"Careful, Captain," Madelyn laughed breathlessly. "Your crew members are watching."
Good heavens. He did not care for propriety any longer. As though to confirm, from afar, Mr Lawrence called out.
"Brand! Do have a heart. We are quite the number unmarried on this ship!"
"Then marry, would you?!" Mr Stephen gave a response and laughter erupted from every corner.
Madelyn tried to push him away, but he would not let her. "What are you doing?" she whispered, hoping to reprimand him, but certain she was not.
His eyes rose slowly to hers. Dark. Dangerous. "Call me that again."
"What?"
One eyebrow arched. "Maddie."
She chuckled entirely gleeful. Leaning in, she kept her voice lowered. "Captain."
Brand's gaze darkened so swiftly that heat curled low within her stomach despite the ache in her back. He leaned nearer until only inches separated them.
She could feel his breath. Could feel the tension in him. His nose feathered lightly against hers, and she smiled faintly.
