Page 46 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

“Well, star gaze somewhere else. This ismyspot. Go find your own.”

“This entire island ismyspot.” His lips dance around a smile, his voice laced with amusement.

And he’s right, this washisisland. But if he had an entire island to star gaze, why does he have to sit right here? Here, where he is so close, I can feel the warmth from his body as it slowly removes the haziness from the thoughts that made me feel numb. Here, where he is sitting so close, I can see the glint of light in his eyes from the stars above. Here, where his scent lingers around me, drawing me in and confusing every emotion and instinct I thought I had.

“Then it’s big enough for you to find a different one. One that’s not right here.” I glare at him, but he ignores me, still staring above. Or at least I think that’s what he wants me to believe. But I catch the smile that curves his lips the longer I glare at him.

After a couple of minutes of getting no reaction from him, I give up and look back up to the dark sky in an attempt to let it soothe my rising frustration.

I’m only starting to forget the insufferable man beside me when he interrupts my thoughts, reminding me of his presence once more.

“You don’t sleep often.” He says it like a statement, not a question. But the softness in his voice makes me glance his way.

He turns his head and meets my gaze with a frown creasing his forehead.

Instead of answering him, my eyes trail over his face and the dark shadows that sit under his eyes.

“You don’t look like you’ve been sleeping much either.”

My deflected reply only makes him scowl. “Don’t change the subject and answer me.”

I laugh at his demand and the way he assumes I will willingly tell him any and all of my deep, dark secrets, just like that.

He narrows his eyes on me, but I spot the glint of light in them. The part of him that always seems to love it when I laugh at him. Even if it’s at his expense.

“Do you always get what you want?” I ask him, nearly sure the answer is yes.

“No. Not everything.” The glint dims in his eyes as he glances back up at the stars.

“I thought someone like you would just take whatever they wanted and damn the consequences.” Just like he’s done with everything else.

He clenches his jaw. “It’s what I should have done. But I can’t change the past any more than I can influence the future.” There’s a dark, pained undertone to his voice that makes me wonder what Hook regrets so much that he still bears the pain from it.

“What does—”

“Tell me what plagues your dreams and I’ll tell you a secret.” He turns to me, this time so he’s on his side, his hand holding up his head.

“A secret about yourself?” I ask and wonder if he’ll tell me what he regrets so much.

He nods and the sincerity in his eyes tells me this isn’t another joke or game. But I hesitate, and he must see it on my face as his brows knit together the longer he watches me.

“Is there something you fear? Or someone?” His entire body grows taut as he waits for my reply. But to tell him what truly haunts my dreams could be more trouble than it’s worth.

“Why do you care? Surely you have better things to do than think about my silly sleepless nights.”

“Nothingabout your sleepless nights is silly.” His eyes narrow on me before they slightly soften. “And I’vealwayscared. I was just too young and foolish to admit it.”

My heart flutters wildly at his words. He doesn’t give me a moment to think about what he just said before he pushes for a reply.

“Tell me… Tell me and I’ll destroy everyone and everything that’s ever caused you pain.”

Ever?That list would be longer than my arm.

Looking back to the sky, I laugh at his joke only to realize he’s not joining me. I glance back at him to see his expression is completely serious, and the look in his eyes tells me he’ll follow through on it too.

“If it’s a villain you need, then use me. I’ll protect your dreams and your future, even if you don’t want me to protect anything else.”

I swallow hard, avoiding his intense gaze to look back at the night sky.

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