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Julianne didn't say anything.
"Worried?" He asked, stopping. His eyes took her in, every inch of her, and she immediately felt tense under his gaze. He was just looking at her, just soaking her up.
Julianne nodded slightly, embarrassed to admit that she felt afraid. She had grown up in a quiet world, a normal world, a world of ordinary things. Now she was learning about dragons and monsters and ghosts. Now she was learning about treasure. Now she was learning about lust.
It was all a lot to take in.
"Don't fret, love," Wade murmured, wrapping his arms around Julianne. He pulled her close and planted a soft kiss on her head, quietly reminding her how much he cared for her. She soaked up the feeling, knowing it wouldn’t be forever. It was temporary, but she was beginning to crave it more than she ought to.
She breathed into him, instantly feeling calmer. What was it about his touch that immediately relaxed her? She had never felt this way about a man before. Ever. Wade ran his hands up and down her back, and she breathed in his scent while he held her. They didn’t have time for her to be afraid or nervous. They needed to get back to the ship, to get back on the sea. They needed to continue their journey, but the pirate was taking time to hold her.
After a minute, Wade seemed satisfied that she had calmed down. He gripped her hand and they continued on down the road. They still had supplies to buy and drinks to have before they returned to the ship. Wade guided her to the town tavern before they headed to the shops.
“I need a glass o’ ale before we do any shopping.”
“Yes,” Julianne nodded in agreement. She could do with a glass of beer. Her parents had never allowed her the pleasure. She was a good girl, they told her, and good girls do not consume alcohol.
But even good girls have their secrets.
As soon as they entered the dark tavern, Julianne was struck by the loud music and the louder patrons.
Despite the fact that it was mid-afternoon, the small pub was packed to the brim with saloon girls and horny sailors.
"What is this place?" She asked quietly, looking around. Wade seemed surprised at her curiosity. She knew she looked eager, and she was. Oh, she’d been to Darnial and several other ports on the journey, but she hadn’t been inside a place like this before.
Here, people were living.
They were wild.
They were free.
The pub reminded her of the sea, of the freedom she felt sailing on the pirate ship.
It reminded her that life wasn’t always about propriety and proper behavior.
"Start with this," Wade said softly, handing her an overflowing mug of ale. Julianne sipped the drink slowly at first, then faster, chugging down the entire glass before Wade was even half done with his own.
"Well, blow me down," Wade muttered with a smirk. "You can drink."
Julianne nodded.
"I am Nelson's sister, after all," she told him. "Who do you think taught your sailor to hold his liquor?"
Wade motioned one of the tavern wenches to bring them more, which she did, and they continued drinking. As they enjoyed their ale, Julianne continued to look around at her surroundings. She and Wade sat in the corner. His hat was pulled low over his eyes, but she wasn't sure if it was so he wouldn't be recognized or if it was so the girls wouldn't bother him. There were certainly enough here. Julianne counted at least ten tavern girls. Maybe more.
She saw the way the other girls looked at Wade lustfully, with greed in their eyes. Julianne had no doubt that Wade was a well-wanted man in many ways. Many of the sailors laughed and drank with the tavern girls as they enjoyed the music. Many of the girls would sit on their laps or tables, flirting and touching the men. She saw coins pass hands as the men tipped their companions and the girls would place them down their corsets or in their stockings.
She wondered what it was like to be a tavern girl.
She wondered if it felt powerful, exciting.
She wondered if it felt incredible to have men wanting her, desiring her at every moment.
She wondered if she would ever be brave enough to try something like that.
**
Wade sat, observing the entire scene, quietly.
