Apprentice To The Sorcerer

I became so used to the winding path it surprised me when we came out to the top of the hill. Scorby shot past me, leaping into the air as if launched. She came down with two quail. Absently, I praised her, my eyes distracted by the unusual flatness of the summit. I inattentively wrung a bird’s neck as I willed Jack to look at me. He turned his head.

“This is where I want to build,” Jack announced, spreading his arms wide. He grinned. “This is the perfect place. What do you think?”

I killed the other bird and stood up. “You won’t have to make it level,” I murmured. “There must be fresh water up here too.” I faced the left edge, inhaling the strong scent of the sea and growing things. “Once you fortify it, it will be difficult for an enemy to breech; the walk up here alone will wear out most people.” Letting my eyes swing to the far right, I noticed how closely together the fruit and coconut tress seemed to be. On the periphery of the wild grove lay a stretch of land that would be perfect for gardening. Past that, plenty of room for keeping livestock. “It is perfect,” I agreed.

Abruptly I felt wrapped in male strength. Jack hugged me from behind, encircling my waist. “I know marriage isn’t your thing,” he whispered, lips warm against my ear. “And it doesn’t fret me if you stick to your guns on it, but I hope you’ll consider marrying me. I’d love to give you m’last name, Lizzie.”

I closed my eyes against the perfection of a dream. Leaning into him, I slid my cheek against his. My body trembled all over. “Jack,” I whispered.

“Don’t tell me now,” he interrupted softly. “You know I don’t need paper to love you. I’ll take whatever you’ll give, now and forever.” He smoothed the hair from my face, touched his lips to my temple.

Not for the first time did the simple honesty of a pirate shake my foundations. I knew Jack could love me without that paper. I knew his feelings ran deep. Somehow I had garnered his love.

“I know ye came to the sea to escape,” Jack went on. “I know ye ran from a home, a husband, babies and the like. It’s a villain’s thing I do, asking you to take a fate that poor William offered.” He gripped me tighter, rubbing his face against mine, letting his hair fall forward to cover us. His molasses and musk scent washed over me. “And I have to know, Lizzie,” he said softly. “Am I taking you from your best dreams of the sea if I keep you here?”

My heart thudded painfully. I squeezed a tear out of my eye and turned in his arms to face him. “No, Jack, you aren’t,” I answered. “I do love the sea, but I love you more.”

Jack’s deep eyes seemed to glow from the inside. Tenderly, he pressed his lips to mine. “I’ll be worthy of that love,” he said, kissing me. “We beat the odds, Lizzie. You know we did.”

For a few minutes we simply soaked in each other’s presence. Scorby got into the act when we didn’t break apart. She butted our legs and swatted at Jack’s sash. Jack smiled down at her. “Story of my life,” he muttered. “A female trying to hit me.”

I shoved his shoulder. “If I ever try to hit you, I’ll succeed,” I boasted.

He grinned. “No doubt.” Jack put his arm around my waist. “Let me show you around our future, shall I?”

“Most certainly, Captain,” I agreed.

We walked the perimeter very slowly. I listened to his plans very carefully, vigilant not to miss a bit of his expounding. By the time we reached the wild orchard, the sun hung in the middle of the sky and my stomach complained. I flopped down underneath a lemon tree and stared up at the green, leafy canopy. Jack walked a short distance away, coming back with a coconut.

I watched him sharpen a tough piece of wood into a spike and shove it point-up between two heavy rocks. He took the coconut and positioned it overhead, bringing it down with force on the spike. The hull fell away. Jack tugged the spike out and tossed it aside. He then wedged the coconut itself between the rocks, drew out his boot knife, and pierced the hard shell. It hadn’t taken him two minutes to get inside the coconut.

He offered me the nut and I drank some of the sweet milk inside gratefully. He finished the rest off. Afterwards, he smashed the shell open and we ate the tender flesh in companionable silence. My belly quieted, but continued to sulk. I plucked the birds Scorby had caught. Jack made a fire. We each gutted a bird and burned the entrails. Very soon we had the birds roasting on a spit.

“I’ll be right back,” Jack said, getting to his feet with the empty coconut shell halves. He strode further back into the greenery. When he returned he handed me a shell full of cold, clean water. I drank, sighing in pleasure.

“You’re so beautiful, Lizzie,” Jack murmured. Surprised, I glanced up at him.

“Thank you,” I answered, giving him a smile. “I’ve heard it before but it means the most coming from you.” I moved closer to him, bracing my back on his side and chest. Letting my head drop backward, I stared up at him. His beard braids tickled my face. I flicked them, watching the beads and listening to them click together. “I’ve never seen anyone else do this,” I said, giving the braids a little tug. “I like it. Gives you a rather barbarous look this side of genteel.”

I moved on to wrap my hand around one of his hair braids, fingering the beads one by one. “Are any of these for happy occasions?”

Jack smiled softly. “They’re all quite happy. I suppose you’ve divined what they represent?”

“Your fit about Barbossa clued me into the purpose of them, yes,” I answered. “I like the way you jingle and click because of them. How do you keep silent though?”

Jack captured my hand, holding it to his chest. “On a ship there is always the ocean to conceal much noise. Here I may have to tie my hair back.” He shifted until my head lay in his lap. “But I don’t plan on being sneaky on my own island, so it hardly matters.” As he spoke he stroked my forehead, moving hair from my eyes and generally soothing me.

But I wasn’t soothed. I thought about Peter when Jack mentioned being sneaky. Peter had noticed the disappearance of men despite Jack’s discretion.

“What?” Jack leaned over me slightly. “Something troubles you.”

“Peter,” I admitted. “He’s watching you. I suppose you’ve noticed?”

“He doesn’t like my method of getting rid of troublemakers,” Jack said quietly. “I thought you might notice that yourself, as close as you are to the Irishman.”

“I’m not really all that close to Peter,” I said. “He was a good man to learn from and I respect him as a person, but he’s only close to his wife I think. He’s welcome to her.”

“Poor Mrs. Blood,” Jack said, his voice completely insincere.

“Indeed.” I rolled my head to look at Jack. “Be careful, please. I don’t want either one of you injured if he decides to fight you. I couldn’t do without you, Jack, and I couldn’t forgive Peter if he harmed you.”

Jack touched my cheek with his forefinger. “You haven’t asked me not to fight him, I see.”

“Men settle things their own way,” I answered, hating the truth of my own words. “And I don’t have any doubts as to who would win.”

“I make mistakes, Lizzie,” Jack murmured softly. “A victory isn’t always certain. But your confidence in me gives me strength.” He leaned down and kissed me full on the lips. “I promise not to fight your friend. I will find another way to settle what lies between Blood and me.” He placed his finger across my lips when I drew breath to speak. “No, I mean it,” he went on. “One thing I can say about the Irishman is I can rely on his sense of fair play. He is not a brute. He simply doesn’t have the stomach for killing. Would that more men had his moral high ground.”

“It can be a crutch,” I argued around his finger. “Sometimes there is no other way. To adhere to moral standards without compromise is to cripple yourself.”

Jack considered me a moment. “You are a very wise woman,” he said. “Who taught you that?” He had a distinct twinkle in his eyes.

I sucked his finger in my mouth, tasting coconut.

Jack’s eyes darkened.

Slowly, I swirled my tongue around his knuckle. He shivered and went taut. Easing upward, I bit his finger to keep it in my mouth. I reached, grabbed his top belt and loosened it. Keeping Jack’s eyes, I undid his second belt and removed his sash. All the while I played with his finger, flicking it with my tongue. The bulge in his breeches grew to the amazing proportions I so greedily anticipated. I unbuttoned and freed the length of him.

If he liked having his finger sucked it only stood to reason other parts of him would like it too.

Jack groaned as I took him in my fist. I bent, releasing his finger so I could lick him from balls to tip. His entire frame stretched tight, lifting his body from the ground for just a moment. “Lizzie,” he gasped.

His gasp transformed to a strangled moan as I closed my lips over the head of his shaft. He tasted clean. My eyelids fluttered in pleasure as I took in his musky smell. The scent came from everywhere on his body, but here it was strong. I rolled him with my tongue, taking him down slowly. Jack cursed, reaching behind himself to grip the tree.

I bobbed on him slowly, relishing his taste and his sounds of pleasure. I had power here, a very intoxicating control. His enjoyment made me wet.

Swirling, sucking, I lowered my mouth as far over him as I could manage. Much of him would not fit. I straightened my throat, trying again. This time I managed only to gag myself, but the sound of it made Jack groan like a tortured soul. His hands clenched upon the bark, his nails digging out pieces of it. I closed around him tightly, mindful of my teeth.

“Lizzie,” Jack repeated, gasping. He seemed desperate to touch me, yet his hands did not move. I moved up and down, sucking harder. His hips began to buck, but he aborted the movement just short of gagging me again. I felt determined to make him lose control. I wanted to see him drowning in pleasure while knowing I had caused it. My tongue flicked over the flange of his cock rapidly. His balls jerked.

Curious, I gently moved my palm underneath his sac. I rolled the separate orbs around with care as I worshipped him with my mouth. Jack quivered. I looked up in time to see him throw his head back, bliss washing over his fine features.

“Oh God, Lizzie,” Jack moaned. “Yes. More.”

I reached out and grabbed his arms, bringing them off the tree. Still ministering to his cock, I took his hands and placed them on either side of my head. I cupped his swinging sac once more, going breathless the moment he realized I wanted him to lead me.

“Sweet, fucking Christ,” Jack panted. His fingers twined in my hair.

Jack pushed me down, stretching my lips wider. The head of him hit my throat. I relaxed, feeling the urge to gag suppress. I couldn’t breathe very well. He pulled me back up and I inhaled. In moments my head rocked between his hands and he began to fuck my mouth.

I was on fire. I put my fist against my lips, increasing the wet tunnel for him. With my other hand I sought the aching area between my legs. With every thrust I made over him, I made one for myself. Jack reverted to form, growling like an animal as he slammed me over him again and again. “Suck me, Lizzie,” he commanded, making me gush. “Suck me hard.”

Spurred by his words, I came hard and fast. Yet, I managed to do as he wanted. On his down stroke I took him deeper, timing my breathing in between thrusts. I had to take my hand away as he managed to bend and enter my throat. As strange and awkward as I found it, Jack loved it. He went mad, coming up on his knees to hold my head in a death grip. Now I could do nothing but take his cock.

Almost nothing.

I held his balls again, palming them, letting them drop, allowing them to lightly slap my chin. I spread my free hand wide over the middle of his flexing buttocks, dropping my middle finger flat between his cheeks. Jack stiffened, groaned and tore me away from him, my lips leaving him with a resounding pop. I latched onto him again, determined to taste him the way he’d tasted me.

He took my willingness gladly, plowing back between my lips. His entire body spasmed and rocked with the force of his climax. I felt him shoot down my throat. Reflexively, I swallowed, watching his balls draw up tight and jerk with the force of his eruption.

Jack collapsed bare-arsed upon the ground, his chest heaving and his muscles trembling. I lay down beside him, resting my head in the crock of his arm. Both of us gasped for breath. To my disappointment, Jack had been too far down to leave his taste in my mouth. I would rectify that at my next opportunity. Despite having to be so synchronous in our actions, I’d really enjoyed sucking his cock. His pleasure and the power I had to give it made for a very erotic experience.

Jack cradled me to him, reaching out with his foot to turn the spit so our meal didn’t burn. “Lizzie,” he murmured. “It’s no wonder your blacksmith wants to ventilate me. I wouldn’t take no for an answer either.”

“I never did that to Will,” I said, seeing no reason not to discuss my lack of love life with William Turner. “Will wouldn’t even talk about jerking himself off. He wouldn’t even let me touch him there through his clothes.” I paused. “I was just having those feelings, I wanted to explore. Will didn’t think it proper. He wanted to wait until we were married.”

“Most people claim to do it that way, in the circle you come from.” Jack played with my hair, draping it over himself. “I can’t believe you’ve never done that before. You owned me.”

I allowed a delicious little shiver to go up my spine. All I had done was pay attention to how he reacted. “I assure you of my veracity,” I said, feeling mischievous. “How good was I?”

Jack chuckled deeply. “’Ow was I? she says,” he posed. “Lizzie, you were good enough to erase every thought in my head. I’ve never felt anything like it.”

I felt a ripple of surprise pass through me. “No one has ever sucked your cock before?”

Jack groaned. “Don’t talk to me like that,” he pleaded. “Hearing foul words come out of your mouth makes me want to come into it.” He tweaked my earlobe. “But no, I’ve never had a woman I felt comfortable enough with for that. Teeth are frightening. And it’s more…intimate.”

“But you did much the same for me,” I protested. “You would do that for others yet you wouldn’t allow them to do it?”

“Lizzie, there’s more to it than that,” Jack said softly. “Most women find what you did to me a chore anyway. And I’ve had little but doxies in my life. I’ve been waiting for years and years for a clean, sweet cunt in my mouth.” He grabbed me, dragged me over and onto his body. “I’ve been waiting for the woman I could do these things with, Lizzie, though I’ve taken my pleasure of more than a few. I wore sheepskin and did little touching. T’was an urge that needed filling. It usually left me feeling more lonely than doing without, savvy?”

Jack smiled as he ran his hands through my hair. “But I’m not lonely anymore. And I’m strung tight as a guide wire to have you, and only you. I’ll be damned if I know what you see in me, but I’ll be double-damned if I let your bad eyesight ruin my heaven.” His smile grew as he playfully pinched the tip of my nose. “My little socialite runaway and opinionated lass,” he teased. “She c’n climb the rigging faster than any old salt, fight two at once, catch squid for dinner, and sew a crew up before lights out.”

“You liked the squid,” I said.

“I did like the squid,” Jack agreed solemnly.