Ahoy!

Thank you to Mel, Jill, and Gemma!

THIRTEEN

I am in the midst of what is likely the most stressful dream I've ever had—heavily featuring none other than Isabella—when the piratess herself wakes me.

I let out a sharp gasp, being startled awake, and struggle to sit up in my hammock. After a moment of thrashing about, I finally meet Isabella's gaze.

She is standing beside me, a smirk on her full mouth. "Are you quite finished?" she asks.

I can't speak yet; I'm still struggling to get my mind out of my dream.

"Come along, Captain. You're on watch."

She leaves my side, and I let out a long, exhausted breath before crawling out of my hammock. I'm fully dressed already, but knowing Isabella was so close to me while I was unconscious, I double-check my person for all my belongings.

Nothing seems to be astray, so I head past the sleeping crew and up on deck.

It is late, if the stars are anything to go by. I scan the deck, looking for the watch crew as I stretch.

I deflate when I see Isabella sitting on a barrel.

"What are you doing?" I ask her, unable to not be suspicious.

"I'm doing my duty," she says, her voice serious. "I'm on watch."

I rub a hand hard over my eyes.

"You have orchestrated this," I accuse her, my hand still covering my gaze. I let my hand drop in time to see her shrug.

"Yes, I did. I can't help it, Captain. I do enjoy watching you squirm."

I have to fight myself from doing exactly that.

"You will tire of these games," I say, letting out a heavy breath and moving to sit near her. Not next to her, as I plan to keep an eye on her.

She laughs, and I'm annoyed because it is a very nice laugh. How can it be that someone so lovely has fallen into such an unbecoming life?

"Darling, all we have in life are games."

I frown, not entirely sure what she means, but she's not looking at me, and it is impossible to read her meaning on her face.

We are both quiet for a moment while I war with myself. Finally, I cannot keep my question at bay anymore.

"If I were to ask you a question, would you be honest with me?" I ask her, not truly expecting her to be.

She looks at me. "Darling, I'm always honest with you."

I glare at her. "Are you, Peter?"

She laughs, throwing her head back. "Yes, fair point." There is a delicately curved smile on her face as she gazes up at the moon. "Very well, I will give you one honest answer, if you give me one in return."

She turns to look at me, and my mouth goes dry. I loathe the idea of giving this woman any more ammunition over me.

I weigh the cost of such a bargain before finally sighing. "Agreed."

She smiles at me and turns back to the moon. Now that I know I have only one chance to get the truth from her, I'm not sure I want to ask her a question quite yet. She seems to know that, for she doesn't push me to ask anything.

We are quiet on deck, and with her innocently sitting there, gazing up at the heavens, it's almost pleasant to be near her.

"No matter what it was you thought of me that first time we met," she says, turning to look at me. "I was impressed with you, Captain. You led a good crew with honor. It's a rapidly diminishing quality in captains in these waters."

I'm not quite sure what to do with the sincerity in her voice.

I clear my throat, gazing out at the dark water. "It's all I've ever wanted," I tell her. "To be the Captain of a good, honest ship." I chance a glance at her to see her staring at me. "I'm sure my dreams seem folly to you, but it was what I've been working for, what I continue to work for."

Isabella is truly impossible to read. I have no idea what she is taking from this conversation.

"You make it awfully difficult to not ravish you," she says lightly, and I'm so surprised, I nearly fall from my seat.

"W-what?" I choke.

She grins, sliding off her barrel. "You are so noble," she says, stalking toward me like a feline. "It's so…" She lets out a breath, shaking her head. She stops, right in front of me, gazing down at me. Her hair falls as a curtain around us, blocking the world from our views. I'm caught in her gaze, unbreathing as I stare up into her dark eyes. "There is much to admire about you, Captain," she whispers, reaching out, her fingers not quite touching my face, but close enough I can feel their warmth. My eyes flutter shut, and when I finally breathe, everything tastes like her. I am full of her scent—warm and spicy, with notes of something sweet as well.

It's a heady aroma, and I open my eyes to look back at her. Her head lowers toward mine, and I stop breathing again.

"One day," she whispers, her breath fanning across my face. "You will play with me."

I think my heart has stopped. Isabella is so close to me that if I were to breathe too hard, we would be touching. Her lips are less than a hair's breadth from my own, and the rational part of my brain shuts down, leaving behind the man who is very much aware that Isabella is a strikingly beautiful woman.

"Are you not already playing games?" I ask her, my voice tight and slightly fractured as I struggle to get the words out of me.

She smiles, and I feel the faintest whisper of her lips along my own. "Oh, Darling. I've only just begun playing with you."

It is physically painful for me to restrain myself from kissing her. She is so close, and she smells so dark and delicious, and I want to taste her, to know if she tastes as delectable as she smells.

Isabella laughs then pulls herself away from me, leaving me dizzy. "Don't worry, Darling. I'll honor Captain Thorne's orders."

Before I can even process what she's saying, Isabella is striding away, disappearing to another part of the ship and leaving me utterly breathless where I'm still seated.