Mary let out a quiet laugh. “So, George, isthis your first time?”
George’s cheeks caught fire. He scuffed hisshoe against the floor. “Yes, ma’am.”
Mary sauntered over to him, her sweet perfumewafting to his nose.
She put her hands on his wide shoulders andthen worked her way down his arms. “Well, the first thing you gottado is undress.”
Although he didn’t feel attracted to her, hevowed to go through with this. Time for me to became a man inevery possible sense of the word. George slid his arms out ofhis coat, letting it drop to the floor, then pulled down hissuspenders and took off his gray trousers.
Mary knelt in front of him. “You gonna leaveyour shirt on?”
George nodded. Taking that off wasn’tnecessary. Suddenly he just wanted to get this over.
Mary stroked his cock, her fingers as silkyas her dress. George panted, staring at her with more curiositythan lust. She knew how to make him feel good but he’d expected tofeel something between them. There was nothing.
She picked up the pace, his cock hardeningunder her ministrations. Fire built up in his belly and hemoaned.
Right before his release she stopped.
It wasn’t fair! He was so close.
She flashed him a playful smile. “I’m justgetting you ready, honey.” He took his hand and led him over to thebed of gunnysacks. “I promise you’ll like being inside me a lotmore.”
* * * *
George felt no more a man than before herutted with Mary. He ambled down to the docks, dejected. He’dexpected … something. But maybe his brother had held out on him. Orembellished.
But he didn’t think so. Frederick’spassionate roar and Emma’s excited squeals always made him long forthe same pleasure.
Had he missed something?
George reached the waterfront, still tryingto figure out what had happened with Mary—or rather what hadn’thappened. He felt as if he had just hoed the garden.
He hoped the next time would be better. Ithad to be better. Perhaps finding the right woman would make allthe difference? Frederick had lain with many women before findingand settling on Emma. So he would probably have to do the same.Besides, he didn’t want to settle down with one woman, he wantedfreedom. Freedom to taste as many female flowers as he could. Oneday, he would find an intoxicatingly delicious one, a well he wouldenjoy drinking from each day.
Working as a roustabout, traveling from onecity to another, would fit his lifestyle for now. There were plentyof women near the docks, in the colored communities spreading outfrom the waterfront.
Hopefully,his next lovemaking experience wouldn’t cost him three dollars.Mary hadn’t been worth it. He sighed, a depressing thought slidingacross his mind. Maybe it hadn’t been Mary’s fault. Had he donesomething wrong?
He still didn’t know how to satisfy a woman.Mary hadn’t bothered to explain or show him. Listening to Frederickhe’d learned some but not enough. George ran his fingersthrough his hair. He hated feelinglike less of a man.
Back on the plantation, the girls seldomflirted with him unless they were trying to catch his brother’sattention. Yes, he was younger, but he hadn’t been too young forhand holding or sneaking a kiss. He’d never swept a woman off herfeet, though.
Damn his brother. Frederick had sheltered himtoo much. Now it was time for him to feel his oats and he had nopractical experience. One thing for sure, paying for sex would notlikely lead to a fulfilling relationship—Frederick had gottenlucky.
A real lady needed to be wooed. Would makinglove to a proper woman be different than lying with a whore?
George reached the docks and paused, rubbinghis forehead. He’d done so much thinking on the walk here his headhurt. Wasn’t sex supposed to be relaxing?
Four steamers sat docked next to each other.He picked the biggest, fanciest-looking one and headed straight forit, good recommendations from his last boat, the Comet, inhand. He approached the first deckhand he saw and inquired about ajob. They directed him to the office; he climbed the steps, knockedon the door, and after waiting a few minutes the door opened. Thecaptain read his recommendations and looked him over. Holding hisbreath, George waited for his decision. He exhaled as soon as theman hired him but had little timeto think. The ship sailed immediately.
This would be just like old times—onlywithout his big brother looming over his shoulder. Now he couldprove himself. Now he’d become his own man.
He circled the deck of the Queen Bee getting used to the new ship—bigger thanthe Comet, definitely higher class. Working on a better shipgave him satisfaction. At least hewas moving up in the world a half step.
He had aspirations to climb higher. He didn’twant a farm like his brother’s either. Emma had domesticatedFrederick and tried to domesticate him, too. After working as aroustabout, he’d never be content isolated on a farm. Such alonely, boring life! He wanted to live and work in the city, be inthe middle of the action, and as far away from his plantation pastas possible. His brother didn’t realize his aspirations. Aftertrying many times, he’d never built the courage to confide in him.He didn’t know how Frederick would take the news.
The Queen Bee drifted away and the dock grew smallerin the distance. George gazed over the railing at the busyMississippi. More boats and barges than he had ever seen traveledup and down the wide river. The best part of being a roustabout wastaking in the beautiful scenery.
The soft sound of shoes hitting the wood deckdrew his attention. He turned his head and swallowed hard. One ofthe mates approached him with a casual gait. He appeared in hisearly thirties with sandy brown hair and pleasant dark green eyes.Despite his good-natured smile, George stiffened. The man stopped acomfortable distance away.
“My name’s Seever, Matt Seever.”
“I’m George.”
Mr. Seever nodded once. “I like to meet newcrew members. Welcome to theQueen Bee.”“I’m told the boat was named after the owner’s wife.” He erupted ina hearty laugh.
George’s tight muscles relaxed. This manwasn’t threatening. He was only a couple inches shorter than him,but more on the wiry side.
“I’m not green, sir,” George said, wonderingif the man was worried about that. “I have a lot of experience as aroustabout.”
“But you’re
