Dawn was stepping over a tumbled coiled of soaked rigging rope when she came up behind Charles. He was busy screaming at the disgusting Mr. Robbins, "Damn and blast you scurvy swab Robbins!" Charles shouted at the man. Charles chiseled arm was pointing at a small flooded keg on the deck at the old man's feet. "I thought I told you to check the powder, damn it! That is an entire keg ruined. Since the ship's shares were so poor this outing, I will expect you to procure a replacement!" Robbins' ancient eyes blazed with rage and he moved to speak but Charles cut him off with a shout, "IS THAT UNDERSTOOD!" The old man shrank back, cast his eyes down, and simply nodded. "Good!" Charles bellowed, slowly turning away, this conversation ended.
Dawn stepped up slowly, hoping to not catch his fire full yet after his discussion with Robbins. "Captain Charles," Dawn said meekly, lowering her lashes; taking in the raw beauty of his bare flesh and still damp, tight stretched breeches. She hoped her slightly bowed head could hide her small smile from his blue-eyed gaze. Charles looked at Dawn the anger slipping from his face slowly. The morning sun was filling her red curls with a warm glow; it was a remarkable sight. "Yes, m'pet?" Charles asked calmly, his voice rough from hours of shouting.
Dawn looked up at him and saw he was relaxing before her. She thought that this would make her task much easier. "Well, Captain," she began quietly, "I was thinking that you must be exhausted as we all are from the storm...shouldn't you be getting yourself some rest?"
Charles threw his head back and laughed heartily. Then he took Dawn's cheeks in both hands and pressed his lips to hers in a hard kiss. "Well, Misty," Charles laughed upon breaking his embrace, "I must say that Fazul is improving his strategy sending in your charms to lead me away from m'duty." His tone sent contradictory sensations of heat and chill through Dawn. There was something in his words that both exhilarated her and cautioned her. He had seen right through her ploy, but had responded better than she could have hoped for.
Dawn's sensations were rent again with a start at the sound of clapping behind her. Her eyes belied a light shock but one look at Charles' face and she was reassured. Charles' light eyes flashed up, looking round Dawn's fiery curls, the sight he saw brought a half smile to his lips. "Well, Captain Olivia," Charles grinned.
Dawn turned around slowly to find the dark-skinned woman grinning broadly behind her, her lips still a bit blue, but seemed none the worse for wear. She had one of Charles' shirts pulled over her body. Her left eye was now covered with a black leather patch. The woman's thick hair was curled tighter than dark wool; she had it tied back with a saffron silk scarf. The pistol that had previously been filled with water was once more tucked into a belt that tied her waist. She was not wearing any skirt or pants. Her dark legs were bared beneath the bottom seam of the blouse she had obtained from Charles' cabin. Her dark feet rested lightly upon the deck.
The woman walked right between Dawn and Charles, almost joining their embrace and looked into Charles' blue eyes with her dark one before speaking. The woman spoke with a heavy accent that Dawn could not place as she walked forward, her purpled lips smiling powerfully, "Ah, m'captain Charles," she began with a more than friendly air, "what booty be this, eh?" Dawn felt the woman's inquisitive, uncovered eye searching her skin as if it held unseen loot.
Dawn felt her cheeks warm under the dark gaze of the strange woman; she lowered her eyes, her red curls falling around her face, trying to cover her reddening cheeks. She felt a warm, hand with long fingers caressing her upper arm. Her gray-green eyes caught the stark contrast of chocolate upon cream as the woman's skin met her own. "I must say, Charles," the dark woman said approvingly, "you have plucked a rare prize 'ere, no?"
"I have to agree with you, Olivia," Charles responded, pulling back half a step from Dawn, allowing his old friend a chance to admire his latest prize. He folded his arms across his chest and watched the hunger fill Olivia's eyes. She was so predictable, he almost laughed at her obvious distraction with Dawn. Of course, he could not disagree with her in the least; Misty Dawn was a rare prize indeed.
Dawn felt Olivia's hands run the length of both her arms; she had the peculiar feeling of being inspected as a horse by the jockey before a race. Suddenly her eyes were met and caught by Olivia's one dark orb. That one eye burned with a fire that resembled Charles' lust filled looks. That dark fire swept over Dawn's face. The white gleam of Olivia's teeth flashed into a broad smile as she spoke softly, "And who are wee, little pet?"
Dawn tried to speak but found her throat suddenly dry; somehow, she was parched for something more than water. Charles broke the silence of the deck quickly saving her from her failed voice. "Captain Olivia, may I present, my latest captured treasure, Misty Dawn," Charles placed both his hands on Dawn's suddenly trembling shoulders and he stepped behind her, his body pressing against her bare back. Dawn nodded as Charles concluded.