Chapter 29
Twenty-Nine
DAMON
Weeks worth of tension and stress slipped away, and I felt my eyes grow heavy as I rolled off Will and onto my back.
I hadn’t slept well since the ship was attacked.
With half my crew gone, I wanted to be alert at all times in case someone else was stupid enough to come at me again.
The rocking of the ship grew more intense, which only lulled me further toward sleep.
My eyes snapped back open when I felt Will shift away from me. I whipped my head around, watching him move through the darkness, picking up clothes off the floor.
“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”
He looked over his shoulder, a frown on his face. “I didn’t want to make assumptions that you wanted me to stay. I didn’t have a chance to ask you for a spot on your crew, and I–”
“What the hell are you talking about? You already have a spot on my crew.”
A flash of lightning lit up his face, and I saw the unbridled joy there, but the flash also reminded me of what was coming.
It wasn’t safe to be on the ship tonight.
Lightning strikes could set the whole ship aflame or destroy the mast and crush us both in our sleep.
It was safer to wait out the storm on the shore for tonight.
“You got a room along with that stupid fancy hat?”
His brows drew together tightly, but he nodded all the same. “Yes. At the Bronze Lion, where you found me earlier. My stuff is still there…”
Pushing out of bed, I dragged on my clothes. The faster we got to his room, the faster I could get inside him again. I snagged the bottle of oil from where it’d been pushed aside on the bed, shoving it into my pocket before grabbing my jacket.
“Let’s go. It’s not safe to stay here tonight.”
Understanding overtook his face and he nodded once, finishing his dressing in record time before joining me on deck.
The rain fell in heavy sheets already, we’d be soaked by the time we got to the room, but when I reached for him, he laced his fingers in mine, a look of determination on his face.
No other storm would pull us apart again. I’d make sure of it.
Running through the town, we made our way to Will’s room. The taverns were still full, the noise loud enough to hear over the rain and thunder. The brothel would be full tonight as well. My crew was probably holed up there, spending the storm in a whore’s bed.
Will was laughing by the time we stumbled into the tavern he’d picked.
His hair had grown longer since I last saw him, he stopped sheering it short like the staff of lords was required to do.
He ran his fingers through it, pushing it off his forehead, and my stomach clenched watching him.
He was too pretty for his own good. He dropped my hand, and while it smarted, I knew it was for the best. I planned to keep him, but I’d hide how important he was to me to anyone outside my crew. It was safer for him that way.
Ducking his way through the crowded tavern, he lifted his chin in greeting to a few men in the corner before disappearing up the stairs.
I followed after him, my eyes narrowed on the men.
I wasn’t familiar with them, and irritation settled on my skin with the way they watched him.
He was untouched by anyone but me when he left.
That didn’t mean he didn’t seek company in the meantime.
The thought pissed me off and after he unlocked his room, I shoved him inside it, pushing him up against the door as it slammed shut behind us.
“Who was that?”
He looked confused for a moment before his expression turned sly. “Who? Those men downstairs? Does it matter?”
“Will…”
He barked out a laugh, pushing me away from him so he could strip his soaked jacket off and toss it aside.
“They were on the merchant ship I used to escape Port Antonio. When I told them I was joining your crew, they asked to come with me. I warned them that you were full last I checked, but they figured they’d shoot their shot.
Their captain was an idiot and took issue with me not sticking around to join his crew.
They didn’t want to be associated with a man who throws tantrums like that. ”
I grunted my assent, stripping alongside him.
My clothes were soaked, and I would take any excuse to be naked with Will.
He must have found coin somewhere because he got a private room for himself.
It was tiny, smaller than the room the Davenport children were kept in during their stay on my ship, but it had a bed and a small window, and privacy. It was enough for tonight.
Will dropped back on the bed, tucking his hands behind his head, his naked body stretched out and on display.
He’d lit a candle on the table by the window, giving just enough light for me to see him.
My eyes narrowed on a long pink scar on his stomach, and my own stomach clenched uncomfortably.
Settling myself on the bed next to him, I traced the puckered scar with my fingertips, frowning at it.
“I shouldn’t have left you alone.”
His hand settled on top of mine, drawing my focus back up to his face. He didn’t look angry or scared. Just endlessly patient and calm.
“You couldn’t have known. I’m not even sure how they found out the children were on the ship. You ordered the men to keep it to themselves. I heard you.”
I made an irritated tick behind my teeth, my lip lifted in a snarl.
“Stiles and Davis. They’d met up with Larry in Tortuga after you joined us.
They were angry I didn’t allow them to rape the girls.
They figured they’d share the information, and when the time came, they’d stab me in the back and take them for themselves while joining Larry’s crew.
There were three left on Larry’s ship. Lockhart got the story out of them before sending them to Davy Jones. ”
“I’m glad I killed them myself,” Will admitted, his expression dark. “They’d been planning to betray you from the start. We hadn’t been with you that long when we arrived in Tortuga.”
I hummed, running my thumb along that scar again. They got what they deserved, though a more painful death would have been better. Their betrayal made me more wary of my crew, though, which was why I didn’t fight when they left.
“Lost half my crew after that attack,” I murmured.
Will’s head jerked up and he frowned at me. “That many? I thought you got the upper hand when they snuck on board.”
“We did. It wasn’t the attack itself that caused them to leave.
It was my refusal to go after Davenport for cheating us after you and the children were sent back.
They said I’d gone soft.” Brushing my lips over the scar, I admitted to myself that they were probably right.
I was still ruthless when I needed to be, and I didn’t hesitate to meet a fight head on, but when it came to a certain manservant turned cabin boy, I knew I’d gone soft.
My reasoning for avoiding the attack was entirely because of him.
If he wasn’t there, I wouldn’t have hesitated.
“Why didn’t you?” His fingers carded through my hair, soothing the sting of my crew leaving me.
Lifting my gaze back to him, I sighed. “Couldn’t risk you not getting treatment. If we attacked, the doctors would be split taking care of the injured, and I knew they’d push you aside. I wanted to give you every chance I could.”
His smile was soft, filled with an emotion I didn’t dare admit I recognized. He shuffled down so he could capture my lips, this kiss more tender than the last. I cupped his neck, drawing him closer, reminding myself that he was alive and well.
The kiss had just shifted into something more scorching when Will pulled away. He was hard and wanting, but he stalled my hand with a grip on my wrist before I could reach for his cock.
“Before we get too distracted, I have something to show you.”
Rolling a little, he reached under the bed, pulling a bag out from underneath. The angle put his ass on display, and I didn’t bother to stop myself from palming it. I heard him chuckle, but he didn’t complain, twisting again to hand me a stack of papers.
“What is this?”
“Just look,” he urged, his lips twitching like he was fighting a smile.
I couldn’t see shit with one candle, so I pushed off the bed, bringing them closer to the light. My mouth fell open as I flipped through them, and I looked over my shoulder at him incredulously. “Where did you get these?”
“Davenport’s office. I overheard him bragging that he cheated you and took exception.
After selling him a lie about joining the navy, I stole the notes from his office and got on the first merchant ship heading out.
I got lucky that the captain was a little shifty and thought the navy ships were after him instead of me. He wanted to outrun them. I helped.”
I was too shocked to even move, staring at him.
Gone was the boy who glared at me from his knees as he chivalrously tried to protect two little girls.
In his place was a true pirate, with a cocky grin and a spine of steel.
Setting the notes down as far from the candle as possible, I strode back over to the bed, climbing on top of Will.
“You’re a dirty pirate, aren’t you, boy?” I smirked.
His grin was mischievous when he said, “Aye, Captain. Got space for me on your crew?”
I hummed, settling myself more comfortably on top of him. “I can think of a few jobs to keep you around. New rule on my ship, though. Once you join, the only way you’re leaving is by going down with the ship. You’re mine now.”
There wasn’t a flicker of doubt on his face.
He beamed at me, throwing his arms around my neck to draw me in for a long kiss.
His smile tasted like sunshine, and I felt my obsession grow to full blown infatuation.
When I pulled away, his pupils were blown and his cock hard against mine.
He nipped at my bottom lip, soothing the sting with his tongue before he whispered, “Aye, Captain. And you’re mine. ”