Chapter 19 Captains and Sons
I lift my head from Sivan’s chest at the sound of my phone alarm.
It’s a good thing we set it before we fell asleep.
We stayed up talking until almost three in the morning.
I’m still a bit in shock from everything that happened with Matteo last night, and it’s probably stupid of me, but there is still a part of me that hopes he changes his mind.
I feel bad that he doesn’t think he belongs with our crew just because he was adopted. He’ll always be family to me.
Sivan kisses the top of my head. “Good morning, Captain,” he says.
“Good morning, baby,” I say, kissing him on the cheek.
I have to get out of bed, I know myself too well—if I stay in this bed with him, it’s only a matter of time until we’re both naked.
And the sex last night was more than enough to carry me through the day.
I twist my neck, trying to stretch it out.
“Your neck giving you trouble? Did you sleep funny?” He flashes me a smile and sits up.
“No. I didn’t sleep funny,” I say, walking toward the closet. “I’m sore from you twisting my body like a pretzel. So many new positions.”
“Mmm, we did get creative last night. You were so bendy…”
“Yeah, I didn’t know my body could move like that,” I say from inside the closet.
Once I find the hangers with our outfits on them, I place them on the bed.
Sivan gets up and stands beside me in nothing but his underwear.
I can’t look at his body right now; we have way too much to do.
“When your dad called last night, he said to meet him on the deck at ten, right?” I ask, looking down at our clothes.
He takes his hanger of clothes and carries it into the bathroom. “Yeah, he said they’ll be ready at ten and the ceremony starts at eleven. He also said they told a few people at the bar that the ceremony would start at twelve, just in case anyone was there to relay information to Captain Slicer.”
“What if some people show up at twelve when the ceremony is already over? They’ll be disappointed.”
Sivan peeks his head out of the bathroom. “It’s okay, what’s done is done. I trust they knew what they were doing.”
Once I’m dressed, I grab my brush from my dresser and pull my hair into a tight bun. I don’t have to wear my hat to the ceremony, because we’ll be getting our captain’s hats today. I shudder at the thought of the giant red plume that my father threatened me with.
Sivan walks out of the bathroom, and his mouth falls open. Quickly, he closes the distance between us. “I haven’t seen your hair up like that in a while. I gotta get out of here, or I’m gonna want a repeat of last night,” he says, wrapping me up in his arms.
I give him a quick kiss. “You want me to put your hair up for you, too?”
“Yes, please. All of it up, as tight as you can.”
Sivan sits on the edge of our bed, and I gather his hair together into a tight bun like mine. “There, all perfect,” I say, rubbing his shoulders.
“Thank you,” he says looking up at me. He stands and looks at himself in the mirror, then smiles at me. “Are you ready to officially be named co-captains?”
“Definitely ready. Just promise me one thing, okay?”
“Anything.”
I reach my hand toward him, and he grabs a hold of it. “Just hold my hand and stay close to me. I can deal with anything that comes our way, as long as you’re beside me.”
“Nothing will ever separate us. Don’t worry about that.” He kisses me softly and presses his forehead to mine. “I love you, my captain.”
“I loved you first, baby.”
He rubs my dimples. “I don’t think so, Dimples.”
“Don’t die today.” It’s become a habit to say at this point, but it always makes both of us smile when either of us says it.
Our fathers decided that we would have the ceremony on my father’s ship, since the likelihood of Captain Slicer showing up is so high. In the past few days, our fathers seem to have gone from thinking he would negotiate with them, to prepping for something a bit more intense, just in case.
Sivan and I are holding hands as we head toward my father’s ship. It’s kind of dreary looking outside. There is a storm on the horizon—the clouds coming this way are dark and ominous. I hope we finish the ceremony before the skies open up.
The port is bustling with crowds of people, some are likely here for our ceremony, since it’s not every day two new captains are named.
I’m still loving being able to hold Sivan’s hand in public.
Now that we’re not hiding it, I’ve definitely noticed more men holding hands.
“Sivan, do you notice more guys holding hands now? Or is it just me?”
“I think it’s just you. Your perception is your reality.
Before you were comfortable enough with us, you felt that surely no one else would be able to accept us being gay.
Now that you’ve come to terms with it, so to speak, you can see that it’s not so strange.
So, it stands to reason that you’d notice more men holding hands.
It was kind of like you were blinded by your own fear.
Now that your eyes are open, you can see that Brody was right, there are so many gay pirates. ” He laughs.
“There you are!” my father shouts as we step onto the ship. The deck is full of crew members, each appears to be diligently attending to some sort of a task.
Captain Crawford is walking toward us with my father. “How are you guys feeling today? Better than last night?” he asks.
My father waves him off. “Ahhh they’re fine.
No bad feelings today. I do need you both to be cautious, though.
Most importantly, and I shouldn’t need to say this, but I will, regardless of what happens, if Captain Slicer should come here, that is not your fight. You will stand down unless attacked.”
I open my mouth to argue, and he holds a hand up to me. “Technically, you two are captains already, yes, but this is my ship and whatever he wants, he will have to go through all of us to get, but it will start with Ray and I.”
Captain Crawford looks at Sivan. “The last thing we need is for either of you to make a situation that could be handled peacefully into an all-out war. There is a difference between bravery and stupidity, remember that.”
“I understand,” I say.
Much to my surprise, Sivan isn’t acknowledging what our fathers have said. He gives my hand a squeeze before letting go and crossing his arms.
“You have something to say?” his father asks him.
“I want to clarify something. If a threat is made toward Vincent, physically or verbally, I will not hesitate to defend him. I don’t care who it is.”
“As you should,” my father says. “We’re pirates; not everyone is going to fight fair.
Do what you feel is necessary should either of those things happen.
” He pats Sivan on the shoulder, then looks at me.
“Now, enough of this heavy stuff. We’re going to start soon.
We need to get a few things squared away, then it’s time for your hats.
Gotta get moving before the storm rolls in. ”
“If you don’t need us for anything, we’re just gonna hang out over here,” I say, walking toward the opposite side of the deck. We both lean on our elbows on the railing, looking out at the sea. That storm is coming in fast.
Sivan takes my hand in his and kisses it. “Almost time for your new hat.”
“I can’t wait to see what my father picked out,” I say facetiously. “But I have been wondering if we should change our colors. We have red and blue, because our ships are technically under our fathers’ fleets, but doesn’t that seem weird now?”
“I thought the same thing yesterday. We could talk to our dads about it. I don’t know what they’ll say. Do you already have a color in mind?”
“Not really. I like you in blue, but you look good in every color. I am kind of partial to red because I’ve always had it.”
“You liked green a lot when we were kids. What about that?”
“I think you’re forgetting something. When Louie and Captain Slicer’s crew came aboard, do you remember what colors they were wearing?”
“Well, well, well…it’s been a while, Captain Rodrigo,” an unfamiliar voice says.
Sivan’s eyes widen, as he looks over his shoulder. “Oh shit. Stay close to me.”
I turn my head and see a large pirate with a long red beard walking on deck.
He’s wearing a black and green uniform and a captain’s hat.
Black and green…those are Captain Slicer’s colors.
That’s him. Behind him are probably thirty pirates, all in the same colors.
I swallow hard and put my hand on my hilt.
Captain Slicer is walking slowly toward our fathers. His monkey is perched upon his shoulder.
“What are you doing on my ship, Captain Slicer?” my father asks.
Captain Crawford stands beside my father. “Better state your business fast,” he says. “Crew numbers are looking a little thin behind you.”
“Ah, look at you, all grown up, Ray. But you’re still holding onto Captain Rodrigo’s bootstraps. I’m not here to talk to you.” He looks around the deck. “Where are the new captains?”
The monkey screeches in our direction and jumps down. He better not come over here and slap me. He’s running the opposite way, thankfully. I’m tracking him, but I can barely see him through all the boots.
“Our sons have no business with you,” my father says. “I asked you once already, what are you here for?”
“That’s where you’re wrong. It would seem our sons have some unfinished business.”
“What son?” my father asks.
The monkey has made his way in front of a pair of black boots. I see a pair of hands reach down and lift him up. Captain Slicer’s crew appear to be moving to the side, but those boots are walking forward.
“Oh no…” Sivan mumbles. “Vincent. Don’t do anything crazy. And no matter what happens, I love you.”
“I love you too, but why would you—” I follow the boots upward and see him. He’s dressed in black and green, and he’s wearing a Captain’s hat the same as Captain Slicer’s.
Matteo…
“I believe you know my son,” Captain Slicer says.
Vincent and Sivan will return in book two…