Page 53 of Pregnant With Their Babes

“Aye, sir. Yes, I would. Very much so.”

Oz smiled and nodded. “Good. I’m glad we understand one another.”

“Well, I thought ya should know, Cap’n. Tha men are a bit afeared o’ Mr. Llyr. But I can tell ‘em wot ya jus’ tole me. Should keep ‘em calmed until we reach home.”

“Trust me when I say they havenothingto worry about from Llyr. We only have a couple more days til home.”

Mr. Tyler smiled. “I’m ready.Most definitely.”

Oz searched the surface. “How long have the creatures been in hiding?”

“Wasn’t long after ye and tha other gents went ta yer cabin fer tha night.”

Oz strove not to let heat darken his face. He lifted his stare to Mr. Tyler, refusing to be shamed for his attraction to the two men in his bed. “And what do the men say about that?”

Mr. Tyler’s eyes widened. He was silent a moment, as if he chose his words carefully. Oz braced himself, unsure he’d like what eventually fell from the man’s lips. “Cap’n, we’re no’ blindnordeaf. I’ve seen tha signs of yer care fer tha commander. Now I see tha same look in yer eyes fer Mr. Llyr. Matters no’ ta me who ya spend yer time wiff. Ye and the commander have always been good ta me and mine. I’d reckon tha other men are of similar mind. They’d be long gone, if otherwise.”

“Good to know,” Oz murmured. He gazed past Mr. Tyler to see Llyr striding out of their cabin wearing only a blanket around him. Bare legs and feet peeked from the bottom, summoning Oz’s delight. “Especially now.”

Mr. Tyler shot Llyr a glance. When the quartermaster turned back around, his face was deep red. “I’ll be lettin’ ye chat wiff Mr. Llyr.”

Llyr smiled and waved to their quartermaster. “How are the injured men faring?”

“Very well, thanks ta ye, Mr. Llyr.”

Llyr smiled and sighed, a contented sound. “That’s magnificent news. I’ll come later to help check their wounds and see if there’s anything I can do to be of aid.”

“Aye, Mr. Llyr,” the man said with a slight bow before escaping down to the main deck.

Llyr walked closer before leaning onto the railing, a gentle smile on his face. The breeze caught his flaming hair and tossed it about. “Good morning.”

“Good morning.” Oz glanced down at Llyr’s body hidden with the blanket. A wave of lust rolled over him. “I have told you that you can useanyof my clothing.”

“I am well aware,” Llyr said. “I’m not accustomed to wearing clothing. I thought my skin could use a bit of a break.”

“It had a break all night last night,” Oz said with a mischievous grin.

“That, it did. Although, as much as the two of you covered me, I doubt it got much of a rest.”

Oz chuckled.

Llyr glanced out over the water, his smile fading. “Where are they?”

“Mr. Tyler said they disappeared soon after we went to my cabin. I doubt they’ve gone far.”

“The pendant is supposed to keep them from my trail. Do you think we somehow lost them?”

“I know less about that magic than you do, so I’mnotthe one to ask.”

“Odd that they’d simplydisappear. I mean, they realize I’m aboard this ship… even with the magic repelling them, you’d think they’d follow in her wake.”

“Only the witch who crafted it could tell us. Any chances of that happening?”

“No… not unless she suddenly appears.”

Oz lifted his cup to his lips. Llyr watched him before glancing in the cup. “What is that? It smells intriguing.”

“Coffee.”

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