Setting Sail 14- a Baker, A sailor, and The Moonlight

Rising from the table to greet her, Wilkes felt a kind of nervous excitement. He offered his arm again and she laughed at him but took it all the same. There was a dreamy look in her eyes while leaning in on him. When their feet first fell against the cobblestone a question tumbled out of his mouth. “So, Hannah, I know I came to comfort you a few months back and you mentioned nine other men having tried the same thing. What made you end up choosing me months later?”

“Well, that’s a question to start a date with.” Hannah teased him, squeezing on his arm. As she did he flexed and her eyes flicked down from his face to the muscle. “Woah, but um. Why I picked you? Because you’re the only one that came to me in earnest. Not wanting a bedfellow or pity sex.”

“Well yeah, what kinda low life swoops in on a grieving woman for sex?” Wilkes raised an eyebrow. He simply didn’t believe it could have been that simple a decision.

“Well there’s also that I heard about you killing more of the reapers. Not saying you should keep going, but I admit most of us around town sleep easier knowing a few more have been handled.” Hannah admitted quietly. There was an immediate vindication for him in that. The kind of thing that made his ego pat itself on the back. He had been right to make his vow after all, even if his mother would hate to see it. The people of Thellin would sleep easier once his work was done. That was reason enough.

“Right, that’s too grim a subject for a date. How about something cheerier, there’ll be all kinds of shops on the mainland. I reckon I could find something neat to bring back for you.” Wilkes changed the topic as quickly as he could.

“Hmm, well I can’t think of anything now that wouldn’t just sit around. I’d rather have something practical if that makes sense?” Hannah asked. Street lanterns were slowly being lit one by one. Warm yellow light washed over the cobblestone.

“Practical like a dress for formal occasions? Or practical like a new rolling pin?” Wilkes tried to get a more precise answer than a single adjective.

“Hmm, whichever you think would suit me better.” There was a deep mental sigh that rattled through Wilkes’s skull after that. He had fished for something beyond intuition and just been told to use his intuition. Perhaps he could ask Beatrice what she really needed, but offering the same thing to Beatrice first. Asking for help on a gift for a girl he’d only had one date with to his courtship of nearly three moons was just not wise.

“Right, an obvious choice then.” Wilkes responded calmly. Hannah leaned back slightly and raised an eyebrow at him.

“Oh, do tell then Wilkes. Am I better suited by a new dress or by a new rolling pin?” A cheeky grin on her face let him know he was in for it either way. For once Wilkes was losing a verbal spar that he couldn’t flirt or joke his way out of. A pretty woman leaning on his arm, demanding to know his opinion. His smile held, and he shook his head lightly.

“Wouldn’t you rather I tell you where we’re walking to?” He steered the conversation away from him having to get a straight answer. The teasing smile on the blonde’s face remained invitingly warm. His eyes were drawn to her lips again, pink and plump as they were. With a small effort he focused back on her eyes. Sparkling blue in the low light of the lanterns. Losing himself for a moment he leaned in. Playfully she pushed him back to the close but not intimately close distance they previously had.

“I honestly thought you were taking me to your home. Are you not?” Hannah asked, her hand resting on his chest longer than it needed to after the small push. Slowly it slid back around his arm as they continued to walk. Admittedly they were heading back south, that would lead to either his home or the docks relatively easily.

“I am not. We’re going to the dock. I’m gonna take you out on the dinghy, assuming I can get permission this time.” He told her. The stars were a great view without company, with a lady on his arm the combination of both great views was sure to be positively splendid. “If not, we can just star gaze there for a brief time.”

“Ooh a night out on the water with only the stars above as witness, how romantic.” Hannah teased him further, pulling back in close to his arm. Her chest pressed against his tricep and side now, the plush weight of her breasts squishing in the way he was familiar from all the times Beatrice decided to throw herself at him. This was different though, the energy behind it was milder. Less physically aggressive, but somehow more emotionally charged at the same time. He didn’t mind being a mast in the storm for her.

The crashing of waves grew loud enough to hear plainly now. The town itself loomed behind them, like an audience holding their breath. Glancing back, he saw a ripple of black fabric disappear around the corner of one of the buildings. If Meryl had been watching the two of them on their walk that was interesting, but something he would handle on his own time. His focus was on Hannah right now. Whatever odd mystical nonsense that was ready to pounce at him would do so regardless of him having a good time tonight or not.

With all of the gulls asleep the dock was eerily more quiet. Lanterns burned oil to keep the walkway illuminated as the navy and the night workers of the crew continued to mill about. Erik chiefly among them was barking orders at Leif and Svend. Rangpar set a massive hand on the elf’s shoulder and some of the tension seemed to fade from his best friend.

“Seems they’re rather busy, and taking the dinghy would only have me work a night shift with them first before getting such a privilege. I do know another spot if you’re truly up for star gazing.” Wilkes offered to her, the blonde simply nodded. Retracing their most recent steps the pair left the dock. There wasn’t an ounce of himself considering ending this date to go work with them. He had enough money to manage his current lifestyle for a month or two as is. Picking up the night work and making himself ragged going into the major voyage was a fool’s endeavor in his book.

“So are stars the only thing you intend for us to gaze at tonight, or can I go back to getting lost in your eyes?” Hannah whispered directly into his ear. He turned to face her instead of the familiar road ahead. She was blushing at her own comment. Staring down at her fingers as she fidgeted idly. He titled her chin up and let her stare into his eyes. Her eyes seemed to flick down and then back to his eyes. Apparently his lips were a distraction from his eyes. Spying a small alleyway he ducked them both out of the sparsely populated streets.

Gently, he pressed her against a wall. Standing over her with one arm extended out, blocking her way back to the street. She looked up at him wide eyed, almost like prey. Tilting her chin up again he leaned in and stole a kiss. Her arms wrapped around his neck instinctively. Her body arched against his now. Wrapping an arm around her waist he deepened the kiss. A small whimper escaped the baker as he broke the kiss, her eyes were hazy with a look he recognized. It was the same one Beatrice usually had before she jumped his bones. She was breathing heavily and completely flushed.

“W-whoa. Just, whoa.” Hannah articulated brilliantly. A sneaky hand drifted down and began to fondle his crotch, he let out a half surprised half pleased grunt. Gingerly he took her wrist and separated her hand from his crotch.

“Not yet sugar, not quite yet. I get yer seein’ stars from the kiss, but I meant proper star gazin’.” He teased her, she blushed harder and continued to stammer. He noticed that during the kiss the strand of hair he had previously tucked for her had come loose. Gingerly he brushed the golden strand back behind her ear. A warm smile on his face. Beatrice shivered and gulped audibly.

“Y-yeah, let’s go then.” Hannah said. His arm drifted down from the wall and wrapped around her waist. If he was going to be leading her around it wouldn’t be with the overly stiff arm and arm routine anymore. No, he would parade her around like he usually did with Beatrice. A wonderful mental image came to him. An arm around the waist of both women at once while strolling through town. The three of them being the envy of all who saw them.

The walk into the woods was an easy one. The trees loomed tall, providing a better backdrop for a moonlit walk in his opinion. The warm and earthy smells of true nature filled his nose. A good lungful rejuvenated him similarly to the salty air of the docks. Hannah breathed the smells in deeply and seemed to enjoy the fresher air out here, her eyes were closed and a content smile on her face. It was kinda cute. He squeezed her hip slightly. She turned in the embrace and looked up at him. On her tip toes she pressed a kiss on his lips. Seemingly taking the initiative came to her somewhat naturally once she got comfortable. This time Wilkes was the one with his back pressed against something. Hannah slowly but surely pressed him against a tree. With a small growl she laid into him harder.

“Ye goin’ feral over there Hannah?”

“Not quite, but you’re driving me crazy Wilkes. Haven’t been touched like this since we danced together…” Her voice trailed off after that, she reached up and stole another kiss. Her tongue pressed against his lips. By the gods she was eager. He pressed back against her lips, denying entry into his mouth. That was at least a third date type of thing. He wrapped a second arm around her waist. She wiggled for a moment, pushing herself impossibly closer to his body. He could practically feel her heart pounding in her chest. He broke the kiss again, an annoyed groan coming from the baker.

“If you just wanted me to ravage you all night long that’s what you shoulda asked for. I’m taking you on a proper date Ms. Baker.” Wilkes told her, a firm grip on her hips let him push her away. The desperate blonde huffed at him, but respected the boundary. “After star gazing I’ll take you home, but I wanna show you a neat spot really quickly.”

Resuming the evening stroll was not that immediately easy however. He would get about thirty paces before she’d start teasing him again. Admittedly if he hadn’t so consistently been sleeping with Beatrice he would’ve caved under the pressure. Taking Hannah the same way he had Beatrice not even three days ago. After several stops to plant a kiss on the increasingly desperate baker, they made it to the creek. The gurgling water provided another welcome layer of sound to join the insects chirping and the occasional rustling of bushes. Kicking off his boots and socks, Wilkes sat to roll up the legs of his pants. Hannah shot him a slightly mystified look.

“We’re gonna play in the water a bit Hannah, hike up your skirt some. Trust me, I won’t faint at the sight of your ankles.” Wilkes teased her while taking a few steps into the cool stream. His feet had admittedly started to ache from a long day. It was refreshing to let his feet breathe and give them a quick soak. She obliged him, taking off her own shoes and then removing a pair of massive socks. They seemed to go all the way up to her knee. The brief glance at the milky white skin of her thigh had Wilkes’s mind wander rapidly. They were large like Beatrice’s but lacked the defined muscle, rounded out with a supple thickness. Diving between them would be entirely different to his usual experience in all the right ways. Smothering himself between her legs became more and more appealing as he watched her poke a toe into the water. She let out a small gasp and shivered at the cold.

“It’s a bit cold Wilkes, are you sure I should come in after you?” Hannah called to him from the shore. He was up to mid calf in the water now, smiling back at her. With a wicked grin he decided to make a deal.

“Only if you want to kiss me again!” He called back to her. She began to fidget again. For a moment he was worried the teasing had gone too far. To his relief, she lifted the length of her dress and took a few steps into the water. With a few careful steps he closed most of the gap without splashing the poor girl. Taking her hand he led her just a stride deeper into the water, then pulled in close for another kiss.

Under the moonlight the two of them swayed in that creek. The water was cold, but their embrace was more than warm enough. Holding her like this, he finally realized it. He enough room in his heart for both women. Secretly he had been worried about that. That the date would be a formality to ease Beatrice’s worry. He had kept the doubts entirely to himself, but they were now utterly disproven. Hannah broke the kiss and stared up at him starry eyed. Like her entire world was within arm’s reach. He shared the feeling in part, Hannah was surely to become a permanent fixture in his own now.

“Y’know, I still think you’ll make a great wife someday Hannah.” Wilkes admitted sober as the day he was born.

“And I think you’d be a great husband to share someday.” Hannah responded softly, her lips just inches away from his own. With a hand on each of her hips he hefted her up onto his shoulder. A surprised yelp came from the baker. “Wilkes?! What’s gotten into you?”

“I’m taking you home. And I’m gonna share a bed with you and Beatrice both tonight.” He told her, placing a firm smack on her rump. Her ass jiggled beneath the dress in a way that made Wilkes drool. He was definitely going to savor his time with her. The idea of her being at a mix of his and Beatrice’s mercy had him tenting in his pants.

“Can we at least stop to get our shoes first?” Hannah whined