Allison mopped up the last of her soup with the last bite of bread as Morgan sat back. "Will you open your gift now?" Morgan asked, cocking an eyebrow across the table. Allison's cheeks flushed as she nodded, and Morgan collected their dishes, taking them over to sit next to the door until morning. She turned around and watched as Allison pulled the box to her, carefully untying the twine wrapped around it. Morgan leaned against the frame of the window and glanced down at the harbor, watching her companion from the corner of her eye. Setting the paper and twine aside Allison peered curiously at the simple wooden box in front of her. She glanced up at Morgan then tentatively unlatched the hasp, folding the box open. The captain found herself holding her breath as the redhead looked down at the box's contents for a long moment and turned her eyes away. So much for thinking you had a great gift, eh Morgan, she thought sarcastically.
Sighing softly she shoved her fingers through her hair and turned away from the window to go sit by the fire. Allison still sat staring down at the box, an inscrutable expression on her face as Morgan passed her to throw herself into the wingback. She stared broodingly into the flames, the reality of her situation crashing home with amazing clarity. She heard Allison moving around behind her but avoided looking over her shoulder. Her brow creased as the light behind her dimmed, throwing the room into dark shadows, her muscles tensing as she heard Allison pad across the room to stand beside the chair.
"Morgan," Allison said very softly, a question in her voice.
"Yes?" Morgan avoided looking up at the redhead, knowing that despite the shadows she wouldn't be able to keep her face from betraying her emotions. Allison reached out and threaded her fingers through Morgan's hair, tugging gently at it. Morgan swallowed hard and glanced up at the redhead. The smile curving Allison's lips made Morgan's mouth go dry, and she looked silently into the deep green eyes watching her.
"Thank you for the present, Morgan. I've never had anyone put so much thought into gifts for me as you have." Morgan started to shrug and duck her head but found her hair held firmly in Allison's grasp. She raised a surprised eyebrow at the redhead and received a stunning beautiful smile in return.
"You're quite welcome, Allison. I thought you might like something else to -," Morgan drifted off as Allison leaned down and brushed her lips against her cheek. The redhead gazed deeply into her eyes and Morgan felt her heart double its pace as Allison held her hand out to her.
"Come to bed?" Morgan took the offered hand and got to her feet, mentally berating her body as they walked across the room. She didn't mean it that way, she didn't, she wouldn't know what she was offering, she can't possibly think that so pull yourself together, Morgan!! Allison crawled into the bed and fixed the quilt as Morgan stripped her breeches off and joined her. She stretched out on her back and Allison slid closer to her, resting a hand tentatively against her abdomen.
"Can I sleep over here again?" Allison asked shyly, and Morgan answered by stretching her arm behind the redhead and tugging her closer, sighing softly as the young woman melted against her. This is not a good move, the little voice in the back of her head nagged, and she stubbornly ignored it as Allison snuggled against her, wiggling into a comfortable spot. An unconscious smile curved her lips as the young woman sighed softly and relaxed into her, and she leaned her cheek against Allison's head, closing her eyes. She felt her breathing match Allison's and she slowly drifted off. You're getting too involved, Morgan, way too involved. She's going to leave you sooner or later, so don't let her in!!! Her conscious warned, and she sighed softly as Allison draped herself more thoroughly across her. I'm afraid that it may be too late for that.
She floated in a dream, wrapped up in her lover’s arms, her neck warmed by soft puffs of breath from lips mere inches away. A low purr of pleasure trickled from her lips as a hand slid familiarly along her hip to curl around her waist, fitting her more firmly against the body behind her. She stretched in the embrace and felt a low chuckle vibrate through her lover’s body. A shiver of sensation shot through her as fingers caressed her stomach while soft kisses were brushed against her neck and she arched back into the touch. Smiling she glanced over her shoulder, her body tingling as her eyes met the hungry blue gaze of her lover.
A pair of startled green eyes flew open, staring at the dark solidity of the wall in front of her. Morgan was curled behind her, one arm draped loosely over her hip, the other acting as a pillow for the redhead. She lay very still, trying to still her racing heartbeat, her eyes adjusting to the dim light of early morning. Slowly she relaxed, as some of the tension eased from her muscles and she leaned back into the warm curve of Morgan’s body. Sighing softly she closed her eyes, trying desperately to block out the dream that had wakened her and its effects. Morgan shifted in her sleep and her hand slipped along the curve of her hip and towards her lower stomach, pulling a barely stifled moan from Allison’s lips. The redhead squeezed her eyes shut and took a couple of carefully measured breaths, trying to still the rush of blood through her veins, then slowly eased herself out of Morgan’s arms. Carefully she crawled down to the foot of the bed and climbed out, feeling a strange mixture of relief and loneliness.
Padding across the room she crouched in front of the fireplace and fed some more wood to it, stirring the coals up under the split pieces. Brushing her hands off she rubbed her arms a little and looked longingly at the bed then turned to her trunk and pulled out a dark blue knitted shawl. Settling herself at the table she wrapped the shawl around her shoulders and tucked her legs under her, then picked up her gift and set it in her lap. Quietly she opened it up, a smile lighting up her face as she ran her fingers lightly over the contents. I can’t believe she went to all the trouble to find me this, Allison thought, noting the variety of pencils she now possessed. There were graphite pencils, charcoal pencils, smudging sticks and all the rest of the tools that she remembered her aunt letting her use. The thoughtfulness of the gift had rendered her speechless the night before, and she was still feeling a bit of shock.
Allison’s eyes darted towards the bed as Morgan rolled over, holding her breath until the woman settled into her pillow with a soft sigh. The cool morning light cascaded in the window and painted the captain in soft tones, and Allison felt her fingers itching to try out her presents. Reaching across the table she retrieved her journal and opened it to a clean page. Selecting one of the pencils she started sketching the scene before her, an unconscious smile curving her lips as she worked.
Allison worked along diligently, her fingers moving the pencils across the paper with ease, transferring the rare sight of Morgan asleep to the page in front of her. She caught herself holding her breath every time something seemed like it would wake the captain, exhaling softly as the danger passed and continuing her work. As she started carefully shading in the portrait the sun started to peek above the horizon, some of its beams shimmering through the window. Bending her head to concentrate on the page she frowned at a particular spot, trying to figure out which way to smooth her strokes. Glancing up at the bed she gasped, finding a startling pair of blue eyes watching her.
"Morning," she said softly, a smile tugging at her lips. Morgan propped her head up on her hand and cocked an eyebrow at her, the corner of her mouth twitching a little.
"Morning, Allison, sleep well?" Allison nodded, hoping the blush that crept across her cheeks wasn’t visible across the room. Morgan laughed softly and Allison blushed even more furiously, ducking her head to hide behind her hair. She heard the mattress rustle and returned her pencil to the case, closing it carefully. Looking down at the mostly completed portrait of Morgan she smiled then started to close the book. Allison jumped as a hand reached over her shoulder and stopped her.
"You have quite the gift for that," Morgan said softly, her breath tickling her ear. Allison felt goosebumps run down her arms and glanced over her shoulder to find herself caught in the depths of Morgan’s eyes. She licked her lips and swallowed, then felt a momentary bravery overcome her.
"A gift isn’t necessary with such a beautiful subject," she replied, butterflies dancing in her stomach as she did. Morgan cocked an eyebrow and smiled crookedly at her, then reached out and brushed at her cheek.
"You have charcoal smudges," Morgan said in explanation. Allison leaned minutely into the touch, her eyes still locked with Morgan’s, and found herself wishing fervently that the captain would close the distance between them. She sighed softly as Morgan moved away, her eyes drifting shut in silent frustration. Opening them she saw Morgan looking down on the docks, a frown creasing her forehead and she rose to stand beside her.
Workers were starting to move on the wharf, and a number of men moved on Morgan’s ship, removing some of the mooring lines. Morgan reached up and shoved her fingers through her hair then turned and leaned her back against the wall. She reached out and lightly grasped Allison’s wrist and pulled her in front of her, a serious look on her face. Allison sighed softly as Morgan pulled her into a tender hug, closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around the older woman willingly.
"I’m going to have to leave for a little while, Allison," Morgan said softly, rubbing her back soothingly when she tightened her grip. "I know you don’t want to be alone, but it looks like they’re taking the boat into dry dock, and I have to be down there for that." Allison nodded into Morgan’s chest and looked up as her chin was lifted. Her stomach was twisting in knots and she wanted nothing more than to cling to Morgan and keep her from leaving. Morgan brushed her hair away from her face, an understanding look on her face. "Just keep the door locked, and stay away from the window so they can’t harass you, alright?" Allison nodded and took a shaky breath, the fear from yesterday returning.
