When Jim found Lunette, she had dozed off, falling into slumber. He gently shook her and her eyes eased slowly open, "Yes?"
"I'm going to put you to bed," he whispered and she rose and stumbled and he caught her up, carrying her towards the stairs until his gaze caught his mother's. She walked to him with a kind smile, "The suite is open," she murmured and he blushed, "Mother," he began, and she smiled, "Put her to bed, and come back down to help me." He sighed and nodded. Lunette giggled as he walked up the stairs. "I think those drinks are still affecting me." As soon as they made it to the privacy of the upper hallway, he leaned over and carted her up into his arms, and she let out a squeal of laughter, "Is this what those women in Tortututuca feel like when they're with you?" she teased. He frowned, "What do you mean?"
"Roseace told me your secrets," she laughed. "I know," he groused. "What do you mean?"
"I wonder if they feel as I do," she reasoned. And he sighed, she still did not answer his inquiry. But she said, "I feel so beautiful right now." He came upon the suite and eased the door open and slipped into the room, kicking the door shut with the heel of his boot, before walking over to the bed and sliding her out of his arms and onto the bed. He sighed and craned his neck as he walked over to the window and peered out into the midnight sky. The moons would be full soon and the rain would come and Silver would be there to see his daughter. He looked back at her and his blood turned his face crimson as he thought of the moment they had nearly shared earlier in the night.
Such a passionate kisses. Never had he wanted so badly to pull a woman close and kiss her more. He wanted to kiss her everywhere, and yet, he hadn't. She lay there, laughing to herself before she swung her face to look at him. Her hair was slowly falling out of its pins. He wanted to touch her and resisted the urge to do so as he announced, "I'll be back." The suite was actually two adjoining rooms, connected by one luxurious bathroom. And he walked into the room and craned his neck, rubbing it as he pulled his hair from its fastener. It fell about his shoulders and he sighed running strong hands through his hair before he walked across the room and back into the adjoining room. She was standing there with a small smile curling her lips.
He whispered, "You should be in bed."
"I want you to lay with me," she said with a pout and he smiled, and while using all the strength he had, he walked to her guiding her back over to her bed, "I'll watch you sleep." She sat, and pulled the wisps of hair that had fallen, over her shoulder, "Will you help me out of it?" She revealed the back lacing of her dress and his fingers tingled. "After, I must help downstairs," he countered and she nodded for a moment before saying, "Please help me out of it." He arched a brow and rose from his seat, walking to her. His hands pulled at the cords of her dress, loosening it easily. Its sleeves slipped off of her shoulders and down her arms, she stood and it fell away, unnoticed upon the wooden floor. He saw her trembling and he began unlacing her corset, before he forced her to face him, and his hands went to the front busks. She gasped as he roughly unhooked them and eased the corset off of her before laying it out on the bed. "You've done this once or twice," she accused and he took in a deep breath, "I told you a man like myself does get lonely from time to time."
"And what kind of man are you Lieutenant Hawkins?" He licked his lips, she was wearing only her chemise and laced panties, while wearing tantalizing stockings held up by a lacy garter belt. The same garter belt she'd been wearing on the ship, the very one that had forced his blood to boil. He tore his eyes away from the sight of her milky white thighs, his gaze met hers and he sighed, as he felt her hands begin to trace his forearms. "Miss Silver," he began, "Say it," she whispered then and he bowed his head, "say my name like you had on the ship." He took in a slow and deep breath, his fingers traced the flesh of her collarbone that was quite suddenly exposed to him. He leaned in and pressed a small, and ever so chaste kiss to her shoulder before he whispered, "I must go Lunette." And with those words he left her standing there, ever so close to that large empty bed and feeling oh so wanton for him.
He escaped outside, slipping the door shut and he hurried downstairs. His mother, Sarah, had begun to clean off tables and he merely began doing the same. She looked at him with a small frown, "You're not staying with her?" she pondered and he growled out, "She's been drinking mother!" Her eyes widened and he sighed, he took a seat then, and rubbed his eyes, "I cannot allow myself to be with a woman who does not want me," he reasoned, and Sarah exclaimed, "She was only looking at you all night!" she retorted. "I will not stay the night with an irresponsible intoxicated young woman," he listed and his mother sighed, "When you speak so harshly of her, I assume she is not as important as your eyes say she is."
"You know she cannot be anything to me, not after what I've done." His mother touched his cheek, "You need to tell her the truth." Jim sighed and shook his head. "It's impossible without endangering her, or breaking ties with her all together, if she knows, her blood ties to Silver would be made public and she could be ruined." Sarah smiled for him and asked, "When did the public's eye ever bother you or more so define your actions?" He shook his head and as his lips parted to speak his mother spoke first once more. "You would still have her," Sarah reminded. Then added, "Jim, we grew from nothing out of this inn and you are now a predominant Lieutenant with plenty of leverage over your other peers, I cannot imagine what would be so difficult in telling a woman you know her too well."
Her mysterious words ended as she heard shuffling behind her. Delbert came chuckling about the corner with Amelia and Sarah and Jim plastered smiles on their faces. Amelia arched a brow though, "Are you not going to Lunette this evening?" she pondered. Sarah frowned and Amelia winked at her. Delbert excused her, "She's been drinking." Sarah looked at Amelia, then back at her son. "You already-" Jim shook his head, lying, "No mother. I have not."
"You have!" Jim groused, "Let it go mother." Sarah walked to him and pushed him towards the stairs, "You will do back up there and tend to her!" Jim glared at Amelia, who grinned playfully at him. "Goodnight," she teased.