Page 62 of Found at Sea
“How do you know?” I was sure to place my lute in the center to keep it from getting wet, just in case water splashed up into the boat with our rowing.
“Because you didn’t see the way he looked at you,” Alek spoke in a softer voice. His blue eyes mirrored that softness. “As if you were the stars, and he was the sailor lost at sea, looking to you to find his way.”
***
At the door to the captain’s cabin, I hesitated. What if I was completely wrong about his plan that night? What if…and it felt insane to even consider…but what if he wished to have a romantic evening with me?
The answer became clear once I mustered up the courage and walked inside.
Well,first,someone grabbed me and placed a cloth over my eyes. I screamed and, on impulse, swung my arm and hit him. He grunted and gripped both of my wrists with one hand as he held the fabric over my eyes with the other.
“Calm yourself, boy,” Kellan grumbled. The closeness of his body on mine made my skin tingle, and instead of pushing him away, I leaned into him. The fact I couldn’t see only added to the allure. “I’m not goin’ to harm you.”
Now that I was no longer trying to hit him, he walked behind me and guided me through the room. Blindfolded, I had to put all my trust in him—which was difficult.
When he removed the cloth, we were in the sleeping quarters.
“Dress and meet me in the study,” Kellan whispered at my ear, sending shivers down my neck. Unable to control myself, I tilted my head back and reached to grab his hips, pulling him more against me. He growled before leaning forward and running his lips along my nape. “Do not keep me waiting.”
He left the room, closing the door as he did.
I sighed at the loss of contact, and then rolled my eyes at myself for dithering so much. I wanted Kellan one moment, disliked him the next, and went right back to desiring him again after that. He was the only man who’d ever enjoyed my body, and perhaps that explained the intense connection I felt around him.
Yet…I felt there was another reason. One not easily explained away as lust.
Dress, he’d told me.Always ordering mearound. Spotting an outfit on the bed, I walked closer. All sarcastic thoughts and irritation at his demanding nature vanished when I saw what he’d laid out for me, and I smiled.
It was a light brown tunic with a darker brown border and gold buttons, along with a white longer sleeve under shirt, a red sash to go around my waist, and a brown belt. The trousers matched the borders of the tunic.
Even though it wasn’t too fancy, it was still nicer than anything I’d ever worn before. I ran my fingertips along the soft material of the shirt, fighting the emotion welling in my chest.
It didn’t take long for me to discard my somewhat dirty clothes, but before I put on the new ones, I decided to quickly wash in the small basin of water to freshen up. Once that was done, I dressed before looking down at myself, ensuring I’d placed everything correctly. Nerves swam in my stomach, and I wasn’t sure why.
Kellan was behaving strangely.
Stranger than normal, anyway.
He’d told me to meet him in the study once I was dressed, so I went toward the bedroom door. Placing my hand on the lever, I took several calming breaths before opening the door. I gaped at the sight before me.
The wooden table that normally set off to the corner was now centered and draped with a maroon cloth. On the table were gold-bordered plates filled with mouthwatering food; smoked pork, green vegetables, roasted potatoes, and fresh rolls of bread. Beside each of our plates were goblets of wine. Long candles were lit, two in the center of the table and the rest were scattered throughout the room.
Kellan was the most spectacular sight of all.
Gone were his usual apparel of an opened linen shirt and simple pants. He wore a dark blue uniform with a burgundy sash and a dagger at his hip. He stood beside the table with one hand behind his back, and the other held out to me.
I took his hand and allowed him to gently pull me forward until I was against his chest.
“You look stunning,” he said, peering down at me with an expression in his eyes I couldn’t place. “Yet, you are missing something.”
Shocked, I stepped back and looked down at my clothes. I could’ve sworn I had everything. “What’s missing?”
“This.”
He dangled a necklace from his hand. Strung on a brown leather cord was a silver finch with a red jewel in the center. It was like all the trinkets I’d often admired and had only dreamed of ever having enough coin to purchase for my own.
“Do you like it?” he asked as his smile began to falter.
Before I could think twice about it, I stood on my tiptoes and crushed my mouth to his.
