Chapter Text
It’s perhaps two o’clock in the morning; the air is brittle and icy in his lungs, his breath plumes out before him with each rise and fall of his chest. He tugs at his collar, pulling the thick leather of his captain’s cloak higher up against his neck, seeking warmth yet finding none despite his efforts.
‘’Blast this cold.’’ He grumbles scathingly to the wind as his eyes search the blackened horizon for threats that usually travelled in the dark. He was on night-watch, the third one this week, having swapped with Callum all too eagerly as his insomnia has refused to let him rest.
The only way he managed any sleep these days was to run himself ragged, to the point where he blacked out from sheer exhaustion upon reaching his bed.
The cigar in his hand spat and crackled with his next deep inhale, the end suddenly catching fire, and he huffs as sprays of coal travel towards his face on the breeze. He spots two of his men doing the rounds on the main deck beneath him and he leans forward over the wheel which controlled his ship, the men below tightening ropes and checking for general wear and tear.
He has a fantastic crew.
Not that he would ever admit it to these scurvy sea dogs. He had a reputation to keep after all. He wasn’t in this business to make friends, he did it to be the richest and youngest admiral within the Naut Guild by the time he hit thirty.
So far, he had succeeded in all his ventures and ambitions – and he planned to stay on course.
Nothing would deter him from his dreams of discovering his true identity, either.
He worked his men as hard as he could but within reason, mercy was shown only when it was justified. He was known to have lads and lasses alike scrubbing the deck with nothing more than a toothbrush if they so much as spoke to him in a tone of voice he didn’t like.
Everyone knew of his moods, his iron will, and even if on occasion he would sigh quietly to himself when his fellow Nauts avoided him in the tavern – he knew it was for the best.
Emotional attachments would only veer him off course and sink him.
He knew they held no love for him, much likely preferring his second in command who was always full of joy and smiles - and yet he felt safe and assured in the knowledge that he was respected – his wrath equally feared – to a standard that it would halt even the tiniest whisper of mutiny.
No, his crew was reliable and trustworthy, and he would die for them. Without question or hesitation.
The smouldering tip of his cigar begins to fizzle, the glowing red ember illuminating his face in the darkness of the night in eery shadows.
Sighing as his only vice sputtered and died, he walks towards the railing, flicking the item into the depths below, the waves consuming it instantly.
A flash of silver catches his eye before he turns fully, something pale and limp approaching the starboard side on the waves that gently rocked his ship.
‘’What the f – ‘’ his voice barely above a whisper as his eyes widen in shock, the whites of his eyes now larger than the gold of his irises as they focused on what he saw thirty feet below him.
There, floating on driftwood, was a woman.
He could tell she was a woman as her hair was long, its length covering her face, only allowing the tip of her dainty nose to stick out, a limp arm somehow stuck to the driftwood, entangled in netting and wire.
Before his mind could catch up with his body, he removed his leather coat and boots and dived over the railing into the depths below, intent on saving her and yelling the familiar ode of man overboard for his night watchmen to catch.
A warning flashes through his mind in mid-air before he plunges into the drink; stories of old which now raced through his mind - of creatures crazed and forgotten who hungered for flesh - but as he broke through the first cresting wave and swam across to her – he sucks in a breath as he presses a finger to her throat, searching for a pulse.
Pure astonishment shudders through his frame the instant he touches her, something in the recesses of his mind greedily latches on to an invisible thread which leads back to the sluggish pulse he can feel through her clammy skin.
He reaches down to his hip, a blade always at the ready and he hacks as much as he can at the netting until she breaks free, her body beginning to sink steadily. He panics and draws her close, ignoring the stammering in his heart as the chill of the water begins to rob him of warmth and breath.
She was alive… by the sea, how was this possible - A whimper from her brushes softly against the shell of his ear and he curses as a wave pushes them below once more. Some sort of metal instrument is strapped to her back, and it nearly blinds him as they bob back to the surface. He debates removing the item but seeing as how his strength was slowly leaving him, he didn’t want to waste their time in doing so.
She was impossibly pale from cold; a shiver on her lips wobbling her chin and he hefts her arm over his shoulder as he begins to kick towards his ship. A rope has been thrown over in haste, bellows of alarm from his crew, at seeing their captain in the water.
Hoisting himself up by tying the lasso loosely around their frames, he grunts in discomfort as her head lolls forward, knocking into his chin.
‘’Pull ya seadogs, that there be ya Captain in the drink. Pull I say!’’ he dimly hears his master of ropes command from the deck and with a last yank which makes him hiss as the rope rubs angrily at his skin through his shirt – he was back on deck, cradling an unconscious and naked woman to his chest.
‘’Make way. Move!’’ Dunnan scolds the men who had begun to crowd the deck around their captain, whispering amongst themselves at the sight before them.
‘’Only you Vasco, could find a naked woman in the sea!’’ Dunnan teases good-naturedly and Vasco snorts, the shaking of his icy body elongating the sound.
A coat is draped over the form in his arms, and he snaps his head up to see the ship’s healer now leaning down to pick her up – Vasco curls his arms tighter around the woman – a strange reluctance to let her go coming over him.
‘’Either you let me carry her, or I get the men to carry you both!’’ Dunnan spits out in irritation and Vasco growls in irritation, licking his lips and grimaces at the salty taste burning the back of his throat - but reason slowly returns to him, and he nods up at the man to take her.
The woman is lifted out of his arms and a blanket was immediately thrown over his shoulder by one of his crew. Callum, his second in command, came bounding across the deck – half dressed and half-cocked as usual, still tugging on a boot as he stops to stare at Vasco in alarm.
Vasco lifts his trembling hands, the warmth of his breath as he blew across his digits smarting and he knew he had only a small window to warm himself before hypothermia set in.
‘’Callum, take the helm. The ship is yours until morning.’’ He barks, spitting out sea water as he coughed, the younger man salutes, wide-eyed, mouth opening and snapped to his post.
With the help of his Master of Ropes, he shambles his way down the two flights of stairs to the infirmary on the third deck, the instant warmth of the interior cabin drawing a sigh of pleasure from his chest.
‘’Get out of those clothes, Captain – I have spares there.’’ Dunnan motions with a nod of his head towards a chest in the corner, and Vasco strips as best he could, the schloop of his wet clothing hitting the floor almost deafening.
‘’Any ideas as to why she was floating in the middle of the ocean?’’ His ship’s healer whispers out in concern as the woman is gently deposited on the cot against the wall.
A whistle leaves the man, and the tone was familiar enough that Vasco looks over his shoulder as he shrugged on a shirt – it was a whistle of appreciation, and the captain quirks a brow in question.
‘’She’s …. By the seas, Vasco – she’s a beauty.’’ Dunnan remarks as he moves her sodden locks off her face, his medically trained eyes assessing her condition at the same time.
Vasco carefully steps towards his only friend on the ship, stopping just behind the smaller man’s shoulder and when he catches his first glimpse of the woman’s face – he feels his heart skitter to a brief stop – a curse of wonder leaving his lips.
She was resplendent.
Hair the colour of the blackest seas, eyelashes long and fluttering as she dreamed, a sprinkling of pale brown freckles dusting the bridge of her nose and high cheekbones. Vasco’s mouth popped open as he lingered on a pouty bottom lip which he thought would be the colour of cherries were it not for the blue tinge of cold lingering about them now.
Vasco frowns as his eyes sharpen on her left cheek, a graze upon it, an injury which would need healing as the thin slice of skin wept a trickle of blood, the bead trailing slowly to her ear.
A shot from a pistol. He was sure of it and when he catches Dunnan’s eye, he sees his suspicions confirmed.
Grey light begins to fill the room and he blinks twice to force his eyes to adjust to this new hue of colour around him. The longer the healer used his magic, the brighter the colour became, and he shut his eyes tight as spots appeared in his vision from a sudden blinding pop of white light – and Dunnan removes his hand which had been hovering over her cheek with a weary sigh.
It was his turn to whistle – his friends magic always astounding him each time he saw it.
‘’Do you think her ship went down?’’ The healer questions almost to himself, and Vasco hums.
‘’It would make sense I suppose, considering what I found her clinging to.’’ The captain grunts as he threw himself gracelessly into the chair beside the woman’s bed.
‘’She must have gotten tangled, see that there – ‘’ he points, and Vasco’s eyes follow obediently to the metal wiring meshed with fishing line, the debris twisted and circling over her forearm.
‘’I wonder where the rest of her crew are.’’ Vasco hums softly, a sudden flicker of sadness flashing briefly in his eyes before he hardens them again at Dunnan’s understanding gaze.
‘’May their souls rest beneath the waves – it’s a miracle she lasted that long in open water.’’ Dunnan shakes his head as he replaces his coat with a thick, coarse blanket, averting his eyes from her naked form out of respect.
Vasco watches as his friend heats some water with a snap of his fingers, steam instantaneously filling the room as it wafted over the rim of the bowl. A warm cloth was placed over her head, an amber liquid dropped carefully down her throat through a dropper and Vasco blows out a breath in relief as colour starts to return to the female’s face.
The odd instrument on her back was removed with minor effort, the healer cottoning on that there was a latch just above her collarbone to remove it, and he places it gently against the wall. Vasco eyes it in suspicion as a faint shimmer crested its surface from bottom to top, swirling and then disappearing.
‘’Could you watch her for a bit?’’ Vasco’s head shoots up, perplexed – he had no medical training apart from stitching up minor wounds and administering the breaths of life.
‘’I need to run down to the hold and grab some tools. No blade is getting through that wire and my magic is too brutish for such delicate work – I need my cutters.’’ He comments as he whips his cloak tighter across his chest and heads for the door.
‘’Dun- ‘’
‘’Just make sure she keeps covered and warm, Vasco.’’ The healer sighs impatiently before disappearing out the door.
Running his fingers through his shoulder-length locks he grimaces as fine grains of salt drop to the floor with each shake of his head. Hair slicked back and under control, he stands carefully and moves his chair to face the slumbering woman, his feet propping up against the edge of the cot, long legs still slightly shaking from cold.
‘’Who are you?’’ he whispers questioningly as he continues to watch her, the deep, steady breaths she took hypnotising him the longer he stared.
A moan leaves her mouth, a whimper of pain - and he scrambles to his feet, his hand pressing against her forehead to check for fever – he feels nothing aside from the damp of her skin from the water and wonders briefly whether he had imagined their connection earlier. A residual cold still lingers about her - but as his calloused fingers brush her chin, he can’t help but marvel at how soft her skin was.
He brushes a wayward lock behind her ear, his chest suddenly filled with sympathy for her misfortune, and he recites a verse of his favourite poem to her, hoping his words of hope and strength would reach her.
As the last word left his lips, she opened her eyes; he was instantly ensnared by the palest blue he had ever beheld. Paler than sky on a crisp clear morning, bluer than the shallows which lined the shores of every untainted beach he had ever sailed across.
Vasco sucks in a breath as the two share a gaze which travelled so deep within him that he shuffles back in alarm, his very soul feeling as if though it would leave him gladly - should he stare into her depths a moment longer.
The woman slowly blinks, frowning at first as she takes in her surroundings but as he shifts from one foot to the other – she sits up and presses herself into the corner of the bed, knees drawing up and arms hanging semi-protectively around her knees.
Vasco blesses all the gods of the sea that the blanket Dunnan had covered her with, was being cradled tightly against her chest.
‘’You’re safe now lass, no one here will harm you.’’ he crooned softly, his hand attempting to reach out, but her eyes widen at his extended arm. Vasco withdraws it carefully whilst stuttering out a small apology.
‘’Where- ‘’ she croaks, her throat gargling on the words and Vasco quickly moves to the table, pouring her a small glass of water which he tentatively hands to her as a peace offering.
The woman continues to stare at his outstretched arm in distrust – a small wrinkle appearing over the bridge of her nose and Vasco huffs, taking a small sip and offering it to her once more.
She all but grabbed the glass out of his hand. He would forever deny making a squawk of fright should anyone ever dare to ask.
He watched her gulp greedily, water spilling out the sides of her mouth, trailing down her chin – he tuts as she chokes in her haste.
‘’Easy there … easy.’’ He cautions softly and her eyes snap to his, watching his movements. A blush begins to spread from the tips of his ears across his cheeks as she tilts her head, her eyes roving over his body, the gap in his hastily flung on shirt gaping low in a vee down his chest.
‘’I am Captain Vasco of the Pikestaff. You are aboard my ship. We found you floating on the sea, lass.’’ He coughed away his embarrassment at her wandering gaze and watched as a myriad of emotions passed over her face as she struggled internally with her thoughts.
‘’I – I don’t know who…. I am.’’ She croaks again, wincing when her hand passes over the side of her head and the captain frowns at her pained expression. He observes her quietly as her eyes roam the room, the necklace around her throat being cradled and twirled around her slim fingers.
Vasco’s eyes narrow as he focuses on the tiny orb of silver hanging off the end of the chain, it glinted and shimmered much like the metal rod she had affixed to her back not so long ago; briefly his mind tried to catalogue what sort of metal it could be but when she begins to pick at her injured arm, he leans forward and places his hand over hers.
The woman inhales sharply, eyes once a pale blue darkening to azure and she turns her hand to thread their fingers together, wide eyes marking the difference in size as their palms meet. Vasco squirms as once again something deep within him begins to clamour and insist that he get closer to her.
For a moment he is lost in the feeling of her tiny hand in his – their burning stare sharpening and in a haze, he sees her lips move, words he couldn’t decipher, and felt his own lips echo it – a sharp sluice of pain crashes into the centre of his head and he pathetically whimpers in pain before it disappears as quickly as it came with a soothing stroke of her fingers over his brow.
Something had changed inside him through the joining of their hands, and he growls in confusion – extracting his limb as hastily as he could, hoping he wouldn’t cause offense but needing the distance from her.
Reason and wits needed to be maintained and he was rapidly losing his.
The woman’s necklace begins to glow, the silver hue suddenly changing colour before his eyes to a tawny gold, much like the colour of his eyes. He opens his mouth to question it, but she gives another sharp hiss as she touched the spot on her head that troubled her.
‘’My healer should return momentarily. He will see to any remaining wounds that you have.’’ He reassured her but she did nothing more than watch him with a flash of longing which bewildered him as he carefully lowered himself back into his chair.
‘’Vasco?’’
A shiver broke out over his body, his hairs standing on edge at the sound of his name being uttered by her lips and once again he forces himself back into the moment, the trance he seems to fall into whenever he looks into her eyes, coming over him too easily.
‘’Do – do you remember anything at all?’’ he probes gently, and she shakes her head. ‘’Bits... and pieces… a storm maybe? Lots of yelling. Gunfire…’’ she trails off and shrugs apologetically.
He made a note to inform the crew to keep watch for pirates, better to be safe …
‘’I’m sure it will all return in time. You are incredibly fortunate to have survived this long, Lass.’’ The smile he gave her was warm and comforting and he caught himself …
Since when did I smile so damned freely…
To his surprise she begins to unfurl from her corner, her legs spreading out before her and for a moment he feels a flicker of pride at winning her trust – until she sits forward that is, and his heart stutters once more to a complete standstill for a handful of seconds.
He curses as the blankets drop and her bare chest was exposed to him – granting him a wonderous sight – he would need several barrels of rum to ever forget, even for a moment, the dusky colour of her nipples, the swell of her rounded breasts, the way they tightened as the air hit them.
He, youngest Captain in the Naut Guild, revered and known for his stern and strict command of his ship and crew, mercilessly mocked for his aloofness and solitary existence - blushed spectacularly at the sight, wrenching his head to the side to face the wall.
‘’Lass? Could you … - ‘’ he motions to the blanket puddled around her hips, and she frowns, looking down in confusion, a brow quirking in question.
‘’By the gods – tis improper for a – I mean … I … are you not offended that I have seen you in such a state of undress?’’ he stammers, and she shakes her head, innocently so, eyes wide and still confused.
‘’Please… cover up, Lass.’’ He pleads, the temptation to look once more over her delectable features causing a crick in his neck.
A rustle of her blankets fills his ears, and he huffs out a breath, daring to move just one eye’s gaze over to her.
‘’You are a … very strange man.’’ She smiles, stifling a yawn behind her fist, the slight high-pitched noise at the end of it pulling a smirk into the corner of his lips.
‘’Says the woman floating in the drink in the middle of the night naked.’’ He retorts without thinking and watches - utterly fascinated – as a smile graced her delicate features. Pearly white teeth, incisors slightly pointed, a flash of a pink tongue…
By the seas, she would ruin him for all women forever if she continued to smile at him like this his mind flashed in warning.
‘’Vasco.’’ she whispers, and he breaks into gooseflesh.
‘’Vasco?’’ she says it again with a touch more confidence and he bites back a shudder.
‘’Vasco.’’ She says firmly and he groans, looking to the ceiling as he begs the sweet melody of her voice to cease tormenting him.
‘’Aye, lass, that’s me…’’ He confirms his name again and wishes Dennan would return so that he could extricate himself from this nightmare of shifting emotions.
As if on cue, thundering footsteps could be heard approaching from the hallway and the woman in the bed gasps in fright as the door opens, the wind down the passage slamming it against the wall. The healer enters, a barbaric contraption held in his hand, severe frown on his face.
Without warning – Vasco feels the material of his shirt get tugged - the woman lunging forward, blankets dropping to her hips, and she hisses, grabbing onto his sleeve and with an unbelievable feat of strength – she pulls him from his chair and flings him face first onto the bed beside her with a flick of her wrist.
Dunnan curses quietly in shock as the naked woman before him snarls angrily beneath her breath. Despite her small stature - she couldn’t have been more than five foot six at most in length whilst standing – she cut an imposing figure as she guarded the man beneath her from a perceived threat, her body angling over his – a hand pressing hard on his back, keeping him firmly in place.
‘’Lass – It’s alright… please, be calm.’’ Vasco’s voice was muffled by the pillow, mind scrambling to ascertain how it was that he now found himself in this position. This waif of a girl protecting all hulking six foot of him from his own crew.
His pride prickled and burned.
The idea was laughable – how easily she had pulled him across to her, as if he were as light as a feather, his weight as insignificant as the foam that crusted the tops of the waves.
Dunnan places his hands in the air, backtracking a few steps as her glare warns him to back off and Vasco manages to roll beneath her, her hand now situated on his chest. The raven-haired woman snaps her head to the pulse she could feel beneath her palm and in an instant, she leans her head down, placing her ear directly over his heart.
Vasco splutters – thoroughly caught off guard at having this naked female protect him and touch him so intimately.
He’s never been one to turn away a beautiful woman but –
‘’Lass, come now, let me up.’’ He growls in annoyance, his pride biting at him - having his healer see him so overpowered and useless was unacceptable - but she lifts her head to stare him down, brows furrowing as she shook her head, refusing to let him up.
She flashes a sneer at Dunnan as he takes a step forward and Vasco shoots out a hand to grip her chin between forefinger and thumb, intending to scold her for her irrational behaviour but instead as he turns her head to face him, she beams at him, a brilliant smile gracing her lovely face, and he finds himself with a chest full of naked female, her lips hot against his.
‘’What the fuck.’’ Dunnan’s shout was lost beneath the roaring of Vasco’s heart drumming in his ears, and to his shame he groans in bliss when her tongue swipes across his lower lip.
He couldn’t think, he couldn’t breathe – he was certain that he would be satisfied to never do so again, as long as she kept kissing him. Somehow his hands had lowered – one clasping her hip and pulling her closer, the other threading through her hair and he relishes the taste of her on his tongue.
A loud, boisterous cough broke through the spell and his eyes widen in clarity just as she finished sucking on his lower lip. He pushes her off roughly, her hands giving way in startlement, and he clatters to the floor, knees hitting hard before he scrambles to press himself against the wall.
Breathing heavily, hand against his own chest – he ignores the chuffs of laughter from Dunnan as he attempts to stifle it by turning his back to him.
A vein begins to throb in his temple – an unspoken flash in his eyes – he would make his friend clean the latrines for the remainder of the voyage to Serene he swears vehemently.
Dunnan, arms crossed with an amused grin on his face, simply looks between the two of them and shakes his head.
‘’Girl, I’m so glad we found you.’’ he chuckles heartily as the blush on Vasco’s cheek darkens.
The woman looks down to her hand and frowns, a sudden flux of silent tears overcoming her, the droplets landing in a pitter patter on the course blanket beneath her, a look of hurt on her face that had Vasco shifting uncomfortably – regretting his rough treatment of her.
‘’Captain, maybe you should leave, get some air?’’ The healer questions and he can only nod dumbly as he carefully made his way round, back against the wall.
He can’t stand it – this need to touch her, be near her – an all-consuming urge that was screaming through his veins that he march straight back to her bed and damn whoever witnessed their coupling.
With a last look, he sees Dunnan approach the female, hands now raised in peace and how her shoulders sag as she watches him go.
By the all the seas – what was happening?
****
Back in the safety of his cabin, he leans against the door as it clicks shut.
He begins to laugh, softly at first until he is on his knees, gasping and swiping a tear of mirth away with the back of his hand.
He was by no means a virgin – Seas, he’s probably bedded most of the port’s whores on numerous occasions – each one just a body to slake his lust for an evening - a little companionship, to tide him through the solitary life that comes with being Captain.
Not one kiss, or touch or moan shared between him and the women he paid for, had ever, come close to the indescribable feeling of fulfilment and pleasure, which he had just experienced through a single kiss with this stranger.
For a split second – the aching loneliness which had plagued him since he was old enough to put a name to the feeling – had vanished.
He had felt whole and content.
He traces his lips slowly with a finger, closing his eyes and his hand comes away shaking.
Get a hold of yourself, you fool he scolds himself, fists now clenching as he pushes back to his feet.
He trudges heavily over to his desk, seating himself with a groan and huffs out in amusement as he spied his coat and tricorne hanging from the hooks behind his door. He would have to thank the brave soul who dared to enter his cabin without his permission.
It was most likely Callum. That boy had no sense of what boundaries where acceptable to cross or not. He had a few more years training until Vasco could be satisfied that he wouldn’t drown his crew and sink his ship the moment he left port.
He rubs at his chin, the bristling of his beard growing back in, scraping against the palm of his hand. He lifts it to his face and studies it – the same one that had clenched hers, the same one that felt like it had changed something fundamental about him without his permission.
He growls, kicking his desk leg in anger, this unsettling confusion driving him mad. He has never wavered from his path and this … this … behaviour, this second-guessing of his, would be his undoing.
He loses track of time as he sits and contemplates the female two decks below – wondering if he should return, then quickly shaking himself as he battles the urge. Was she still in pain? Was there anything he could do? No, no – he would leave her in the capable care of Dunnan.
He had no business getting more involved. In two months, they would dock in Serene, he would march her off the ship down to the harbour master and wash his hands of this temptress.
He groans, running his hands through his honey-coloured locks before a knock on his door has him shooting his head up in surprise.
It was late – what could they possibly need from him now?
‘’Aye – enter!’’ he snaps, straightening himself in his chair, turning slightly with his leg bent over his knee.
‘’Captain – err – apologies for disturbin’ ya but the crew were a’wonderin’ at your orders for the day.’’ Fabian, master of ropes rolls out hesitantly as he removes his hat and clasps it in front of his belly, old, gnarled fingers tightening on the well-worn leather.
Eyebrows raised, Vasco hears the shrill cry of a gull pierce through the fog in his brain, and his eyes widen as he spots the blue of the sky through his window. Daylight. He had somehow wasted away an entire night of sleeping, doing nothing more than agonising over this new passenger, so much so that he had shirked his duties.
‘’Blast it!’’ he rumbles in anger and the master of ropes back pedals out of his room as the captain swipes his coat and hat off their pegs, pushing past him to head up to the helm.
Thundering footsteps echo over the deck as Vasco climbs the stairs three at a time, his long legs carrying him up with ease.
‘’Mornin’ Captain!’’ Callum cheerfully grins, a cheeky flash of a smile aimed towards him, and Vasco grumbles something of a greeting in return before waving his hand, his second jumping out the way with a mock salute as Vasco took the wheel in hand.
‘’Seas all calm captain, narry a cloud in the sky either. We’ve got a good wind in our sails today.’’ Callum whistles happily, rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet and Vasco grunts in agreement.
‘’I want an inspection of the hull for leaks, cargo restraints checked, and the rails needs waxing. See to it.’’ Vasco barks and a flurry of men below jump to their tasks, not needing to be told twice.
‘’You’re dismissed, Callum.’’ Vasco motions with a nod but frowns as the man continues to stand there.
‘’Sir, the lady we scooped out the black – is she well?’’ the man’s brown eyes probe him, and Vasco bites the inside of his cheek – wondering how far scuttlebutt had reached - gossip spreading quicker than fire aboard ships.
‘’She was well… the last time I saw her.’’
‘’Has she spoken of what happened? Should we be on the lookout for pirate’s sir?’’ he whispered, stepping up behind his shoulder so as to not alarm the men by uttering the words.
‘’She claims to have no memory… not even of her name... but we can’t discount the idea of pirates either. Bring a few barrels of weapons up, just in case.’’ he grits out, eyes scanning the horizon.
‘’Shall I avail myself to her Captain, perhaps a friendly face –‘’
‘’No.’’ he barks, the finality of it staggering the man away from him at how harshly it carries on the wind.
He … he didn’t want anyone near her… for now.
‘’Return to your post, Callum.’’
‘’A-Aye, Captain.’’
The lad scurried below, and Vasco smothers a growl by pursing his lips, his behaviour appalling him.
He could still feel the phantom press of her lips against his, the swell of her flesh pushing against his chest, the slick heat of her mouth – what … what if she was predisposed to acting like that with another of his crew?
He clenches his jaw so tight his teeth began to ache.
He wasn’t of sound mind right now – if she was so incline, he couldn’t deny perhaps he would act foolishly and challenge the poor man to a duel to the death.
‘’There you are lucky son-of-a-bitch.’’
Dunnan chuckles softly as he approaches, and Vasco feels his ears burn at the scrutiny he suddenly found himself under.
‘’First you’re having a dip in the blue, then you’re ravished by a naked woman from the sea, then you’re late to your post – ‘’ Dunnan smirks and Vasco glowers coldly at him, scoffing and keeping his eyes on the edge of the world. ‘’ – You’ve had a hell of a day of it, haven’t ya?’’
Vasco refuses to answer, afraid that his tongue would be let loose and ask the burning questions which now clawed at his throat.
‘’If you’re wandering – she’s awake, and fully healed. Sleeping the last time I checked. I gave her a shirt and some pants, but she’s refused to put on anything but your old shirt - which you left on the floor in a sodden heap by the way.’’ He grunts and Vasco lifts a brow in silent question.
‘’Don’t ask me, she saw it, picked it up … sniffed it for God sakes … and a smile came over her face quicker and more brilliant than the sun peeping over the horizon. Never seen anything like it.’’
Vasco beats down the illogical approval he feels at her choosing to wear his shirt and shrugs – hoping he could hide how pleased he was by the blasé action.
‘’She’s asking for you, you know. Hasn’t done anything but mumble your name through the night with a forlorn sigh.’’ Dunnan grinned cheekily, a teasing glint in his eyes and a tremor runs through Vasco’s hands at the thought of seeing her again, his body changing its stance and facing the stairs, before he halts in shock at his bodies traitorous movements.
‘’Eager, are we?’’
The stern glare which he levers towards his friend would have cowed most into submission, but the healer simply folds his arms and winks.
‘’For fuck’s sake…’’ Vasco sighs, rubbing a hand over his face, realising that he had yet to tie up his hair as his fingers got tangled in the knots, the wind blowing the strands against his fingers.
‘’Now, I know she finds you attractive – judging by that little show you two put on - but I ask if you do go see her, you try to keep your wits and your honour intact. She’s vulnerable right now, doesn’t even remember her name – she’s in no position to go for a roll with you. It aint proper.’’
Vasco bristles, offended by the notion and turns to face his friend – fully intending to give the man his opinion but the healer raises a hand in peace.
‘’I only say this – as I saw what happened last night – both of you forgot I even existed.’’
Vasco nods but his ire has been sparked. ‘’Why can’t she remember anything?’’
‘’Seas if I know. I checked her as best I could with m’magic – nearest thing I can find is a big ol’ gaping hole in her noggin of where her memories used to be. Like someone reached in there and plucked em’ out.’’
‘’If she can’t remember anything – how are we going to return her?’’
‘’We can’t. Not until she regains her memories. It don’t feel right to just dump her in port and leave. Goes against every reason why I chose healing magic instead of fighting with it.’’
Vasco squirms – his earlier, ugly thoughts whispering to him, and he shuffles about awkwardly, avoiding his friends gaze.
‘’Go see her… try to clear the air, lay down some boundaries if you have to. We still have a long while at sea.’’ Dunnan grunts tiredly, stretching out his back with a twist and rapped his knuckles on the railing before leaving him alone.
He… he would go see her – later – after his shift was completed.
He would just have to last the next twelve hours.
He would just have to last.
****
The mess hall was crowded as per; jovial spirits in full swing as the men all hollered, sang and gambled their few bits of silver away. He nodded in thanks to the cook as the man dished up a serving of mash with two scoops of green beans, a small sliver of dried meat on the side.
Sitting by himself in the corner, he smiles behind his drink as he listens to the men around him. They knew better than to sit with him and whilst he had made it known that they could approach him for anything work related – most knew after having served beneath him these past three years that he preferred to be alone.
Well… that was until Dunnan had joined them six months ago. The man had taken one look at their crusty, stern captain and decided to befriend him – whether he liked it or not.
A tray is shoved beside him, and he looks to see said friend sitting down with a sigh, a hand to his cheek, grumbling beneath his breath.
‘’What’s got your sails in a twist?’’ Vasco thrums, head cocking to the side.
‘’She slapped me.’’
A laugh escapes him and everyone in the mess turn their heads to the rare sound of their Captain expressing joy. He scowls at them all and they snap their heads back down to their food.
‘’Why did she slap you pray tell?’’ Vasco asks, his curiosity burning him alive.
‘’Well, we gots ta talkin’. You know, is she hungry ... does she need the privy … everything was going fine… until I stupidly touched that necklace of hers – I just wanted ta know what it was cause its obviously important to her – ‘’ the healer shrugs and then mimicks a backhand.
‘’Not yours. Vasco’s.’’
‘’Huh?’’ The captain bemusedly grunts, and Dunnan rolls his eyes. ‘’That’s what she said...’Not yours. Vasco’s’.’’ he mimics a falsetto voice, fluttering his lashes.
Vasco’s mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water and the look on his face must have been comical, because the healer leans his head back with a bark of a laugh, and once again all eyes draw to their corner of the room.
‘’You should have seen me, Vasco. She knocked me clear across the room she did. Bam. Into the wall. Swatted me like a fly.’’
‘’Why in the fuck is she so strong?’’ He growls, exasperated as the memories of him being pinned down coloured his cheeks. ‘’You sure she’s human?’’ he snorts offhandedly but frowns when Dunnan doesn’t immediately answer.
‘’Aye, she is… but there’s something strange about her. My magic keeps encountering a block of sorts when I try to dig deeper – I’ve not ever experienced the like.’’
‘’Is she a danger to the crew?’’ Vasco asks seriously, mouth thinning in concern.
‘’No… no, I don’t think so. I think she’s just chosen your stupid hide as her knight in shining armour. I’d say the only one in danger - is the one who dares to harm you in front of her.’’
‘’The fuck am I supposed to do with that information, Dun.’’ The captain growls, stabbing his fork viciously into a green bean, the crunch of the vegetable between his teeth unnecessarily loud.
‘’You’re looking at me for answers, lad, but I haven’t been with a woman in nigh on decade – not since my Emily passed. Wouldn’t know what to do with them now.’’ Dunnan sighs sadly and Vasco jolts, not liking the sensation of guilt travelling up his spine at his friend’s heartache.
‘’I-I’m sorry … I didn’t mean for you to relive – ‘’ he stutters out awkwardly but Dun claps a hand on his leather shoulder a tad too roughly, his entire body pitching forward from the force of it.
He curses and resolves to start training again in the morning – not liking that his strength couldn’t hold up to anything stronger than a fierce wind.
‘’She hasn’t eaten today. I – I think she’s waiting for you.’’ Dun grunts and points to the cook who was dishing up the last of the night’s meals. ‘’Go get her something to eat and get it over with. I can see you’ve been torturing yourself all day with your stupid thoughts.’’ The man points a finger to the creases between his brows and a tendril of wispy magic shoots into the captain’s head.
Vasco rubs absently at the lack of pain, the feeling unusual but he smiles slowly in thanks.
‘’Go on now, Captain, get.’’
A shove to his shoulder and his feet are on the move without his say so. Vasco gathers another tray in hand, pulls at his collar, barks out the last rotation of men to be on shift for the evening and marches down all too eagerly to see the woman who had a penchant for wearing his shirts.
****
Standing in front of the infirmary doors he shares a look with a sailor leaning against the wall several feet away. ‘’After she done slapped Dunnan from one end of t’ship to t’other – I thought it best to keep an eye, Sir.’’ The lanky gunner stretches, nods once to Vasco and disappears down the hall.
Taking an excruciatingly long inhale, Vasco feels a thrum beneath his muscles as he pushes the door open, tray in hand and a professionally trained blank expression on his face. The door swings wide and the woman’s head lifts expectantly.
‘’Seas…’’ he whispers, wishing he could run back to his quarters, as the sight of her in his white cotton shirt made his mouth begin to water and his mind to feel foggy. A shout of joy reaches his ears, her eyes brimming with excitement, smile wide and giddy as she sees him standing there, mouth open and transfixed.
‘’Vasco!’’
Between one moment and the next, the tray has soared into the air, his tall frame bowing backwards and the feel of her launching herself into his embrace is all he is aware of. The slender arms that wrap around his neck, fingers twining in his hair… the strong and smooth expanse of her unclothed thighs wrapping about his waist, ankles locking behind his back…
Vasco’s hands immediately compensate for the lack of stability by grabbing onto the round and firm globes of her backside and he has no breath left in his lungs as she kisses him greedily, mouth on his with wild abandonment.
He was losing his mind.
This … this temptress in his arms was delving into his soul, swirling her tongue against his, biting softly at his lips, making him moan as her finger’s ministrations tugged at his hair, scalp tingling with pleasure.
The feel of her in his arms, the rightness of it all, solidified completely, and he returned the kiss with matching fervour and passion, intending to devour her, keep her close and bury himself in her body.
The sounds of coughing from down the hall startles them both and he jerks abruptly, hands falling from her ass, head drawing back as he breaks the kiss, a wild look in his eyes as he gasps for breaths.
‘’By all the fucking seas, woman. Get. Off.’’ He growls, and he immediately regrets his barking as her eyes fill with tears, big pale blue orbs staring at him, as if though he had just kicked several puppies in quick succession in front of her.
He takes a steadying breath, bending at the knees and she slowly slides down his body, the brush of her bare groin against his straining one, making him keen quietly in the back of his throat as shivers cascade down his back.
The woman’s head hangs low, her gaze on the floor as her lip trembles and he sighs, pinching her chin gently to tilt her face up.
‘’You can’t do that without my permission, okay? Nod your head if you understand.’’
He feels the slow bob of her head through his two fingers, and he huffs.
It would have to do… even if everything in him was screaming for more of her.
‘’Do… you not desire me?’’ she ekes out quietly and he is completely caught off guard by the sadness which swirls around behind her eyes.
‘’That’s not the issue here… I mean… fuck, you’ve just … you can’t just … clearly, I am … -’’ before he realises with a gasp that he was lewdly pointing to his erection, and he grips his coat closed with a curse.
‘’I’m s-sorry.’’ She mumbles and he rolls his eyes in frustration.
How is she even more attractive when she cries?
Against his better judgement, he thumbs away the tears from her cheeks and she leans into his palm, her tiny face fitting perfectly into the cup of his large, calloused hand.
Coughing to hide the sudden warmth flowing through him he steps around her and marches to the chair in the corner, deftly avoiding the contents of her spilled food. He grabs a few spare rags from a drawer and cleans the mess, depositing it in a bucket in the corner before motioning for her to sit down on the bed.
He averts his eyes as she crawls up the bed, long legs stretching and flexing, the gaping of his shirt allowing him to see down the expanse of her smooth stomach, the juncture of a crease where her thigh met her hip. She kneels on the bed before him, sitting back on her haunches and he groans inwardly as the shirt rides up even higher about her thighs.
‘’First things first, we need to get you properly dressed. I can’t have you mucking about my ship barely clothed. Half my crew are old enough to have heart attacks at the sight, and the other half are young enough and stupid enough to try and take advantage.’’
‘’I – I don’t like covering my … legs. It feels wrong.’’ She grimaces and a twitch of his eye betrays his slight amusement at seeing her lower lip pout. She catches his gaze, and her mouth instead turns into an answering grin at his attention on her.
‘’Be that as it may, I am Captain of this ship and whilst you are aboard her you will conduct yourself properly. Secondly …’’
She waits patiently, hands clenched on her thighs, a severe frown on her face as he continues to school her in the rules of life aboard his ship. ‘’As I’ve said before… no kissing me … or anyone else for that matter … unless you get permission first.’’
‘’I don’t want to kiss anyone else but you.’’ she states in a flash and his heart hammers in his chest.
‘’W-Why?’’ he asks, the question leaving him before he could stop himself.
‘’You are mine.’’ She quips with a shrug of her shoulders; long black hair being moved over her shoulder as she gathers it all and begins to plait a few strands - her necklace rolling back and forth lightly over her collarbones from the movement.
Hers? Hers?
What the fuck was she on about?
He can only lean back in his chair and stare at her. Perhaps the cold water had addled her brains.
Hers? Really? On what grounds?
It chafes that he suddenly feels like property - and his lingering issues at having been sea-gifted reared its ugly head as he scowls harshly at her.
‘’How in the blazes am I yours?’’ he questions darkly, and the woman lifts her palm, extending her arm and to his astonishment – his lifted automatically to greet hers, hands meeting across the short few steps from his chair to her bed.
Immediately the clasping of their hands, the threading of their fingers, the warmth of their palms connecting - his whole body broke down into shudders at the sensation, his mind instantaneously flooding with affection, want, lust and the curious sensation of wanting to protect her at all costs.
‘’You are mine.’’ She states again with conviction, and he opens his mouth to argue but he can’t find the words, his incredulousness at the situation robbing him of his ability to speak.
‘’You chose.’’
He’s kissing her, having pulled her up by her shirt’s collar, his fingers twining in her hair, sucking on her lower lip and at her moan he bucks into thin air. He pulls away sharply and she nearly topples forward off the bed. He slams himself back into his chair, panting heavily – eyes slightly crazed at his own behaviour.
‘’I don’t remember choosing a goddamned thing.’’ He snarls bitingly and the connection between their hands break as he snatches his arm back, burying his clenched fist under an armpit as he folds his toned arms across his chest.
‘’Be that as it may … ‘’ she starts and he can’t help but snort, the sound catching her off guard and she leans forward to peer into his face - a high breathy giggle leaving her lips at the sound.
‘’Thirdly – we need to establish some rules about p-personal space.’’ Vasco licks his lips, and her eyes shoot down, following the tracing of his tongue. ‘’This… how close you are now – I can feel your breath on my face. It also – isn’t proper, especially for a man and a woman alone in a cabin.’’
She does not withdraw from his personal space, instead her upper body is balancing on his knees, tiny hands finding purchase in the strong muscles of his thighs, and he prays silently to whomever and whatever would listen, that she wouldn’t come any closer - his willpower beginning to wax and wane in the face of such beauty, such focused adoration in his direction.
‘’And … and lastly, this is important … listen, damn you …whilst aboard my ship, you do what I say, when I say, savvy?’’ he points with a commanding finger which tickles the end of her nose as she bumps into it, but she scoffs.
‘’No.’’
His nostrils flare as she sits back, head cocked to the side, a flicker of a smile pulling at her lips.
‘’No?’’ he repeats dangerously, a low growl on his breath.
‘’I... will ask if I can kiss you, I will try to remember about personal space… but I will not do everything you say, when you say it … savvy?’’ she parrots with a flourish of her wrist in dramatics and he finds himself barking out a laugh, stunned and enraptured by the way she is smiling at him.
He can do no more than sit there and shake his head whilst watching her as she braids her hair, a soft hum on her lips.
‘’Do you remember your name yet, Lass?’’
‘’Hmm… it’s still like there is nothing but the depths of the seas in my mind. I think … I think I remember being called … De Sardet.’’
‘’De Sardet.’’ He mouths out slowly and frowns. ‘’Not a particularly feminine name and certainly not one I –‘’
By the seas … there’s that wobble again from her lower lip. He really was a cold-hearted bastard.
‘’Do you find everything about me so displeasing?’’ she sniffles quietly, her earlier smile seeming like a distant memory.
‘’N-No… I just …’’ he lifts his hand and removes his hat, tossing the thing onto the desk behind him, carting his fingers through his hair in frustration.
‘’Lets… let’s start again, shall we? Hello, De Sardet.’’ He says gently and her eyes snap up to meet his. Pools of warmth and affection for him clearly shining through and he sucks in a breath at the sight.
‘’De Sardet …’’ The name clicking into place, and she reaches over to grab his hand - but she stops midway through the air, her hesitation clear by the way her fingers curl back and her arm retreats back into her lap.
He stifles the feeling of bitter disappointment.
‘’Dunnan says you haven’t eaten today.’’ He remarks and she looks to the tray still on the floor, its contents bare.
‘’I wanted to eat with you.’’ Vasco sighs, pushing to his feet, and picking up the tray from the floor.
‘’Wait here, I’ll go get you some more food. It aint fine dining by any stretch of the imagination so you’ll have to make do with what we have.’’ He grunts and ignores her squeak of protest as he rushes out the door, back to the mess hall to replace her food.
The crew all twist their necks as he takes long determined strides past them, muttering to themselves about the rarity of seeing him again after he’s eaten.
He ignores them, directing their inquisitive looks away with a stern scowl.
‘’Jacob… we had an accident. Fill her up, please.’’ He asks for another portion and the cook cocks a brow but doesn’t question the man, simply doing as he’s told. As he waits, watching the ladle disappear into the pot of mash – startled gasps litter the air in shock and all the sound is sucked out of the room.
Vasco closes his eyes and counts to ten as his head hangs back in defeat. He should have known better.
‘’Vasco?’’ her voice drifts in on the breeze through the galley door and he clenches his teeth.
She is still in his shirt, only several buttons keeping the see-through material in place over her chest, the fabric hanging down just above mid-thigh, arms swimming in his sleeves as she looks around for him. She was a vision to behold as her raven black hair hung over one shoulder, bright blue eyes lighting up when they find him.
The men … his men… all stare agog, eyes bulging and wide, some licking their lips, others blushing wildly, and he suddenly hates each and every one of them for daring to eye fuck her in the middle of the mess in front of him.
‘’Eyes to your plates gents or I’ll have you in the drink!’’ he barks, and everyone jumps, startled yells are hastily swallowed, cutlery falling to the floor with curses. Vasco stalks back to De Sardet with a growl, unclasping the buckles of his captain’s coat with deft and agile fingers. He thwaps his coat in the air, the leather hitting the floor with a hard slap, and he shrugs it over her shoulders, pulling it tightly closed beneath her chin.
She smiles up at him in pure wonderment and he finds his knees threaten to buckle at the sight.
‘’Why didn’t you wait for me below?’’ he hisses but she shrugs, instead looking round at all the men who were studiously concentrating on their plates, hands gripping their glasses of grog far too tightly.
‘’Hello.’’ She says and a small hand flipped out from beneath his coat to wave at them. Every head turns at her voice and almost in unison she receives a smattering of greetings from aye, lass to good evenin’ to by the seas listen to her voice.
Vasco snarls something unintelligible, the air thickening with sailors too long at sea, their lust blatant and overwhelming, and he grabs her by the wrist, pulling her over to his table in the back where he pushes her down to sit, and points to her with a glare.
‘’Stay. Here.’’
He collects her food, placing it in front of her none too gently, the metal rattling as it wobbled on the table, and her eyes crinkle in mild disgust.
‘’Do… do we have any fish?’’ Vasco takes a seat opposite her, his large, broad, imposing back blocking her from the crew’s lecherous stares.
‘’We’re on a ship, so yes, we have fish, but that’s not what the cook made tonight. Eat what you can and leave the rest if it’s not to your liking. Although I hate to see food being wasted.’’ He sniffs, eyes watching her as she continues to assess her meal.
She picks up the fork with unsteady hands and half of his coat slips off her shoulder, revealing the angular lines of her collarbone, the divot in her chest before the tops of her breast displayed themselves - with every forward movement she made.
An ever-revealing eyeful and a vein begins to throb in his temple.
Without even thinking about it – he stands, leaning over her, and begins to button up her shirt whilst she sat smiling down at the movements of his hands. When the last button had been fixed, only a small patch of skin around her throat now on show – he nods in satisfaction and sits back down.
Now he could stop feeling this irrational rage, this need to beat all these scallywags to a pulp in his mess, for daring to look at her.
His woman.
No. Wait… what?
Seas, he was losing his mind!
‘’Thank you?’’ she tilts her head and resumes her frowning at the plate before her. A dollop of mash is scooped onto her fork, and she stares at it like It was a moment away from declaring war on her and her kin.
He chortles quietly at the look of bliss on her face as she swallows her first bite. She lets out a sumptuous moan at the taste and he curses, the men at his back all sitting ramrod straight at their tables, heads leaning towards the sound.
Another moan of pleasure escapes her as she scoops up some more food, cherry red lips closing over her fork, pink tongue darting out to lick off a droplet of gravy as it trailed down the utensil.
He was instantly hard. Cock straining against the tight confines of his pants.
What fucking sea magic was this?!
He looks over his shoulder and sees a similar reaction from all the men, some confused, some appalled, some with a hunger in their eyes that spelled trouble with a capital T.
‘’Alright… everyone out. NOW. Back to your stations!’’ Vasco bellows irately at his crew, their stares narrowed in on the moans this temptress before him kept making. De Sardet drops the fork to the floor in fright as his yell echoes around the room and her bottom lip pouts as she tries to lean over and grab it from beneath the table.
He pinches the bridge of his nose and huffs, the pain in his head now competing with the pain of his trapped erection.
‘’I-I’ll get you another fork.’’ He grumbles and shifts his cock to the side, his palm discreetly withdrawing as he stands, returning with a fork and handing it to her. The brush of her fingers are cold against his and he frowns.
‘’Are you cold?’’ he asks with concern as he fills his glass from the pitcher next to him.
She looks at him and shakes her head. ‘’Not at all. I have your coat. It smells like you. Makes me want to kiss you.’’ she says so innocently and all so blasé whilst still shovelling food in her mouth, that he sputters and chokes on his water.
She frowns up at him, concern clear in her eyes as she attempts to stand and help him, but he waves her off. ‘’Am I not to be truthful either, then?’’ she quirks a brow in displeasure, and he shakes his head.
‘’It’s… it’s not about you being truthful, I’ll always appreciate your candour – it’s more that you don’t casually throw that in conversation with someone you’ve only known for a day.’’ He takes another thoughtful sip and watches her mull over his words.
‘’Does it matter that I’ve only known you for a day? I hardly know who I am and yet I do know that I desire you above all others.’’ she sticks her tongue out the corner of her lips, brows furrowing in confusion.
Vasco groans, blushing - searing white heat overtaking him, and drops his head into his hands, elbows biting into the wood of the table.
‘’Look, De Sardet – I’m incredibly flattered … but…’’ He scrambled for the words, but he finds that none wanted to leave him. If he told her now that he didn’t want her – not only would he be lying to himself and to her – but it would a bit hypocritical considering their brief discussion about honesty and his appreciation for it.
‘’You do not desire me?’’ she asks softly, forlornly, and her fingers come up to clasp the orb on her necklace. She suddenly seemed defeated and more than a little lost.
‘’I – I just don’t know you well enough yet… for any of that.’’ He flubs, lying by omission, diversion his only sensible course of action right now.
It was partially true though – she could have a husband waiting for her, a betrothed - perhaps even a few children - but his mind chose that moment to throw the memory of her naked body in his face and he sucked in a breath, remembering her unblemished skin, the taut muscles… he shook his head to clear it.
He didn’t think she had any children – judging by her current physique.
‘’How – how will you get to know me, if I don’t know who I am?’’ she places her hands on the table, delicate fingers moving his glass back and forth in front of her.
She makes a good point… dammit.
‘’We’ll take it... one day at a time… who knows, by this time tomorrow you could…uh… feel differently about me.’’
Something in him rebels at the thought that she would no longer desire him, and he pulls himself to his feet, hands bracing against the table, his intention to escort her back to her room then flee back to his.
At his words – a fire lights behind her eyes and he gasps as her face contorts into a scowl, a flicker of rage pulling tight across her lips and her pupils narrow. Even in the midst of what he was close to calling a hurricane in the making – she was beautiful.
‘’You are mine, Vasco. I will not change my mind.’’ She snarls savagely and picks up her tray, seeing the others stacked precariously against the kitchen floor, and dumped hers on top with a petulant snort.
‘’I would like to go to my room now.’’ She grunts in irritation and makes her way past him, shucking his coat onto the table, her thighs back on display for all to see. She walks ahead of him without waiting and he brings both hands up to rub tiredly at his eyes.
Maybe he should just give in. Let her have her way with him…
Best case scenario – he has the best sex of his life, and they part after that, having sated themselves.
Worst case scenario – she devours him whole, and he ends up a fool obsessed, a jolly sailor bold.
Seas – two days ago his life was so simple, his path so clear…
She had come into his life like a storm to end all storms, and his thoughts and emotions were being tossed about between the winds.
‘’Vasco!’’ He hears the yell of his name from the stairs leading back down to her rooms, and something in the undercurrent of her voice straightens his spine and sets off alarm bells beneath his skin.
Long and hasty strides take him down the stairs and turning the corner he sees one of his new recruits being held by his neck against the wall, his feet dangling six inches from the wooden floor.
‘’This man put his hands upon my body, beneath my clothing. May I kill him?’’ she tilted her head to look at the choking man, the splotches of red spreading across his face indicating that he would soon pass out from lack of oxygen.
Vasco’s rage builds steadily, the thought of someone else touching her without her permission abhorrent to him. His quiet rage is a roaring crescendo thrumming in his ears, and he catches her deadly stare as she turned to him again.
‘’Put him down please.’’
She does as he asks - but she only allows his feet to settle on the floor, her grip around his neck only loosening enough to give him air.
By all the gods she was strong.
‘’Nixen, had a bit too much to drink, did we?’’ Vasco’s voice whips the man like a lash, and he jolts in her hand. He walks over calmly, nothing but a sneer on his face as he tries to reign in his urge to clobber the man himself.
‘’P-please Sir… I don’t … I don’t know why – I was just walking t’me bed – I saw her and… and…’’ the man gargled out excuses and Vasco still held back on the order for her to release him completely.
‘’Will you attempt this again?’’ He stands beside De Sardet, her head only as high as the tops of his collarbones and she shifts unconsciously towards him, her body touching and seeking his warmth.
‘’De Sardet, please release him. I will deal with him.’’
She growls once in acknowledgement, a hiss of disgust aimed at the drunken crewman, and she let go. The sailor abruptly slides to the floor, and she turns to continue her short trip back to her room.
‘’Report to the brig, Nixen. I’ll deal with you when you’re sober enough to listen… and preferably when you aren’t scared out of your wits.’’ He glares sternly as the man keened out in despair.
He follows De Sardet to her room, hesitating in the doorway.
‘’I apologise on behalf of my crew, De Sardet. That never should have happened.’’ He respectfully bows his head in apology but his hands behind his back still shake with anger.
‘’No one but you can touch me.’’ she hisses with her back turned to him and he shivers at how low her voice dips, an anger filled tinge that makes his hair stand on edge. He sighs and decides that whilst there was nothing more that he wanted right now than for her to touch him – he would try to steer the ship into calmer waters.
‘’Why did you wait to ask my permission?’’ he queries curiously, and she shrugs.
‘’You seem to want me to ask permission for everything.’’
He swallows, only now realising that with her strength she was probably capable of killing them all if she wished to.
Damn good thing she’s taken a fancy to me he mused quietly.
‘’Thank you. I would prefer that you not kill anyone aboard my ship. We have rules and regulations to follow for that sort of thing.’’
De Sardet scoffs quietly and climbs onto the bed on all fours, her shirt riding up and exposing her bottom half to his eyes - which then bulge and widen before he snaps them shut at the sight.
He was going to have to take himself in hand later. No question.
As she made herself comfortable on the bed, a hand flung over her eyes, a deep sigh leaves her chest, and he finds that he was doing nothing more than hovering in her doorway - staring at her with a crimson blush plastered across his face and a heavy heat in his trousers.
He was no better than that drunkard.
He curses and raps the door twice with his knuckles, getting her attention.
‘’I’m on watch tonight. Dunnan and I will come and check up on you. It’s probably for the best if you don’t wander the ship alone right now.’’ He frowns as she nods in understanding, not looking at him.
Two steps out her door on his way out he hears his name again.
‘’Vasco.’’
Gods, this woman…. The way she says his name…
‘’Hmm?’’ he grunts. ‘’What, De Sardet?’’
‘’Can I kiss you?’’
He can’t help it, a wide smile splits his face and he chuckles in giddy amusement.
‘’Not today, De Sardet.’’