Resurrection

Chapter 11: The Beast That Is Blackbeard

As Saraghina awakens in the large bed, the memories of last night slowly begin to flood her mind. She doesn't open her eyes just yet, she just wants to feel the bed as she stirs. The fact that she can stretch out like a starfish and have all of her limbs supported, confirms to her that last night wasn't a dream. She really was waking up in Edward's bed.

As excitement and warmness begin to overcome Saraghina, she realizes something quite obvious. Edward is not in bed with her. A pang of worry rings in her chest as she quickly sits up.

As Saraghina groggily surveys the room, she finds Edward sitting at his desk whittling. She rubs the sleep from her eyes. She can't help but fear how unkempt she must look first thing in the morning. As Saraghina moves more, Edward notices her from across the room.

"Good Morning over there." Edward says kindly with a small wave. He puts his knife and half-formed, wooden figure down on the desk, then goes to the dining table and pours tea into a small teacup, adding a cube of sugar. He places the teacup on its saucer and heads over to the bed.

"Here." Edward says, handing Saraghina the tea in bed. He's still in his black cotton shirt and breeches. Saraghina can't help but wonder how someone can look so beautiful in the morning.

"What am I, the Queen?" Saraghina jests as she accepts the cup and saucer, feeling like she should be doing something, anything, besides lying in bed.

"God I hope not, 'cause then I'd be in a lot of trouble." Edward quips as he sits on the bed. Though he's dying to make a raunchy Act of Grace joke, he respectfully holds back.

Saraghina takes a sip of her tea, then looks up at Edward's kind, attentive face. As she does, her heart rate picks up. Flashes of Edward kissing her mouth and her neck, gripping her hips . . . she has to take a deep breath to refocus.

"Thank you for the tea, Edward. You didn't have to bring it to me in bed." Saraghina says quietly.

"I didn't have to, I wanted to." Edward responds.

Saraghina smiles, then reaches over to the bedside table. She places her tea down briefly as she grabs a hair clip, then quickly twists her hair into a more manageable place and secures it. She picks her tea back up, then continues to drink it as before.

"I know I must look horrendous-" Saraghina begins.

"Here I was thinking you were the Sleeping Beauty." Edward interrupts playfully.

Saraghina can feel Edward keeping his distance physically, and she knows that his biggest fear is to make her feel uncomfortable or unsafe. She knows that she will have to be the one to break the tension. She rests the teacup and saucer on her knee with the support of her hand, then reaches her other hand out to Edward. She knows that it's bold, but she begins to soothingly rub his thigh.

"How was your morning?" Saraghina asks sweetly. "How long have you been awake?"

Edward lets his eyes linger on Saraghina, hypnotized by the feeling of her hand on his bare skin. He slowly refocuses on the question, while Saraghina secretly enjoys how she flusters him.

"It's been good so far, the day is going to get a bit busy." Edward begins, clearing his throat. "I've only been awake for about an hour, it's only nine o'clock."

"What will you be busy with?" Saraghina inquires. Edward hasn't seemed busy since she met him.

"Oh it's nothing, just a low-stakes raid. Should take an hour." Edward says, nonchalant. He takes Saraghina's hand in his and rests it on his thigh.

"A raid? Will you have to go?" Saraghina asks, more intensely.

"I will, but don't be worried. These bastards don't see us coming. It's a Portuguese trading vessel, they won't put up a fight." Edward explains, perhaps a bit gruffer than he wanted to. "The last thing the Portuguese need is more gold, diamonds, tobacco . . . cotton. I'll sleep easy knowing I took all that off their hands."