Page 39 of Viktor at Sea

“I’m not really in the mood.”

“Caspian has already stated that he would enjoy some intimate time with one of these women, but I thought it proper to give you first choice seeing as you’re Captain.”

I shook my head. “I’m not interested. Caspian can have both women if he wishes.”

“Are you sure, Viktor?” Caspian stood up to ask, looking so eager that I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Knock yourself out.”

“Thanks!” He spared us one last grin before turning to both women, beckoning them to him.

We all watched and laughed as the two women guided Caspian away. No doubt he would be busy for at least the next half hour. Or less if he got too excited.

“I believe our boy, Manny here, is a little too young for what these ladies have in mind, or I would have offered,” Asmund chuckled and slapped a hand on Manny’s shoulder, his chuckles turning into laughter at the way Manny’s cheeks flamed maroon. “But come back in a few years, and I’ll give you first pick.”

“Uh, thank you,” Manny cleared his throat, his face even redder than before. It only got redder when the remaining dancer, Asmund’s pick, giggled at him.

Manny quickly stood up and announced that he was going for a walk along the shore. As I could keep an eye on him from where I was sitting, I didn’t protest. Instead, I reached for another slice of bread. I had missed out on a lot of food in the past few days when my appetite had evaded me, and now that Iwas feeling better, it felt like my body was trying to make up for it.

“Why did you turn down the women?” Asmund asked once we were alone, his face serious despite his dancer sitting on the other side of him, leaning into him and stroking his arm with a sultry look. “Were they not to your liking?”

I cleared my throat as I wracked my head for the right choice of words which wouldn’t offend Asmund. From experience, I knew him to be rather hot-tempered.

“I’m sure they were lovely, but I’m just not in the mood.”

“A few moments with one of those women, and you would be in the mood at no time at all.”

“I haven’t been feeling well these past few days,” I persisted.

Asmund frowned and narrowed his eyes at me, not convinced. “What are you not telling me?” He asked. “Did you get married and not send me an invitation? Is that why you turned down Isle’s finest dancers?”

“I’m not married,” I denied, my tone too sullen and melancholy for my liking.

“Not yet?” He asked, picking up on my tone.

“I’m not sure.” I shrugged.

“What do you mean?” Asmund asked, his eyebrows furrowing together in the middle. “You’re either married or you’re not. You cannot be in the middle unless you’re engaged. Are you engaged, Viktor?”

“No,” I sighed and shook my head. “It’s complicated.”

“Women always are,” he laughed, sending a pointing look to the woman who was currently resting her head on his shoulder and stroking the inside of his upper thigh. “Now, tell me about this woman of yours.”

“She isn’t my woman.” My lips tugged down into a deeper frown. With all the frowning and scowling I had done these past few days, I feared my face would be permanently stuck with thishorrid expression. Though it wouldn’t matter if Astrid decided she felt nothing for me.

“Yet?” Asmund asked.

“I’m not sure.”

“Why not?”

“I proposed to her, but she hasn’t given me an answer yet,” I forced myself to say, the words feeling like sandpaper painfully scratching my throat as I spoke.

“How long has it been?”

“Two days,” I sighed and hung my head, my heart suddenly feeling very heavy.

“I’m not going to lie to you, Viktor,” Asmund started. “Two days is a long time to wait for a woman to answer an offer of marriage. Do you know what is holding her up?”

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