Chapter Seven

Emma stiffened as if he'd slapped her and Horatio immediately regretted his outburst.

"I only mean that.....it's not....well...I-...It's rather chilly....and it'd be...rather un..uncomfortable" he stammered. Truly he should just jump overboard.

"Oh." Emma said quietly then nodded in agreement. "Forgive my stupidity." she shrugged, clearing her throat.

"Not ay all." Horatio shook his head. "It's been a long tiring day for you. You must have time to properly rest if we are the marriage."

"I understand." she agreed. Then she seemed to want to ask him but he could see the hesitation in her eyes.

"What is it?" Horatio asked.

"Is it very tiring then?" Emma asked quickly. Horatio opened his mouth then closed it. What could he possibly say that would expose his ignorance? He tried to remember what his shipmates had told him. They were hardly modest about boasting of their sexual exploits. He tried for shrug that conveyed confidence and experience.

"It can be. Sometimes." Emma was quiet for a few minutes and Horatio took up the oars again.

"When?" Emma asked.

"When what?" Horatio asked blankly.

"When will we.....that is....when will....uh...we consummate the marriage?" she asked. He really should stop pressing her when it seemed as if she wanted to ask him something because in the short time he'd known her, Horatio knew she was debating saying something that would get his blood flowing to the most inconvenient of places. He was glad for the darkness that kept his all-too evident desire from her eyes. Then it struck him. When indeed?

On a ship with hundreds of men, private rooms were not even a consideration. Only Captain Pellew was allowed that indulgence, the rest of them slept, three, sometimes four to a cabin.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." Horatio promised with no idea how they'd actually accomplish it.

Emma decided that being married was a very confusing business. One minute she was dreading the idea of being intimate with her husband and the next minute Horatio promised they'd do that very thing and she felt a surge of excitement with, dare she admit, anticipation. It was the dream, she told herself. There'd been more to it than just kissing Horatio, much more and it gave her a pleasantly warm feeling between her thighs. She had to shift around a bit. Almost as if she had to use the water closet, she thought fighting a giggle. "If we are to wait before we....uh...can be together in that way, do you suppose.....that is....would you like....." she trailed off waiting for Horatio to catch her meaning. Nothing. His eyes regarded her blankly. She'd have to get out the words herself. "I should very much like to kiss you again." she said quickly. Emma watched him close his eyes and felt a brief flutter of panic that her forwardness had offended him. Instead, he stopped rowing and reached to draw her closer to him. His hands cupped her face and Emma felt a giddy thrill surge through her in remembrance of how good it felt to kiss him the first time. She could help the soft little sigh that bubbled from her throat when his mouth met hers. His lips were slightly cold from the night air but his mouth was warm in delicious contrast. Emma felt the briefest flicker of his tongue against her teeth and she startled in surprise, pulling back slightly.

"Open your mouth, love." he instructed against her lips. She was about to argue that her mouth was open but her mind cleared enough to realize he meant her to part her teeth. One of his hands stroked the back of her neck, beneath her fall of hair and the other cupped her chin to tilt her head back slightly. Mercy. Emma shivered. Emma felt his tongue trace the inside of her mouth intimately and wondered if she should do the same. Hesitantly, her tongue crept out to meet his. Emma felt a groan ripple through his body and his fingers tightened in her hair. Oh, but he tasted so very lovely. Like sweet brandy and saltwater all at the same time. She shifted, trying to get closer to him, wanting to draw herself to the warmth of his body. Horatio took the hint and all but dragged her onto his lap. She slid her tongue beneath the heat of his, on top of it, along side it. Emma couldn't breathe but she didn't care. She never wanted to stop kissing him. Following his lead, she raised her fingers into the soft curls of his dark hair and down along the strong bones of his face, down his neck to brazenly reach beneath the collar of his shirt to stroke the skin where his shoulder blades met. She was positively throbbing every where. Emma's moaned when her husband's hands lowered to cover her thigh. She had the most wicked urge to toss her skirts up so he could touch her bare skin. With a moan of disappointment, Emma realized he was beginning to pull away. She bit back a curse of frustration when the chilly air met her lips once again. Horatio was panting, breathless. So was she. His forehead pressed against hers and dark brown eyes met blue.

"Good God." he sighed raggedly.

"Indeed." Emma agreed with a smile. Emma shifted so that she could rest her head against his chest. His heart was indeed racing against her and Emma felt a surge of triumph that she could make it do so. They said nothing for a few seconds, each marveling at the power that seemed to be between them. "Horatio." Emma said, playing with the hem of his shirt the had come free from his trousers.

"Yes?" he asked unconsciously playing with a strand of her hair.

"Do you have a sweetheart back home?" Emma asked. She held her breath waiting for him to answer.

"No. I don't."

Emma hid her smile by burying her face in his chest. "Horatio?" she asked again. She felt as well as heard him sigh.

"Yes?"

"Can I confess something." she asked, not trusting herself to look at him.

"Why not?" he asked in a helpless tone.

"I'm glad that you don't." she admitted.

"Emma?" Horatio asked, his voice low and husky.

"Yes?" she asked hoping he would kiss her again.

"Please go back to sleep."