Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28

NOVEMBER 17TH, 1666

F or once Henri wasn't hurt. Well, no more than he was before. Robin had let him take the splint off a few weeks after they'd departed Illusion, but he wasn't quite in fighting shape. His bone still ached a bit, and his leg was weak from all the weeks of disuse. Robin had ordered that he not push himself too hard, so Rowan had reassigned him to the gunner crew below decks. And that's where he'd been when the navy sailors boarded. In the aftermath, he'd tried to help Robin with the wounded, but there had been plenty of others who weren't hobbled by a weak and aching leg. He'd just ended up being in the way.

Now he sat on the end of the bed in the physician's cabin that he and Robin shared, cleaning a rifle just to keep his hands busy with something useful. It was getting on toward evening, and the porridge Henri had procured for Robin's eventual return was rapidly growing cold. Since they'd been back on the Siren , Henri had been feeling quite useless. His leg would be back in fighting shape in a month according to Robin. But in the meantime, he had nothing to do. And his burn-scarred skin itched beneath his clothes like his leg was a ship's hull stuck all over with barnacles. He couldn't tell if it was because of the scars themselves or just boredom. Probably both.

Henri set the gun aside as the door opened and Robin stumbled through. He looked exhausted. Dark circles clung under his eyes, and his face and arms had several scrapes and scratches he'd received during the attack. He'd been working nonstop since early that morning, and it showed in every line of his lanky body.

Nonetheless, he smiled when he spotted Henri.

"How are they?" Henri asked. The battle had been short yet brutal, and a few men had succumbed to their injuries before they could get them into Robin's care. Not to mention the awful thing that'd happened to Rowan.

"I haven't lost anyone else at least." Robin sighed, flopping down next to Henri. "I think they'll all make a full recovery; even Ga?l's nasty cut will be fine. Fox is sitting in with them now so I can rest."

"What about Rowan?"

Robin grimaced. "His leg will heal…" He sighed again and ran his long hands down his face. "Even if I could have saved the eye, his optic nerve was severed. He would have lost it eventually. The cuts on his face are definitely going to scar."

Henri placed the bowl of cold porridge into Robin's hands.

"If you couldn't save it, no doctor in the Islands could have," Henri reassured him. Robin gave him a grateful smile and a kiss on the cheek.

They lapsed into silence as Robin ate. He didn't seem to care that the porridge was mostly cold and definitely gloopy. He devoured spoonful after spoonful like he was starving. Henri supposed he probably hadn't eaten all day. One tended to lose their appetite when covered in the blood of their friends and crew members.

"Do you want more?" Henri asked when Robin began scraping the extra bits off the bottom of the bowl with his spoon.

Robin looked up, the last bit of porridge stuck to his bottom lip.

"No, it's okay."

His stomach disagreed. It rumbled through the quiet of their cabin. Robin's ears flushed red in embarrassment.

"I'll go get more." Henri took the bowl from his hands.

"No." Robin caught his arm. "Don't strain your leg. Honestly I just need rest."

Henri was skeptical but discarded the bowl on the top of the sea chest next to the rifle. Robin stretched his arms over his head and winced.

"You okay?"

"Yeah." Robin rolled his shoulder experimentally. "Just sore from bending over all day. "

"Without me?" Henri quirked an eyebrow.

"I was saving lives," Robin protested, whacking Henri on the shoulder, then wincing again as the action jarred his sore back.

"Here." Henri crawled onto the bed to kneel behind him. He began to knead the tense muscles that connected Robin's wide shoulders to his neck. Robin relaxed into his touch, only wincing slightly as Henri's fingers worked out the knots.

Henri hummed as he worked, a cheerful tune he'd heard in some tavern or another.

"Is that the Seafarer's Dream?" Robin asked after Henri had hummed the whole thing and started over again.

"Hm?" Henri pressed his thumbs to the musculature between Robin's shoulder blades.

"The…ah…the song," Robin said as Henri's fingers dug into a particularly tight knot. Henri bit his lip, hoping Robin wouldn't notice that his little groans of pleasure were turning Henri on.

"I don't know what it's called. I just heard it somewhere," Henri said. Robin tilted his head to look up at him, that familiar amused smile on his lips like he was trying to hold back a laugh.

"It's the Seafarer's Dream. It's about a sailor who finds out the Kraken is a beautiful woman and seduces her." He snorted a laugh at Henri's baffled expression. "Maybe pay attention to the lyrics next time you pick up a raunchy tune from a tavern."

"Whoever wrote that needs their head checked out," Henri muttered. He resumed kneading Robin's back.

"What, you've never had a strange dream?"

"I don't typically remember my dreams. I just go to sleep and wake up." Henri reached the midpoint of Robin's back, and it was getting difficult to apply pressure from this angle. "Lie down so I can get your lower back."

"That seems like you," Robin said. He sighed as he laid down on his stomach, forehead propped on his folded hands so his neck wouldn't twist to the side. Henri straddled his legs and began working the soreness out of his lower back with long, firm strokes up the sides of his spine.

"You're shockingly good at this," Robin said, letting out a quiet groan as the heel of Henri's palm hit a tight spot.

"Why shockingly? "

Robin chuckled. "It's just that you don't have a very delicate hand with other things."

With every stroke of his hands, Henri's crotch brushed the curve of Robin's ass. Coupled with the pleased sounds Robin was making, it did nothing to aid in Henri's quest to not get uselessly horny when his boyfriend was exhausted from being up to his elbows in gore all day.

"Have I ever been heavy-handed with you?"

"I suppose not," Robin admitted. The light outside was dimming as the sun dipped further toward the horizon. They were sailing southeast, hoping to get out of range before the navy caught up to them again. Out the small porthole, Henri could see only gold-edged waves.

He looked back down to where Robin lay beneath him. Though Robin was a bit taller than him, he was also softer and lankier. Henri slipped his hands beneath Robin's loose white shirt to rub his back directly. The shirt had not a speck of blood on it. Robin must have washed up and changed before returning.

Despite his softness, Robin's back was sturdy. There was muscle there, not the kind that came from climbing rigging and fighting, but the kind for lifting injured people and setting broken bones. The muscle of healing, not destruction. His pale skin reminded Henri of kneading bread in the kitchen of the bakery he'd worked in as a child. The pliant dough squishing beneath his hands. He reached up to run his fingers through the back of Robin's hair, the color of wheat on a gray day.

"Henri…"

In leaning forward to touch Robin's hair, Henri's half-hard cock had pressed to Robin's buttocks, his other hand braced on Robin's bare waist for balance. He stayed like that for a moment, frozen in this unexpectedly sexual position.

"Sorry." Henri sat back.

Robin turned his head to glance at Henri out of the corner of his eye. "I don't mind." Robin pushed his hips up slightly so that Henri's clothed dick rubbed a little harder on his ass. Henri's dick hardened further. "Seems like you missed me," Robin said, amused.

Henri leaned down to kiss his cheek. "I saw you just a few hours ago. But yes, I did miss you. "

Robin pushed his ass against Henri's dick again. "Want to show me how much?"

Gods, he was going to drive Henri insane if he kept this up. Henri didn't know whether to rejoice or despair at his boyfriend's increasing confidence in seduction.

"You're exhausted, and your back already hurts," Henri protested.

Over the few months since they'd left Illusion, both of them had grown more used to the physical closeness and intimacy of being together, but Henri still sometimes got nervous that he would end up hurting Robin somehow.

Robin sighed. "That's true but…" His hips wiggled again. "Now I'm turned on too."

Henri pressed a light kiss to the fluffy hairline behind Robin's blushing ear.

"So what are we going to do about that?" he murmured into Robin's ear. "I don't want you to be too exhausted and sore tomorrow. You have work to do." Despite his words, Henri's hips rocked forward involuntarily. Robin bit his lip and groaned. Henri's hands were braced on the bed on either side of Robin's wide shoulders. He trailed kisses down the back of Robin's neck to the collar of his shirt. Robin placed his hand over Henri's own and threaded their fingers together.

"Whatever it is, we better do it quick so I can go to sleep," Robin said, stifling a yawn.

"Mm, better take your clothes off then." Henri rolled to lay on his side next to Robin, running a hand down his back then slipping it under his shirt. Robin turned to face him, and Henri noted the bulge of his erection beneath his trousers. Robin moved closer and captured Henri's lips in a tender kiss. In all the months they'd been together, no matter how heated they got, nights like this always began so softly. It was in Robin's nature to be gentle, and Henri adored that about him. It was in such contrast to Henri's own rougher mannerisms, and he often wondered what Robin saw in him.

Robin's hand moved down to unfasten Henri's trousers. His mouth was warm and sweetly urgent against Henri's own. Henri moaned when Robin's hand slipped beneath his clothes and brushed Henri's cock. The pad of Robin's thumb rubbed over the head, and then his fingers wrapped around the shaft. Henri's hand tightened on his waist, drawing him closer so that their bodies couldn't help but wrap up in each other.

"I love your hands," Henri sighed as Robin pumped him slowly. Robin just smiled and continued kissing him. He slotted one long leg between Henri's thighs. Robin's breath was warm on his skin. It was as if they were bundled together in a cocoon of golden evening light, and they had all the time in the world to explore and luxuriate in each other's bodies.

Henri pushed Robin's shirt up around his ribs, exposing a stretch of pale skin. He let his hands explore at his leisure as Robin pulled Henri's trousers down his hips. His movements were slow with tiredness.

Henri pulled slightly away from Robin's embrace. Robin's eyes remained closed, but his eyelids fluttered. As Henri's warmth left him, Robin's face tilted forward, chasing the loss of Henri's lips on his. Henri brushed the corner of Robin's lip with his thumb, and Robin leaned into his touch.

"Do you want to go to sleep?" Henri asked softly.

"Mmm." Robin's round cheek was soft against his hand. Henri pinched it lightly between his thumb and forefinger. Robin inhaled through his nose and opened his eyes. His pupils were dilated wide.

"Hm? What?" Robin's thumb circled the head of Henri's cock again.

"I asked if you wanted to sleep instead," Henri repeated.

"Yes. I mean." Robin blinked, his sandy hair falling softly across his brow. "No. I just want you to touch me."

"You seem like you're half asleep already." Henri kissed the tip of his nose.

"I'll stay awake. I swear," Robin protested.

Henri realized he would have to take the lead. "Okay, but straight to sleep after."

Robin nodded.

Henri unfastened Robin's trousers and removed them slowly. Robin's eyes slipped closed again, but his breath quickened. Henri stripped his own trousers off as well so they were both naked from the waist down. He returned to their previous position, and pulled their bodies tight together. Henri flattened his hand against the small of Robin's back to hold him in place. He rolled his hips experimentally, creating friction between their skin. Their cocks slid against each other, and their legs tangled together. Robin gasped, head tilted back on the pillow, and Henri pressed kisses along his soft jaw.

Henri continued to move, watching the small expressions of pleasure flit across Robin's face. He wouldn't let himself give in to the urge to hurry. To chase down his own high. He forced himself to move slowly and savor the feel of Robin here in bed with him in the golden hour of evening. His lips lingered on Robin's skin, and Robin let out little moans with every movement.

Henri moved his hand from Robin's back to envelop both of their cocks. Robin's hips stuttered involuntarily, thrusting into Henri's hand, his velvet hardness sliding against Henri's shaft.

"Henri…" Robin whispered. Their bodies moved together, and though their pace was leisurely, the pleasure was heightened by the fact that they'd so recently escaped death. Both they and their friends were safe and alive. Henri hadn't been a pirate for long but he knew how precious this time was. For there was no guarantee the next moment wouldn't bring calamity. Henri briefly wondered if Captain Rowan understood that, or if he was still tied up in his anger and laboring under the delusion that what had transpired between him and the Deep Water Demon had been purely physical.

Robin sighed contentedly in his ear, and Henri pulled back slightly to see Robin's hazel eyes were open.

"What are you thinking about?" Robin asked.

"Just that I'm glad you're here," Henri said.

"Mm, me too." Their hips moved simultaneously, and both of them gasped. Henri rested his forehead against Robin's, and Robin snaked his arm around Henri's waist.

The pleasure that had been kindling slowly in Henri's core sprang to life. He moved faster, thrusting into his own hand with Robin alongside him. Robin's breath was warm and soothing, but it was coming faster and faster as his own pleasure built. He tilted his head back, but Henri's other hand came up to cradle it, bringing their foreheads back to rest against each other.

"I'm close," Robin panted. His back arched forward into Henri's touch, and Henri pumped his hand a little faster. Tingles raced through his core, and he felt warm all over, enveloped in the golden warmth of Robin's love.

"Henri…Henri…" Robin's voice whispering his name warmed him like the sun. He captured Robin's lips as their pleasure peaked. Robi n came into Henri's hand with a shudder and a moan. His cum slicked Henri's hand as he continued pumping for a few more moments until the rush of his orgasm fogged his head, and he came soon after.

They lay entwined in the afterglow as the day finally slipped past golden hour and the room darkened. Robin's breath grew slow and even. He dropped off to sleep quickly before the cum had even cooled on the sheets. Henri kissed the tip of Robin's nose and slipped out of bed to clean up. Robin groaned when Henri wiped him with a damp cloth but didn't wake. Henri tucked him into the warm blankets and climbed in with him, drawing Robin's sleep-warmed, naked body into his arms and resting his cheek against the fluffy blond hair.

"I am so, so glad you're here."