‘Tell me what you did. Tell me how you learned.’
She chuckled. ‘The way everybody learns. I was apprenticed to a spice merchant when I was very young. We all start in the temple as babies. But as soon as possible, we are apprenticed. Because I was good with numbers, I went to a merchant. At first, he only let me watch his children, but I watched the sales instead. I learned how to bargain from my master and his wife. And when he started offering his spices in the Thirteen Factory district, he brought me along as translator. His sons were terrible at it, and I…’ She grinned. ‘I was good.’
‘You loved it.’
She nodded. ‘I did. I do.’
‘So why did you leave China?’
She flushed as she looked down. ‘I’m a girl. Girls aren’t allowed in the Thirteen Factory area, much less inside the bargaining halls. There came a time when I couldn’t hide who I am anymore.’
‘But you did today.’
‘I think they knew. But since the girl does it, too…’ She shrugged.
‘So you know spices. Any other cargo?’
‘It’s all buying and selling. There are things one has to learn, but I can barter with anyone.’
He nodded. ‘I think I could study for a thousand years and not have the talent you possess.’ He leaned forwards. ‘But I still want you to teach me.’
Her breath caught. He was so close, and no one could see them past the crates even if they opened the door. She knew sheshouldn’t be here, alone and trapped behind crates with him. But for the first time in her life, she didn’t feel fear. She knew she ought to. She didn’t truly know him that well. But he had protected her and had shown her respect.
How dangerous could he be?
She lifted her head. His fingers felt wonderful as he stroked her cheek. Her breath caught, her lips tingled and she wanted such things. Dangerous things for a girl like her, and yet, she couldn’t stop herself.
So when he leaned down to take her mouth with his, she welcomed his kiss. She stretched up to him and let his tongue tease against her lips and teeth.
She knew what to do. She knew he would press his tongue into her mouth, and they would dance that way. But he took his time. He nipped at her lips while his fingers caressed down her jaw and neck.
She gasped at the feel of his fingers on her flesh. She was not in restrictive English clothing but rough sailor’s garb. Her breasts were bound, but the shirt over her bindings was loose. His fingers found the ridge of her collarbone and teased the skin just above her bindings.
Her head dropped back as she gasped for air. She had to steady herself with one hand on the wall, and all through that, he was stroking her neck and the opening above her breasts. His caress was gentle. Tantalizing, even. And when she opened her eyes, she saw such hunger in his.
‘What do you know about kissing?’ he asked as his fingers toyed with the top of her binding. She didn’t even remember her shirt falling open, but she realised that the tie at the top had come undone. And since the shirt was so much larger than her, it gaped above her breasts.
‘I have been kissed,’ she said.
His gaze shot to hers. ‘Willingly?’
She nodded.
‘Anything else?’ he asked.
She didn’t know how to answer, so he showed her. His hand brushed down over the cloth binding, rubbing her breast and her tight nipple. She gasped as she swayed on her knees. He caught her around the waist, then angled her such that his fingers kept brushing across her breast.
‘Have you ever felt that before?’
Not like that before. Not with her body pulsing with every stroke. Oh, the feelings he gave her.
‘Lucy, has anyone touched you like this before?’
She swallowed, her mind dizzy with want. ‘Yes.’ Then she looked into his eyes. ‘But then I made him stop. I know this is wrong, but I was so lonely. Grace was sailing, and…’ How could she explain that the boy had helped her, and she’d been lost. But even then, she knew she could not continue. Pregnancy would be a disaster.
‘You stopped him?’
She forced herself to grab hold of his wrist and push his hand away. Pregnancy now would be a worse disaster. ‘We cannot do more,’ she said, though the words had to be forced out.