Chapter 18
Reva
The next evening, Frannie produces a purple ribbon from nowhere, tying it around my newly soft curls with a satisfied grin.
I don’t have the heart to tell her it’ll no doubt be a matted mess in no time tonight.
Then she heads through to my bedroom and thrusts one of the few dresses I brought with me into my arms.
“You wear that and they’ll all lose their minds.”
She’s determined for me to look nice for my ritual orgy. I don’t argue and quickly slip the material over my head. The dress is flouncy and pretty, a bright purple that matches my ribbon and leaves me feeling all kinds of girly and fantastic.
“Gorgeous,” Frannie says.
“Absolutely gorgeous,” a male voice says from behind us, making me jump.
I spin around and grin at Kit before giving him a little curtsy. “You like?”
His heated gaze roams from my hair down to my bare toes as he drops a tray onto the bed.
“You are a vision.” He licks his lips, stepping closer to run a finger over my bare collarbone.
“We don’t have to do it this way, you know?
I don’t want you to feel pressured into doing anything you’re not comfortable with. ”
My lips quirk up into a soft smile as I meet his glittering dark eyes. This. This feels like the Kit that I know. There’s no vagueness or confusion, or desperation to check the perimeter. No, he’s worried about me and my wellbeing and it makes my chest grow warm.
“I know we don’t have to,” I say. “And I won’t say the thought doesn’t make me feel a bit intimidated. Kind of nervous.”
He smooths his hand down my arm and then links our fingers together.
“But I can’t say I’m not excited, too.”
“Well then,” he says, leaning down to kiss me at the point where my neck and shoulder meet. “Is there anything I can do to help you get ready?”
I can think of a few things now that he’s here with his scent filling my lungs.
I press a kiss to his cheek and then another to the corner of his lips until he twists his head and meets my lips in a gentle kiss.
It’s achingly slow and deliberate, and it makes my heart skitter.
He pulls away just as slowly, dark eyes meeting mine before he rests our foreheads together for a moment.
“I don’t think so,” I murmur.
“I’ll leave you to it, then. You seem like you’re in safe hands here.”
I feel oddly light once he’s gone, like I might float away.
“What did I say?” Frannie says with a grin. “He dropped off some food for us both, too, so sit down and eat, and I’ll pour us a cup of tea.”
It feels oddly like I’m being fussed over, almost like this is my wedding day or something.
Frannie’s flitting around, wearing her favourite black dress and even lets me tie up her hair, plaiting it for her. At my questioning look, she gives a little smirk and a shrug.
“The crew is having a party tonight.”
“Another one? Is it another birthday or something?” I suppose with so many of them, there’s probably a birthday at least a couple of times a week.
“Or something,” Frannie replies, fluffing out her skirt.
Kit’s not our last visitor. One by one, I get a visit from Jack, popping by to see if everything’s prepared.
Then Torin, coming to check that I have indeed eaten and that I’m happy for things to go ahead.
And finally, Aster appears, checking in on me.
His eyes flare wide when he sees me, and he puts a hand over his heart before stepping right up to me to take hold of my hand.
He traces words into my arm, just like we used to, and it brings another smile to my face.
“Stunning.”
“Are you sure about this?” I ask. I know that of all of them, Aster probably had the least sexual experience, at least not recently. And something tells me he’s going to have to be very involved with the ritual itself.
“This wasn’t how I was expecting things might go between us,” he says. “But I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Not if it means we can get your seal back for you.”
I can tell he means every word.
By the fifth knock a couple of hours later, Frannie’s cackling with glee. “Oh, I hope your witch has brewed something for a boost of energy. With five of them on rotation, you’re going to need it.”
“Five? You mean three,” I reply, getting to my feet and heading for the door. “And I’m more worried about... other things.”
“You mean like chafing or friction burn?” She nods sagely as my eyebrows shoot up.
Well, they weren’t on my list of concerns. But they certainly are now.
“How long do you think it’ll go on for?” I ask.
“Hours, I expect,” Frannie says, throwing me my boots to slip on. “You want to get it right, after all. It’ll take all night if you’re lucky. Anyway, grab your skin and let’s go. You can talk to whoever’s at the door on the way.”
“What if they’re here for you?” I grumble, but I grab my skin anyway, throwing it over my shoulder.
Frannie beats me to open the door and lets out another mad cackle. “Ooh, things have taken an interesting turn.”
She takes a step to the side, revealing Captain Finch. He’s not wearing a hat today, with all his fresh, shiny hair on display and his shirt is held together by a single courageous button.
“What can I do for you, Captain?” I say, stepping out into the hallway.
He lets out a little chuckle. “I, uh, just want to warn you that this conversation might get awkward, love,” he says with a disarming smile. “I feel like we bonded a little last night, wouldn’t you say?”
I snort a laugh as the three of us set off toward Torin’s bedroom, where he insisted on us holding the ritual. “I’m pretty sure that awkward conversations are the theme of the day, so go right ahead. You won’t shock me.”
“Right. Well. This ritual of yours, someone needs to keep an eye on things,” he says, looking uncharacteristically unsure of himself.
He rubs the back of his neck, one tentacle tugging on his hair shyly while the other gives me a little wave.
“There needs to be someone keeping things on track, making sure you’re all safe.
Making sure you don’t all just go into an orgasm haze or something like that. ”
I know I said that he couldn’t shock me, but it feels a bit like he’s shocked both of us, judging by the way his tentacles are fanning his cheeks like they’re overly warm.
“I could help instead, if you like,” Frannie pipes up. “Just warning you that I might not be able to look you in the eye for a good six months. But I’ll do it if you need me to.”
Jack’s already said he’d rather make himself scarce this evening.
So my choice is between forcing my best friend to watch me get sweaty with a bunch of men, or picking the captain, the man who always seems to put me on the back foot at the best of times.
My stomach swoops at the thought, but it’s not with horror or disgust.
I should pick Frannie. I really should. But she’s right, it’ll be awkward as all hell tomorrow. And despite his oddities and his vagueness at times, Finch seems to be good at being in control.
And it sounds like that’s exactly what we need. So I find myself mimicking his words from last night.
“I might take you up on that, Captain.”