That seemed to also be enough for Hawk, who hollered, "For the love of god, someone find Captain Pane some trousers. There's work to be done and treasure for the taking!"
13
Scarletclaw Brings News
"Throned in splendor, deathless, O Aphrodite,
Child of Zeus, charm-weaver, I beseech thee,
Not with griefs and bitters, O Queen, to conquer
My spirit...
Come to me now, too, and from harsh thoughts free me,
All my heart desires to have accomplished
For me, let it be; and in this my battle
Be thou my ally."
? Sappho, Hymn to Aphrodite,
tr. Julia Purinton Washburn
MARA LOOKED OFF from the brothel balcony towards the bay, telling herself firmly not to worry. The fact that it had been over a week since theOrcasailed away with her brother and theTempestto hunt for Portuguese treasure didn't mean that the mission had been a failure. There were dozens of legitimate reasons why they could be waylaid, weren't there?
She heard movement behind her. Moments later Xanne pressed up against her back, stroking her hands over the bodice of Mara's new dress and around her waist. Xanne’s lips pressed warmly near the neckline of her dress, trailing scalding kisses slowly up her neck.
Mara closed her eyes despite herself, leaning back into the warmth of her new lover’s embrace. Despite her rage and savagery, Xanne had proved a delightfully ardent lover in bed once Mara had managed to get her there. Mara shivered at a throb of heat between her thighs at the remembered pleasure, reaching back to stroke a hand up Xanne's hip. Her waist was bare above her trousers, making Mara think about how nice it would be to turn in her lover's embrace to caress her bare upper body, to fill her hands and mouth with the softness of Xanne's pert breasts.
"You left bed too early," Xanne murmured against her ear, nibbling on the lobe. "Now what am I s'posed to do?"
She smoothed one hand up over the curve of Mara's breast, cupping and squeezing gently, thumb stroking the bare skin above the neckline. Mara bit her lip on a moan. How was it that Xanne's touch was so much more enticing while being so much more tender than any of the men who had pawed at her? She was certainly far more forward than Elizabeth, who'd preferred to let Mara take the lead.
Mara pushed the thoughts of her betrayer from her mind. "I could come back to bed," she offered hopefully, only to hear Xanne chuckle, low and devious.
"Too late for that now, ain't it?" Continuing her caress of Mara's breast, her other hand smoothed down her midline, pressing the full skirts of her dress between her thighs. Mara drew a gasp, hips arching up into the touch instinctively.
"My dress," she protested weakly, and Xanne laughed again.
"So worried about your fine, pretty things, ain't you? Like a right fine lady, you are." Instead of stopping, her fingers grabbed atMara’s skirts, pulling them up until she could reach her hand underneath. Her fingers stroked over Mara's bare thigh with an appreciative hum. "I see you ain't so much of a lady that you put on underthings."
Mara tried to find breath to reply as Xanne's clever fingers pressed up against her sex. She wiggled them against her with a low, appreciative hum, licking up Mara's neck. "Maybe you really ain't concerned about anything," Xanne breathed.
It was hard to argue when her body agreed, quickly becoming slick with arousal as Xanne's fingers slid along the length of her sex in slow strokes, fingertips teasing against her small nub of pleasure. Her fingers clenched at the railing of the balcony. "Xanne, people can see us..."
"Can they?" Xanne's smirk was well apparent in her voice. She crooked her fingers to push up into Mara, the heel of her hand rubbing delightfully against the mound of her sex as Xanne started to fuck her in earnest. "Seems to me like you shouldn't care about that right this moment. Seems to me like you should only care about the fact that my fingers are in your sweet little cunt."
Mara whimpered despite herself, hips arching up into the stimulation. Xanne shifted to press more against her side, letting Mara's hip press half between her thighs. She pulled Mara's mouth to hers as their hips rolled together, groaning against Mara's lips. "Let them see," she growled, breathing harder as she continued to grind against Mara. "Want all of Port Royal to know that no-one's allowed to touch you but me. You got that?"
"Yes," Mara gasped, heart pounding. Why did it feel so good to hear Xanne say such things? The last thing she should want was to belong to anyone! But the insistent press of Xanne's fingerswas too powerful a distraction, and soon enough she could think of nothing but the need for release, thighs shuddering as she whimpered against Xanne's lips. "Xanne - please - "
"Love how you whimper when I fuck you," Xanne replied, words rough and breathless. "Love the way you sound when you come, sweetheart..."
"Gods- !" As if commanded, Mara's body tumbled into ecstasy. She jerked up against Xanne's fingers, crying out into her mouth. Her lover let out a low, triumphant groan, still thrusting against her, and seemingly unsatisfied with her accomplishment, continued the stimulation, wringing shocks of pleasure from her with insistent fingers. She groaned her own pleasure against Mara's lips as she did, undoubtedly finding her own release, finally letting Mara go from the haze of orgasm when Xanne herself was breathless and spent.
Pulling her hand from under Mara's dress, Xanne licked her fingers with a hum. "Might have to go have a wash now that I've made you all messy," she purred. She pulled away with a wink and headed back inside, leaving Mara clinging to the railing, unsure of her ability to walk.
