Seacrets by Adrianna Wingate Page A

for a moment before she spoke. She didn't want him to know about Kilern. She didn't want another lashing or death on her conscience, even though he surely would be deserving of it, if anyone was. No, she'd be quiet about that one, for now.
    "No Captain, no one." She whispered with her eyes cast downward.
    Daniel turned from her and walked over to the table, where just the night before, they had both been engaged in a challenging game of chess. She played as rousing a game as any male he'd played against. He thought. This told him she was no ordinary thinking female. In fact she was quite thoughtful and calculating in her decision making.
    The board was still set up, waiting for them to finish where they had left off. He pulled the chair out away from the table and sat, quietly staring at the board. After a few thoughtful moments he picked up the bejeweled pewter queen and rolled it between his thumb and middle finger. And then, unaware of his actions, Daniel slowly brought the piece to his mouth and ran it across his lower lip, in a most sensuous way. Within seconds he was aware of his actions and placed the piece back in its place on the board. Daniel raised his eyes to meet hers.
    They stared into each other’s eyes for one long seductive moment that was both exciting and frightening to Maura. Her heart was pounding so hard, she feared he could hear it from across the room.
    He arose from his chair and walked toward her, stopping just inches from her half unclad body. Her eyes were level to his chest and she could see it was rising and falling at as rapid a pace as her own. He reached out and took off her cap. His breath was caught in his throat as he observed her long black silky tresses cascade down in a wave of curls that fell just beyond her shoulders. He reached out to touch the bindings resting in a raveled heap, just above her hips. He moved his hand up slightly to the right and ran his fingers through a few silken tresses. Abruptly, he turned from her and stood on the opposite side of the cabin, breaking the silence and the spell that was evidently taking hold of both of them. He turned his back to her and snapped his order, to his own disconcert, “Dress ya upper half.” When he saw she’d finished, he turned again to face her. "What is your name, girl?" he asked in a stern tone.
    "Maura, Captain. Maura McCoveny." she replied, with a shaking to her voice, still unable to make eye contact with Daniel.
    He moved to the cabin door and with a loud bellow, he shouted up through the passageway for a mate to summon Mr. Godsey to his cabin immediately.
    This sudden flurry of activity caught the attention of Kilern, standing at the head of the steps,topside. He lagged behind Godsey, so as not to be seen, and slipped into the adjoining cabin to overhear the scuttlebutt taking place in the Captain's quarters.
    When Godsey entered the cabin he immediately noticed Maura's hair was free from her cap. He swallowed hard, knowing this could not be a good thing. Continuing to feign ignorance, he took off his cap, bobbed his head to Daniel and then nervously said "Y-ya summoned me, Cap'n?"
    "You bet ya sorry seafarin’ arse I summoned ya, man." Daniel said sarcastically.
    He paced before the two of them. "Have I not always been a fair man Mr. Godsey?”
    Godsey shrunk back from his Captain as he passed by him.
    “I am sorely disappointed in ya mate. This makes it very hard on me. How can I ignore this blatant breech of rules? Ya know the punishment for lyin' aboard my ship, man, do ya naught?" Daniel restlessly ran his hand down through his black mane, as he continued to pace.
    "Aye, Cap'n, I do. I have no excuse for my actions. I'll take my punishment as ya see fit ta dole it out ta me." H is hat gripped between two shaking hands.
    "This lass claims ya be fullfillin' an old mates last wishes? Is that the way of it?" In Daniel’s mind he was begging Godsey to save him from doing his duty to maintain order on his ship.
    "Aye,