I felt hiscalloused fingers caressing the skin of my back. “There’s no bettergift than the one I hold right here, Dianna, my savior.”
I reachedbehind and took his hands in mine, guiding them to my front andturning his palms to face my belly, pressing them there. “Are yousure?”
He appearedconfused at first and then I could see the pieces of the puzzleslowly fall into place in his mind. I’m sure if his eyes could openthey’d be sparkling, for tearspoured from them, regardless. “You’re with child?”
I beamed.“Yes.”
“We’re… we’regoing to have a baby?” His words were strained behind thetears.
I leaned downand kissed his face, touched my lips to the wetness of his cheeks.“Yes, Henry. You’re going to be a father.”
He shot upfrom the bed and grabbed my hips, flipping me over on my back andhovered above. “How did the heavens see fit to make me solucky?”
“Luck hasnothing to do with it,” I assured him and ran my fingers throughhis straggly blonde hair. I’d missed those golden locks and Iprayed our child inherited them. His face turned and cupped hismouth in my palm, placing a long and gentle kiss there. Suddenly,his arms began to shake, and his head swayed.
“Are youalright?” His left arm buckled, and he collapsed at my side.“Jesus, Henry!”
“I’m fine,just dizzy. I haven’t eaten in days.”
I proppedmyself up to examine him. “And the blood loss, I imagine.” I stucka leg over his torso to crawl out of bed. “I’ll get you somefood.”
His tremblingfingers grabbed hold of my thighs. “Wait, I’m dizzy not dying,woman.” Henry situated me across his hips, so my legs straddled hissides and I could feel the warmth of his erection growingunderneath me. “I may not have the strength to hold myself up, butI will always possess the ability to make love to you, Dianna.”
I felt hisforehead for fever. There was none. “Are you sure? Maybe we shouldeat first?”
“I’ll feast onthe divine beast before me and have my fill,” he replied, drivinghis hips upward.
I couldn’thelp but grin and leaned over to touch my lips to his, breathing inthe scent of this glorious man, and tightening my grip on those driving hips. “Lay back and relax,sailor. I’ll take over from here.”
***
I walked thelength of The Queen, taking in the beauty of my ship in the crispmid-morning sun. Finn stood at thewheel as he monitored the crew. I headed over to say goodmorning.
“More likegood afternoon,” he replied and threw me a wink. “the day’s halfgone, captain.”
I laughed.“Can you do me a favor?”
“Of course,anythin’.”
“Can you fetchme a pail of seawater?”
His browcreased. “Sure. For what?”
“It’s thecoldest thing I can get aboard the ship for Henry’s face, and thesalt should help reduce the swelling, too.”
“Aye, ye andyer magic,” he replied cheekily.
I laughedagain and turn to leave. The young deckhands that Gus hired workedaway, checking the sails, hauling ropes, and swabbing areas of thedeck. They paused and smiled at me as I passed. I tried not toreact bashfully when they greeted me as captain. It was a title Iwas determined to get used to.
I found theladder and made my way down to the lower deck where the heavy aromaof breakfast still hung in the air. The mess deck was so muchbigger than the one we had aboard The Devil’s Heart and I felt badthat we didn’t have the crew to fill it. But I had to remind myselfthat we had all we needed. Keep our circle small and our problemssmaller. I easily found the kitchen and entered through theswinging doors to a startled Lottie and Gus. They’d been standingquite close to one another and quickly broke away with myarrival.
I pretended tosee nothing out of the ordinary. “Is there any breakfast left?”
“Good morning,captain,” Lottie replied, her cheeks flushed with blood. “Um, yes.We had eggs and toast. I can prepare a tray and bring it up toyou if you like.”
I tipped myhead and arched an eyebrow. “Lottie, please, just call me Dianna.This is ridiculous.”
“Um, alright,if you’re sure,” she replied.
“Yes, God,yes.” Then, with a second thought, I added, “I mean, maybe not infront of the new deckhands. But otherwise, I’m Dianna. We’refriends. Please.”
“You have noworries about them boys, captain,” Gus chimed in. “I scooped themup young for a reason. They’re more trustworthy than an old seadog. They’ll be loyal, through and through. I’ll see to it.”
I smiled andnodded. “I have no doubt.”
An awkwardsilence made its way around the room and I could tell Gus wasn’tsure if he should leave or not.
“Um, Lottie,you can just throw everything on a tray and I can take it back withme,” I told her.
“Oh, sure.”She began to scuttle around like a busy bee. I’d never seen her sonervous.
Gus steppedcloser. “How’s he doing today?”
“Much better.I cleaned his wounds the best I could. They don’t look infected, sothat’s a bonus. He just needs time to heal and regain his strength.Apparently, he hasn’t eaten in days.”
“Henry’sstrong,” Gus said. “I’ve never seen anyone built like him in mylife.”
“I know.” Ishook my head in awe. “What he’s been through, not just recently but in his life, that woman…”It made me sick to even think the horrid thoughts.
Gus nodded inagreement, knowing exactly what I tried to convey. “He should beall kinds of messed up, shouldn’t he?”
“Yeah, buthe’s not. How can that be?”
“He washeadin’ down that road,” Gus informed me. “I saw it. Every day, heretreated further and further into the dark room in his mind.” Heinhaled deeply and leaned against the counter. “Then you came inlike the wind and blew the door open. Made him smile. Made him feelloved. It’s a good thing.”
“Aww Gus, youol’ softie,” I patted his arm, “you can have that, too, you know?”I made eyes in Lottie’s direction over by the stove and laughed athow I made the otherwise grumpy pirate blush.
Lottie cameover to us then, tray in hand. “Here you go. The eggs are cold, butthe tea is hot.”
I took theheavy tray and thanked her, giving Gus a cheeky wink before headingback up
