"I’m going to wash up, then I ought to make sure my prisoner hasn’t escaped." Carolyn’s mouth twisted into a grimace. "Why can’t you have her stay with Jacob," she asking, pouting a little. Morgan shook her head and lowered herself into the tub.
"You know why, Carolyn. If I’m to get that ransom, I can’t have her staying with a man. They’d think that she was tainted. You know that. Hell, you were the one who said that the next time I came across a woman passenger I should do this!!" Morgan answered in exasperation. Carolyn nodded grumpily.
"I know…but I didn’t think you’d bring back someone like that!" Scrubbing at her skin Morgan glanced up at Carolyn with a blank look on her face.
"Someone like what, Carolyn?" Her lover sat there and squirmed for a moment.
"Well….someone…well…beautiful!!" She finally blurted out. Morgan laughed and leaned back in the tub.
"Ahh….I see. You feeling threatened, dear?" Carolyn shot her a stormy look and splashed water at her.
"Oh…never mind. I’ll see you tonight." Carolyn turned and stormed out of the room, Morgan watching her with amusement. Returning her attention to her bath she finished scrubbing herself clean and rinsed her hair out then stepped out of the bath. Drying off she padded into Carolyn’s bedroom, gathered her scattered clothing, and quickly got dressed. Passing through the parlor Morgan chuckled to find that her lover had apparently fled all together in embarrassment. She passed down the hallway and headed up the stairs after instructing the man at the desk to send breakfast up to the room. Morgan sighed as she felt butterflies start to dance in her gut as she approached the end of the hallway and found herself almost dreading walking into the room.
Oh, come on, Morgan! You’re your own woman…you don’t have to answer to this girl! She’s YOUR prisoner, remember? Morgan straightened her shoulders and slipped her key into the lock, wincing as the mechanism moved all too loudly. Quietly she slipped into the room and eased the door shut, then turned around and froze. Allison had just walked through the door to the bathing area and was drying her back off, leaving her bared from head to toe. Morgan felt all the tension she’d felt the night before return ten-fold as Allison finished dabbing the last few drops of water from her skin then lifted her robe from the hook on the door behind her and slowly wrapped herself in it. Her eyes were cool and distant as she sat down in front of the fire that Morgan just noticed crackling on the hearth. Leaning down she slid her towel along her legs, tossing an inquisitive look at Morgan as she did.
Morgan straightened her shoulders and slipped her key into the lock, wincing as the mechanism moved all too loudly. Quietly she slipped into the room and eased the door shut, then turned around and froze. Allison had just walked through the door to the bathing area and was drying her back off, leaving her bared from head to toe. Morgan felt all the tension she’d felt the night before return ten-fold as Allison finished dabbing the last few drops of water from her skin then lifted her robe from the hook on the door behind her and slowly wrapped herself in it. Her eyes were cool and distant as she sat down in front of the fire that Morgan just noticed crackling on the hearth. Leaning down she slid her towel along her legs, tossing an inquisitive look at Morgan as she did. "Sleep well, Captain?" Morgan gulped and nodded, completely off-balance. Allison returned her attention to her toweling and ignored Morgan completely. She stood there for a long moment before deciding that she needed to get away from the hotel before she really got into trouble. Retrieving the boots that she had left in the room the night before she slipped into them then wrapped her belt around her, making sure everything was secure. Allison arched an elegant eyebrow at her expectantly as she cleared her throat.
"I…told the man at the desk to send up some breakfast," she said. Allison’s head tilted a little.
"Are you not staying to eat, Captain?" Morgan shook her head, and grappled for a reason to leave.
"No…I..ah..have to go check on the ship…and…I need to check on the crew, make sure no one’s in jail or something." Allison looked at her skeptically then got up and walked over to her. Morgan looked down into the younger woman’s eyes and saw a shadow of hurt flash through them as she reached up and tightened the laces on her shirt.
"Well, then you should at least try to look like you didn’t just roll out of bed, Captain." Morgan felt her mouth go dry as she looked down at the redhead, her eyes invariably drawn to the curves visible under the robe. Allison finished with her laces and stepped back, dropping her hands to her sides. "Have a good day, Morgan," she said coolly then turned in dismissal. Morgan resisted the urge to stay and try to repair the damage she’d inflicted on them by staying with Carolyn, but she feared that Allison’s cool demeanor was going to take some time to warm up before she’d even have a chance. Sighing softly she left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.
Allison peeked out the window from behind the curtain and watched Morgan walk slowly towards the docks, head bowed in thought. Across the street she glimpsed a face in a shop window and laughed softly to herself, realizing that Carolyn was doing the same thing. The blonde walked out of the shop and waved at a man loitering on the steps, pointing after Morgan’s dwindling figure. Allison frowned as he nodded and rose to his feet, blending easily into the traffic in the street to follow in Morgan’s wake. Carolyn crossed her arms and nodded to herself, then glanced thoughtfully up at the window where Allison stood. Carolyn stared at Allison for a moment then smiled lazily and waved up at the window, then frowned as Allison stepped further into view, smiled, and nodded in response. Allison kept her expression neutral as the blonde noticed her attire, a jealous look crossing her face before she turned and stalked off. Feeling that she’d won that match Allison turned back to the room, trying to figure out what to do with her time. Her eyes fell on the book still lying in the bed and she sighed. Guess I could finish that, she thought to herself.
Retrieving her book she took it over to sit in front of the fireplace, chilled after her little display for Morgan. She stretched out on the rug and propped herself up on a pillow, opening the book to her last spot. Her mind replayed the morning, picking apart Morgan’s behavior and wondering why Carolyn had been hiding across the street. Ignoring the book open in front of her she stared into the dancing flames, wondering how the dance she found herself twirling in would end.
Morgan leaned her head back against the wall she was resting against and closed her eyes, letting the afternoon sun warm her face. The sound of heavy footfalls brought her attention to the dock stretching out in front of the warehouse, and she looked to see Jacob striding towards her. She’d spent the morning prowling the shipyard, giving the foreman needless instructions about the care of her ship until he told her that he had it all in hand and she could leave. Acknowledging her reluctance to go back to the hotel she’d wandered down to the docks and checked in on a couple of her crew, avoiding the areas where they said Jacob could be found in a vain attempt to skip out on his advice. Now he’d found her, and as he leaned against the wall next to her she heaved a great sigh.
"I’m getting stuck between those two already, my friend," she said, meeting his gaze. Jacob shook his head, a look of pity on his face.
"Yer playin’ with danger, Mor’. The boys be sayin’ tha’ ya been down ‘ere all morn?" Morgan nodded, staring off across the water.
"I fell asleep in Carolyn’s bed last night," Morgan laughed out loud as Jacob made a sound in his throat. "I know!! I did the same thing when I realized where I was this morning. Carolyn’s green as could be, so she’s just been a treat to deal with, and Allison gave me such a cold shoulder when I went up to the room this morning that I ran out before I found myself suffering from frostbite!!" Morgan shook her head as the man next to her smothered a low chuckle. "Alright, you. Walk with me.
