Obey Your Captain

He would see the babe as they grew. Would watch over them from afar.

“You wanted me, Captain?” she asked as soon as she entered his quarters.

“Yes, how did you do?”

“Quite a few big ones. Mostly single.”

“How many?”

“Four buckets, I’d say almost fifty. We went through a school, caught many in one go.”

“I congratulate you, you will dine with me on your catch.”

“I-”

“Arguing?”

“No, Captain,” she mumbled, reminding herself of the deal, the vow he made if she stuck to her

“Sit, are you tired?”

“No, Captain.”

“I’m exceptionally glad to hear that. The meal will take a few moments, Cook will deliver. Do you wish to use my water closet? I heated water for you.”

Kaliyah frowned deeply. The Captain’s washing facilities were exclusively for him and him alone. “Is that an order…?” she queried cautiously.

“A mere suggestion, but I’m sure being on the deck and fishing will not have left you feeling clean.” He leant forward, elbows slamming on the sanded tabletop. “I even have clove soap,” he whispered the secret.

While she had never purposefully stood within close proximity to the Captain… he had always exuded a clean spiced scent.

Soap hadn’t exactly been a luxury she could always afford since her father’s death.

“Yes please,” she squeaked much more subduedly than she’d ever heard herself.

He gestured towards the only door that she had always assumed led to his chambers. Pushing the heavy door, it was indeed. A spacious cabin bed with a table and draw set. Glancing to the bed… thinking wholly impure thoughts, a curtain caught her attention. Pushing it aside showed a small room, steam rolled in inviting coils from a copper basin. The delectable soap that had tempted her nestled next to it on a seemingly clean rag.

Shutting the curtain, she kicked off her boots and stripped her linen shirt. Her hands slid into the wonderfully warm water. “Oh Gods above, I’ve missed this.” Quickly lathering the soap as much as the seawater allowed, she washed her face and torso. She glanced to her shirt she’d flung next to the basin… it would dry.

She submerged the item, rubbing the scent of fish and sweat from the cloth with the beautiful spicy soap.

Ringing the garment of as much water as she could, she donned it before divesting her breeches, washing between her legs and her feet.

She washed again for good measure, relishing in the decedent smell. With still damp skin, she padded back to the captain’s office with bare feet. He glanced up from maps, a crinkle around his eye before he frowned. With a sigh, he heaved to his feet, boots thudding along as he made his way into his chambers. “You will catch your death, Miss Warren,” he announced, coming back only to thrust a shirt into her hand.

“I do not under-”

“Change.”

Peering at the garment in her hand, she blinked in confusion. He’d just delivered an order, she must obey… but this was clearly one of the captain’s… she couldn’t wear his shirt.

“Miss Warren,” he growled a warning.

“I really don’t think it’s nec-”

“If you cannot obey this simple command, later is going to get much much harder for you.” His jaw clenched while his eyes stared daggers of seriousness.

Later? What were his plans for later? She gulped, but did as she was told. Only until sunrise. Just until sunrise. It slowly became a mantra as she stepped back out of his chambers, his cream linen shirt falling to her knees. Her wet shirt in her hands which was soon removed and placed over a spare chair by the aforementioned male.

Gesturing to the chair she had used in the morning, she placed herself primly on the smooth surface, subtly caressing the fabric between her thumb and forefinger. She most certainly had not inhaled the smell of the surprisingly clean scented shirt.

Certainly not.

“We will be making port next week. I’m sure a merchant will have soap in an array of fragrances.”

“I’m sure there will.” Not that she could afford that luxury. Even if the tax and debt were paid, her salary would go to her family. While her mother could afford the basics with what Kaliyah had had spare, it could not hold weight to the life she was accustomed. Kaliyah was happy to sacrifice her own luxuries for those of her sister and mother. Once her sister was wed… maybe the burden would fall upon her husband, but until such time, it was Kaliyah’s duty.

“You will have your own room, privacy you deserve. There will be no fear for luxuries to go missing.”

“That is accurate, Captain. Thank you, I will be sure to look.”

He perceived her with a gaze which drew discomfort through every humor of her body. A knock, thankfully, drew that gaze away from her.

“Cap’n, your meal,” the cook announced as he walked in, his scarred hands holding the tin plates.

“Thank you, Kendrick.” Captain settled in his chair opposite her while the meal was set down.

“Need owt else, Cap?”

“That will do, Kendrick, thank you.”

“Holler if ya do.”

Kaliyah looked down hungrily at the whole fish in front of her, grain mash and a hardtack biscuit beside the steaming fish.

“Rum?”

“Yes, please.”

Captain Baron stood, going over to the cupboard, withdrawing a bottle and a… “You have a karýda!” she cried in shock.

He turned with the brown fruit. “It will probably go bad before we arrive. I cannot think of a better time to use it.” Thunking the bottle down on the surface, he took out a dagger from his belt. “Would you like to catch the juice?”

She nodded with an attempt to stem her excitement, she hadn’t had karýda in any way for a long time. The sweet juice was perfect with rum and the white flesh would make an excellent dessert. With a bowl swiped from the side, she readied herself to catch the delicious nectar whilst Captain Baron drove his blade into the hard shell. He lifted the orb like fruit for her to shove the bowl beneath. Creamy sweet water poured within the surface. Kaliyah couldn’t help a small swipe of her tongue over her dry lips.

He poured them both drinks while she resumed her place around the table… not that it was her place for more than tonight.

They ate in silence, her curiosity as to why the captain wished to dine with her swirling unanswered around her mind. He could easily order her after her meal with the crew. She sipped the sweet drink, eyes shutting in pure delight.

“You enjoy karýda?”

“Yes, it’s delightful.” She paused a moment, “Thank you for sharing it with me.”

“I find it is often more pleasurable when shared.”

“I appreciate your generosity.”

He finished his meal before her, whilst her meal was continued, he cracked the brown shell in half revealing the white. Halving it again, he offered a quarter to her before wrapping the fruit in a cloth.

“Are you not having some?” she asked with intrigue as she finished her fish.

“I feel I will need it after my plan.”

“Do I wish to hear of this plan?” She crunched into her fruit.

“You are to be in my bed.”