Lady of the Sea

Ch 8

The sun blazed high above, casting a bright sheen over the ship's deck as the crew busied themselves with their tasks. Marina, though focused on tying a knot in the rigging, couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Her fingers faltered slightly, and as she glanced up, there he was—Captain Jack Sparrow—leaning against the mast, arms crossed, his dark eyes fixed on her with that infuriatingly smug grin plastered on his face.

Her brows furrowed, but she said nothing, forcing herself to focus on her work. A moment later, her eyes betrayed her, flicking back toward him. To her annoyance, Jack hadn't moved. Still watching her.

Their gazes locked. Marina's heartbeat quickened, though she was determined to show no sign of it. She tilted her chin ever so slightly, throwing him a look of defiance. Jack, in response, simply arched an eyebrow, as if amused by her silent challenge.

The tension simmered. He was infuriating—always teasing, never taking anything seriously, especially her. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she broke eye contact first, yanking the knot tighter than necessary.

Enough of this, she thought. Without another glance at Jack, she grabbed her tools and made her way below deck. She could hear the sound of the sea, the creaking of the wood, but at least down here she wouldn't have to deal with him.

Several hours later, the sun had begun its descent, but the heat lingered, clinging to the air and making the ship feel stifling. Marina wiped the sweat from her brow as she made her way back toward the deck for a breath of fresh air.

As she rounded a corner, she halted abruptly. There, in front of her, stood Jack Sparrow, near the ship's water barrel. His shirt was discarded on the floorboards, and he stood half-turned from her, splashing cool water over his chest and shoulders. The water glistened against his tanned skin, tracing rivulets down the lines of his toned torso.

For a brief moment, Marina was frozen, her mouth suddenly dry. Damn him. She tried to tear her gaze away, but it lingered—if only for a second too long.

Sensing her presence, Jack glanced over his shoulder, a wicked grin spreading across his face as if he had caught her in some secret act. "Well, well," he drawled, wiping his face with a rag and turning fully to face her. "Didn't know you were such an admirer of the view."

Marina's cheeks flushed, but she quickly masked her embarrassment with a roll of her eyes. She crossed her arms, forcing herself to meet his gaze with a haughty look. "Don't flatter yourself, Sparrow. I've seen better."

He chuckled softly, stepping toward her, still dripping with water. "Really now?" His tone was teasing, his grin annoyingly confident. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were spying on me."

Her jaw tightened. "I was not spying on you. You just happen to be in my way," she shot back, her voice sharp. She made to brush past him, but Jack shifted, blocking her path with an effortless, almost lazy movement.

He tilted his head, pretending to think. "In your way? Or in your thoughts?" His eyes gleamed with amusement.

Marina's pulse quickened, but she refused to let him see how much he was getting to her. "You're not nearly as charming as you think, Sparrow," she retorted, her voice calm despite the heat in her cheeks. "And I'd appreciate it if you'd put a shirt on. It's hard enough to keep the crew focused without you strutting about."

Jack raised an eyebrow, clearly delighted by her flustered response. "Ah, so you were looking," he said, stepping closer, his voice low and playful. "I'm flattered, really. But you know, I didn't take you for the shy type."

Marina squared her shoulders, standing her ground even though her heart was racing. "Who said anything about being shy?" Her voice was steady, her eyes flashing with newfound boldness. She took a slow step forward, closing the gap between them. Jack's teasing grin faltered ever so slightly, though he held his ground.

"Oh? Now you're getting brave," Jack quipped, though there was a slight edge to his voice as if he hadn't expected her to push back like this.

Marina's lips curled into a sly smile as she stepped closer, until they were mere inches apart. She tilted her head up, looking him dead in the eye. "Brave? No. Just... enjoying the view." Her gaze flicked deliberately down to his chest covered in intricate tattoos that seemed to tell stories of a life spent on the edge of the world. Her gaze then flicked back up, challenging him with her eyes.

Jack blinked, clearly not anticipating the reversal. He opened his mouth to respond, but for once, no quick retort came. The usual swagger in his posture seemed to falter for a split second.

"What's the matter, Captain?" she continued, her voice dripping with amusement. "You look a little... distracted." She echoed his earlier words with a coy smile, her confidence building as she saw his composure slip.

As Marina's words hung in the air, she acted on an impulse she hadn't quite anticipated. Without thinking, her right hand reached out, her fingertips grazing the inked surface of Jack's chest, tracing the edge of the sparrow tattoo that lay over his heart. His skin was warm beneath her touch, the roughness of his sun-tanned chest contrasting with the smooth lines of the tattoos that decorated it.

The moment felt both daring and reckless, and her own boldness nearly made her faint. She could feel the warmth creeping up her neck, threatening to give away the fact that this small, intimate contact with him affected her far more than she'd expected.

For a split second, her confidence faltered, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she let her hand linger, feeling the rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her palm. The steady rise and fall of his chest seemed to echo in the silence between them, a reminder that despite their games, something unspoken had sparked in that moment.

Jack's breath caught, his eyes locking onto hers, and for once, he was at a loss for words. Jack swallowed, a flicker of something passing through his expression—was it surprise? His usual cocky grin was still there, but there was something different in his eyes now, something unsettled.

"Careful, love," he said, his voice lower, though it wasn't quite as steady as before. "Playing with fire, you are."

Marina leaned in just a fraction more, enough to make Jack draw in a breath. Her voice was a soft, playful whisper. "Maybe I like a little heat."

For the first time, Jack looked genuinely flustered. His eyes darted briefly to her lips before he quickly looked away, clearing his throat and taking a half-step back. "Right then," he muttered, shaking his head as though trying to regain control of the situation. "You've made your point."

Marina's smile widened, pleased with herself. She had rattled him, if only for a moment. "What's wrong, Jack? Not used to being on the receiving end of the teasing?"

Jack let out a small, awkward laugh, running a hand through his damp hair. "You've got spirit, I'll give you that," he said, though his usual bravado wasn't quite as sharp now. He seemed momentarily off-balance, and it thrilled Marina to see the infamous Jack Sparrow slightly destabilized.

"Good to know I can keep up with you," she teased, brushing past him as if she had just won a game they'd been playing. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Captain... I've got better things to do than entertain you all day."

Jack turned to watch her go, his brow furrowing in bewilderment. He muttered under his breath, loud enough for her to hear, "What just happened?"

Marina tossed a glance over her shoulder, her smirk in full view. "Looks like you've finally met your match, Sparrow."

With that, she disappeared down the stairs, leaving Jack standing by the water barrel, rubbing his jaw and clearly trying to figure out how he had just been bested at his own game.