Conversations

 
What with the raid on the Reveille and the subsequent ‘celebration,’ it wasn’t until the next morning that Will finally had a chance to talk to Jack. He found him at the helm humming to himself and drinking in the sight of the sea before him.

He stood nearby quite awhile without speaking.

“Is there something you’re wanting, boy? Pleasant though I may be to look at, I imagine there’s something on your mind.”

“A lot of things, actually. But first I was elected by the rest of the crew to ask you something.” Jack looked slightly concerned. He didn’t cotton to the idea of anything happening on his ship that he didn’t know about and especially not something that required a spokesperson.

“And what’s that then?” Jack demanded, scowling slightly.

 As if Will wasn’t already feeling uncomfortable enough with this exchange, and yet he couldn’t deny his own curiosity. Especially after the sounds that had come out of Jack’s cabin.

“The crew has a pool as to how many times you and Suzanna...” he let the sentence trail off.

Jack’s expression changed very quickly and he barked a laugh. “Hah! Depraved little buggers, the lot of them! That’s why I love ‘em all. So what is it you’re wanting to know exactly? How many times? Just her, just me, both of us together, what?”

Now Will looked a little embarrassed and, truth be told, a little confused as well. Jack scrutinized him carefully. “I am forced to conclude by your expression, William, that I have been rather remiss in certain areas of your education. So, alright we’ll just take a nice round number and say eight.”

“No, just the first night.”

“That is just the first night, Will.”

The younger man just stared at him for a long time. Eventually he spoke. “Anna Maria called it, then. She said Suzanna looked to her like the kind of woman who once she got started, wouldn’t ever stop.”

Jack answered with a graceful nod. “That’s why she’s my First Mate, Will. Got a keen eye for a treasure, that one.”

Will still looked a little dazed.

Jack’s offer shook him out of it. “Will, get Gibbs to take over at the helm. Grab a bottle from me cabin and meet me on the terrace and we’ll have a little chat. Elizabeth will be so happy with me she’ll probably knit me a sweater. And Will, mind you tell the crew that the women had best not get wind of this little wager, or it’ll be both our nuts in a noose.”

********************

“Well,” Elizabeth said when they finally got a chance to speak.

“Well,” Suzanna replied, completely unable to keep the smile off her face.

“Suzanna, I’m wondering if we shouldn’t talk, because I’m feeling rather responsible for recent events and I have some concerns.” Elizabeth knew she sounded formal and fussy, but she couldn’t seem to help herself.

Suzanna’s back straightened. Surely she isn’t going to do this, she thought. I am the happiest I’ve ever been in my life, and she’s going to tell me I’m wrong.

“Suzanna, I know that Jack is incredibly charming and handsome and funny and all that. I suppose Will and I even hoped you two would hit it off, but it seems to be going a lot further than you having an exciting adventure during a 2 month stay. As much as I like Jack, I just don’t want to see you get hurt. Jack is just…he’s Jack…and he’s just so unpredictable. I just don’t think you can entirely trust him.”

Suzanna exploded. “And just where exactly is this moral high ground you’re standing on, Elizabeth, because I’m having a hard time finding it myself! Remember, I’ve got all the details of your little ‘curse’ adventure, and I think there may be a few things you’re leaving out, so let’s review shall we?” Elizabeth had spent countless hours with her cousin but she had never heard her tone so biting.

“First, you kept Will’s medallion all those years and never told him about it. Will broke 100 laws with Jack to come rescue you. Will told the crew that Jack ‘fell behind’ and left him on the Isla De Muerta with every reason to think Barbossa would kill him. You told Norrington you’d marry him to get him to agree to rescue Will, and you never told him about the curse for fear you wouldn’t get your way. You stood there at Jack’s hanging right up until the minute Will acted without doing a thing to stop it. And perhaps the most obscene of all, both you and William almost condemned each other to misery for the rest of your lives because you were both too goddamned proper and polite to tell each other how you really felt!” Elizabeth was stunned into silence.

“One of things I love about Jack is that he says straight out, ‘I want it, I’m going to take it.’ I think he’s the most honest bloody man I’ve ever known.”

The slamming door had the last word.

********************

Suzanna had long since given up on sleep. She tried writing a bit by candlelight but after 20 minutes found she was still staring at an empty page. Closing her notebook in disgust, she made her way out of the cabin and was surprised to find Will engaged in his own nocturnal peregrination around the deck.

She offered a weary smile. “You’re not sleeping either?”

“My wife’s a bit distraught after your conversation earlier today. I find it’s best to get out of the way.”

“Jack on the other hand is sleeping the sleep of pirates and small children and puppies—dead to the world and no worries.”

“I’ve known Jack for 2 years now and I’ve never seen him like this. It’s like he’s almost given up on seeming dark and mysterious with you around. He’s smiling all the time.”

Suzanna laughed. “Oh, I think he’s still plenty mysterious, smile or not.”

“You aren’t exactly looking the part of a dour widow yourself. Not that you did before,” he hastened to add.

“No, even at my husband’s funeral there was a notable lack of solemnity about me. I’m afraid I’ve never been very good at looking unhappy when I am not.”

“So in theory, the trip is half over…” Will left the observation hanging, while he pulled out a flask from his pocket and passed it to Suzanna. Her eyes crinkled in appreciation at the rum if not at the statement, and she took a long pull then passed it back.

“So Elizabeth was questioning Jack’s intentions, William. Are you here to check on mine? You feel protective of him, don’t you?”

“He’d fall over laughing if he heard it, wouldn’t he, but I suppose its true. He’s, well, you have an idea of all the things that are impossible about him, but there’s something about him that gets under your skin.”

“Hmm, I’ve noticed.”

Will almost blushed but not quite.

They shared some more rum and, eventually tired of going around in circles, took a seat.

“I imagine Elizabeth’s not too pleased with me right now. I meant what I said, Will, but I suppose my delivery could have used some improvement.”

Will frowned a bit and tried to share his perspective on things. “I think it’s just that Elizabeth grew up as the Governor’s daughter. Even though she was thrilled at the romance of pirates from the time she was little, and rejected Norrington and married me instead, part of her always feels like she’s doing something wrong. And yet that seems to be part of what makes it exciting for her. She wants things to be black and white, and they’re not…It’s complicated.”

Suzanna looked at him appraisingly. “Jack’s not the only one around here that gets underestimated, is he?” Will looked pleased.

“She’s angry with me, in part, because I don’t seem so torn. That’s what 14 more years of life buys you, Will, a higher degree of certainty about your own opinions and less and less concern about what anybody else thinks. But it doesn’t come cheap.”

“Will, may I share an observation while we’re all busy interfering in each other’s lives? You’re really happy on this ship, a lot happier than you are being stuck in that house.”

He looked like he was about to protest but Suzanna went on.

“I’m not saying you’re unhappy there. I know you adore Elizabeth and want to make her happy. I know you care about your work—you have that same pride in the swords you make that Jack has about the Pearl. But you’ve got a twinkle in your eye here; you walk differently...How can I put this...? In the governor’s mansion, you’re loving and sweet and responsible, and I always have this desire to mess you up somehow. But out here, I’m looking at this different person who’ll make lewd suggestions to his wife over dinner, who’s truly dangerous with a sword in his hand, who’s really quite...irresistible.”

He raised an eyebrow at her, and she thought, he’s doing it right now. He doesn’t even realize how good he looks.

She hastened to reassure him. “I’m not making untoward advances toward you, William, and I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I’m just trying to make a point because I don’t think you see yourself very clearly anymore than she does. Just let the pirate out to play a little more, even when you’re home. You really can have the best of both worlds together, and you don’t have to choose between them.”

“Is that what you want, Suzanna, the best of both worlds?”

She sighed. “No, I want the moon and the stars, and I always have.” She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Goodnight, Will. Go make love to your wife. I think I’ll go see if the Captain’s missed me yet.” And with that she turned gracefully on her heel and walked away.

********************

When Suzanna entered the cabin her breath caught in her throat. It was a particularly warm evening and Jack had kicked off the thin blanket and lay stretched out in all his glory. Christ, she had never seen anything more beautiful in her life, particularly as he was either having a very good dream or he was already awake and waiting for her. She couldn’t resist, moving onto the bed and placing one hand on his chest while her lips brushed his. Jack wasted no time in kissing her, a long, lingering kiss that said, “it’s still dark out....we have time...where were you anyway?”

“Hmmm, you taste like rum,” he inhaled her hair, “but you smell like Will. Where the hell have you been? Do I finally have to kill the whelp just when he was getting interesting?”

She smiled. “No, just drinking and talking. I’ll tell you about it later but not now. Too many words today. I’m tired of words...” and she began kissing along his jaw line and then licking and sucking at his neck then back up to his mouth, wanting desperately for the taste of him to make the words go away. Her lips returned to his neck, her hands running back and forth along his arms across his chest and over his nipples, earning her a shiver, and down along his sides. She was learning the language of their bodies over these last few days, and her fingers spoke to him now, telling him how much delight she took in him, letting him know how much she wanted him. She brought her mouth back to his and kissed him as hard as he’d ever kissed her, and they were both a little taken aback by the raw desire of it. She moved lower now, her fingers delighting in the feel of his muscles contracting at her touch, while her mouth moved to lick and suck at his nipples. He moaned and he felt her smile against him, loving their response to each other. He was torn between disappointment and anticipation when she moved again, feeling her lips and then her tongue on his belly.

Finally, her hand moved up to where he was most desperate for her touch, and her finger spread the evidence of his desire for her back and forth over the tip, criss-crossing and swirling around, back and forth, over and over.

“Christ, woman! What are you doing to me?”

Without moving her hand, she moved her body up, kissing him again, and purred in his ear, “I believe somebody told me that X always marks the spot for the treasure. Time to find out. And Jack...” she warned, “no stopping me this time.” She returned to her search for treasure, stopping to bite at a nipple and a hipbone along the way. Not giving him time to protest, her lips and tongue took over from the teasing finger and her hand moved to hold him while she explored. Jack moaned deeply and Suzanna pressed further, moving down as far as she could manage and breathing him in. A thought came to her and she couldn’t suppress a chuckle, and the vibrations it caused nearly ending it all right then. He finally put his hand on her shoulder to still her a moment, not willing to give in yet. When he’d gained just enough control that he could finally breathe a little, he questioned the reason behind the laugh.

“This isn’t generally considered a time for laughter, luv. Gives a man pause as to the cause... although the effect...” and he shuddered again.

“I was thinking that you smelled like truffles and a rich red wine.” His face still puzzled at hers. “Then I thought about what you said the other day about not coming between me and my food....” As distracted as he was by desire, he let out a throaty laugh at this but it turned to a cry as she turned back to her work. Now she teased and kissed and suckled her way up and down his length, reveling in the chance to taste him everywhere. Her tongue slid around her own mouth now, savoring, as she caressed him with her hair and ran the smooth skin of her face up against the velvet. He may smell like the earth, but he tastes like the sea, she thought, and went back for more of the salt and the spice and the sweet.

Jack was in agony now and he couldn’t stop moaning as he pulled up to reach for her, but she pushed him back down. Never had a woman made love to him like this before. She had all the wonder and curiosity of a relative innocent but all the sensuality and determination of the luscious woman she was. She was moaning now too, his heat and passion inflaming her own, until her resolve to finish this started to falter. Her obvious pleasure at bringing him his was too much for him, and at that moment whatever resistance that remained in Jack Sparrow unraveled, and he exploded into the silky sweetness of her mouth and was truly lost to the deep.

********************

When Will got back to the cabin, he found Elizabeth had finally given in to exhaustion, her mouth slightly open and her face crunched up as if she was trying to puzzle something out in her sleep. He took several long deep breaths as he watched her and came to some decision within himself. Stripping off all his clothes, he lay down next to her, waking her up with kisses, gentle and teasing at first, then more and more insistent as his desire grew. Elizabeth was more than startled at the look in his eyes as he peeled off her gown and pulled her to him.

********************

The sun was coming up several hours later and Will still hadn’t been to sleep, but he didn’t think he cared if he ever slept again. He had been more than anxious to test out the fruits of his conversation with Jack. They’d been married just under 6 months, but Will felt like the honeymoon had truly begun this morning. The irony was that he was really only doing what he’d wanted to do all along, and it turned out to be the perfect thing. Mmmm, honeymoon....honey.... he thought, as it all played over in his mind, the memory of Elizabeth’s screams making him want her all over again. Oh what the hell, he thought. We can sleep when we’re dead...and moved to disappear beneath the sheets.

********************

Later that morning, well it was closer to noon, and after some very pleasurable interrogation of her exhausted but smirking husband, Elizabeth went out of her way to find Jack, dramatically kissing his face with a resounding smack. She almost put him on the floor in shock when she whispered in his ear, “Had I suspected, I might not have burned the rum.”

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Chapter Nine