A seagull screamed and dropped a white, messy goop onto the back of his hand. Disgusted, Dulac shook off what he could and went to wash the rest off.
Chapter 3
April 13, 1900
The Lady Seasprite
It took all of Jesse’s will not to throw the two plates of food at Rod and Dulac. She gritted her teeth, thinking the ship should have been hers. She cursed the fates for Dulac’s interception. She was tired to death of being the ship’s cabin boy. Her old captain had promised to move her into a more worthy position but had been killed before doing so. Her smile hid her animosity.
“Mr. Rod, don’t you think I’m a bit old to be playing cabin boy?”
Caught off guard, his eyes snapped to her face. He swallowed the mouthful of food and just stared at her. He rubbed his thumb absently over his jaw. Then he narrowed his eyes. “No.”
Her smile faded, and she swallowed over the bitterness swimming in her mouth. “Why not?”
“Don’t pout, boy. You’re the youngest on board. The task falls to you by default.” A mischievous gleam suddenly appeared in his dark eyes. “In fact, methinks after dinner, my boots could use a good shine and my feet a good washing.”
The color drained from her face as an image popped into her head of her kneeling before him. She clenched her teeth and lifted her chin. She never had to wash her old captain’s feet, and she’d be damned if she’d wash his. He spoke before she could open her mouth.
“On second thought, I think a bath is long overdue. Get the tub in my quarters and make sure the water is hot.”
He returned his attention to his food while her jaw dropped. Anger flaring, she could only glare at him. When Dulac cleared his throat, her focus turned on him.
“Oh, I suppose you want a bath drawn too,” she snapped, hands on her hips.
Dulac’s eyes grew wide, and he shook his head adamantly. “No thanks. I’ll tend to my own needs this trip.”
Rod glared at her. “What are you waiting for? Get to yer chores.”
“Has he even eaten?” Dulac asked, carefully avoiding her eyes.
Her stomach rumbled, and she shook her head. Dulac ordered her to go eat and then tend to her chores. She quickly scampered off with a heavy heart.
* * * *
The first mate’s quarters weren’t as big as the captain’s, but it was still quite comfortable. Jesse frowned as she dumped the last of the hot water into the tub. She handed the bucket to the cook, who shook his head in consternation.
“What?” She rolled her sleeves down, wondering if there were itching powder laying about.
“’Tis strange, is all. Mr. Rod wanting a hot bath in the middle of a voyage. How come he can’t bath in the cistern like everyone else?”
Jesse shrugged. “Not a clue. I best be fetching him.”
The door, however, flew open before she could take a step, and Rod filled the doorway. He smiled. “Ah, just what I had hoped.”
The cook slipped out of the room, and Rod stepped in Jesse’s path as she tried to follow. “You’re not going anywhere. Sit.”
She was forced to take a place on the bed as Rod took the desk chair. He pulled off his boots and tossed them at her. She caught them before they hit her in the face. She hesitated. Her lower lip poked out, but she twisted her mouth into a determined line and set about polishing them. Her cheeks grew red with embarrassment, however, as he continued to strip down to his birthday suit. She kept her eyes downcast and on her project.
“Are you still a virgin?” Amusement laced his words. He remained standing in the middle of the room, waiting for her reply. She thought her cheeks would burst into flames, and she avoided answering the question.
“Your bath is getting cold.”
His robust laughter filled the cabin. “By your reaction, I see ’tis so.”
He surprised her by kneeling at her feet, and her eyes inadvertently fell upon his manhood. She gasped and tried to scoot away. He grabbed her legs and held her firmly in place. Rod pinned her down with his body, and she fought with all she had.
“No,” she begged when her strength gave out.
He covered her mouth with his hand. “Hush.”
A single tear escaped and slid down her cheek. She saw pity in his eyes, but something she didn’t recognize quickly obscured it. He smiled down at her.
“Don’t worry,” he whispered and gave her a long, hard kiss. “I’ll not deflower you this day, my sweet.”
With that, he rolled off her and left her quivering with fear. She heard him ease into the tub, and after collecting her wits, she slowly sat up.
“May I be excused now?”
“To go where? This is where you’re to sleep.”
Jesse froze, trying not to panic.
“I need some air.” She had to push the words out of her mouth, feeling trapped and despondent.
“Wash my back,” he ordered, obviously refusing to answer her request.
Ire flared back into her soul. She pursed her lips. “Wash yer own back.”
“There’s a ship full of men who could use a bit of flesh. Shall we call attention to your God-given attributes?”
The trapped feeling pressed down even more, and her shoulders drooped. Reluctantly, she slid off the bed and did as she was bid. When the task was complete, she found herself pulled into the tub with him. She squealed, but his strong arms held her in place. Her clothes were soaked.
“Oops,” he whispered. “So much for a trip above deck.”
She hit him in the jaw, and a surge of satisfaction rolled through her at the surprise on his face. It quickly vanished when he slapped her. She covered her cheek with her hand as tears sprang to her eyes. No one had ever hit her, and she narrowed her eyes as hate filled her heart.
“Holy mother of God.”
At the sound of Dulac’s voice, Rod pulled Jesse close to him, hiding her wet shirt. She didn’t know why he even bothered as her God-given attributes couldn’t even qualify as the size of apples, and the shirt she wore was big and heavy, hiding everything quite well.
Jesse’s eyes flew to the door. Dulac stood gaping at them. His face turned bright red. Then his eyes darkened, and he flew into a rage. “Mr. Rod, whores will not be tolerated aboard ship, even if they are male.”
Jesse’s cheeks burned, and she thought at this rate, they’d be permanently stained red with embarrassment. She turned it into anger as she struggled from the tub and soon stood toe to toe with Dulac. The fact he towered over her did nothing to squelch her temper.
“You arrogant son of a dog,” she roared. “I’ve sailed since I was eight, and I’ve earned my right to be called a sailor. You call me a whore again, and you had better watch your back.”
He crossed his arms. “Are you threatening me?”
Two hands grabbed her shoulders from behind and pulled her back. “No, sir, he’s not.”
Dulac stared into her eyes. “Good, because insubordination will not be tolerated either.”
“Then don’t call me a whore.”
Rod spoke up. “Ease up, mate. He’s a virgin.”
Dulac raised an eyebrow. “I doubt that.”
Jesse shook Rod’s hands off, and before he could stop her, she punched Dulac in the chin. While it hardly phased him, it still shocked him. He looked at Rod in astonishment.
“Can’t you control the little snot?” he snarled.
Rod shrugged. “What can I say? He likes to hit.”
Dulac pointed his finger at her. “Change your clothes and meet me and Rod up on deck. I think a day or two tied to the mast will do you a world of good.”
As he left, he threw the following words over his shoulder. “And at the next port of call, we’ll drop you off.”
* * * *
Jesse refused to cry at the humiliation of having her arms hug the mast. She would be forced to stand the entirety of her punishment, and she nearly cried again as she was already exhausted. She clenched her jaw and steeled her emotions. She’d rather be
damned than beg for mercy.
“Insubordination will not be tolerated,” Dulac bellowed for the rest of the crew. “And as ye can see, this be the punishment. No one’s to even acknowledge the lad. Water shall be given at intervals, but if I see anyone talking to him, they shall suffer the same fate.”
Rod’s face appeared in front of hers, and he whispered conspiratorially. “He’s being a brute.”
“He’s being an insufferable bas—”
Rod’s hand covered her mouth before she could finish. He shook his head and kissed her forehead. “Don’t worry. It shall be over afore you know it.”
He vanished, and as the rest of the crew finished with their daily chores, Jesse watched the sun set. She shrugged to herself, thinking she had at least received a reprieve from Rod’s beck and call. She shivered and wondered how she could get out of being alone with him in the future. She had no trust in him whatsoever.
She considered asking Dulac to help her, and then it hit her that he’d probably insist she bunk elsewhere anyway. A weight lifted off her shoulders, and she gladly accepted the feeling of peace.
The colors of the sky never ceased to amaze her, even during a storm. Tonight, the dark-blue mass seemed to push the lighter blue into extinction. The setting sun made the sky’s colors scream in protest.
Her peace was broken as she suddenly remembered Dulac was going to kick her off the ship. A cold fear settled in her stomach. If that happened, what would she do?
Determination pushed aside the fear. Why, I’ll simply find another ship to sail on.
She smiled smugly. And when I get my own ship, I’m gonna hunt you down, Dulac, and repay all your kindness.
* * * *
A large drop of rain struck Jesse on her cheek, instantly rousing her from her hard-won sleep. She looked up at the dark sky, and another drop landed on her forehead. She groaned as the rain came down in torrents.
Hours passed as the rain pounded her. She was soaked to the bone and shivered uncontrollably. Her wet bangs fell into her eyes, and she made a mental note to cut her hair later.
Jesse did her best to keep her mind off the fact she was miserable. Her arms ached from lack of movement. Her legs ached from being on her feet for ten hours. She idly wondered how much longer her punishment would be.
When the rain finally stopped, the wind froze her to the bone. Then she became aware of the rise and fall of the ship as it rode the storm’s waves. She closed her eyes as nausea threatened her, having no desire to suffer the stench of that. She was miserable enough.
She had never suffered from seasickness during all her years at sea, but she’d never been tied to a mast either. ’Tis no wonder I feel like hell considering all I’ve had to face just recently.
The ship’s nose pointed high in the sky as it rode another wave. It then dipped down in speedy descent. It rolled on its side, and Jesse stared wide-eyed into the ocean on her right. The ship righted itself, but the movement proved too much. She began to retch and then succumbed to crying over her predicament. Now her clothes were smelly as well as wet.
All of a sudden, her hands were free, and she was swooped up into strong arms. As she was carried quickly across the deck, she looked up into the face of her rescuer and was shocked that it wasn’t Rod.
* * * *
Jesse stared at Dulac’s back as she buttoned up the shirt he had lent her. She was astounded he had set her free and even more so he had brought her to his own quarters. She smiled at the idea of him actually having a heart.
“You can turn around now.” Her voice shook with weakness, but her heart pitter-pattered at the look on his face as he took in her scantily clad body. His shirt hung to her knees, and as she had no pants, the rest of her legs were bared for his viewing pleasure. She pointed a finger at him.
“I am not a whore. So don’t get any ideas.”
Unconsciously, he ran his tongue over his lips, and she wondered what they would feel like pressed against her own. A sudden craving had her licking her own lips in anticipation.
“I’m sorry.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
“I had no idea it was raining.”
It dawned on her he wasn’t apologizing for calling her a whore. Her anger flared for a brief moment before she sank wearily onto the bed. She was just too tired to fight. She felt run-down, and she flopped back on the bed.
Dulac’s face appeared above her, and he actually looked concerned. His big hand covered her forehead. “A bit warm. You must be coming down with something.”
She closed her eyes, wondering why he still stayed beside her. She peeked at him when he’d been silent for too long. “Don’t you have something to do?”
The conflict in his eyes confused her, and she became acutely aware of how close he was. In fact, it was down right intimate, and she propped herself up on her elbows.
“You’re too close,” she whispered, realizing she’d made a mistake sitting up. She could smell the scent that was his alone.
Ignoring her remark, he asked, “Why’d you choose this life?”
“I didn’t. It chose me at the tender age of eight.” Her eyes misted at the thought of her father.
“What?”
“My father and I were separated in New Orleans. I was just thinking how much he must have grieved when he couldn’t find me.”
“You were close?”
She nodded. “My mother’s death drew us close. We had only each other.”
He studied her thoughtfully. “You must’ve cried buckets.”
She shrugged. “I stepped up and did what I had to do. He didn’t raise me to...no, he didn’t raise me, did he? He didn’t teach me to be a simpleton. He taught me to face my problems with courage.”
Silence fell between them as they studied each other’s face. Caught in the woozy world of sickness, she couldn’t resist touching a faint scar on his cheek. She traced it down until her fingertips touched his lips. Her heart caught in her chest as he grabbed her hand and slowly kissed the tip of each finger. The heat of his mouth went down her arm to the pit of her belly.
Dulac froze when he realized what he was doing. He dropped her hand like a hot piece of fish and practically jumped off the bed. She saw confusion in his eyes and wanted to tell him of her gender but spite kept her mouth shut. Let him suffer as I suffered in the rain.
Chapter 4
“So, Dulac, how do those fingers taste?” demanded a voice from the doorway.
Jesse’s face turned red at the sight of Rod. He had a menacing look on his face despite the light tone of his voice. Arms crossed, he leaned casually against the doorframe.
Dulac placed more distance between himself and the bed, and with a guilt-laced voice, he barked, “Don’t you know how to knock?”
“I did,” Rod replied innocently.
“Get out,” Dulac ordered.
“Not ’til you explain why you were kissing the virgin.”
Jesse’s mouth fell open. “Would you stop with the name calling?”
The two men ignored her as they stood toe-to-toe. Dulac towered over Rod. “I don’t have to explain myself to anyone.”
Jesse flopped back on the bed and pulled the covers over her head. She felt too sick to watch the battle of the bulls. The men took no notice.
“If he can’t stay in my quarters,” Rod grumbled, “he can’t stay in yours.”
“Then he can bunk with the rest of the crew.”
Rod frowned. “Contrary to what you may think, he is not a whore, and I have no intention of making him one.”
Dulac crossed his arms and sneered. “Just what are your intentions, Mr. Rod?”
He hesitated before smoothly replying, “I have a match for him in mind, and I’d like to keep him pure until he marries the...older lady.”
At that, Jesse flung back the covers and stared at Rod in anger. “The what?”
“The sea is no place for you, love. Don’t you agree, Cap’n?”
Dulac hesitated before snapping
his mouth shut. “Yes, I... yes.”
“Then if it’s all right with you, I’ll bunk with you, and he can have my quarters.”
Dulac nodded with a stunned expression. “Certainly.”
“And after our little venture, I’ll see to it he’s delivered to his future bride.” Rod stepped back from Dulac.
Jesse stared incredulously at them. “Uh, excuse me. Don’t I have any say in the matter?”
“No,” both men responded in unison.
Shakily, she got to her feet and placed her hands on her hips. “I am not marrying some land-lubber I don’t even know. Drop me off where you like, but you can forget it.”
Dulac seemed happy to acquiesce to that idea. “I think dropping you off is a splendid idea.”
Rod snorted, and when she saw she wasn’t getting anywhere, she crossed her arms and stared him down. Unfortunately, a wave of nausea hit her, and her head started to swim. She sank onto the bed.
“I don’t feel so good.”
Dulac gestured toward the door. “He needs to rest.”
She watched them leave before succumbing to her sickness, but in the back of her mind, she knew she had to escape.
* * * *
Dulac practically ran from his quarters to the ship’s bow. He grabbed the rail so tight his knuckles turned white, but he took no notice. His thoughts were in turmoil.
Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. I cannot believe I did that.
The blood coursing through his body turned to ice as he recalled kissing Jesse’s fingers. Her hand had felt so soft. Wait, his hand...dear God, I’m losing my mind.
He couldn’t help but dwell on how soft Jesse’s body had been as he carried the lad below deck. He had seen him throw up and had felt sorry for him, despite the fact he’d been responsible for the lad’s punishment. Thus, he had felt compelled to untie Jesse from the mast. He had never, however, expected the lad to melt against him. Though the lad tried to hide it, there was an air of femininity about him which could not be denied.
A Pirate's Kiss Page 3
