Usual disclaimers... not fair!

Last chapter for today... and the chapter I've been waiting for, let alone Ani! ;)

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Chapter 30 - Willing and Sober

The faces of the crew as Jack escorted Bessie to dinner were a picture - as were the shocked faces of the other women who were sitting at a trestle on their own. Bessie went to sit with them but Jack took her arm and guided her towards the trestle where the senior crew sat. "Yer sit with us Bessie," he said as Paul Barker slid along the bench, making room for her. The women burst into hissed whispers as she sat down, Jack sitting next to her. Joshamee could see that she was trying to ignore the women, but that their comments made her uncomfortable.

"You look lovely Bessie," Joshamee smiled reassuringly. "As pretty as your mother any day!"

"Thank you Mister Gibbs," Bessie blushed, still stunned by her dress herself. She looked up as a crewman she did not recognised placed a plate of food before her. "Thank you," she smiled before bowing her head and quietly saying Grace. Jack waited until she had finished before starting to eat. Conversation was muted on the table for all were aware of the straining ears from the nearby women's trestle and Jack did not want to give them any more salacious gossip to spread around Port Royal.

Only when they had left the gun deck and returned to the sick bay did Jack finally rise, offering Bessie his hand. A few ribald comments greeted their departure, causing Bessie to blush scarlet. He quickly led her up the stairs. "Don't let them worry yer," he smiled. "After all, yer are m' woman..." He opened the doors to his cabin, closing and locking them behind him. "An' yer did tell Hughes that I was yer man..." His hands reached for her laces, but she backed away.

"I..." she stuttered, unsure of herself.

Jack frowned. "Yer did say yer'd come t' me tonight," he reminded her. "An' I thought yer usually slept naked..."

"I did... I do..." she flustered, looking at him with wide eyes. "I'm frightened," she quietly admitted.

"We can take it slow Bessie," Jack smiled reassuringly. "Or I can always get yer drunk..."

"No!" Bessie protested, before realising he was teasing. "If I am to do this then I think this time I should be able to remember it... "

"We'll count this as yer first time," Jack winked. "An' I promise t' make it special." He reached across to blow out the candle, but Bessie stopped him.

"Please leave it..." she begged, before he belatedly remembered her earlier comments.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I forgot. I was thinkin' yer'd want some... yer know... most women don't like th' light..." He reached again for her laces. "Although yer'll have t' wait until we are ashore if yer want a proper bonfire..." He picked up the candle, carefully placing it within a glass storm lantern. "Better safe than sorry," he grinned, worried that Daffodil might knock it over.

Bessie smiled, even if a little shakily and turned so that he could undo the laces more easily. Jack slipped the dress from her shoulders and watched her body with appreciation as she scooped the dress up off the floor and placed it carefully across one of the chairs.

"An' now yer get t' return th' favour," he chuckled, helping her with his cumbersome belt. He carefully placed his pistol and sword to one side before guiding her hands to the buttons of his waistcoat. He could feel her trembling as she eased it from his shoulders, uncertainly reaching for his shirt. "Let me help," Jack offered, pulling it off himself.

Bessie looked at him, unsure of her next step. Her eyes widened as he took her hands and helped her unlace his trousers, sliding them to the floor. She trembled, his excitement clear to see. "There's nothin' scary," Jack reassured her, touching the gold and pearl cross that she still wore. "Will yer trust me?"

Slowly she nodded and he led her into the side cabin, leaving the drapes open so that she could be reassured by the light. Quickly he evicted Daffodil before pulling back the blanket so that she could climb in. "I refuse t' share yer with a cat," he laughed, sliding in next to her. She smiled nervously. "Now, let's practice that kissing yer tried earlier..."

Bessie was more frightened than she would admit to Jack, but she had given her word and would not rescind it. Timidly she kissed him, gradually getting bolder as he encouraged her. His hand cupped her breast and she gasped in surprise. "My turn t' kiss," Jack muttered, leaning down and teasing her nipple with his lips, nibbling slightly.

"I..." she gasped, arching in pleasure.

"Yer body remembers," Jack said softly, continuing to caress her breasts as he travelled lower, planting a circle of kisses around her bellybutton. "D' yer wish me t' continue?" he asked, wanting her to be a willing and sober partner this time, hoping that he would be able to stop himself if she said no.

"Yes," she whispered.

Jack grinned in delight. Tenderly he stroked her, kissing her, smiling to himself as she slowly relaxed. "That's it Bessie," he said quietly. Gradually he eased her legs apart, kissing her lips and silencing her mewl of protest. "Trust me..." he smiled, kissing and stroking her more until she relaxed again. Nervously he eased himself above her, whispering his assurances as he slowly entered her. For a moment she tensed and he stopped, just laying there. "See, nothing to worry about..."

"It feels... strange," Bessie admitted.

"Feels nice t' me," he grinned as he looked down at her. "So why don't we see if we can make it feel nicer..." Slowly he started to move, picking up the pace with each thrust until Bessie clung to him in disbelief. Jack chuckled to himself as she suddenly arched, smothering her cries with his mouth.

"I... I..." she stuttered, her body quivering beneath him.

Jack kissed her on the nose. "My turn," he smiled, moving again but with more force until he felt his own body arch as he emptied himself within her. For a moment he held himself still, his muscles weak as he shivered with pleasure. Shaking, he held her to him. "Oh Bessie," he whispered, surprised to find her crying. "What's th' matter?"

"Will you do that again?" she asked, her eyes wide with wonder. "Please?"

Jack chuckled with delight. "Give me a moment t' recover," he laughed, "an' it will be m' pleasure!"

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Okay girls... reviews mean more chapters – savvy?