The Captain

Newpond Summit wasn't an area known for its fair weather. Quite the opposite, it had a reputation of being a cold, dreary corner of the world. The cold months brought with them blistering winds and ice cold rain. The docks were one of the harshest places to work as evidenced by the high rate of turnover. It occurred to Marc that each time he set sail he saw more new faces than old. That also meant he rarely found reliable deckhands and had to roll the proverbial dice with each voyage.

For his most recent venture out to the open sea, the dice seemed to land on snake eyes. He wasn't known for being a kind and welcoming captain of his crab fishing boat, but he felt what little friendliness he did have tossed to the waves like one of his crab pots. For almost a week, he battled with the incompetent stooges he was forced to hire and by the time they returned he was ready to use one of them as bait. He wasn't sure the rest of them would have got the message and quickly dismissed the idea. After reporting to the dock master of his return and the wages owed to his "crew," he promptly departed and made his way through sheets of pouring rain. He walked with a purpose, not slowed down by the crowds or the slick mud from the rain. His mind was focused on all the warmth that the Jackal could provide. After stepping through the door and hanging up his drenched coat, he was met with the warmth of a roaring fire and the welcoming smile of the Madame.

"Welcome home, Marc," she said with a grin. "I've got your usual room all ready for you." She beckoned him over to a small chair next to one of their fireplaces and handed him a small glass of hot Dwarven brandy. Marc could feel a lump in his throat but swallowed it, taking the glass and sitting down.

He took a sip of the warm brown liquid and closed his eyes as it trickled down his throat. He took a deep breath and sighed, running his fingers through his long, red, wet hair. "Expecting me?" he chuckled.

The Madame shrugged. "I saw your boat come in and figured we'd be your next stop. Rough week out there?"

Marc shook his head and closed his eyes. "I swear to the Seven Kingdoms the only way that crew got their pants on each morning was through team effort."

Madame winced. "That bad, huh?"

He took another long sip from his cup before holding his hands out to the fire. "On three separate occasions, on the same day, I had to tell one of them not to stand in the coiled rope before they threw the pot overboard. The only reason why I kept reminding him was because the money I would owe his family after his death is only marginally greater than his wages for the job."

"Oh, goodness." She leaned back in her chair, allowing her mind to wander back to her younger days. "I remember working on a crab boat, back when I still had the legs and back to do so. The routine of baiting and throwing pots overboard was easy to get lost in."

"I think some of them would get lost in a latrine if it were big enough."

The Madame chuckled. "That's why we put arrows in ours." She watched as Marc slowly nursed his drink and warmed up in front of the fire. "The bath will be ready shortly. Griz is available. Shall I have her make her way up?"

Marc inhaled deeply, taking a moment to ponder her question. "I think I want something a little different tonight."

That answer took her by surprise. "Oh? Griz might be a little disappointed to hear that. You're one of her favorites, not many people can keep up with her."

It's true that after a long voyage out to sea he enjoys having his way with the feisty, red-haired goblin. It worked well to reduce his stress and he felt comfortable knowing that not only did she like being man-handled, but that her physiology prevented any injury. "Well, I'm sorry to disappoint her. But I think I need something different tonight."

"So you said. And what might that be?"

Marc finished off his brandy before setting the cup down on the stony fireplace. "I just spent a week telling a group of grown men how to do everything short of wiping their own asses. It...took a toll on me, to say the least. I think what I want is to not have to make any decisions, or even think. I just want to," his voice trailed off as he struggled to find the words.

"You want to give up your authority and place your trust in someone else." She was quick and confident with her words, proving once again that she was a master of this domain. "I've got just the girl. You don't have a problem with Tieflings, do you?"

"Only that worthless sack of hammers of a half-Tiefling that I just spent a week-" he caught his words before he finished his sentence. He had a rule to not dwell on the past, and he was struggling not to break it. "No, I don't."

She smiled. "Excellent. Room 103 upstairs. The bath should be ready by now. I'll tell Velyis that you'll be expecting her." She stood up, dusting off her hands. "Now, you're one of our best customers but I have to go through the same talk with you as I do everyone who walks through those doors. The motto here is 'People, not property.' Their word is the law. You can negotiate whatever you choose, but she's ultimately in charge. If she says stop, you stop. We've made it a few months without the need to throw someone out on their ass and I'd like to keep it that way."

Marc smiled and nodded. "I had no idea I was even in your top 10 best customers. I'm only here a few times a year."

"Quality not quantity, my dear. The girls are quite smitten with you, really."

"Oh. They shared stories about the clientele?"

"Well, officially we don't talk about what happens behind closed doors. Unofficially? There aren't many clientele who come through here who treat the girls as fairly as you do. I dare say some of them are harboring a grade-school crush on you. But you didn't hear any of that from me." She smiled, holding her hand out.

Marc took to his feet, fished around in his soaked pockets and produced the payment. She gently clasped the coins in her hand before gently bowing and walking back behind the bar. Her movements were slow, but deliberate. The Jovial Jackal was her creation, and she would fight tooth and nail to preserve it. She commanded respect and reciprocated it to everyone around her. Marc smiled and made his way up the winding, wooden staircase.

The narrow hallway was lined with rooms on either side and ended with another stairway to the third floor. The hardwood floors creaked under his boots as he walked past the numbered doors. Behind a few of the doors were the telltale sounds of what was happening inside.

The door to his room was open, and stepping through he was greeted by a sight that nearly made him weep: a large wooden basin filled to the brim with steamy hot water. Next to it was the large bed standard for all the rooms, and standing next to that was a tall human woman adorned in the black silk robe the girls wore. Her jet black, wavy hair fell freely past her shoulders, and her voluptuous curves accentuated nicely by her black and red laced corset.

"Welcome, Captain." She said with a smile. "Your room is all ready for you. You'll find towels and a robe in the cupboard, when you're through with them you may leave them hung up by the door. Will you be needing any help getting into the bath?" There was a hint of eagerness to her voice, which Marc would normally chalk up to her doing her job to make him feel welcome. But after speaking with the Madame, he wasn't so sure.

"No, but thank you for offering."

"Very well. Velyis will be with you shortly. Enjoy your stay." She gently nodded before gliding past Marc and shutting the door behind her. She caught Marc's eye and smiled, blushing slightly.

The warm bath water enveloped Marc's body like the heat of a roaring fire during a snowstorm. He shook and shuttered as he slowly sunk down, stretching his arms and legs out and hearing the satisfying cracks and pops of his joints. Fishing wasn't an easy profession and certainly left its mark on him, both physically and figuratively. His body was bruised, scratched, and calloused from the years of hard work he spent on the sea. His beard had a few sprouts of gray hairs here and there, which he wore with pride. There weren't many fishermen who were lucky enough to see old age. After a few moments, he heard a soft knock at the door followed by it cracking open.

"Hello, Captain Marc. May I come in?" Her voice drifted through the room and settled on Marc's ears like the first snowfall of Winter.

"Yes, please."

Through the door stepped Velyis. A tall Tiefling woman with light purple skin and long white curly hair pulled into individual braids and secured with ornate gold hair beads. Her silk robe was pulled and tied tight in front of her, letting Marc's imagination fill in the blanks. "Good evening, Captain," she said with a smile. "May I call you Marc?"

Marc smiled, "Yeah, that's fine."

"Thank you." She silently crossed the room, moving as gracefully as the wind over a frozen pond, and knelt next to the bath. "Lean forward." Her words had the impact of a barked command during a storm, but were somehow soothing like a brook. He did as he was told and leaned forward, bracing himself on his knees. He felt Velyis' hands placed gently on his shoulders before working his sore muscles between her fingers. His head rolled forward and he closed his eyes, feeling the stress of the previous voyage evaporate from her very touch. "Feel okay?"

"Gods, yes. Thank you." His words were mumbled, barely formed together in his mouth before slipping from his lips. "How long have you-"

"Shh," she tenderly hushed him. "The Madame told me you are looking to give yourself up this evening. Pay no care to me, allow your mind to wander." She worked his back and shoulders more, feeling his muscles become more putty-like. "Tell me, what does a sunset feel like to you while you're underway?"

"What does it feel like?"

"Mhm." Marc paused, thinking about the question. "Don't think too hard. Try speaking naturally. What does a sunset feel like to you?"

Marc blinked a few times. "That I made it through the day. That I earned the sunset and the view that comes with it. That soon I'll eat and rest."

Vel smiled, picking up a silver jug on the floor and filling it in the tub. "Food, and rest. What else could you ask for? Head down, please." Marc did as he was told and soon felt the warm bath water poured slowly on his head before cascading down his back. She returned her hands to his shoulder before working down his muscular arms.

"Have you ever seen the sunset on the ocean?"

"I haven't. Does that surprise you?"

Marc shrugged. "Nothing does, these days."

Vel smiled before standing up and untying her robe, draping it over a chair as she moved around the tub. Revealing the same style corset from before, it was tailored to accentuate her long legs, and sleek body. Her movements were slow and deliberate, allowing Marc to drink in her form like the warm brandy sitting in his stomach. She gently sat down next to the tub, "Lean back, please."

Again, Marc did as he was told, stretching out his long 6'4" frame as much as the small basin would allow. Vel smiled, standing to her feet and retrieving several towels from the cupboard. Folding them over, she draped them over the edge of the tub. "Your feet, please." Lifting his feet from the water, she guided them to the towels and began massaging them. She kneaded his sole with her fingers, feeling him relax his body further into the tub and allowing the water to envelope him like a warm blanket. "How does fishing fulfill you?"

Marc rested his head back and closed his eyes. "I've never really thought about that. Hauling in full crab pots is the only satisfaction I've really known."

Vel paused before switching to his other foot, feeling his joints pop under her touch "May I tell you a story?" Marc nodded. "The village I grew up in had very high reverence for its fishermen. We had weekly ceremonies where we would see all of the ships off and greet them when they returned. We made sure to thank them before every meal, even when we weren't dining on anything they brought in. Do you know why?" Marc shook his head. "Because it was through their pains and sacrifice that we had the option to choose what to eat. They worked a dangerous job not for their satisfaction, but for our comfort." She paused for a moment, thinking. "'From the grains from the field, to the bounty from the seas, only by their toil and pains, we may call ourselves free.' That's what we would say before every meal."

She slowly moved next to the tub and worked the muscles on his chest. "I think what you need is that level of gratitude, but something tells me you're the type of person who feels asking for something only works to cheapen what you ask for." Shifting her weight, she crawled towards the top of the tub, letting her fingers work Marc's sore, scarred chest. She leaned in close to his ear, her breath hot and heavy on his skin and whispered "Thank you, Captain."

With a smile, her hands slowly worked down his body and below the water and found exactly what she was looking for. Marc's body was in a state of pure relaxation. His muscles reacted to her every touch, and below the waterline was no different. She took her time, working her thumb up and over the head before allowing her fingertips to follow suit like a perfectly choreographed dance. She used her movements in sync with his breathing, practically playing his body like a master musician. He wanted her to be in control, and that's what she would do. She smiled.

She slowly removed her hand from the water, noticing the almost imperceptive twitch of his hand towards hers. He wanted more, but knew better than to ask. Rocking herself to her feet, she walked towards the foot of the tub. Without saying a word, she unfastened the small hooks on the front of her corset and let it fall onto the floor behind her. She allowed Marc to drink in her form as she slowly turned around and bent at the waist to pick up her discarded clothing. She took slow, deliberate steps towards the cupboard to hang it up before retrieving a towel.

Standing next to Marc, she unfurled the towel in an unmistakable signal that his time in the warm water was over. He stood up, now standing eye to eye with Vel while she slowly dried him off. He was no longer fighting an urge for her contact, instead accepted everything she gave him. Though he was expecting something else to happen as she dried off his now hard cock, that disappointment didn't last as she gently guided him towards the bed.

"Make yourself comfortable, Captain," in her soft, velvet-like voice. "I'll be with you in a moment." Marc laid down on the soft sheets and watched as Vel walked towards the large lantern hanging from the ceiling and dimmed the light. Her tail swished back and forth as she made her way to the foot of the bed and crawled on her hands on knees up Marc's body.

Her hands picked up where they left off, only now joined by her mouth. She wanted him to feel every movement of her tongue under her lips while she gently stroked this length. His girth inside her hand twitched and pulsated, and she moaned between breaths. She glanced up and saw Marc's hands inch their way down towards her head. Removing her lips with a loud smack, she lightly moved his hand back towards his body.

"Captain..." she said in a friendly tone. "I would trust you to navigate the roughest seas on a moonless, overcast night." She crept up his body and planted a kiss on his neck before whispering into his ear "Trust me to navigate your body."

Marc chuckled. "Sorry..."

"You needn't apologize." She smiled before returning to where she left off. Her long, silky hair fell off her head and onto his body in random patterns that shifted with each movement of her head. She echoed Marc's moans, gripping his thickness in her hand and bobbing her head up and down. Loosening her grip she slowly worked her fingers up, around, and back down the length of his shaft, memorizing every dimple. After a few more strokes she released it and meticulously crawled up his body, straddling his waist with her knees.

Marc stared into her eyes with a sense of longing that eased Vel to her core. He was hers to control, and without saying a word she knew what he wanted to ask for. She directed his hands to her body before releasing them to his control. He let his fingers softly glide across her skin. His touch was firm, but never forceful. She could feel the strength he was withholding from her, the power that only comes from years of the most arduous labor in the most inhospitable conditions. Her body moved and swayed with his hands like an amorous dance between lovers. She felt his hard cock press up against her undercarriage, and with a single movement of her hips found it perched inside of her. Holding her breath, she leaned back while Marc's hands slid down her body to her waist. He was finally granted what he desired and in a moment of elation let out a long sigh, matched perfectly with Vel's.

She gyrated her hips, working it inch by inch into her until her bottom sat firmly on Marc's lap. She felt completed, filled with Marc inside of her and his heavy chest told her he felt the same. She ran her fingers through her hair, tossing it up and back before letting them slide down her body. Marc was completely and totally infatuated with her, darting his eyes from her luxurious body to the deep velvety red of her eyes.

Bracing herself on his strong core, she bounced her hips up and down. Marc rolled his eyes back and tightly closed them only to feel Vel slow down and stop.

"Your eyes remind me of the warm Summer nights of my youth. Please keep them open, I need to get lost in them." She tenderly caressed his check with her hand until he slowly opened his eyes and met hers. "Thank you, Captain," she smiled.

She returned herself upright, still braced on Marc's abs and feeling them rise and fall with each breath. Her pace and breathing quickened to match his own. She took every inch of him inside of her and still wanted more. The slapping sound of their thighs echoed off of the bare walls of the room, accentuated by her moaning. Her hands found her breasts that she tweaked and played with while swirling her hips around. Marc's mouth dropped open before closing quickly and biting his lip. His grip tightened around her waist and she felt him prop his feet up behind her. He quickly let go. She nodded her head.

"Yes..." she managed between breaths. "You may."

Without hesitation, Marc returned his hands and braced his body on the bed with his feet. His thrusts started long and exaggerated but soon found the speed she wanted. Their bodies were entwined, connected beyond the physical. She had rewarded his patience and was reaping the benefits. Her moans matched his and her hands rubbed and gripped her own body. His groans told her he was on the verge of erupting and soon her insides would share in his warmth. But she was still in control and though Marc hadn't asked for her permission, she gave it anyway.

"Yes! ...You may!" Her command triggered something within Marc and before he knew it his body was convulsing under the waves of a powerful orgasm. Vel, though expecting it, was taken off guard by the movement and fell forward and braced herself on the bed. She stared deep into his eyes as his body quivered under hers. A bead of sweat dropped from her face onto his.

After catching their breath, she rolled off of him onto the bed. She laid next to him for a moment before rolling over, swinging a leg over his body, and resting her head on his shoulder. Marc instinctively brought his hand up to her hips and gently grazed her skin. The room was still hot and humid, but whether it was from the bath or their activities Marc couldn't tell. Eventually his heart rate stabilized and he took a deep breath and let out a long sigh.