Page 20 of The Pirate and His Siren

“Aye, that sounds like my ideal type of living.”

“So I think you need a boat that can travel along rivers and land so we can rob merchants on their way to the Nexian.”

“Aye, you may be on to something.” I stroke my beard. If I can’t make it as a pirate of the sea, can I be a river pirate? The land pirate side of it repulses me, but if there was a way to move the ship across the lands to each river, it might be the way moving forward.

I grin at Luarna before smacking my lips to hers.

Sometime later, I find Roberts and Flinders and begin discussing with them the possibility of robbing people on land. I tell them about Luarna’s idea for a vehicle that can traverse land and sea.

“It would solve our current problems,” says Roberts, scratching his beard.

“Aye, it would,” Flinders agrees and looks over at the crew bringing out barrels and instruments. “Can such a vessel exist?”

“We might have to investigate it. Talk to ship builders.”

Flinders lifts his chin in the direction of the crew, who are setting up barrels to sit on while they sing and play instruments.

“What’s all this then?” I ask.

“Luarna’s presence has distracted most of the crew from our lack of pirating, and this recent turn of events has boosted morale.”

“I hate to be the one to dash hope…” Roberts begins, “… but even Miss Luarna’s coin won’t be able to settle the men much longer. They’re in a good mood now, but as the days go on with no looting to be done, their moods will turn sour.”

“Aye, so we go ahead with Luarna’s idea then?”

“Aye, it is a good one, Captain,” says Flinders.

“Yes, we’re in agreement.” Roberts cracks a rare smile. “But we don’t have the coin to pay for a new ship or to make changes to this ole girl.” He runs his hand over the railing.

I slap him on the shoulder. “We’re pirates… who says we’ll be paying the shipbuilder?”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

KYNAN

The crew is flushed with excitement after winning all of my siren’s coin, and begin to play their instruments and sing bawdy songs while passing around the last of the grog.

I left Flinders and Roberts to join Luarna up on the upper deck, resting my head in her lap and listening to them while she strokes my hair.

“Would you ever sing for me?” I lift my head back to look at her. Everyone knows a siren’s song is the most beautiful sound one could ever hear.

Her hand stills. “No, I would never… I have never done that to you. Nor any of my lovers. I wanted them all to be willing.”

I raise myself and twist around to face her, pressing my growing erection in between her thighs. “I thought you already knew I am willing. Didn’t I show you that twice this morning?”

A cheeky grin spreads across her face, her arms winding around my neck. “Oh, I know. You’re more insatiable than I am.”

“When I have a gorgeous woman in my bed, of course, I’m going to continuously fuck her.”

Her smile stills. “It’s not just that. If I sing to you here on the boat?—”

“Ship,” I correct.

She raises an eyebrow at me before continuing,“Ship…then anyone within hearing distance will be compelled by me.”

I draw back, making her arms drop away from me, my jaw stiff from clenching it so hard. “Aye, I don’t like the fuckers even looking at you, so I definitely don’t want them to be drawn to you.”

“So, we’re in agreement.” She walks her fingers up my chest. “I don’t ever sing onboard?”

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