A/N: I saved the best for this chapter... also there is a little peek back to Scotland to see how Katherine and Ned are doing with all of the babies to show how much time has passed :) you are very welcome! xx Mariah
There was nothing for Melinda to do but wait as she listened to the clamorous sound of men dying muffled through the heavy, wooden floorboards. Pacing as she twiddled the dagger in her hands, her heart thumping heavily in her chest. This was undoubtedly the most exciting thing that had ever happened to her in her whole life, and she was stuck in a damn wooden box, tucked away safely away where she couldn't see anything.
It was frustrating. But the logical part of her brain was refusing to let her unhook the barricade and waltz back up onto the deck straight into the middle of the action, aware that it would have been colossally stupid and most definitely would have gotten her killed. And she'd gotten so lucky at avoiding that to get locked away anyways.
Nevertheless, she couldn't help feeling the need to do something. To be helpful in whatever way she could to those men above who were risking life and limb while she was all cozy and safe behind closed doors.
How long had it been? Ten minutes? Twenty? Was everyone okay? Was Jim okay? What in the devil was hell was happening?
Only a moment later someone began thumping on the door and for some reason, her brain decided she was, most likely, about to die. Until she realized an attacker wouldn't knock and then heard Jim's reassuring voice from the other side.
Melinda stumbled towards it, managing to shove the barricade out of the way far enough to allow one of the doors to open before he pushed his way inside, her worried mind latching onto the picture of his bloodied face. "What happened?" She asked.
"Rick is tied up in the brig and we are going home," he explained feebly, sighing. "We will deal with him on the way."
She nodded. "Let's get you cleaned up," she whispered, pulling him to sit down on the bed.
"I'm fine," he insisted, trying to blink away the blood that was dripping into his eye as he focused on her. "Are you okay? No one touched you, right?"
Melinda didn't grace him with a response as she grabbed a clean piece of cloth and dabbed it into the bowl of water. They'd won, it seemed, and Rick would be dead soon. That's all that mattered. She pressed the cloth against the side of his forehead, immediately making Jim pull his head back in shock as he hissed.
"That stings!" He shouted. "I would've thought you'd be showering me with kisses right now."
"Of course it's gonna sting, it's saltwater." She instructed as she began gently dabbing the blood away so she could get a better look at the wound hidden underneath. "Now stay still."
"Saltwater?" He hissed again, frowning. "Is that healthy?"
"It's fine," she promised. "It can be medicinal in the right circumstances. It's great for stopping infection - half the reason no one on this ship has gangrene despite everyone trying their damn hardest."
Jim laughed softly, appreciating her attempts to lighten the mood, then catching his head with the palm of his hand as the effort caused him to go dizzy for a few moments. "You're funnier when I have a head injury," he teased. "Is something wrong?"
She frowned and ignored his question, checking the skin where her hands had washed away the last of the seeping red. "Well, you won't need stitches, lucky for you. Head wounds like to bleed like a pig but it's not particularly deep." She glanced around the room, spotting a lantern hanging from a nearby wall before fetching it and holding the light in front of his face. Moving it in and out of his line of sight in a slightly dazzling way. "But you have a concussion. You'll need to take easy for a few days."
"I do not. Stop worrying," he sighed, standing up and moving her out of his way.
"Jim," she warned. "I'm not letting this go." She caught him as his legs wobbled from under him slightly. But her words weren't as gentle as her grip around his arms. "You don't get a free pass because you're hurt. I am still angry with you."
The hit on his head seemed to have knocked out his inhibitions, he could hardly believe she'd even just said that. He blinked at her. "You're angry with me? For what?" He asked.
"For sending me away like some child. I know that you care for me in your ways and want to keep me safe, and I love that about you, but I am a grown woman. I can take care of myself." She told him carefully, sighing. "I deserved to be there. To watch both of those bastards die for what they did... but what's done is done."
Silence hung in the air long enough for her to feel guilty, but not enough to apologize. She hoped the light in the room was too dim for him to notice before he finally replied. "Okay. I'm sorry." He said, shuffling closer to her. "I only wanted to keep you safe because we were outnumbered. Next time, you can take the lead if you want."
"That's not what I meant and you know it," she muttered, rolling her eyes, but even so she carefully helped him lay down on the mattress.
As she went to stand, he grabbed her hand. "Will you stay? I'm sorry for being an ass," he sighed and she returned to sit next to him, tenderly brushing her thumb over a bruise that was forming under his eye, she grimaced at the sight of it. "I just don't want you to have to worry about protecting yourself. That's my job, remember?"
The words didn't sound as good as she'd hoped, but there was a layer of genuine love in the question and mostly he just sounded concerned that she'd unnecessarily put herself in harm's way. "Fine," she smiled gently. "It's your head I'm worried about."
"My head's fine." He insisted.
Melinda nodded, accepting that was probably as much acknowledgment as he was going to give to the fierce-looking lump forming above his eye. "And considering you've just managed a lucid conversation, I think it's probably safe for you to try to get some more sleep now. I promise to check on the crew in the meantime and wake you when dinner is ready."
Katherine, Ava, and Mrs. Fitz kept an eye on the kids while they washed the laundry. Eddie and Angus uninterested in either helping their mothers or playing with their little cousin Ella and quickly tagged along after Ned as he headed for the barn to supervise the shearing of the sheep and gathering of the wool, now that the weather had warmed enough for the sheep not to need their thick winter coats.
She took her task of sorting through the piles of dirty clothes to see which would need mending very seriously while Ella was deftly toddling around and kept crawling through her piles, much to Katherine's dismay. "Sweet girl, I know you're only trying to help but you aren't doing much of it," she said, kissing her niece's cheek. "Go help your Auntie Ava."
"I'll help!" Ella said in her light, musical voice and wandered off to where Ava and Mrs. Fitz were busy scrubbing and wringing the clothes. "Can I help?"
It was a favorite game of her niece's that she had dubbed 'playing helpful' because Ella was a little too small to be of any use yet. She had grown a lot in the four months Melinda and Jim had been gone, but she was still fairly young and they'd yet to receive news of her sister and brother-in-law yet.
Katherine often worried about them and prayed for their safety every night, but it didn't soothe any of her worries. Neither was just how similar Ella was to Melinda more so even than her looks, which increasingly favored her mother, bar her distinctly blue Clancy eyes.
"Don't splash all of the water out of here, dearie," Ava scolded lightly, wringing one of Roger's shirts tight, then sliding her wrist deftly so she could pull it still tighter—the water ran down her wrist to her elbow and soaked into her skirts.
"Uncle Ned!" Ella called, suddenly spotting him and Eddie and Angus as they hurried into the yard. The toddler forgot what she was doing and broke into a run, but tripped over her own two feet and sprawled in the dust, crying over the resultant mouthful of dirt and scraped palms.
She dropped what she was doing and then hurried over to her niece to pick her up, dust her off, and soothe her. "You're alright... you know to go slower than that, sweetheart," she said gently as she wiped Ella's round cheeks with the fabric of her skirt. Katherine shifted the toddler securely onto her hip and scurried to meet her husband. "Is something wrong?"
"There was a messenger," Ned informed her and held out the letter. "It's from your sister."
While Ella's lower lip still pouted, her tears had ebbed. "My mommy?" the little girl asked.
"Yes, sweet girl. I'm sure there will be a part for me to read to you later," Katherine said and urged Ella back towards the house before she had a million other questions. "Mrs. Fitz? Take Ella and the boys inside. Get them cleaned up and something to eat," she said and handed her niece off to the old woman when she came over and ruffled her son's hair as he ran past her.
They were all far too young to understand what was happening and to be fair, neither Ned nor Katherine was sure what to think either, but the shift in the air was almost tangible as they set about clearing up the half-finished washing and preparing a bit to eat.
"Did the messenger say anything?" She asked eagerly, looking at him.
Ned shook his head. "Just that it was for you and that my tip wasn't big enough for a two-week journey," he sighed. "Well go on, read it."
"Don't rush me," she muttered and ripped the letter open. There were more than a few pages, but that was like her sister. It made her smile and laugh, but all in all, it made her miss Melinda dearly. "They miss us all and wish they had more news but haven't found Rick."
"That's all?" He asked.
"No, but to keep it short that's what it meant. There's no mention of Rick or their return," she explained. "It was dated for two weeks ago and it's not like I can send a reply. Even if they are on their way home it will be months before they are here." Katherine moved to sit down and sighed, carefully folding the papers back so she could read them again later. "Which means my sister will not be here for when the baby comes. Which could be any day now."
Ned followed behind and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "I'm sorry. I know that you wanted her here in time for the baby's arrival." He said, taking a knee in front of her and rubbing her belly. "But you will have me and Ava."
She scoffed but the idea weighed heavily in her chest, making it difficult to speak with her usual cynicism. "It's not the same. I want my sister," she said, taking his hand to stand up and marched out, heading for the kitchen to check on Mrs. Fitz and the children and to make sure Eddie didn't escape having a bath.
The first thing Jim became conscious of when he woke the next morning was the arduous thumping that had taken over every corner of his head, the first traces of dawn were peeking through the opened window at the end of the cabin, a sea breeze brushing through the thin curtains, and it became obvious that the pain in his skull had caused him to wake up.
Though hadn't Melinda spoken of dinner? She looked to be somewhat peacefully sleeping beside him, her head resting comfortably over his shoulder, his arm snug around her, and settled on her arse. It was a pretty way to wake up until his head throbbed again and he was reminded of Rick Payne below in the brig of his ship.
His wife still looked beautiful, her hair sticking to her forehead, mussed with sleep. Melinda's cheeks were tinted a lovely pink, her kiss-swollen lips parted invitingly. She always looked so relaxed in the morning, and he felt his heart swell with all the love he felt for her. His lovely wife, who now, he wanted to reassure her of just how much he cherished her.
When she turned and caught him watching her, he smiled at her in his half-awake state. "Good morning," he said, his voice was still rough with sleep, but all he wanted to do was wind his hands in her long hair and sink inside her. He felt like a newlywed again, not wanting to keep his hands or lips off her as he pulled her close and peppered kisses anywhere he could reach.
She laughed and turned her head to kiss him slowly, his hands skimming along her body. "Good morning indeed- oh," her whispered words turned into a moan as his fingers slid between her thighs.
If there were better ways to spend his morning he knew nothing of them. Getting lost in his wife was something he swore he could do say and night. Especially now that Rick Payne was locked below. That soft sound of another content sigh slipped from her lips was like heaven above and it caused his cock to harden.
The quicker he moved his fingers inside her, the more undone she came. There was always something about Melinda that made her more desirable, more so in the way she sought out her pleasure when they were together.
Ladies were supposed to be prim and proper, held to far higher standards than any man. They devote themselves to their husbands, birthing babes, and listening to the voices of those around them. Or so Jim had been taught as a child. He heard so many stories of men taking whores instead of lying with their wives. So much proven as the bastard children were as plenty as the true born children.
But as he touched her he could not imagine why he would ever be in search of anything else. Melinda brought him comfort, their child, and now she brought them both something else. He was all too ready to worship her in the way he had come to believe a man should treat his wife.
Her pleasure became far more important than his own as he pulled away from her. She opened her mouth in protest but the look he gave, told her to trust him. It was not as if he was parting from her, not entirely. He had other ideas. He placed his kisses slowly, strategically down her exposed skin, and God, she was perfect. As if she was sent from the heavens to him.
He wished to stay forever with her like this, his hands ever so lovingly spreading her legs just enough to see just how wet she was for him. Something he was certainly able to feel only moments prior, and the sight itself was something else entirely. His desire grew, his cock harder than comfortable, but it wasn't about him... only her.
Slowly he kissed along her thigh, the left one, followed by the right one until he found himself between with her hands grasping his hair. Melinda arched ever so slightly, spreading her legs further apart all too willingly. There are no words to say how much he loved seeing her like this under him, and he hadn't even touched her proper yet.
Not that he made her wait much longer as his tongue swirled around and he felt her squirm just a little under him. There's no denying there's a certain joy in teasing her until she made it clear as to what she wanted from him. It didn't take long for him to slip a finger back into her, followed by another, slowly working them in and out of her. His fingers curled in the way he knew made her squirm, so often unable to keep her quiet, and he was all too smug about it.
"Jim," she whined, pulling on his hair. "Please..."
He knew what she wanted, but didn't quite give it to her yet. His tongue doesn't cease until he felt her come undone, crying out and legs shaking, the sound of her breath heavy on his ears. One last kiss was placed on her before he slowly kissed her body and found his way to her breasts. A swirl of his tongue around her exposed nipple caused her to arch into him, in turn causing the throbbing ache between his legs to become more obvious to them both.
That's when he felt her hand wrap around him and it was his turn to let out a moan, soft, but no less true. His blue eyes glance up at her, still not speaking, certainly not as his lips found hers, kissing her long and slow. He savored the moment, enjoying the slow, agile movements of her hand even if he wanted so much more from her.
There was still no rush. Patience was a virtue.
"I need you inside me," Melinda whispered against his lips, taking them against her own just before Jim was able to speak. He was not one to disappoint his wife. Certainly not as he felt her hands pull away from him, threading through his hair as they had been much sooner. "Please... please."
It did not take him long before he found himself pushing inside of her. Each time felt like the first time all over again. He stilled, just for a moment, allowing her to welcome him. Until he felt her hips move, finding him slowly thrusting as their kiss lingered.
God, she was the sweetest wine and Jim was drunk on her. Her legs slipped around him, pulling him in deeper, and he was far too happy to comply, taking her with just enough speed to cause their lips to part. They moved together as the world completely fell away. It was just the two of them with sunlight barely shining into their room as it rose.
His tongue slipped between her lips and entered her mouth as they kissed again. She moaned in appreciation, grinding her hips up towards him. His hands slipped to her bare breast, her nipple hardening under his touch, just as the ache between his legs hardened with the way she moved her backside against him.
If there were better ways to spend the evening he knew nothing of them, and getting lost in his wife was something he swore he could do day and night. The soft sound of a content sigh that slipped from her lips only caused him to want her more. He breathed against her lips and wondered how he could be so lucky to have her. She was all his.
He found himself on the edge of spending far too soon. Never truly ready for this all to fall away, no matter how good the high felt for the both of them and his hand slipped between them and just above where they were joined. He drove into her just a little faster, wanting to keep the slow, lazy pace they had set, but needing just a little more to push them both over the edge.
His mouth dipped down to suck and tease her nipples and her nails dug into his back, slightly, and his ego boosted just enough. She held onto him tighter and he kissed her lips again. He wanted to feel every inch of her as she began to fall apart underneath his.
Her cries of pleasure were muffled against his kiss, her body pulling him in as she found her release. The feeling was all-consuming, bringing shudders through her and bringing shudders through him. "Jim," she moaned in his ear, wrapping her legs tighter around him.
He knew he would not have long now before his body would insist on ending this, that he was sure of. That was why she continued to meet his thrusts, causing him to groan loudly, whimpering softly as pleasure took him.
"Oh, Mel," he whispered, licking her neck, hands moving to her breasts again, she gasped his name as he toyed with them gently and his movements grew faster, more desperate. "Melinda..." He closed his eyes and moments later he found his pleasure, spending inside of her, clutching onto her in his way until he gasped. "Christ." His body collapsed on top of hers, his hands still toying at her chest.
She stroked his hair, kissing his head. "Mmm… good morning, my love," she hummed, a warm smile on her face and her breasts heaving beneath him.
He placed a series of soft kisses up her neck until he met her lips, his eyes looking straight into her. Neither needed to express their love now, not when they have shown it so thoroughly. They were willing to weather whatever storm may cross their path.
"Good morning," he repeated, smiling as he pressed another kiss to her jaw and then her shoulder. He never wanted to leave this bed, but that wasn't possible. Both of them knew that. "Did you sleep well?"
"How could I not? With you here beside me and no worries about Rick Payne... it felt like a dream come true," she whispered, running her hands through his damp hair. "Especially after everything that has happened..."
Jim could agree with her there and pressed another kiss into her sweet, warm neck. Tears pricked against his eyes and she comforted him wordlessly, her hand still lightly running through his hair. "I know," he confessed to her. "We are safe now. All of us. Your letter should be arriving back home soon. I should write another one so they know we are coming home and that this mess is behind us."
"Maybe I will draw something for Ella. She would like that, don't you think?" She asked softly. "I don't think Katherine will forgive me for quite a while though. She will be having another baby soon and I'll miss it."
"Of course she will. Katherine knows why we had to leave," he said, kissing her cheek. "And I'm sure Ella will love anything we send. It's from her mother and father."
Melinda nodded. "I just thought we would be home by now." She sighed.
"I know," he said, trying to comfort her, but the sudden burst through the door ruined that. He pulled up the bedsheets to cover Melinda as fast as he could, not so much caring about himself as he met his gaze with his younger brother. "You could have knocked, brother, before you came storming in here." He groaned and turned back at Melinda with the gleam of a silent apology before he felt drawn to kiss her. "I love you."
His brother regarded them both, sprawled across the bed, and cleared his throat. "Please, no need to get up on my account." Daniel teased, smiling.
He noticed his wife slightly glared at his sibling before covering herself with a silk robe. He grinned at him as he reclined on the bed, cradling his head in his hands. "Don't be such a bore dear brother. This is the first time I've enjoyed myself in weeks." He sighed, stretching.
Daniel raised an eyebrow, "If I can't have whores on the boat then you have to leave your marriage bed, deal brother."
Melinda chortled in response to his words. "Oh spare us the chastizing words. Why are you here?" She asked.
"Rick Payne needs to be dealt with. The men are getting restless about it," Daniel explained, settling into one of the chairs and helping himself to a goblet of wine from a pitcher.
Jim sat up, pulling on his trousers without haste. "I see," he said, pulling on his white shirt last before he walked over to his brother's side. "He will be dealt with and then the men can have their piece of him when I'm finished. It's only fair after all our men he's killed over the years."
Daniel nodded and took a sip of his wine. "Just do it soon. We don't need a mutiny on our hands." His brother muttered.
He sighed, nodding. They had known this was coming. "I know that." That didn't mean he was completely prepared for it. He began pacing back and forth, but before he realized Melinda must've crossed the room to see him. "It will be done by dusk."
"Do you need my help?" She asked, placing her hands on his shoulders to try and help him relax. "I'm here for you."
Jim wasn't sure what he had needed until just then and he took in a deep breath, his eyes falling closed, but her touch seemed to calm all of his nerves. "Yes, I need your advice on what to do. I want his head, but is that wise?" He whispered, bringing her hand to his lips. "I want to go home and feel as though our family is safe."
"We will never be safe with him out there. You know what you need to do," she reassured him, flattening her hand against his cheek. "I will be waiting right here for you when it's done and then we will go home."
He nodded. She was right. He had to put an end to this mess and Rick Payne. Once and for all.