Through the blackness permeating steerage, his senses honed in on the whimpering of a child, the healthy suckles of the Donovans’ newborn babe, heavy snoring, and the slap of waves still rocking the ship.

It was clear most of the passengers were asleep, likely having only recently fallen into an exhausted slumber after the harrowing night. Joseph couldn’t go anywhere yet, not without disturbing and waking the others. Besides, it would still be some time before the sailors opened the hatches and allowed anyone on deck. Even so, he couldn’t in good conscience continue to lie on the bed with Mercy.

Her hand slid from his shoulder down to his rib cage. The trail left fire on his skin. But her even breathing near his neck told him she was resting peacefully, that she wasn’t aware she’d moved her hand and was touching him with such familiarity.

Throughout the long night, she hadn’t done a single thing to encourage his ardor. The problem was, she didn’t need to do anything for his desires to flare to life. His body reacted to her whether he wanted it to or not.

Thankfully, the severity of the storm and their hours of talking had helped keep his mind off her nearness. She’d told him stories of her childhood, her antics with Patience, her love for her other siblings, the care she’d given to so many children and families in her neighborhood.

He’d shared too. But after revealing the depth of his pain regarding his family, he’d stayed away from talking about them again and was grateful she hadn’t pressed him. She’d seemed content to hear his descriptions of India, China, and other exotic places he’d visited.

The truth was, he liked Mercy, perhaps more than he’d liked any woman in a very long time. But if he hoped to guard not only his integrity but also her innocence, he had to put distance between them. She was clearly naïve in the ways of men and much too trusting. And he couldn’t bear to think what might have happened if she’d ended up down in steerage by herself or with another man who might have sorely misused her.

He’d need to warn her to be more careful.

Gently he tried to ease his arm out from underneath her. But she shifted her hand again, this time slipping it around to his back. As before, her merest touch set his skin on fire like sparks from a flint.

He squeezed his eyes closed as if by doing so he could snuff out his body’s reaction to her.

“Joseph?” she whispered drowsily.

The sound of his given name on her lips did nothing to ease the low burning inside him.

“Are we saved?” she asked.

“I believe so.” His voice came out hoarse and pained. He needed to move away from her without delay.