Page 35 of Found at Sea
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Kellan
Other than the curse placed upon me, nothing terrified me more than what I’d done with Fletcher. Kissing was a thing I did not do, yet I hadn’t been able to stop myself from tasting him.
When he had spoken about seeing the good in the world, it had done something to me. Hearing him say those words had made me believe that maybe he saw the good in me as well.
I slept very little that night, and with the arrival of dawn, I was in a foul mood. More so than usual. Fletcher was innocent and sweet where I was monstrous and cruel. In my life, I’d committed many wrongs and had done unspeakable things, and I didn’t want to add him to that list.
I didn’t want my wickedness to taint him.
Maybe I should send him away.
After all, a pirate’s life wasn’t doing him any favors. I had saved him from the town of Helmfirth, where he would’ve had to hide and endure a miserable life. We were far enough away now to where he could start over somewhere else. To make a new life for himself.
To get as far away from me as possible.
Once again, I wondered why I cared. What did it matter if I took Fletcher’s innocence and fucked him like I’d fucked countless other men? He desired me, so I doubt he’d mind it. However, the thought of treating him with so little care caused the heart I’d long since thought dead to reawaken.
By giving in to my desires, I’d only succeed in trapping him more into this life, one where his kindness would soon be chipped away until he was just like the rest of us.
“Mornin’, Cap’n,” Kris greeted me as I left my cabin and walked out onto the deck. “Was just bringing ya your mornin’ meal.”
I accepted the bowl of salted fish and cheese and nodded before moving past him. I stayed under the staircase that led to the quarterdeck and watched the crew as they begun work.
Tig climbed the main mast and checked the rigging before doing the same to the others. Dax inspected the ship and reported back to me.
“Bilge looks good,” he said as he scratched at the stubble on his cheek. “No leakage.”
His brown eyes were surrounded by long, dark lashes and I briefly remembered why I’d fucked him before. It had only been once, and we’d never spoken of it since then, not that we had reason to. It’d just been a one-time incident to satiate both of our lusts after many months at sea.
After Dax left to give orders to the other boatswain, I ate a square of cheese and watched the sun reflecting off the water.
It was one of my favorite sights and one I would never tire of seeing. The morning wind caressed my skin, and I closed my eyes, enjoying the feel of it. One day, if I didn’t break the curse in time, I’d never feel such a thing again. I wouldn’t taste the food on my tongue, and I’d never know the touch of another living soul for as long as I lived.
Which was forever.
When I opened my eyes, I saw Fletcher and Alek grinning at each other as they stood on the starboard side of the ship, leaning against the rail. Fletcher said something, causing Alek to playfully nudge him aside, and then they snickered.
When I’d first told Alek to watch over Fletcher, I hadn’t expected them to become so close.
After I finished eating, I went toward the helm. The riddle of the curse played over and over again in my mind, and throughout the three years since I’d heard it, I’d tried to unravel the mystery, to find the key to breaking it.
I was no closer to the answer than I’d been back then.
My crew knew I was searching for something, but I’d told none of them the details of it. If I wasn’t careful, there’d be a mutiny aboard theCrimson Night, although I doubted any of them had the spine enough to do such a thing.
I decided to continue sailing south. There were various islands, some of them less traveled than others and some with wealthy people to steal from. And the ones with no loot had women, so it’d keep the men entertained for a while at least.
By midday, the men began their shanties. Once the heat of the sun became too much, it helped to distract one’s mind with something other than their exhaustion.
As they sang, I looked at Fletcher…as I often did when I knew he wasn’t looking my way.
His auburn hair held a lighter orange tint as the sun hit it, and he smiled as he joined the crew in song. And gods his smile. His whole face lit up with it. It was several seconds before I realized he was looking at me too. The smile had fallen from his lips and curiosity marked his face.
I looked away from him, attempting to do so casually, as if he’d been a mere passing glance instead of my main focus.
“Oui! Look at the size of that one!” Sexton, one of the swabs, shouted and pointed to something port side. “That’s a big ol’ fish, ain’t it?”
