The Devil's Temptress: Dead Man's Chest || Book 2

XIV. The Chest

After Nicolette had returned from the hold with the two shovels which had been hung up on a shelf in plain view, she handed them to Pintel and Ragetti with an expression nothing short of agitated and then hovered around on deck by the main mast.

Jack's little crew were already gathered up and ready to go now they were in range of the island and the anchor had been dropped. Elizabeth, the former Commodore, Pintel and Ragetti were all lined up by the ladder leading to the longboat, which was still in the process of being lowered, awaiting their captain.

Speaking of which, said Captain appeared from within his cabin and she took a step forward to get his attention before any of the others could.

"What are we to do if the worst should happen?" She asked as Jack swaggered over to her, the large jar of drip he had kept in pride of place on his desk now clutched tightly in his arms.

"We? Do?" Jack repeated the words with a snarl and looked her up and down as she fell into step beside him.

"The crew. What if one of you should fall behind?" She asked again, unwise on how to make herself any clearer.

She wasn't expecting to go along with them. Elizabeth held the compass and therefor the heading, Norrington was only going because the idea of ordering him to do manual labour amused Jack to no end and the lackey twins were needed to row and mind the boat.

However Jack stopped quite suddenly and turned to her, looking down at her with an unreadable expression, although she could see a hint of a smirk pulling at the edge of his mouth. In response to her question, even though he never broke eye contact with her, Jack called to Gibbs who had been standing by her side moments ago.

"Mr Gibbs! Keep a weather eye. And don't go anywhere until we return."

"Aye Captain!" Gibbs responded dutifully and Nicolette was caught between whether to smile at Jack or shake her head at him. Before she could do either however, he stepped to the side and held his arm out towards the longboat waiting.

"After you darling."

She released a sigh, both from confusion and a lack of understanding of why he expected her to come along. Bet there was no arguing with the man and so she stepped forward and easily swung over the railing to climb down the ladder to the boat.

Elizabeth and Norrington and the other two dimwits were already seated and patiently waiting. Nicolette took a seat at the front and when Jack joined them, he took the seat next to her with his jar of dirt taking up most of the room.

"I could have stayed on the Pearl." She muttered lowly for only Jack to hear as they cast off and she shuffled to try to get comfortable without the lid of the jar poking her arm.

"Now where would the fun be in that?" He smirked at her, his dreadlocks swaying with the motion of the boat.

The temptation to utter a remark about what she had seen earlier was painful almost. She had not actually seen it but they had both been too close not to kiss. Nic knew Jack after all and he would not have been able to resist. She wanted to look at him, like he was looking at her now and ask...something... She still had to come up with what that would be, but she knew that when it came to her she would ask it.

Right now the only question she wanted to ask him was if he loved her, the girl. But how pathetically stupid and childish would she sound of those words actually came from her mouth.

"You're pulling too fast!" Pintel's moaning was enough for her to be distracted, and to look away from Jack.

"You're pulling too slow."