~~*~~
"What the..." Catherine muttered, being rudely awakened by the loud thumping, swearing, and crash that seemed to be coming from the passageway just outside her cabin door.
Hastily fumbling into her dressing gown, grabbing the lit candle from the chart table, the blonde haired woman scurried across the cabin to throw open the door and peer outside.
Squinting in the dim light, the lantern in the area swaying slightly with the gentle rocking of the ship at dock. Catherine spotted her hired captain sitting at the foot of the ladder.
Lifting the candle higher, hoping to gain a better view, the young woman now stooped before the slightly drunk and dazed man. "Are you all right?" she asked worriedly, noting the sprawl of his long legs.
"I'm fine," Will grumped, glaring at the steep steps as if they had intentionally tripped him up. "Damned bloody things."
"They are in deed," Catherine agreed, hiding her amused smirk behind a curtain of unbound, dark blonde hair as she turned to place the candleholder beside them.
Will didn't say a word, only grunted his agreement while raking a hand through his tousled hair.
"Captain Turner, you seem to have bumped your head while taking that first step," she remarked, now facing the man before her and noticing the mark.
Gently placing a finger near the forming bruise upon the other's forehead, the young woman winced as the dark haired man flinched. "You smell of rum...fine rum at that," she mused, not noticing his actions.
While the beautiful woman leaned forward, her long hair brushed teasingly against his hand and Will couldn't resist touching the silken strands and reveling in the softness. He found the sweet scent of jasmine soap lingering about the woman, making him close his eyes and breathe deeply the alluring aroma.
"...Did you hear me? I said, you would more than likely recover with only minimal damage to your pride," Catherine grinned, slowly pulling back as he searched her face for any sign of recognition.
Nodding his head mutely, Will Turner gazed upon the woman as his hand slowly snaked through her unbound hair.
"He was a fool," Will lowly commented, leaning forward, his hand at the base of her skull, gently urging her forward.
The question that remark had brought about was instantly brushed aside the moment their lips met. The kiss was deep, thorough, and passionate. It held everything the other had longed for over many lonely months and sleepless nights. The air about both was as volatile as a storm upon the open sea, and their touch seemed to ignite embers long dormant in their souls.
Moans and utterances of physical delight reverberated about them as Catherine found herself nearly astride his lap. Her nails lightly raking down his chest through the fabric of his shirt while in the same instance, one of Will's hands held her head firmly in place as the other trailed hungrily across her hip and towards her breast.
The woman didn't hesitate as she matched the handsome man move for move, the desire between the two near tangible in the warm night air.
"Cap'n...Miss...beg pardon," Red Roof gasped, stopping in his tracks and turning about in one flawless move. Forgotten was the reason why he was going down below, instead, he made himself scarce as the two quickly separated and awkwardly got to their feet.
Neither said a word as they nervously righted rumpled clothing and increased the distance between them. "Apologies...I should have never...it was the rum making me...forgive me," Will apologized, turning to go into his cabin.
Catherine felt as if she were trapped in the midst of a raging whirlwind with the way her heart was racing and her emotions were swirling about her. "Earlier, you said someone was a fool. Who did you mean?" she asked, finding herself wishing he'd say her husband, for all those terrible years spent near alone, though she were married.
Turning away from her, unable to keep his composure if he saw her kiss swollen lips once more, Will lied. "I'm the fool," he said in monotone before disappearing into the loneliness of his small cabin.
Placing a fingertip to her lips, Catherine stared at the retreating man's door for a long time before going back to her own quarters, bolting the door behind her from habit. What had been an amazing and dare say confusing few moments of physical bliss had just been dashed by his last remark. Did he find his actions foolish? Was she the fool for allowing Will Turner, for that brief instant, inside the walls she'd erected about her heart?
Once burned, never again, she thought, taking off her dressing gown and carelessly tossing it to the floor while heading to the bunk.
~~*~~
The following morning was brutal. Will awoke with a nasty headache and memories that would not fade, no matter how much he wished them to disappear.
His mood was most foul and his anger was taken out on everyone that dared to get near the man for even the simplest of questions or reports. The sooner they were back out at sea, the better he thought, watching the men finish up the ship's repairs.
If all went well, they could hit the evening tide and he'd be well on his way to delivering the damned cargo. And Miss Catherine Kent-Hyde would be on her way to wherever it was the woman needed to go, but most assuredly, out of his life.
"Damn her," Will muttered to himself.
~~*~~
If Will Turner could be a complete and utter cad, then that was how she would treat the man, Catherine thought, standing at the bow of the ship, stealing a glance at the captain who was busy snapping orders to one of his men.
How could the man have lured her to...well, to do things she never would have intended? But somewhere in the back of her mind, the stubborn woman thought of something else. Something a lady would not consider, much less be a party to by any means.
When all was placed upon the table before her, she too could react and act to fulfill her own sexual needs. It had been a long time...too long. Why not? Men obviously did not care but for one thing only, the act of sex itself.
"Besides, the sooner we get this cargo to the buyer, the sooner I can wash my hands of Will Turner and his annoying self," she mused aloud.
"Damn him," Catherine snapped behind gritted teeth.
~~*~~
Not one word had been spoken between Will and Catherine since the ship set sail the day before. Their only means of communication was through Red Roof or Stout and that was just as uncomfortable knowing that the red haired man had most definitely told the other crew member of the compromising situation he'd found the two in just days earlier.
"Ye think those two will ever see the signs?" Stout remarked, nodding his head first to Will, and then to Catherine.
"Not even if it 'it 'em upside the 'ead," Red Roof stated, both men folding their arms before their chests and in unison leaned against the gunwall.
"Think we should give them a little help?"
Red Roof turned to the other and gasped in shock, before his toothy grin made it known how much he did like the question. "Any ideas?"
"Well there's the 'ol standby method," Stout thought aloud as the other waited patiently for word of what it was, but it never came.
Impatiently, the red-haired man nudged the other with his elbow. "What standby method?"
"Man...err woman overboard," the burly man whispered.
Arching a flaming red brow in alarm, Red Roof frowned. "Don't know 'bout that, Stout. Could be dangerous for...ye know 'who'. She's just a wee thing."
"Not if Cap'n Will is right there to jump in after her."
"Ahh," they both grinned and sighed in tandem.
~~*~~
"What the..." Catherine muttered, being rudely awakened by the loud thumping, swearing, and crash that seemed to be coming from the passageway just outside her cabin door.
Hastily fumbling into her dressing gown, grabbing the lit candle from the chart table, the blonde haired woman scurried across the cabin to throw open the door and peer outside.
Squinting in the dim light, the lantern in the area swaying slightly with the gentle rocking of the ship at dock. Catherine spotted her hired captain sitting at the foot of the ladder.
Lifting the candle higher, hoping to gain a better view, the young woman now stooped before the slightly drunk and dazed man. "Are you all right?" she asked worriedly, noting the sprawl of his long legs.
"I'm fine," Will grumped, glaring at the steep steps as if they had intentionally tripped him up. "Damned bloody things."
"They are in deed," Catherine agreed, hiding her amused smirk behind a curtain of unbound, dark blonde hair as she turned to place the candleholder beside them.
Will didn't say a word, only grunted his agreement while raking a hand through his tousled hair.
"Captain Turner, you seem to have bumped your head while taking that first step," she remarked, now facing the man before her and noticing the mark.
Gently placing a finger near the forming bruise upon the other's forehead, the young woman winced as the dark haired man flinched. "You smell of rum...fine rum at that," she mused, not noticing his actions.
While the beautiful woman leaned forward, her long hair brushed teasingly against his hand and Will couldn't resist touching the silken strands and reveling in the softness. He found the sweet scent of jasmine soap lingering about the woman, making him close his eyes and breathe deeply the alluring aroma.
"...Did you hear me? I said, you would more than likely recover with only minimal damage to your pride," Catherine grinned, slowly pulling back as he searched her face for any sign of recognition.
Nodding his head mutely, Will Turner gazed upon the woman as his hand slowly snaked through her unbound hair.
"He was a fool," Will lowly commented, leaning forward, his hand at the base of her skull, gently urging her forward.
The question that remark had brought about was instantly brushed aside the moment their lips met. The kiss was deep, thorough, and passionate. It held everything the other had longed for over many lonely months and sleepless nights. The air about both was as volatile as a storm upon the open sea, and their touch seemed to ignite embers long dormant in their souls.
Moans and utterances of physical delight reverberated about them as Catherine found herself nearly astride his lap. Her nails lightly raking down his chest through the fabric of his shirt while in the same instance, one of Will's hands held her head firmly in place as the other trailed hungrily across her hip and towards her breast.
The woman didn't hesitate as she matched the handsome man move for move, the desire between the two near tangible in the warm night air.
"Cap'n...Miss...beg pardon," Red Roof gasped, stopping in his tracks and turning about in one flawless move. Forgotten was the reason why he was going down below, instead, he made himself scarce as the two quickly separated and awkwardly got to their feet.
Neither said a word as they nervously righted rumpled clothing and increased the distance between them. "Apologies...I should have never...it was the rum making me...forgive me," Will apologized, turning to go into his cabin.
Catherine felt as if she were trapped in the midst of a raging whirlwind with the way her heart was racing and her emotions were swirling about her. "Earlier, you said someone was a fool. Who did you mean?" she asked, finding herself wishing he'd say her husband, for all those terrible years spent near alone, though she were married.
Turning away from her, unable to keep his composure if he saw her kiss swollen lips once more, Will lied. "I'm the fool," he said in monotone before disappearing into the loneliness of his small cabin.
Placing a fingertip to her lips, Catherine stared at the retreating man's door for a long time before going back to her own quarters, bolting the door behind her from habit. What had been an amazing and dare say confusing few moments of physical bliss had just been dashed by his last remark. Did he find his actions foolish? Was she the fool for allowing Will Turner, for that brief instant, inside the walls she'd erected about her heart?
Once burned, never again, she thought, taking off her dressing gown and carelessly tossing it to the floor while heading to the bunk.
~~*~~
The following morning was brutal. Will awoke with a nasty headache and memories that would not fade, no matter how much he wished them to disappear.
His mood was most foul and his anger was taken out on everyone that dared to get near the man for even the simplest of questions or reports. The sooner they were back out at sea, the better he thought, watching the men finish up the ship's repairs.
If all went well, they could hit the evening tide and he'd be well on his way to delivering the damned cargo. And Miss Catherine Kent-Hyde would be on her way to wherever it was the woman needed to go, but most assuredly, out of his life.
"Damn her," Will muttered to himself.
~~*~~
If Will Turner could be a complete and utter cad, then that was how she would treat the man, Catherine thought, standing at the bow of the ship, stealing a glance at the captain who was busy snapping orders to one of his men.
How could the man have lured her to...well, to do things she never would have intended? But somewhere in the back of her mind, the stubborn woman thought of something else. Something a lady would not consider, much less be a party to by any means.
When all was placed upon the table before her, she too could react and act to fulfill her own sexual needs. It had been a long time...too long. Why not? Men obviously did not care but for one thing only, the act of sex itself.
"Besides, the sooner we get this cargo to the buyer, the sooner I can wash my hands of Will Turner and his annoying self," she mused aloud.
"Damn him," Catherine snapped behind gritted teeth.
~~*~~
Not one word had been spoken between Will and Catherine since the ship set sail the day before. Their only means of communication was through Red Roof or Stout and that was just as uncomfortable knowing that the red haired man had most definitely told the other crew member of the compromising situation he'd found the two in just days earlier.
"Ye think those two will ever see the signs?" Stout remarked, nodding his head first to Will, and then to Catherine.
"Not even if it 'it 'em upside the 'ead," Red Roof stated, both men folding their arms before their chests and in unison leaned against the gunwall.
"Think we should give them a little help?"
Red Roof turned to the other and gasped in shock, before his toothy grin made it known how much he did like the question. "Any ideas?"
"Well there's the 'ol standby method," Stout thought aloud as the other waited patiently for word of what it was, but it never came.
Impatiently, the red-haired man nudged the other with his elbow. "What standby method?"
"Man...err woman overboard," the burly man whispered.
Arching a flaming red brow in alarm, Red Roof frowned. "Don't know 'bout that, Stout. Could be dangerous for...ye know 'who'. She's just a wee thing."
"Not if Cap'n Will is right there to jump in after her."
"Ahh," they both grinned and sighed in tandem.
~~*~~