Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

AUGUST 13TH, 1666

R owan paced the edge of the quarterdeck like a caged wolf. It had been nearly two weeks since the two infamous pirate ships had begun sailing together toward their unknown destination, and Yves still refused to say where they were going. The Siren Song simply followed the Kraken's Fury through the endless waves of the Center Sea. Rowan could tell roughly where they were by the stars but it made him anxious to not be in control of his own ship.

Now that Yves had gone back to the Kraken , Rowan's mind seemed to have cleared from some sort of fog. He had flashes of paranoia that this was just an elaborate trick. The infamously cruel pirate was surely leading them to certain death, and more than once, Rowan contemplated turning tail and running. The Siren was more than capable of outrunning the Kraken , even in its current sorry state. Robin and Ga?l were still on board, but he could deal with that later.

But something always stopped him. A flash of memory of the way Yves had kissed him after. Or the Kraken would drop back beside the Siren and he would find himself making eye contact with Yves across the blue water.

Rowan stopped pacing and turned his eyes to the ship sailing peacefully ahead of them.

"Logan. "

The first mate was by his side in a moment, following his gaze to the Kraken .

"Captain?"

"Should we run?"

Logan tilted his head, contemplating this familiar question.

"What does your gut say?"

Rowan finally tore his eyes away from the other ship and looked at his first mate instead.

"It's telling me a lot of things."

Logan smiled ruefully.

"Well it's rarely steered us wrong before," he said thoughtfully. Then his smile brightened. "I guess the Demon messed with your guts a little too much."

His smile widened even more at Rowan's startled bark of laughter.

"I trust you, Captain. I know you'll make the right decision."

Just like that, some of Rowan's anxiety cleared. With Logan's trust, and the support of his crew, he could see this through. Wherever it might lead them.

Rowan had become a captain quite young, even for a pirate. His mother died when he was just nine years old, and his father, not willing to care for him alone, had sold him into indenture as a cabin boy for the Marran navy, where he'd met Logan. Rowan had been a clever kid and he'd quickly made himself an invaluable asset.

It hadn't been so bad. He'd fallen in love with the sea, and most of the sailors had been kind to him. They raised him to be daring and brave. And when his indenture was over when he was seventeen, he'd left to avoid involvement in Marra's invasion of Kefrye and subsequent war with their rival empire Talva.

He joined a series of expeditions before landing a spot on a Talvan merchant crew. But he soon realized the company ran a human trafficking operation under the table. Rowan bided his time, making friends on the crew who would be loyal to him above all else. And after getting some key crew members drunk and dumping them in alleys, he was able to lead a successful mutiny against the scum captain, free the captives, and was officially declared a pirate by most of the kingdoms that made up the Islands. When Logan had been released from his own navy indenture, Rowan had recruited him as first mate and renamed the ship to the Siren Song .

If Logan trusted him, he had no choice but to trust himself.

August 16th, 1666

It was late afternoon when they finally spotted land. The Kraken immediately signaled for them to meet. They anchored, and the Demon was rowed over to the Siren Song on a boat.

A small smile twitched the corner of Yves's mouth as he stepped onto the deck. He was wearing a long blood red coat trimmed at the shoulders and collar with glossy black fur. The signature ruby earring gleamed in his ear. It was as if all of Yves's clothes had been made just for him, whereas Rowan had to steal nice things off the backs of those unlucky enough to cross his path. Rowan looked like a rogue, while Yves looked every inch a dashing and dangerous gentleman.

Rowan's stomach gave an undignified flutter, and he looked away, trying to school his expression to neutrality.

"Our destination is just on the horizon," Yves said. "It can be a bit tricky getting in, so I'm here to guide you." His shrewd eyes flicked over the crew on deck. "I'm going to need you to reduce the amount of crew on deck. Only those you trust the most should be up here."

"I trust my crew completely." Rowan scowled.

Yves stepped in close, lowering his voice.

"Look…" His tongue pushed against the inside of his cheek in annoyance. "You've made it abundantly clear that you don't fully trust me. But this place is a very well kept secret. I have more at stake than just my crew if it gets out. It's not just you taking a risk here; it's both of us."

Rowan let out an exasperated breath.

"Fine."

The sun was setting orange and pink as they approached a small island. Ahead of them, the Kraken ran up a signal flag that Rowan couldn't interpret. Who were they signaling? The place looked uninhabited, black volcanic cliffs rising out of the water, topped with lush green trees. Rowan watched Yves at the wheel of the ship. The man was turned away from him, sharp profile lit by the dying light. He was beautiful, a sculpture carved by a master hand. It almost took Rowan's breath away.

The Kraken's Fury maneuvered slowly between spikes of rock that rose up from the waves. Yves followed, steering the Siren with a deft hand.

"Yves…" Rowan murmured nervously as they passed especially close to one of the rocks. "We'd better…"

The Kraken disappeared.

At first Rowan thought it was a trick of the light. They'd swung portside toward the cliffs, and then they were gone. And now the Siren was heading for those same cliffs.

"Yves, wait?—"

Yves turned the wheel sharply, and the Siren banked hard to port. He seemed pleasantly surprised at the ship's nimbleness. But Rowan was no longer looking at him.

The black cliffs seemed to open before the Siren 's bow like gates to paradise, revealing a hidden cove of deep water. The Kraken already sat at anchor, blue sails purpling in the rosy light. Beyond it, several smaller ships were moored. And beyond that, the faintly twinkling lights of a village lay between the trees.

Rowan looked from the lights to Yves and back again, mouth hanging open in astonishment.

"Welcome," Yves said with a sweeping gesture that encompassed all that lay before them, "to Illusion."

Damn. Rowan had known the bastard was rich but not that rich.

Yves was smiling at him, watching for a reaction. "Now do you see why it's a secret?"

Rowan laughed in disbelief, feeling a bit giddy. "Yes."

The crew was swarming over the deck now, dropping anchor next to the Kraken and preparing the landing boats to take them to shore. Rowan eyed the two other ships anchored in the cove, as well as a small fleet of fishing boats secured to the docks. The ships were smaller than both the Kraken and the Siren . Neither sported the iconic blue sails nor any other symbol of the Deep Water Demon.

"I didn't know you had a fleet, let alone a whole island," Rowan commented.

"We do a bit of legitimate trade." Yves smirked. "Mostly supply runs and laundering our plunder. In fact, you've poached one of my merchants before. "

A blush rose up Rowan's neck, and he was grateful for the rosy light. He didn't know why he felt flustered by this. He hadn't known those ships belonged to the Deep Water Demon. If he had known, he probably would have gone after them even harder. But now that they were reluctant allies, he felt a bit ashamed of it.

Rowan couldn't help his wide-eyed wonderment as Yves walked them through the small village. Besides the few guards he'd left behind on the Siren , the whole crew was with him. Rowan's nerves were calming now. He'd somehow been expecting a fortress or a pirate island full of murderers and thieves. But this was…peaceful, almost idyllic. People stood around on their porches chatting and laughing. Most of them didn't look like pirates at all; they were just normal people living normal lives.

The villagers watched the crew of the Siren Song curiously, but they didn't seem worried about the extra ship moored in the harbor or the swarm of strangers that were suddenly on their island. A few kids ran up to greet members of the Kraken crew and were swung up onto shoulders as those crew members broke off from the group. One by one the crew of the Kraken began to split off, going to their homes for a much needed rest.

Pirates with homes to go back to. What a novel idea.

A large house stood between the towering trees at the top of the sloping lane. It looked like an old manor house and was completely out of place in the overgrown street filled only with one story white-washed cottages, a smithy, a carpenter, and a building that looked like a tavern. The manor house itself was three stories tall, its exterior walls a faded pink like the inside of a seashell, as if their intended color had long since worn off and exposed something hidden beneath. A stone carved monogram stood over the double doors, its lettering completely obliterated by a chisel. Nephele swooped up to settle on the iron-railed widow's walk on the mansion's roof. Yves glanced up at her, then opened the large wooden doors and led them into a well-appointed, if a bit shabby, foyer.

"John, see that the Siren 's crew is fed and settled." Yves's eyes slid sideways to Rowan. "Have Cook leave dinner outside my door. The Ghost Hawk and I have business to discuss. "

John rolled his eyes almost imperceptibly but began issuing orders to the remaining Kraken crew. They dispersed with the Siren crew in tow. Yves met Rowan's eye and twitched his head for Rowan to follow up a curving flight of stairs.

They hadn't yet made it to their destination on the second floor when Yves grabbed Rowan's hand. It was the first time they'd touched since Yves had gone back to the Kraken , and it sent tingles racing up his arm.

"What is this place?" Rowan asked.

"Does that matter right now?"

He'd asked mostly to distract himself from Yves's touch, but he was also curious beyond belief.

"A little, yes."

Yves sighed, but didn't release his hand.

"It was a summer estate for some rich bastard a long time ago. It was abandoned when the wars started. The family died, and this place was forgotten. I found it a few years ago, after…" He stopped in front of a door with an elaborate brass handle. "Well, after some things happened. But that doesn't matter now." He opened the door, revealing an ornate room within. Light from the final dregs of sunset cascaded across a lush bed draped in crisp white linens.

Yves dragged Rowan into the room, slamming the door behind them. His lips were on Rowan's in an instant, hungry and devouring. And Rowan couldn't help but melt at his touch. In all his anxiousness, he hadn't realized how eager he was to be touched by Yves again.

He moaned into Yves's kiss, letting his tongue explore. Letting instinct take over. His fingers fumbled with the onyx buttons of Yves's red coat. Yves tilted Rowan's head to the side, teeth grazing the earrings that lined the shell of Rowan's ear.

"Have you recovered?" Yves growled, sending shivers down Rowan's spine.

He nodded, finally releasing the last button and slipping his hands under the coat to frame Yves's trim waist. Yves unbuckled Rowan's belt, lips wandering down his neck. Then it was a blur of undressing. They stumbled toward the bed but didn't make it there. Rowan was too impatient and pushed Yves to the floor. He knelt on the plush rug and trailed kisses down Yves's bare torso. He palmed Yves's already hard cock, and Yves moaned, his back arching. Rowan's lips reached Yves's hip.

"Rowan…" Yves's voice was rough. Rowan went to lick his cock, wondering how it would taste.

Yves's fingers closed hard on his jaw, forcing his mouth away.

"No," Yves said, eyes hard. The room was mostly dark now, the sun having finally dipped completely below the horizon.

"Okay," Rowan agreed. He wouldn't question it, but he was curious why Yves didn't want head from him.

Yves sat up and raised Rowan's face until their lips were only a breath apart.

"You are my guest," he whispered, and Rowan could see the fire of passion rekindling, burning away the stormy expression. "So let me treat you right."

"Do you get this close with all your guests?"

Yves flipped him onto his back, hand cupped behind Rowan's neck so his head wouldn't hit the floor. "I never have guests. Besides, you're?—"

Yves cut himself off, instead kissing Rowan hard. Rowan's head spun. Yves's tongue swirled into his mouth, and he arched his body into Yves's touch as his hand left his neck and trailed over his fevered skin. Then he heard a clink, and his own leather belt was being secured around his wrists. He tugged at them. The binding was firm but not tight.

"What are you doing?"

"Instead of my guest, you're now my prisoner," Yves purred. Rowan's anxiety spiked for a moment before Yves smirked and added, "Just for tonight." Now that he was back in control, his voice was honey smooth.

Rowan relaxed into his bonds. He must have been crazy for continuing to trust this man, but even if he was nervous, he was powerless to deny the pull he felt towards the other pirate. And the vulnerability of having his hands bound was turning him on even more. Yves crossed the room and came back with a bottle of the same coconut-scented lube they'd used before. His lips looked kiss-bitten, and one lock of ebony hair fell in front of his eye. Rowan looped his bound arms around Yves's neck and dragged him back down to the rug. He hooked one leg over Yves's hip, pressing their bodies together. Their cocks slid against each other, and he gasped. Yves reached down to grasp both of their members in one hand, his tongue still exploring Rowan's mouth. Rowan moaned and arched his back again. Thrusting into Yves's grip.

"Eager, are we?" Yves purred, his hand pumped down onto their cocks together. "Did I make such an impression last time?"

"Shut up," Rowan mumbled, smothering Yves's words with another deep kiss. Yves was charming, a master of flirtation and teasing. But Rowan was done with words now. All he wanted was for Yves to wreck him again.

Yves did as he was told. His hand moved expertly, the delicious friction of their cocks together matching the slight chafing of the belt around his wrists. Rowan was losing his mind already. But of course Yves had more in store.

Yves disengaged from Rowan's arms and guided him onto his elbows and knees. Yves's large hands spread Rowan's buttocks wide, and he felt a wet tongue at his entrance.

"Yves…" he moaned. He was desperate to be filled, desperate for as much as Yves would give him. Yves licked around the rim, teasing. His hand wandered to Rowan's cock again. Then his tongue breached Rowan's entrance, pressing against his walls. The thought of what Logan said rose unbidden to his mind. The quip about the Demon messing with his guts. But his giggle turned to moans as Yves's freakishly long tongue licked his insides.

Yves added a finger, slick with lube, and began stretching him. Rowan winced slightly, his body remembering the soreness. But the stretching was easier this time, and soon Yves withdrew his tongue and added a second finger, then a third. He rubbed a hand over Rowan's lower back, soothing him even as he excited him.

"Ready?" Yves's voice was rough again.

"Yes," Rowan gasped.

Yves's fingers withdrew, replaced by the press of his cock at Rowan's entrance. In one motion, he grabbed Rowan's hips and yanked him back, his thick cock opening Rowan wide.

"Aaaaggh…" Rowan groaned, an edge of pain in his voice, but he was already desperate for more. He bucked his hips back, taking Yves in fully. Yves growled, fingers tightening bruisingly on Rowan's hips. He withdrew slowly. Agonizingly slowly. Then his hips snapped forward again, grinding into Rowan's buttocks. His cock pressed ag ainst Rowan's prostate, sending a heady tide of pleasure through his entire body.

Rowan bit down on his leather bindings. Yves thrust deeply again. Rowan screamed through clenched teeth as Yves set a punishing pace. His arms trembled in an effort to hold himself up as Yves rearranged his guts for him.

"Rowan," Yves moaned. His nails dug into Rowan's skin, and he bent to lick a bead of sweat from Rowan's back. His fingers tripped up Rowan's spine and wrapped through his blond hair. He pulled Rowan up off his elbows, tilting his head back to expose his throat. His other hand slid down Rowan's slim stomach, pressing below his navel, feeling his own movements deep in Rowan's guts. Then he slid lower to wrap his fingers around Rowan's throbbing cock.

Rowan wavered on his knees, unbalanced and dizzy from the overwhelming sensations coursing through his body.

"Don't get tired just yet," Yves whispered in his ear.

"Yves…please…" Rowan couldn't keep the desperation out of his voice. His wrists strained against the bonds. He didn't know what he was begging for. To be untied? To come? All he knew was that he wanted more of whatever Yves would give him.

Another ripple of pleasure tingled through him. Everything was too much and yet not enough. Yves's hand pumped on his cock in counterpoint to his thrusts. Tingles built deep in the pit of his stomach, and with one more hard thrust, Rowan came into Yves's hand. Yves didn't pause even for a moment. His hand kept moving, squelching with cum and overstimulating Rowan to the point his vision went blurry.

Rowan's whole body trembled, and Yves released his hair. His arm snaked around Rowan's chest to support him. A few more stuttering thrusts and Yves came as well, cock throbbing, gushing into Rowan's clenching insides.

They were still for a moment, Rowan's body shivering.

"Is that enough, darling?" Yves asked, stroking Rowan's sweat-soaked hair back from his forehead.

Rowan laughed breathlessly. "Maybe the bed next time?"

Yves withdrew and picked the smaller man up almost effortlessly, carrying him bridal-style to the pristine bed. He laid him down very gently, attentive where he had been rough only moments before, and unbound his hands. Then laid down beside him, dragging his swollen lips over the red marks the belt had left. Rowan's breath shuddered.

Yves watched him, drinking in his reactions. He trailed a line of kisses up Rowan's arm, lingering at the pulse point of his wrist and the crook of his elbow, savoring Rowan's thundering pulse.

Rowan didn't know what to say. He was exhausted already, but he wanted more. Sex with Yves was like a drug—it muddled his mind, and the more he had it, the more he needed.

Yves's lips pressed to his shoulder and traveled over his collarbone to the base of his throat. Rowan rested his palms against Yves's smooth chest, fingers rubbing the scar tissue of the old bullet wound.

"Where'd you get this?" he asked. He had more than a few scars himself and didn't always remember where he'd gotten them. But Yves's skin was much too pristine for a pirate.

"Mmm," Yves mumbled, too focused on the task at hand. But Rowan persisted. Suddenly getting an answer seemed very important.

"Who shot you, Yves?"

Yves looked up at him. "What?"

"I asked where you got this scar." He rubbed his fingers over the puckered skin again. This was Yves's only physical flaw as far as he could see. He wanted to know who had the audacity to wound the Deep Water Demon.

Yves blinked at him. He placed one hand over the spot where Rowan's hand rested on his chest.

"Planning to avenge me?" Yves teased.

Rowan's nose scrunched up, but he said nothing.

"It's nothing. It was my first year as a captain. I was young and stupid. I thought I could take on a Marran navy ship." He chuckled, but his fingers tightened around Rowan's. "We barely made it out. I almost died."

"That doesn't sound like nothing," Rowan said. Yves was acting nonchalant, but Rowan could sense a darkness just below the surface.

Yves's lips twisted into a rueful smile. "That was before I got my bearings. I was just a kid." He kissed Rowan's jaw.

"So was I," Rowan murmured.

"Hm? "

"What was the name of the ship?" Rowan propped himself up on his elbow, eyes searching Yves's face carefully.

"Why?" Yves asked.

"Just tell me."

Yves bit his lip in concentration. " M.W.S. Wolf , I think."

Rowan couldn't help the grin that broke over his face.

"It was me who shot you."

Yves stared at him, bewildered for a moment. Then he grinned back, looking like a wolf himself.

"How old were you?"

"Seventeen."

"Ha! Me too." Yves gazed at him wonderingly, as if some piece of a cosmic puzzle had fit into place.

"I got a commendation for it," Rowan admitted.

Yves tilted his chin down to capture Rowan's lips in a lingering kiss.

"So you're the little shit who marked me like this," he murmured. "I always wondered what became of him. I hoped he made a name for himself. I suppose he did…Ghost Hawk."

"Glad I didn't disappoint." It felt a bit strange to be having this conversation laying stark naked in bed together. But nothing about this situation, or their lives, was conventional.

"Thank you," Yves said earnestly.

"For what?"

"This wound." Yves placed Rowan's hand back over the scar. "That battle changed me, hardened my resolve. It was an important step on the journey that made me into the Demon. I wonder why…" He shook his head as if dismissing the next thought.

His other hand came up to cup the side of Rowan's face, rubbing his thumb over his cheekbone. Then he pulled him close suddenly.

"However," he purred, a smoky edge in his voice, "you still gave me this scar." His tongue flicked out to lick the corner of Rowan's mouth. "How will you atone for your sins?"

A spark of renewed passion kindled in Rowan's core.

"I don't know," Rowan said carefully, "but I'm sure it will take a very long time."