The Sea Hawk (23 page)

Still holding Julia's right hand, Simone shifted slightly and said, "No. Please sit here beside me. I am much better now. Tell me what has happened while I was recovering."

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Julia turned her body to face Simone. "Joaquin and Esperanza have been worried about you, especially Joaquin," she said.

"What happened was not his fault, nor Esperanza's," Simone said as she looked at Julia's hand in hers and stroked the back of it lightly with her thumb. "We were betrayed by someone we trusted."

"General Jackson has arrived in the city with his men and everyone seems to be in better spirits because of it. Mr. Livingston has sent word to Laffite and they expect him to arrive within the week," Julia continued. Simone nodded at the news as she turned Julia's hand in hers and let her fingers travel to Julia's wrist, brushing the sensitive skin softly.

"Anton...Anton has gone with a small party of men to the German Coast to meet with Laffite and bring your men back as well. Kitty is beside herself, naturally. They have become quite an item," Julia chuckled.

Bringing her eyes up to meet Julia's, Simone smiled. "An item? This is a good thing?"

"Sorry," Julia answered. "I meant I think they care for one another." She couldn't pull her eyes away from Simone's.

"She loves him?" Simone asked as her fingers stroked farther up Julia's arm.

"I believe she does," Julia said. She put her hand over Simone's to stop it from continuing its slow tortuous journey. "Please, Simone. You don't know what you are doing to me."

"If it is half of what looking at you stirs within me, then I cannot imagine anything more painfully sweet," Simone said, her voice deep and husky. Raising her hand to Julia's face, she let it linger along her cheek.

Leaning into the touch, Julia whispered, "It is a most exquisite pain."

Sitting up farther and leaning forward, Simone brought her lips within centimeters of Julia's, pausing a fraction of a second before pulling Julia gently to her, kissing the edges of her lips and feeling the pulse in her neck increase. She teased her with the tip of her tongue until Julia's lips parted. A moan came from Julia's throat as she savored the first intimacy between them and encouraged Simone to explore her mouth fully and deeply, her tongue as anxious as Simone's to discover the pleasures within. It was the slowest, most gentle, sensuous kiss Julia could remember experiencing. She wasn't ready for it to end when Simone finally broke their connection and held her cheek to Julia's.

"Lie with me," Simone whispered, her breath hot against Julia's ear, sending a tremor through her body.

"Your injuries...," Julia breathed back.

"I shall surely die if I cannot touch you,
mon amour
. I will deny my feelings no longer."

Julia stood and began unlacing the bodice of her blouse. Simone took in the tempting cleavage. Gazing down at Simone, Julia said, "I must forewarn you I am incapable of being a passive lover."

"Then give of yourself freely and with as much passion as you feel," Simone said with a smile as the blouse rose over Julia's head and dropped to the floor. Placing a hand on Julia's waist, Simone drew her closer, kissing along her side as her skirt began to fall away. Julia saw the smoldering desire in Simone's eyes and brought their lips together once again, restraining herself from devouring her. She knew it must have hurt as Simone pulled the shirt she was sleeping in over her head and drew Julia close against her, breathing in her scent, their breasts brushing against one another. Julia moved onto the bed, kissing Simone and straddling her lower body as she wrapped her arms around her lover's neck and cradled her head to hold her in their kiss. With Simone's hands exploring her naked body, Julia's mind went blank and she drank in the exquisite lightness of her touch and the feel of soft lips against hers, a feeling she had been unable to erase from her mind since the day they met on board the
Viper
. Now those lips were used not to demonstrate control, but in complete surrender to passion.

Julia arched her neck back, exposing it to Simone's searching mouth. Relishing the maddening slowness of Simone's tender caresses, Julia gasped as she felt Simone enter her quickly and then withdraw. She opened her eyes, breathing heavily as Simone brought her fingers to her mouth and licked them. She felt as if she was drowning in the pupils that expanded with ever-growing desire. "Like your cider, you, too, are more delicious than your scent," Simone said as their lips met again.

Tasting herself on Simone's lips was more than Julia could bear. "Simone, please," she choked out. "I..." But her plea was answered before she could speak it as Simone sought her mouth again, her tongue thrusting into it in rhythm with the thrust of her fingers entering Julia's body. As she rode Simone's hand, her thumb finding the swollen clitoris with each stroke, Julia was lost on an ocean of indescribable pleasure, its waves crashing onto the shore of her body just as relentlessly. She clung to the only thing that kept her from drowning. The safety of her lover's arms.

THIN SHAFTS OF light crossing the floor though a crack in the closed shutters of the bedroom window greeted Julia as she blinked her eyes open. Disoriented for a moment, she moved. A hand sliding up her hip and across her waist, pulling her into the warmth of the body lying behind her brought her back to reality and she smiled contentedly. This time it was not a dream.

"It is too soon to get up,
mon amour
. I have only now fallen asleep," Simone mumbled against Julia's hair.

Moving the covers enough to turn, Julia rolled over to gaze into Simone's eyes. Stroking back disheveled black hair she leaned closer and gently kissed her lover, bringing a crooked smile to Simone's lips. "I have to move to look at you. You are very beautiful when you sleep and I love looking at you." Trailing her fingers down Simone's arm, she said, "Go back to sleep so I can stare at you a little longer."

"How can you expect me to sleep when you touch me in such a way?" Simone said with a chuckle.

"You will have to get used to it."

"I shall never tire of it. Even when we have grown old and gray, many, many years from now." A grimace crossed Simone's face as she drew her arm up and propped her head on her hand.

"Are you all right, Simone?" Julia lifted the cover and looked at the bandage covering the wound. "I should change that."

"No, no. I am fine. There is a miraculous healing quality in your kisses and touches. I shall have to keep you in case I am injured again." Leaning down, she kissed Julia's forehead and began making her way down her cheek toward her mouth, her hand drifting up Julia's abdomen and stroking the warm silken softness of her breast.

"Oh, no, you don't!" Julia laughed, holding her at bay. "You are going to rest now and I am going to find some breakfast for us."

Simone groaned as she fell back onto her pillow. "Is this what I have to look forward to as we grow old and gray? Being rejected by the woman I desire? And in my own bed?"

Julia stood and looked around for something to cover her naked body. "First of all, my dear Captain, this is not your bed," she said as she bent to look at the foot of the bed. "And second...aha," she continued as she found a nightgown and pulled it over her head, "second, we will have many more nights to look forward to together in the years to come." She moved to the side of the bed and lowered her mouth to Simone's. "And third, I hope you will always desire me as you did last night. Only a fool would reject you," she whispered as she kissed Simone. "I am no fool."

AFTER ASSISTING SIMONE into the shirt she slept in and finding a robe to wear over her nightgown, Julia opened the shutters a few inches and let fresh air into the bedroom. Closing the door behind her, she walked along the second story balcony and took wrought iron steps into the open courtyard she was sure was filled with flowering plants in the spring and summer months. Crossing the paved walkway which was hidden from the street by a high gated fence, she hummed quietly to herself as she opened the door leading into the kitchen and dining area of the French-style home. Perhaps when, or if, she returned to her home on Tybee Island, she would repaint it in bright colors to remind her of her stay in the real New Orleans. She frowned as she shook her head. She would never return to Tybee Island. To go home would mean losing Simone and that was unthinkable. This was where she belonged. Simone was the woman with whom she would spend the remainder of her life.

Glancing into the dining room, she spotted Joaquin sitting at the main table. Entering the large room, she smiled down at him and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Good morning, Joaquin. Did you sleep well last night?"

He looked up at her and nodded. "Is
Faucon
well this morning?"

"She is growing stronger each day. Perhaps after she has a little something to eat she will feel even better."

"May I take breakfast to her?"

"Of course you may. I know she would very much like to see you. Help me?"

Joaquin helped Julia prepare coffee, juice, and cut up fruit and set it on a tray. "
Monsieur
Livingston brought beignets this morning," Joaquin said.

"Then beignets it shall be. Tell Simone I will be up in a little bit to help her out of bed." Julia smiled as she watched Joaquin carefully carrying the tray across the courtyard while she prepared a cup of chicory for herself. She watched the boy enter Simone's room. Suddenly the hair along the back of her neck prickled and she rubbed at it absently. Feeling as if someone was watching her she turned to find Esperanza standing in the shadow of the doorway between the kitchen and dining room. "Good morning, Esperanza," she said quietly.

"Good morning,
Mademoiselle
. Is Simone rested this morning?"

"Yes. I think we might be able to let her join us downstairs later. I'm sure she would enjoy being with other people for a change. She is still a little weak, but improving with each day." Although from her performance the night before, Julia thought any lack of stamina on her lover's part now was more likely from exhaustion than her injury.

Esperanza slowly walked across the kitchen and folded her arms over her chest as she gazed out the window into the courtyard. Without looking at Julia, she spoke. "Simone saved my life five years ago. Since that time she has cared of me and my son. I have been her lover for four of those years." She glanced quickly at Julia then shifted her eyes away before taking a deep breath. "I have had her body many times," she said in a low voice. Facing Julia she continued, "But I have never had her heart. She has saved it for someone else and now, unless I am mistaken, she has given it away."

Julia could think of no response to what Esperanza was saying and could only stare into the cooling cup in her hands. "I cannot say I do not envy you," Esperanza went on. "Simone is a woman of deep passion, but has never looked at me the way she looks at you. She cannot deny her desires even though she has tried. What lives in the heart cannot be denied. Now you must care for her. She deserves nothing less."

"I--I don't know what to say, Esperanza. It was never my intention..."

"No one can predict these things. I wish you no ill-will. But it would be a lie to say I will not miss her."

"What about Joaquin?"

"He is my son by birth alone. I care for him, but not as Simone does. I would never attempt to keep them apart."

"I hope one day you and I will become friends. You have a place in Simone's life as well," Julia said.

"I have done terrible things to you."

"Nothing more than any woman in love and seeing it slip away wouldn't have done. No one has been harmed."

Esperanza pushed herself away from the counter and extended her hand to Julia, who took it gratefully.

Chapter Eighteen

WHEN JEAN LAFFITE entered a home his presence commanded everyone's attention. His appearance at the home of Edward Livingston late on the afternoon of December sixteenth was no less an event than if he had suddenly made an appearance before the city's constable. A flurry of activity began as soon as he swept into the house and would, no doubt, continue until his departure. Tossing his hat and coat to Livingston's housekeeper, Laffite strode into the living room. Simone was reclining on the divan chatting with Julia. Laffite stopped in front of Simone and, placing his hands on his hips, smiled down at her.

"On your feet, woman!" he demanded. "We have business to discuss."

"Captain Moreau is still recovering from her injuries, Mr. Laffite," Julia protested.

Laffite's smile widened, flashing amazingly white teeth beneath his black moustache as he shifted his gaze to Julia.

"If I should become injured I pray I would have as beautiful a nurse," he said. Shrugging, he took a nearby side chair and pulled it closer to the sofa. "But, alas, I would most likely be saddled with Pierre once again."

Julia looked quizzically at Simone who smiled and said, "His brother, my dear."

"I am pleased to see you survived your encounter with the British, Simone. How much longer will you be recuperating?"

"I am fine now, Jean."

"The British fleet arrived at Lake Borgne four days ago."

"How many ships?"

"My observers say the line of ships stretched beyond the horizon. The Americans had little with which to combat them. Pesky resistance at best."

"I will not risk my ships or men to fight an armada, Jean. There is no cause worth a fight that cannot be won."

"You must come with me tomorrow. Livingston has arranged a meeting with General Jackson at his headquarters. We must convince him to accept our assistance in repelling the British. Together we command a thousand experienced fighters and cannoneers."

"You will be arrested as soon as you show your face, Jean. These ideals you have become so enamored of surely are not worth the risk of your life."

Laffite waved a small hand in dismissal. "Livingston will be arriving soon with the necessary paperwork to assure my continued freedom. They forget that I am Jean Laffite, a French-born citizen in a French city. There are few Americans here, my friend. I have asked that you be included in the paperwork to protect you as well."