To Strange Horizons

Chapter Ten.

Mariana was surprised to find Jake pressed to her back when she woke up. Pearl purred quietly on the pillow beside her head.

"G'mornin'." Jake's voice was tired and raspy.

"How'd you know I was awake?"

"You stopped snorin'." The Captain chuckled.

Mari's cheeks turned bright red, and she hid it by rubbing her eyes. She doesn't really snore, right?

"C'mon sweetheart, I shouldn't have slept in this late." Jake placed two firm pats to the Princess' bare hip before sitting up in bed.

The two crawled out of bed, avoiding the sight of each other's bare frames, and got dressed for the day.

Neither one mentioned the activities of the night before, however, Jake couldn't stop himself from planting a soft kiss atop each of the soft brown flesh of her chest, followed by a lingering kiss to her cheek of course.

Most of the crew sat at the helm, widdling, tying knots, doing whatever it is that they do while John manned the ship.

"Nice of ye to finally join us, Cap'n." John said, pipe hanging from the corner of his mouth. He was clearly annoyed.

"'M sorry, John. It won't happen again." Jake took control of the ship, leaving Mariana sheepish by the stairs. She felt a pang of guilt, knowing, i'm a way, she had caused this rift.

Her suspicion was confirmed with a crew member's next comment.

"Y'know, it's bad luck to have a bitch on the ship." The man carved a chunk out of a piece of driftwood as he spoke. "Yer ship is yer main concern, Kiszka. Don't let yer daddy down over some frumpy puss."

Jake spun around, knocking the wood from the man's hand and holding an accusing finger in his face.

"You watch your goddamn mouth." He seethed. He turned back to the wheel, gritting his teeth. "Princess Mariana has been nothing but nice to us. Any more bad mouthin' and yer off this goddamn boat, d'ya hear?" His formal speech had gone out the window with this burst of emotion.

A silence fell, only the sound of the waves lapping was heard. Well, it was a short lived silence. The men quickly went back to their banter. Holding grudges on a ship would be foolish.

"C'mere, Mari." Jake held a hand out to her with sorry eyes.

She obliged, sheepishly making her way through the crew.

"You know how to steer a boat?" Jake asked, holding her hip lightly with his free hand.

"No, sir." Mari's voice was still small.

"Wanna learn?" She nodded. Truthfully, she did not want to learn.

Jake pulled her in front of him, planting a kiss to the side of her head as he moved her hands to the wheel. He held his own hands atop hers as he spoke.

She wasn't listening, to be perfectly honest she couldn't care less about what he was saying. She was watching the ocean. She had always grown up near the ocean, but never once had she been on the sea. It was glistening and beautiful.

"Don't pay attention to them, okay?" Jake's voice was quiet, breath hot on her ear. "He's old and grumpy. You're not a burden and we're happy to have you."

Mariana nodded, letting go of the wheel and melting into the Captain's chest.