Page 15 of A Descent Into Darkness

“Sweet, blue eyed Mary,” Henry marveled. “I hear she flows like a mighty river.”

I chuckled at his response. “You enjoy a matronly woman?” I raised my brow, “Did your mum not let yousuckle at her teat long enough?” I laughed. Mary had been withTheGilded Fillysince my first days back across the Veil. She had aged well, but she was definitely one of the oldest women in the brothel.

“I’ve never been with a woman who overflows with pleasure.” A smirk slid across his face. “I want to bathe in her sweet release.” The rum definitely had Henry spilling his hidden desires. “Who is the lucky lady pulling your pole tonight?”

“Miss Alice has taken my interest.”

“Alice? The new blonde girl with the big perky bubbies?”

I smiled in response before taking another swig of rum.

“She reminds you of Kat, doesn’t she?” He sighed as the smile slid off his face. “That woman is going to be your demise, James.”

I wasn’t as sly as I had hoped. “It’s true. The woman has bewitched me. Katherine is a love I can not afford. She is forbidden and yet no matter how many times I deny my feelings, they keep flooding back. It’s just a matter of time before the dam comes tumbling down around me.”

“Feelings? Have you gone mad like our dear captain?”

“Henry, I’m hopelessly lost in her spell. I don’t know what to do. Maybe Miss Alice can help release the ever-growing pressure.”

“For your sake, and hers, I hope it works. Katherine is off limits, my friend, and Teach won’t be merciful if he finds out you have developed feelings for his prized possession. Does she know?”

“No, she doesn’t, and I’d like to keep it that way.” I hadn’t made my feelings known to Kat. Our relationship was already flirting with danger. I’d taken every opportunity I could to sneak off to her room. At first, I’d used our little agreement as a means to rationalize the visits. We’d spent countless hours together while she taught me the art of alchemy, but I’d long since conceded that it was her company that kept me eager to return and not the tutoring. Taking things further would only prove deadly. “Why don’t you find Miss Mary before you come to your senses. Go… swim in her salty seas, my friend.” I shooed him off before he could continue his questioning.

Teach’s obsession with Katherine had only grown with time, and I prayed to the Divine he would tire of her soon. It was becoming increasingly harder to watch him use her over and over for his carnal desires. He had never questioned the amount of time we’d been spending together. He trusted me. I had pledged fealty and would never overstep my boundaries, and in many ways that was true. But I would not deny myself the light she brought to my once dull, dark days.

“Everything is to your request,Mr. James,” Madame Matisse assured. “You’ll have our utmost discretion.”

“Thank you, Madame.” I bowed my head in respect and handed her a hefty sack of coin before entering the private space.

Miss Alice stood still in the center of the room, a visionin emerald-green silk. The dim flickering of candlelight helped to blur the finer details of her face, allowing me, for the moment to believe that she was indeed my beloved Katherine. This was as close to touching her as I could get, and I was a desperate man. I needed to quench this thirst before I broke my fealty to Teach. I took a final hearty swig off the bottle of rum and made my way over to her.

“You can call me whatever pleases you,” Alice cooed.

“Silence,” I barked. “No speaking.” I didn’t want the sound of her voice to break the spell. If this was going to work, I needed to believe the mirage. I shook my spinning head and allowed myself to swim deeper into the illusion. “I’ve wanted this for so long.” I brushed her blonde hair behind her shoulder before gripping her face and tilting her head to mine. I kissed her hard. My tongue exploring her hungry mouth, while my hands roamed freely over the silk gown, relishing in the curves of her body.

I turned her around and ripped the laces from the bodice, peeling it away from her skin. I reached my hands up, cupping her warm pillowed breasts and groaned at the feel of them in my hands. I pressed my cheek against her bare back, closing my eyes and embraced her petite form. The scent of Katherine still lingered on the fabric, spiraling me deeper into the fantasy. Her nipples peaked against my palms, begging to be touched. I pinched and pulled at them while biting the soft flesh of her shoulders, drawing out little mews of approval. My cock was hard as a rock. Years ofsuppressing my desire were about to come to a head. I needed release now.

I bent Alice over the bed, keeping her face away from mine and pulled her skirts up over her ass, exposing her slick slit. Reaching down between us, I dropped my breeches, pulling out my cock. I slid the tip through her wetness before sliding in ever so slowly, savoring the sensation of her sheathing me deep inside. Alice moaned as I buried myself to the hilt and started pumping into her. It had been far too long since I felt the warm, wet embrace of a woman. So much pent up temptation. I wouldn’t last long.

“James?” I heard her voice before I noticed the light spilling in from the hall. I instantly froze. My heart broke into a million pieces. She was never meant to witness this. I quickly pulled out of Miss Alice and pulled up my breeches before turning to face my beloved.

“Kat? What are you doing here?” She was supposed to stay on the ship while we were at port. I prayed to the Divine that she would find a way to understand.

“It doesn’t matter why. I’m here now. Is that my dress?” The look on her face was utter confusion. “James, why is this whore wearing my dress?”

“I—I uhh… I’ll leave you two.” Alice covered up her breasts and quickly left the room, shutting the door behind her.

“Katherine, please,” I begged as tears formed in her eyes. “I needed. I couldn’t?—”

“I don’t understand. What’s happening?”

I walked closer as she backed up against the wall, trying to keep space between us as tears spilled down her cheeks.

“Please, Kat, don’t cry. Please, forgive me, for I am a desperate man. Tell me that I disgust you,” I pleaded. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. Please, tell me you hate me. Release me from your spell.”

“That is not an answer! You stole from me. One of the few possessions that I can call my own, and for what? To dress up your whore? Why? I need to know why, James.” She stood with her hands fisted at her side, her cheeks streaked with angry tears. Her eyes searching for answers. Crushing my broken heart.

“There is no sense in trying to hide it anymore.” I tried to rationalize my behavior. “I’ve fought to keep it to myself.” I shook my head in an attempt to clear the buzz from the rum. “Katherine,” I sighed. “I can’t breathe without you. I… I love you.”

---