I cracked open a crate and strewed the furs until they made a soft pad about four feet wide and maybe six inches deep. The pelts were soft and luxurious. Barrett would kill me if he saw me doing this, but Barrett was immensely predictable. He fell asleep at eight bells, and woke up at four bells every day. Only a storm or pirates could drag him out once he was asleep.
I did this all by the light of a candle stub. When I heard some creaking, I quickly puffed it out, sitting perfectly still in my fur nest.
I could tell by the noise that it wasn’t Lex. Spend enough time working with anybody and you could tell who they are without looking. I could recognize Webb’s heavy mouth-breathing and half-drunk shuffle even in the dark.
Once he left, it got really quiet. I could hear the Antelope creaking and gently shifting. The wind was weakening, but we were still moving in the right direction. I couldn’t hear much talking or moving around. Most people were sleeping.
On deck, Francis rang ten bells.
I had hopefully scoured myself clean in anticipation. But as the seconds ticked by, I started to think it had been a waste of hot water.
I lay back on the soft furs in the inky darkness. I sighed. I was surrounded by ten other men on the daily basis. One or two of them were even okay to look at. But damn it if it didn’t start to feel lonely after a while.
I pushed down my breeches and wiggled my ass against the fur. Two reasons. It felt nice, and it was funny trying to imagine Barrett’s face while I did it.
I lazily imagined Lex’s soft scale-less lips around my cock. Imagined what kind of noise he would make riding me. I started to breathe a little faster, and tug at my prick.
‘Course, I was never expecting anything like that to happen. First-timers were greedy, in a helpless sort of way. Most of the time you had to twist their arms just so they’d give you a reach-around. Reciprocation? Might as well ask for the moon.
I knew I was just being bitter. I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up. I had a shift from midnight to midday, so I knew I should’ve just stowed the furs and gone up to my hammock to get some rest.
I stayed in the hold mostly out of a desire to masturbate in peace.
I spat in my hand and thought back to pleasant memories of the last time I got laid. Seemed like forever ago. That elf had been so flexible…
I froze as the hatch creaked open. Barrett kept saying he would oil the hatch, but he never quite got around to it. I heard a soft thud and an exhale as somebody jumped down the hatch, ignoring the stepladder. I listened very carefully. It was somebody small, with quiet breathing.
I peeked over the ledge of fur crates. I could just barely see an outline standing under the dim grey square of the open hatch. The outline reached up and closed the hatch behind him, and then it was completely dark.
“… James?” He whispered. His voice was drifting a little closer. I could hear him moving slowly, brushing his hands over the edges of the crates and barrels to squeeze in between. “Hello? Are you here?”
“Hey, stranger.” I whispered back. I tried to quash the delight in my voice. Didn’t want to sound too desperate.
“Um. Where are you? I don’t have a light spell… Or a candle.” He sounded sheepish. I bet he was blushing.
“Feel the crates… Do you feel the wall against your right hand?”
“Um… no… wait… yes.”
“Follow the dulcet tones of my voice.” I giggled. “And watch out for the–”
He crashed to the ground. I was actually worried for a moment, but then he let out an exaggerated groan and I knew he was okay. “–The ribs… There are bare boards here.”
I reached in the darkness, and I felt his hand resting on the edges of my furs. His hand clasped gently and I held it, pulling him back to me.
“Nice to have you.” I whispered. I traced his wrist with my free hand, spidering my hand up his arm. He had a loose shirt on, I loved the texture of his thin linen shirt over his dry smooth scales. I touched his shoulder, cupped the back of his neck. I was on my knees, and he was, too. Now that he had crawled back onto the fur pad with me.
He wasn’t saying anything, and I couldn’t see his face. “You here with me, Lex? Or did you sleepwalk?” I whispered.
My hand was on his neck, I could feel him shake his head. “Didn’t sleepwalk. Just… I’ve never done this before.” He was so close I could feel his breath feathering on my lips and chin. He smelled like mint, he must have chewed some leaves before he came down.
That was endearing. You didn’t chew mint unless you cared, at least a little. Maybe I had low standards.
“Nothing you don’t want…” I caressed up the back of his neck, sliding my palm so I was cupping his cheek. “Has anyone ever told you how handsome you are? Purple and all?”
He shrugged. “Two or three.”
I chuckled. “Slut.” I leaned forward. I carefully bumped the tips of our noses together so he knew I was coming. And damn it if the hot little spellscale didn’t lean into it. I could feel his hands tentatively resting on my legs.
He knew how to kiss. Hell, probably could have given me a pointer or two. But he was used to being the one in charge, the one pushing for more. His breath tasted hot and divine. I could touch his sharpened canines with the tip of my tongue.
I reached for his laces, but the saucy little thing never kept them tied. Instead, I slipped a hand down the wide v-gap of his unlaced shirt to feel at his chest. He didn’t seem to have nipples. Just a ridge of scales. But when I caressed under that ridge I could feel him shiver a little. I smiled against his mouth and sucked his tongue between my teeth.
I felt his hands rising, at my hips, digging deftly under the hem of my shirt. I let him tug it off. I leaned into him as he touched me with his hands. I sidled up closer, and hey-hey, I could feel something coming up.
“You sure you haven’t done this before?” I whispered into his pointed ear, husky and soft. I cupped the front of his breeches. The soft well-worn leather was distended, and pretty big for such a little guy. I gently squeezed, to hear his little gasp against my neck.
He kissed my neck. The suave sonofabitch, I was sensitive there. “I’ve done this plenty of times.” He whispered indignantly. “Just… Just never on another man.”
“Lucky me.” I purred. I let out a happy little moan when he made a seal against my neck with his mouth. He traced the tip of his tongue against my skin and sucked a rosy hickey onto the side of my neck.
I untied the laces at the front of his breeches, and pulled out his loincloth with a deft yank. He slipped out of his shirt. I ran my hands down the smooth large scales that went down his spine, the soft small scales under his arms, down his sides. His body heat was tremendous, through the yielding scales. It was like stroking the sides of a dragon.
“You keep… petting me. Like I’m a cat or something.” He whispered.
“Do you want me to stop?” I teased the waistband of his breeches down. I cupped the underside of his cock, gently pushing the tip of it against his scaly belly. He was making these soft breathy sounds as I closed my fingers around it.