Free Within a Captain's Hold by Lisa A. Olech

a fool and slapping his stump. Lordy, this was turning out to be the best voyage of his life. His wounded crewmen survived the night. He found Jaxon spending more hours on deck. Man avoided his quarters like the plague. Never seen the captain fall so hard for a wee bit of skirt before. And the skirt turned out to be hotter than a two-bit pistol. Walking in on her holding the capt’n’s own blade on him. Blimey, that was great. Now she be callin’ him by his given name and worryin’ about his neck? And Robbins?
    Cookie wiped the tears from his eyes. He caught Jaxon wandering the decks again and laughed some more. This was even better than the time he’d been locked up with three whores and five barrels of rum.
    And just ye wait till you get an eyeful of yer red-haired beauty in her new clothes.
     

CHAPTER 10
     
    Quick to close the door behind him, Jaxon scanned his empty quarters. Where is she? His stomach plummeted into his boots. “Annalise?”
    “Jaxon?” She shimmied out of her hiding place.
    Bloody hell. When I see Cookie, I’m going to kill him.
    “I’ve found a space where the bed meets the side of the ship. I can just squeeze behind.” She fiddled with the front of her shirt. Its low open collar barely covered the rich swell of her breasts.
    He ran his gaze over the vision before him. Breeches, a size too small for the lass, fit her like black on a cannon. The top was as unattractive as they came. It was the color of mud, and would have fit loose on a man four times her size. Missing its lacing, the neckline opened to the girl’s waist, revealing a healthy amount of tender, rounded flesh. A strip of black cloth wrapped around the slimness of her waist, and stockings hugged her legs.
    Behind her, the setting sun lit her hair, which she tamed into a thick braid draping one shoulder. She was utterly beguiling.
    Cookie is a dead man.
    Jaxon pulled the leather thong from his hair and handed it to her. “Lace your blouse.”
    “Oh, thank you. I shouldn’t like to complain, as I am grateful for the clothing, but this shirt is far too large.”
    Annalise started at the bottom and threaded the length of leather through each hole in turn. Transfixed, Jaxon watched her pull and tug at the ties. Oh, to be that length of leather.
    “The breeches feel strange on my legs, but I like not being hampered with skirts. Cookie said I would have to do without shoes, however. My feet are too small.” She turned away from him, bent to tug up the tops of her stockings, and smoothed her hands over her thighs.
    His breeches tightened.
    She turned back and held her hands out to her sides. “Better?”
    “Aye.” His voice broke the word in two.
    “I’m sorry about what happened this morning. Did Cookie tell you? I was afraid your man would come back with half your crew after he caught me bathing, but Cookie said he convinced--”
    “I’ve been told. Now, thanks to you, I have a lad who thinks he’s lost his mind.” He hadn’t meant to snap, but the idea of Robbins seeing her naked brought a rush of jealousy and a sultry vision to his mind’s eye. Blast it all.
    She pushed a curl off her forehead and glared at him. “Are you saying it was my fault?”
    “I’m saying.” He planted his hands on his hips. “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. If you weren’t daft enough to hide yourself on my ship, I wouldn’t be standing here with a member of my crew thinking he’s mad.”
    Annalise crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m beginning to think you’re all mad.”
    Jaxon almost agreed with her. His thoughts were less than sane in concerns to her. He couldn’t decide which he wanted more at that moment, to toss her over the side, over his knee, or onto her back. A throbbing ache in his breeches gave him his answer. He plowed his fingers through his hair and moved to the desk. Pouring himself a drink, he glowered at her above its rim.
    The chit had the nerve to notch her chin and stare him down.
    He drained