The Sea Hawk (15 page)

Julia smiled when she saw Simone take Joaquin's hand and walk with him to an area not crowded with drunken crewmen. Julia observed them as Simone spoke to the boy briefly. Placing his hands in the proper position, more or less, she slowly took him through the simple steps of a slow dance, smiling down at him as his face became a mask of concentration. Several times he stopped to regain the beat of the music. Simone was the epitome of patience, periodically offering words of encouragement and praise. By the second dance, he would be the hit of the dance floor among the tenyear-old set, Julia thought.

Well after dark, as Julia chatted with Kitty and Anton, their conversation stopped when there was a change in the music. The sound of drums, guitars, and concertinas began a pulsating, sultry tune. Kitty caught Julia's attention and pointed to the far side of the fire. Julia's mouth fell open as she watched Esperanza dancing alone, her body moving erotically with the driving pulse of the music.
What the hell is she doing?
Julia thought. She blinked, but couldn't take her eyes off Esperanza's undulations, her body becoming an offering. The movements were more than suggestive. They were a prelude to sex. It was the most sexually inviting dance Julia had ever seen. She scanned the others sitting around the fire. Esperanza had everyone's undivided attention, but it quickly became obvious the dance was intended for only one person. Simone's eyes followed Esperanza appreciatively and a knowing smile teased the corners of her mouth. By the time the music ended, even Julia was considering jumping Esperanza's body. Glancing at Kitty for a moment, she noticed the Irish woman was blushing even though she, too, was unable to look away. Esperanza's chest rose and fell as she extended a hand down to Simone. Taking it, Simone stood and drew Esperanza to her, kissing her lightly. They exchanged a few words before Simone returned to her seat.

"God!" Kitty breathed. "How did her body do that? Her hips must surely be double-jointed!"

"You may dance for me in such a way anytime you wish, my dear," Anton chuckled.

"I...I...," Kitty attempted as her cheeks reddened, bringing laughter from both Julia and Anton as the redhead fanned her face with her hand.

In the midst of their laughter Joaquin sat down next to Julia and folded his legs in front of him. Smiling up at her as she brought her arm around his shoulders and hugged him affectionately, he handed her a tankard. "What is this?" she asked as she took it.

"Rum, of course," he laughed. "It is mixed with a fruit of some kind."

"Have you been drinking rum, Joaquin?" Julia frowned.

"No.
Faucon
says I am yet too young," he said.

"Well, in this case,
Faucon
is right," Julia said.

Leaning closer to her, he whispered conspiratorially, "But I took a very small sip."

Julia couldn't suppress a laugh at the unrepressed mischief in the boy's dark eyes as she brought the drink to her lips. She could hold her liquor well and was surprised by how sweet the drink was. "This is very good, Joaquin. Thank you," she said as she took another deep drink.

By the time Julia finished her drink she felt much more relaxed. She closed her eyes and listened to the music and smiled. When she opened her eyes a few moments later everything around her seemed sharper, clearer. She shook her head and wondered what kind of fruit was mixed with the rum. Her skin prickled and she felt suddenly quite warm. Maybe she couldn't hold her liquor as well as she thought she could.
Perhaps rum in this time period is stronger than the rum I'm accustomed to.

The musicians began a slow pounding rhythm that seemed to match the beating of Julia's heart. She began to feel too warm and untied the fabric around the neck of her blouse to cool off. Across the fire circle, Simone was engaged in an animated conversation with Laffite, who was seated next to her. Julia couldn't force her eyes away from Simone's smile and rose to her feet. Walking slowly around the edge of the celebrants, the sand warm beneath her bare feet, she stopped in front of Simone. She was inexplicably overcome with the desire to please her. Her body began swaying in its own provocative dance to the driving pulse of the music. She looked down at Simone's face, her beautiful face, framed by hair the color of midnight, golden eyes taking her in. Holding a hand out, Julia beckoned Simone to join her. Julia never took her eyes off the captain's beautiful face as she rose, seemingly moving in slow motion. When Simone stood, Julia circled her, bringing their bodies closer. She felt the heat radiating from Simone's body, inhaled her changing scent as her body reacted to Julia's dance. Running her hands through her short hair, Julia felt completely uninhibited while still knowing this was something she would never ordinarily do, not even in her most erotic dreams.

Turning her back to Simone, Julia pressed against her, hips swaying seductively with the music. Simone placed her hands lightly on Julia's shoulders and slowly drifted them down her arms. Julia wanted more of her touch. She wanted Simone. Reaching behind her, she pulled Simone as close as possible. Hot breath grazed her ear and neck as she raised a hand over her head, drawing Simone's head down. She felt the skin of her neck ignite as Simone's lips made contact. Spinning to reverse their positions, Julia pressed her body against Simone's back and slipped her hands around her waist and teased her way up Simone's sides and over her chest. Feeling firm breasts beneath her hands inflamed Julia's passion and desire to the point of painfulness.

The music faded away and Simone turned to face Julia, both of them aroused and breathing heavily. Julia brought her hand up and stroked the side of Simone's face with her fingertips. Then she pulled her hand away and stared at it. Simone tilted Julia's chin up, their mouths close enough for their breath to intermingle. A frown flickered across Simone's face when she saw the desire in Julia's eyes. As Julia clung to her, Simone scooped her into her arms and carried her up the rise toward her tent, followed by the stares and knowing smiles of her crew.

SIMONE WAS FURIOUS realizing what had caused Julia's sudden affectionate behavior. She would deal with Esperanza the following morning. She gently laid Julia on the cot in her tent and watched the rise and fall of her breasts. It would be so simple to succumb to the offering before her. Esperanza was right. She did want Julia. She wanted to feel the lushness of her body against her own, its softness beneath her fingers. But not in this manner. She turned her eyes away, unable to look at the enticing woman any longer. A warm hand grabbed hers.

"Simone," Julia breathed. "My body burns for you. Please."

Simone smiled down at Julia. "You have a fever. It will be gone soon. You must rest now."

Julia sat up, swung her feet off the cot and stood. She stared into Simone's eyes as she moved closer, her hand stroking over the captain's chest. "I know you want me," she said, her voice husky with desire. "My God, you are so beautiful," she continued, her fingers making their way along Simone's waist.

"I cannot deny my feelings, but..."

"Then why do you hesitate? Do you not find me desirable?" Julia lower lip stuck out in a teasing pout.

Simone felt herself weakening as Julia drew her closer. She wanted to feel Julia's touch. She ached with desire as she took Julia's face between her hands and kissed her cheeks. It would be so easy to have what she couldn't get out of her mind.

"Captain Moreau?" Kitty's voice said from outside the tent.

Simone gently drew away from Julia. "You are not yourself,
Mademoiselle
. Please lie down." She took in a ragged breath and turned away.

She was certain her face was flushed as she pushed the flap of the tent open. "
Mademoiselle
Longmire," she acknowledged, her voice hoarse. "
Mademoiselle
Blanchard is not herself. May I ask you to see to her? I am returning to my ship for the evening. We leave soon."

"Captain," Kitty said as Simone stepped by her to leave.

"Yes,
Mademoiselle
," Simone answered without turning around.

"I...I am aware of your sexual proclivities, but I can assure you Miss Blanchard does not share them." Simone turned to stare at her. From the look on her face Kitty must have known she had overstepped her boundaries and was prepared for the repercussions that could follow. Simone admired the redhead's loyalty and concern for her friend.

With a simple nod Simone cleared her throat and said, "I can assure you nothing inappropriate occurred between
Mademoiselle
Blanchard and myself. Please see that she is made comfortable for the remainder of the evening." With nothing further to say, Simone strode away from the tent.

Chapter Eleven

JULIA OPENED HER eyes and immediately squeezed them shut as they were assaulted by light. She tried to sit up, but the pounding in her head caused her to drop back onto a pillow. She rolled her body away from the offensive light and opened her eyes into the smallest slits possible.
Where the hell am I?
She rubbed her eyes and looked around without raising her head. She knew she wasn't in her cabin on board the
Northumberland
. Tentatively she raised her body onto her elbows. She was in a tent. She saw her clothes draped neatly over a nearby chair and sucked in a breath as she pulled the cover up far enough to look at her body. She was completely naked. Lying on her back she covered her eyes with her arm and tried desperately to remember how she came to be in the tent. Realizing where she was, she jumped up as if there was a snake in the bed with her, ignoring the continual throbbing in her head. She was reaching for her clothes when she heard angry voices outside the tent. Quickly returning to the bed, she covered her entire body.

"What the hell were you thinking?" she heard Simone ask. "You could have killed her!"

"Consider her my gift to you," a woman's familiar voice retorted. "You wanted her and I gave her to you."

"You know well enough I would never take a woman in such a manner."

"Perhaps I should have put some of my potion in your drink as well."

"If I ever suspect such a thing, your time with me will be at an end, Esperanza."

"You wanted to bed her, Simone. Now you will have her out of your system. You have taken her and she will remember nothing."

Julia squeezed her eyes tightly and felt hot liquid travel down the side of her face. She was drugged and taken to bed by Simone. Was she given the nineteenth century equivalent of a date rape drug? The thought of it made her stomach churn. She didn't feel any of the usual after-effects of lovemaking and wondered if it was as good as it was in her fantasies. Had Simone enjoyed the one-sided tryst? How could she have?

When Julia no longer heard the voices, she slipped out of bed and began dressing. She managed to get as far as her petticoat when the flap of the tent opened, causing Julia to attempt to cover her body with her arms.

"Good morning," Kitty said cheerfully with a broad smile which faded rapidly when she saw Julia's pale face and red-rimmed eyes. Going to her side, Kitty wrapped an arm around Julia's waist as she sat on the edge of the bed and buried her head in her hands. "I suspect you have quite a headache," she said softly.

"How could she?" Julia asked as she brought her tear-stained face up and looked at Kitty.

"Because she is a mean bitch, if you'll pardon my language," Kitty said as she held Julia.

"But she has always been so kind to me."

"She has hated you since the
Viper
was taken. I think she is jealous of you."

Raising her head Julia asked, "Why would the Captain possibly be jealous of me?"

"Not the Captain," Kitty said. "Esperanza. She put something into your drink last night which made you rather--um--rather, well, affectionate."

"Just so the Captain could bring me in here and fuc...have her way with me," Julia said bitterly.

"Perhaps. But the Captain did not do anything, although I confess I was concerned about her intentions and followed her as she carried you here."

"I was buck naked when I woke up this morning so something must have happened!"

"The Captain brought you here and asked me to undress you. Whatever Esperanza put into your drink made you feverish and, I must say, I thought the Captain looked somewhat flushed as well. I am certain, although I cannot understand it, that she lies with Esperanza as a man lies with a woman. I told her I was equally certain you did not engage in such perverse liaisons," Kitty said with a frown. "That you are not that kind of woman."

"But..." Julia began. But I am exactly that kind of woman, Julia thought, not knowing whether she should feel relieved or disappointed.

"The Captain retired to
Le Faucon
last night and met with her other captains. Anton and the others returned to shore quite late, but she remained on board alone, not returning until less than an hour ago. She was still as angry as a hornet."

Julia nodded numbly as Kitty rose and smiled at her. "She sent me to wake you before she returned to her ship. We will be setting sail in a few hours. Come with me and we will find you some breakfast. You must be starving by now."

Straightening her clothing and hair as best she could, Julia followed Kitty from the tent. There was no sign of Simone as Julia nibbled at a hard biscuit and a piece of jerky. Anton poured her a cup of rich black coffee and squatted next to her as she ate.

"You are feeling better,
Mademoiselle
?" he asked.

"Yes. Thank you, Anton," Julia nodded as she watched men loading the long boats in preparation for departure. Everyone must have seen Simone take her to her tent the night before. Julia felt self-conscious and was certain they were all staring at her.

"Your belongings have been transferred from the
Northumberland
to
Le Faucon
," he said, doodling in the dirt with a slender stick. When she didn't respond, he glanced up at her. "We leave today for New Orleans.