Swordplay
"Is it true?" There was a studied carelessness to Turner's voice that was belied by the intensity with which he thrust his sword.
"What's that?" James mimicked Turner's tone, going along with the pretense that this was just another one of their regular sparring sessions.
Turner advanced ruthlessly. "What Elizabeth told me about you and Jack Sparrow."
James' pulse sped up, but he schooled his face to cool disinterest, parrying Turner's blow. "What nonsensical notions has your wife taken into her head now?" He took a step forward, forcing Turner back. "Of the two of us, you're more likely to associate with a notorious pirate."
"Ah, but I'm not the one who's been seen drinking with Jack in the back room of the Mermaid's Dream!"
James riposted, unable to stifle the bitter laugh. "No, I hear you head straight for the rooms upstairs!"
Turner cocked his eyebrow in a thoroughly Sparrow-esque fashion. "Has Jack been telling tales?"
"No, but thank you for confirming my suspicions." James feinted left and then brought the tip of his sword within a hair's breadth of Turner's neck. "A nice thing, to leave your wife at home while you bed a pirate. I hope you had the time of your life - not that your life will be worth much should Mrs. Turner discover your deception."
Turner spun away from James' blade. "How do you know she doesn't know?"
James' breath caught in his throat and his blow faltered. "Surely she doesn't condone such dalliances?"
"We. . .understand one another, and are loyal to one another, in our own way." Turner grinned, as his blade slipped past James' defenses and pricked his shoulder. "Why? Are you jealous, Commodore?"
James ignored the sting, and the blood trickling down to stain his shirt. "Of course not. Are you?"
"I might be. Or. . .call it envy, if you wish." Turner's dark eyes raked over James' tight breeches in a lascivious manner. James started, stunned by the unbridled lust in Turner's eyes, and felt his breeches become a good deal tighter.
With a flick of his wrist, Turner disarmed James easily, then grazed James' cheek with the tip of his sword. "Have you ever wondered how a blacksmith compares to a pirate?"