Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom

ones.” Reaching over with his right hand, he tugged on the lacing of her
shirt, undoing it.
She smiled at him, then reached up and took the pins out of her
hair. Jack watched the black mass fall loose in soft waves, reaching
halfway down her back. Then she blew out the lantern.
Jack heard the rustle as she removed her britches and shirt, but
his eyes hadn’t adjusted yet, so he couldn’t see her. He felt the bunk
give as she settled down beside him. “Good night, Jack.”
“Don’t I get a good night kiss?”
He heard her soft laugh, then saw the outline of her head and
shoulders as she bent over him. Her mouth was every bit as sweet as
he remembered. “Esmeralda?” he mumbled, when she drew away.
“Sí, Jack?”
“Gracias, mi amor.”
“De nada.”
Jack opened his eyes the next morning to the sound of soft breathing
that was not his own. When he moved his left arm, it was sore, but the
hot, stabbing pain was gone. He managed to wriggle out of the bunk
without disturbing her, and use the head. But when he crawled back in,
she awoke. “Sorry, love,” he whispered. “Didn’t mean to wake you.”
Esmeralda raised her head to peer at the open stern windows.
“It’s past dawn. I should get up. Things to do today. May I use the
captain’s head, Captain?”
“By all means, love,” Jack said.
“Um, would you mind facing the wall, Jack?”
“I would,” he said, honestly, “but a gentleman always honors such
a request from his lady.” He turned over.
After a short interval, he heard the door to the head open and
close again. The soft sound of fabric, as of a shirt being donned,
followed. “Esmeralda?”
“Yes?”
“May I turn over again?”
“All right.”
The sight of her wearing nothing but her long shirt, with the lacings