Jack’s face broke into a grin as he grabbed her and pulled her under the water with him before surfacing and gasping for breath.

"Say that again," he said as she bobbed up beside him. "I thought I heard you say that you would marry me, was I mistaken?"  

"Quit dunking me," she said with a gasp to get her breath. "I said yes. So what are you going to do about it, Aubrey?"

He went under the water again, grabbed her knees and slung her over his shoulder. With her fists drumming on his back he steered them back to the rope ladder which was slung over the deck.

Letting her go he pulled her into a wet passionate kiss.......... When he finally released her he grinned again. "Climb the ladder Madam, let me watch that fascinating behind of yours and then I will show you what an English sailor does to celebrate his forthcoming nuptials..."   

"Fascinating behind?" she queried. "I've never heard it described that way before but there's always a first time. As for the ritual of an English sailor, perhaps we could trade battle stories. Yank Marines have traditions too you know."

Sticking her tongue out at him she whipped her head around and began her ascent up the ladder, grumbling all the way about how her now saturated clothing hindered her from doing it gracefully.

When she was halfway up he started after her taking great delight in putting one of his large hands on her left buttock to assist her progress.

"I am in favour of tradition madam, one in particular."

Breaching the deck she turned to sit on her well handled butt before dropping a hand to help him up. "So you're going to make love to me, huh?"

Wriggling her fingers, she raised a brow. "Trust me?"

"I trust you implicitly Siren but no making love, not until after we are wed.  A chaste engagement with a lot of hand holding and gazing into each other's eyes methinks."

Withdrawing her hand, she smoothed her hair back. "Tell me the truth now, do you believe in long engagements?"

"Why of course. We shall make the announcement of our engagement, I shall buy you a ring and then in two or maybe three years we shall be married. How does that sound to you?"

"Sounds like you should buy me something to keep in my sock drawer too. A woman has her needs you know."

When he was up on deck and standing in front of her she looked him up and down. With a wry smile she dropped her hands to his thighs, touching lightly with the tips of her fingers.  "Can we kiss or would that be out of bounds?"

"We can kiss but we should stand at least at least six inches apart and I need to ask you to remove your hands my love. We are now an engaged couple and we should behave with propriety. What is it you would have for your sock drawer, a nice romantic novelette or a long involved story to bore you to sleep?" 

This was an interesting game. She knew he knew what she was talking about. Now it would become a game as to who could hold out longer. Her confidence was high.

She drew her hands away and raised them in mock defeat. "Very well my dear betrothed. Now, can I fix something for you to eat? Not sure what you have stocked in the galley right now but I'd bet there were oysters, some asparagus, champagne. What are you craving?" Her eyes were trained on him and in full seductive mode.

"I crave you Siren, I have since the moment I met you but now we are betrothed... What say you to water cheese and bread? That should keep us out of harm."  

"Man does not live by bread alone, Jack. I reckon a little cheese will make it more palatable."

Shaking her head she reached her hand to him. "C'mon. I'll give you whatever you crave whenever you crave it. You call the shots. You can wear the pants in the family."

Looking down at his breeches, she dropped her hand again. Then with a giggle, she unzipped, unsnapped and wiggled out of her wet jeans. "I'll just walk around in my pretty little panties...now about that cheese sarnie..."

He grabbed her wrist. "Damn it all woman, do you want to drive me insane?"

He led the way to the great cabin where he opened a drawer and pulled out a copy of the bible. "I am the Captain of this vessel and as such am allowed to join any persons who desire to enter into the state of matrimony.  I do not remember ever reading that the Captain cannot marry himself, well not himself but himself and another well not another exactly but the woman he loves. Bridgid I will marry you in any ceremony of your choice with as many witnesses as there are stars in the heavens but, let us have our own form of ceremony this night. Say yes my love, there is not a moment to loose before I explode."  

"Yes"