"Ma Daddy taught me how to play when I was a child. Ma Mamma hated it, but he taught me anyway." Morgan smiled a little.

"Would you like to join me in a game? After your little nap, I'm sure you won't be able to sleep for a while," Morgan's smile kept the sting out of the words and Allison accepted with a nod. The captain dropped the table back into its hiding place and tucked the stools away in a small closet on the other side of the room. She pulled out the top drawer of her desk and set a chess board on it that she pulled out from the kneehole. Opening the top drawer on the other side of the desk she pulled out a leather roll and set it next to the board. Allison stood on the other side of the desk watching as the captain walked behind her and moved the chair she had been sleeping in over to sit opposite her.

"Your seat, Miss Allison?" Allison smiled and settled herself in the comfortable wingback as Morgan made her way back around the desk to hers. She unrolled the leather on the desk to reveal a beautifully carved set of chess pieces in ivory and onyx.

"Your color?" Morgan gestured towards the pieces. Allison reached out and selected one of the intricate ivory pieces and started to set up her side of the board. Morgan did the same with hers, finishing before Allison. Reaching across the desk she retrieved their wineglasses from dinner.

"Would you like some more wine?" Morgan held the bottle over Allison's glass. She nodded, accepting the offer while she set out the last of her pawns. The captain poured herself a glass as well, then corked the bottle and set it back on the desk. Sitting back in her chair she sipped her wine and waited while Allison dredged up the rules of the game and tried to decide which pawn to start out with. She nibbled her lip absently while she moved one of her pawns towards Morgan's pieces. Sitting back a little she took a sip of her wine, finding herself quickly growing fond of the rich, fruity wine as it warmed her stomach. Morgan finally moved one of her pawns and Allison quickly moved another of hers.

The game moved quickly for a few turns, then the strategizing really kicked in. Allison tugged her chair a little closer to the board and tucked her feet up under her. She watched Morgan's expressions in fascination as the captain pondered her next move. There was a little crease between her dark eyebrows and the woman had propped her heel up on the edge of the chair and was leaning on her knee. Allison knew she should find her quite unladylike and repulsive, but the position seemed to make the enigmatic captain more approachable. Her long hair had fallen forward over her shoulder and, as she pondered the board in front of her, she alternated between toying with it and spinning the thick gold ring around the middle finger of her right hand. Allison smiled a little to herself, and, feeling a little bold, decided to tease the captain.

"Are you finding me that hard of a challenge, Captain?" She smiled charmingly across the board as a pair of startled blue eyes swung up to meet hers. Realizing that she was teasing her, Morgan relaxed a little and smiled back at her.

"Just trying to make sure I'm not too easy a conquest for you, Miss Allison," Morgan's tone warmed and deepened as she said it, and Allison felt goose bumps form on her arms in reaction. The captain's eyes glinted a little in the lamplight as Allison grinned back at her. Morgan leaned forward a little and finally moved her piece.

Allison tried to concentrate on her strategy, carefully leading the captain where she wanted her. She found herself relaxing, but she wasn't sure if it was the wine or her companion. Morgan had started teasing her, and, she suspected, flirting with her, in a very tantalizing way. She would smile into her eyes and sometimes Allison would find herself the subject of long looks that made butterflies dance in her stomach. After a while she managed to forget that she was a prisoner.

Allison could feel the wine going to her head as her teasing of the captain became more and more bold, and despite the fact that it was also making her sleepy, she was determined to follow her stratagem and beat the confident woman across from her.

Morgan chuckled and lifted her hand in defeat as her opponent cried, "Checkmate!!" triumphantly. She sat back in her chair and smiled in open admiration at the sparkle in Allison's eyes and the flush of her cheeks.

"Now, you'll have to give me a rematch tomorrow, Miss Allison," Morgan teased.

"Oh, I will, Captain, don't you worry." Allison's voice was sweet as honey as she met Morgan's eyes boldly.

"Good, you'll have to allow me to try to regain my pride." Morgan found herself entranced by the light, flirtatious side of her companion that peeked out more and more throughout the evening. Allison had sipped her way through two more glasses of wine and Morgan had been careful to do no more than keep pace with her. The older woman knew if she could feel the effects of the potent wine, then the beautiful woman across from her was feeling them as well. She also knew herself well enough to recognize the warmth that coursed through her was more from the gentle teasing and shy smiles than from the wine.

Seeking to distract herself, Morgan carefully put the pieces of her father's chess set away in the soft leather roll. Allison followed suit, their hands brushing against one another on occasion as they worked. Morgan found her mouth getting dry and took her glass and downed the last sip. Pull yourself together, Morgan!! This girl has you damn near shaking like a leaf! Morgan hastily tucked her last piece away and took the last of Allison's pieces and did the same before the redhead could comment. She pointedly ignored the woman staring quizzically at her and put the roll away in her desk. A scraping sound behind her made her start and turn to find Allison had taken the chessboard off of the drawer, slid the drawer shut and was leaning down to tuck it under the desk from where Morgan had retrieved it. Allison rested her hand on the edge of the desk to push herself erect and looked up at her.

Morgan found herself locked for a long moment directly into those deep, green eyes before consciously shutting down the warmth that they sent flooding through her. She watched as Allison saw the difference and stiffly stood and moved away from her. Finding herself receiving a very cold stare, Morgan shifted uneasily in her chair.

"I think we both ought to get some rest," she said, trying to hide the huskiness in her voice with a cough. "You can sleep in the bed." Morgan pushed herself up from the chair and tucked the wine bottle away in the bottom drawer of her desk.

"But where will you sleep?" Allison asked her, some concern bleeding through the cool mask she'd put on. Morgan answered briskly.

"In the chair. Stay here." Morgan fled her quarters, shutting the door firmly behind her. Taking a deep breath, she leaned against the wall for a moment to calm her nerves before heading up to the deck.

Morgan gasped a little as she emerged into the cool night air. The stars filled the sky overhead and a brisk breeze drove the ship through the water. Morgan took a deep breath of the salty air and looked around. Some of her crew lay sleeping in various spots on the deck - some she knew were actually asleep, others she knew were pretending. She could hear the soft murmur of voices from the stern of the ship and one of the men on watch in the bow called out an "All's well."

Morgan walked over to the railing and gazed down at the black water rippling by. Morgan, you need to get yourself together before that honey-tongued wench in there spins you on your head, she chided herself. Why are you letting her get to you! Morgan shook her head a little and scrubbed her hands over her face. She knew why Allison was getting to her, she just didn't want to admit it. She was all too happy to feel the breeze pick up. Morgan turned her face into the wind and let it caress her flushed skin, knowing it would be her salvation. Get to port, send the ransom note and be rid of that high and mighty, uppity, snitty.....beautiful, stimulating, enticing woman. Morgan sighed, and find someone to help me use up this.....energy.