“Like you were all totally fucked, to be honest, and us as well, for they would surely have boarded theArrowafter they’d dispatched you lot,” Domingo muttered.“I said more prayers than I have for ages, let me tell you.”
Squid crossed his arms over his chest and gazed at Domingo.“You were quite brave.You never once told me how frightened you were.”
“Well, they were silent prayers.And I didn’t want you to know,” Domingo admitted.
“You looked like you wanted to run over there and start swinging,” Squid said.
“Well, I was angry.Mad that they’d got the best of us, or seeming like they would.But I hadn’t reckoned on Simon.”
They turned my way with matching smiles.
“You saved us all again, little rooster,” Domingo said.
I rubbed my chin and nodded, avoiding his gaze.“Only because we’d run out of options.If we could stop getting ourselves into scrapes, I wouldn’t have to keep calling upon my magic.”
“Well, I for one am glad you’re on my side.”
“I’m on your side, too,” Squid muttered.“But I don’t have magic like he has.”
“Oh, you have your own charms,” Domingo muttered, gazing at Squid.
But Squid made a hasty exit.
“What’s Squid’s problem?”I asked.
“Fuck it.I might have made an advance and now I regret doing so.”
“You what?”
“I may have let on that I was feeling rather…pent up…you know, and wondered if Squid would perhaps help me out.”
“An amorous advance?I thought you were done with all of that.”
He tilted his head and frowned.“Well, notforever!I have had a lovely break but now I’ve started to miss…all of that…if you must know.”
“Oh,” I said.
Memories flashed back of a lustful evening spent with the captain and Domingo, wherein we had kept each other quite entertained.
“Well, I’m sorry Squid didn’t welcome your interest.”I gazed at the blue-green waves sparkling in the sunshine.“Only, Captain Martin and me, we…” I glanced at Domingo.“Well, he’s trying to think of ways to distract and tire me during the day.The battle with the Eloise certainly fit the bill.But that was days ago.”
Domingo frowned.“You having nightmares again?”
“Well, I haven’t been but I know they’ll return.I was having them nearly every night.”I stared out at the waves and said what was on my mind.“Domingo…do you still think about that encounter at the Turnkey?At all?”
“All the time, Rooster.You?”
“More than I should.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Well, I’m a married man, ain’t I?I shouldn’t be having randy thoughts about anyone but my husband.”
Domingo laughed.“Truly?Is that how you think marriage works?”
“Isn’t it?”
“Well, I’m not an expert, as I’ve never been married myself.But I expect you’ll always have thoughts of other men.Particularly if they are as beautiful and lovely and adventurous as I.”
