Chapter 17

Carter turned his head towards her, but he couldn't see her well because Serena was behind him.

"On the floor, near to you, there is a metal container which has the shape of a single glass, inside you will find the bath cloth and the soap," he told her, guiding her since Serena would be doing this job for the first time.

"Okay," Serena said. She found the metal can that was leaning on the floor, and inside she found the bath cloth with the soap as he had told her. She took them in her hands, and without getting up from her seat, she found an empty spot in the bathtub next to Carter and wet the clothes, being careful not to touch him.

"Which shoulder did you hit?" she asked him gently.

"The right one," he replied.

"I asked to be careful with it." She clarified to him.

"You did well asking. I completely forgot to inform you."

Serena took the soap and rubbed it hard on the bath cloth

"I am ready," she announced when she considered that the soap suds was enough.

"Fine. You can start from my back." Carter told her and leaned forward, revealing his whole back to her eyes.

Serena had in front of her eyes, and so close to her, the Captain's back. She admired his masculinity, clearly distinguishing the muscles to be erased under the sunburned skin.

She laid her hand on his back, holding the bath cloth, and began to wash it.

Her movements were circular and gentle, paying particular attention to the Captain's aching right shoulder.

Serena thoroughly soaped his entire back, enjoying the sensation.

The only thing separating her from his back was the damn bath cloth.

"Go lower, to my waist," Carter led her.

Serena left the bath cloth and rolled up her sleeves to keep from getting wet. She took it and rubbed it again to create more soap suds.

Shortly afterward, Carter felt her touch again and felt her hand go down his waist through the water.

Her face came close to his back as she leaned forward slightly to reach his waist, and the Captain felt her warm breath over him.

Serena was focused on carrying out the instruction correctly, so she didn't notice that her braids fell forward, caressing his back gently. He closed his eyes, enjoying the moment biting his lower lip to hold a groan that was about to escape from his mouth.

"Okay, Captain. What about next?" she asked him when she finished and straightened her body.

"My arms, please," he told her.

"Yes, captain."

She rinsed the cloth and renewed its soap suds by rubbing the soap on it. Then holding it, she rested her hand on his right shoulder and dragged it along his arm.

She didn't calculate it correctly, and in her attempt to reach the end of his hand, her breasts rested on his back.

It only lasted a moment because Serena realized it immediately and pulled back sharply, but it was enough to get the groan out of his mouth finally.

Serena widened her eyes. What was that? From the contact, or had it hurt him by mistake? She was confused.

"It's nothing, a sudden pain in my shoulder," Carter lied to her.

Serena believed him and breathed a sigh of relief. She thought that probably the Captain in his pain wouldn't notice their contact.

"I am sorry, Captain. I didn't want to hurt you." She stuttered.

"Don't worry, I'm fine, the pain is gone now, you can go on."

Serena approached her hand with the cloth and soap, his hand following the same way, but this time - to the great disappointment of the Captain - she was careful not to touch him.

"Okay, Captain. I finished with your hands. I hope you are not wanting to go any further." Serena continued in a trembling voice.

Carter laughed softly. "No, don't worry. I will do it myself. As long I don't have to raise my hand I will be fine. But you have to wash my hair too. You will find water in those buckets," he told her and showed her "as for washing my hair afterward, somewhere near the stool where you are sitting, you will find the grated soap."

"Okay, Captain," she said and headed to the buckets. She took one and brought it close to her stool. Carter tilted his head back slightly to make it easier for her. She filled the can and wet his hair.

"In any case, it's weird," he began to tell her when Serena finished wetting his hair.

"I feel like this is the first time you help someone to take a bath. Didn't you help your master?" He asked her while Serena had taken the grated soap in her handful and sprinkled it with water.

Serena lost her tongue for a moment. The fact that Carter wasn't looking at her helped her get over it quickly and answer him in a steady voice.

"Of course not, Captain. Lady provided to him whatever help he needed. But I was helping Lady take her bath. And I am still helping her here on the boat. But this is different. We are both women. "

"Yes, I understand. You are right."

"Okay, Captain, the soap suds is ready," she told him.

"Fine. Start then because the water has started to cool down."

Serena responded with her move. She plunged both her hands into his black hair, sending a shiver down his spine.

At first, her hands trembled slightly at the direct contact of her hands and the Captain's hair. Now there was no bath cloth to separate them.

She felt their incredible softness and her movements methodically became circular, soaping the entire scalp.

Carter was enjoying her touch when he suddenly remembered his primary goal.

Getting information about Ian and Serena.

Her touch made him forget everything. But fortunately, there was still time.

He had to ask, but at the same time without raising suspicions.

"Anyway, I'm glad you started companionship with the men on the boat and you are not alone. Especially now that Alma is stuck in bed and you can't see her at all," he began to tell her carefully.

"Yes, indeed," she replied cheerfully, "I have no complaint. Everyone treats me very well. They are all very good guys. You made a good choice when you chose them to be your ship's crew."

"I suppose Lucas behaves you better than the others. I have seen you talk together several times. Or that were chance meetings and it is not what I guess?"

For a moment, Serena stopped rubbing his hair. "The truth is that yes, I hang out a little more with Lucas than with the other men. Maybe because his age is close to mine. He makes me feel at ease every time we meet each other." she told him and took water from the bucket to rinse his hair.

"I would like you to wash my hair again, please," he told her to spend more time with her and finish their talk.

"Okay, captain," the girl replied, retaking the grated soap.

"Is that all? The close age? Or is it something more? Have you considered this possibility? "

Serena put her hands in his hair, gently massaging his head while at the same time thinking about the question he had asked her.

"If that happened then would there be a problem?" he asked him.

"No, there would be no problem," he replied so as not to make her afraid and tell him the truth.

"I feel very good when we are together. We are having a good time. But no I don't think there is something more. I see him as my friend or as my brother I never had."

Carter smiled contentedly and was relieved.

He had finally learned what he wanted!

"I'm glad that through Lucas your work on the boat became more enjoyable."

Serena didn't know what to answer and said a simple thank you.

He took water and rinsed his hair again.

"Okay, Captain, you are ready," she told him and left the can on the floor. "Can I leave now?"

"Yes, but before you go, can you bring near me the other bucket of water first?"

"Yes, of course," she replied and headed there willingly.

As she returned to the bathtub carrying the bucket, she noticed that the Captain's eyes were glued to her… breasts? What the hell? He has never done that before.

Carter turned his face taking his gaze away from her.

"Forgive me, Serena," he apologized, "Go, you can leave."

Serena bowed her head to see what was happening and then noticed that the white shirt she wore had gotten partly wet and glued to her body, revealing a part of her breast underneath of it.

Her eyes opened wide, she shrieked, letting the bucket fall from her hand. She covered her chest with her hands and ran out of the cabin.

Carter rested his forehead on his hand, disheartened.

After that happened, he felt like losing ground on her.

That should not have happened.

How on earth would he fix that?