Chapter 8

Thomas emerged to a setting sun and open water. The wind shifted through his dark hair. The ocean looked so large out here and Thomas felt a great sense of unexplained melancholy. He was grateful for the guide ropes that steadied his steps. His seasickness stayed at bay but his sea legs were that of a newborn fawn. 

He stumbled forward towards the mess hall. With each step he felt a growing heat of someone's stare. After a few more wobbly meters, he couldn't resist looking for those peering eyes. He didn't have to look hard. 

“Steady, Thomas, we wouldn't want you going overboard.” A soft and charismatic voice welcomed his ears. Riley grabbed his shoulder in support, careful to avoid his initiation wound. “Where are we going?” she gleefully asked. Unlike the covert coldness of the Captain, Riley spoke with an unashamed warmness. He reckoned she might be the most free person on the ship. Perhaps that he had ever known.

Riley sat across from him as they ate dinner. Now dozens of eyes shined his way. His nightly adventure followed by his day in hold left few aware of his existence. Now here he sat amongst all of them, chatting away with the first mate as if they were good friends. Given Riley's respect with the crew, her reception of him crucially gave Thomas a warm welcome from the others. Some would remain leery, but most offered a friendly smile or a tip of a hat. 

Riley sat across from him, although Thomas wasn't sure if she was hungry for dinner or for him. He had assumed that last night was orchestrated by the Captain's desire, but her dilated pupils and flushed lips indicated different. “So how are those legs? First time at sea?” She ever so gently scooted her knee against his inner thigh, pressing further until she could brush him properly.

Thomas let out a small yip as she reached his manhood. “Yes, um, good”, he let out highly before recovering to normal. “It may take a day or two, but you helped steady me for the evening.” 

“Yes, well we will have to get you upright before the others see.” Riley leaned in closer, simultaneously exposing the breadth of her cleavage while also rubbing her hand up his thigh. The pressure in his pants was growing and she would offer no reprieve. “I'll show you to the crew quarters, but first, let me show you my room in case you need anything.” 

Thomas sheepishly walked through a short door adjoined to the Captain's room. Riley's First Mate quarters were very much like the Captain's, but just smaller. A sweet unidentifiable scent flushed the room. Thomas inhaled slightly deeper, welcoming the smell of Riley. “What do you think?” She said with a prideful grin. “It's very nice.” Thomas answered in kind. 

“Did you know? This is the first room I've ever had all to myself! Even from before joining the crew. It cost her a pretty penny but Captain had the room built and sectioned off from hers when I made first mate.” Riley reminisced fondly before sitting on the bed. She gestured to a small stool next to her. Thomas sat down, knees touching one another. “I meant to ask, what is the Captain's name? I still haven't heard it.” 

“Just Captain. That's the only name she goes by.” 

Thomas chuckled at the thought, “Just Captain?”. Riley smiled a bit puzzled, “What's funny?” 

Thomas settled in, “It's just, well, what if she was no longer Captain?”

A light twinged in Riley's eyes. It was a glint of fire mixed with a shadowy darkness, “Then I've died and something has gone terribly wrong. She will always be Captain.” She spoke low with a finality that Thomas had never heard before. He knew every word was true and their bond was unbreakable. “Captain it is.”

She grabbed his thigh, her jovial demeanor returning with a gleeful squeeze. “So about yesterday. There’s something I really wanted to do but it didn't happen.” Thomas listened to her unabashful tone, but her cheeks betrayed her. Still he didn't fully know what she was getting at. He grabbed her hand to reassure her. Her eyes blazed with a new fire altogether. 

He was compelled to lean in, her plump lips calling for his. “Thomas, kiss me” she asked. He pushed in, lips locking for the first time. Even with all the debauchery of last night, this felt very intimate. Her passion would be his tonight.

Soft. He was lost in a sea of pheromones but that word bounced around his mind. Soft lips, soft touch, soft smile, soft-

She was loosening her leather top. For how practical it was for her sailing duties, it was surprisingly easy to come off. Underneath her large and swollen b***ts giggled free. She sat on his lap. His mind had been right. Soft areolas. Perfect pink chocolates to lick and suck. Her n****es peaked as he played with them.

SHE settled onto his lap, head back, embracing his touch. Despite his soft complexion, his firm grasp excited her. Even through two layers, the thought of him covered her in goosebumps. He was remarkably strong underneath her, something she had longed for. A woman’s touch was knowing, but his was that of uncontrolled passion. A dive into something more primal and less forgiving. She had slipped into her thoughts when she noticed his piercing blue eyes gleefully looking up to her for more. Thomas made her feel comforted, accepted. She pressed her forehead against his, speaking at a near whisper. “I want you inside me…”. She bit her lip, looking away bashfully before remembering her pact to never be shameful of her desires. 

His hands grabbed her cheeks, a tight handful through her leather pants. “Let’s take these off”. She rose, sliding her pants down, the sweat of her desire teasingly holding on to the leather as she pushed down. They hung on her boots, which she hurriedly kicked off as Thomas loosened his own trousers. Success! She chucked her boots aside, helping Thomas’ slide his pants to ankles. She stopped feeling a desire and need to prepare him for the journey ahead. Just as she felt the saliva in her mouth form, she felt a firm pressure of his hand beneath her chin. 

“Come to me” Thomas insisted, pulling her lips to his. She could taste her desire. She stood to place him between her freed beauty. With herself just above him, she paused to make eye contact with him so they could enjoy the moment together. 

She shimmered down. “Ahh”, they both released audible gasps of pleasure. Again she looked to him for connection and in return she found his dedicated eyes. Riley reveled in this bliss that she had longed for.

THIS, she could get used to. KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK- Three thumps rattled her door. She clamped down on Thomas, not in pleasure but in startled fear. A muffled voice pushed under the door. “Riley, we need you out here!”. The cook’s tone was that of sincerity.

Riley instinctively rose, her actions quick, efficient, and controlled. “Fuck Thomas, I’m sorry”. Her pants were already on, and she was stuffing her feet into her boots. Thomas followed suit, pulling his pants on and hastily throwing on his shirt. She walked towards the door, the beating knock returning. “Riley please we-”, she swung the door open cutting off Frank’s pleas. “I’m here!” she pushed past and towards the main deck.

Thomas stumbled out, still adjusting his shirt. The cook looked at him with unamused surprise. Thomas had assumed the cook was privy to his initiation but now Thomas was aware their adventure and connection had been previously secluded. The cook sighed under his breath, he had no time to deal with this. “Come on boy”.

On the deck the smell of burning wood was palpable. The crew had gathered, gawking at the flames in the dark distance. The remnants of a broken ship flickered in the moonlight. 

The Captain and Riley stood side-by-side analyzing the situation. “Sacking gone wrong?” Riley pondered. “No, too much damage.” “Military? The ship’s large enough.” Riley offered again.

The captain maintained her thousand yard stare, “At night? Not their style. Do you think it could be a trap?” Riley squinted at the flickering flames. “For who, us? Pretty costly trap, I don’t see it.” The captain turned her attention to Riley, “Let's go figure this out, approach, full sails.” 

“You heard the Captain, full sails!” the deck sprang to life with no hesitations. The Abyss was a night crew, a predator happily stalking in the shadows of the moon. “Ready the powder and grapples, full watch gentleman!” More bodies swirled the deck. Finneas’ unmistakable voice peaked through the bustling deck, “Merchant boy, help me distribute.” Thomas swayed toward Finneas doing his best to avoid crashing into anyone. “Are we expecting danger, Finneas?” 

“This is the pirate’s life, we ALWAYS expect danger!”