Page 4 of Crossbones
“You better not make me wait for an invitation.”
Her attention shifts down my chest and a frown pulls her full lips into a pout.
“You’re covered in blood.”
“Never stopped you before.” I back her further into her house and slam the door.
We make it a few steps before she throws her arms around my neck. Clothes are discarded and lips meet with an urgency that masks the lack of interest I have. Irritated, I dig my fingers into her hips and shove her into the nearest wall. She sinks to her knees and I lace my fingers through her hair, watching her pull out my cock. I’m only half hard and I grit my teeth in frustration—blaming the alcohol—not wanting to consider why her lush lips and soft hands aren’t quite scratching the itch under my skin. The itch I didn’t know was going to be a problem until right now.
I’ve never been into men, but recently I’ve found myself wondering what it would feel like to meet hard muscle with rough hands. Someone who knows how to handle me just right—women are always just a little too soft—a little too breakable. Even the ones who like it rough don’t ever quite take the edge off. But whenever I think about experimenting, I balk—hard—which then makes me question if that even is what it’s all about or if it’s something else. What thatsomething elsewould be, I haven’t a clue which just leaves me even more confused.
I close my eyes and will myself to sink into the here and now. I just need a moment to escape everything, to shut my mind down and forget the memories. As I finally grow hard in her mouth, I yank her up and shove her towards the nearest surface. Pushing her down over the back of the couch I slide into her from behind, setting a hard pace as pleasure races up my spine. I grit my teeth as I try to tune out her moans and whimpers. While those sounds usually sink me deeper into pleasure, tonight they just grate on my nerves.
It feels like forever, but Celeste comes hard on my cock which sends me into my own release. It’s amazing, but quick—surface level pleasure I won’t remember in a few hours. The kind of orgasm that just leaves you wanting more instead of feeling sated but there’s no way I’m attempting a round two when round one was so hard to work up to. I collapse on the couch to catch my breath and Celeste bends down giving me a smile and a kiss on the cheek. Her lips brush against my neck.
“I take it you’re leaving in the morning?”
I nod once and pull her in for a proper kiss, not even bothering to answer. She already knows I never stay here longer than I need to. It’s been ourarrangement for years. I tip my head back against the cushions and close my eyes. As sleep slowly pulls me under, I pray to a god I don’t believe in that the sex, alcohol and the satisfaction of crossing another name off my list is enough to keep the nightmares at bay.
But I know better than that.
Nothing ever does.
CASPIAN
That’s the last of them.”
Carter stands beside me on the beach just above the tide.
I can hear the ocean waves at my back, hissing as they race up the sand. Reaching—always reaching—attempting to drag me back into their depths. I tune it out and nod at his words, satisfaction and relief drifting through me. Another successful delivery of people who deserve better than the shit their kingdom put them through. A kingdom that’s supposed to protect its people—not make them refugees. Most were forced into servitude—the rest left with nothing but ruin.
I was like them once—a child in chains, abandoned by the kingdom who was supposed to protect me. In more ways than one seeing as it’s my father who wears the crown. My unfortunate circumstances didn’t arise in the same manner as these refugees but their plight is a continuous reminder of the horrors that exist in this world and in my nightmares.
“Wanna grab a drink?” Carter asks, pulling me back to the present.
He’s looking at me with those gold eyes of his that always make my breath catch—they are even more beguiling in the torchlight coming from the nearby town. He pushes a hand through his blond hair and gives me a half cocked smile at my attention. Carter is one of those men who looks like he comes straight from the home of the gods—so perfect they must have accidentally left him here on earth because no human should look this good. While he’s a good time, and trust me, we’ve had many—sometimes his perfection irritates me. Sometimes during sex all I want is to see him ruined. I want to see what’sunder that perfect facade. Except I know what’s underneath—more perfection. It’s downright annoying.
But if there is one thing I need right now, it’s a distraction. Something to help me forget—at least for a little while—how fucked my life is and to put aside the fact that I’m the spare prince of a kingdom I hate and son to a father I loathe—rebelling in the only way I know how.
I throw an arm around Carter. “Yeah, let’s go get a drink, mate.”
We walk up the shore to Foxhollow glowing gently like a beacon in the night. It’s a town I’ve helped bring to life with my own hands. Seeing it flourish over the years is unlike anything else—I liken it to what it must feel like to have a child and watch them grow and prosper. Not that I have any children to compare the feeling to, but the pride I feel as we walk down the main street fills me up and helps keep the shadows and guilt at bay. Shadows of all the people I couldn’t save and the guilt that I’m somehow complicit in the horrors because I share the same blood as a monster.
Carter pushes open the door to theFox & Raven. The warmth blasts me in the face as I step over the threshold and into the noisy tavern. It’s packed nearly to bursting but a path is created as soon as the people see us enter. Shouts and cheers rise up above the hum of chatter. It’s always a party whenever I bring a ship full of people—home—as the locals like to say.
“Fox! Fox! Fox!”
I put on my best smile and hold my hands up, getting them to settle as I wade my way through the crowd. Many pats on the back, hugs and handshakes later, Carter and I make it to the bar. I already regret coming in here—usually I love the clamor and the comradery but tonight the exhaustion cuts deep. My father hit two cities last week, and I’ve been going nonstop for twice as long. It takes a toll. But we’re running thin now and I have to pick up the slack.
We need more money, more supplies, more ships—always more, more, more.
Carter shoves a tankard of ale into my hand, looking at me knowingly. Not that I have friends, but if I did, I’d probably consider Carter one. I met him in a tavern in Carmine and we hit it off. I don’t know much about his past, in fact the only thing he told me was that he used to be a noble from the House Draevorn—the dragon. The fifth house that was wiped out and exiled when House De’Vero took the crown from them over a decade ago. That night we bonded over a shared hatred for the current regime and have been on and off again ever since. He helped me start Foxhollow and now continues to have a hand in pretty much every aspect of this endeavor. He leans into me so I can hear him, even though he still has to yell in my ear.
“They sure do love you!”
“Theylove The Fox,” I yell back.
“Same thing!”
