Page 20 of Queen's Griffon

“Privateers patrolling coastlines.”

He snorted. “As if anyone is going to trust a former pirate to guard their coasts.”

“Don’t be so sure of that,” she muttered. “Daerva’s last admiral proved to be less than honest and satisfactory.” While he might have kidnapped her, and talked frankly about being a pirate, she’d seen how his crew respected and loved him. The captain treated them well, and that spoke to his character.

“Why, little queen, are you offering me a commission?”

“If I did, would you accept?”

“Probably not.”

“Why?” she asked, canting her head.

“Because I doubt I could take orders from you.”

“Can’t handle being under a woman?” she asked with an arched brow.

“Oh, I like being under a woman just fine,” he purred.

It took her a moment to realize he suggested something sexual, and her cheeks heated. “You are being wildly inappropriate.”

“Says the woman in my bed wearing naught but my shirt.”

“Not by choice,” she huffed, hopping to the floor.

“Given your attitude, I see you’ve recovered from your swim.”

“Hardly a swim. I was sinking like a rock.”

“That’s what happens when you don’t move your arms and legs.”

“Because I was unconscious,” she huffed. “Not that it would have mattered. I don’t know how to swim.”

He blinked at her with sinfully long lashes. “How do you not know how to swim?”

“I never learned. Velunda, the capital of Daerva where I lived, didn’t have anywhere to try. The Lake of Tears is poisonous and I never went anywhere that had a body of water I couldn’t wade in.” And even that could be dangerous. When escaping Fraegus Spire, she’d almost been eaten by a massive worm monster hidden in an underground lake.

“Which makes your idiocy last night even more egregious. Always tether in a storm.”

“I didn’t have time. I was busy fighting.”

“Make the time,” he growled. “Or next time there might not be someone there to save you.”

He had a point, but she hated to concede. “I’m hungry.”

“You know where the galley is.”

She pointed to her body. “I can’t go out like this.” The shirt ended mid-thigh.

“What do you expect me to do about that?”

“I need clothes,” she muttered through gritted teeth.

“You are so demanding,” the captain grumbled as he flung back the covers.

She got an eyeful of nude flesh before she, and her hot cheeks, turned away. “You slept with me naked?”

“I slept in my bed the way I always do.”

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