Disclaimer: same as chapter 1.
Author's notes:
- Hi, I'm back! The moving is done… the cleaning and the settling down are still to be finished, *sigh*… I wrote this chapter during the chaos and without the help of my trustee dictionary (lost it in the moving, but it will eventually turn up... someday).
- Details about Jamaican cuisine come from Wikipedia.
- Dedicated to Smithy!
Chapter 12: Sea of love II
The Eastern horizon was barely starting to show an almost-imperceptible shade of indigo blue when Will opened his eyes. After a decade spent at sea, no matter how eventful the night before had been – tempests, damages on the Dutchman, distressed soul passengers – nothing had prevented Will to wake up at dawn, even after having only a couple hours of sleep.
And what an eventful night it had been, thought the young man lying naked on top of the bed sheets, Elizabeth stretched alongside him. She was sound asleep, her beautiful face pressed against his left breast and she looked so innocent one could hardly believe it was the same woman who had held him in her arms so passionately. A smile graced his lips at the recollection of the torrid embraces they had shared all night long. Their reunion had promptly erased long years of separation: for hours they had kissed, loved, fallen asleep, woken up to kiss and love again, caught in a perpetual cycle of life.
At some point, Elizabeth had escaped from the bedroom to go downstairs to the kitchen, and she had brought a tray with plates displaying assortments of Jamaican beef patties, Bammy flatbreads, various fruits and two glasses filled with Irish Moss, a drink made from a certain red algae added with vanilla, milk, rum and spices. She had woken Will for an impromptu midnight feast and they were so famished the tray had been emptied in no time. Elizabeth had confessed with a wicked smile that Irish Moss was supposed to have aphrodisiac qualities, making Will solemnly declare he was wed to a wanton!
Will felt deliciously decadent, and his smile got wider when he saw the state of the bedroom under the moonlight: it was in shambles! The once tidy room had been turned upside down: the bed was ravaged, the Chinese sword hanging over it had fallen on the floor (nearly hitting the youngsters on the head), the armchairs had been turned over and the dressing room's floor was covered with puddles of water after Will and Elizabeth had taken a bath together in the wooden tub. There had also been the time where Elizabeth had lit a fire in the bedroom's fireplace; the sight of her slim silhouette against the light produced by the flames had been too much for her husband to bear… and it had ended with an intense coupling on the rug, in front of the hearth.
Will regretfully released his hold on Elizabeth, and then he got on his feet to reach the balcony. The French doors were ajar and he opened them noiselessly to enjoy the dawn. The Eastern horizon was slowly changing from dark to lighter indigo, announcing twilight. It was L'heure bleue, the "Blue Hour" in French,where the sky displayed an exceptional light before sunrise. The moon was slowly declining on the heavenly dome. According to popular folklore, it was during L'heure bleue that the flowers' scent was strongest.
Will looked down and saw the balcony has been filled with potted plants fixed on the ironwork balustrade: white frangipani, pigeon berry, common floss flowers, tropical sage, dwarf holly, West Indian lilac. A crystal vase filled with clear pink Damask roses with loose petals was set in a corner. Will also noted the presence of a down-stuffed mattress on the tiled floor of the platform, and littered with earth-colored cushions. Between two clay pots, a spider's web glistened with dew. The first birds were singing in tree branches, muffling the sound of the ocean's waves rolling on the beach.
He understood why Elizabeth had winked at him after he had noticed the balcony the previous morning: it was wide enough for two persons to lie on side-by-side, and the plants made it resemble to a miniature garden, a real love-nest. The balcony at L'heure bleue simply evoked romanticism...
Will smiled and returned inside the bedroom to pick a sleeping beauty up in his arms.
The sensation of small, feather-like things falling on her woke Elizabeth up. Her eyes opened and she saw the declining moon in the sky, the stars twinkling in a clearer shade of blue, the potted plants above her… and rose petals were scattered on her body.
Elizabeth would have felt puzzled after finding out she was lying on the balcony as the last thing she remembered was falling asleep on her bed, but the sight of her handsome husband dotting her with petals he was detaching from the roses made her smile. Her wonderful William had carried her on the balcony whilst she was sleeping, wanting them to enjoy the dawn after their night of love…
"I had the most marvelous dream ever…"
"And what was it?" asked Will, leaning on his elbow and lightly tracing the outline of her cheekbone.
"I dreamed I was married to the most handsome, courageous, caring man in the world. He came home after a long absence and together, we touched the stars. He loved me over and over and finally, he covered me with petals…"
Elizabeth looked down at her, feigning surprise: "Ooh look, dreams do become true. I am covered with petals…"
"That's normal, for a rose."
He caressed Elizabeth's waist and she sighed in contentment; she was tired and sore from their night, she was certain Will was feeling the same and yet, every time they kissed, passion would spark inside their hearts, like a triumphant phoenix rising from the ashes to spread through their beings like wildfire. They lay between land and sky, entangled on the slim mattress and surrounded with cushions and flowers, the sovereigns of the world.
"Beloved."
"Elizabeth!"
She was splendid in her nudity enhanced by rose petals. Fatigue vanished instantly to be replaced by a burning desire. They exchanged a kiss, making them shiver from head to toes. Elizabeth cradled the young man's head against her heart, sighing softly. The Captain of her heart was on a journey, his lips sailing on every crest, every curve of her body and she wanted to protect him from any harm. He traced his name across her bosom and Elizabeth thought she would become insane. She surrendered unconditionally as Will headed for her hidden treasure. His touch made Elizabeth see the stars shine brighter in the sky; beneath her satiny skin, a pulse was beating at a mad tempo. She felt tears escaping from her eyelids to run across her temples, tiny rivers of emotion from Will's homage to her femininity.
"Will… Oh, Will."
The young man smiled, delighted by the sight of Elizabeth in the throes of passion. She was simply radiant, her forms illuminated by both the "Blue Hour" light and the fire coursing in her veins. She made him roll onto his back on the mattress, wanting to give as much as she had received, and Will submitted to her tender hands, to her honey-tasting lips.
"Oh, my love…"
Elizabeth admired her William: he was beautiful, everywhere. Finely-shaped muscles, long limbs and a broad chest added to pleasant features made him the living embodiment of handsomeness, and only jealous fools could imagine his good looks were a testimony of frailty. She caressed his godlike body and he shuddered from sheer pleasure. The stars also shone brighter for Will as adoration was lavished upon his manliness. Entirely at Elizabeth's mercy, Will cried out in joy, an inferno burning inside him, unable and unwitting to escape from her sweet assault. She picked up a rose from the vase and scattered petals all over his head, returning his earlier compliment. Will's skin was so hot to the touch it could have charred the petals.
"Will, beautiful Will."
A pinkish glow appeared above the Eastern horizon: it was the phenomenon known as "The Belt of Venus", which colored the sky before sunrise. At the same moment, Will and Elizabeth became one. They relished in this pure sensation, the magical proof they were meant to be together. The wildlife surronding them quieted, even the sea's murmurs seemed to have stopped. It felt as if their fusion was powerful enough to make the world stand still for a few instants. They exchanged a smile, stars shining in their eyes. Their nude frames glistened in the soft light of dawn; it contrasted against the cushions, making them look like two pearls displayed on dark velvet.
The king and the queen savored their perfect osmosis, wishing it to last for all eternity. But their life's forces suddenly roared, fueled by sparks of need; they moved in one breath, unwilling to delay its impatient call. The act of love released its puissance and pleasure flown through them in ardent ripples; sighs quickly changed into cries of bliss. Some rose petals got crushed between their abdomens and it added more fragrance to the flowery scent floating in the air.
The graceful movement hastened and spines arched like waves crashing against a cliff. A sense of freedom, power and courage seized Will and Elizabeth and they shouted their ardor at the top of their lungs, instinctively knowing that no one could hear or see them. Nothing mattered but the shared pleasure they felt and there was something sacred about their union, a protection coming from its rightness. Superb and true, they cruised on the wild sea of love, its waves going crescendo at each undulation of the meshed bodies. The rhythm increased even more, overwhelming the man and the woman by its intensity.
A familiar, burning sensation was ignited within their loins, making them gasp out in realization they would reach the zenith together, once again. But how could it be otherwise? The long wait had cemented their love instead of eroding it, rending it stronger than an iron fortress. An eruption occured at their cores, its energy carrying them away into the heavens; Will and Elizabeth howled to the stars. Whirling meteors crossed the sky in a brilliant flash before exploding like fireworks, the glorious pinnacle of passion. Apogee greeted them in a shower of light as they let out a supreme cry. The universe cracked open under a deafening salvo, saluting the culmination of the young couple.
Joy filled Will and Elizabeth, just before physical exhaustion made them fall back on Earth – or, rather, back on the mattress and cushions. The shining leading edge of the sun appeared slowly above the horizon, making the moon and the stars decline in a last display of light. It was a blessed moment, where the blue of the night met the gold of the day. The birds sang louder, the flowers slowly bloomed and the green sea was adorned with dancing, bright particles. Unable to move or to speak, Will and Elizabeth fell asleep in each other's protective arms when the first rays of sunshine reached the balcony.
It was Will's turn to be awakened by soft, feather-like touches on his skin. He opened his eyes to see Elizabeth gently peppering his torso with kisses. She was wearing her qipao dress and Will noted his lower body had been covered with a bed sheet. It was morning, with the sun already high in a clear-blue sky and the young man realized that for the very first time of his life, he had overslept.
"Elizabeth…"
"Good morning, husband mine."
William felt his reinstated heart bang against his ribs, like a hammer on an anvil. The warmth of the sun, the presence of flowers, Elizabeth's face so close, all this confirmed him that the recent celebrations hadn't been the most sensational dream of his life. He truly had been granted his freedom, the Flying Dutchman had been reduced to a pile of rotting planks at the bottom of the sea and he had spent his first night ashore in a decade with his wife.
Life was beautiful.
"I love you…"
"I love you more."
"That's impossible," whispered the young Turner.
Elizabeth chuckled lightly, and then she folded her arms across his chest and looked at him straight in the eyes, with a mock offended look on her face.
"Are you daring to question the depths of my feelings, Captain Turner? Maybe we should settle this matter in a duel, like true gentleman and gentlewoman of fortune…"
"If I have offended you, Captain Swann, you have the right to choose the weapons for our duel."
"Very well, in that case, I choose… this."
Will sank back against the cushions as Elizabeth parted his lips with her tongue and probed his mouth mercilessly. If she ever wanted to win a fight against her husband, all she had to do was kiss him to make his spine turn into liquid. He had fought many foes in his life and had braved any kind of threat but he was completely defenseless against her… not that he minded his enviable situation.
"I yield… and I still think that I love you more," said Will when the kiss ended, much to his chagrin.
"I forgive you… and I also still think that I love you more," answered Elizabeth.
She ran her fingers through his rumpled hair, thinking he had never been so handsome. Will closed his eyes, relishing in the soft touch he had yearned for ten years. He was so comfortable here, lying on the balcony and watched over by his wife, he was ready to fall asleep again… and then a thought crossed his mind, making him sit up instantly on the mattress.
"Oh, my God!"
"Will, what is wrong?" asked Elizabeth.
"What time is it?"
The question surprised the young woman, and also Will's reaction and the sudden urgency of his voice. He couldn't be thinking about being forced to go back to the Flying Dutchman before sunset, could he? The ghost ship was gone, the curse was broken and nothing could separate them again!
"Well, it must be around nine o'clock, but why are you asking?"
"Will-Trey must be starving! He's too young to cook his own breakfast and he must be wondering why I am keeping you in our bedroom so late. Oh, I am so sorry…"
Elizabeth put both her hands on Will's shoulders, pushing him back on the mattress.
"Don't you dare to move from this balcony, William Turner. After the night of love you have given me, you are entitled to have a little rest before facing the events this brand new day has in store for us."
"But…"
"Hush, my love, our son isn't starving to death. Look at this!"
Elizabeth took out a folded piece of paper from the pocket of her qipao, and hand it over to Will. The young man opened it to read:
"My dear children,
I knew you would be tired from your reunion, so I took upon myself to give Will-Trey's his breakfast (hot milk and slices of bread with honey). We are going down to the beach to find shrimps for lunch, and you are more than welcome to join us once you're ready.
Bill."
"Your father had slipped this note beneath our door, and I found it a few minutes ago. He is truly wonderful!"
"Shall we dress and have a bite to eat, and then go find them? I don't want Will-Trey to think I am cutting him off from his mother…"
"You will soon find out our son is wise beyond his years, he would never think of you as an intruder. He has been longing for your presence for months and he already knows being a family means sharing. But you are right; we should get presentable and have some quality time on the beach. This afternoon, we can go to Shipwreck City as it is high time the people there make your acquaintance. There is only one problem left…"
"And what is it?"
"How in the world am I going to tidy up this bedroom without blushing?" asked Elizabeth with a laugh.
TBC…