Rigel whined as we waited outside the offices, the Anastasia docked and unloading. She appeared hale and hearty after her voyage, her stern proudly displaying her name in brilliant yellow letters and her funnel painted the Dalian colors of blue and black. Father had tried to use white paint before, but it had wound up black from all the soot. He had grumbled, "As long as it's our blue, I suppose I can live with it."

I watched Will stare at me as he came off the ship, smiling when I saw his eyes drift down to Rigel. The puppy was behaving himself, for once, sitting calmly and focusing on the man coming towards us, his bag slung over his shoulder.

He stopped a step away from us. "Ana, what on earth is that?"

I couldn't help myself, "I'm afraid you've been replaced, I've got a new man. This here is Rigel, he's taken your spot in my bed."

He knelt down, considering the puppy sitting on his haunches and looking at him curiously. "Where in the world did you get him?"

"Charles brought him, to keep me company while you're gone."

"Of course it was Charles, why did I even ask?" He shook his head, standing and offering me his arm. "Well, you'd best tell Rigel he's not going to be getting in your bed for much longer. Just a few more months and I'll be there."

I grinned down at Rigel, trotting along beside me. "Oh, do I have to Will? He's such a lovely little thing to hold during the night."

His lips brushed up against my ear, his voice quiet as he whispered. "I'll give you something to hold during the night, although I can't promise it will be small." I felt a flush rise to my cheeks, and his hand dipping down from my waist to grab at my rear. Instead of jumping away from it, I leaned into it, letting him grab a large handful, his fingers rubbing me slightly. His bag, bumping along against his side, provided enough cover for him to have done it, and he slowly brought his hand back to its normal place. "I can take you on a tour of the ship tomorrow, once I get a decent night's sleep."

"Can Rigel join us?" I leaned into his shoulder, already anxious for tomorrow to arrive.

Will snorted, "I'd rather not have him staring at us the entire time." He opened the door to the carriage, handing me up. Then he looked to Rigel, the leash taut from my hand to the ground. "Well, jump, boy." Rigel gave a whine, looking up at Will. He sighed, reaching down and collecting him in one hand. "I am not doing this once he's grown." With that he deposited him on the floor, sitting next to me. He shook his head at the puppy currently considering his shoes, "If he starts chewing on my shoes, Ana, he's living down in the kitchen."

"Oh, Rigel will be fine." I smiled down at the puppy, draping the edge of my skirt over him. He rolled over, pawing at it and trying to bit the hem. "See? And he won't tear it, he just wants to play."

"And I'm sure Peggy is thrilled by him." Will snorted, wrapping his arm around me and pulling me to his shoulder. I smiled as I hear him breathe in my perfume, "God Ana, when I told Charles I was worried about your protection while I was out, I figured he'd reassure me that you could hire a guard or something. Not get you a dog."

"I think you should just be glad Charles didn't give me a knife." I let my hand drift over to his thigh, "Or a sword." My hand drifted higher, "Or a gun." With that I let my hand press against him. He was already rising to attention, and I could hear him let out a great rush of a breath.

"Ana, God. Please."

"Tomorrow, Will." I withdrew my hand, "Besides, the coachman will hear you. Not to mention Reggie if you come back with a mess on your pants."

He snorted at that, "God damn Reggie to the deepest pits of Hell for being so observant. If you didn't saddle me with that blasted valet I could have you in my lap right now."

"Anticipation is half the fun of it." I chuckled, "Is it really so bad to wait one day?"

"No," He sighed, "And I could use the sleep."

"Yes, you could." I placed a finger to my chin, thinking. "Perhaps we could push the tour to the day after tomorrow? I want you properly rested for the tour."

Will actually snarled at that, whipping around so fast it made Rigel yelp. "Ana, if I don't have you in my arms tomorrow I am going to go come to your bed, damn Reggie and Peggy and Louise too, for that matter." He started, looking down. Rigel had the leg of his trousers in his mouth, pulling on it and giving off a very pitiful growl. "Well, at least he feel protective of you already."

"Ezekiel's been helping with that." I smiled, reaching down to pet his head. "It's alright boy, he's a friend."

"I hope I'd rank as more than a friend." Will mused, although he did kiss my cheek after I disengaged Rigel's teeth from his trousers. Once we stopped outside the house, he reached down and set Rigel on the ground before helping me out. The footman, who I now knew was Tyler, came forward to take Rigel's leash from me and lead him off to the yard to relieve himself. Will watched him head off, "Well, if I don't have to clean up after him I guess he's not so bad."

"He really isn't bad, Will." I muttered as he handed me out, nodding to Tyler as he lead us inside. I smiled at Peggy who was waiting in the foyer, "Look who I collected off the docks today."

"Mr. Murdoch, I see you've met our newest resident." Peggy sighed, her eyes shooting to Rigel, who Tyler had let back in. Without his leash, the puppy trotted toward me, his tail wagging. "We are all still adjusting to him."

"As am I." Will snorted, "It was quite a surprise to see him."

"You two are horrible." I rolled my eyes, making for the stairs. "He is nothing but a lovely little puppy."

"Miss Anastasia, we've had to change the linens on your bed twice since he arrived." She glanced over to Will, "He's been shedding something horrible." I heard him chuckle behind me, and then start up the stairs. Rigel followed, his claws clicking on the steps. It had taken him awhile to learn how to climb the steps, although he was rather adept at it now. He still couldn't quite manage all the flights on his own though, and began whining after the fifth flight.

I had just started to go get him when Will stopped me. He looked down, "He has to manage them on his own, Ana."

"Will, he's young. Barely weaned, he just needs a little help." I shook his hand off, collecting Rigel into my arms. I cradled him closer, "Poor boy, so tired. You've had a big day haven't you, coming to the offices, meeting Will." I pressed my face to him, rewarded with a gentle kiss from him. I giggled as his little pink tongue rolled up in a yawn. "See? He's just tired."

"Jesus Christ." Will grunted, starting back up the stairs. "He's got you wrapped around his paws." I laughed as I followed him, both of us splitting off for our rooms. I settled Rigel onto a small pillow that had been sacrificed to be his bed, at least until he outgrew it. He immediately curled up on himself, sleeping almost instantly. It had been early afternoon when the Anastasia had docked, after unloading and driving back to the house, it was already evening. Which meant Louise helping me into a reception dress and making my way back downstairs.

Will had already made it to the dining room, not even bothering to change out of his uniform. He was happily munching on a buttered roll when I came in, "Ana, you didn't have to change."

"I can see you didn't." I rolled my eyes, taking my seat at the head of the table. "Really Will, you couldn't even put on a clean shirt?"

"After dinner, all I am planning on doing is drinking a glass of whiskey, and then dropping dead onto my bed." He grinned, "And I mean my bed, Ana."

I cast a glance towards one of the footmen, a tray in his hands as he brought in the soup course. "Will, hush."

"I've been hushing for quite awhile." Will did hold his tongue as the soup was placed in front of him, waiting for the footman to retreat where he couldn't hear his lowered voice. "I'm tired of waiting Ana, I should have hauled you in front of a priest in Southampton."

I dipped my spoon into the cool pea soup, "You had the opportunity on the Oceanic, you know."

"Don't remind me." He grumbled, attacking his soup like he was starving. Once he had cleared his bowl he grabbed for another roll. "I do enjoy the work, it does help distract me. But then I come back and I see you, and God it makes me wish we were already married."

I looked down to his bowl, "Aren't they feeding you on the ship?"

"Yes, but it's always quick and never quite as good as this." He grinned as the main course of roasted chicken was brought out. "And the company is much more improved here."

"I hope the other officers have begun to treat you better." I cut into my own chicken, collecting some of the sauce with it. "They were rather standoffish when I met them."

"It's taken time," He shrugged, "But they have." He told me about their trip over dessert, candied fruit that crunched when you bit it. The trip had been relatively calm, at the start. A storm had sprung up three days out of New York, and Captain Fraser had fallen ill briefly, which meant it had been up to Will to see them through it. "The waves were nothing worse than I had faced, although I had to give orders to drive the engines harder to keep us afloat. You use quite a bit of steam to force your way through those waves."

"Well, I'm glad you're alright." We had quit the table by then, retiring to the parlor with a last drink. "But you stayed on schedule, it seems."

"Yes, thanks to Moody." He chuckled, sipping his whiskey. "The fourth officer had gone down to inventory the remaining fuel and reported back to me that at our normal rate we wouldn't make Southampton and would have to ask for someone to share their coal. James didn't believe him and went down to check himself. The fourth officer hadn't even gone to the bunkers, he'd taken the engineer's word that we would be short." He shook his head at that, "They always tell us we'll be short. You should have seen Captain Fraser light into the fourth when James told him that we'd be fine."

"It sounds as if it was a good trip for you both then." I smiled, finishing my wine and leaving it on the table. I leaned down, pressing a kiss to his cheek. I could feel the stubble on it, pricking against my lips. "I'm headed down, and I cannot wait for my tour tomorrow."

"Neither can I." He muttered, draining the dregs of his whiskey. I could feel his eyes on me as I climbed the stairs, his footsteps close behind me. I paused in the hallway between our rooms, waiting. He approached slowly, brushing his fingers across my cheek. I saw his eyes flash, the blue in them clear. "I still can't believe it's the damn dog in your bed instead of me."

I stepped back, smiling. "Well, tomorrow it will be me in yours."

I had Louise button me into a simple dress, only wearing my pearls around my neck. She clucked over me as she pulled my hair back into a simple braid, pinning a straw hat to it. "You're dressing awfully simply today, Miss."

I brushed a little powder over my face, "Will is taking me on a tour of the ship, I just don't want to get coal dust over anything nice."

"Ah, I assume Mr. Keller will be joining you?" Louise has a very knowing smirk on her face, "Or perhaps some of the other officers?"

"I believe Mr. Moody is joining us, a friend of Will's." I stood, adjusting the skirt so that it hung down nicely. "I'll be fine Louise, you've met Will. He's the most honorable man I've ever met."

"Then you have a very pitiful list of male acquaintances." Louise muttered, but she shooed her hands at me. "But let him know, Reggie is keeping an extra sharp eye out. As am I, Miss Anastasia." Unwilling to tell her exactly how small my list of honorable male acquaintances actually was, I was unsure exactly how much of my history had been revealed to her, I bit my tongue and walked out. Will was already waiting in the foyer, his uniform freshly pressed and the buttons shined.

I watched as his eyes roved up and down me, feeling a flush that starting spreading over my whole body. "Will, you look very well turned out today."

"As do you," He replied, putting his hat on as we stepped out. He waited until we were in the carriage to continue, "I can't wait to peel that dress off you."

"I've been warned that we'll be closely watched when we return." I let my hand drift to his arm, giving it a squeeze. "We'll have to be careful."

He snorted as the carriage entered the street, "We were as careful as two people could be before, and they still caught us."

"They caught you." I chuckled, "As far as my mother knows I've never even seen a naked man, or had a man touch me under my clothes."

"Well, I believe I have first claim on both of those with you." He snaked an arm around my waist, pulling me to his lap. "And I intend to press a number of claims later." He began nuzzling my neck, letting my pearls run under his lips. "God, remind me to take these off before. I'll break them, I just know it."

"Will," I pressed against him. "We have to look respectable when we get out, you know that."

He latched his lips onto my neck, licking and sucking his way up to my jaw. "A kiss Ana, a proper kiss, and I will leave you until we reach the ship." I nodded, and I could feel his grin as he brought his lips to mine, not even waiting until he stroked his tongue against mine. His hands were pressing me tight to him, one hand rising to my shoulders and the other tight on my waist. I could feel the flush from before turning into the heat of desire, and I moaned a bit into his mouth as the hand on my waist dropped to knead at my rear.

"Ana," He groaned, pushing on my rear to try and set me to a rhythm.

I was panting a little, "Will, later."

"Just a little," He begged, one hand rising to my breast. He blinked, looking down at how his hand seemed to mold perfectly to it. "A brassiere?"

"You said you wanted me to buy some." I muttered, using the momentary break to slide off of his lap. "I figured one would be better for today, I know you hate lacing me into my corset." That seemed to render him speechless, although he kept his hand around my waist. He did keep his hands to himself once we reached the offices, and he was friendly to the staff as we headed past them to the docks. I put a hand to my hat as I looked up at the ship, the smell of fresh paint in the air. "Did she suffer any damage in the storm?"

"Nothing but some lost paint." Will grinned, gesturing for me to step up the gangplank before him. "She's a tough girl, those waves didn't even give her a dent." I let him take the lead once we reached the gangway, following him up through the various hallways until we reached the bow of the ship. He led me up a few staircases, bringing me to the chart room behind the bridge that all the officer's rooms opened onto. He stopped in front of a door, grinning. "So here's my bunk, would you like to step inside?"

"Will, I would actually like to get a tour of the ship." I lifted an eyebrow at him. As much as I wanted to spend the entire day letting him ravish me in every way but one, I had only really seen the ship under construction and through her plans.

He blinked, then gestured at a door towards the bow of the ship. "Ah yes, right through there is the bridge. And, oh look, here's my bunk, let's head in." With that he grabbed my hand, pulling me towards him.

I stayed firm. "Will."

"Ana, good God, do you know how long I've been waiting to get you alone?" He rushed forward, turning me and pinning me against the wall. I could feel his breath on me, his hands on my hips and he pressed himself to them. He was already firm against me, and he rocked a little to relieve himself. "Ages, Ana, I've been going mad with want."

I curled my hand around his head, "If you've been able to survive that long, then surely an hour won't do much more harm?"

"I will die every second." He murmured, but he did pull back. His breath was already coming quick. "Fifteen minutes. You've seen a coal bunker before."

"Thirty." I replied, arching an eyebrow as a hesitant look came across his face. "And you can take off my dress when we go to your bunk."

He pulled his watch out of his pocket, studying it intently. "Thirty minutes and not a second more. You should just be glad that I'll take the time to lock the door." He was still holding my hand as he began to lead me back through the innards of the ship. He pointed out the passenger cabins, plain but serviceable rooms that would satisfy the kind of clients who took cargo ships. He grinned as I shivered slightly when looking in the refrigerated holds, stepping behind me and wrapping his arms around me. "We need to go get you warmed up." He hands drifted to my breasts, rubbing them.

I tried to suppress the warmth that was racing through me with his touch. "Then perhaps we should see the furnaces." I could hear Will snort behind me, but he did lead me further down through the ship to the boiler rooms. They were deserted, the ship only having enough boilers running to supply her electric dynamo plant. Which meant that the crew of firemen were mostly gone. I could feel Will behind me as we entered the darkened room. "See? Much warmer."

He didn't reply, just dropping his lips to my neck and pressing me tight against him. I tried to keep my breathing quiet as he began to rub himself against me, his hips thrusting shallowly against mine. But then his arm was around my waist, his other one tipping my head back so he could latch his teeth around where my neck met my shoulder. I let out a moan at that, clutching his head to keep him there.

"Five minutes." He whispered, his voice quiet. His hands suddenly tightened, pulling me into one of the darker corners. I turned in his arms, pressing my lips to his neck and rocking my hips against his, feeling the desire build in me. Will's hands dropped to my hips, stilling them. "Quiet Ana, someone's here." I froze, listening closely. There was a faint whistling, echoing across the boiler room. One of Will's hands dipped into his pocket, pulling out his pocket watch. "Time's up anyway."

"Get me to your cabin." I demanded, and he quickly started us back up. I would have thought he would have pulled me behind every corner, or thrown me up against a wall, but he led me on the fastest route up. He only stopped to unlock the door to his cabin, ushering me inside while he locked it behind me. I took in his room, the bed up against one wall, a wash stand, a chair and a desk with an electric lamp on it. A large window took up one wall, but the shutters outside were closed. I looked over my shoulder, "It's rather cozy."

I shivered as I felt his fingers move to the buttons of my dress. "When I was first officer with White Star I had all this and a sofa."

"Well," I muttered, feeling the buttons fall away one by one. "I wouldn't want anyone to think you're getting special treatment." I smiled to hear him chuckle, his fingers dipping under my dress to slide the sleeves down my arms. "Will, my necklace." I heard him grunt, his fingers rising to unclasp it and place it on his desk. His fingers swiftly had the brassiere on the floor, the petticoat following it. I looked down at him as he came around front, his hands slowly rolling down my stockings. "Will, hurry."

"No." He replied, unbuttoning my shoes and gently guiding me to lift each foot while he removed both the shoe and stocking. "Today I am not hurrying this, Ana. Not when I have you here." He stepped back, taking a seat in his chair. "I want to savor this." I had started forward, only making my way out of my pile of clothes when he held up his hand. "No, stay. I want to look my fill."

The thrill that raced through me as his eyes drifted over me again and again, lingering on my breasts and the swell of my hips, had me breathing quick. I could see him beginning to strain at his trousers, and he made no argument when I stepped forward, settling onto his knees. His eyes were wide as he brought his arms up around my waist, his hands lingering on my back. "Ana, go back. Stand there for me again."

I shook my head, moving my fingers to his tie. "Will, I need you. Right now."

"Please," He muttered, his eyes closing briefly as his head lolled back. I rolled my eyes, trailing my fingers over his neck. He moved quick as lighting, gripping me around the waist and lifting me as easily as he would his pipe. I groaned to feel him press me up against a wall, the brass buttons digging into me as he drew me into a savage kiss. I wasn't letting him win though, holding his head tight as he angled his head to dip his tongue into my mouth. I felt his groan into me, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. The buttons were rather uncomfortable, but that the moment I hardly cared, not when I felt him begin to thrust himself against me. He only pulled back briefly. "The bed?"

"The bed." I nodded, setting my feet back on the floor as he released me. I peppered him with kisses as I began to undo his tie, popping his collar off and beginning to push the brass buttons through their holes. He seemed content to let me continue without his assistance, using the opportunity to drop his hands to my rear and knead it, guiding me in to rub against him while I worked his jacket off. He was panting as I slid the suspenders off his shoulders, quickly unbuttoning his shirt. His trousers were next, the buttons on his fly a bit difficult but he hardly seemed to care that I spent a little extra time caressing him through the fabric as I worked them loose. I knelt down as I worked them down his hips, turning my attention to untying his shoes. He stepped out of them, holding his feet up to let me pull off his socks.

I looked up at him, his length flushed and straining up against his stomach, a bit of seed already leaking from it. I let my fingernails trace their way up his thighs, rising slightly onto my knees. His clothes made a decent padding for the floor, and I watched as realization crossed Will's face as he finally understood what I was planning. "Ana," He breathed, his fingers already in my hair as I pressed a kiss along him before taking the head of him into my mouth. I let my hands clutch at his rear as he groaned loudly, feeling the muscles clench as he began to thrust himself in time with my bobbing. I moaned around him as he gently pulled on my hair, and I chanced a glimpse up. His head was thrown back, and I could hear him whispering curses as he groaned. "Fuck, how can it feel this fucking good?" I grinned at that, redoubling my efforts and hearing him begin to moan in time with his thrusts. "Agh, agh, uh, Ana, my God." He started to twitch in my mouth, and his hands were suddenly pulling hard at my hair. I let him go, leaning back and looking up. "If you don't stop I'm going to finish already."

"Don't you want to?" I sat back on my haunches, until he reached down and lifted me up.

"Not yet, I want to draw it out." He pulled me close, his manhood hard between us as I wrapped a leg around him. He dropped a hand under my rear, lifting me and carrying me to the bunk where he laid me down. I curled my arm around his shoulders, intent to pull him down on top of me but he pulled away. I couldn't even speak as he kissed his way down my neck, then to my breasts. I groaned as he began suckling at one, his hand kneading the other. "I've missed these, every day. I'll never stop wanting them."

"Will." I muttered, holding his head tight to me as I arched up into his mouth. "God, I want you all the time." He switched to the other breasts, his tongue circling my nipple as it hardened. Any words were lost to me for the moment as I felt the heat begin to burn through me, a warmth that was spreading outward from my stomach. The warmth became a fire as he kissed his way down my stomach, burying his face in my curls. I opened my legs wide, my knees in the air and my head pressing hard into his pillow as he began to stroke me with his tongue. I couldn't even open my eyes as his tongue brushed against that bundle of nerves, his lips gently sucking on it before returning to his exploration. I almost shouted as I felt him press two fingers into me, stroking quickly even as he kept licking at me. "Fuck!"

"Shh," Will whispered, his head rising briefly. "There are other people on board."

I shivered as I felt his fingers keep curling inside me, a moan ripping its way out. Panting, almost delirious with desire, I lifted my head briefly and pressed his pillow across my face. I didn't even care that it covered my eyes, they were already clenched tightly closed as I felt Will's tongue begin its devilry again. My hips were bucking, the clenching in me building to a fever pitch. When Will sucked on me, it broke. I screamed into the pillow, my body seizing around his fingers and shivering as wave after wave of pleasure rushed through me. I cast the pillow aside as I began to catch my breath, tugging on his shoulders to pull him up. He came eagerly, his tongue in my mouth and the taste of my desire on it. I eagerly opened my legs wide, letting him settle between them as he continued kissing me. He was hard and hot against my thigh, and he began to thrust against me.

I started, clutching at his shoulders. "Will."

"Ana," He dropped his head down, kissing me roughly as he kept thrusting.

I pulled away, "Will, stop for a minute."

He stilled, breathing hard as he pulled back. "What? Do you not like it?"

"No, I do." I shifted, pulling my hips away from him. "But you almost went in me." I pressed my thighs together, trying to think through the haze of pleasure currently dominating my mind. "Maybe like this?"

He looked down, taking a moment to press himself to the line between them. He gave a groan as he slid between them, bringing his head back down to mine. "It's nice." I brushed my fingers over his cheeks, latching them around his head as he began to thrust deliberately. Soon enough his face was growing strained, his breathing rough as he began thrusting even harder against me, his hips like a piston as he drove himself up and down. He pulled back quickly, his seed spilling onto my belly as he came. He panted for a moment, reaching back for a handkerchief and wiping it off me. "Ana, God." He threw it to the floor, laying himself on top of me.

I wrapped my legs around him, reveling in the weight of him on me. "Will, you're going to leave that here, right?"

"Yes," He murmured into my neck, "And several others will be joining it before I let you go."

"The staff will start to wonder soon." I whispered, pressing my cheek to his. "And not just the ones at the house."

He groaned, with exasperation instead of pleasure for once. "Why did I have to fall in love with a rich woman whose servants are far too obsessed with helping her maintain her virtue?" I grinned as he pressed himself harder against me. "It would be far easier if you were simply a modest merchant's daughter, I could have had you three times today then."

"And why did I have to fall in love with an overly amorous Scotsman?" I chuckled, feeling him laugh into my shoulder. "One who keeps coming to my rescue and then deploring that he cannot wait until our wedding in less than, let me think, nine months? We could dress ourselves later, but for right now I just wanted to linger the in the afterglow of sweat, seed and pleasure. Will shifted off me, letting me curl around him and press myself to his shoulder. I could feel that lethargy overcoming me, my eyes sliding shut and my mind at peace as he held me close.