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Sail Away by Lee Rowan

Sail Away will be returning in March 2010, with 6 short Will & Davy stories in addition to the 3 novellas that appeared in the first edition

While you're waiting, here's an excerpt from the short story "Touch," a bit of shore leave for two very frustrated young sailors

                                                 Touch

                                            by Lee Rowan

 

They endured the boat trip from the Calypso, rushed through the meal at the inn, lied through their teeth about the ladies of dubious reputation they'd visited, and finally clumped upstairs as though they wanted nothing more than ten hours' sleep.

 

Will barely had his jacket off before Davy pounced on him, driving him back against the wall like a frigate attacking a 74. His body answered his lover's urgency and they had each other's clothes off in less than a minute.  Davy bent to retrieve the little jar of salve from his pocket; Will was so overcome by the sight that he simply tipped him onto the bed.  Laughing, they wrestled the cork out of the jar and Will got enough of the stuff out to accomplish his purpose.

 

He loved the way Davy shivered when he bit that sensitive juncture where neck met shoulder.  How he thrust back when Will squeezed his cock, pushing his own deep inside.  How the faintest pinch on a nipple could make Davy suck in his breath like a man surfacing from deep water.

 

Within three minutes of entering the room, they were lying on the bed, twined together like ribbons of a maypole, breathing hard and utterly spent. With Davy’s blond head tucked against his shoulder, Will closed his eyes for just a moment…

 

 

The sun was a little farther along when they awoke; Will reached for Davy again, but his lover caught his hand.  "It's my turn, Will."

 

"What?"

 

"There's something I'd like to try.  It went so fast...."

 

"But didn't you like--I thought --"

 

"Yes, I liked."  Davy grinned and brushed his lips with a kiss. The smell of him was indescribable.  "But you're taking your rank too seriously, Mr. Marshall."

 

"What do you mean?"

 

Davy sat up in bed, crossing his legs tailor-fashion.  "You take the tiller... like this ..."  Will gasped as Davy's fingers closed around him. "... and the next thing I know we're lying here wheezing like beached whales.  Not that it isn't the activity I prefer to all others, Will, but I want the chance to touch you.  To take my time.  You assume an attitude like Nelson..."

 

Will's mind balked at the notion. "Davy, no, you don't --!  You couldn't think--he and Hardy --!?"

 

"I don't think Lady Hamilton would stand for that, no. I'm referring to your inclination to dismiss maneuvers and  'go straight for it."

 

"I don't know what you mean."

 

"I'll show you--if you believe you can hold still for it."

 

"Of course I can."

 

“Are you sure, Will?” 

 

The way he drew the word out it sent a thrill down Will's spine. “You have my word!”

 

Davy grinned.  “Don’t forget, then.  Lie back?”

 

Will lay back against the pillow, amazed at the sudden pounding of his heart. He knew Davy would do nothing to harm him … but what would he do?  He held his breath, mesmerized, as Davy reached out across the few inches between them. His hand seemed to move with infinite slowness…

 

“Will!”

 

He jumped guiltily. “What?”

 

“You’re watching me!”

 

“Of course I’m watching you!  I can’t imagine what you’re going to do!”

 

Davy sighed.  “Nothing I haven’t done before, for pity’s sake.  Would you be willing to close your eyes?”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because it’s unnerving having you watch me like a rabbit with a snake.”  

 

“Davy--!”

 

“Close your eyes, Will.”   Davy coaxed.   “Just for a moment, and I’ll do something you’ll like.”

 

He scowled at Davy with wounded dignity, but his lover only laughed. “If you act like a little boy who doesn’t want to take his medicine, that’s how I shall treat you,” Davy said. “Only what I’ve got for you is much better than some nasty pill.”

 

Will found it impossible to resist the good-natured teasing, and he knew by the sparkle in Davy's eyes that it was no empty promise.  “No tickling!” he said sternly.

 

“Aye-aye, Mr. Marshall, Sir,” Davy saluted. "Eyes closed, if you please. And do try to relax."

 

Attempting to scowl, Will eased back down, doing his best to release the tension in his muscles.  He was immediately rewarded with a kiss, quick and sweet, hardly more than a breath against his lips.

 

He tried to make it more; Davy drew away.  Will drew in a breath, but before he could speak Davy's fingers rested on his mouth. "You have the most beautiful lips I've ever seen," Davy said, tracing the outline lightly, brushing across the lower lip.  "No, no, not yet," he scolded gently as Will tried to take the fingers into his mouth.

 

His fingers touch moved up to his eyebrows, tracing them from nose to temple.  "You have a look about you, in battle, that almost frightens me.  It seems you move outside yourself, and forget you even have a body. I don't understand that kind of courage."

 

"It isn't courage," Will mumbled, leaning into the hand that now cradled his face. "It's terror. I can't let myself think. If I thought about what could happen to my body, I'd be frozen stiff."

 

"Mmm."   Both hands on his face now, and Davy leaned in for a real kiss, deep and thorough.  But that was the only contact; though he could sense Davy's warmth and closeness with the rest of his body, the only reality was the mouth on his, the hands in his hair. He usually closed his eyes when they kissed; he supposed Davy did, too, but this was different somehow, more intense.

 

Davy stopped for breath, and sat back again, breaking the connection.

 

"Are you finished?" Will asked hopefully.

 

A merry laugh was not the answer he'd hoped for. "I've hardly begun!"   Those warm hands ran lightly down his arms. "Mine, all mine!"

 

Will groaned, the sound drawing out as Davy stroked back up, along the collarbone, and spread his fingers to draw them down Will's chest, just skirting his nipples. "Davy--!"

 

"I don't expect you're going to let me do this too often," Davy said. He planted a wet kiss on Will's chest and cooled it with a breath, "So I'm going to make the most of it." 

 

Sorry -- my publisher says excerpts only!  For the rest, Sail Away will be relaunched on April 15, 2012, at http://www.cheyennepublishing.com/romance.html

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