Page 56 of Fated for his Flame

When Silas set down at the edge of the docks, I slid from his back. The knife strapped to my side tugged at me with its added weight. A reminder I couldn’t escape, threatening to overbalance me if I gave it too much attention. I would have to decide. I couldn’t put it off forever. Either I told them what I knew, or—

I cut myself off, yet again trying to shove the stray thoughts back into the box they’d escaped from.

Was I really entertaining the idea of not reporting in?

“Come on,” Silas called, waving me out onto the docks toward our vessel. “Let’s go, sun and sand and relaxation await!”

“Aye, captain,” I called with as grizzled a voice as I could manage. “Yarr, hoist the mizzen and tiptop the whoosewhatsit, fasten the barnacles and avast ye landlubbers!”

Silas paused, staring at me in mock-horror.

“What?”

“You know this is a motor vessel, right?” he asked slowly. “There are no sails, no mizzen to hoist.”

I blinked slowly. “Of all the mumbo-jumbo I just said, that’s what you choose to focus on?”

He shrugged.

“You’re so walking the plank first,” I muttered playfully.

“Why am I walking it at all?” he protested. “And what plank?!”

“No gold doubloons for you.”

“Doubloons? Who says that?”

We were halfway down the docks, and the walkways were getting narrower. Pausing to let Silas catch up, I stuck my hip out low and hard as he passed. It bumped him right in the knee.

“Now, that’s just mean,” he pouted as he lost his balance, pirouetting gracefully before plunging into the water.

“Man overboard!” I hollered, and jumped in after him. “I’ll save you!”

“I don’t need sa—”

“He’s not breathing! Starting mouth to mouth!”

Silas’ eyes went wide as I wrapped my arms and legs around him, but he caught on fairly quickly and kissed me back hard. His legs slowly treaded water, keeping us both afloat as we renewed our physical acquaintance for the first time in days.

“You know,” he said when I came up for air. “You didn’t have to push me in if you wanted to make out with me. I would have gladly kissed you on the dock. Then on the boat. In fact, there are a lot of things I would have happily done to you on the boat.”

The water was suddenly a few degrees warmer.

“Like what?” I teased playfully, fully aware of what he meant.

“Such as ripping off your bathing suit, bending you over the bow of the ship, and grabbing your hips before I make your entire body shake by slamming deep inside you while anyone going past can watch.”

“Oh,” I whispered, staring deep into his eyes, seeing the flames of his desire be lit.

“But now I’m all wet, so I guess I can’t do that.”

I leaned in, arms tight around his neck, and ran my tongue across his ear. “You’re not the only one who’s wet.”

His entire body stiffened, and he leaned in closer, one hand sliding down my back.

At that moment, something in the water nipped at one of my toes.

“Something bit me!” I shouted right into his face, clutching at him wildly, trying to get out of the water.

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