Page 111 of Stilettos & Secrets on the 7 Seas

Max held up his hand. “I’ll no have my crew watch. Rowan will act as witness. My bride and I shall retire to my chamber.”

This was followed by hissing and booing. And a bellow of, “show ’er what’s what.”

Rowan saved the day. “I assure you, Max will perform his duties by dawn. In the meantime, I’ve opened the casks of port.” The crew’s attention was drawn to the center of the ship, where three sizable casks were being hauled up from the storage.

“That was close,” I whispered as Max whisked me off to his cabin.

“I’ll always protect ye.” Max placed a hand on the curve of my back and escorted me over the threshold of his cabin.

In some ways, Max held a maturity beyond his years. I wasn’t sure how he would adapt to living in present time, but at least he might live to see his thirties. He wasn’t mean or selfish, and that would get him killed here. Rowan knew Max lacked that dark space one had to go to when they killed another, for their own gain or just for pleasure. I had a feeling Rowan stayed to protect him. If Max became a pirate, Rowan knew he would either die or acquire these heinous traits.

“They’ll be passed out within the hour. Vane’s already too drunk to notice his chest is missing some coin.” Max chuckled as he removed his jacket.

He placed a bundle in front of me. “A gift for my bride.” He winked at me. Inside was a soft leather pouch containing a beautiful knife. “’Tis a sgian-dubh.”

“Thank you.” It was similar to the one Caiyan carried when we were in our present time.

“If somehow I dinnae return with ye, I want ye to think of me.” He donned that crooked smile he had when he teased Rowan. “If’n ye can carry it home with ye.”

I didn’t know what to say. My eyes went misty, so I avoided his gaze by sliding the knife back into the pouch. I wanted to promise he’d go with me, but it was a promise I wasn’t sure I could keep.

A double knock sounded on the door. I stiffened at the prospect it would be another pirate wanting a peek at my conjugal performance.

Max placed a hand on my shoulder. “’Tis Rowan.”

He moved to unlock the door, allowing the giant to enter the room.

“Yer manservant has returned, and Captain Kirk is in the brig. ’Tis interesting how he manages to open and close the locks withoot a key.”

“It’s his gift.”

Rowan gave a grunt that sounded more ruminative than irritated.

“Most of us have special gifts.”

“What ’tis yers?” Max’s eye danced with inquisition.

“I can read emotions.” They looked uncertain at this. I moved to take Max’s hand. “I can feel what your heart wants.”

“What does it want?”

I closed my eyes and allowed Max’s emotions to flow into me. Surprise at my gift. Worry about my safety. Fear of losing Rowan. Anticipation for what was to happen tomorrow and, in his future, but he wasn’t scared of Vane.

“I sense your bravery. You’re not afraid of Vane. You’re worried about me being so close to drunk, vicious men. You’re excited to experience a new world but afraid of leaving Rowan behind.” His eyes saucered, and he looked down at his hand in mine. “’Tis amazing.”

I got a swift jolt of anxiety over sharing a room with me. I paused, trying to identify the emotion. It was fear but also an embarrassment over something silly. He glanced at the chamber pot. “You fear using the chamber pot in front of me.”

Rowan erupted in a deep, throaty laugh.

Max jerked his hand away.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. Don’t worry. I won’t look.”

Max laughed along with Rowan.

Rowan lifted the bottle of port he held and uncorked it. “I brought one bottle to share. ’Tis the last in our stock and no damaged with the sleeping potion.”

Great. I could use a drink. My inner voice did some deep breathing exercises. I agreed. The wedding had been stressful. Maybe Ace was right about jumping into marriage. Perhaps I wasn’t ready to marry Caiyan.

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