Treasure of Love (26 page)

“Tell that to Dax,” Dona said.

“I know, ma’am, and I’m sorry about that. We were aware of what had happened to Dax as soon as it happened, and had doctors evaluating the situation from the moment the shot was fired.”

“Yeah, knowing that now is great,” Mac said. “But it sure would have helped to know that when all this was going down.”

“I’m sorry about that, but it couldn’t be helped,” Agent Wilder confessed.

“What about the gold?” Dona asked.

“It’s yours,” Wilder said. “It’s the least we can do.”

Everyone smiled, and Jack said, “Please take us to Dax.”

“Right away, sir!” Wilder said.

O
NCE
they were all on board the Coast Guard cutter, Brad went to talk to the doctors about Dax’s prognosis. Jack stood on one side of Dax’s bed, tightly holding his hand, with Dona on the other side and Mac at his feet. They took their time explaining to Dax about the DEA’s involvement in their expedition and how it had all come to be. They had just finished the story when Brad pulled back the curtain and appeared at the foot of the bed.

“Looks like you’re going to make a full recovery,” Brad said. “Although you lost a considerable amount of blood, the spear didn’t do any major damage. After you heal, you’ll have to endure some physical therapy to get your range of motion back, but you’ll be good as new.”

Jack leaned down to kiss Dax on the lips, but Dax stopped him in midair.

“What about the gold?” he asked.

“It’s yours,” Jack said.

Dax corrected him. “You mean ours.” He looked around and smiled at his friends—no, not his friends. His family!

Chapter 19

I
T
TOOK
the government about a week to complete the salvage of the gold and opium and another week for the DEA to wrap up all the loose ends surrounding the expedition. When everything was signed, sealed, and delivered, the government wired a little over ten million dollars into Dax’s bank account, and the ordeal was just about behind them. The DEA salvaged the chief purser’s safe and the additional safe and promised to turn over the contents once they sorted through the red tape.

The
Lindsey C
was again docked in her slip in the Skagway harbor, and everyone was sitting comfortably in the salon, enjoying their last meal together before departing for home. The wine was flowing, and everyone was reflecting on their adventure.

Dax stood and tapped a butter knife against his wine glass. “Can I have your attention?” he said. “Dona and I discussed this earlier today, and we want you to have these.” He handed Jack, Mac, and Brad each an envelope. Jack’s envelope contained a check for two million dollars, and Mac’s and Brad’s each contained a check for one million.

“I know this isn’t what everyone agreed on,” Dax said. “But we wanted you each to have a little extra from us. We would have split the gold five ways, but we still have a new boat to pay for, and because of this money, we won’t have to rely on investors to fund our expeditions for the foreseeable future.”

Jack, Mac, and Brad were dead silent as they stared at their checks.

“Somebody please say something,” Dax said.

“I can’t accept this,” Jack said.

“Why not?” Dona and Dax asked in unison.

“Because I got way more than I needed when I got Dax, and I’m very happy with that.”

Everyone smiled and said “Ahhh.” Dax leaned down and kissed Jack. “But a deal’s a deal,” he said. “Besides, if our next few expeditions don’t produce any revenue, we may need it.”

Mac said, “We don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything,” Dona said. “You earned it.”

“Thank you,” they both said.

“No, thank
you
!” Dax said.

The team knew they would see each other again in the future, because they’d all agreed to testify against Vladimir Kozlov when the case came to trial, and they were all eager to do that.

“What are your plans, Jack?” Mac asked.

“We’ll be here a few more days,” Jack said, “getting the
Lindsey C
ready to sell. Then we head down to Key West to supervise the construction of the new boat.”

“Wow,” Brad said. “Uncle Jack’s all grown up.”

“Very funny, asshole,” Jack replied.

“How about you guys?” Dax asked.

“We’re flying back up to the lake to spend a few weeks recharging our batteries until we decide on our next adventure,” Brad said.

“Would you guys consider making your next adventure a trip to Cape Horn?” Dax asked.

Everyone looked at Dax and Dona in surprise. “The
Sarah Maria
?” they all squealed.

Dax and Dona nodded.

Brad and Mac looked at each other and smiled. “Hell yeah, we’re in,” they said.

“You know I’m in,” Jack said. “When do we leave?”

“Slow down, Captain,” Dax said. “We’ve got to get the boat built before we can do anything, but in the meantime, we have a shitload of research to do.”

There were hugs all around as they toasted to their new adventure and turned in for the evening.

Jack opened the cabin door for Dax, and they both stepped inside. When Jack closed the door behind him and turned, Dax was already starting the bodily assault.

“Whoa, whoa,” Jack said. “Are you well enough for this?”

He took Jack’s cheeks in his hands and brought their lips together as the gentle waves lapped against the hull in an accompaniment to their kiss. Jack felt everything slip away—the expedition, almost losing Dax, almost being killed. It was all replaced by Dax’s beautiful hazel eyes, the taste of his lips, and his manly scent.

Jack whimpered softly as the kiss intensified. He felt Dax moving closer and a hand gently stroking his back. Slowly Dax pulled away, studying Jack’s face, fingers caressing his cheek, and Jack shivered at the soft touch, leaning closer and wanting more. Jack took Dax’s hand and walked him to the bed. Jack kissed him again and said, “I want
you
inside
me
tonight.” Dax nodded slowly against his lips. Jack felt rather than saw Dax’s smile just before Dax pushed him onto the bed.

Jack held on as they continued kissing, his strong back pressing into the mattress, Dax’s weight surrounding him. Jack wrapped his arms around Dax’s neck and buried his face in the warm softness of Dax’s skin.

“We don’t have to do this if you’re not ready,” Dax whispered. “The last thing I would ever do is pressure you.”

“I almost lost you before we had a chance to share this experience,” Jack confessed. “I want you, Dax, and I want you tonight.” He looked up at Dax and gazed into his eyes. “I trust you, and I know you wouldn’t do anything to hurt me.”

Jack’s eyes were filled with love and trust, and suddenly Dax was overtaken with emotion. He was the first man Jack had ever had sex with, and now Jack was going to allow him to be his first again. A single tear slid down his cheek, and Jack wiped it away with his thumb.

“You okay, baby?” Jack asked.

“I’m better than okay,” he whispered. “I never knew I could love someone as much as I love you.” Jack shook with excitement as Dax gently placed his lips against Jack’s and held them there. It felt like the most sensual, the most real kiss he’d ever shared with anyone, and he was so glad it was Dax.

“Sit up, and let me undress you.” Jack did what he was told, and Dax pulled the T-shirt over his head. He gently nudged him back down and slid to the end of the bed. He removed Jack’s sneakers and socks. He used his thumbs to sensually rub the balls of Jack’s feet, one at a time. He lovingly nibbled on his toes and ran his tongue up and down the soles of Jack’s feet until he felt Jack shiver from what he hoped was anticipation. He straddled Jack’s thighs and slowly unbuttoned the fly of his “Lucky” brand jeans.
These really are lucky jeans—lucky for me, that is
, he thought as he slid them off and tossed them to the floor. He slipped his fingers inside the waistband of Jack’s boxers and slid them down and off as well.

“Roll onto your stomach and just relax.” Dax felt Jack shake again as he rolled over and rested his head on his hands. Dax straddled his legs and ran his hands up to the wide planes of Jack’s broad shoulders. He dropped his head and whispered, “Don’t worry, Captain, just relax and let me take care of you. If I hurt you in any way, just let me know, and I will stop, okay?”

Nervously, Jack nodded. Dax slid his hands back down Jack’s back, stopping and kneading the globes of his firm butt. When he dropped his head, Dax saw his own erect dick, wet with the sticky precursor of his anticipated climax as it rested in the crack of Jack’s ass. He was so excited that he thought he might lose it right then and there, but he forced himself to calm down, remembering that he wanted to make this special for his captain.

Dax leaned forward and began kissing Jack’s back and neck. He teasingly kissed all the way down his back and nibbled on his butt. He felt Jack shiver and tense just for a second, when he parted his ass cheeks and slid his tongue into the warm, welcoming crack. Dax slid his tongue down the cleft and over the opening, and Jack, unfamiliar with the sensation, arched his back. Dax moved his tongue a little, and Jack’s head lolled back as he allowed himself to moan softly. Dax repeated the onslaught, this time zeroing in on the small, puckered opening, savoring it with his tongue, Jack’s unique scent filling his nose and mouth.

“Dax, oh mannn!” Dax saw this affirmation as an invitation to continue. He probed more deeply, attempting to relax Jack’s muscle, parting his cheeks even further as he dove heart-first into the man he’d fallen so in love with. Dax suddenly felt a sense of urgency sweep over him.
Hurry or you’re going to wake up and this will all be over.

He quickly took hold of his senses and realized that Jack wasn’t going anywhere. He had his entire life to get this right, and above all, he wanted Jack to enjoy this exploration into his new world. Jack started moving his hips, rubbing his dick against the linens. Dax reached under Jack’s torso and grabbed his dick and lightly stroked it. Jack lifted his hips up further to allow Dax ample space to move.

“Are you okay?” Dax asked.

“Oh yeah, but if you don’t stop rubbing my dick, I’m going to blow,” Jack whispered.

“Not yet, Captain. Your journey has just begun.”

Dax released Jack’s throbbing dick and slowly slipped his hand out as he reached for the lube on the bedside table. He squeezed a liberal amount onto his finger and spread it around Jack’s hole. Dax felt Jack tense up again and shiver a little.

“You okay, Captain?”

“Yeah,” Jack responded.

Dax moved his index finger around Jack’s opening a few times then slowly slid it inside, up to the first knuckle. He felt Jack’s entire body tense with anticipation.

“Hurt?” Dax asked.

“Not really, just feels very strange,” Jack replied.

Dax slowly began to move his finger in and out, massaging Jack’s insides. Jack seemed to relax, and the tension around Dax’s finger relaxed as well. He cautiously added his middle finger and allowed Jack to accept it, too, before he started moving again. This time Jack didn’t tense up, and seemed to welcome the invasion. Jack was so tight, and Dax almost shot his load for the second time, imagining how the warmth of Jack’s hole would feel surrounding his dick.

Dax slowly started to move in and out, twisting his fingers, searching for the one spot that he knew would make Jack see stars and make this all worth it. Jack started to relax into the pleasurable assault until Dax found what he was searching for. Suddenly Jack lifted completely off of the bed and pushed up onto his knees as he cried out, “Oh my God, I don’t know what you just did, but please do it again.”

Dax smiled and began to massage Jack’s prostate over and over, being rewarded with moans of ecstasy each time he applied any pressure.

Jack looked at Dax over his left shoulder. “If this is what it feels like to… well, you know.” He was too embarrassed say the words “get fucked.” “I want you now.”

Dax smiled at Jack’s shyness. “Roll over,” he whispered.

Jack did as he was told, and Dax lifted Jack’s legs over his shoulders, careful not to aggravate his wound. Opening the small foil package he’d retrieved from the bedside table, Dax slid the condom on, applied a little more lubricant to the condom, and aligned with Jack’s entrance.

Knowing how difficult it was for Jack to give up all control, Dax instructed him to place his hands on Dax’s thighs and use them to help guide him until he felt comfortable enough to relax. “That way I can feel if you want more or I should slow down,” Dax instructed.

Jack nodded, then inhaled and gasped as Dax slid the head of his erect dick slowly inside of his body. Jack felt the stretch and burn consume his body immediately, and stopped Dax from entering any further until he could adjust to the intrusion.

“Jesus, that hurts,” Jack admitted, breathing heavily.

“Only for a second, baby, I promise,” Dax said. “Just breathe. It’ll all be worth it.”

When Jack’s muscles began to relax around Dax, he took a deep breath, and Dax felt his hands urge him to enter a little further.