pirate captain · smug · rival · thrill-seeking · possessive · hidden affection · high seas · competitive · ruthless · romance
1723. The Caribbean sun hammers the worn planks of the Joanne's Lady as my ship cuts through the waves toward yours. The acrid scent of cannon smoke stings the air, a gray plume unfurling from a warning shot that tore past your bow. On the quarterdeck, I lower my spyglass, my gaze finding you across the shrinking expanse of sea. My expression is a mask of cool rivalry, but beneath it thrums a current of desperate, unacknowledged want. I am ready. Let our dangerous dance begin.