Jewel's Gems (The Red Petticoat Saloon)

by Maggie Ryan

  “Stop squirming,” the man behind her said. “I agree with my mate. All our naughty little lady needs is a bit of encouragement.” Another sway of the ship had her hips rolling and his palm connecting again and then again as he gave his own groan and a few firm pushes until his pelvis slapped up against her behind. “That’s much better,” he said, giving her a hearty swat against each globe before he began to move his hips. “Nothing is better than sinking deep in a woman’s back door. It’s as close as I’ll ever get to wearing velvet.” He and his friend chuckled as hips moved back and forth, thrusting with gusto, filling the woman at both ends.

  It wasn’t long before the woman’s efforts and the continued comments about how tight, how hot and how great it felt to be buried in a woman’s arse brought the man at the head of the cot to his end. Juliette watched his back arch and his face contort as he cried out and ejaculated, keeping the woman’s head pressed against his groin with fingers twisted in her hair. Though she’d received seed in her own mouth, she’d never witnessed the jerking of hips or the combination of what seemed to be both pain and pleasure on a man’s face as he emptied himself.

  The woman was gasping for air when he finally pulled free and yet managed to speak. “Spanking will cost you extra! I never agreed to have my bottom heated!”

  “No, just fucked!” The men laughed as they said the same words at the same time. The woman gave a sharp squeal as she found both men’s palms connecting with her already pink globes.

  “If you want our coin, you’ll work that arse of yours to bring my mate off.”

  Juliette didn’t take a breath as she watched both men continue to spank the woman. Sounds of palms meeting flesh fought with the sounds of the sex growing more frantic as the woman began to rock back and forth, her bottom slamming into the man’s pelvis as he took… no, as he fucked her in a place Juliette had never considered. When the man who’d spilled himself between her lips began to give light slaps to the woman’s swaying breasts, Juliette gasped. Surely, that hurt far more than any spanking. When the woman arched her back and moaned, Juliette didn’t know if it was a sound of pleasure or pain. The question was answered when the man behind her hauled her up onto her knees, thrusting up into her as she arched her back, offering her breasts to the other man.

  “She likes her titties spanked,” the man said, reaching to pull on a nipple that Juliette could see protruding from the dusky areola surrounding it. “God, hurry up, man. I’m gonna need another round.”

  “That’ll cost you more,” the woman gasped and then evidently couldn’t think of anything but the pleasure she was receiving. “Yes, oh, God, harder, please, I’m about to come.”

  “Me too,” the man sinking into her bowels growled. “Come now. I want to feel your ass grip my cock.”

  Juliette watched as the man increased his use of the woman and listened to her pleasure in that use. With the woman’s scream of her climax, Juliette felt moisture sliding down her thigh. Veins became prominent in the man’s neck as he threw his head back and roared with his release. The primal sound had Juliette sure she herself would soon spend without a single touch. She wasn’t aware of having made a sound until she saw the woman’s eyes on her. When the woman actually winked, Juliette turned and ran back the way she’d come, not daring to let her eyes stray from the door she saw in the distance. Cursing at herself for latching it, she finally flung it open and stumbled across the threshold. Her speed didn’t slow until she had climbed flights of narrow stairs to reach the deck. She rushed to the rail, drawing in deep breaths of air until she felt her heartbeat gradually slowing from its gallop. Her mind seemed incapable of not replaying the erotic scene again and again as her body was reminding her how wonderful, how much pleasure could be found in acts that were considered nothing but utterly disgusting by many.

  “Lady Gardner?”

  Giving a squeal as she whipped around, it took a moment to recognize the person.

  “I didn’t mean to startle you, milady,” Mabel said. “I’ve been looking for you. Are you all right, Miss?”

  “I’m fine, Mabel. I was just enjoying a bit of fresh air.” As if demonstrating, she took several more deeps breaths. She didn’t truly need the infusion of sea air as much as she needed the time to further calm her racing heart. For a moment, she’d thought she’d been followed onto the deck by one of those in the room. It had been a huge relief to hear Mabel’s question of concern rather than a voice accusing her of voyeurism of which her guilt was unquestionable.

  “Your grandmother is preparing for bed and I know you like to spend a bit of time reading to her.”

  “Thank you, Mabel. I’ll be there in just a moment. I think I’ll ask for a pot of tea first.”

  “We had the same thought. I’ve just come from asking to have a tray delivered. I’m sure Lady Forrester will appreciate a cup.”

  Pushing herself away from the rail, Juliette followed the maid, praying she’d be able to read without her grandmother wondering why she sounded a bit breathless.

  ***

  Juliette forced herself not to squirm in her chair as she closed the book. Looking towards the bed, she saw that her grandmother’s eyes had closed. She stood and made sure she had her sea legs under her before bending forward and placing a kiss on her cheek.

  “I love you so much, Gram,” she whispered, tucking the blanket around the woman who had done nothing but assure her that she was loved. “Sweet dreams.”

  Her cabin was directly across the corridor. She’d been expecting to share one but her grandmother had been as honest as always. “Heavens, child, I don’t wish you running down the planks the moment we land to get away from me. I love you dearly but we both need our own space, especially on such a lengthy voyage.”

  When she’d attempted to pay for her own passage, the older woman had grinned. “No need, my dear. I’m sure that as anxious as your father was to rid himself of me, he didn’t dare attempt to scrimp on comfort.” Neither woman voiced the thought that he’d have placed his daughter among those in steerage if he’d been brave enough.

  Opening the door, she couldn’t help but compare the cabin with the one she’d just discovered. The double bed didn’t dwarf the room. Even with the large armoire, desk and chair, washstand and chaise, there was plenty of room to move about. Lamps were necessary at night to provide light, but during the day, the two portholes provided not only a view but allowed light to flood inside. Located as it was deep within the ship, the crew’s cabins did not have any light source other than the sconces on the wall. This time when Mabel appeared, she managed not to squeal.

  “Is she asleep?”

  Juliette nodded. “Yes, I’m not sure when she drifted off but she didn’t so much as stir when I’d finished the chapter.”

  “I don’t see how she manages to sleep so deeply,” Mabel said as she began to help Juliette out of her clothing. “With this constant movement, I feel as if I’m on a swing.” Her point was proven when they both stumbled a bit when the ship rolled. Despite the sway, she managed to pull a nightgown over Juliette’s head and remove the pins holding her hair in place. A hundred strokes of the brush assured her golden locks were smooth before Mabel quickly plaited it to keep it untangled during sleep.

  “I’ll be glad when we reach New Orleans,” Mable stated, gripping a chair to brace herself as Juliette fell onto her bed in a rather unladylike manner.

  “I just hope I remember how to walk without a rolling gait,” Juliette said, slipping beneath the covers.

  “Good night, milady,” Mabel said, moving towards the lamp.

  “Leave it,” Juliette requested. “I might read a bit as I’m not yet ready to sleep. Once the maid had left, Juliette reached for the book she’d set onto the small table beside the bed. She opened it and did not read further. Instead, she flipped back several pages and began to reread passages she’d read to her grandmother. As she devoured the words, she felt her body tingling and growing uncomfortably warm. Her attempt to find relief
by throwing back the covers didn’t work. Looking towards the door, she blushed at how she’d never really considered what happened behind closed doors.

  Putting the book back onto the table, she climbed from the bed to extinguish the lamp. Moonlight provided illumination through the porthole; the beams bouncing a bit as the ship moved through the ocean. With a sigh, she climbed back into bed and rolled onto her side but sleep eluded her as her mind churned, considering what she’d seen.

  She just couldn’t imagine why God would have created men and women to fit so perfectly together or to be built for pleasure if he’d not intended them to pursue that pleasure. Something that brought so much pleasure to two… or three people, couldn’t be so very wrong, could it? After all, life was hard enough without being able to seek comfort with another, right? The little imp sitting on her shoulder whispered that it didn’t take even two to find pleasure.

  Moving onto her back, she slipped a hand beneath the sheet and ran her palm across breasts that felt heavy. Pulling at the ribbons that held her bodice closed, she shivered as she pushed the fabric apart and exposed her breasts. Fingers moved to pluck at nipples that had instantly peaked. Her back arched and her rush of desire ran through her as she pulled each bud, giving them a twist much gentler than the ones she’d witnessed.

  “Oh, God,” she moaned as she felt her loins moisten. One hand continued to pluck and tweak as her other pulled her gown up to her waist before moving to run through the golden curls at the apex of her thighs. Her imagination fueled by the scene below deck, she slid her right hand lower, encountering her own slickness.

  “You are so naughty,” she whispered. “Proper ladies do not play with themselves.” Running a fingertip over the throbbing little bundle of nerves, she groaned, her nipples tightening further as a jolt of fire surged through her. “But then, you aren’t a proper young lady are you?” Giving a giggle, she spread her legs further apart to allow easier access to the part of her that was demanding attention. Her eyes closed as she moved her fingers lower until she had spread the lips of her labia apart and then she moaned louder as she slipped a finger inside her quim. Her breathing grew ragged, both hands moving as if knowing exactly where to touch, when to caress softly and when to pinch, tug, stroke or push. Pulling her finger from her sheath, she bit her lip, the imp encouraging her to experiment. Dropping her hand a bit, she gasped as her fingertip ran across the small area between her quim and her bottom-hole. Dare she? Biting her bottom lip and spreading her legs further, she allowed her finger to drift further south until she could feel the tiny, wrinkled opening between her nether cheeks. Her nipples seemed to turn into diamonds as she allowed her finger to rub against the crinkled skin and she felt her entire body spasm as she pressed just the tiniest bit inside the most intimate part of her body.

  Pushing a bit further, she moaned and squirmed; it was the most alien idea she’d ever had, and yet she couldn’t deny the sensation her finger was drawing from her body. Plucking her nipple harder, she jerked and pressed her finger a bit further inside her bottom until she gasped at the burn. Too afraid to go further as the sting was sharp, she removed her finger and shook her head. No, it was simply impossible—she’d never understand how that woman had managed to take a man’s cock—and quite a long one at that—into such a tight, forbidden place.

  As the scene bloomed again in her mind’s eye, she joined two fingers together and slid them inside the opening she knew could accommodate much larger things. As she moved them in and out of her slick quim, she felt the delicious coiling inside building until she was biting her tongue in an attempt to keep her moans to a minimum. Anxious to topple over the edge and yet not wishing to hurry the process, she took herself to the edge again and again until she could no longer deny the release every cell in her body demanded. Abandoning her breasts where her nipples were swollen from her tugging and twisting, she soon had fingers of one hand circling her clitoris while three fingers of her other hand pushed in and out of her pussy. She’d pulled her knees up to her bottom and planted the soles of her feet flat on the bed as her hips rocked in the ancient act of mating.

  “Yes, oh, God, yes.” Her whimper wasn’t loud enough to cover the slick sounds of her fingers working separately and yet in perfect synchronization until her bottom lifted from the bed as she erupted into a glorious climax. She could feel the walls of her cunny spasm, gripping her fingers and could imagine how wonderful a man would think it was to have such contractions tightening and loosening around his pumping cock. A second culmination had her swearing she could see stars joining the moonlight in her cabin as she snapped her knees together, trapping and stilling her hands. Both thighs were slick with her cream and as she gasped and lowered her trembling legs, she realized they weren’t the only things she’d dampened. The sheet beneath her had a definite wet spot.

  “You should be ashamed of yourself, young lady,” she softly chided as she pushed down her gown and turned onto her side. Finding it too tiring to consider how she’d explain the state of her sheets if the evidence of her naughtiness hadn’t disappeared by morning, she vowed to make up the bed herself. A little domestic work was not the penance she’d normally paid for such pleasure but she just couldn’t imagine how she’d manage to give herself a spanking. It was with a giggle that she thanked the author of Jane Eyre for writing such a scene. Closing her eyes, she wondered if something was seriously wrong with her. What should have had her recoiling in disgust or at least flinching in sympathy at the scene of a young woman being birched, had instead had her squirming on her chair. Discipline was supposed to deter a woman from misbehavior. A spanking was supposed to have a bottom clenching in fear. Having a hot, tender bottom was not supposed to have her quim moistening nor her stomach fluttering. Deciding the subject was far too complicated to contemplate, especially when she felt so languid, she allowed the swaying of the ship to rock her into a deep, peaceful sleep.

  Chapter Six

  The seas were calmer the next day as Juliette linked her arm with her grandmother’s while they took a slow stroll, pausing to stand at the rail.

  “Are you sure you’re warm enough?” Juliette asked. “The wind is not anywhere near as strong as it has been but it’s still blowing.”

  “I’m fine. I encourage you to enjoy the sea air while you can, my dear.”

  “Isn’t New Orleans on the coast, Gram?”

  “Yes, but, well, imagine an arc.” Willamina used her hands to demonstrate, drawing a map in the air. “The Gulf of Mexico is very large with Texas on one side and Florida on the other. Louisiana is at the center of the top of the arc, and the port of New Orleans is here.” Juliette smiled when a gloved finger stabbed at a spot in the air. “The city is quite fascinating, a mixture of different cultures and people. With your love of exploration, I’m sure you’ll be quite intrigued with everything. However, the weather can be quite unpleasant, especially in the summer.” Sighing, she lifted her chin to allow the wind to ruffle the lace around the edge of her hat. “The heat and humidity can be oppressive. Some days, it can feel as if you are attempting to breathe a combination of air and water.”

  “With all the fish we’ve eaten, I won’t be surprised to wake up and discover I’ve grown gills,” Juliette teased.

  Willamina laughed and slipped her arm back into her granddaughter’s. “It never hurts to have options. You’ll find the fare in Louisiana to be quite varied. My mouth is practically watering for a big bowl of gumbo. George’s cook is truly an artist. Her red beans and rice rival any found at the finest hotels.” Juliette smiled as her grandmother smacked her lips. “It will be a few days until we arrive but we have been invited to dine at Captain Hewitt’s table tonight. What do you want to bet that we’ll be offered something other than fish?”

  “Even though I’m still a bit naïve about gambling, I know enough not to bluff when I’m positive of the outcome. I’m afraid we’ll be taking yet another fish from the sea.”

  The women spent another few minutes o
n deck before returning to their rooms to dress for dinner. Mabel moved from room to room, never seeming to tire at assuring both her ladies looked their best.

  Upon entering the dining room, Mabel’s efforts were rewarded when Captain Hewitt stood and gave them a low bow. “I’m a very lucky man,” he said, straightening and offering an arm to each of them. “Beautiful women at my table does wonders for my appetite.”

  They were seated at a round table and offered a glass of wine. Juliette couldn’t help but compare this room and the table settings with those she’d seen below. Lifting her glass, she took a sip of the white wine, finding it delicious but feeling a bit guilty knowing her friends in steerage would be having water or weak tea to wash down their meal. As her glass was refilled, she turned to the captain.

  “Captain, my grandmother tells me that we are close to our destination.”

  “Yes, very close, Lady Gardner. In fact, if you’ll look at the water tomorrow, you shall be able to observe the distance we’ve yet to cover.” He went on to explain how the waters in the Gulf were brown vs. the greens and blues she’d seen throughout the voyage. “The Mississippi River is the longest in America and empties into the Gulf. It brings along silt which colors the waters.”

  “Sorry we are late.” The voice had Juliette lifting her eyes as Captain Hewitt stood.

  “No apology is needed, Mr. Bingham,” he assured the man. “Not when you bring two more beauties to grace my table.”

  Juliette watched as Mr. Bingham seated his companions. One had hair the color of chestnuts, the brown strands twisted into an elegant chignon. The other’s was the color of the night with several curls left to hang from the bun at the nape of her neck to lay against very pale shoulders that were bare. Both women wore clothing that was a bit more revealing than normally worn at dinner but Juliette had to admit, they were lovely. She’d seen the three several times throughout the journey but had yet to formally meet them. With the captain making the introductions, she learned that Ophelia was the brunette and her sister was Amelia. More wine was poured before servers began to place dinner on the table, the fare covered by silver domes. Once they’d all been served, Juliette looked across the table to see her grandmother grin. She fought back a giggle remembering the wager. The two lifted the domes at the same time and it was even harder not to laugh when she heard a soft moan.