Chapter 10 Maximus #4
“You don’t.” His thumb traced small circles on the back of my hand. “But that’s what makes it so special.”
Below us, the ship creaked and settled, the familiar sounds of The Black Wraith a constant backdrop to this moment suspended in time.
Tomorrow would bring its challenges—Viper, the crew, the constant dance of survival.
But tonight, in this crow’s nest under the stars, something new had taken flight.
I closed my eyes, allowing myself to savor the warmth of Kas’s hand in mine. For the first time since losing my leg, since becoming the Reaper, I felt like I could breathe freely. Up here, with Kas, I wasn’t just surviving—I was living.
Without warning, I felt the press of Kaspar’s forehead against mine.
The gentle weight of it anchored me to the moment, making everything else—the ship, the slap of the sea battering against the wall, my leg’s phantom pain—fade away.
His arm slid tentatively around my waist, his touch so light I might have imagined it if not for the heat bleeding through my shirt.
His breath ghosted across my cheek, smelling faintly of spiced rum. My heart thundered in my chest with such force I wondered if he could feel it.
If I opened my eyes, I’d see him too close to maintain any pretense of friendship. I’d see those green eyes looking at me with an invitation I wasn’t strong enough to refuse. It would be a lost cause.
Kaspar made a soft noise, rolling his forehead against mine, dropping his hand to cup my face, the pad of his thumb stroking against the length of my jaw.
The realization hit me like a tidal wave—Kaspar was about to kiss me. And holy phoenix tails, I wanted him to. Wanted it with a desperate, aching need that terrified me.
I should stop this. Should pull back, explain all the reasons this was a terrible idea.
Yes, we’d made a pact to help each other.
But this? This was dangerous. For both of us.
If Viper found out, if the crew discovered their Reaper had a weakness…
And what about when Kas left us at Asteris to create a new life for his family?
Better to not remind myself what the touch of another felt like.
But I didn’t say a word. Didn’t move a muscle. Remained statue-still, relishing the feel of his arm around my waist, his forehead against mine, listening to his unsteady exhale that mirrored my own.
Was I shaking? Or was it him? I couldn’t tell where my trembling ended and his might begin.
I forced my eyes open. This close to him, I could count every freckle scattered across his cheeks, each one a point of light that begged to be mapped and memorized.
My traitorous hand moved of its own accord, sliding up to cup the nape of his neck, fingers threading through the copper hair I’d longed to touch for weeks. It was as silky as the finest cloth. Kas made a sound—part sigh, part whimper—that sent fiery blood coursing south.
His nose brushed against mine, a tentative caress that made my breath hitch. The slight tremor in his hand as it cupped my jaw betrayed his nervousness, but his eyes—those emerald-green eyes that had haunted my dreams—held nothing but certainty.
Time seemed to slow as he tilted his head, angling his face toward mine. My heart pounded against my rib cage like a wild bird seeking escape.
I felt the first whisper of his mouth against mine—
“Reaper!” Ariella’s voice burst across the deck, accompanied by the pounding of multiple footsteps.
I jerked away from Kas so violently I nearly toppled backward, my prosthetic scraping against the wooden floor of the crow’s nest. Panic surged through me, clearing the fog of desire in an instant.
“Stay down,” I hissed, pushing Kas lower into the nest. “Don’t make a sound.”
He nodded, eyes wide with alarm, and pressed himself against the inner wall of the crow’s nest.
I leaned over the railing, heart still racing, and spotted Ariella reaching my cabin door, her fist pounding against the wood. Behind her, Hawk-Eyes and Willy staggered, clearly deep in their cups.
“Ariella,” I shouted down, grateful for the darkness that hid the flush I could feel burning across my face. “What is it?”
She spun around, blonde hair whipping in the night breeze as she looked up. Relief flooded her features when she spotted me.
“It’s Ghost!” she called, voice tight with distress. “He just disappeared! We can’t find him anywhere!”
From his position curled into a ball by my legs, Kas made a soft groan.
“I’m so sorry, Reaper!”
“For fuck’s sake, Ariella,” I called down, injecting just the right amount of exasperation into my voice. “Ghost staggered back onto the ship about thirty minutes ago. Drunk as a lord, throwing up over the side.”
“What?” Ariella’s voice pitched higher.
I leaned casually against the crow’s nest railing, feeling Kas’s warmth against my leg where he remained hidden. “Last I saw, he was heading below deck, mumbling something about needing the bathroom. Probably making a mess of it as we speak.”
Hawk-Eyes snorted, swaying slightly on her feet. “Lightweight.”
Willy giggled, clearly as intoxicated as Ghost was supposed to be.
Ariella crossed her arms, her expression shifting from concern to irritation. “Why didn’t he tell me he was leaving? I was worried sick!”
I raised an eyebrow. “Have you seen yourself when you’re worried? It’s terrifying.” I gestured vaguely toward the lower decks. “He could barely string two words together. Maybe next time you should cut him off before he starts singing ship shanties to the figurehead.”
Below me, Kas made a muffled sound that might have been suppressed laughter. I nudged him with my boot.
“Quite the serenade. The viper seemed unmoved.”
Hawk-Eyes laughed loudly, clapping Willy on the back. “Come on, let’s go find Ghost and make sure he’s not drowning in his own vomit.”
“Let the poor man suffer in peace,” I called down. “He’ll have enough to deal with without an audience to his shame.”
I watched as the three of them disappeared below deck, Ariella half-carrying Willy, who had become fascinated with her long hair, his clumsy fingers tangling in the golden strands.
“That was close,” I muttered, finally daring to look down at Kas, still crouched by my feet.
He unfolded himself slowly, rising to stand beside me. The air between us crackled with unresolved tension—the almost-kiss hung there, a phantom pressure against my lips that hadn’t fully materialized.
I cleared my throat, unable to quite meet his eyes. “You better go make some retching noises in one of the bathrooms. Make it convincing. Ariella will still go looking for you.”
“Right,” Kas said, slightly hoarse. “Wouldn’t want to ruin your brilliant cover story.”
I risked a glance at him. The moonlight caught in his copper hair, turning it to liquid fire. My fingers ached to touch its softness again.
“Go on,” I said. “Before they come back looking.”
Before I say to hell with it all and drag you to my cabin.
Kas moved toward the ladder. “I suppose I should practice my drunken stagger before anyone sees me walking straight as an arrow.”
Despite everything, I laughed. “Might help sell the story better than singing to the figurehead.”
“I’ll have you know I have a lovely singing voice,” he said, eyes twinkling with mischief.
I shook my head, unable to suppress my smile. “Get out of here, you menace.”
Kas swung his leg over the side of the crow’s nest, then looked back at me. The sparkle in his eyes softened to something warmer, more genuine.
“Raincheck?” he asked quietly.
My heart skipped a beat. “Raincheck,” I said before I could stop myself.
He grinned, bright and beautiful in the darkness, before disappearing down the ladder.