Forbidden Kiss

James approached with his face tight with concern, his gaze flickering between Mauve and me, trying to piece together what happened.

“Mauve, what’s happened?” he asked quickly, his voice sharp with urgency.

Mauve’s eyes darkened as she spoke.

“Her parents broke their agreement.”
“The captain killed them in front of her.”

James’s jaw clenched at her words, a mixture of anger and sorrow flashing across his face. His fists curled tightly at his sides.

“He let the crew punish her,” Mauve added grimly.
“We need to tend to her wounds before the captain returns.”

Without hesitation, Mauve led us toward the safety of the crew’s quarters. She gently lowered me onto the edge of her bed, and I winced as pain radiated through me like fire.

"James, can you tend to her wounds?"

Mauve’s voice trembled, urgency dripping from every word as she looked at him, pleading. James hesitated, his eyes darting uncertainly between us.

“You’re more skilled than I am,” Mauve admitted, her shoulders sagging under the weight of helplessness.

With a quiet nod, James knelt beside me. His hands worked carefully, assessing my injuries. I flinched when the cloth touched my cheek, the pain sharp and immediate. His brows furrowed as he traced the deep gashes, his touch gentle despite the severity of my wounds.

“I’m sorry, Isabella,” he whispered, his voice heavy with regret.
"These cuts they’re deep."

The silence that followed was thick, broken only by the creaks of the ship and the distant murmurs from above. Each of James’s movements was methodical, and careful as he cleaned the wounds and stemmed the bleeding.

The pain was almost unbearable, threatening to pull me under, but beneath it, I felt a glimmer of relief—a sense of safety in James's presence, his steady hands easing more than just my physical suffering.




Mauve hovered nearby, her face tight with worry, her fingers twisting in her lap. She watched James work, her concern etched deep in her features. Time stretched on, every second a battle for James against exhaustion. He worked tirelessly, and slowly, the bleeding subsided, leaving behind only angry red marks across my pale skin. At last, James pulled back, his expression a mix of satisfaction and fatigue.

“That should do it,” he said softly.

I met his gaze, gratitude swelling in my chest.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice fragile in the quiet room.

James returned my look, his eyes filled with unspoken emotion.

“You’re welcome,” he replied, his voice warm yet edged with weariness.

He turned to Mauve, his jaw set with resolve.

“We need to get her to the captain’s quarters.”
“I’ll take her,” Mauve said quickly, standing, her urgency unmistakable.

James shook his head, his determination unyielding.

“No, Mauve.”
“I’ll do it.”
“You can barely stand,” Mauve protested, her voice tight with concern.
"You’re exhausted."

James silenced her with a firm look.

“I’ll manage.”
“Trust me.”

Reluctantly, Mauve nodded, the fight leaving her. James helped me to my feet, and I leaned heavily against him, my body weak and drained.

“Get some rest Mauve.”
“Be careful tonight Mauve, it sounds like the rest of the crew is in a mood.”
“Especially since you ruined their pleasure.”
“Did the captain order a halt on her punishment?”
“No, he didn’t.”
“The two men he sent are known for their cruelty.”




Together, we made our way out of the crew’s quarters. The dim lanterns cast long shadows along the narrow passage, and each step felt like a struggle, the weight of my injuries threatening to pull me into unconsciousness. When we finally reached the captain’s quarters, James gently laid me on the bed, his hands trembling from exhaustion. I looked up at him, my gratitude overwhelming.

“Thank you,” I whispered again, barely able to get the words out.

James smiled, though it was faint, his weariness clear.

“Rest now.”
“You’ve been through enough.”

Before he could turn away, I reached for his hand. He paused, standing beside the bed, his expression softening as I spoke.

“I’m sorry for the punishment you took because of me.”

His gaze softened further, and he knelt by the bed, his fingers entwined with mine.

“Isabella, this isn’t your fault,” he said gently, his voice steady.
“I would endure it all again to protect you.”

His words hung between us, charged with emotion. I felt my breath catch as I looked into his eyes, a deep, unspoken connection passing between us. Without thinking, I reached out and cupped his cheek. His breath hitched, and for a moment, neither of us moved. Then, as if drawn by an unseen force, I leaned forward, closing the space between us. Our lips met in a tender, hesitant kiss.

Time seemed to stop. His lips were warm against mine, tentative but filled with emotion. The touch was raw, vulnerable, a silent confession of everything we hadn’t said. My heart raced, a fire igniting in my chest. For a brief moment, the world outside didn’t exist. It was just the two of us, lost in each other, finding solace in a moment of chaos.

Our kiss deepened and reality clawed its way back. When we finally pulled apart, I saw the conflict in his eyes—the same yearning that mirrored my own, but also fear.

“We can’t.”
“If the captain finds out we’d both be killed.”

His words cut through the haze, and the weight of the truth settled over us. There was no future for us here, no safety in our stolen moments. He pulled away, stepping back toward the door. My hand fell from his arm, a hollow ache echoing through me as he retreated. For a moment, I sat frozen, watching him disappear into the shadows. A bitter taste filled my mouth as I realized the danger I had put us both in.



I sank back onto the bed, my body too weak to move. I knew the captain would punish me for lying here later, but at that moment I didn’t care. I let sleep claim me, though even in my dreams, I could still feel James’s lips on mine. It wasn’t long before my eyes flew open. The door swung wide.