Adrulac hoists Eira up over the banister, water dripping off of them onto the deck. Eira crosses her arms over her stomach with an intense shiver.
She hadn't noticed how cold it was when she was in the water, but now that she was back on solid ground, she could feel the substantial loss of body heat. The air was beginning to chill now that the sun had set, sapping even more energy from Eira's damp skin.
Adrulac takes his black cloak and wraps it around Eira. It is much too large for her, but for the purpose of cultivating warmth, it is perfect.
"Thanks..." Eira can feel her lower jaw chattering as she speaks.
"Let's get you out of those clothes."
Eira suddenly starts to feel her face warming, as if it had decided to spite the cold which was plaguing her.
"...so you don't catch a cold." Adrulac clarifies suavely, noticing the colour quickly returning to Eira's face.
"Of course." Eira nods in agreement, not wanting to humour him so easily.
Adrulac places a hand on Eira's back, guiding her towards the lower decks. Unlike her quivering hands, Adrulac's maintain their usual surgical steadiness.
Once below decks, Adrulac opens the door to the closet and holds it open for Eira. She steps inside, but looks back before he closes the door.
"Ah, could you..." She turns her back towards Adrulac and places a hand on her shoulder, gesturing to the laced back of the dress, which is now twice as heavy from being waterlogged.
Adrulac steps up behind Eira and starts unlacing the damp cords holding the upper half of the dress together. Eira can start to feel the dress loosening around her shoulders, Adrulac's calloused fingers occasionally grazing across the bare skin of her back.
"That should do it." Adrulac says as he loosens the bottommost cord of the dress. Eira snaps to attention, forgetting for a moment that the purpose of all this is to perform a wardrobe change. Suddenly, a thought surfaces in her consciousness, which ponders what might happen if Adrulac is to continue undressing her. She tries to distract herself by turning her attention to Adrulac.
"I know it's your preference, but I'd appreciate it if we could not throw this dress overboard." Eira turns around to face Adrulac, holding her arms across her chest to keep the dress from falling off her shoulders.
"If you insist." Adrulac smiles, a hint of deviousness inspiring the gesture. "I'm quite fond of this attire, actually."
He pushes a few stray locks of silver out of his eyes as he looks down at Eira, his eyes running up and down the length of her body. Clearly he is admiring more than just her clothing. Eira can feel the warmth rapidly returning to her body, as though it were heating itself in response to Adrulac's gaze.
Adrulac turns and leaves the closet, closing the door behind him. In one sense, Eira is relieved that he won't see her blushing a crimson red. In another sense, she is dispirited to have him granting her so much privacy.
A few minutes later, Eira exits the closet in a much less moisture-laden outfit, carrying her damp dress over one of her arms. She turns towards Adrulac, displaying her ensemble for him to see.
"What do you think?"
"I think it's clothing." Adrulac replies cleverly as he stands up from his position leaned up against the wall, walking towards the closet to take his turn changing.
Eira rolls her eyes, half expecting a remark like that. Suddenly she reminds herself of something, turning to Adrulac and catching his attention before he enters the closet.
YOU ARE READING
The Archman
RomanceWhile departing for London to meet with her fiancé, Eira Pryce finds herself taken captive by a living legend, the fabled pirate known only as the Archman. As it turns out, the fables may not have been so accurate in their portrayal of this mythic f...
