In which things get a bit racy, causing me to up the rating...and Billy reveals something unexpected.
XXII.
"You're awake." The voice was soothing, and the cool hand that touched her brow served to calm the anxiety that threatened to flood her body.
Meg opened her eyes, and found herself looking at a woman bathed in the glow of candlelight. She appeared to be at least a dozen years older, and her deep brown eyes regarded Meg with motherly concern. "I'm so glad to see you looking better. My name is Miranda Barlow, and you are a guest in my home."
"Billy? Where's Billy?" Panic flooded her body as Meg struggled to sit up. "Please tell me he's-"
"Billy is fine." Miranda eased her back onto the pillows, nodding at the other side of the bed. The boatswain was sound asleep, one arm resting on his chest. "But he's exhausted. This is the first time he's left your side in almost 48 hours. I finally insisted that he lay down and have a proper rest."
The events in the cavern were rushing through her mind now. She recalled the gunshot, and the ugly splotch of red that had spread across Billy's shirt. "But he must be hurt! He was shot-I saw him bleeding."
"He was injured, but is well on the road to recovery. By the time James-" Miranda seemed to see her guest's confusion at the unfamiliar name, and corrected herself, "-Captain Flint-brought him here, the wound had already been given some rudimentary treatment. All I had to do was cleanse it and apply a dressing."
Meg gazed at Billy as he slept, reassured by the easy rise and fall of his chest. Her fingers toyed with the soft fabric of her white cotton nightgown. "How long have we been here?" Her voice was hoarse, and her throat felt incredibly dry.
"Well, it's Wednesday evening, and you arrived late at night on Sunday-so, almost three days now." Miranda smiled, and squeezed Meg's hand. "You must be famished. Let me get you a cup of tea and something to eat."
"I'm really not hungry." Meg murmured. "I'd like to wait until Billy wakes up." Her head ached. When she reached up to gingerly touch her scalp, she felt a bandage wrapped around her forehead.
"What happened to me?" she asked, blinking as her vision blurred for an instant. When it cleared, she saw Flint leaning against the doorway. He and Miranda exchanged a glance. The pirate captain gave her hostess a slight nod, then vanished.
Miranda cleared her throat. "From what I understand, there was an explosion, and you sustained a nasty blow to the head from a large rock. You've been unconscious until just a few moments ago. Here, let me take that bandage off and have a look."
The older woman unwound the dressing, and nodded approvingly. "There's no sign of bleeding, and the cuts are healing nicely." She folded the gauze. "I think we can dispense with this for now."
Meg swallowed. "I'm sorry to have put Billy through all that. He must have been worried."
"He was beside himself. So much so that until you'd been settled, he refused to allow me to even look at his own wound." She glanced at Billy, her dark eyes thoughtful. "He cares for you a great deal."
"We are old friends, We've known each other since we were children."
Miranda gave her a knowing smile. "I believe Billy has more than friendship on his mind."
Meg blushed. "Fate brought us back together, and neither of us is quite ready to be separated from the other."
Miranda was quiet for a moment, then said carefully, "You must understand how much of a lifeline a relationship can be for these men-and for us as women. It is not easy to live a life separate from civilization, whether by choice or due to acts deemed unlawful by the Crown. The anger-the loneliness-it can destroy one's soul. James and I have known each other a long time-since before Thomas, my husband, died. Without each other, I am quite certain it would have been much more difficult to weather the hard times we have had since we left civilization behind."
"Captain Flint?" Meg hesitated, finding it hard to imagine the pirate longing for this kind woman, who was obviously fond of him. "Forgive me, but I find it hard to imagine him doubting himself, or wishing for a comfortable night by the fire with a brandy.. And Billy? He is so confident and capable, and seems well-liked by the men. There is no doubt that the crew respect both of them."
"Respect, yes. But even the most seasoned leaders need someone who knew them before they became the people they are now. Someone who reminds them of home-and can be a safe harbor when needed." She raised an eyebrow. "Am I correct in supposing that Billy was not born with the surname Bones?"
Meg smiled, then glanced wistfully at Billy. "No, he wasn't-and I have no idea where that nickname came from."
Miranda sighed. "Sometimes it's best not to know the details." She stood up, and placed a hand on Meg's shoulder. "Just rest. Let me know when you're ready to eat, and I'll put the kettle on and bring you a tray. To give you fair warning, there is a reason that I have inspired a good deal of gossip on this part of the island." She gave Meg a conspiratorial look, then whispered, "It's my scones. They are so light and airy that the old biddies at church are convinced there's witchcraft involved." Her soft laughter floated away as she left the room, a barely perceptible hint of jasmine lingering behind.
Meg turned on her side. Slipping one arm under her pillow, she moved close to Billy, her eyes drinking in the sight of him. He was dressed in a clean white shirt and dark breeches. Cuts and abrasions were scattered across his forehead, and he had several days' growth of beard. Despite this, Meg knew that her attraction to him was stronger than ever.
"What is it about you?" she whispered. As her slim fingers slid over the smooth curve of his biceps, she felt her face flush. There was no doubt that his rugged masculinity was a substantial part of his appeal. But there was something deeper that bound them together...something that made her natural shyness vanish every time she was near him.
Billy shifted his position, wincing slightly before he relaxed once again. Meg's heart caught as she saw his mouth curve into a smile for just an instant. She still couldn't quite believe that he would ever think of her as anything more than a passing fancy-a warm memory of his boyhood home. But if he ever did grow to love her, could she be content to live as Miranda did? Separated from the man she loved for long periods of time, knowing that he was risking his life every time the Walrus went out to hunt?
Her train of thought was broken as Billy began to cough. He struggled into an upright position as he gripped his shoulder, cursing under his breath. After the discomfort seemed to ease, he stretched out his long legs, then opened his eyes.
When his gaze fell upon her, his expression softened, the tension in his body visibly lessening. "Meg," he murmured. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you."
In an instant, she was in his arms. He held her against him for a long time, then drew back, cradling her face in his hands. "When the roof of the cavern caved in, I thought we were both done for. Flint and Vane pulled me out of the rubble first, and when I saw you lying on your side, your face covered in blood-" his voice became hoarse with emotion, and he swallowed.
Meg saw the remorse in his eyes, and knew that he blamed himself for what had happened. He had watched, bound and helpless to intervene, as Tobias had struck her, then prepared to abuse her. She understood his sense of guilt, because she carried her own heavy burden. Billy, the man she adored, had been shot...because she had been weak. The fear and regret came rushing back to her, and she was unable to hold back her tears.
"Why couldn't I just say it?" she sobbed. "All I had to do was repeat what he wanted me to say. I never meant for you to get shot. If you had been in that situation-"
"Shhh…." he murmured, kissing her forehead. "You kept your head in a brutal, awful situation. The courage you showed when you plunged that dagger into Nelson's leg-" he shook his head. "It was incredible. You were like a lioness. I've never seen a woman who could match your determination in that moment-well, except for Anne Bonny."
She laughed, wiping her tears away. "So I remind you of Bonny? Perhaps to achieve the true effect, I should expand my vocabulary to include some more-earthy phrases, shall we say?"
Billy grinned. "I said you had her courage.. didn't say I wanted you to become her." He touched his lips to her forehead one more time. "I like you just the way you are."
She reached up and touched his face, running her fingers over the several days' growth of beard that he had acquired.
"This is a new look for you," she said lightly.
He caught her teasing tone, and raised an eyebrow. "Well, what do you think?"
"Hmm… I think I need to see your wound in order to give an informed opinion. It will give me the whole heroic-injured-pirate picture."
"Heroic pirate?" he inquired, wincing only slightly as she helped him ease his shirt off. "Is there such a thing? I believe the Crown would say no."
She examined the clean bandage on his shoulder, noting that the surrounding skin was free of warmth or redness. "What does the Crown know about it?" Leaning forward slightly, she pressed her lips to his chest, and heard his sharp intake of breath.
Dismayed, Meg pulled back. "I've hurt you. I'm so sorry...I shouldn't have-"
In one smooth motion, he drew her to him, then laid her back against the pillows. His kiss this time was searing, the heat of his mouth causing her to melt against his body. As his lips glided across her skin, then began to pay court to her neck, she arched her back, pressing her body against his.
He slid his lips to the swell of her breast, chuckling as she writhed underneath him. "Tell me sweetheart, do I seem like I'm hurting?"
"No," Meg gasped, clutching his arms in an attempt to ground herself. She was barely able to think at this point, and could feel her self-control slipping away.
Billy's finger traced the neckline of her gown, then slowly pulled back the fabric. His eyes were intent on hers, watching her every reaction. When he reached the area just above her right nipple, he stopped.
"Your skin is so soft...so perfect." His voice was husky now, and the hard muscles under her fingers were taut with tension. The material dipped an inch lower, and his thumb brushed against the swollen peak.
She moaned his name, pushing her pelvis against his.
His index finger slowly circled her nipple, and she breathed, "Billy...please…"
"Please what?" he whispered, his tongue flicking against the hard nub. He began to massage her breast, sliding her nipple between his fingers in order to create the most delicious friction, then releasing it.
Finally mustering the courage to speak, she whispered, "I want you."
"You must tell me more." As he took her hand and guided it to the fly of his breeches, he spoke in a soft, coaxing voice that drove her nearly wild with lust. "Exactly what do you want me to do to you?"
Her fingers made quick work of the rough material, closing around his hard length. This time, she knew what to expect, and felt slightly less timid.
She tentatively stroked the shaft with her index finger, moving up to the head and slowly circling the rim.
"Christ, Meg…" he hissed, thrusting against her.
"Turnabout is fair play," she said, giving him a teasing look.
In response, he bent his head to her nipple. He slowly slid his tongue up to the tip, then drew it into his mouth. The sensation was exquisite, and she squirmed against him, yearning for him to suck harder.
"Please!"
His mouth moved from her breast to her mouth. She yielded to his tongue the instant it touched her lips, opening her mouth for a long, sensual kiss. After a few minutes, he drew back to look at her. There was desire in his blue eyes, but something else. "I am willing to be a slave to your desires...but as payment for my service, you must tell me what you want-in detail."
She took his head in her hands, and guided it back to her breast. "I want your mouth…" she swallowed, then forced herself to continue. "On my breasts-and my nipples."
He put his hand on hers. "A good initial direction. But what do you really want?"
"I-" her voice faltered.
"You are in control," he said firmly. "This is not the time to be self-conscious-or to doubt your desires. Just tell me what to do, and I'll do it-with pleasure."
"I want you to kiss each breast, gently-then rub my nipples between your fingers. First one breast, then the other….."
Her voice trailed off as he complied, making a low hum of approval in the back of his throat.
As his fingers teased her erect nipples, she felt the odd sensation between her legs that she had experienced once before. Some primal urge drove her to grasp his shaft once again, settling it at the aching nub of tissue between her legs. She shifted, sliding against the length of his erection, and cried out at the jolt of pleasure that the friction gave her.
"Both my nipples..please….take one in your mouth, and suck it...while you roll the other between your thumb and index finger.|Gently, then hard. Oh God!"
She arched her back, gliding her body against his once again This time, Billy groaned. "Sweetheart, you're playing with fire when you move like that."
"Your mouth..." she was begging him now, nearly mad with desire. "I want it everywhere...all over my body…"
At that, one of his hands slid down to her right thigh, gently spreading her legs.
She rocked her pelvis once again, allowing his every inch of him to rub against the swollen peak that was the center of her universe at the moment.
This time, her body strained to the breaking point, she dimly heard herself say to Billy. "Your mouth...you must tell me, is it wicked, or wrong, to want it there? Because I want to feel it…" she swallowed. "Between my legs, that is…very badly."
There was a sharp intake of breath, and then Billy spoke. "No one except us has the right to decide what we do when we are alone. If it brings you pleasure, then it's all good as far as I'm concerned." With those words, he began to burn a trail of kisses down her abdomen, pausing just as he was about to reach the most intimate part of her body.
"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice a bit unsteady. "Because I may have a difficult time stopping once I-"
"Yes," she breathed, every fiber of her being aching for him to claim her. "God help me, but I want to feel what it's like-and I want to see you there, pleasuring-"
Her words were cut off as he kissed the smooth flesh on the inside of her right thigh, then the left. "I've never felt anything so soft in my life," he murmured. "Just like velvet..or satin."
His finger traced the circumference of her mound, the circles becoming smaller and smaller until he was just a hair's breadth away from touching it. She whimpered then, her hands twisting in the sheets as her body writhed beneath him.
Billy's hands moved to her thighs, steadying the trembling muscles with a gentle pressure, his thumbs stroking the skin close to the area that she desperately needed him to touch. "Easy, sweetheart. Although your brain is telling you otherwise right now, I promise that slowing down a bit will only enhance your pleasure."
"I can't wait. I swear I can't." She was frantic now, her thighs straining against the pressure of his hands. "If you had gone just a bit more farther with your finger a moment ago, I would have been screaming…I was so close, I know I was."
"So you are okay with Flint and Mrs. Barlow hearing you call out my name?" he asked, his voice teasing.
"I can't think!" she twisted under him again, almost panting now. "Do whatever you need to do….put your hand over my mouth if you have to. I don't care, please just don't make me wait…"
The look Billy gave her then, his eyes smoldering with desire, ignited the flame that caused the first rhythmic contractions to start the instant his tongue began to caress her. As he began to alternate flicking and stroking the nub, she felt a spasm of pure ecstasy explode through her belly.
His name passed her lips in a long, loud moan. Then she felt his large hand cover her mouth, and she allowed herself to let go, her cries muffled by the steady, gentle pressure of his fingers. Her body seemed to have separated from her mind, and was now driven purely by the sensations that were flowing from the focus of his attention. One minute, her legs might be thrashing against him in an attempt to escape the intensity of her release. Then a moment later, the strongest pulse having passed, her hands would be on his head, urging him on as she pleaded for his mouth to never stop.
Finally, her body seemed to dissolve into pure bliss. She dimly sensed that her hands were working now, alternately stroking and pumping the throbbing length that had teased her earlier. Billy groaned as she drew one hand along the entire shaft, then quickly placed another on top.
"Your hands-" he said hoarsely. "I've never-" his body began to tremble, and she felt him tense against her. "Fuck-I can't yet-it's too soon, I-" An instant later, he reached the threshold of his climax, his body straining against her as spoke her name again and again.
When his breathing had finally slowed, he reached for her, and drew her to him. Meg laid her head against his chest, listening as the wild pounding of his heart began to settle. Outside, the wind began to pick up, and rain was soon lashing against the window.
Billy was stroking her hair, and she had almost drifted off to sleep when his hand stilled. She glanced up at him, and he said slowly, "There is something I haven't told you...I should have told you at the beginning, but I didn't. And the longer I have waited-" He shook his head, and averted his eyes. "There is a woman in Port Royal-we were close...were lovers-and she gave birth to a child. I have a son, Meg."
Thank you for continuing to read-if you have any feedback, I'd love to hear it!