In Deep

by Chloe Harris

  Wrapping the leather around the braid, he started plaiting the second strand of hair.

  “I enjoyed dinner.” She was fiddling with another small leather band. “Mr. Parrish seems to be a nice fellow. The ladies must think a roguish young man like him infinitely charming.”

  “Perhaps, but remember Mr. Parrish has a fiancée waiting for him in Boston.” Connor had a feeling Maxfield was engaged to the wrong woman, but that wasn’t really any of his business. Maxfield was his first mate. He was reliable. He was inquisitive. He was devoted. He was submissive. That’s all Connor needed to know.

  “Oh?” Again she looked up at him working on her hair. “Has he met his spouse yet?”

  “What? Of course he has!”

  “Yes, of course,” she murmured.

  Connor halted in mid-motion. “In this modern age you don’t buy a pig in a poke anymore without seeing it. Proxies are barbaric. But I know some still make use of them. To each his own, I always say, but I’d never sign a proxy in my life. Hand me another leather band, if you please.”

  She held it out for him over her head. “You do have deft hands.”

  Connor smiled to himself. If Jaidyn only knew what else he could plait–even swifter than her hair. “Surprised?”

  Tilting her head back, she grinned up at him. “Astonished is more like it.”

  Playfully, Connor nudged her head forward and set out to braid the last strand of hair. He noticed she started opening the desk drawers, one after the other, peeking inside.

  Oh, she was curious. Connor liked that. He hoped her curiosity would get the better of her in other situations as well.

  “What’s that?” She was pointing at the brass disk in one drawer.

  She wasn’t just curious, she was genuinely interested in his nautical instruments. Connor liked that–a lot. “This is an astrolabe. I use it to determine local time by the positions of the sun, moon, and stars.”

  He reached for another leather band and tied the third braid.

  “Fascinating …” The rough slide of another drawer could be heard. “And what’s that? Looks like a pair of compasses.”

  “And that’s exactly what it is,” he said as he plaited all three braids at the back of her head, then rolled the braid up. While reaching for several pins to secure the bun at the back of her head, he explained, “It’s used to measure distances on the map.”

  “I see.” Wood screeching on wood told Connor she was trying the skewed drawer that held the magnetic compass. Once she had it open, she closed it. Apparently she knew about compasses enough to go on.

  “And this?” Jaidyn pointed at the wooden octant with ivory scales and a brass index arm that lay tied and secured under the drawers.

  “I use the octant to determine our location during the day.” Connor reached forward and opened the wooden box right next to it. He carefully took out the brass sextant. “Now this is a sextant. I don’t use it as often as the octant and mainly during the night. This instrument is very sensitive. One tiny shake and the mirrors are out of adjustment.” Connor held the brass sextant up for her inspection. “Both the octant and the sextant are used for navigation.”

  “By the looks of it, that sextant must also have cost a fortune. I see why you’d rather use the wooden octant.”

  Connor smiled at her practicality. “Yes, but it’s more accurate than the octant. When we have bad weather and I can’t see the sun, the octant is useless, so I use the sextant instead.”

  He placed the instrument back into the box and closed it, opening a drawer she hadn’t tried yet. Reaching in, Connor took out the marine chronometer. “And do you know what that is?”

  Jaidyn leaned forward, giving the chronometer a cautious perusal. “It looks like a very large pocket watch.”

  “It does, doesn’t it? But it’s really a chronometer, helping me to determine the longitude at sea.”

  “That tiny thing is a chronometer?” Jaidyn leaned closer to look at it from all sides. “I’ve seen one before, but that was nothing like this. It was big and heavy and … well, it looked more like a samovar.”

  Connor smirked. “Actually there’s a bit of a funny story there. Last time I was in London, I spent the night playing cards. A young man joined our table. He introduced himself as William Harrison. Soon he had no money left, but he was so convinced of his next hand that he placed the chronometer in the betting box. Will piped,” Connor raised his voice to imitate the young man’s way of talking, “This chronometer is actually my father’s. It’s a prototype. Once I’ve tested it at sea, my father will win the twenty thousand pounds the Board of Longitude offers.” Connor cleared his throat and continued with his usual voice. “What more can I say?”

  Shaking her head, Jaidyn laughed. The sound had Connor’s heart speed up.

  “He lost.”

  “Aye.” Connor beamed with pride. “He lost. I found out this chronometer is remarkably accurate. If only Will’s father knew.”

  “Well,” Jaidyn suggested, “you could tell him in a letter.”

  Connor chuckled. “I already did.”

  Jaidyn laughed some more, and the endearing jingle was what heavenly harps must sound like. Connor cupped her cheek. “I’ve never heard you laugh before.”

  Her eyes widened at that. The next instant, all merriness in them died. She looked down, her eyelids fluttering as if she’d just now realized he was standing there with nothing on but his breeches. Her pale cheeks flushed a little.

  Connor grabbed the small box with pins and stored it away in the chest he’d taken it from. Aware of Jaidyn watching him once again, he closed it and lay on his side on top of the padded lid, one knee up, braced on his elbow.

  He remained still, feeling that purring calmness settle over him again. When he looked back at her, he willed her to come to him with his gaze only. “Tease me, Jaidyn. You know you want to.”

  Slowly, Jaidyn rose and took an undecided step toward him, then another. When she was in the middle of the cabin and still out of his reach, a slight blush crept up her décolletage.

  Connor saw her reach back. Her hands must be working the laces. The gown gradually loosened at her shoulders and she wiggled a little until the dress fell down half her upper arms.

  Holding his breath, Connor suppressed a groan. She must have seen it, because a shrewd smile tugged at her gorgeous lips.

  Turning her back, she showed him how the corset gapped open and allowed him a teasing glimpse down to the dimples at her lower back. Looking at him over one shoulder, she tugged the gown farther down her shoulders.

  Her gaze spoke of her desire. There was nothing impetuous about her boldness, she was teasing him as deliberately as she dared, instinctively recognizing what would be too hasty. Her sensuality wafted off her, wrapping itself like silk ribbons around him. This woman drew him in like a puppet on strings.

  Helpless to resist her allure, Connor got up and strolled toward her, walking around her once. He was close, so very close, but still not touching, taking her scent deep into his lungs. Her fresh, grassy scent was now sweetened by the tentative musk of her beginning arousal. That steady hum in his mind became more urgent.

  Leaning forward, he balled his hands into fists by his thighs to keep himself from touching her. He placed a gentle kiss on the back of her neck and felt her body give a longing quiver in reply. His lips explored her right shoulder down to her upper arm where her dress still refused to fall. He gave it a soft nudge with his nose until it loosened and fell to her elbow. Tiny kisses marked the trail he took, straight to her other shoulder, where he repeated nudging her dress down.

  Now all that was left for the dress to fall was her opening her elbows. Connor kissed his way back up, and when he reached the back of her neck, he gently bit into it.

  She gasped and shuddered, gooseflesh rippling her skin. Her hands lowered automatically and her clothes finally fell to the floor, pooling in a heap around her ankles.

  Walking around until he faced her, Con
nor squatted to pick up the discarded garments she stepped out of obediently. He threw them in the direction of the table. Maybe they landed there; Connor didn’t know. His gaze was locked with hers.

  Her intent look darted down to his mouth and back up again. She bit her lower lip like she’d done before, but this time, Connor knew, she wasn’t worried; she silently asked to be kissed.

  Yearning to do just that also made his lips tingle. He moved forward until their lips were a whisper apart, no more. He could feel her breath on his skin, could taste it on his lips.

  Jaidyn closed the distance between them, gently stroking her tongue between his lips, then tilting her head a little to allow him better access. With a shaky whimper, her whole body melted into him as he kissed her. Greedily he drank the sound, lapped it all up as his tongue thrust forward.

  Her boldness triggered his hunger faster than he would have thought. If it was possible, he grew even harder. His skin tingled with awareness. That dark roiling in him went right on building. It was familiar, but usually it peaked at some point much later. That she brought it out so early, that his unconventional passion rose as fast as a bush fire raging through his body, took him by surprise. She was hazardous to his senses and his reason.

  Desire slammed into him like a bolt of lightning into the mainmast of a ship. It left him equally devastated, but he steeled himself against his hunger, telling himself he’d need to be patient … still … just a little longer. Damned if he couldn’t wait to have her spread and wet and aching for him.

  Connor broke the kiss and took a step back, trying to get his ragged breathing back under control. Her delicious lips were glistening and swollen. The image of her luscious lips wrapped tight around his cock, that mouth taking him in deeper and deeper, that throat working around him was enough to make him catch his breath. God, he wanted her on her knees and sucking him hard until he came down her throat and he felt her swallow it all.

  It took all the strength in him to tamp down his desire. This wasn’t about instant gratification. It also wasn’t about him, Connor reminded himself; this was first and foremost for her. That he got rewarded in the end also was a very pleasurable side effect.

  “Stay put,” he uttered, but his voice was no more than a breathless croak.

  Connor went to retrieve the necktie he’d placed on the bed earlier. Swinging it in his hands until it was rolled tightly, he walked back to her.

  Jaidyn was watching him handle the cloth, wariness written all over her. “What’s that for?”

  “I’m going to blindfold you,” he said matter-of-factly, trying not to let the anticipation show.

  When another visible shiver raked her body, she looked away. Connor felt the ghost of a smile brush his lips.

  “Is that … I mean … do we really need to?” At the edgy pitch in her voice, Connor paused.

  The tension was back in her shoulders, yet at the same time she eyed the necktie with barely concealed curiosity. Again she bit that sweet lower lip, her chest heaving with quick gulps of air. Her eyes were dilated and she pressed her thighs together.

  Oh, she wanted it, but she was afraid of her desires. Connor swallowed the lump of lust so thick in his throat it almost choked him. He felt his cock jump in its confinement as if that keen lump had just dived straight to his groin.

  “Jaidyn. Do you trust me?”

  Staring at him, she blinked, obviously confused. Connor could almost see her mind slogging through that question and all the possible answers to it. Her reply took longer than it should, but he knew that didn’t mean she questioned him or what they were doing here, just that she was thinking carefully about it.

  Her face showed her honesty, but also her vulnerability. “I do, yes.”

  In his mind, he purred. “Then close your eyes.”

  He felt protective, yet at the same time his gut clenched with lust. Oh, he would protect his woman. Nothing would happen to her that she didn’t want to.

  After one more moment of hesitation, Jaidyn obeyed and Connor slung the cloth over her eyes, securing it at the back of her head with a knot. She instinctively leaned into him, pressing her back against his chest for reassurance.

  His hands caressed down her arms. Then he embraced her, placing another soft kiss on her earlobe. He waited to feel that iron rod that had replaced her spine melt away, lending her his strength to fight the sudden darkness, the instinctual panic that came with one of her senses being taken away.

  Jaidyn leaned her head back against his shoulder, her hands traveling along his lower arms until her fingers entwined with his, showing him she’d pushed all her worries and doubts aside and was ready to move on. Such a brave woman. A fighter. God, he liked that about her.

  Connor opened his arms and took a step back. “Now,” he rumbled, the stern tone in his voice in complete contrast to what he felt inside. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

  Her breathing quickened again and she made a visible effort to remain calm. As soon as she succeeded, Connor turned to his desk, opened one drawer to retrieve the leather pouch with a clip, and fastened it to his breeches. In it was a sharp jackknife. Then he grabbed one coil of rope.

  Turning to her again, he reached with his free hand for one arm, his fingers wrapping around her wrist. His mouth rained tiny kisses onto the soft porcelain skin from her shoulder up to her neck. “Tell me, which one of the instruments hidden in my desk do you remember?”

  Her mouth opened and closed, but she didn’t answer.

  “Pick one,” Connor encouraged her. “Just one. Don’t think. Just tell me the first one that comes to your mind.”

  “The chronometer,” she whispered.

  “The chronometer?”

  Jaidyn gave a small nod.

  “Now, Jaidyn. Listen carefully.” Lowering his voice, Connor spoke intently. “What’s going to come will push your limits. If you say ‘chronometer,’ everything will stop immediately.”

  Jaidyn cocked her head, then shook it. “But–”

  “No ‘but.’ Be certain you only say the word when something’s beyond your bearing. If you say ‘chronometer,’ the games end here and now. Do you understand?”

  Her breath caught again as probably her mind tried to come to terms with what was to come. Connor was going to strip her of her will, intent on tearing down her defenses, but with that safety net he’d put some of the power back in her hands.

  Her reply was at first too low a whisper to be heard, but before Connor could ask if he’d heard her right, she breathed in deep and repeated a now firm “Yes.”

  The word seared him with a fresh blaze of lust, the dark hunger in him cresting to a mindless ache. Patience, he repeated in his mind over and over again, even though he wasn’t sure he could muster enough self-control to get through this slowly.

  “Such a sweet, tempting lass,” Connor drawled, setting out to bind her hands. He wrapped the rope several times around her wrist so that it would hold her without biting into her skin later. Looking up, he measured the distance to that hook in the ceiling right above her head and left enough rope before he cut it and started on her other wrist. Swiftly he worked, so completely absorbed in the task he fell into reverent silence.

  “Connor,” Jaidyn whispered, a quiver in her voice.

  Connor halted. “Hm?”

  “I–I’m scared.”

  He cupped her cheek, his thumb caressing the elegant slope of her cheekbone. “There’s no need to be. You know that.”

  Jaidyn leaned into his touch, her lips curling tentatively. “Yes, I do. But still …”

  “Shh, now. Stop thinking.” Connor dipped her head back and settled his mouth over that almost-smile. She welcomed him, opening her lips for him.

  That hunger was back with its full force and, groaning, he devoured her mouth. His tongue delved deep and tangled with hers, sucking it, claiming her–all at the same time as if his kiss was meant to keep her too aroused and too busy to ever think of wanting to stop this.

&nb
sp; The fire in him turned into a conflagration. Wrenching his lips away, he took a reluctant step back. Gulping air into his lungs, Connor sought to gather the last shreds of his sanity for this. Knowing she’d soon be spread wide for him helped him drive the need back. A little.

  Kneeling, he bound her ankles as well, leaving more than enough spare rope for further use. Then he picked up the four loose ends of the ropes around her wrists and ankles, his hand clutching them like a vise. He got up again, looking at her.

  Connor had thought her beautiful before, but now, as she was prepared for what he’d thought up, she was truly breathtaking. Her skin was slightly flushed, making those gorgeous freckles that were so lavishly strewn over her body appear alluringly darker. Especially her breasts, those lovely small breasts that begged for his touch, his flicking tongue. A small but delicious tremor began to rake her body.

  “I saw the way you looked at Mr. Parrish at dinner.” Connor let his voice sound cold on purpose. “Did you imagine what his hands would feel like on you?”

  Before she could shake her head or react in any way, he traced the trail of a few freckles around one nipple with the ropes in his hand. Her breathing pitched at the contact. At first she winced, but then her chest heaved so much it almost looked like she sought the caress.

  “When he cupped your breasts?” With his free hand, he cupped her other breast, his thumb circling the areola until her nipple popped up shamelessly.

  “Pinched your nipples?” Rolling the erect pebble between his thumb and forefinger, he lightly pinched it. Jaidyn threw her head back, panting.

  “Did you wonder what his lips would feel like?” Connor dipped his head, his tongue snaking out to wet the erect nipple. He saw goose bumps ripple her skin, and a soft moan escaped her lips.

  Her arms whipped up to his head, but he stopped her instantly. “No. Leave your hands down.”

  She stretched her fingers, then balled her hands into fists. Her chin inched higher as her instinct fought her stubbornness.

  “Is it so hard to obey?” Connor drawled, taking one of the two ends of the ropes that bound her wrists. “We’ll have to remedy that.”