Page 12 of Suffer No Fools
Stan didn't know why he was so pleased that Hugo knew and acknowledged their schedule.
"Do you like working at night?" Hugo snatched the winter pear from the tray before Stan had even set it between them.
"I don't mind it," he said. "It's better now that we have three shifts. Twelve hours on deck is a long shift in the winter."
Stan tried to ignore how sexy Hugo looked with pear juice dripping down his chin. He slurped and sucked at the fruit like it was the best snack he'd ever had. "These are my favorite."
"Mind how many you eat in one day," Stan said. "They won't be your favorites after one too many trips to the head."
Hugo paused mid-bite, and he tilted his head to the side like a confused bird. "I haven't had to ... do that yet."
"You will now," Stan said, pointing at the pear. "Come get me if it's occupied. I can help you bend over the side rail."
"You've got to be joking."
"Not even a little." Stan couldn't believe he had a gorgeous man before him, and he was talking about bathroom needs. "How's your book?" he asked to change the subject.
"I had to start over," Hugo said. "Some ... advice Klaus gave me."
"Oh?"
It was Hugo's turn to look away and blush. "Let's call it an experiment."
"He brought you some massage oil," Stan guessed. "He mentioned it over dinner last night."
Hugo blinked. "You were talking about massage oil over dinner?"
"When you're not at the table ..."
"I'm in the hold, because everyone keeps bringing me food." He held up a hunk of hard tack as proof before taking a bite.
"It's a saying," Stan said. "When you're not at the table, you're on the menu."
"That's fucking rude." Hugo's cheeks darkened even more. "Well. I suppose my outburst was, too, for an emperor. Please forgive me."
Stan couldn't help but laugh at Hugo's chagrin. After a moment, Hugo laughed along with him.
"You can join us in the galley tonight, if you'd like."
"I would." Hugo was so pretty when he smiled, even when he had a bit of cheese stuck in his lower teeth. He covered his mouth with his hand. "Gods, I'm so sorry. You must think I was raised by a pack of wild dogs."
"You're on a pirate ship," Stan said. "You fit right in. Besides, I think we all know Vadim is to blame for some of your upbringing."
Hugo shook his head. "Vadim was always the height of decorum and perfection. I'm nothing like him."
"No one expects you to be perfect. No one here, anyway."
"Aye," Tovey said. He crossed the room quickly, but instead of sitting on the divan, he sat on the floor facing them."I dismissed Jermain and Frost, but before they left, they shared how much help you've been today."
"Me?" Hugo frowned. "I did nothing."
"They said you've started to learn ice weaves."
Hugo nodded.
"And you shared some information with Jermain about Stony Eel Island. Vadim's spent the last six months trying to determine what Coryn was doing out there. He knew it was a former weaver academy, but you've given us a place to look in the history books on Aquarion."
"I'm sorry Hearthstone's library didn't pan out for them," Hugo said. "When Klaus first brought me his books, he apologized for not having more on account of not being able to raid it. That's where they first encountered Coryn's undead army."
