Chapter Eight
CHAPTER EIGHT
KYNAN
T he sun breaks through the early morning sky. While I want to stay in bed next to my sleeping siren, a captain’s job never ends. I kiss Luarna before I dress, eyeing my hat and coat.
I noticed how Luarna admired them. Would she look at me differently if I dressed better?
Decision made, I shrug into my coat and place my tricorne hat on my head before leaving.
“Looking good, Captain,” Flinders calls out. I tip the front of my hat to him and stride across the main deck, ascending the stairs to the quarter deck.
Daven, a bronze-skinned man, his shoulders set wide and his arms brawny from tending to the wheel as the helmsman steps back from the wheel. I place my hands on the two handles, loving the feel of the wood beneath them.
I always love this part when the sails unfurl, Roberts shouting orders to ready the ship, me at the wheel, and my eyes keen on the horizon.
The promise of freedom.
Only this time, I have a bonny lass to warm my bed .
As if sensing I’m thinking about her, Luarna exits my cabin, casting me a sultry smile.
That sneaky siren.
“Mr. Daven?”
“Aye, Captain?” He gives me a knowing grin.
“Take the wheel,” I order as I descend the stairs and stride over to her.
LUARNA
I’m not about to laze around in bed all day.
I stride across the deck with my feet encased in boots, the height of my heels impractical on a ship, wearing a pair of skintight leather pants that make my ass look fabulous. My top is an off-the-shoulder, long-sleeve number with fluted cuffs. My waist is cinched with a wide belt into barely breathable tightness to emphasize my curves.
“Luarna,” comes the growl from behind me, causing a cheeky grin to appear on my face.
I turn around, innocent as I can be. “Yes, Kynan?”
He glares at me, stripping off his jacket, and places it around my shoulders, helping my arms through the sleeves. “Cover yourself up. I don’t want this lot ogling you. Did you not hear me forbid them from looking at you?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you out here looking like this?”
My grin grows wider. “I may have liked it when you threatened bodily harm if any of them ogled me. ”
His eyes flash to a stormy gray. “Aye, I know you did.”
I close the jacket lapels together and take a whiff. It smells of him—driftwood, lemon, and the sea.
I lean forward, pluck his hat off his head, and place it on mine. “I have to complete the look. Don’t I look like a fierce pirate now?”
He grabs my hips, pulling me against his erection. “You’re playing a dangerous game here, siren.”
“Do I need to be punished?” I pout.
“Nay.” Kynan twists me around and slaps my behind. “Because you’d enjoy a good spanking. Get yourself down below, and you can join me for breakfast in the galley.”
“You call this food?” I throw the hard biscuit that’s barely chewable unless dunked into a hot broth onto the table.
Kynan sits back, his trademark smug smile on his face. “Careful, you’ll offend the cook.”
“Aye, Miss Luarna, there be no fresh food to work with at the moment.” The cook is a dark-skinned man with a clean-shaven scalp. I immediately regret my outburst. Arkur is the first to offer me a friendly smile, so I turn my ire back to Kynan.
I narrow my eyes at him. “But you were just docked at port.”
Kynan shrugs.
“Well, if it’s fresh meat you need… ”
Kynan relaxes further, placing his right ankle over his left knee. “You’re welcome to get your own food then, lass.”
I stand, accepting the challenge flashing in his eyes. “Fine, I will.” I spin on my heel to stride purposely from the mess hall, ascending the stairs leading to the deck and over to the rails.
“Avert yer eyes, lads, lest the Captain catch you ogling his woman,” Flinders calls out behind me as I begin to strip naked, knowing Kynan followed me.
He and I know I make my clothes disappear before I transform in the water, so I’m doing this to antagonize him.
The bastard.
My bastard, but still a pain in my rear.
I climb over the rail before casting my eyes back over my shoulder and give him my best smile before diving into the water below.
KYNAN
She did it.
The sneaky siren did it.
The muscles in my jaw tick, watching Luarna’s ass as she climbs over the rail, imagining how good it would look in red once I finish spanking her.
“Mr. Roberts,” I call out.
“Aye, Captain?”
“Drop anchor and throw the main sail. We don’t want to leave Miss Luarna behind. ”
“You heard the Captain. Drop anchor and throw the main sail,” he yells.
I look around at the crew, pausing their activities.
“What are you lot doing? Get back to work,” I shout.
“Aye, Capt’n.” They jump to it and begin working again.
Luarna isn’t gone long when the sound of wet thuds hits the hull of the Deadly Destiny . Most of the crew rush to the starboard rail to see what the sounds are.
But I know it’s her. “Get back to your stations,” I shout.
My heart does a flip-flop as Luarna’s head appears, and the tension in my body loosens, seeing she’s returned fully clothed.
She raises two large swordfish in both hands, the fish as long as she is tall. “Fish is on me, boys,” she hollers, her face beaming.
I narrow my eyes because if I weren’t falling hard for her, I’d whip her, and not in a good way.
“Fresh fish will be a boon to the lads, Captain.” Roberts steps up beside me.
“Aye, it will be.” Something unsightly begins to fester in my heart as I watch the crew gathering around her, cheering her on.
Arkur takes one of the swordfish below deck.
Maybe it will be nice to keep her…
… permanently.