Proffitable Affairs

Chapter 10

Jack was woken from his deep snoring sleep when he felt the bed move. He was not usually a light sleeper, but his sleep was light anyway that night. He was feeling guilty; a feeling he had not felt much during his years. He groggily opened his eyes and turned onto his back. Mary was moving around in the bed, trying to get comfortable with a book in her lap. She had lighted a small candle and he almost chuckled at that.
“Don’t tell me you’re trying to read with that candle.” He stated with a voice husky from sleep.
Mary froze at the sound of his voice and shifted towards the far edge of the bed.
“I’m sorry I woke you.” She said quietly as she turned still, even if she wasn’t comfortable just yet.
“You can light more candles if you wish to read. Light doesn’t bother me.” He said softly as he looked at her all curled up at her side of the bed.
“No, it’s okay. I’m fine.” She replied shortly after clearing her throat. She looked away from him, silently ending their conversation, and went back to reading.
Jack regarded her with pity and she noticed.
“Stop looking at me like that!” she snapped suddenly and he was taken aback.
“Like what, love?” he asked quietly.
“Like…like I need your pity. I don’t need your pity. I entered this agreement on my own accord. No one forced me to be here so stop trying to act like you actually feel bad. I know you don’t. And don’t call me love. I have a name.” she finished and he cocked a single eyebrow at her.
“Are you quite finished?” he asked and she took a deep breath.
“Yes. And please stay to your side of the bed. You were pushing me.” She said as she returned her gaze to the book. Jack nodded to himself and rolled his eyes.
“It’s my bed.” He stated casually and she actually got out of bed quickly.
“Then show me where else I can sleep.” She said and his eyes widened in alarm. He didn’t really want her to sleep elsewhere. She was warm. Among other things…
“Sit down, love. No need to wake the entire ship. I was only making a point.” He said as he looked at her standing form. Mary didn’t move and he rolled over to the side to yank her down by force.
“Stop acting so stupidly, lass.” He hissed and she flinched from his touch as soon as she was sitting on the bed again.
“Thank you for the compliment.” She said shakily and he groaned.
Why is everything that I say a bad choice of words? He thought with annoyance.
“Just go to sleep.” He muttered as he settled onto his side and closed his eyes. He still felt bad for not apologizing to her. He wanted to say the words, but he…couldn’t. It might actually prove useful if she feared him.
“I can’t sleep.”
“Then read. I told you; I don’t mind the light.” He murmured quietly.
Mary pulled the covers over her lap again and looked at his bare back before she looked away and started reading again.
Jack’s eyes opened and he bit lip before he turned onto his back again.
“What are you reading?” he asked with a sigh.
“Something I found inside an old chest.” She replied as she turned the page.
“Hmm…May I see?” he asked and she hesitated before she handed him the book. He took it from her hand and he was surprised when he found poetry inside instead of a romance story.
“You like these kind of books?” he asked as he handed her the book back and propped himself up on his elbow to look at her better.
“Not really…I just found it and I didn’t have anything else to read.” She said with a small shrug.
“Why don’t you like poetry?” he asked and she sighed. He was very strange. At one moment he would threaten her and the next one he would be asking her personal questions.
“I just don’t understand it some times.” She said as she shut the book and placed it on the nightstand. Jack watched with curious eyes as she lay down on her pillow and blew out the light.
“What are you doing?” he asked incredulously.
“Trying to sleep.”
“I thought you wanted to read.”
“And I thought that you threatened to kill me two days ago. So, what are you doing talking to me?” she asked and he smirked. He knew that question would come up sooner or later.
“Oh, that.” He said casually as he dared to slide closer to her warm body, trying to see her through the darkness.
“Yes, that.” She whispered as she pulled the covers tighter around her body even if it wasn’t that necessary.
“All I want is some peace.” She almost whimpered miserably and his hand paused midway from touching her back.
“I apologize for those words, love.” He said quietly with a heavy sigh.
“Your apology means nothing to me now.” She said and he was taken aback.
“Now?”
“I was actually starting to like you, but I suppose once again I judged badly.” She admitted.
“Lo-Mary, I didn’t mean any of that. I was just angry.” He said with a grimace.
Apologies were not his forte. Demanding attention from females was not his forte either. It was usually the other way round, but strangely enough that was what he was doing at the moment.
“I realized that you were angry. It’s not my fault I didn’t know about the bloody map!” she said and he smirked when he heard her cursing.
“Language, missy.” He patronized and she turned her head to look at him with slightly narrowed eyes.
“Oh, please. I’ve heard more cursing from you in a couple of weeks than in my entire life.” She said with a huff and he chuckled.
“You’re very amusing, love.” He said still chuckling as his hand finally managed to touch the small of her back. Mary tensed up under his touch and he found the opportunity he was looking for; to feed his rising want for her. He slid his hand over her waist and let it rest on her stomach as he slid closer to her. His front touched her back and he leaned his head down to her ear.
“I know you’re not that mad at me, kitten.” He breathed and she tensed against him.
“How do you know that? And don’t call me that.” She scolded as she took his hand and removed it from around her waist. Jack smirked and obnoxiously slid his hand around her again. The displeased sigh she produced was more than amusing and he felt his grin widening when she slapped it away again.
“How should I call you then? And will you cease that?” he asked when she once again pushed his hand away.
“No, unless you stop fondling me like one of your tarts!” she said as she turned onto her stomach, effectively blocking any advances to her front, “And my name is Mary. You want me to spell it out for you?” she asked with her voice muffled by the pillow.
Jack sighed and ran a hand over his face.
“Fine, Mary.” He spat her name for emphasis as he looked at her back.
“You know, you’re starting to sound like someone I knew. She was rich and spoiled too.” He snapped suddenly, not really believing what he had just said. He just wanted to agitate her.
Mary slowly raised her head from her pillow and turned to look at him with wide, wounded eyes.
“And you’re starting to sound like the pirate you really are.” She said quietly in a shaky voice. With that, she pushed the covers from her body and slid out of bed. Jack watched her walking out of the cabin with narrowed black eyes. The silly chit hadn’t even put on her robe.
“She’ll freeze with this wind.” Jack heard himself mumble as he stared at the closed door. Then he frowned at his own words and huffed.
“Like I care. Let her freeze. Insufferable woman…” he muttered as he pulled the covers over his head like a petulant child and stayed in bed.

***********************************
When Jack walked out of his cabin the next morning he was met with a glaring Gibbs.
“Something wrong, mate?” he asked as he shut the door and adjusted his coat.
“I was wondering if you could answer that for me, Captain.” Gibbs said as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“Meaning?” Jack growled.
“The lass is sleeping in the galley while trembling like a leaf.” Gibbs said and Jack frowned.
“Trembling? Why is she trembling?”
“I have no idea. Did she sleep down there all night? It’s awfully cold while a storm down there.” Gibbs said, but Jack was already walking away towards the galley.
He walked faster and he burst into the galley. Cotton was leaning over Mary who was still asleep curled up in a chair. Jack walked closer and he was able to see the thin layer of sweat that covered her forehead. He felt her skin and cursed.
“Bloody hell. She’s burning up.” He muttered as he pulled his hand away and leaned down to gently pat her cheek in order to wake her. She mumbled something incoherent but she didn’t wake up. His hand felt her upper chest and he found that her nightdress was soaking wet. With an angry curse, he removed her from the chair and picked her up in his arms.
“What is wrong with her?” Gibbs asked as Jack walked out of the galley and towards the cabin.
“I think she has a fever.” Jack said as he opened the cabin door with his foot and placed her down on the bed.
“Out. I need to change her clothes.” He said as he waved Gibbs away.
“Change her clothes? She won’t mind?” The older man asked and Jack glared at him.
“She’d certainly mind if she knew that she had an audience.” He said pointedly and Gibbs hurried out of the cabin, closing the door behind him.
Jack turned to Mary after fishing her robe from the chair she had thrown it on.
“Up we go…” he murmured as he pulled her up to his chest and slowly tugged her nightdress upwards. He pulled it from her and threw it on the floor before he took hold of her robe. He wrapped it around her shoulders and he refused to look at her naked body. His eyes did catch a glimpse of her ample chest and he inhaled sharply through his nose before he carried on with dressing her.
“Silly girl.” He hissed at her as he pulled the covers up to her neck and tucked her in snugly. He moved back and gazed at her for a while before he walked up to his desk. He plopped down and reached for the map. He unrolled it and looked at it. His eyes narrowed when he realized that another part was filled and he groaned inwardly.
“What the hell is going on with you, you mind blurring piece of paper?” he snapped as he threw it away and let his forehead bang slightly against the wooden desk.
With a heavy sigh he rose from his chair and started walking out of the cabin. His feelings because of the girl’s presence were more than just confusing.
“What…? Jack?” He heard his name just before he closed the door. He hesitated at the door and didn’t look back.
“Jack, is that you?” she asked as she sat up. Jack still didn’t turn to make eye contact with her.
“Aye. Just go back to sleep. You have a fever. I’m needed elsewhere.” He told her briskly before he shut the door and left her alone. He couldn’t deal with her at the moment. He needed to think if he wanted to figure out what was going on. He needed to understand what was that drew him to her because he was sure as hell that it wasn’t her prettiness or better the lack of it; it was something else.

End of chapter 10