Montana Rockwood in Amorous Atlantis - Part 2

Chapter 2 - I’ve Got A Bad Feeling About This

When Hudson and Frank finally set foot on Moroccan soil, the city greeted them in a riot of colours, sounds, and the tantalising scent of cumin and sea salt. It was that distinctive mix of African culture with a European tinge, thanks to Iberia, only a short jaunt away. Hudson decided he liked it; the buildings and faces were different, but Casablanca actually reminded him a lot of home. Cultures and beliefs all mixed together.  He was used to foreign lands; he kept his head high, his gaze drifting over the throngs of people, eyes picking up every detail, as he ventured deeper into the heart of the city.

"Did you manage to come up with a plan on that trip?" Frank asked. "At all?"

Hudson resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Frank had been a pain in his side ever since that incident in the lounge. Whatever was bothering him, Hudson hoped he'd get over it soon. 

"We find that library. If Jaques is part of the cult, then if nothing else, we'll find information there."

"I know this is hardly a bastion of knowledge, but I am sure Morocco has more than a single library. How are we going to find it?"

"Come now, that talk is beneath you, Frank." Hudson chided. "This is a metropolitan city."

"So my point is even more valid."

"Jaques wouldn't be going to just any library...it has to be something special. Something the rumour mill could tell us about. I'll do some digging. You find us a place to stay."

Frank pressed his lips together.

"Are you sure that's safe? A woman walking around the city on her own."

"Frank, this isn't my first rodeo. Besides, the hotels will probably charge me double, thinking a woman wouldn't know better, and I don't feel like bartering today."

Frank lit a cigar and muttered something under his breath before heading off down the street with both their bags in tow. Hopefully, some time on land would make him less of a grump. Hudson made his way into the cool shade of a café overlooking the port. The patrons were mostly locals and travellers; a mix of merchants and explorers with rumpled suits and wary glances. 

It didn’t take long before a man at the bar caught his eye. He was well-dressed, with a certain restless air about him, a silk handkerchief tucked into his pocket, and a fresh cigarette between his fingers. Hudson leaned back and met his gaze with a small, inviting smile. He could practically feel his interest before he even lifted his glass to toast. It didn't take long for him to approach. 

A few minutes of casual flirting got him a lead, and Hudson made his excuse to move on. Never had getting information been so easy. A smile here, a casual touch to the arm and men were eager to brag about things that would normally take him several shots of whiskey and maybe even a few threats to pry out of them otherwise. 

Before long, he was tracing his way through the city, following directions from various different sources. He slipped through narrow alleys and bustling markets, each casual flirtation or probing question getting him that much closer. Soon, he had enough clues pointing him down the coastline, and he was confident that was where they needed to head. By the time he found the hotel Frank had picked for them, the sun was setting, and judging by the small pile of ash by his feet, Frank had been waiting a long time. 

“There you are.” He breathed a sigh of relief. “I was getting worried you’d been accosted or something.”

“I got some stares, don’t see many women wearing pants in these parts, but that’s it. More importantly, I have a lead on a coastal library specialising in historical and occult texts. We can go tomorrow.”
“Sounds good, come on, I got us a room.”

The hotel was cramped, small, and dirty. The sort of place country locals went, not visitors from across the seas. It was exactly the sort of place Hudson would have picked. 

“You did good, Frank,” he grinned, before opening the door to the room and frowning. “Why is there only one bed?”

“Because that’s all they had.” Frank shrugged, “We share a bed when travelling all the time, what’s the big deal?”

Hudson’s brow furrowed further. He was right, of course; they did share a bed when off globetrotting, they were usually strapped for cash, and it just made more sense. 

“And as you keep insisting, nothing is different, so why should I spend more than I need to?”

Hudson let out an irritated huff; if this was Frank’s idea of petty revenge, fine. Still, he couldn’t help blushing as he stripped down to his underwear and slipped under the covers. Even back to back, Hudson could feel the heat from Frank’s back across the bed. That same feeling started to well up inside him, the one that he’d felt back on the ship with Jaques. He didn’t want to admit it was attraction, but he was also a damn adult, not a petty teen who could deny that sort of thing. 

‘It's just this new body,’ He reasoned silently, ‘it’s natural for a woman to crave the touch of a man. You’re not an animal, Hudson. Ignore the instinct and focus on the job.’

It was a long night.