Page 38 of Take No Prisoners
Efren was lost in Niall's awed gaze. He wasn't worthy, but he felt elated for making Niall look that blissed out and satisfied.
Niall tilted his chin up, and Efren kissed him, letting his tongue share all the gratitude and joy he couldn't find the words to express.
A knock at the door hastened them into their clothes.
"Approaching the dock, Captain." Efren didn’t detect a hint of mockery in Olivia's tone, but he wouldn't put it past her to have the entire crew watching his walk of shame once he opened his cabin door.
"Be right there."
He dragged his boots to his captain's chair and pulled them on, though he missed a few hooks when attempting to tie them up. He'd been watching Niall's ass too closely.
Finally, he was as presentable as he could be in his worn uniform and scuffed boots. "I'll see you on deck."
Niall was right behind him, but no one glanced in their direction as they walked into the streaming sunlight. The other wind weavers were all at the prow of the ship, staring down at the docks while Tovey and Hannah had stayed back to guide her alongside the mooring posts.
"Do you want to take over?" Olivia asked.
"You're doing well enough."
She smirked. "That's the kindest thing you've ever said about my sailing."
"Carry on, then." He glanced back at her over his shoulder to see his words had the desired effect. She looked pleased as he walked away. He'd done his job as captain. Olivia didn't want his ridicule, which Vadim had hated, too. She also detested high praise, so he'd quickly adjusted to giving her vague affirmatives.
Niall found an open space unimpeded by barrels or ropes along the upper deck, and he leaned on the railing. Emboldened by the lack of concern anyone had shown them since they'd walked out of his cabin, Efren sidled up behind him and rested his hands on Niall's. Niall leaned back against him, which nestled Efren's already interested cock in the crook of his ass.
"Will you take me home with you after we meet with the elders?" Niall asked.
"That depends on what they say." Efren couldn't predict what the elders wanted from Niall any more than he could determine the outcome of Vadim's trial before it happened. The elders could be confounding sometimes in their logic. As much as Efren wanted to guess the outcome, he couldn't make any promises.
"If it's in my power," he murmured over the lap of waves against the ship, "you are welcome to stay at my house."
Niall turned his head and whispered against Efren's jaw, "I'd like that."
They watched the dock workers helping to guide the ship into place. Tovey worked with an earth weaver below to swing a rope onto the cleat. They swiveled to watch Stan do the same to corral the aft cleat to the dock.
"Lower the plank," Olivia called.
Efren placed his hand on the small of Niall's back and steered him toward Olivia at the wheel. She grinned at them, but she said nothing as Efren left Niall with her and led the way.
"Efren." Elder Beatrice met him on the docks, her long salt and pepper dreadlocks swaying with her steps. She wore an unbuttoned dark blue tailcoat over a flowing yellow dress. Her dark skin glowed in the midmorning sun. "Welcome home."
"Thank you, Elder."
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders in a fierce hug. "It's been too long."
"Vadim took longer than expected to track."
"I sense him on board. We have room for his crew in the new barracks until we can get them to safety. The rest of you will need to come with us to Horseshoe Island."
"All of us?" Olivia asked.
"Your crew, this young man, Vadim, and the seeker. We will speak to all of you once we've eaten." She opened her arms and drew Olivia into a hug, and then Niall.
"This is--"
"Niall, Willamina's son." Beatrice smiled as she released Niall and dropped her hands to take his. "Thank you for bringing him home." She met Niall's gaze for a moment and then turned back to Efren. She'd chosen her role of Elder over everything else, then. Efren didn't know if he should be concerned or scared shitless. The atmosphere of the island seemed less welcoming already.
"Come," she said. "Ride with me in the skiff and tell me everything that's happened in the last six months."
