GO! 

Jax took hold of the damp thick riggin and pulled himself up quickly, feet pushing and curling around the rope as his hands reached above him. He hadn’t thought to try hard. It would be best for the Captain to win. But something inside him changed, as was happening way too often of late.

Part of him wanted Nicki to see him succeed. He wanted her to think him capable. How silly was that? She was not a woman who would be impressed by trivial contests set to entertain. He knew that. Oh yes he knew that. Her deep eyes told him so when they scolded him, or bandaged him, or read to him. She was not the typical female that melted at some display of muscular fitness. Still. He wanted her to know, he was not a milk toast helmsman. He wanted her to see.

Yet he felt as if she, more than anyone, would understand the need for the Captain to be the winner in all these things; the affection of woman, the feets of the flesh, the best of the worst of the best. It was in Jax’s interest to be under a strong leader. He had never worried about any of that before. If he did his job, he was happy enough. But as with this whole bewitched sailing ship, this Captain was different. This crew was different. Thomas as a good leader and Jax felt an undeniable pull to support, promote and encourage a good following. He had been on crews before and he knew how delicate that balance could be. Bad men could hold ships hostage and good men could tumble through no fault of their own. Support was important.

Now that was more important then ever. Woman were on board and thoughts of kissing were out in the open. Thomas had a weak spot and that was Antonia. Oh she wasn’t helpless per say, but now there was more to any thoughts of disobeying the Captain. Anyone could blame the rouge.

So maybe Jax shouldn’t win.

Or maybe he had already. His boots were in Nicki’s cabin after all. Kissing was filling his mind as well. Not a good thing when climbing high above the beauties, trying to show best to the exciting ones below and fast fit Captain.

Stop thinking Jax scolded himself and began to just enjoy the stretch of his fingers and the curl of his toes on the hard sting of the rope. He looked forward to sitting atop the mast and sharing a drink with Thomas his Captain. He would jib the man of his romance and drink to their pleasant nights shared. And he would promise to console his mistress the ship, with gentleness and attention. But he knew his own tongue would become thick if he had to lose his end of this bet. He could not betray Nicki. His time in her cabin was more to him than the truth of a ruined shirt. Stories would have to be thought out and told. Could he lie to the Captain he sought to loyally follow?

Maybe. If that was still the real prize. He looked up to the near end of the climb and felt his breath hard and his arms strained. The wind ripped over his skin with the sting of salt and the freshness of open air. It felt good. He had offered the bet to help the strain of the Captain but as he found his way closer to the top he realized he had been selfish all along. He liked it. All of it. The Captain beside him, and Nicki holding him below.