"Mr Riley, could I have a word with you, Sir?"
Midshipman Gideon Cherry stood waiting nervously in the doorway to the officers wardroom. It was late, past midnight. Everyone bar the standing watch was fast asleep. Jonathan had not long finished the first watch and was enjoying a quiet night-cap of brandy at the wardroom table before seeking his own rest.
"Can it not wait until the morning Mr Cherry, you should be asleep in your hammock."
Cherry shuffled his feet. "I wanted to speak to you alone about a personal matter, Sir; a matter of some delicacy. I fear it may be quite serious."
Jonathan sighed. He'd been hoping to slip into Peter's cabin and warm himself in the Captain's bed. But the worried look on Cherry's face made him reconsider.
"Come in then Mr Cherry and take a seat. How may I be of assistance?" Jonathan waved his hand at the chair across from him. In some ways it was flattering that Cherry would seek him out for advice. The mantel of Lieutenancy was still new upon his shoulders and once again Jonathan realised how close in age Cherry was to him. There was really no reason for the young man to look up to him other than because of rank.
Cherry sat down and bit his lip. He leaned across the table and spoke in a whisper. "Do you know anything about the Pox, Sir?"
"The Pox?" Jonathan gasped as he sat back.
"Yes," Cherry continued, his eyes glancing around the empty wardroom as if he suspected someone may be hiding in the shadows or listening behind the closed cabin doors. "I fear I may have caught it during my last shore leave. You remember, that time when you said I could go ashore and..."
"Yes, yes I remember! Really Mr Cherry, I think you should speak to Mr Pike about such things. He IS the surgeon after all."
"Oh no...I could never approach him about it." Cherry interrupted. He looked about him again. "I fear he may be...he might be...a sodomite!"
"What? Pike?" Jonathan could not hide his laughter. "I don't think you need to worry about Mr Pike on that account, Mr Cherry. Where ever did you get such an notion?"
As if in reply a loud snore erupted from the surgeon's cabin reminding them that Pike slept barely feet away. Cherry continued, his voice a little softer, "Mr Pike seems to pay particular attention to the ships boys and is constantly seeking them out and speaking with them."
"And that precisely is the reason why you are mistaken, Mr Cherry." Jonathan explained. "Mr Pike is concerned for their welfare. He knows better than most what may befall a young lad below decks and so he makes it his business to keep an eye on them and ensure they do not become prey to the unwanted advances of some of the more unscrupulous members of the crew." Cherry looked abashed.
Jonathan took another sip from his brandy. "Now perhaps you can find your way to speak to Mr Pike in the morning and ask him to..."
"No please Sir...I would rather not. At least not until I am certain, that is." Cherry rubbed a dark eyebrow nervously. "It is so embarrassing, you see Sir. So, intimate. If you could just tell me the symptoms I'd be ever so grateful. I imagined that a man of your experience would know something of it."
"I've never had it, if that is what you are implying Mr Cherry!" Jonathan retorted angrily. He was about to dismiss the young man when he caught site of the anguished look in Cherry's eyes. Jonathan melted. He'd been aware of Cherry's charms since the midshipman had come aboard two weeks ago and had tried to keep his distance. Now, to be the focus of those lovely hazel eyes brought a rush of warmth to Jonathan's groin.
"Of course I have heard tales of the affliction. I understand that it's accompanied by a sort of...drip...from the...er...affected member." Jonathan answered awkwardly.
"Drip?"
"Yes, drip...do you have a drip?"
"No." Cherry shook his head and looked perplexed.
"Well then what DO you have that makes you think it's the pox?"
Cherry hesitated for a moment before pressing on. "It's very red and painful."
"Painful?" Jonathan repeated. "When you...er...piss?"
"No, no, not that." Cherry shook his head again. "It's more that the skin itself is sore and reddened."
"Oh, you mean there are sores upon it?" That sounded more familiar.
"No, no, it just feels sore, sensitive... Perhaps you could take a look."
Jonathan blinked but before he could protest Cherry was on his feet and unbuttoning his breeches.
"Not HERE Mr Cherry." Jonathan declared, alarmed at the speed in which Cherry's fingers worked. "Anyone might come in." Although Mr Tench was on watch, it would not do for the First Officer to come below and find Cherry with his pants down. Jonathan began to panic. "And besides, I doubt the Captain would approve of me...examining your...er...well, here in the gunroom...with the others asleep just..."
No, Peter Crittenden certainly would NOT approve, in fact Peter would probably be quite put out by it all. The Captain could be rather a green eyed jealous little thing when he was felt like it.
"Your cabin then Sir?" Cherry asked interrupting Jonathan's thoughts. "It will only take a minute and it would set my mind at ease."
It was Jonathan's turn to hesitate, but only for a moment. He picked up the candle from the table and nodded. "All right, but make it quick and if it IS the pox then you must see Mr Pike first thing in the morning."
Jonathan's tiny cabin was barely big enough for the two of them to stand. Cherry solved the problem by sitting on Jonathan's cot and sliding down his breeches. Jonathan bent closer, candle in hand.
Poxed or not, Cherry's prick was impressive. Jonathan found himself wondering how it would look in its full glory. There appeared to be no sign of disease. "Ummm, it doesn't look particularly red to me, Mr Cherry."
"It's...the ...inside part that's sore, Sir. Here." With a quick flick of his wrist Cherry slid back his foreskin. Jonathan moved in closer.
"Hmmm yes, it looks like some kind of abrasion or something." He looked up to catch Cherry's wide eyes watching him in the darkness. "Have you accidentally rubbed it against something lately?"
"Only my hand, and that was no accident."
Jonathan spluttered. "Oh of course not...that shouldn't be a problem...we all do that once a week or so."
"Not once a week sir, every night...several times a night actually."
"Several times a night?" Jonathan put the candle down on his sea chest and straightened up. "You don't think that is a little...excessive...do you Mr Cherry?"
"Well, no...you see it's very hard..."
"I am sure it is!" Jonathan sat down beside the candle. He suddenly felt a little breathless.
"NO what I mean, is that it is hard to get any privacy in the cockpit. The Misters Starr are always interrupting me and it's very hard to ...finish it off. So I have to start all over again when I think they are asleep. And then just when I am about to...well...you know...one of them will yawn or cough or just sit up and plainly ask what I am doing. It's rather off putting! I can't very well do it in front of them, they are just boys and I would not want to...well...shock them. I am sure you can imagine what it's like Sir...I am sure you remember."
Jonathan closed his eyes. He could well remember the goings on in the cockpit and even now fantasised about what Ned and the others had got up to. It wasn't hard to imagine Cherry trying to relieve his frustration while the two youngest midshipmen did their utmost to spoil his concentration. He glanced again at Cherry's cock. Cherry was right about one thing though; two twelve year olds would most likely find a cock that size shocking. It certainly made Jonathan blink.
"Perhaps that is your problem, Mr Cherry," Jonathan said as he lifted the candle once more. He leaned in for another look and the sweet musky scent from Cherry's groin assaulted his senses. Cherry still held his cock in his hand, his long strong fingers unconsciously rubbing back and forth. Jonathan watched the head sliding in and out as if playing peek-a-boo with him. He dragged his eyes away. "You've rubbed it so much that the skin is peeling off. Look!" With a shaking hand Jonathan gestured towards Cherry's penis with the candle.
Cherry gasped. "That's hot."
"Sorry." Jonathan pulled the candle away and tried to compose himself. In the candle light and close confines of the cabin, Cherry's nearness was having an undeniable effect on him.
"So what do you think I should do about it, Mr Riley?" Cherry asked.
Several possibilities flashed through Jonathan's mind. He wondered if Cherry would be open to any of them. It was dangerous to even contemplate seducing a midshipman, especially one who had up until now expressed only a keen interest in women.
"You must try to keep your...passions in check...Mr Cherry," Jonathan said diplomatically while he fought his own battle to do the same.
"I do try to Sir, but in the dark, at night...I can't help but think about women and what I'd like to do. Sometimes I dream about them. Do you have that trouble too Sir?"
Jonathan tugged at his collar. The small cabin suddenly felt quite warm. "I try not to think about women at all, Mr Cherry." Or men either, he added silently, particularly those who are out of reach.
"Back aboard my old ship it wasn't so much of a problem," Cherry continued casually. He leaned back on one elbow and made himself comfortable. "We were all about the same age and we all did it. Sometimes we'd have competitions to see who could spurt first. It was all just a game. Harmless."
As Cherry spoke the fingers on his other hand continued their slow rhythmic stroking. His erection twitched and grew. Jonathan watched as a small pearly bead formed at the end. It would be so easy to lean forward again and catch it with his tongue.
He looked back at Cherry. "It was like that when I was a mid too." Jonathan said slowly. He watched the midshipman carefully, looking for any sign that might give him some indication of Cherry's willingness. "Some of the lads even gave each other a hand, if you know what I mean."
Cherry nodded and his face took on a wistful look. "It was so much easier when we were younger, wasn't it Sir. But now that we are men...well...one must be more circumspect. It would not do to appear to be..."
The young Midshipman suddenly blushed deeply and sat up. He began pulling up his breeches. "Oh Sir, I am sorry. I should go. Please forgive me for taking up your time. I hope you did not think I was...that is... I did not in any way mean to...You don't think that I..."
"No, no of course not Mr Cherry. You came to me with a problem and I was attempting to help you. Please, stay there." Jonathan stood quickly and picked up the candle. He felt guilty. "Finish what you are doing. I can give you that much at least. I fear I have been of little help to you. I'll wait outside." He saw Cherry smile and was struck again by the young man's good looks.
"Thank you Sir. I do appreciate it."
Jonathan closed the door quietly and poured himself another glass of brandy. So easy...it would have been so easy. He doubted Cherry would have minded, at least not once he had discovered how good it could feel with a hot hungry mouth wrapped around his cock. Jonathan put his head in his hands. Damn the responsibilities that came with being a lieutenant. If he had been a midshipman he would have been free to offer Cherry a way to relieve both of their frustrations. Cherry would have accepted too, of that he had no doubt. Instead here he was, sitting in the wardroom drinking brandy with a raging hard-on while Cherry relieved himself alone.
In my cabin...in my cot...
It simply wasn't fair!
Some time later Cherry emerged, cheeks flushed, eyes bright. His uniform was once more immaculate, only his cravat was missing. "I needed it too...er...clean myself," he offered by way of explanation when he caught Jonathan's gaze.
"Well perhaps you will be able to get a little sleep now Mr Cherry," Jonathan said.
"And you too Sir."
Jonathan doubted that. Cherry's scent would still linger in his cabin and he had his own aching frustration to see to.
"Thank you again Sir. I really didn't know to whom to turn. There is no one else my age but you. I hoped you would understand."
Jonathan gave a little laugh. "I understand better than you think, Mr Cherry."
"It's Gid, Sir. At least that's what my friends used to call me."
Cherry had been at sea long enough to know that what he did was a breech of discipline and protocol and yet Jonathan did not have the heart to chastise him. Well he remembered the loneliness that could exist aboard a crowed vessel. It was important to have someone to turn to and call friend.
"Then I am honoured to be included in their number, Gid. Now get to your hammock, and that's an order."
"Aye, Aye Sir," the young midshipman said smartly and disappeared out the door.
Jonathan watched his retreating back and smiled. Perhaps being a lieutenant wasn't so hard after all. As if to make a lie of his thoughts, his own erection throbbed in his breeches. Silently he made his way to the Captain's cabin and knocked softly on the door.
"Peter, could I have a word with you?"
The End.
JJ