Page 18 of Take No Prisoners
"Good. I'm glad."
The longer they sat staring at each other across the table, the less Efren's arguments against sharing his bunk with Niall mattered. He had almost forgotten how tired he was until a giant yawn made his eyes water.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, remembering Vadim's claim he had drained Niall of his life force. Without consent, Vadim couldn't do any actual damage, but he had rendered Niall unconscious.
"I could stay in bed all day." Niall raised his arms over his head in a stretch and grinned. "You mentioned sharing the bunk."
Efren snorted. Niall wasn't going to let it drop, then. "Olivia has some chores for you first. Are you ready to swab the deck?"
Niall frowned. "If that's what you need me to do. I had half a mind to swab something else, if you'll allow it."
"You." Efren swallowed. He wasn't prepared for Niall to be so forward. He was glad they'd finished eating, so he didn't spit his food across the table. "You don't play around, do you."
Niall grinned. "I'd enjoy playing with you."
"I'm ..." He was nothing. He wasn't taken. He had no lover, no paramour, no one waiting for him in a distant port. He was adrift and alone. The only person who had ever come close to capturing his heart had destroyed it instead.
"You're gorgeous," Niall finished for him.
"I'm too tired to give you what you want."
Niall's shoulders slumped in defeat.
Efren sighed. "Once Olivia wears you out, we'll eat lunch together."
Niall flashed him a grin and grabbed the neat pile of clothes resting on top of his boots beneath the table. "I'd better get to work."
Efren turned to grab the water pitcher and cups, pouring them each a glass and giving Niall the only privacy the tiny cabin allowed. He tucked his chair away against the wall again and drank his water so fast he almost choked. Niall did the same, downing his water in one gulp and handing the cup back to him.
"Thank you." Niall leaned across the table and patted Efren's hand. Another jolt ran up his arm from the touch, one of anticipation instead of a physical static charge. "I'll see you at lunch."
Before Niall could dash past, Efren blocked his path. Niall was tall, almost as tall as he was, though he carried his broad shoulders like a man who tried hard not to look big and imposing. Sharing his bunk with a man as large again as Efren would be a challenge, one Efren was willing to accept.
Niall cupped his cheek, his fingers smoothing his beard. "May I?"
"Gods, please."
The first brush of Niall's lips against his made Efren's head spin. Maybe it was the need for sleep, or maybe it was the visceral need for this man. All the blood rushed to his cock. Suddenly, he wasn't tired anymore. Desire filled his senses with Niall's scent, his taste, the way his hands gripped Efren's hips and held him like an anchor to the present. His perfect cupid's bow mouth fit perfectly against Efren's. He tasted of paradise fruit and sunshine, and Efren couldn't get enough.
Efren should have taken a step back and sent Niall on his way. Instead, he tangled his fingers in Niall's curls, still mussed from the bed, and sealed their mouths together. Niall moaned as their tongues slid against each other, tasting, teasing.
Niall broke the kiss, panting. "You'd better sleep until I get back. You'll need your rest for everything I want to do to you."
Efren brushed his lips against Niall's once more before finally taking a step back and allowing Niall to squeeze past him to the cabin door. He caught Niall's hand in his and squeezed it. "Nothing you don't want to do. Despite what other ship captains may require, I don't take sexual favors for safe passage. You'd have it, regardless."
"I want you, regardless." Niall winked. "Stop trying to chase me away, Captain. I'll be back with lunch."
Efren was dressed in his pajamas and tucked into his bed, almost asleep, when a thought made him roll over and bury his head beneath his pillow. During the quarter hour he'd spent with Niall, he hadn't thought of Vadim once.
∞∞∞
Niall
Olivia immediately set Niall to work on the raised navigation deck with a bucket and mop. Thoughts of Efren distracted him while he tried to maintain his balance and focus on his task.
He was playing a dangerous game with the pirate captain. He knew it, but he couldn't stop himself. Now that he'd finally found someone who sparked his interest, he had no intention of letting him go. He'd learned the art of seduction vicariously, thanks to Klaus. Now, he hoped he could imitate the same confidence and effortless grace without acting a fool.
Efren had saved Niall from the sinking ship, but that had been only the beginning. Niall liked everything about him, from the sharp wit in his gray eyes to the lines around them that deepened when he smiled. Niall liked making him smile, but he enjoyed flirting even more, especially when his comments caught the captain off guard.
