloat!

Dressed now, Jack tiptoed over to the bed and crouched beside Nell, and drew the covers off, down to her waist. She woke with a groan, turning shameless onto her back, and blinked up at him until he briefly saluted her lips, each rose-tipped breast, and her perfect navel, at which she gasped, laughing.

"Come back to bed!" she said, trying to catch hold of him, but he slipped from her grasp.

"Tonight, sweeting. It's morning, and I'm due on deck, and so will you be, soon. Remember: mum's the word! Outside this cabin we're just good friends."

TBC