Chapter Three
KERES
“I’m sorry, miss, but I just gave away our last room,” the owner says.
“Except I just paid for the room.” The coins I used were technically stolen, but I doubt the man I took it from will care. Can’t spend it at the bottom of the sea.
“Ned, she paid double,” the barmaid mutters.
“So did the captain.” Ned’s gaze flicks to a man at the end of the bar watching our interaction.
I could let this go. Except I’ve been to three other taverns and no one has room.
Could I sneak onto a ship sitting in port?
Yes. Then an asshole would stumble on board and the curse would compel me to take care of them.
If I wait too long, the curse makes me feral.
And there goes my night off. I really need a night off.
“Let me see what I can do.” I rap my knuckles on the counter and smirk.
The captain’s dark eyes follow me as I weave through the patrons who unconsciously step out of my way.
His blue-black hair sucks the light from around him, creating a halo around him.
I doubt he’s as divine as he appears. Clearly, a pirate.
He’ll either give me the room or I’ll lead him back to the ocean.
One way or another, I’ll end up sleeping in that room.
“Hello,” I murmur as the man next to him moves for me. I slide onto the stool and angle my body toward him. He scans me from head to toe, then turns back to his ale.
“Can I help you?”
“Seems you and I have something in common.” I infuse my voice with sultry tones, though he doesn’t seem interested. Bastard.
“And what could that be?”
I cross my ankles and prop my elbow on the counter, resting my chin in my hand. “There’s only one room left and we both seem to have paid for it.”
He hums, glancing at me from the corner of his eye. “Pretty sure I was here first, nymph.”
“Wrong creature,” I mumble, then clear my throat. “Be that as it may, I am a woman. And you wouldn’t leave a helpless woman out in the cold in search of another place to stay, would you?”
He sets his mug down and turns. His legs bracket mine, and a thrill rolls through me. From the look on his face, I doubt he’d be willing to share. Besides, I don’t sleep with pirates…anymore. His gaze rakes over me, and flames lick through my veins.
He leans in, and I bite my tongue to keep from launching myself at him.
From this close, I can make out the flecks of gold in his black eyes.
When he blinks slowly, his long lashes brush his sharp cheekbones.
Do not fuck a pirate repeats like a mantra in my head.
If he makes even the slightest of suggestions, my clothes will burn from my body, leaving me naked for the entirety of the tavern to peruse. Damn men.
“From what I see, you’re the furthest thing from helpless. Aren’t you?”
I gasp, which only makes him chuckle. “How dare you.”
“Your fake outrage is noted, nymph. However, I’m not giving up the room. You’re more than welcome to share it with me, though.” He turns back and picks up his mug once more. Ned shuffles toward us, two bowls of stew in his hands.
“Did you two work things out?” he asks as he sets the food in front of us.
“Not yet.” The captain smirks into his mug. “I’m sure she’ll make up her mind soon, though.”
“Remember, Loch, no trouble.” Ned rushes away.
I roll my eyes and spin toward the bar. The barmaid almost spills half my ale when she puts it down.
“Are they afraid of you or me?” Loch murmurs before digging into his stew.
“Why can’t it be both? Besides, I’m not exactly intimidating.”
He chuckles again, though I don’t know why.
I glance down at the dress I filched from a clothesline earlier.
It’s tight and has too many laces, but it definitely doesn’t scream intimidating.
Him, on the other hand…his entire existence screams back the fuck off.
In another life, I might have given him a wide berth.
I doubt he’d attack me in a crowded tavern. Helps I can’t die.
We eat as the festivities swirl around us.
It’s as if we’ve created a bubble no one dares pop.
The longer the silences stretches between us, the more relaxed I become.
Perhaps staying with him wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
It has been a while since I’ve spent the night with someone.
So what if he’s a pirate. While I know he’s hiding something, the telltale signs I typically feel aren’t there.
No reason I need to send his soul on to judgment.
At least not tonight. Plus, I never have to see him after the sun crests the horizon. In fact, I’ll be long gone by then.
I push my empty bowl away and turn to him once more. “Fine, we can share.”
He raises an eyebrow. “I won’t be sleeping on the floor, nymph.”
“I’m sure there’s two beds.” I hop off the stool. “Shall we dance?”