Misconception

Chapter 20

“Oi! Lass!” Grog snapped his dirty fingers in front of Isabella’s face, trying to get her attention.
She blinked and quickly averted her eyes from where they had strayed. She shook her head and smiled at Grog who was looking at her with narrowed eyes.
“Did you even hear what I said?” he asked as he secured another tight knot.
“I’m sorry. I got…distracted.” She cleared her throat and tightened her hold around the rope.
“I thought I was going to show you how to tie knots. I didn’t know you were more interested in learning the Capn’s body art.” He snickered and motioned towards Jack’s shirtless form and Isabella’s cheeks flushed.
“I wasn’t looking at him. I was…curious about what he was doing.” She finished quite unconvincingly.
“You were interested in watching him mend the sails?” he asked and she quickly nodded.
“Why not? I agreed to tie knots, didn’t I? I say, mending sails would be more interesting.” She said as she managed to tie a perfect knot. She beamed at Grog who shook his head.
“Daft lass.” He mumbled and she chuckled at his words.
From time to time she couldn’t help looking at Jack again. His actions confused her to no end. After that…night, he hadn’t mentioned anything about it to her at all and he had acted like nothing had happened between them. She hadn’t mentioned it to him either because she didn’t want to make him think that she expected anything of him because of it. Even though it didn’t make him a saint, that night had changed the way she acted when he was around. She would blush and her temperature would rise when he looked at her. She was noticing things that she hadn’t noticed before and she shouldn’t notice. The way he touched his ship, like it was a living thing, craving for his touches. She would notice how he pouted in his sleep or how his hands would grip the helm while he was manning the ship. She had started noticing the deep timbre of his laughter and the intensity of his eyes when he concentrated on something.
She realized that it was kind of foolish to notice such things about the man and she knew it was dangerous to romanticize anything about him. That didn’t stop her from recalling the feeling of his fingers on her and the fact that she had actually liked it unsettled her.
“Right! Weigh anchor! We’re ready to set sail! Gibbs! Man the helm. I’ll be up in a few minutes.” Jack’s voice broke her from her train of thoughts and she straightened.
She watched as he walked away into his cabin, leaving the door ajar. She bit her lip and quickly tiptoed towards the door. She knocked softly against the wood and Jack turned towards her.
“Hey.” He murmured as he slipped a shirt over his head.
“Um…I heard we’re finally leaving?” she asked awkwardly and he nodded.
“Hmm. Aye…Is there something you wanted to say?” he asked as he put on his vest and came to stand in front of her.
“I…What was the meaning of that night, three days before?” she blurted out and he frowned.
“What exactly happened three days before?” he asked with a raised eyebrow but she realized by the wicked glimmer of his eyes that he knew exactly what she was talking about.
“You know what I’m talking about.”
“Oh, you mean the…What about it?” he asked as he leaned closer.
“Why did you do that?” she asked and he smiled.
“Why did you let me?” he shot back and swallowed hard.
“Well, you were quite…forward with it. I had not time-…”
“That’s bullocks, love and you know it.” He cut her off as he lifted his hand and brought it to the back of her head, “Just admit that you liked it and this conversation will be over. Hmm?” he threaded his fingers in her hair as he tilted her head back and looked at her carefully.
“That’s not the point.” She argued as she pulled herself from his hold, “The point is why would you just…do that and then pretend like it didn’t happen.”
“I am not pretending it didn’t happen. It happened and I liked it very, very much. But if you were worried I’ve forgotten about it, rest assured. I haven’t.” he said as he hooked two fingers in her neckline and pulled her closer by tugging on the fabric.
“But you didn’t…I mean…” she couldn’t finish the sentence and he chuckled.
“Oh, love. You have no idea how gratifying it was for me to just watch you come undone.” He murmured as he leaned and quickly pecked her on the lips. He released her almost immediately and stepped back.
“I’d be happy to continue our chatter later tonight if you want.” He said with a wink as he grabbed his compass and bowed slightly to her, “Bella.” He walked past her and she could have sworn that his hand touched her bottom before he slipped out of the cabin, leaving her speechless.
She slowly turned and faced the door, watching his retreating form before she brought a hand to her lips. They were tingling. She pressed a hand to her cheek and she felt it burning. Her stomach felt funny and tangled and her heart was beating wildly against her ribcage. She pulled her hands away and quickly shook her head.
I. Do. Not. Find, Him. Attractive. No, not all. She was just confused. Yes, that was it. She was just confused…or was she?

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When she entered the cabin later that evening she found him hunched over the bucket of clean water, washing his face and neck.
“Hand me that cloth, will you, love?” he requested as he pointed at a chair.
Isabella complied and handed it to him. She watched as he wiped the water from his face and neck and when she noticed his smudged eyes she giggled.
“What?” he asked with a hint of a smile.
“Your eyes are all smudgy.” She said and he put the cloth under his eyes and swiped away the kohl.
“Better?” he asked with a smirk and she nodded, “Good. Come.” He said as he guided her towards his desk. His maps and charts were neatly placed on one corner of the surface and a deck of cards awaited them along with two goblets and a bottle.
“What’s all this?” she asked as he sat down and waited expectantly for her to do the same.
“You know how to play cards, Bella?” he asked and she frowned as she gingerly sat down.
“Um…I suppose I do. I haven’t played in a while.” She said and he leaned forward.
“Whom did you play with?” he asked and she looked up at him, surprised by the genuine interest of his gaze.
“With Charlotte…at the Stevensons’. I also used to play with some of the girls in Tortuga.” She shifted uncomfortably and he nodded.
“I see. Well, you want to play with me?” he asked with a grin and her eyes darted between the deck of cards in his hand and his face.
“Alright…”
“Oh, good! Wine?” he asked as he uncorked the bottle that was in the centre of the desk and looked at her questionably.
“Fine.” She was beyond confused by his behavior.
He poured wine in the two goblets and then slid one towards her. She pulled it to her and took a small sip before she placed it to her right.
“Shall we begin?” he asked as he shuffled the cards and started the game.

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“I won.” Isabella announced as she put down her cards for him to see.
He chuckled and leaned back in his chair, “You’re good, I’ll give you that.” He said as he finished his wine and looked at her.
“Shall we make a bet?” he asked and she paused.
“What kind of bet?” she asked suspiciously.
“We’ll play for seven nights in a row. One game each night. Every time I win you will spend the night in me arms, if you win at least once and on the last night we play …” he trailed off as he looked at her intently, “I will not take the ransom.” He finished and her eyes widened.
“You can’t be serious.” She said and he shook his head.
“I’m perfectly serious.”
“But that’s not fair! I know you’ll cheat. I’ll never win.” She scoffed and he reached over and grabbed one of her hands.
“I won’t cheat. I didn’t cheat just now, did I?” he said huskily and she looked at his hand that was on top of hers.
“I…So, if I win twice, you’ll not accept the ransom?”
“Aye.” He said at once.
“And what will you gain from that?” she asked and he leaned back in his chair.
“I will have gained your trust…and perhaps you. I’ll keep me word.” He spoke quietly and she could recognize two emotions in his eyes; fervor and …was that want? She wasn’t sure.
“So…if I won, you’d not take any money but I’d have to sleep with you?” she asked shakily.
“Only if you wanted to.” He replied as he rubbed his thumb over her knuckles gently.
“And you won’t step back on your word?”
“No.” he grinned and she swallowed hard.
“Okay.” She agreed a bit hesitantly and his grin widened.
“We have a deal then.” He said as he suddenly stood up and walked around the desk to her. He still held her hand and he tugged her from her seat and pulled her to him.
“Now, since you were so sad that I supposedly ignored you, shall I make it up to you?” he asked as his head immediately found refuge in the crook of her neck and his hands wrapped around her back.
“I wasn’t sad!” she yelped as she felt his hands sliding down her hips to the back of her thighs. In one move, and with a strength she didn’t know he had, picked her up and settled her in his arms. Her legs tightened around his waist in reflex and her arms slipped around his neck.
“Why were you pouting when you were telling me about it this morning then?” he asked as he backed them up against the nearest bulkhead.
“Lie.” She said as she squirmed in his arms but he had already pressed her back against the wall.
“No lie.” He smirked as one of his hands found her neck and stroked it gently.
“What are you doing?” she asked breathlessly as he brought his lips a breath away from her own and his fingers found the edge of her neckline and slipped underneath.
“Kissing you.” He murmured before he pressed his lips to hers and slipped one hand under her skirts to settle it on her thigh. His lips moved over hers slowly and expertly parted her mouth for his deep kiss. His hips were pressed tightly against hers and his hand was gripping her leg tightly, bruising the pale skin. His tongue found the tender skin of her inner lower lip and lapped at it gently, causing her breath to hitch and the grip of her legs around his waist to tighten. He moaned as the movement brought him closer to her and his hand left her collarbone to cup the back of her neck. He pulled her closer to his eager mouth and he twisted his fingers in her hair. Her hands were clutching fistfuls of his shirt but when she felt him hard and eager against her she paused. He felt the change and broke the kiss to regard her with heated eyes.
“What is it?” he said and she was a little bit thrilled at how breathless he sounded. Had she caused that?
“We have a bet. If you win you get to touch me, remember?” she said and he grinned at her.
“Have you ever considered becoming a pirate, love? If you got rid of the dresses, the politeness and the blushing, you could become a fearless pirate. Add a little swordfight in the mix and you could be a professional.” He said as he gave her thighs an affectionate squeeze before he slowly set her on her feet, “But alas I will honor our agreement. For tonight. For tomorrow, I’ll win. Count on that, darling.” He stepped back and she clumsily fixed her dress, her face a deep pink.
“You’ll have the bunk all to yourself tonight. I’ll be at the helm. Night, love.” He winked at her and then left the cabin.
It took her two hours to calm her pounding heart that night.

End of chapter 20

Author’s note: So, we have reached one of the most important key points here. Trust me; their bet is important to the story. Now please review and tell me your thoughts!