Page 21 of Found at Sea
I grew hard.
“Why are you in here?” Captain Flynn asked with a snarl.
The audacity of him to even ask such a thing, especially after he’d just bedded someone—or several someones—caused my defenses to rise. It enraged me, and I didn’t know why.
“Why areyou?” I countered, glowering at him. “What else do men do in pleasure houses,Captain?”
A tic started in his jaw as he looked at me.
I tried not to get lost in his unwavering gaze. I needed to stand my ground with him. However, everything about him called to me: his eyes, the way he smelled like the sea, a hint of rum, and his own manly musk that made me want to bury my face in his neck.
Instead of answering, he turned and advanced down the hall, tugging me along with him. I slapped at his hand, which only made him hold me tighter. When we were outside, he didn’t ease up, either.
“Where are we going?” I shouted, trying to weasel my way out of his hold.
He said nothing.
Eventually, I gave up my fight and allowed him to pull me along. Wherever that may be.
People watched us as we passed, but then they lost interest. The sun was close to setting, and lanterns had been lit along the pathway, creating shadows where light used to be. I saw other members of the crew, some were playing a game of dice outside one tavern and a few others were standing near the docks with large mugs in their hands. The ones who saw us grinned.
“We’re going back to the ship?” I asked as theCrimson Nightcame into view.
Still, the captain didn’t answer me.
Horace was on the main deck, sitting in a wooden chair and playing with an old deck of cards. He looked up as we came aboard, and upon seeing it was Captain Flynn, he bit back whatever comment had been on his tongue. He gave an acknowledging nod before focusing back on the cards.
I was dragged below deck, still confused as to what was going on. He led me past the small kitchen and bunks of the crew before going into my room—the extra storage space that consisted of various crates, my hammock, and few belongings.
Captain Flynn finally released me before lighting the oil lamp I kept beside my hammock, chasing away the darkness. He observed the space with a furrowed brow. To my knowledge, it was the first time he’d stepped foot in the area since I’d come aboard weeks ago.
“This place needs to be cleaned,” he said.
“That’s it?” I asked, scoffing. “You drag me out of the brothel like I’m some insolent child, you continue to drag me through town and create a scene for all those who see it, and the whole time you refuse to say a word. And now, the first thing you say is that I need to clean my sleeping quarters? I did not know I also signed on for a father when I joined your crew.”
To my surprise, the captain didn’t backhand me for the snarky remark. Nor did he look mad in the slightest.
Humor danced in his eyes.
“I missed that tongue of yours,” he said, stepping closer to me and grabbing my chin. He tilted my face up. “That fire that lives inside you and comes billowing out when you’re challenged.”
I couldn’t speak. I could barely even breathe. The closeness of him took away all logical thoughts in my head, and all I could do was feel. Want.
Desire.
For the briefest of moments, I thought he was going to kiss me. His eyes searched mine, and the hardened gaze I was accustomed to was nowhere to be found. Softness lingered in his blue-brown eyes. The hand holding my chin moved from a firm grip to a gentle clutch, and Captain Flynn inched his face closer. So close that I felt his breath on my lips.
But then his hand fell away, and the once soft gleam in his eyes faded.
“You’re free to go up on deck and join Horace, but do not leave the ship,” he said in an authoritative tone. “That’s an order.”
And just like that, my desire for him fled.
“Are you going to return to the pleasure house?” I asked with perhaps too much bite in my tone. Feeling so angry and bitter was unfamiliar. My head spun as I realized I was jealous.
I’d never had reason for jealousy in the past, and yet, there I was experiencing it for the first time, and for someone I had no right to feel it for.
Captain Flynn watched me in silence, one that seemed to last for ages. Then, he turned and left me alone.
Any questions I once had about him were now increased tenfold. The biggest one of them all, though, was what did he really want with me?
