Open Waters by Valerie Mores Read Free Book Online Page A

pillowed on her chest, her fingers idly running down Jane's arm, leaving goose bumps in their wake. It wasn't until after the first night, letting Cecily sleep beside her and in her arms, getting drunk off her scent, that Jane realized how completely starved for touch she was. She felt like a fish that had been without water and finally dumped back into the ocean. And even though all they had done was sleep, it was more than Jane had ever hoped for.
    "Ya are, and I ya."
    Jane grunted at the proclamation, but didn't make any move to deny it. It was true, after all. She had finally come to realize that. All these years she had spent traveling the ocean, trying to find the next thing, the next adventure and treasure that would fill the hole in her. But perhaps she had been, and still was, chasing the wrong thing. Perhaps all those years she had closed herself off, bottled herself up, and built a wall around her heart in order to prevent ever feeling loss again, when all she needed to do was let one person in and let herself open up and be opened up by someone.
    Or perhaps, just this someone.
     "Like a lion, ya are," Cecily continued, tilting her head up and looking at Jane. She reached a hand up, running her fingers through Jane's sun-ripened hair, letting the unruly curls wash over the digits. "Golden mane and all."
    Jane snorted with amusement, wondering where on earth Cecily came up with these ridiculous thoughts. "I am no lion."
    Cecily frowned in disapproval. "No, ya are right," she conceded, and Jane raised her eyebrows at the unexpected agreement, but Cecily just ignored her and continued on. "Lions are lazy, overbearin', and well, male. Ya are much more than tha'. Fierce, strong, protective. A lioness. My lioness."
    Jane let out a laugh to cover up the swelling of emotion she felt in her chest and the heat that was no doubt coloring her cheeks. Despite the little time they had known each other, Jane had discovered that it wasn't often that Cecily got endearing and sentimental, and that she was to enjoy it when it did.
    But she wasn't able to enjoy it for long.
    "Also arrogant and demandin'," Cecily continued with a sly grin, "but tha's wha' ya have me for: ta make sure tha' head of yas remains a decent size."
    Jane just rolled her eyes, dipping her head down to place a sweet kiss on top of Cecily's dark brown hair. She would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy the compliments and sentiments. But she would also be lying if she said she didn't enjoy the sass that followed.
    *~*~*
    "SAIL!" a call sounded from above, drawing all heads up to where Newby was perched precariously in the crow's nest. He pointed directly off the stern and all eyes on the main deck followed his line, trying in vain to catch a glimpse of the claimed pursuer.
    "There's another ship?" Cecily asked, moving forward to stand beside Jane on the quarterdeck. Jane hummed in affirmation and pulled out her spyglass. She could barely make out the advancing ship, but there was one thing that was for certain: it was heading straight for them.
    "That horizon has been bare since we passed port," Jane remarked with a scowl, fingers tracing the ring around her neck.
    "Well, that fact remains true no longer," Worth stated from her right. Jane steadied the spy glass, hoping to catch sight of a flag or some mark or evidence of what sort was following them. But after a while, she dropped the spy glass from her eye and handed it over to Worth.
    "I can't make out her allegiance, not from this distance." Jane paused before addressing Worth, who was currently looking his fill at the advancing ship. "Keep her going steady," she commanded.
    Worth handed her back the spy glass with a nod. "Captain, if she's a member of the Navy—"
    "Then she'll catch us whether we attempt to run or not," Jane finished, resigned, but still determined. She would just have to hope that it wouldn't come to that. A firefight was not an option, not against the Royal Navy. That was one fight Jane