Chapter 43: Dance with Me

Crystal

I sighed in disappointment, he could be so mean. I want to know so bad, but I watch as he stared at the people, who danced in the plaza. The rhythm of the music seemed very new to me, but everyone was having a blast, so different from the ballroom of the king’s castle. The music was upbeat, making everyone dance with it.

Some actually got closer and held each other a bit too close. I spotted Max and Belle talking along with the crowd, near the entrance of the plaza on my right. I watched Belle laugh, as Max did the same.

“That’s nice,” I whispered, turning around to grab a piece of cheese that was on top of the table.

“What is?”

“Max and Belle, looked they looked like they were having fun,” I pointed out, Bayou followed my finger and stared.

“That old dog is so slow sometimes,” he shook his head. I arched a brow.

“Why do you call your father old dog sometimes?” I asked him. He pointed at his ears.

“He has a hearing of a dog. He can hear a pin drop a mile away, one day when I was thirteen, he heard me fall inside of a well that was near our house. He came rushing toward my aid and saved me. Since then, I had told him he’s like a dog with good hearing. He just laughs and it stuck with me, ever since,” he explained. My eyes widened watching his expression soften at the memory.

“Oh, that explains it,” I smiled gently, taking notice that Bayou kept on staring at me. Then he turned to stare at them.

It sounded as if Max had given him a good childhood.

I cleared my throat.

“Belle is having fun.”

That made him look back at me, and I turned to stare at my almost finished cheese.

“She is trying to be strong, she really is worried you know, don’t let her outlook fool you. We couldn’t do anything until we confirm that her sister is in the Duke’s house.” He explained. I nodded, licking my lips.

“Max told me that he’s your cousin, but not blood-related, why do you two hate each other?” I picked another square of cheese and ate it. He shrugged then turned, grasped a mug, and filled it with beer.

“He started to work for the king, and I was against it, one day he just started to chase after me, and that’s that. The king manipulated his mind, like many others,” he explained, taking a sip from his mug. I frowned, not liking it.

“Were you two close?”

“Very, he was like a big brother to me, the only thing that made us cousins, is that he was a stepson of my uncle, you see his mother became a widow, and my uncle fell in love with her and accepted my cousin as his own son, so they got married. My uncle died five years ago, and my aunt is an old woman living by herself back home. That bastard even forgot about her,” his right hand tightened at the memory.

“Your uncle sounds like a good man, but that’s horrible, don’t worry, everything your cousin does will be repaid, God knows how to punish those who do evil,” I told him. Bayou nodded, placing his mug down.

“I don’t want to speak anymore, let’s go and dance,” he told me. My eyes widen.

“No, I don’t dance at all,” I moved slightly away from him. He stood up and clap his hands.

“Unlike the balls, this is my type of party. You can dance, whatever you want, and no one will judge,” he took my hand and pulled me up.

“It’s okay, dance by yourself,” I told him. He shook his head.

“It’s no fun dancing with myself,” he spun me.

“Just follow the beat of the music, let yourself go, alright,” he asked of me. I turned to stare at him, but nodded.

“Alright, but don’t laugh at my horrible dancing,”

He shook his head.

“I give you my pirate honor, I will not laugh,” He made a cross above where his heart lay.

“Why don’t I believe you?”

He shrugged at me.

I sighed, and moved my arms a little stiffly, and did a marching type of move with my legs twisting my body in an odd way. Bayou arched a brow.

“You looked like a worm trying to wiggle itself out of a cocoon,” he busted out laughing, my eyes widened, and I turned. He was holding his stomach gasping for air through each chuckle.

“You’re mean, you promise not to laugh, I knew it, you were lying,” I almost reached my seat, when he pulled me back to him, causing my arms to land on his broad chest. I gasped out.

“I was only teasing, I promise no more,” he breathed out, trying to calm down. I frowned, looking up, to take notice that nighttime approached us, the scenery filled beautifully with the lights. I took a step back and took notice that Bayou was wearing a different outfit.

“You change your clothes?” I asked, black is definitely his color, the blue tight pants gave him more depth, as his new boots matched well, the outfit itself made his silver eyes pop out more, as his skin blended wonderfully, giving it more texture. He looked breathtaking. My heart started to race.

“You were taking notice now? I look more devilishly handsome don’t I?” he teased wiggling his eyebrows.

“You’re full of yourself, but to feed your ego, yes, you look handsome tonight,” he stared at me, his eyes narrowing. I looked up, and he shook his head.

“Now, follow my lead, alright?” he placed his hand around my waist and took a firm hold of my hand.

“Place your hand on my shoulder,” I nodded and did so.

“Now, let go, alright,” he whispered. I nodded again, and he moved forward, and I moved back. Slowly and clumsily I started to dance with him, matching the rhythm of the beat. Each step made me braver, as he let go, and made a turn. Taking my hand, he stretched me out and spun me back to him.

“Now you’re getting it,” he chuckled, pinning me against him. We followed the rhythm, he pushed me and I pushed him in a way. Our hands held each other tightly.

He spun me again, and I actually giggled.

“You’re getting good,” He smiled at me tenderly.

“You’re a good teacher, this is fun, better than the balls,” I told him.

He nodded, as I spun once again, and we kept moving. Then I grabbed the bottom of my dress, and swung my hips and my head side to side, feeling the rhythm of the music. Moving my feet, then my shoulders, all matching the music. Bayou watched. I moved my body in a circle, fluttering my dress around. I looked up, heaving hard to see Bayou smiling tenderly at me, then he grasped my waist and pinned me against him, taking a hold of my hand, and we spun, getting lost in this dance and with him. He moved his body in an erotic way, causing me to do the same. My chest warmed up, at this strange way of dancing. I liked it though.

He let go, and moved his arms, matching the music, I watched as he winked at me, making me laugh with joy. He came back to me and held me, his hips pushing mine. Then I started to twist my hips, and he lifted my arm up to twirl me around.

“Aye, you had a great teacher, and told ya,” he then pinned me against him, and tilted me backward, his hand on the base of my stomach, dangerously close to my breast, causing my breath to catch. Then pulled me back up, my breathing heightened. I laid my hand on his shoulders, and smiled. He kept staring at me, holding my back tightly.

We breathed heavily.

“Bayou,” his name escaped my lips. I moved my hand to cup his cheek. He moved closer, again, I could almost feel his lips on mine, I don’t know what happened, the same aching desire from before was pulsing in my veins.

Don’t hold back, please, don’t hold back, I beg you, my heart screamed, and I begged with my eyes while I caressed his cheek, and he leaned forward fluttering his eyes closed.

“Oi, Captain Bayou, we found something,” Shawn’s voice shouted loudly, causing Bayou to freeze. I actually heard him groan deeply.

“Bloody hell, if is not the snake, is something else,” he cursed letting go of me. My cheeks flared up and I turned around, covering my face once again.

What in the world? This is the second time.

“What did you find?” he asked, but his tone was irritated. I turned, to see Max and Belle reaching us.

“Captain Belle’s sister.”

“Please tell us, she is in there?” Belle asked concerned, I could see hope and fear cross her eyes. Shawn gave her a straight look and turned to face Bayou.

“Aye, she is, we found her with the other captive, but I don’t bring good news,” his voice tightened, as Max went up to him and grabbed his arm.

“What happened?” he asked in a stern tone. Shawn shook his head.

“It lo’ok like they had been mistr’eated, as well,” he went still, Belle body tensed up, as I moved up to her.

“And? Go on mate, what else?” Bayou pushed Shawn. Shawn sighed and glanced straight in his eyes.

“The Duke knows you are here, and he invited us to stay the night.”