The voyage

13–Start of something

She had become used to his body, just as he had become used to hers, and now as Kate moved on top of her husband, she felt his lips trail down her collarbone while his hands kept her seated in place - their rhythm picking up.

He knew what she liked, where to kiss her, what spots were able to extract the loudest of moans.

The way she said his name was unlike anything he'd felt before.

Since their first real marital encounter on the eve after Agatha's lunch, James had noticed that the confidence in his wife had soared over the number of times he'd taken her to bed. She had been too afraid to voice what she'd wanted him to do, where she'd wanted him to kiss or touch her, but now behind closed doors, she felt comfortable enough to let him know - even if sometimes he'd catch her cheeks flushed with the slight embarrassment she felt.

Now, she was tightening around him, hips moving quickly against him. "James..."

"Nuh uh, we're not done yet". He told her, knowing that getting her to hang on just that little longer would have her wailing in explosive pleasure.

As a result of this, her nails dug into his back as he sat up a little more, one arm wrapping around her back to keep her pressed close against him, and the other snuck between her legs, beginning to circle the bundle of nerves that immediately began to make her quake a little.

"That's it sweetheart, hold on for just that little bit longer". He praised her gently.

"You know I can't..." She managed to rasp out, breath hitching as a gasp escaped her lips. "Don't tease me for much longer, please". The desperation was there, and boy did he love to see her plead with him.

"Catherine". He murmured, lips trailing from her breasts and up to her ear where he placed a kiss gently behind him. "Be a good girl and let go..."

She let out a small cry, releasing as he continued to thrust into her as she did. It wasn't long before he soon followed ensuring she was full of him and then slowly pulling out of her once he was satisfied. Both of them still holding onto one another as they regained their breath - and their senses.

"Do you really have to go away tomorrow?" She asked quietly as they lay there tangled in one another sometime later. His fingers toyed with a lock of her hair between them, his other hand tracing up and down her spine.

"Why? Are you actually going to miss me?" He smirked at the ceiling.

"Not one bit". She retorted in jest. "But in all seriousness? Yes. I am".

She wouldn't lie. They had been getting along better lately, spending their time with one another, getting to know what the other was like. Kate could say with confidence that perhaps she did feel something for him, but it was only the start, the spark that could perhaps start a raging fire within. He treated her well, worshipped her body in the bedroom. Sure he could still be the same grumpy captain she'd met months before, but he was her grumpy captain.

"It's another voyage back to England, It should be three weeks at the most". Four in total if you counted the couple of days docked for some respite before the return journey. Hopefully this time he'd return with no stowaways that he'd have to pretend to be married to. Or just any of them in general. He'd need the crew to crack down on their checks before they sailed.

"Our one went too quickly for my liking" She admitted. "You will be careful, won't you?"

That had been her recent fear, that he'd end up how his father had and would never return from the sea. James had told her himself that she couldn't afford to think like that. He was right, but it still didn't stop the feeling from creeping back up on her every now and then.

"I'll always come back to you". He now assured her, pressing a kiss to her hair.

It was a dangerous promise to make, but he'd make it all the same.

Morning hadn't broken yet, they were still in the early hours, having stayed up and making the most of the time before he had to leave. Kate let out a small yawn. "You need to sleep, otherwise you'll be falling asleep when the time comes to leave port".

"I suppose you're right".

"I'm always right". She lightly scolded and kept close to him. "No 5am walk for you, you keep to our bed until I say so".

He chuckled lowly. "Now that demand? I am willing to obey".

Kate woke some hours later to find James already dressed and readying himself for the trip ahead, sitting up and pulling the sheets around her body.

He noted her and walked over, leaning down and giving her a long kiss. "Get some more sleep, it's still early".

"I want to see you off, besides once I am awake, then you know I can never get back off to sleep again". She reached for the nightgown he'd discarded on the floor hours earlier, and slipped it on - then crossing the room to go and dress behind the screen and emerging once she was done. "What time do you leave?"

He checked his watch. "Three hours, but I have to get to the docks and see that all the checks are done, the sailing report is in, and other things that you'd find incredibly boring".

"I don't know how you cope". Came her dry comment.

"I don't".

She pinned her hair up and accompanied him downstairs, Sarah already seated at the table and buttering some toast. "Ah, there you are - I was wondering whether you'd need to be woken". The older Rogers woman eyed them knowingly.

"Well you thought wrong". James replied, sitting down and reaching for the paper that was folded next to his plate. "Anyway, I'm not going to have much breakfast, I'll be leaving soon".

"Best drink some coffee then". Sarah threw another look to her son. "It may help keep you awake".

Kate smirked into her plate but said nothing. Things were just as they should be, or at least were getting to where they should be. She would take what they had for now and would savour it with all her might.

**

After breakfast, James said goodbye to Sarah, and left with Kate for the docks of New York where The Liberty was proudly waiting for his arrival, the passengers not having arrived just yet.

Edward and Jimmy were waiting as James came aboard and said hello to them and the rest of the crew.

"Captain..." Edward nodded and then glanced to Kate. "Mrs Rogers, you're looking well".

"I hope so, otherwise I'd be worried if I didn't" She smirked just as Edward did back to her. He liked Kate, she had a sense of humour but was elegant in the way that she delivered her remarks.

"Will you be joining us this time around?" Jimmy asked.

She shook her head. "I think my days of sailing are done for now, I'll leave that part to Jimmy". She patted his arm that was currently linked with hers, and smiled up at him as he did the same down at her.

"That's probably wise". He replied. "Final checks and then the passengers can start coming aboard". Now turning to Edward and Jimmy.

"Yes Captain". They nodded in unison and headed off to undertake their duties.

Once the final checks were done and the passengers started to board, Kate said goodbye to her husband, giving him one last kiss. "I'll be waiting for you". She told him as their lips locked once more. Thankfully they had some privacy for this moment in his office - there was no way he'd have displayed this to his crew.

"And I will come back to you". He assured her, giving her one last kiss and then accompanying her so as she could make her way off the ship. "I'll see you in a few weeks".

"Try not to be too bored on here without your stowaway, my darling". She smirked as he plated a kiss on the top of her hand and watched her make her way off and onto the docks, giving him a final wave before he had to return to the wheelhouse.

Less than a half hour later, Kate watched as The Liberty began to move away from the docks, the blow of its horn as a sign of goodbye to her and a hello to the ocean that lay ahead.

Already she yearned for James return, and the weeks that were to come could not go quickly enough.