Page 37 of Take No Prisoners
Fuck. Niall had never felt pleasure this powerful and exhausting at the same time. He wanted to run around deck shouting to the heavens and anyone who would listen about how great sex with their captain had been, but at the same time, he wanted to take a nap. He rested his head on Efren's shoulder and let his eyes drift closed.
Efren kissed his forehead. "Thank you. That was amazing."
"Gods, you kept up with me," Niall teased. "I take it back. You're not that old, after all." He was drifting closer to sleep with his cock still balls deep in Efren. "That was far better than I'd imagined for a first time."
"First time with me?" Efren asked. "What kind of asshole did you think I would be?"
"First time with a person," Niall corrected. "I knew you would be perfect. That's why I wanted it to be with you."
"I didn't know." Efren stiffened beneath him. "Did I hurt you?"
Niall blindly sought Efren's neck and kissed a trail from his collar bone to his jaw. "Not at all. It was better than I ever imagined." He grinned, loving the feel of Efren's rough stubble against his lips. "I'll feel it when I walk, though."
Niall met Efren's gaze again and his heart pounded with unspoken feelings. In Efren's arms, he felt treasured and special, even though Efren had suggested there would be no repeat.
"I don't want this to be the end," Niall whispered. "I'd like to become a member of your crew and sail with you to rescue other weavers."
Efren wriggled out from under him, and his cock slid from Efren's body. "Are you saying you had sex with me for a spot on my crew?"
"Of course not!" Niall scrambled back on the bunk, and Efren sat up. They were eye-to-eye but might as well have been on different islands. "I had sex with you because—"
"You don't know the first thing about casual sex." Efren glared at him. "What did this mean to you?"
Efren was right. Niall knew little about interpersonal relationships beyond his work for Master Othelio and his courtesy toward the store's customers. He'd never been great at lying, either. He stated the truth instead. "It was wonderful, and I want more."
Efren rested his elbows on his knees with his head in his hands. "I don't know what more I have to offer you. You're young, but you're older than most when they learn to weave. Not only that, but Vadim thinks you have the potential to siphon all elements, which means longer training. That's time we don't have to sit in port and wait for you."
Niall sat back and pulled his knees up to his chest. "You have weavers on board. I can learn from them. I've already learned about lightning from Hannah."
Efren's head bobbed in his hands, as though he nodded without looking up. "I can't give you an answer until we speak with the elders." His eyes were red-rimmed when he met Niall's gaze. "Your training will fall to them."
"If it were up to you?"
Efren's fierce grin reassured Niall. "I'd gladly sail with you. You're much easier to get along with than half my crew."
"Not only for the sex, then?" Niall enjoyed teasing the pirate captain.
"The sex was fantastic, don't get me wrong." Efren's grin turned into a lopsided and cocky smirk, and Niall's earlier passion reignited. He wished they had time to do it again, even though his body ached in ways he would feel for days.
"No, it's not only about the sex," Efren continued. "Your powers would come in handy in a fight, and having another crew mate willing to spend the overnight hours with me ensures I'm not falling asleep at the wheel."
"I'll wait for the elders' decision, then." Niall held out his hand.
Efren shook it, then pulled him in for a hug and kiss on the cheek. "None of that formality," he said. "We'd better get dressed and see how close we are to shore."
In a flash of prismatic light and a kiss of water so brief Niall wasn't even sure he felt it, his body was washed clean of all evidence of their coupling. He was grateful his aches and pains remained as proof he hadn't been dreaming.
Chapter 9
Efren
Efren was grateful they didn't have time to sleep before they arrived at Aquarion. If he allowed his muscles to cool down, he wouldn't be able to move. He'd somehow convinced Niall he was some kind of sex god. Still, he wouldn't have changed a thing.
That didn't sit well with his conscience, though. He would have taken more care, had he known Niall was a virgin.
Niall winced when pulling on his pants, and Efren pulled him against his chest. "Are you all right?"
"Splendid."
