Page 24 of A Captain So Callous and Cruel

“Hali,” I find myself saying. “My name is Hali, Captain. I’m not a thing. I have to want it too, don’t I?”

Now amusement flickers in his gaze. “Most certainly not the words of a daughter’s whore.”

“No,” I say sternly. “Certainly not.”

He steps back, going to the bed. “I said I want you, Hali. I want you badly. Undress for me.”

But I don’t.

He doesn’t mind. He knows I’m going nowhere. I have no choice but to stay, but it’s like he’s pretending he’s giving me the option.

From where I stand, I allow myself to take him in. His body is large, as I expected. There are marks and scars over miles of muscle. A flash of heat washes over me, and I shake my head, telling myself it’s just the buzz under my skin. Just the shift warning me it’s coming.

Then I think of Kai, and my promise.

I can’t.

I won’t.

But goddess, this captain is making me forget myself for a small moment.

“Hali,” he warns, returning to stand before me. He looks down at me, and his hand that is running down my arm, leaving goosebumps behind. “I kissed you softly. I gave you my truths. But I’m a red-blooded man, and I need to fuck.”

“And I need to remember why I’m here,” I return swiftly.

“You’re here because I ordered you to be.”

“No,” I whisper, more to myself than him. I’m here for revenge.

He squints down at me, confused. “Hali?—”

BANG! BANG! BANG!

“CAPTAIN!” shouts a man beyond the bedroom door. “Captain, there’s an emergency!”

Erickson’s face hardens with rage. He twists away from me, quickly throwing the tunic back on as he stomps to the door and rips it open. “This better be a matter of life or fucking death!”

“There has been a death,” the man returns breathlessly. “Hylen’s been found dead!”

“What?” Captain Erickson retorts.

“His body…it was stowed away in one of the rooms. One of the whores says a big burly fella had been carrying him around… Captain, I think something strange is happening.”

Cold slams into me.

A dead body.

Big burly fella.

They’re talking about Kai.

No, no, no.

“Do we know who the man is?” questions the Captain.

“There are only a few men with that description.”

“Have them rounded on the deck right this fucking second.”

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