Lost at Sea Bk. 01 Ch. 11

"Aye," Caine said. "The lounge hasn't looked like this in years."

"Well, you can thank Bella. It was her thing. I was just a hapless volunteer," Will shrugged.

"I think ye owe Colin an apology, Sterling. Ye brought him 'ere, an' 'e might ne'er be th' same," Belita said loudly, swaying gracefully through the crowd in spite of being obviously drunk. Her blue frock coat was gone, leaving her only in her tight beige trousers, her tall boots, and a blouse that was surprisingly see-through. With no corset to hold and hide her impressive assets, Will could plainly see the curve of her breasts and the shadows of her areola through the thin material. Will was suddenly uncomfortably aware that he was still hard. Mister and Missus North were right behind their captain. Mister North was carrying the captain's coat. Belita crashed her cup into Will's sending half his bourbon sloshing to the ground between them.

"All his innocence, dashed on the rocks," Danica North said with exaggerated tragedy.

"Uh, sorry?" Will said, not sure what else to say, looking down sadly at his spilled drink. Belita laughed like he'd said the funniest thing in the world.

"He might thank ye." She leaned up down next to him at the bar, draping a friendly arm around his shoulders. Danica North squeezed in on the other side, her husband grinning right behind her.

"What the hell was that, Sterling? Sounded like you were fighting a pack of succubi in there," Danica asked.

"Looked like it too," her husband added.

"Not telling," Will said. "I hear there's a betting pool."

"Colin put his money on summoning a demon," Danica snorted.

"I put mine on witchcraft," Belita winked.

"Well that's not fair, you had an inside source." Will sipped his drink.

"Aye!" Belita squeezed his shoulders. "I ain't gonna pass up free money."

"Here comes Colin now," Mister North said, gesturing across the room. Across the room came the big man with a voluptuous dark skinned girl on one arm, and a tall, tanned man on the other. Colin looked like a kid in a confection shop. The pair of prostitutes both gave him a kiss on the cheek and pushed him toward the bar before smiling at each other and turning to look for new prospects. Colin was walking a little unsteadily.

"Wha's our bearing, Helmsman?" Belita said, turning around and leaning languidly against the bar. Everything she did had a sort of liquid grace, even when she was drunk. Perhaps especially when she was drunk.

"No idea cap'n," Colin shrugged. "I lost all sense of direction about an hour ago." Mister North and Captain Vex laughed.

"He'll never be the same again," Danica sighed. "Let's get him out of here before he spends every coin he has on pretty faces and pouty lips."

Will downed his cup and slid it and a pair of coins across the bar. The bartender pocketed them and winked at him. Captain Vex did the same, putting her cup down and pushing off the bar, headed toward the exit. Her liquid stride made her hips swing, her ass perfect in her tight trousers. Will caught himself staring and shook his head. Danica saw him looking clapped him on the shoulder. "I think you've had enough tail for one night, Sterling."

"No argument there," Will said.

He stook a couple steps and shook Caines hand.

"Good to see you, Will," his old friend said. "Good luck."

"Thanks," Will said. "I'll see you when I get back,"

A stocky young man in a suit that looked too big for him sidled up to Captain Vex as she was leaving and said "What're your rates, darlin'?

Captain Vex stood up to her full heel-assisted height and looked straight into the man's eyes. "I ain't for sale. Shove off."

The man blinked in confusion, then looked Belita up and down with a leer. "You sure?" he asked. "Maybe we could work somethin' out anyways?"

Belita punched him.