Seacrets by Adrianna Wingate

members and headed back to his cabin to update his log.
    While Daniel was up on deck Maura felt it the perfect opportunity to unravel her bindings to give her breasts a well needed break from their bondage. When the last binding was finally unraveled she took in a deep breath and massaged the skin of her breasts in hopes of bringing circulation back to them. She was thoroughly enjoying the sensation that the freedom from her bindings was providing at that moment.Then she took some of the hot water from the kettle and poured it into the pitcher on the stand, next to the woodstove. She rummaged through the satchel she had brought from home and found some rose scented soap.
    It wouldn't hurt to use just a little. She reasoned with herself. “I must wreak. The constant sweating beneath these fetid strips of cloth is beginning to nauseate me.” She poured the water from the pitcher into the bowl that was beside it on the stand.  She freely splashed the water to her face. The feel of the hot water on her skin felt heavenly. She scrubbed her face of the smudges she was forced to paint on daily, to hide her identity. Then she scrubbed her arms and underarms with the rose scented soap. The splashing of the water to her body blocked out the sound of the creaking door hinges. She did not hear the cabin door open.
    But she certainly heard it slam, with a mighty thud, nearly rocking her off of her feet.
    She knew she’d been caught.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    ξ
     
    Chapter six
     
    Maura startled with the slamming of the heavy wooden door. Her breath was caught in her throat and her mouth was left agape. She instinctively covered her breasts with the flannel on the washstand. "Captain, please! I can explain!"
    The look on Daniel's face was one of astonishment that turned to relief, and eventually turned to rage. “Please do cabin boy .” He said through clenched teeth.
    His eyebrows knitted into one black line across his forehead and his normally warm deep blue eyes were li ke ice cold steel, cutting through her. So outraged was he that she had tricked him, he could not speak.
    Long minutes passed as he tried to put together all the little hints and signs of a female he should have picked up on. Daniel turned from her and began to pace, trying to calm his desire to thrash her.
    Maura stood perfectly still, afraid to move for fear of attracting his attention. She had no idea what he was thinking… What he would do to her. She was terrified, frozen in place.
    Then, with infinite slowness he turned in her direction and spoke in an unnervingly calm and quiet tone of voice. "’Tis an unpardonable offense ta stow aboard a ship. Did ya know that?” He passed by to one side of her, then settled directly behind her and stood just inches away while he continued to take her apart mentally. “As bad as thievery, I could have the very skin taken off o’ ya back with the lash for this offense." His voice remained deep and even toned, as he gently ran his fingers between her shoulder blades.
    Maura straightened her back and sucked in her breath in response to his unexpected touch.  Why, if he had not been dressing her down, she thought he might have been trying to seduce her with his deep husky tones. Daniel walked to the front of her.
                  Maura kept her eyes affixed to Daniel’s boots, afraid to look up at him.
    "Look at me girl." Again, even toned and deep.
    Maura brought her eyes up to meet his.
    "Does Godsey know ya are a lass or have ya been up to ya trickery with him, as well? Don't lie ta me, now." His tone was a bit colder, as his agitation began to mount.
    With a pleading look in her eyes, Maura finally spoke. "Please, Captain, I'll be beggin’ ya not ta give poor Godsey the lash. He was just fullfillin' my dyin’ father's last wishes ta get me ta America for a chance at a better life, is all." She beseeched him.
    “Does anyone else aboard know about ya?" He snapped .
    Maura thought