Treasure of Love (10 page)

W
ITH
Jack now at the winch controls on the bridge, Dona guided him via the radio as he slowly lowered the submersible into the water, while she fed the cabling that tethered the vessel to the boat. As the
Hunter II
floated lazily on the surface, Dax again went down below to make sure they were getting a good feed from the cameras and could begin the submersible’s descent. Dona detached the tether, and the little submersible started its wireless descent. When the others could no longer see the ROV, they joined Dax below deck.

“The underwater visibility is great today,” Dax said as he guided the ROV to the proper coordinates using the handheld control panel. Everyone was excited and focusing their attention on the computer screens, including Jack. He was standing right behind Dax’s chair and, without realizing it, he rested both hands on Dax’s shoulders. Surprised, Dax looked up at him and smiled. When Jack realized what he’d done, he fought the urge to quickly yank his hands back, not wanting to offend Dax; he allowed his hands to rest there until he could think of a reason to casually remove them.

Forgetting about the computer screen in front of him, Jack stared at his hands resting on Dax’s shoulders. Suddenly, he felt like he was free-falling. How could a simple touch make a person feel so lightheaded and strange? He felt like there was an energy being passed through him and Dax, and he wondered if Dax felt it as well. He didn’t have to wonder long, because within seconds, controlling the ROV with his right hand, Dax raised his left hand across his chest, rested it on top of Jack’s, and squeezed. The two men stayed that way while the
Hunter II
continued its descent. With Jack’s hands on him, Dax found it very hard to concentrate on the task at hand, but he knew he had to snap out of it and get the job done or Dona would give him a great deal of grief.

Noticing movement out of the corner of his eye, Brad turned his head in Jack’s direction. What he saw put a huge smile on his face. He elbowed Mac. “What?” Mac whispered, but didn’t break eye contact with the computer screen. Brad elbowed him again. Seemingly annoyed with the interruption, Mac turned to see what was so important. Their eyes met and Brad nodded in Jack’s direction. When Mac saw what was happening, a huge grin spread across his face as well. He looked back at Brad, and they both turned their attention back to Jack.

Jack must have sensed them staring and slowly turned his head. He looked at Mac, then at Brad, and instantly felt the blush consume his entire face. He again had to fight the urge to withdraw his hands and break contact with Dax’s body. Jack stood there, frozen in time, and then it hit him like a ton of bricks.
The more power I give them, the more they are going to torture me. I’ll never live this down, so why not go for it. They’re not going to intimidate me.
He felt the initial blush and embarrassment start to subside, and then he was just plain pissed.

I’ll dare them. If they want a show, by God, that’s what they’ll get. It wasn’t that long ago that they were in the same situation. Let the show begin.

Jack defiantly glared at Brad and Mac. He started to softly massage Dax’s shoulders and neck. At the sudden sensation, Dax looked up in surprise. When he did, Jack leaned over and placed a long, wet kiss right on Dax’s lips. Stunned, Dax leaned into the kiss. When Jack was through kissing Dax, he looked over at Brad and Mac and smirked. He kissed the top of Dax’s head, never breaking eye contact with Brad and Mac. “Anything else I can do for you, boys?” he asked.

Dona was concentrating on the computer images and seemed to be oblivious to the entire episode. She looked up, a confused expression on her face. “What did I miss?”

Jack angrily stared at Brad and Mac and said, “What did she miss, gentlemen?”

Mac and Brad looked at each other. “Oh nothing,” Mac said. “We’re just having a little fun.”

“At my expense,” Jack added.

He turned his attention back to Dax and continued to massage his neck as he watched the computer screen.

Dax guided the ROV toward its destination, and tried to remember everything he’d read about the
Anna Wyoming
. He pictured every image over and over in his mind and started whispering to himself. “One-hundred-and-fifty-one feet in length, built in 1871 at a Camden, New Jersey shipyard on the Delaware River. Very innovative for her time, she was one of the first vessels constructed from iron. She had two modes of propulsion, a three-masted schooner sailing rig, and a state-of-the-art steeple compound engine. She had a draft of nine feet and could sustain a speed of eight knots.” Dax knew that remembering the ship’s physical attributes could possibly help him identify a portion of the ship if it had broken into pieces during its demise, or simply rested intact on her port or starboard sides. If the mast and stack were still intact, it would be very easy to identify her just by knowing what to look for.

Dax checked the submersible’s course, depth, and location and knew it was nearing the chartered coordinates. He released Jack’s hand and placed both hands on the control panel.

After squeezing both shoulders twice, as if to signal the end of the massage, Jack removed his hands from Dax’s shoulders and stepped back. Jack was surprised at the overwhelming need to touch Dax again, but he resisted the urge and held his ground. He knew Dax would need to concentrate and use both hands to maneuver the submersible in and around the area, in addition to using all three cameras and the two extension arms.

Observing Dax in his element gave Jack a whole new perspective of the man he was getting to know. He worked the controls of the submersible like he was the great and powerful Wizard of Oz. His touch was very subtle, and the
Hunter II
responded like a loyal golden retriever. As the ROV fought the swift currents and dove deeper toward the bottom, Dax switched on the bright headlights, and within minutes, the ocean floor came into view. Dax and the ROV investigated every mound of coral, every hill of silt, and anything that even resembled a protrusion from the canal floor. During the next few hours, Dona studied charts and kept Dax company while the others came and went as activities demanded. Occasionally Dona would take over for Dax while he stretched his legs and took a bathroom break, but they had done this drill many times before and were very comfortable alternating positions. With only an hour of daylight left, Brad and Mac went to the galley to start preparing dinner, and Jack went up to the bridge to check on equipment and check the weather forecast for that night and the next day. Dax was just about to give up for the day when he saw what he thought could be a propeller shaft jutting out from a large mound on the canal floor.

“Well I’ll be damned,” Dax muttered as he stared at the computer screen. Dona looked up from her charts with a quizzical look on her face. Dax moved the ROV up and back to get a better look at the big picture.

Dax pointed his index finger to an object on the screen and said, “Dona, what does that look like to you?”

“I’d bet my life that’s a propeller shaft,” she said with a grin.

“I’d bet your life too,” he responded.

“Very funny,” she said with a smirk. “Can we get a better look?”

Dax adjusted the joystick and the ROV slowly moved to starboard and backed away for a different angle. The way the shaft seemed to disappear into the large mound only confirmed their suspicions.

Dax reached for the radio and said, “Base to bridge, Jack, come back.”

“Bridge here,” Jack said.

“Hey, Jack, I think we’ve found something. Get Brad and Mac, and get down here.”

Jack found Brad and Mac in the galley and they quickly made their way down to the cabin. They gathered around the computer screen as Dax pointed out what he and Dona hoped was the propeller shaft of the
Anna Wyoming
. From his research, Dax knew that the ship had an iron hull, and although it would rust and disintegrate over time, the outline of the hull should still be somewhat visible. Dax tried to bring the ROV up to get a wider view, but unfortunately, with the daylight fading, the lights were not strong enough to penetrate to the bottom, and they simply stared into darkness.

“Well, that settles it,” Dax said shutting off the computer monitor and looking up at Dona. “Reconnaissance dive at first light?” she asked.

Dax nodded his head. “Let’s get the
Hunter II
up and secured for the night, and then let’s eat,” he said. “I’m starved.”

“I think that’s our cue,” Mac said to Brad. “Do you need us on deck?”

“I think Jack and I can manage,” Dax said as he winked at Jack.

“You boys handle the
Hunter II
, and I’ll get everything down here secured for the night,” Dona added.

While Dona worked down below, Dax grabbed the radio and the remote control for the ROV and headed to the deck, as Jack made his way to the bridge. When Dax reached the deck, he surfaced the ROV and maneuvered it to the swim platform so he could hook up the tether. He walked the ROV alongside the hull to the bow and connected the cable to the winch. He radioed Jack that the ROV was connected and ready to be lifted safely onto the deck. Jack joined Dax topside, and together they secured the
Hunter II
to its riggings for the night.

When everything was secured, the sun was just starting to dip below the horizon, and Jack stopped to watch. Dax joined him and put his arm gently on his shoulder, and together they watched the spectacular swirls of pinks, oranges, and reds all blended together to form a perfect sunset. Jack, unable to control himself, turned to Dax and gently kissed him on the cheek.

“What was that for?” Dax asked.

“Oh, nothing. I just felt like doing it,” Jack said.

“Wanna do it again?” Dax asked with a smile.

“Maybe,” Jack said.

Dax’s smile faded, and he started to ramble. “Well, Captain Cameron, don’t do me any fav—”

Jack put his lips over Dax’s mid-ramble and smothered him with a long, savory kiss. Jack’s tongue fought for entry, and when Dax’s lips parted, he found solace in the warmth of Dax’s mouth. Their tongues roamed and searched each other’s welcoming mouths until they were both out of breath.

When Jack pulled away and left Dax’s swollen lips bare, they were both panting.

“Eureka,” Jack said. “Now I know what to do to shut you up,” he teased.

“If all I need to do is go on a tirade to get you to kiss me, look out, Jack. Your life is about to become very confrontational.”

“Okay, maybe I’ll rethink that statement and save us both the trouble and just kiss you more.”

“I think that’s a great idea,” Dax said.

Just as Jack was leaning in to kiss Dax a second time, Brad popped up on deck.

“Dinner’s ready, you two.”

“As usual, your timing is impeccable,” Jack said.

“Oh, did I interrupt something?” he asked.

“Nothing that can’t be continued later,” Dax said as he winked at Jack.

Brad spun on his heels with Jack and Dax in tow, and they made their way to the little galley. Dinner was a pork roast Mac had put in the slow cooker that morning, accompanied by mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, and warm French bread. They ate with a renewed excitement after the day’s discovery and discussed plans for the next morning. Dax, Dona, and Jack would do tomorrow’s dive, with Brad and Mac staying aboard to man the ship. If their assumptions were true, and this was the wreck of the
Anna Wyoming
, they would have to leave the site and immediately report their find, in person, to the proper authorities and stake their claim to the salvage rights. They would then head right back to the site to start the salvage operation. When dinner was through and the galley was cleaned, it was nearing eleven o’clock. Brad and Mac turned in, with Dona right behind them.

Jack looked at Dax in nervous anticipation. “Um, I’m gonna check on the bridge before I turn in. Want to take a walk with me?”

“Sure,” Dax said. “I’ll check on the
Hunter II
and make sure everything is secure, and I’ll meet you on the bow.”

“Perfect,” Jack said, and the two men made their way topside. Jack secured the bridge for the night and strolled to the bow. He stood at the bowsprit and stared out into the darkness. Dax finished checking the ROV and walked over to join Jack.

Dax walked up behind Jack and slid his arms around Jack’s waist. Deep in thought, Jack jumped at the touch, but relaxed immediately.

“Everything okay?” Dax whispered.

“How did you know?” Jack said in a hushed voice.

“Know what?” Dax asked.

“That you liked guys.”

Dax thought before he answered, knowing that his answer held a great deal of significance to Jack. “I guess I always knew,” he said. “But I didn’t know what it meant until I was a teenager.”

“That’s right,” Jack remembered. “You were homeschooled.”

Dax nodded. “Jack, have you never thought about another guy in a sexual way before?”

Jack thought hard but said, “I can’t say that I have.”

After a long silence, Dax asked, “So what makes you think you’re gay?”

“I think you’re hot as hell, and I love kissing you and, well… you’re a guy.”

“Good answer, and thanks for noticing,” Dax chuckled. “I feel the same way.”

“You do?” Jack asked.

“Jack, how could you not know that?” Dax asked. “But look,” he added. “If you decide that this is something you want to explore, I will do my best to take the journey with you, but you have to take the lead. This has to be your decision and yours alone.”

“I know all that,” Jack said. “Why do you think I’ve been so apprehensive?”

“And you have to really be sure if and when anything happens between us. I’m not a science experiment. You can’t sleep with me then throw me away if you decide you’re not gay. Are we clear?”

Jack thought about what Dax was saying. “We’re clear,” he said.

“So, we’re on the same page?” Dax asked.

“I think so.”

“Now shut up and kiss me,” Dax pleaded.

With Dax’s arms still holding him loosely around the waist, Jack slowly turned and put his arms around Dax’s neck. “My pleasure,” he said with a grin.