Chapter Seventeen

Penelope was awoken by Ruby moving in her arms.

Her grip was so tight that really it was no surprise Ruby was struggling to roll over in her sleep. Penelope groaned and opened her eyes, letting her arms loosen.

“What time is it?” Ruby asked and stifled a yawn with her hand. She then brought her wrist up close to her face, trying to read the time on her delicate wristwatch. “I think it says eleven thirty…or after it.” She frowned, an adorable pucker appearing between her brows. “It’s hard to tell for sure. Judging by how utterly exhausted I feel, it definitely hasn’t been that long since I fell asleep.”

“I think an hour at most.” Penelope brushed her nose against Ruby’s and asked, “How tired are you?”

Ruby laughed. “Is that your way of asking if I’d be up for another round?” Ruby laughed again, louder, when Penelope nodded in answer. Her hand landed on Penelope’s waist, and she shook her head. “You are adorable.”

Ruby surged forwards and sealed her lips over hers. No longer caring about having a witty retort, Penelope lost herself to the kiss. She opened her mouth and grazed Ruby’s tongue with her own as her hands pawed and grabbed her skin, eagerly pulling her closer and closer.

The hunger in her veins was so insatiable that Penelope was certain they could spend all night doing this and it still wouldn’t be enough. Though, if their stamina kept up, she was more than willing to see if there was such a thing as being sated in her lust for Ruby.

Ruby’s hand moved its way into her hair, nails scraping her scalp and tugging her forwards.

There was no way they could get any closer. Their bodies were already pressed together in a long line, thighs wedged between each other’s, ankles tangled, hands gripping, lips never breaking apart for more than a brief inhale of air.

Penelope grinned and trailed her fingers in a featherlight caress over Ruby’s side, hip and thigh as they made their way to the apex of her legs.

Just when Ruby’s thighs had fallen open, she and Penelope sprang apart with startled squeals as the ship shuddered, propelling Ruby forwards and into Penelope’s arms.

Penelope just managed to brace herself to stop them both from falling out of bed. A grating sound, like long nails being drawn down a blackboard, screamed into the silence of the night, and it made her blood run cold.

Then it was suddenly over, and the silence was all-encompassing. The only sound was their ragged breathing as they lay frozen in each other’s embrace.

Penelope’s grip was like iron around Ruby’s shoulders, her knuckles white from holding her close. Her foot was pressed into the mattress, her hip aching from the force she’d had to put behind it to stop them from tumbling from the bunk to the floor.

“Penelope…?” Ruby’s voice was weak, small, and Penelope tightened her hold even further at the sound.

Her lips found purchase on Ruby’s forehead. “I’m here.”

“What… What was that?” Ruby was trembling, and it wasn’t until Penelope loosened her grip to rub Ruby’s arm in an attempt to soothe her that she realised she was too. She kept her hand on Ruby’s arm, the motion probably comforting her more than it was comforting Ruby.

“I… I’m not sure,” Penelope answered, after a long moment. She finally felt brave enough to move, just a little, tilting her head to the side and glancing over at the door.

A few of their belongings had fallen to the floor with the shudder, but that was it. Everything still seemed to be going fine…but one sensation was missing.

She frowned, closing her eyes as she concentrated, her mind muttering a mantra of please, please, please as she hoped that she was mistaken.

She didn’t know much about ships—this was her first time aboard one—yet she had quickly adjusted to the constant motion. Even as she stood still, even though the sailing was generally smooth, there was always a hum of sorts to let her know that they were speeding through the waves.

But as she lay there, eyes closed and whispering to herself, she realised that hum had faded to almost nothing.

Ruby pushed herself upright, supporting herself on her hands even as her arms trembled with the effort. The covers fell down to her lap, and Penelope hoped that no one would walk into their room at that moment because there would be no mistaking what they had been doing.

“She’s not moving as fast,” Ruby whispered into the twilight, her gaze frantically darting around the room before returning to Penelope. Her eyes were wide with worry.

Penelope had no doubt that that panic was mirrored in her own face.

“Let’s… We’ll shove on our clothes and go and investigate. Surely we weren’t the only people who felt that? The stewards must have answers,” Penelope offered as she entwined her fingers with Ruby’s, then brought their joined hands up to her lips to press a kiss to Ruby’s knuckles.

“All right. That sounds…” Ruby trailed off with several nods, so Penelope took the initiative to slide from the bed.

Penelope gave Ruby’s hand a reassuring squeeze before dropping it so that she could fish through the disarray they had caused earlier. She found her combinations and corset with no issue. But finding her stockings proved difficult, and in the end, she decided to go without. Her skirt would cover her, and she had no doubt that they’d be told everything was fine and they could return to their rooms soon anyway.

She was quick to shove on her boots, skirt, and blouse, and then pulled her coat on over the top, just in case they had to go to the deck to find someone to get answers from.

When she was ready, Penelope turned to find Ruby shakily attempting to button her blouse, so she stepped up and took over. Her own fingers were only slightly better, and it took several fumbles before the delicate buttons were completely fastened.

Ruby then reached for her hand, her grip like iron. Penelope placed her own atop it and drew Ruby close until there was only an inch between them. “We are going to be fine. I know it.”

Ruby took a deep breath in, then released it in a long gush. “I know. It was maybe just some silly little iceberg and everything is fine.”

Penelope laughed. She cupped Ruby’s cheek with her free hand and brushed her thumb over her lips. “That’s the spirit.” She shook her head. “How am I the optimistic one? Shouldn’t I be a curled-up mess on the floor and you the one talking me down?”

Her joke worked to soothe Ruby, and her grip on Penelope’s hand started to lessen. She shrugged with one shoulder. “Sneaking aboard First Class has done you good—you’re a brand-new woman.”

Penelope snorted. “I wouldn’t go that far. Now come on. I’m already cold, and I want to get back to bed to finish what we had started.” Her smile grew seductive as she leaned forwards and pressed her lips against Ruby’s.

It was a brief yet passionate kiss, and it held the promise of more in the way she teased her tongue along Ruby’s lower lip before slowly pulling away. She grinned when Ruby trailed after her, as if she didn’t want to part.

“Then we’d best get a move on,” Ruby announced breathlessly. She tugged at Penelope’s hand, leading them both from their room and out into the corridor.