Proffitable Affairs

Chapter 8

Mary was rudely awakened by the loud cracking of the cabin door but she made no move. She slowly opened her eyes and she realized that it was early in the morning. She didn’t move as she heard footsteps approaching the bed and she quickly shut her eyelids again. The bed dipped and she felt someone’s presence looking down at her. She almost jumped when she felt a warm ringed hand briefly touching her bare shoulder but she managed to remain still. Jack was back.
The hand moved away and she heard a sigh of relief coming from him before she felt the bed move, indicating that he had moved away from the bed. She heard the rustling of clothes and boots and she opened her eyes just in time to see Jack removing his shirt. He threw it on the floor along with his vest before he walked over to the basin and splashed his face with water.
“Bloody hell…” she heard him curse and she turned slightly to look at him. Her eyes widened at his scarred and tattooed back and she cleared her throat to let him know she was awake. He turned to look at from over his shoulder and frowned.
“I thought you were asleep.” He said quietly as he dipped a cloth inside the water and cleaned his neck with it.
“I am not…Any idea what time is it?” she asked but he received it the wrong way.
“I beg your pardon?” he asked as he turned around to look at her with narrowed eyes. She was startled by the look in his eyes and she briefly wondered if something was wrong.
“I…I only meant to ask you the time.” She said quickly and his expression softened.
“Oh…Nearly six, love.” He said as he put the cloth away and walked over to a chest. He opened it and took another shirt before he quickly pulled it over his head, covering his tanned skin from her eyes. He turned to her and motioned for her to move back on the bed.
“Ah…isn’t it a bit late to go to sleep?” she asked and he looked at her amused as he settled down next to her and turned to his side to face her.
“I don’t intend to sleep. I just want to relax in me bunk. Is it so uncomfortable to have me next to you?” he asked as he propped up on his elbow and looked at her.
“I did not say that.” She huffed as she settled back on her pillow and stared at the ceiling. Truth be told she was a little hurt by being left alone all night. He didn’t need to know that though. Why would he? Yes, he had told her to cook for him and he hadn’t even come back but she knew that she was in no position to ask for attention from him. Not, that she wanted attention from him, of course. It would be safe to say that he didn’t seem to remember what he had told her the previous evening. He possibly didn’t even recall his cooking suggestion. A scowl threatened to form on her face but she resisted the urge and managed to keep her face neutral. It wasn’t as if she was jealous. It was his business and his business alone whether or not he wanted to spend his nights with other women.
“And how did you sleep last night then, kitten?” he asked as he stretched on the bed like a cat ad looked at her with heavy eyelids.
“F-fine.” She said shortly as she rubbed her temple and looked away from him. Jack gazed up at her expectantly but she was not about to ask him about his night. She was embarrassed enough.
“Missed me?” he asked as he gave her leg a playful kick, watching with delight as she yelped and looked at him accusingly.
“No, in fact I didn’t, thank you very much.” She said as she reached down to rub her offended leg. He chuckled and hid his face under the sheets. She saw him moving around the bed until he had her foot in a death grip. He pulled it closer to look at it while she squirmed trying to get away.
“Relax, lass. I ain’t going to bite you.” He said with a laugh as he resurfaced from under the sheets and looked at her, “Or perhaps you want me to?” he asked as his hand absently massaged her ankle where he had hit her.
“No. Now kindly release my foot, Captain.” She said as she managed to pull her foot back only to have him pull it back to him again.
“That was not nice.” He chided as he looked at her.
You leaving me to wait like a fool in the galley was not nice either. She screamed at him in her head but she remained silent and with a last tug she freed her foot from his grip.
“Something wrong, lass?” Jack asked when he saw her getting out of bed, her nightdress covering her previously bare legs as she stood.
“No. I just want to get some air.” She said with a small, nervous smile.
“Ah. How’s nausea?” he asked as he cocked his head to the side, drawing her gaze to his neck although unintentionally.
“Um…” she stuttered as her eyes spotted several purple marks on his tanned neck, “It’s better. If you’ll excuse me.” She muttered quickly and fled the cabin, shutting the door behind her. She leaned against it for a moment before she walked towards the stairs that led to the helm. She leaned against the rail and inhaled deeply the early morning air before she looked at the notably calm docks. A couple of crewmen were on deck but other than that the ship was quiet. Forcing down the bile in her throat she took another deep breath and shook her head.
“Gather yourself, silly!” she mumbled to herself as she rubbed her eyes.
You’re just feeling lonely, that’s all. He’s the only person available and that’s why you’re reacting like this. She reasoned as she composed herself and straightened. Feeling a bit better she climbed down the stairs and headed for the cabin once again. She entered and closed the door as her eyes went to the bed only to find it empty. She frowned when she saw Jack sitting in his chair, his head lowered towards a map. When he heard the door closing he looked up.
“What are you looking at?” she asked curiously and he sighed.
“The map. Well your map.” He said with a wave of his hand towards her and she nodded. She tiptoed towards her chest and took out a simple black and white dress. Jack’s eyes followed her in her way to the side cabin before he quickly looked away, scolding to himself.
“Like one rich girl wasn’t enough for me.” He muttered although he knew even in this short amount of time that Mary was completely different from the proud governor’s daughter. She’d never be able to hurt someone let alone betray him.
“Did you say something?” Mary called from the side cabin and he shrugged.
“Nothing, kitten.” After the words left his mouth his eyes widened.
There’s that pet name again. Bloody hell, I need to stop calling her that before it becomes a habit. He thought as he deftly massaged his wrist that was somehow hurting from the night’s vigorous activities. A slow, self-satisfied smirk formed on his lips as certain images from the night before came into his mind but the smirk slowly faded when Mary returned from the side cabin dressed. He blinked at the sight of her in that dress and he frowned.
Since when do I find her…appealing? Wasn’t she just the plain, extremely timid lass that I had to marry? He thought as she moved around the bed, fixing the covers as she went. Grimacing he reached over for the bottle of rum and uncorked it. He took a greedy sip and looked at her again.
Nope, still appealing. He mused as he took another sip, his eyes now fixed on her back as she leaned down to fluff the pillows.
“Where you going?” he asked as she started walking towards the door.
“Eh…galley. I’m hungry.” She said softly and with his nod of consent she resumed walking,
“Isn’t it a bit early for rum?” she asked just before she exited the cabin.
“Nay, lass. It’s never early for rum.” He said and she looked at him thoughtfully before she sighed and closed the door, leaving him alone with his rum.

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Hours later Jack sauntered into the galley, looking for something to eat and saw Gibbs sitting there with a bowl in his hands.
“Morning, Gibbs.” He greeted and then frowned, “What are you chewing there?” he asked curiously and Gibbs swallowed before he spoke.
“Good morning. Ah, it’s stew.” The older man said with a quick smile.
“Stew? Who cooked stew?” Jack asked as he walked over to the re-heated stew and helped himself with some.
“The lass made it, Captain.” Gibbs said while looking at Jack curiously.
“Mary?” Jack asked as he turned.
“Aye. Surely you remember telling her to cook for you last night, don’t you?”
Jack’s eyes widened and he looked guiltily around the galley.
“You don’t? That’s strange. You always seemed to have perfect memory, Jack. Seems like a certain someone with a bossy attitude stole that ability from you.” Gibbs said and Jack scowled at him.
“I remember now. And please refrain from mentioning her again.” He snapped as he looked at the bowl of stew.
“Apologies, sir.” Gibbs grumbled as he resumed eating.
“That’s why she was acting strange.” Jack mumbled to himself.
“Who?’ Gibbs asked through a mouthful.
“Mary. Bugger.” The pirate cursed as he slammed the bowl onto the wooden table and walked out of the galley still cursing.

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Jack entered the cabin without knocking and a loud gasp escaped Mary’s throat.
“I-…Sweet Mother of God!” He concluded in a husky voice as his eyes took in Mary’s naked form. She was washing from a bucket of clean water when he came inside the cabin. She tried fruitlessly to cover herself with her shift but he had already seen everything.
“I told you that I would attempt to wash!” she yelped.
“When?” he asked, not being able to remove his eyes from her full curves.
“Just before you left the cabin! Please stop looking at me like that!” she cried as a deep blush covered her skin. Jack blinked and raised his eyes to her face before he composed himself and grinned.
“Need a hand, kitten?” he asked and she threw a shoe at him, barely missing his grinning face. He laughed huskily and raised his hands up in surrender.
“We do have a tub you know. All you had to do was ask someone to bring it up to you.” He said as he forced his eyes to remain on her flushed face.
“I-…I didn’t know that.” She sputtered as she held the shift to her chest.
“Well, now you do.” He murmured and she took a deep breath.
“Did you want something?” she managed to ask and he cleared his throat.
“I…” he actually wanted to apologize but the image of her naked in front of him had taken all of his words away.
“I forgot.” He said quickly and she narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“Fine…” she nodded and he licked his lips as his eyes strayed down her body again, “Jack? Jack!” she hissed and he looked up at her innocently.
“Aye, love?”
“You’re still here.” She pointed out and he coughed once before he bowed slightly.
“Right. Apologies, milady.” He smirked and with a wink he turned and exited the cabin, leaving her confused and awfully embarrassed.
Once he was out of the cabin he leaned against the door and closed his eyes.
“Bugger.” He breathed and a rising discomfort below the belt made him look down at his groin with wide eyes, “Oh, bloody hell!” he moaned miserably as he pulled away from the door and walked below deck to clear his head. The apology could wait. He had other matters to deal with.

End of chapter 8