It was a beautifully sunny day. The sun bathed the garden in a golden glow, casting a pleasant warmth over them.

Light fingers moved nimbly over tender sides with playful affection, and the high pitched giggles of her sweet baby filled the air as her reward. The familiar sound causing her the same intense elation each time she was fortunate to listen to it.

"Are you ticklish, Darling?" she cooed childishly, leaning over his prone form to dot kisses on his face and chest as she continued the movement of her hands over Casey's middle, moving back enough to see the delight shining in his beautiful eyes.

Her own laughter joined the melodic giggles of her son when her nimble strokes found the spots that made him squirm the hardest, causing his limbs to flail with renewed enthusiasm and his shrieks to become even louder. Her attack stopped after a few more seconds, allowing her body to join his on the soft blanket that had been spread. Concentrating on stopping her giggles and calming her breaths.

The shadow of the large poinciana was her favorite place to lay in the garden, especially on days when the rays above shined so brightly that the red petals decorating the branches would glimmer. The sight was exceptionally beautiful in such days.

Elizabeth felt her body relax and her lids flutter heavily as she stared at the hypnotic sway of leaves encouraged by the breeze, but her momentary drowsiness was immediately chased away when Casey fell on top of her, pushing some of her breath out of her lungs.

With a short, surprised laugh, she caught him in her arms and rolled to her side.

"That was an admirable ambush." she praised with a large smile, brushing her nose against his, before kissing his forehead.

Her precious child looked entirely adorable as his returning smile exposed a twin pair of deceptively tiny teeth at the very front of his mouth.

Casey reached for her face with his plump hands, clumsily exploring her face. She stayed completely still as his plump fingers brushed her chin and lips with intrigue before settling on her nose. Wincing slightly when he pressed her nostrils close before placing a kiss on his palm.

Becoming quickly distracted when a small, orange butterfly passed in front of them, her baby released her without prompting, demanding to be freed as he moved to chase after the novel finding.

However, the moment her small hand left the blanket and landed on the grass, his movements stopped and he sat back, staring at the carpet of green with a frown.

"What's wrong, Casey?"

At the sound of her voice, his head turned to look at her, pointing at the ground with a series of long babbles.

A happy giggle escaped her, finding his intelligible sound as amusing as it was adorable.

"Is it the grass? Do you not like it?"

Pulling herself back up, she crawled next to where her baby was sitting at the edge of the blanket, a look of complete concentration occupying his face.

"It's alright." she attempted to reassure, pressing his back encouragingly.

However, her baby simply continued staring at the offending entity. After watching his immobile form for a little longer, she leaned forward and placed her open palm on the grass and wriggled her fingers, hoping it might encourage him to try again.

The scowl on his face was much too adorable, and mildly reminiscent to James' expression whenever he was trying to choose between two unpleasant options. The sight was entirely adorable, and it made her giggle a little before she decided to change her strategy and wrapped her fingers around his forearm, gently moving it near to the grass. The smile that had yet to leave her lips widened as she watched his arm tense and his palm open as much as possible in an effort to avoid even the faintest of contacts.

Elizabeth pulled his hand away only to push it close again. Observing the way his fingers would curl into a fist only to open wide whenever she pushed it close to the grass. Feeling entirely mischievous after witnessing his strong reluctance, she repeated the motion a couple more times, obtaining the same result each time. Finally deciding to stop when she receiving an unhappy grunt of warning. Instead, wrapping her hands around him, sitting back on her heels and bringing him up to her eye level.

"Forgive me." she pleaded sweetly, placing a loving kiss to his perfectly plump cheek.

Her baby appeared charmed by the attention, and tried to imitate her affectionate gesture by reaching for her face and giving her chin a rather wet kiss, that she received much too happily.

It seemed almost impossible how much she loved the small being in her arms.

"You're so wonderful, Love."

She loved everything about her beautiful child; his fair skin, his round, rosy cheeks, the short wisps of velvety hair that danced adorably whenever a breeze passed them. And she especially adored his eyes, his clear green eyes that always stared at her attentively, shinning with so much life and infinite curiosity.

In that moment she couldn't help but compare it to her love for James. The feeling was just as intense and all encompassing, yet, quite her husband, she always wanted to monopolize his attention, to possess him, to have all of him for herself; but with her son... she wished to give him everything he could possibly ever need or wish for. Even if she were to lose everything she had to achieve it, she needed his happiness more than her own.

Stretching her arms she brough him up in the air, a loud squeal ripping from her son at the sudden action. Watching him wave his arms up and down in excited delight as his upper body tilted forward a little. She joined in his laughter, but brought him back down to her chest once she remembered the sort of nervous look James would give her whenever he saw her waving their child in the air.

"And brave." she admired with a stroke of her knuckle over the side of his impossibly perfect face.

Reaching for the grass, she pulled a few blades of green and presented them to Casey in an open palm, waiting patiently for him to decide. The pride and affection that filled her when her son reached for one of the leaves and grasped it his hand, was indescribable. The smile on her face was so large it made her muscles ache.

"Your father might be prone to worry." she informed him in a low, conspiratorial whisper, "But you never need to fear, as I'll be sure to teach you how to have some proper fun." she promised mischievously, bringing him high up in her arms again and kissing his bare feet.

Finding his wife crawling on all fours with her head hidden under the long chaise in the sitting room, was not a sight he had ever expected to encounter as he walked past the room.

"You little slippery puppy." he heard Elizabeth exclaim with a voice filled with playful lilt. "There you are!" she sang merrily, catching a hold of Casey's feet from under the piece of furniture and pulling their child out of his crawling hide with a triumphant smirk.

Casey squealed loudly when she used her grip to lift his body off the floor and dangle his small body upside down in the air for a brief moment, catching him in her arms as she brought him down.

Her laugh stopped, cheeks reddening brightly when their eyes met and he returned an amused smirk.

"Hello." she greeted casually, using her unoccupied hand to try to tame down the locks that had escaped her braid back into place once she appeared to remember her state of disarray. "I thought you said you would be in the study until you had finished revising the tax collection from port."

Accepting her terrible attempt at distraction, he approached and offered his hand, resisting another smile as he helped her off the floor, "I already have." He lifted her with ease, taking advantage of the opportunity to wrap her inside his arms, helping support Casey's weight between them. "What were the two of you scheming this time?" he inquired with a curious raise of his eyebrow.

"There was no scheming involved. Your son was attempting to flee from his bath."

The information made a faint snort escape from his nose as he remembered the countless hours hi wife had innocently invested lounging on the carpet floor of their bedroom, dedicatedly teaching Casey how to raise on all fours.

"Again?"

"Yes."

"And then he lured you into giving him chase?"

"The boy had the audacity to laugh as he crawled away."

James chuckled at the sound of their child's laughter when her fingers tickled over his stomach, little hands clinging hard to his uniform in an effort to escape. His head shook in resignation at the absolute mirth dancing in her eyes, using a finger to reposition a few stray hairs that she had failed to notice.

He once thought there could never be greatest happiness that watching Elizabeth as she walked down the aisle, pronouncing 'I do' with the most beautiful of smiles. But every time he saw her face shining with pure, undiluted joy as she looked at them, his heart brimmed with pride unlike anything he'd ever known.

"Is this true, Casey?" he asked their son with pretended soberness, raising the brim of the Bonnette that covered his head so that their eyes would meet properly. "Were you terrorizing your Mother?"

His son smiled happily at being given his full attention, babbling loudly as he grabbed onto the button of his cuff and pulled.

"I see."

A smirk raised the corners of his mouth as his gaze returned to Elizabeth, who now stared at him with expectant interest.

"I'm afraid he has claimed innocence, Love." he informed her with a relaxed shrug of the shoulder, getting rewarded with the sweet sound of her giggles.

"And you are inclined to believe him."

It was not a question, but he presented her a wider smile as a response, earning himself a gentle pull on the ear before she let escape an exasperated sigh. Yet, the twinkle in her eyes betrayed her own amusement.

Feeling a push against his front, his gaze lowered, finding Casey had settled against him and was resting his cheek on his chest, appearing perfectly tranquil, almost as if he was determined to prove his mother's accusation as false.

"Of course. He decides to behave in front of you."

Even as she complained, James could easily appreciate her pouting lips were making a poor effort to remain looking stern instead of sullen.

"I think it has more to do with him finally becoming exhausted."

Elizabeth offered him a hum of agreement as she stroked the child's back.

"Our little darling is becoming impressively agile. It might be possible he'll stand up and run away at any moment."

Their son was still probably much too young for that to happen.

Regardless, there was eagerness in Elizabeth's gaze at the possibility, but also a hint of distress that she did not seem to be quite aware of.

He could understand those feelings perfectly, and commiserate with the disconcert such thought may have caused her.

Elizabeth regarded him attentively when his thumb trailed over her jaw in a soothing gesture, the disturbance quickly disappearing from her face as she teased him, "Are you quite certain you are finished with your very important documents? I would love to have a proper meal together."

The matter he'd been neglecting to approach suddenly demanded for his attention.

"Elizabeth, there is something I've been meaning to discuss with you."

The corners of her eyes narrowed slightly as she attempted to comprehend his intentions before he could even speak. However, dampness spread across his chest before he could continue, surprising their son sucking on his shirt once he looked down.

"I believe our child might be in search of something which I unfortunately cannot provide."

"Casey!" she scolded with a light frown, taking a step back to separate the greedy mouth from his shirt.

The child turned to Elizabeth and tried to suck on her chest instead, whining with irritation when the fabric of her dress impeded his path.

"How can you be hungry so soon after you ate?" she questioned in disbelief, embracing him closer as she placed a kiss to his round cheek. "You little glutton." she chided with resignation when he struggled to reach for her chest once again.

"Perhaps you should take him upstairs."

Elizabeth looked at him with a troubled frown, clearly reluctant to leave without hearing what he had wanted to say first.

"But..."

Their delay appeared to have provoked Casey's irritation to rise. With a loud babble, his hand grabbed onto a lock of her hair and pulled, making her wince.

"Careful." he instructed firmly, looking their child in the eye as he grabbed onto his fist and released the mistreated lock from his herculean grasp.

"I think that meant he would like to be fed first."

While she still appeared unconvinced, her lips curved into a soft smile at his tease. "Would you not prefer a bath be drawn while you wait?" she suggested, nothing but warm affection in her voice.

The offer was tempting, but after a moment of contemplation, his head shook gently.

"Later. Your father asked my help to revise the new trade agreement with Saint Eustatius, and I would like to have that settled before I depart for Saint Vincent next week."

When Elizabeth's brow remained furrowed, he smiled, leaning down to place a kiss to the side of her head. "It truly is nothing of urgent nature." he assured her with a smile, stroking her cheek. "I'll wait for you in the library."

She gave a nod of acquiescence without further argument, allowing him to escort her to the base of the staircase.

His eyes followed her as she climbed the stairs while hummed a gentle tune as she swayed their son, and his feet remained where they were until her form disappeared in the corner of the hallway.

...

The document in his hand had almost been finished when his attention was completely taken by the entrance of his wife. Elizabeth walked to where he laid with a sure step and without a single word, taking the parchment out of his grasp and settling it on the table before finally depositing herself on his lap in an admirable fluent motion.

Staring at her with interest, he decided to remain unmoving when he saw her lean down. Closing his eyes in pleasure when he felt the familiar push of her lips against his.

The initial gentleness of her tongue was languid and affectionate, but easily shifter into ardent strokes once she grabbed onto his nape and held him more intimately. Inviting heat settled in his very bones at the arousing sound of pleasure she made when she brought herself even closer to him.

She eventually allowed him to take a proper breath some minutes later, still holding onto his face while they recovered their breath.

"To what motive do I own such a delightful ambush?"

"Ambush?" she repeated mirthfully, sliding her arms around his neck and moving her mouth over his jaw. "Are you not the one who has kept me waiting for far too long?"

Her soft breath caressing his ear distracted him from any thought. And before he was allowed the opportunity to respond, her shoulders shrugged in light dismissal.

"There is no particular reason." she continued coyly, stroking his lips with a thumb before moving to his chin and pushing his mouth open. "But I've been wishing you'd kiss me all day."

Had he not been already deeply and irrevocably in love with the woman in front of him. The way she said those words would have had immediately besotted, begging at her feet for a chance at her affection.

If that was her desire, he would willing comply.

"Now I worry that the competition for your attention might become even fiercer."

His brows touched in confusion at her declaration.

"Why would you think so?"

"Is that not what you wished to discuss with me? That you will become even busier?"

"I..."

Once she read his expression, her smile turned resigned. Her resentment over her husband's position was almost palpable in that moment.

"See? I knew I was right."

Before he tried to speak and ruin her enjoyment with an explanation, Elizabeth breached the unwanted distance between them and took his mouth once more. He was deliciously warm, and when her hand retreated from his back to wander freely over the rest of him, she could not resist travelling a languid path over his bent leg, marveling on the feeling of hard muscle tensing under her touch.

She reveled on the feeling of the sharp contours under her palms. On the ridiculous contrast of it against his tender lips. And on the love she could feel pouring from his touch.

"You're a fine man." she whispered against his mouth, allowing her hand to slide down his front and under his untucked shirt, brushing over his bare skin with purpose. "Very fine, indeed."

James appeared to be completely unprepared for her advance, but there was a glint of clear interest in his eyes as his hands captured her hips. "Is this an attempt to seduce me?"

His dear wife appeared to take great offense at that.

"Attempt?" she repeated with an indignant scowl, climbing fully onto his torso as she straddled his hips, pushing her center with deliberate roughness against him. "Are you not seduced yet?" she inquired arrogantly, pursuing her lips further as her nose wrinkled down at him. "My wiles should have you enchanted by now."

The allure of her tease was certainly impossible for his body to ignore, being so easily enticed into hardness that it should be troubling him.

"Yes." he assured with an entertained smirk, wrapping his hand around the back of her head so his lips could slip over the length of her neck. "I am feeling thoroughly seduced, Love."

His declaration brought a pleased smile to her lips.

"Excellent!" she declared, dropping a lingering kiss on his collar before reaching for the buttons of his shirt and beginning to tug them apart.

Elizabeth was in the middle of enjoying a very passionate kiss when her inconsiderate husband pulled away.

"But what about Casey?"

"Well-fed, deeply asleep and in the care of the nursemaid's watchful eye." she informed, looking only mildly displeased by the last part. "And I do not wish to hear another word on the subject." she warned quickly, a slight frown between her eyebrows.

"I wouldn't dare."

"I do hold a particular appreciation for your good sense, Husband." she praised humorously, meting his lips with a lot more tenderness than what she had been offering thus far. "As you see, I have made certain that we won't be interrupted this time."

The beats of his heart drummed more persistently against his chest when he saw her face lean over it and trace a cool path with her tongue.

The need to feel her skin directly against his caused him such impatience that a ripping sound echoed in his ears when he tried to pull apart the lace of her bodice, causing them to move apart and look at each other with surprise.

It took less than a second for her expression to turn devious, holding onto his neck as she scolded him affectionately, "You brute."

No longer capable to remain lying he sat up to embrace her. Pulling her just a little bit tighter when her lips parted impatiently and beckoned him in.

The struggle to dispose of her voluminous skirts without parting their mouths was needless and inconvenient, but the sense of accomplishment once they achieve it only served to stimulate his arousal. Her soft, delicate curves brushed against him with every breath and her body responded to his touch with familiarity and passion.

In an unexpected move, she locked her arms around his shoulders and pulled, bringing him down as she let her back fall on the long chaise. Legs parting easily to allow him enough space to settle comfortably, teasing the part of him that craved for her most intensely.

Elizabeth found some difficulty catching her breath, panting laboriously as his face and hands wandered over her chest. The simply feeling of his breath resulted enough to make her skin shiver pleasantly. Once he began kissing a slow trail down her stomach, she was left unable to resist the need to tangle her fingers over the long strands of soft hair at the back of his head.

Her back bowing sharply the moment his lips met the sensitive bone at her hip, covering her eyes and whining in frustration when his mouth separated from her skin.

"Will you allow me the opportunity to show you how regretful I am?" she heard him plead softly even as his arms wrapped around her legs and pulled her closer.

"Please cease your talking." she huffed with irritation, hips jerking in surprise when she felt the graze of his teeth over her skin.

Finally taking her forearm away from her face, her eyes opened into narrow, disoriented slits, looking down at him with some difficulty, .

"Did you just bite me?" she asked dumbly, feeling mildly baffled by the action.

James offered the most alluring arrogant smirk she'd ever been witness to. "It does seem to be the case." was his playful reply, dragging his tongue over her uncomfortably warm skin and making her hips raise and her knees flinch.

"Stop."

"You want me to stop?"

The excitement of finally having his hands back on her body in such a way was indescribably, and the need to have him continue touching her made her incredibly impatient.

"No. Stop not doing anything."

When he stifled an adorable laugh against her thigh, she gave his hair a strong pull in retaliation. But when her mouth parted to speak, the only thing that came out was a very loud moan.

The man could be truly insufferable sometimes.

She allowed herself to mindlessly bask on the sensation of his soft tongue with a pleased hum, moaning in approval whenever he moved over a particularly pleasant spot. It did not take her long to realize that he remained as talented as ever. And after being forced to quell her desire for so many months, she found the ecstasy of his touch difficult to bear. Thus, her release engulfed her abruptly, and quite strongly.

Her senses were still returning to normal when she felt James return, looking at her with a particularly satisfied smirk adorning his face.

"Have I earned your forgiveness?"

The absolute arrogance he displayed exhibited, made her scoff, turning away from him and refusing to answer.

Unaffected, James buried his face against her neck, stroking his hand over her side as he placed more of his weight on her.

At the same time she raised her chin to allow him a better access to her neck, her fingers reached for the hard bulge now pressing between her legs. Smirking with satisfaction when his mouth stopped moving in favor of letting out a low grumble against her skin.

Feeling him push into her hand when she started stroking his length with more strength than necessary. Her own hips were trembling with anticipation, and the liquid heat gathering back in her abdomen was stifling. Even with her clothes gone, the warmth trapped in the room left her wishing they had opened a window, but the demand of her body to have him inside her was about to drive her mad.

But just as she relaxed against the indulgent press of his body, her expression strained into a flinch, gripping onto his shoulder blades and squeeze tight.

James noticed and immediately stopped his movements, retreating with a slight frown.

"Did I hurt you?"

Her head shook vehemently at the sincere concern in his eyes, reaching for his face with an apologetic smile. "Of course not."

"But... my leg is about to cramp." she explained with a flustered giggle, struggling to free said leg from the tight confinement between his side and the back of the furniture they were laying on. The space was very narrow and holding her legs parted in such an uncomfortable position seemed to be a strain on her weakened muscles.

He immediately rearranged his body so her leg would be freed, sitting back on his haunches and regarding her with calculation before seeming to decide on something. Without a word of warning, he reached for her and turned her onto her stomach.

"James, what...!" her words were stopped by the feeling of his lips lingering over the back of her shoulder. "What..." she tried again, breath hitching when his solid weight pressed to her back. Shaking lightly when his fingers brushed aside her hair so his teeth could graze over the shell of her ear.

"You don't need to do anything." he proposed with a serene voice that had been deepened by lust, "I'll be certain to show you just how much I truly desire you, Love."

Her body tensed with the strong shock that moved down her legs as his hand reached for the inside of her thigh and higher up, wishing she could turn to see the expression occupying his features in that precise moment.

The embarrassment over his new chosen position was quickly forgotten by her anticipation But instead of doing anything, James continued placing soft kisses over her back.

"Stop tormenting me!"

She could feel the shape of his lips turning upwards, and she no longer needed to see him to know what he looked like.

"I'm not."

"Then just touch me like I want."

As a response, her husband let his hand cover hers, intertwining their fingers together.

When she tried to move her body, he pressed her even harder to the soft fabric, feeling his lovely laugh tickle her cheek.

"I'm going to hurt you." she warned with a growl.

Before she could continue her meaningless threats, his hand grasped her hip and he finally pressed inside. Forcing a breathless gasp at the intrusion.

Her hands closed into tight fists around the fabric of sofa at the dizzying sensation of having him so deep inside.

Heat surrounding her as his large body loomed over her, skin so close that there was no space for anything else, his muscles contracting and relaxing with each thrust. It was exactly what she'd been missing.

An unexpected trail of his tongue over her neck caused her shoulder blades to seek each other.

It was very quiet day outside. And she could hear every small sound with unnatural clarity; the flicker of the fire, the rustling of fabric, the evening breeze pressing against the windowpanes.

Occasionally, James would release a soft grunt of pleasure whenever he'd hit a place that made her tighten involuntarily. But otherwise, his soft breaths rustling her hair were the only other sounds coming from him, and she was only capable of producing gratified whines that quickly died after they left her lips.

Unable to see his face, her eyes eased squeezed close, face burying in the cushion under her to silence her pathetic sounds. Somehow, her inability to see him while still being able to feel his body sliding into her, made her writhe with pleasure in a way she never had.

When the air became damp and heavy, her breaths started laboring with the effort of matching the pace of her wild heart.

While she would usually prefer a more vigorous approach, the gentleness of his movements and the rhythmic beating of his heart at her back was numbing every irrelevant thought in a way that made her feel inebriated. Her body still feeling laggard due to the pleasure he had bestowed upon her earlier, and the tightness of her insides as they contracted around him was so heavenly that she wanted nothing more than for him to continue what he was doing.

Fire build inside her once again, demanding to be released lest it burned her from the inside. And as her back arched and her insides contracted, she felt herself go listless as all strength left her body.

There was only enough awareness left in her to discern the moment James grew impatient. His grip tightening, his movements turning rougher and his pace hastening. He did not stop until a different kind of warmth flooded her insides, holding himself completely still once his thrusts eventually halted.

"Are you alright?" he asked, voice rough and sated.

She had to laugh at the ridiculousness of the question, although it resembled more of a desperate gasp.

"Wonderfully." she asserted tiredly, turning her face to press a kiss to the inside of his forearm.

Perfectly alright.

His thumb caressed her wrist in return, forehead pressing against the back of her head.

"I had missed you as well, Elizabeth." he murmured softly, pulling out of her with no trace of the earlier haste. Rearranging their bodies so they could both fit on the narrow venue.

With a sated body and heavy eyelids, she no longer found the will to raise from where she was, pressed together in a small sofa while he wrapped her inside the safety of his embrace. As she idly fiddled with his hand, she became momentarily consumed with the new scratch on the top of his knuckle that she had failed to notice until that moment.

The thought that she could easily fall asleep exactly as she laid was extremely appealing.

"What were you trying to tell me before?" she murmured softly, directing her face upwards with a little difficulty just so she could look at his eyes.

She felt James' body stir under her, cheek pressing against her forehead when he sought her gaze.

"I received a missive from England."

At first, her reaction was delayed by her dulled senses, but then she raised to her forearms, showing him the frown that now occupied her face.

His mood remained unchanged. Raising an eyebrow, he stroked the small wrinkle in between her own.

"You can be so alarmingly cunning sometimes. And yet, it is terribly easy to read the displeasure in your eyes, Love."

"It might be that I'm not trying to hide my hostility." she declared unrepentantly, biting her mouth with irritation as she took a hold of his hand and moved it away from her face. "What would they possibly want this time?" she asked, already feeling irritated by the unwanted news.

"You might approve."

She doubted that could possibly happen, truly.

"A new ship will be sent here to be placed under my command." he informed her with a small smile, twirling a lock of her hair around his finger. But he was unable to contain the look of pure pride when he added, "And I am to receive a promotion."

Her mouth parted with momentary surprise, before her lips upturned on their own, completely turning in his arms this time.

"The commission letter was delivered with the last shipment. A third of the line frigate. It's due to arrive within the next few weeks. "

"Those are excellent news!"

Receiving her approval seemed to provoke him into a detailed explanation of the benefits of the addition. "The escorts missions should proceed more efficiently once a ship better equipped than The Audacious becomes available. Using The Dauntless to protect the larger convoys has been an impractical solution, but in spite of it's might, the voyages have been lengthier than I expected and the cost of operation has been truly..."

Before he could continue pulling himself deeper into his wearisome thoughts, Elizabeth called for him as she leaned closer, "James." Finally abandoning his unusual speech when her lips pressed against his.

A wave of bliss washing over her when his mouth responded with fervor, leaving her thoughts momentarily addled.

"Congratulations, Love." she whispered affectionately against his skin, stealing a few more kisses before letting him go.

"It appears that my capture of Roger's crew and the ceasing of his raids on our colonies served as enough atonement to overshadow my mishap with The Black Pearl."

Resisting the need to argue that he had not done anything he should have been punished for was challenging, but the delight after seeing so much excitement in his eyes prevented her from doing so.

"They ought to have sent you a better compensation. You even claimed Lost Padres."

"There was not much left to 'claim,' and regardless, I think asking for anything more would have been considered foolish rather than brave."

"The only fools are those old-fashioned vultures. They're so ancient they would not be able to command a longboat back to port." she muttered against his chest without repentance, which made him laugh humoredly in spite of her lack of jesting.

"Thank you." he responded sincerely, running a palm across her back.

"An admiral, is it?" she whispered near his ear, feigning thoughtfulness and letting her hands fall to find his. "A Captain at twenty one, Commodore at twenty six, Admiral before thirty." she recited with a pompous purse of her lips that turned into a wide smile when she could no longer resist it. "Very impressive, Dear husband." she commended, imitating a tone of respectful formality as she followed the outline of his shoulder.

"Do not forget that I was already a commissioned Lieutenant by the time I turned seventeen." he added with a great deal of mischievous arrogance, showing her a boyish grin that was so enticing it was offensive, which made her push away from his chest as she sat up.

"Acting so insufferably arrogant is unbecoming of an Admiral." she scolded in jest, veiling an enormous grin when his hands held her back and pulled her back to him as his mouth moved to her cheek.

"I was certain my arrogance enticed you." he whispered evenly, tickling the side of her neck.

"Possibly." she relented, already feeling the anticipation rise once again at the proximity of his body, tracing his cheek with the tip of her nose and affectionately biting his jaw. "But it is impolite to use a lady's words against her, Admiral Norrington."

The size of his smile was impressive. She could tell he was enjoying the sound of the title coming from her mouth.

After making a long hum she showed him an approving nod. "I must confess that I do not dislike the title."

"Then could I interest the lady into commemorating the occasion with me tonight?" he whispered against her mouth, using a low rasp that at some point he must have discovered worked incredibly well to get her into bed. It was entirely foul play and she cared not even a little as his capable hands wandered over her sides with expert pursuit.

"We've been 'commemorating' the occasion for hours." she argued without conviction. "And that is much too bold, Sir." she added when his palm reached her breast, receiving a light snort.

"I'll promise to compensate you generously for my excessively forward behavior."

An unrestrained laugh erupted from her chest, holding him fiercely as her chest filled with pride.

Author's note: For those who may not have noticed, I uploaded like 4 chapters together last time. In case you want to read them. Hope you guys have a happy new year!