He dropped one bit of chocolate into a tin cup beside the cards. Jesse followed suit, then asked, “Hit or stand?”
He looked at his cards, then at her. “Stand.”
“Okay. I stand too.”
He flipped his down card over to reveal the King of Diamonds. “Twenty.”
She allowed herself a smile as she turned over her card. “Too bad. I’ve got Blackjack.”
The game continued without disturbance for about an hour. Jesse was up by five chips of chocolate and waited impatiently for Dulac to place his bet. He scrutinized her face before folding his cards without even betting.
“You really must work on your poker face,” he laughed.
She couldn’t stop the smile that popped up on her face. She scrunched her nose up. “Am I really that bad?”
“Yes. Don’t try to make a living gambling.”
Jesse turned her down card over. “Blackjack...again.”
“Are you cheating?”
Her smile disappeared. “I don’t cheat.”
“Okay, if you say so.”
Jesse was spared the effort of making a retaliating remark as they were interrupted by a member of the crew.
“Mind if I join you?”
The soft voice belonged to the only known female aboard ship, Bonny, who served as the boswain. She was beautiful and tall and very mean. She always reprimanded Jesse for one thing or another. It was almost as if the woman knew her true gender and tried to make her pay for it.
Jesse started to say no, but Dulac blurted out yes first. She glared at him as he shifted to make room for the very buxom pirate. Her lower lip poked out. “I’m not sharing my chocolate.”
The minute the words left her mouth, she felt petty. It was too late to take them back, however, so she lifted her chin and dared him to make a fuss. She’d be damned if she was going to let Bonny make her feel small. Why, she was every bit as tall and courageous as that woman.
“Here, you can have some of mine.” Dulac’s shoulder pressed against Bonny’s.
Jesse narrowed her eyes at Dulac as he divided his chocolate in half and handed them to Bonny. For a pirate, the woman did a good job of pretending she had manners. “Thank you. I shall repay you in kind when I get the chance. So, what’s the game?”
“Blackjack,” Jesse muttered. “For two.”
“Let’s change it up,” Dulac suggested. “Play stud, that way, we can all play.”
Jesse had a good mind to throw her cards down and stomp off. She’d rather kiss LeBlanc than play cards with the pirate whore. She’d caught the woman staring at Dulac plenty of times but had no reason to warn the woman off. Instead of throwing a hissy fit, Jesse nodded.
“Okay. Be prepared to lose all your chocolate, Dulac.”
“I’m wise to your ways now, lad. So ‘tis you that should be prepared.” Dulac’s words were for Jesse, but his eyes remained on the bosom that was almost being thrust into his face. Jesse glanced down at her own chest, and for the first time, she wished she were bigger. Then she mentally slapped herself.
Ya dolt. Then everyone would really know yer true gender.
Sourly, Jesse dealt the cards and listened to them flirt. She frowned as Bonny wiggled as close to Dulac as possible. Their knees touched, and a stab of jealousy flitted through Jesse. She tried to push it aside, but jealousy’s ugly head refused to be tamed.
She shuffled the cards, and before she could stop herself, she sent them flying in Bonny’s direction. “Oops.”
One landed between the pirate lady’s breasts, and the rest lay scattered over her legs. Cold green eyes darted Jesse’s way, and an equally cold smile flashed her way. “Boy, ya needn’t resort to trickery to get a look at my God-given attributes.”
Bonny picked the card from between her attributes and tossed it on a pile in front of her. Then, before Jesse could blink an eye, the woman grabbed her and forced her breasts in her face. She almost broke her neck in an effort to get free. Bonny laughed at her as she jumped off the roof of the galley.
“Did ya get yer fill, laddie? Seeing as how ya been looking at me all night, I figured ya could use a treat,” Bonny cackled. Then she turned her attention back to Dulac. “How ‘bout you? Would ya care for a closer look?”
Jesse’s heart burst with pain as she turned her back on them. She had no desire to hear Dulac’s answer. He’d be a lunatic not to want a closer look. Shaking with disgust, she took off to the other side of the ship and tried to wipe the memory from her mind.
Forcing herself not to visibly shiver, she instead climbed the rigging to the crow’s nest and came face to face with a lad of about fourteen. She held out her hand and shook his firmly. “Name’s Jesse. Mind if I shut my eyes here?”
“Zach.” The boy shrugged. “Fine by me.”
She hauled herself over the side and sat with her knees to her chest. She leaned her head back and looked at the dark sky. Images of Dulac taking a closer look at Bonny’s breasts flashed through her head. She growled softly and concentrated on the night sky. Fortunately, the day’s hard work soon took its hold on her, and she fell asleep.
* * * *
Dulac watched Jesse storm away and shook his head. The lad had almost had a heart attack at having Bonny’s breasts in his face. It’d been almost comical to watch the young upstart practically flip backwards off the top of the galley. Dulac wondered if he’d even had the opportunity to be with a woman.
Bonny laid her hand on Dulac’s face and forced him to look at her. She was talking, but he only heard the last word. He blinked her into focus. “What?”
“I asked if you wanted a closer peek at my God-given attributes.”
His eyes fell unbidden to the white creamy mounds pushing through the slightly un-buttoned blouse. He smiled crookedly, imaging making them jiggle. “Maybe.”
He looked in Bonny’s eyes. “Would ya be interested in my friend?”
Her mouth dropped. “The one what jus’ ran away? Hmpf, he’s more interested in you, if’n you ask me.”
Rage rose in his head, and Dulac closed his eyes to make it go away. Then he opened them slowly and smiled as seductively as he could. “I just know the woman in you can bring out the man in that boy.”
Bonny’s throaty laugh ignited a fire in him. “Oh, you certainly know how to make the pride come out in a woman, but my experience has been that once a man chooses that path, he don’t turn back easily.”
She leaned her right bosom into his arm and batted her lashes. “So why don’t we just entertain ourselves?”
Dulac looked at her bosom, then at her inviting lips. He took a glance around the deck, only to find a puny pirate staring lasciviously at them. He snarled. “What do you want?”
“Captain wants to see Bonny.”
Dulac glanced at Bonny, who shrugged and laughed. “Sorry, matey. Duty first.”
The woman jumped off the galley, and Dulac sadly watched her leave. He had been ready to prove, if only to himself, he was still a womanizer. Hopefully, the opportunity would present itself again.
Chapter 13
May 23, 1900 – Evening
Jesse leaned the mop in its corner and turned toward the skinny man standing over the stove. “Hey, Cook, need some help?”
Without sparing her a glance, he continued stirring. “Naw thanks. It’s done.”
She nodded and started to leave. “Okay.”
“Wait, ye can take the captain’s food to him.”
He handed her a tray, and she held it fast with both hands while he placed a pitcher of watered down tea and several tin cups on it. As he added three plates filled with steaming food, her stomach rumbled. The strong spices tickled her nose. I sure do love Charlie’s cooking.
Jesse carefully carried the meal down to the captain’s quarters. Jolly Jim was laughing when she entered, and she caught part of their conversation as she set out the food. This was one reason she didn’t mind serving them. She liked listening to what they were discussing.
“Wonder how long the sheik’ll last on the island wearing all those heavy robes,” one man grunted.
“Don’t know,” Jim replied. “And don’t care. Just glad to be rid of the extra baggage.”
“Amen to that,” said the other dark haired man as they clanked their tin cups together.
Jesse set the last plate down. “Anything else ye be needing?”
Jim smiled at her. “Yes, lad, I need you to go to the hold and get us some more rum. Tell whomever’s guarding it tonight that I sent ya.”
He handed her a sealed letter with his stamp on it. “Give this to him as proof ’tis I.”
“Aye, aye, cap’n.” Jesse hurried down into the ship. The passageway was well lit for the most part. There was an area that was always kept in the dark as it was close to where the gunpowder was kept. It always spooked her, and she rushed through it as images of rats biting her toes haunted her.
A few minutes later, she stood in front of the guard and handed him the letter. The boney man held it close to his face as he read it, grunted and went into the hold. She waited patiently and listened to him rummaging around. Then he was back and handed her two bottles of rum.
“Thanks,” she muttered and started back.
She was almost to the dark area when Bonny literally ran into her. The bottles clanked together, and Bonny placed her index finger over her lips. She smiled and whispered, “Don’t tell him which way I’ve gone.”
The vixen brushed past Jesse and headed toward the hold. Jesse shook her head, wondering what the buxom pirate was up to. She stepped into the dark area and stopped halfway through as a figure blocked the light at the other end of the hall. He strode purposefully toward her until he stood right in front of her.
She couldn’t see his face but knew it was Dulac. She waited for him to ask where Bonny had gone and was taken completely by surprise when he grabbed her arms and pulled her against his body.
“No more hide and seek,” Dulac whispered. “Consider yourself found, and now I get me treasure.”
Despite the darkness surrounding them, Dulac’s lips found hers like it was a magnet. The kiss was demanding and full of passionate need. His tongue swirled with hers, and she became lost to it. All the world slipped away, and he pulled her close. Her breasts pressed against his hard chest, and she wondered if he could tell they weren’t Bonny’s. At the moment, she didn’t care. His kiss had turned her world upside down, and with a bottle of rum in each hand, she wrapped her arms around his waist.
She had wanted this kiss for a long time, and even though she felt a twinge of guilt because he thought he kissed Bonny, she didn’t care. This was her stolen kiss, and she wasn’t going to let the buxom pirate take all the fun out of it for her.
Carefully, Dulac pushed her against the wall. His hands slid to her waist and found their way under her shirt. Heat flooded through Jesse when his hand touched her breast, and her body jolted against his. He kept her mouth prisoner as his hand massaged her. An ache in her groin caused her to moan softly into his mouth, and when his thumb grazed her nipple, she came undone. Her hips pushed forward, and she felt his hardness against her lower abdomen. She swung her hips around, not sure what she craved but feeling as if she’d die if she didn’t get relief.
Dulac released her and laughed huskily. “Easy, love, let’s not rut in the passageway where any bloke can stumble upon us. I’ll meet you in your quarters in half an hour, all right?”
He kissed Jesse again, and her world spun. Then he left her gasping for air as he went back the way he came. She waited as long as possible for him to go away. She didn’t want him to see her. If he did, he would know she wasn’t a boy, and she felt sure there’d be hell to pay.
* * * *
Jesse leaned against one of the masts on the forward deck. The sun was setting on the Gulf of Mexico, and seagulls played against the blue and pink sky. She touched her lips in memory of the stolen kiss. It was the best kiss she’d ever had, not that she’d had many. Too bad it wasn’t an honest kiss. Too bad it couldn’t ever be repeated.
Her mind wandered back to his caresses. Hot desire flashed through her, and she closed her eyes, struggling with the new-found emotion. She counted to ten, but before she reached it, she found herself pushed to the deck.
Then she heard the crack of a pistol. Her eyes flew open, and she stared up into the eyes of her desire. Her eyebrows drew together in confusion as she saw terror on Dulac’s face.
“What’s wrong?”
“Are you okay?” he asked at the same time.
She nodded, unable to speak as she became aware of his body on top of hers. He jumped up and extended a hand to her. Once she was on her feet, he turned to the crowd of on-lookers. He pointed at an old geezer in the crowd.
“You!” he bellowed.
“Whaaat?” the old man squeaked.
Dulac closed the space between them and grabbed the pistol out of the man’s hand. He thunked him lightly on the forehead with it. “Next time you want to shoot seagulls, try aiming at them instead of your crewmate. You almost killed the lad.”
Jesse’s blood drained out of her face. Dulac had just saved her life. Something made her look to her left, and she focused on the mast beside her. A bullet was imbedded in it. Unbelieving, she touched it, amazed at how fast it cooled. Her eyes grew wide, and she took a step back. Blood boiling, she glared at the old geezer. She hadn’t realized she had moved until Dulac blocked her path.
“Easy, lad.”
“Don’t easy lad me,” she spat. “That old coot ’bout killed me.”
“Let ’em go,” croaked the old man. “I’ll fight any one a ya’s any day, and wup yer arse ta boot.”
If Dulac hadn’t been so tall, Jesse could have stared at the old pirate over his shoulder. As it was, she was forced to lean to her left and glared past Dulac. “Well, what’s stopping ya, ya old bottom feeder?”
Dulac’s warm hands grabbed her upper arms to keep her in place. “Jess, let’s go get some dinner.”
“I’m not hungry. Besides, dontcha have some hide-n-seek to play with Miss Bunny?”
“That’s Bonny.”
She rolled her eyes and wrenched free from him. She took two steps back and pointed at the old man. “I deserve a swing at him fer taking a shot at me.”
Dulac grabbed her again and forced her to look at the old pirate. “He can barely stand, Jess. One swing would sweep him overboard.”
“Then why’s he on this ship? All crew ought to be able to hold their own in a fight,” she growled.
“I got e’ry right as you ta be here,” the old man hollered squeakily.
The African stepped in between them and raised his hands. “From now on, old man, you cannot have pistol or any ting dat might hurt someone else. The crew has my permission to disarm you if’n dey catch you.”
The old man cussed and grumbled but moved on. The crowd dispersed, leaving Dulac and Jesse alone. She turned her back on him in an attempt to ignore him.
“Don’t I even get a thanks for saving your life?” he asked.
“Thanks.” Jesse threw the words over her shoulder. She was afraid if she looked at him, she’d stare at his lips. She needed to forget those lips.
After a few minutes of silence, she sensed he was still there. She whirled around in frustration. “What?”
His eyes lifted from where he’d been staring at her behind, and she watched his cheeks grow pink beneath his stubble of beard. She didn’t pick on him about being attracted to a boy. She just wasn’t in the mood. Jesse placed her hands on her hips as she waited. He stumbled on his answer.
“I, uh, I’m going to get some grub.” He pointed over his left shoulder with his right thumb. “Hungry?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Where’s Bonny?”
He misunderstood her intentions. “Don’t worry ’bout her, lad. I let her in on your true preference.”
Jesse’s mouth fell open. “You did what?”
Dulac held up his hand. “I swore he
r to secrecy. She won’t tell. She promised.”
She wrinkled her face. “And you trust a pirate?”
He tilted his head and looked up at the sky for a few seconds as he thought about it. Then he looked her in the eye. “Good point. Sorry.”
Jesse’s stomach rumbled, and she stepped around him, shaking her head as she headed for the galley. “Let’s just hope my lips aren’t as loose as yours.”
* * * *
Jesse woke with a start. The stars twinkled above, and she wondered if they knew of the nightmare she’d just had. It was the same one she always had.
She was a little girl again and running through a crowded ship. The men parted for her as she searched for her father. Just when she thought she had found him, he would disappear into the crowd. This time, however, he stayed still but with his back to her. She grabbed his hand, and he turned to her.
“Who are you?” he growled and yanked his hand from hers.
“Father.” She smiled timidly, trying to appear brave. “I’ve found you.”
“You’re a boy,” he snarled. “I have a daughter. So be gone w’ ye, lad.”
He shoved her, and she fell overboard. Instead of landing in water, her rump hit wood. Now wide awake with the stars overhead, she sat up and rubbed her face. The spot where Dulac usually slept was empty. She rolled her eyes, but her heart panged as she thought of him in Bonny’s arms.
Sighing, she climbed back up on to the roof of the galley, laid back and flung her arm over her head. Sleep, however, was not her friend. So she counted the stars until she heard footsteps. She waited for Dulac to climb up, and when he didn’t, she bravely looked over the side and got an eyeful.
Bonny had him pressed to the wall, and their heads were together in a kiss. Jesse inhaled sharply and pulled her head back. She forced herself to lie down, but a hurtful jealousy pounded through her veins.
“The evening’s young, Dulac,” Bonny whispered. “Come sleep in my quarters.”
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