Page 45 of Of Magic and Rum
“Beautiful,” he whispers to my scales before pulling me to him, claiming my mouth with his and encircling me with his arms.
We’re a storm of snarls, whispers, kisses, and short breaths beneath the canopy of stars and blanket of warming firelight. I’m topless and bare for all the crew to see if they care to look, but it doesn’t matter to me. Because here I feel safe. Here, I feel unbridled. Here, I feelhome.
IamAnne Bonny.
The rising sun blazing through my eyelids awakes me the following day. Jack’s salty, citrusy scent hits me immediately—strong and potent. I’m curled in his lap, my head resting on his chest. I’m still topless, but Jack has his frock coat on, minus one sleeve, so I’m snuggled within it—warm and safe. The crew is stirring in patches, groaning and stumbling to the water’s edge to relieve themselves before dousing the fire that’s dwindled to nothing but glowing embers. I remain still, smiling at Jack’s steady mortal heartbeat thrumming against my ear.
Jack is slumped in his chair, his head propped on the seat’s back. He jolts awake, smacking his lips together. “How long was I out?”
Murmuring against his skin, I flutter my eyes open. “All night, I’d imagine,” I answer, chuckling.
Jack rests his chin on my head so easily that it makes my heart burst. “And how areyoufeeling this morning?”
The buzz from the alcohol has disappeared entirely, and I feel more rested than I have in a long time. “Fine. WhatshouldI feel like?”
“Considering how drunk you were, I’d say a splitting headache, nausea, and a penchant for repeating the words, ‘I’m never drinking again’?” Jack sits up, taking me with him.
“Can’t say I feel any of that.” I bite the inside of my cheek to suppress a smile.
Jack’s squint morphs into a glare. “None of it? How much do you remember from last night?”
“Mm.” Sitting straight, I press a quick kiss to Jack’s lips. “Don’t think I forgot about your claims to ravish me skillfully.”
Jack clears his throat and drums his fingers on my hip. “You remember everything, don’t you?”
I can’t answer without bursting into laughter, so I nod emphatically.
“Fucking hell,” Jack growls and bunches his hair, pulling it. “You know, there’s still time, and I saw a thicket of bushes back there that’d hide just enough to?—”
My stomach dips, and I press a finger to his mouth before I do something rash and take him up on his offer. “Butyou’rethe captain, Jack. And it’syouthat’ll get us underway and sailing again. And trust me, they’ll need all the instructions they can get.” I nudge my chin at the hungover crew shuffling around us, holding their hands above their heads to block the bright sun.
Jack moans in protest before his lips trail kisses over my neck, the tip of his tongue teasing my skin. “Why don’t you stage a mutiny? Let someone else take over?”
I chew my bottom lip, his caress lighting my skin on fire, and I close my eyes, moaning and tilting my breasts toward him. “As enticing as that is—” Snapping out of it, I cup his chin in myhand. “—you’re born to lead, Jack. Besides, you’d hate me for it later.”
Jack peels back, frowning, and a deep groove forms on his forehead. “I could never hate you. Perhaps greatly dislike you in a given situation, butneverhate.”
“Oh? What if I cut off one of your toes?”
Jack stands, lifting me from his lap and resting me on the ground. He slips the jacket from his arm and slings it over me. “That’s strangely specific, but I’d throw the bloody stump at you, and we’d be square.”
Scrunching my nose, I playfully swat him in the chest. “I should get situated on the ship.” After scooping my shirt into my palm, I turn away.
Jack pulls me back to him. “Have you entranced me somehow, Anne?” His eyes roam my hair, and the back of his hand trails down my cheek.
“Maybe,” I whisper, nuzzling against his touch. “But I wouldn’t need to. A nymph’s magic serves to get your attention.”
“You have it.” Jack’s words are clipped and stern. “You’ve had it since the damn tavern.”
A breath hitches in my throat because I can rationalize this in every way imaginable, denying my immediate attraction toward him when his boots crossed the bar’s threshold. But I’d be lying to myself. We’ve spoken no words, but actions have always been far louder, and ours have declared it to the world: he and I, Jack and Anne, aretogether.
Tears sting my sinuses, and I hold them back. Pressing a hand to his cheek, I rise to my tip-toes and give Jack a tender kiss before flopping back to my heels. “I’ll meet you at the helm later, yes?”
Flashing a debonair grin, Jack bows, bending from the waist and extending one arm to his side. “M’lady.”
Chuckling, I clutch Jack’s coat around me, lifting the collar to inhale. Mary, hair unkempt and dark circles under her eyes, hobbles toward the ship and groans.
“Is this the Afterlife?” Mary asks, opening one eye and squinting with the other.
