It’s not an entire chapter but it is the last page of a chapter… Chris has just joined the pirate crew and here’s what happens during one of his first meetings with the Captain:

Captain Hart had eaten by himself that night. By his desk, because the cabin had no room for a dining table. He didn’t say much while I served his dinner but as I was leaving, I heard him say my name.

”Come back here once you’re finished. I’ve got more work for you.”

More work meant polishing his black boots. I sat on the floor near the door, rubbed the stiff leather with a cloth. Rubbed until it shone. Music could be heard from outside. Captain Hart was by the desk, books and scrolls in heaps in front of him. He was down to his shirt, just like during the night, and wore no socks. Through the opening in his shirt I could see the skull amulet peeking out with its evil eyes. He didn’t speak to me. Now and then I heard him sigh, watched him run his fingers through his hair. Outside of the window, the light was sinking lower. All noises from the other side of the door had died out.

“Chris,” he said at last, putting away the documents he’d been studying. “Come here.”

He showed me to the bench by the window but did not sit down beside me. “Do you want a glass of wine?”

It was a strange question, I didn’t understand it. Gentlemen drank wine. Mr Thomas had been drinking wine. I said no.

“No? Oh well, suit yourself. The bottles were a gift from the king of Spain to the governor of Panama, unless I’m mistaken… or would have been, if they had reached their destination.”

The hint of a smile, before he sat down. The room was lighter this time and I saw the fine net of veins on the back of his hand, the curve of nails.

“How are you settling in on board?”

New people, names and events running through my head.

“Very good, sir.”

“I do hope everyone’s been nice to you.”

I told him they had, and he nodded.

“They’d better be! It’s rather different from what you’re used to, of course.”

“I’ve only been at sea for a few weeks, sir.”

He raised his eyebrows. “So you just left your village. Ashley, wasn’t it? That was a very brave thing you did, leaving home like that.”

I could have told him that I regretted my decision more than anything, but didn’t want to risk making him angry.

“It must be a beautiful place.” His hand was placed on my shoulder.

“It is, sir.”

Warmth through the fabric of my shirt.

“You miss home a lot, don’t you?”

The fingertips moved to my right shoulder, caressed my neck. His eyes were like stormy clouds as he looked at me.

“I do, sir.”

There was a strange atmosphere in the room, I wouldn’t be able to describe it. Almost like it had grown darker in there. His other hand landed on my arm.

“You truly are lovely.”

He put his arms around me. A tender embrace, soft, light. Then he looked at me, so close that I could feel his hot breath on my skin. A single moment, before he pressed his lips against mine.

I broke free, stared at him. My cheeks were hot.

“Come, don’t worry.” He grabbed my hand, squeezed it. Came closer to hold me again, and I didn’t try to push him away. Not even as he started caressing my hair. He was warm next to me, and my arms ended up around his waist somehow.

“There’s no one here to see us.” His face closed in on mine once more and this time I let it happen. Let him kiss my lips and touch my cheeks, while I stroked his back.

He ended it after that. Leaned forward to press a chaste kiss to my brow, caressed my fingers.

“I’ve kept you here for far too long. Off you go back to the others… good night.”

A smile, his gaze that followed me through the room. The mad, thumping heartbeat in my chest. He had kissed me. Captain Hart had kissed me.

And I had enjoyed it.