Treasure of Love Read online

  “And the second type?” Jack asked.

  “The second type is the worst. They pretend to accept us as equals, but do everything to undermine our operation, and stab us in the back at every turn. At least with the homophobes we always know where we stand, and there’s some comfort in that, but with these guys, you never know who to trust, so you trust no one.”

  “I imagine that’s tough,” Jack confessed. “Always having to look over your shoulder.”

  “It is,” Dax said. “But I earned my reputation because I don’t put up with any bullshit, and I do things my way. If I’m wrong, I take the hit, but thankfully, because I do my homework, and I know my shit, I’m normally right on.”

  Jack was developing a newfound respect for Dax and Dona. Their chosen career wasn’t always easy, but they’d kept on course and made their way in the world, and he admired that.

  “This is all very enlightening,” Jack said. “But make no mistake about it, my disliking you had nothing to do with your being gay. I really had no idea, but apparently Brad and Mac did and never bothered to tell me.”

  “It’s okay, Jack, we get the same shit all the time,” Dax said. “We’re very used to it.”

  “I really wasn’t playing games with you, Dax,” Jack said. “It looked like you were challenging me to a pissing contest at every turn, and I never shy away from a challenge. But again, my issues had nothing to do with whether you and Dona were gay or straight.”

  “I believe you,” Dax said.

  “So, based on the two types of people you work with,” Jack asked, “where do I fit in?”

  Dax thought for a second. “You sort of fall into a new category.”

  “What category is that?” Jack asked.

  “Someone who doesn’t care about our sexuality, but is a bit of a control freak, whether he knows it or not, and doesn’t want anyone threatening his position.”

  Jack considered the answer. “Maybe you’re half right,” he said.

  “How so?” Dax asked.

  “Don’t confuse control with respect. I never once thought I knew more about your expedition than you did, I just know my boat, and I know her limits. And, for the record, I don’t want control, I want respect. In any other environment, I have no problem earning someone’s respect, but on my boat, I’m captain, no questions asked, end of story,” Jack said.

  “I get that now,” Dax admitted. “And I’m sorry I didn’t get it earlier. I’m just so used to captaining my own boat or dealing with assholes that I assumed you were just another one among the many. I was wrong.”

  “Thanks, Dax, that means a lot,” Jack said. “But I think we need to table this discussion for now and get some sleep. Our shift will be here before we know it.”

  Jack waited for Dax to get off the bed, but Dax had already decided that the time had come for one of those little nudges he knew he would have to give Jack until he started to get comfortable and relax around him.

  So instead he said, “You’re right,” and wiggled his way down in the bed and plopped his head on the pillow, all without letting go of Jack’s hand.

  “Oh,” Jack said with a surprised look.

  “You got a problem with me sleeping here?” Dax asked.

  “I guess not,” Jack said as he slid down on the bed to align his head with Dax’s.

  Dax reached over and placed a soft, gentle kiss on Jack’s lips. “Good night, Jack.”

  Shocked and almost speechless yet again, Jack mumbled, “Good night, Dax.”

  JACK opened his eyes as the sun was slowly starting to peek through the little porthole above his bunk. He glanced at the clock just as the red LED number changed from five forty-one to five forty-two, and thought how oddly content he felt and didn’t want to move. Wow, I must have really been tired, I fell asleep fully clothed. It took him just a second to remember the events of the previous night and see the arm holding him at the waist. Oh, Jack, what have you done? He immediately realized it was Dax’s warm, lean body holding him snugly and providing that contentment he was experiencing. Dax’s breathing was slow and steady, and he was purring like a kitten, so Jack knew he was still asleep. He fought the urge to bolt and tried to work his way through the panic.

  This is okay, I’m okay. I’m still dressed, nothing happened. He calmed himself down, steadied his breathing, and lay still while he figured out what to do next. As he relaxed into the embrace of the man lying behind him, he realized it didn’t feel as odd as he thought it would. Then he got a little miffed at himself. What did it matter if something had happened? I’m a grown man, and if I want to sleep with another grown man, it’s my business. Dax started to move behind him, and he stiffened up, not knowing what to expect. Jack felt Dax bury his head in the crook of his neck and nibble on his neck lightly. A shiver ran up his spine, as the sensation felt strange but all too familiar somehow. He stretched his legs out completely, and Dax did the same. Through a stifled yawn, Dax whispered, “Hey.”

  “Hey,” Jack said back.

  “What time is it?”

  Jack looked at the clock again and said, “Five forty-eight.”

  “Great, just enough time for a quick shower,” Dax said. “Care to join me?”

  Jack nervously laughed as Dax jumped out of bed like a man with a mission.

  “Have you seen the showers on this boat?” Jack asked.

  “Sure, why do you think I asked you?”

  “Maybe another time,” Jack said.

  “I figured as much,” Dax replied.

  “Baby steps,” Jack said. “Baby steps.”

  “Okay, see you when I see you,” Dax said with a smile as he stooped down to pick up his shoes and then headed for the door. Midway he stopped, turned, took a leap, and landed right on top of Jack. “Do Dona and I need to pack our bags this morning or can we stay?” he asked.

  Jack smiled. “I think we can give it another try, but we have to try and remember everything we said last night.”

  Dax kissed Jack on the lips and said, “Deal. Oh, and good morning, Jack.” And just as quickly he was off of the bunk and out of the door.

  Jack got up and sat on the edge of the bed and shook his head from side to side. Why do I feel so cheap all of a sudden?

  He took a two-minute shower, slicked his blond hair back, and headed for the bridge.

  “One minute to spare,” Jack said with a big smile as he stepped onto the bridge. “Damn, I’m good.”

  Brad and Mac were in the captain’s seats, watching the sun making its way above the horizon. “You’re in a very chipper mood this morning, considering how you left here at two o’clock,” Brad said.

  “Oh really, I hadn’t noticed,” Jack responded.

  “How was your down time?” Mac said as he used his fingers to make air quotes, never taking his eyes off of the horizon.

  Jack used his fingers to make the same gesture when he said, “Oh, my down time was just fine, thank you.”

  “Come on, Jack, spill it.”

  “Spill what?” Jack asked with a slow, easy grin.

  “Fine, keep it to yourself, but we’ll find out,” Mac said. “I don’t think Dax is as tight-lipped as you are.”

  “Go for it,” Jack said. “Dax is his own man and doesn’t need me telling him what he can or cannot say.”

  Mac slid out of the seat and grabbed Brad’s hand. “Let’s go, Doc.” Brad slid out of his seat as well and winked at Mac. “Let’s stop by the crew berth on the way to our cabin, just to check in with Dona,” he said. “And, Jack, I assume that since you and Dax made up, we’re staying?”

  “We’re staying,” Jack said as he started whistling. “And go right ahead, Dona will probably be in her cabin, but I’m sure Dax will be there too, and that’s who you really want to talk to.”

  “We’re counting on it,” Mac said as they both walked off the bridge, hand in hand.

  WHEN Mac and Brad got to the crew berth, Dax and Dona were just doing the handoff, discussing some sonar images Dona had printe
d during her shift. Dax had just told her that he’d fixed everything with Dax and they were continuing the expedition.

  They both looked up to the smiling faces of Mac and Brad.

  “Okay, Mr. Powers,” Brad said. “Spill it.”

  Dona smiled and said, “Yeah, Dax, spill it. We got most of the business out of the way, now do tell.”

  Dax smiled. “Not much to tell, really. We talked for about an hour or so, then fell asleep.”

  “Together?” Brad asked.

  “Yes, together, but we did nothing but sleep, and we were fully clothed.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Brad asked as he smiled at Dona.

  “That’s it,” Dax said. “I told you there wasn’t much to tell. I need to take this real slow with Jack. I don’t want to push him away.”

  “Good idea,” Mac said. “What’s your plan?”

  “Well, I don’t really have one, but I think I’ll start with playing it a little cool. I feel certain that he’s the kind of guy that needs a challenge, so I’ll be close, but not too close. Be sweet, but not too sweet. Be flirtatious, but not too flirtatious. It’s important that he come to me if he truly wants this. I don’t want to be seen as the aggressor who tried to coax him over to the wild side.”

  “Good point,” Mac said, and turned to Brad with a weary look on his face. “Now, can we get some sleep?”

  “Yep, let’s go.”

  “Dona, are you coming?” Mac asked as they turned to leave.

  “I’m right behind you,” she said. “Just need a second to finish going over these sonar images with Dax before I turn in.”

  “Okay, see you in four hours,” Brad said.

  Dax and Dona reviewed the final images and decided a few of them were worth second looks, so they earmarked them for later that day. When they were finished, Dona folded up the charts and looked at Dax with a questioning look and took a deep breath.

  “Do you know what you’re doing?” she asked.

  “Why, baby sister, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “We’re twins, remember,” she said. “Don’t baby sister me.”

  “Yeah, but I was born first,” Dax said with a smirk. “A full minute and a half before you, which makes me your older brother.”

  “Seriously, Dax, I hope you’re not making a mistake. This expedition is too important to screw up over a straight man with bi-curious urges.”

  Dax looked down at the table and thought for a minute. “I really don’t think it’s a bi-curious thing. I think there could be something there, at least for me, and I hope for Jack too. You know me, Dona. When was the last time I just slept with someone, fully clothed, holding hands?”

  “You’ve got me there, but just be careful, Dax. You really are playing with fire, and your heart and our expedition just might go up in flames.”

  “I guess I’m willing to take that chance, for something real,” Dax said as he looked into Dona’s eyes. “For the first time in a long time,” he added.

  As she stood, she reached over and squeezed his hand and smiled. “If you need me, you know where to find me,” was the last thing she said as she stepped out of the little cabin.

  She left Dax staring at the small computer screen, wondering what he’d just admitted to. Jack and me, he thought. Is there really something there or am I just imagining it?

  He made up his mind in that second that he was going to find out. He wanted to call Jack and just ask him, but he didn’t dare. He needed to play it cool. For me to be sure, Jack has to come to me, he thought. He’d give Jack a few minutes to get settled on the bridge before he radioed him with coordinates he wanted to revisit. He wouldn’t mention anything about their night together.

  Chapter 6

  JACK was sitting at the helm, his attention split between the horizon and the autopilot. His mind wandered back to last night. The more he thought about it, the more comfortable he felt. Maybe Brad and Mac were right, maybe I am gay, or at least bisexual. Let’s face it. I’ve never had a successful relationship with a woman, ever. Could I have been so deep in the closet that even I didn’t know I was gay? Maybe subconsciously I was just burying my attraction to guys because I didn’t want to be gay. I’ve never really been around gay people, until Brad and now Mac, and they seem happy. People don’t seem to care that they are together, not that they go screaming it from the rooftops. Oh my God, I’ve got to stop this, it’s rapid-fire thinking, I’m gonna short-circuit. But Dax is an awfully hot guy, and I liked sleeping in his arms.

  Jack was startled from his thoughts by Dax’s voice. “Base to bridge. Jack, are you there?”

  Jack smiled and removed the handheld radio from the hook. He didn’t want to seem too anxious, so he paused and took a deep breath before he pressed the button to speak.

  “Bridge here, hey, Dax,” he responded.

  “Hey, Jack, do you have something handy to write with?”

  “Uh, yeah,” Jack said as he leaned over the helm and grabbed a pen and pad.

  “I have some coordinates I’d like to revisit from last night. You ready?”

  “Shoot.”

  “Okay, Latitude, 58.9748 north and longitude, 135.227 west,” Dax said.

  “Got it. You want to change course now?”

  “Can we?”

  “Sure, give me a couple minutes to plug these numbers into the GPS and we’ll be ready to go,” Jack responded. “I’ll radio you when we reach our destination.”

  “Roger that,” Dax said. “Thanks, Jack, base out.”

  Wow, that was short, Jack thought as put the radio back on the hook. Not a “How are you?” “It was great sleeping with you.” “I enjoyed last night.” Nothing. Men…!

  When Jack reached the location, he radioed Dax. “Bridge to Base, Dax do you read?”

  “Loud and clear,” Dax responded.

  “We’re here. What would you like me to do?”

  “How long can you hold the position without dropping the hook?”

  “We have a steady wind coming out of the north at about twelve knots, and the current is running about five knots. If I can keep the bow into the wind and get the speed adjusted, maybe ten minutes or so,” he said.

  “That’s all the time I need, thanks, Jack.”

  “Base out.”

  The way the grid system worked, the wreck could be just three hundred yards to port, but it might take them a day and a half to get to that point on the grid as they worked their way along the imaginary lines. Once Dax was sure they hadn’t missed anything, he radioed Jack to pick up his previous position and continue to the next waypoint on the grid.

  Jack spent the next five minutes adjusting his forward speed to match the current and attempting to hold his location utilizing his bow and stern thrusters.

  Down in the little crew berth, Dax studied the computer screen, leaning in to get a closer look and then backing away for a bigger view. He printed each image and would later put them together to form a larger picture of his target area. He didn’t see anything out of the ordinary this time, but Dona thought she’d noticed something the first go-round. He knew very well that sometimes things you missed in a single image, developed into a shape or object when you saw the images pieced together. He would pass these images on to Dona for a fresh set of eyes, to make sure he didn’t miss anything, but his gut told him he was very close.

  The next few weeks went very smoothly. Everyone fell into a comfortable rhythm, changing shifts, reviewing sonar images, preparing meals, and maintaining the boat. Dax had wanted to drag Jack down to his cabin and have his way with him several times a day, but he did his best to restrain himself. They seemed to be getting to know one another at a good pace, and Dax thought that Jack was getting more and more comfortable with their semi-relationship. Occasionally they would fall asleep on the couch, but nothing was happening but a little light kissing and a lot of snuggling. Dax made sure Jack knew he was interested, but he let Jack take the lead, and he didn’t push. For Dax, that w
as the hardest thing. He always went after what he wanted; it was just his personality. But not this time. He thought Jack was worth the wait, and hoped he would come around sooner rather than later.

  Jack, on the other hand, was getting very frustrated with Dax’s flirtatious behavior. He spent his shifts and time off consumed with thoughts of the handsome treasure hunter and what had transpired between them in the last few weeks. He thought he wanted to explore something with Dax, but he didn’t want to be gay. But how could he be attracted to Dax and not be gay? Could he have it both ways? He thought not. But in the end, it probably didn’t matter anyway, because all they ever really did was make out and snuggle, and that was starting to send a strong message. Maybe Dax was just teasing him and was not really interested.

  He found himself relieved and pissed all at the same time. For the first time in his lonely little life, he was sexually frustrated, and over a man, which confused him more than ever. He didn’t know how to make the first move, so he decided he would talk to Mac and Brad and get their take on it when his shift was over and they came to relieve him. But before he could get another thought through his tangled mind, he heard that familiar voice he was getting so used to—and if he was honest with himself, looked forward to hearing.

  “Base to bridge,” Dax said.

  Jack picked up the radio and said, “Bridge here. Hey, Dax what’s up?”

  “Can you hold our position? I see something very interesting, but I need to get a better look at the sonar reading.”

  “I’ll try, but the winds have kicked up in the last hour,” Jack responded.

  “Just do your best, and hold her as long as you can,” Dax said in a reassuring tone.

  “Roger that,” Jack said.

  Dax stared at the sonar image and blinked his eyes several times. He was seeing a drastic change in the topography of the underwater landscape, which was usually a clue that he was looking at some sort of obstruction. The obstruction was long enough to be a ship, but it was oddly shaped. Dax knew that the shape could be the result of years of sea growth and sediment deforming the look of the vessel.