“We were very rude just now,” I said.
Every step with him at my side was a soft landing of my feet on plush grass. Safe. Found.
“I don’t care about them. I only care about you,” he said.
It didn’t matter where he took me; I only knew I would follow. The music serenading behind us echoed the sentiment with its gentle strings and longing current. Even the flickering candles agreed with their gentle sway. The world was in agreement, where Sebastian Flynn went, so did I.
He released my hand, took a drink from a servant, and held it out to me. I very much wanted to set it back down and run away from here. Back to the Wraith and the cabin that slowly became mine.
“Are you all right?” I asked, fidgeting with the cool glass.
We stood at the edge of the room, and his body was angled just so that it blocked the wandering eyes of nosy rich people.
He lifted his hand and brushed his fingers down the side of my face. I leaned into the touch, knowing we shouldn’t, but helpless against his current. I drifted into him, sighing with the first sense of contentment I’d known in four months. It lightened my chest and pulled the tension from my shoulders.
“I missed you,” he said, his voice low.
I lifted my eyes to his and felt them burning with the pain of being without him. Now that he was here, touching me, it all felt too large. Too big to overcome like a tidal wave.
“I don’t think I breathed the whole time you were gone,” I confessed.
His chuckle ran across me, sending a shiver down my spine that was warm and desperate.
“You are the only person I wouldn’t accuse of lying about that, but you look well despite that amount of oxygen deprivation,” he said.
The urge to sink into him was insistent, but as the music switched to a more upbeat tempo, I was reminded where we were. Shielded or not, there were always gossips around every corner.
“What happened?” I asked.
His hands wrapped around mine at my side, and he leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear.
“Meet me at The Siren and The Kraken tonight.”
I felt warmth pull while my heartbeat fought to break free of my chest.
“I’m an engaged woman; it wouldn’t be appropriate.” I sniffed.
I loved the way his lips curled up. There was the captain I knew so well.
He lifted my chin with his thumb and forefinger, and I thought I might die right then and there.
“Good thing I already ruined you then,” he said.
Oh, god, lightning shot through me, and I was inclined to take his hand and run far from here if only to feel his body against mine.
“Time to go, Rose.” My sister's voice was as unwelcome as an upset stomach.
“No, thank you.” I chirped, stepping in closer to my pirate, who smiled and ran his eyes over my lips like he was memorizing them.
“Good thing I didn’t ask. Oliver is pale as a ghost, and I’m fairly certain he’s going to expire if you insist upon these shenanigans.” Ruby said.
All good things came to an end, and Ruby’s pull on my arm made it clear we weren’t negotiating.
“Our parents would like to invite you for lunch tomorrow. Your uncle is welcome to come as well,” she said.
I wrinkled my nose, and Bash chuckled like it was all a great joke.
“I can’t wait,” he said.
