Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

JULY 29TH, 1666

R owan stayed holed up in his cabin for longer than was strictly necessary. As soon as his clothes were back on and the post-coital bliss had faded, he'd faced the prospect of going back out and being captain with the knowledge that the crew had probably just heard him get absolutely wrecked by the pirate captain he'd always professed to hate. It was just too embarrassing.

He'd never really had a lover before. And that's what Yves seemed to be getting at with the terms of this truce. Rowan didn't know how to act. He'd had flings and one-night stands of course, and Fox had certainly made no secret of flirting with him over the years they'd known each other. But he had a personal policy against sleeping with his crew. He'd kept everything discreet and away from the ship. Now the whole crew knew the details of his sex life, and it was mortifying but not enough to cast Yves aside.

At some point Yves left and returned with a plate of food and a heated compress for Rowan's back. He set the food down on the table and handed the compress over as he settled across from Rowan.

"Your men seem to be on the mend," he said, picking up an olive and popping it into his mouth. When Rowan raised a questioning eyebrow at him, he clarified, "I stopped in at the infirmary to get something for your back."

Rowan placed the compress against his lower back, then took a biscuit from the plate. The soreness in his back twinged. Yves barely hid his amusement at Rowan's wince. He'd never bottomed before, so he wasn't sure if this was normal. But Yves didn't seem overly concerned, so he resolved not to worry about it. Besides, every time the pain twinged it reminded him of the reason behind it.

Rowan took a bite of hard biscuit and wished they hadn't run out of jam a few weeks ago. They sat in silence for a moment, both nibbling at the food. Rowan was surprised there was no awkwardness between them. Sure, he was still wary of the Demon's intentions, but it almost felt comfortable just sitting here in silence.

While Yves was gone, Logan had brought Rowan's hawk Nephele in, and she was now resting on her ornate brass perch near the bookshelves. Yves looked over to her to find the golden hawk eyes already fixed on him. She cocked her head. Then, seeming to decide she didn't like him, puffed up her feathers.

"I have to ask," Yves said, not taking his eyes off Nephele's threatening display. "Did your name come before the hawk? Or did the hawk come before the name?"

Rowan didn't have the energy to go over and soothe his pet. Yves and Nephele continued to eye each other suspiciously, both beasts of prey fighting over him as the morsel.

"The name came before the bird." Rowan chuckled. "I coincidentally ran into a ship carrying her a few months after I first got that name. I tried to free her, but she took a liking to me."

Nephele shifted on the perch and flapped her powerful wings once. Then settled.

"Looks like she's no fan of yours however," Rowan said.

Yves rose from his chair and strode over to the perch.

"Pretty but deadly." He reached out as if to let the hawk sniff him like a cat, and received a snap of her razor-sharp beak instead, only pulling his hand back just in time to avoid losing a finger. Yves turned back to Rowan, eyes shining. "She suits you."

He returned to his seat, and Nephele settled again, keeping a wary eye on the suave intruder.

"So what are your plans?" Yves asked once he'd settled. He leaned forward, bright eyes intent on Rowan's face.

Rowan thought for a moment, trying to parse what exactly Yves meant. Finally, he settled on the obvious.

"I'll have to dock in Lasland and make repairs." Rowan sighed. He really hadn't planned on making port again for a while, but between the damage from the cannons and fire, he didn't have much choice.

Yves's sparkly eyes held a hint of mischief. Or maybe anticipation?

"I know a place." He was looking at Rowan so intently, and his fingers twitched as if he wanted to reach for Rowan's hand. "Would you come with me?"

It seemed a simple enough question, but Yves's body language told him it was not simple at all. There was some hidden depth to it, something serious that Rowan didn't understand.

"Where?" he asked.

A wry smile graced Yves's full lips. "It's a surprise."

Rowan eyed him skeptically. They'd known each other for less than a day and though the tension between them had turned from hatred and rivalry to sexual energy, that didn't mean he suddenly trusted the one pirate on the seas more notorious than him.

Sensing Rowan's hesitation, Yves got up from his seat and sat on the edge of the table within arm's reach.

"You don't trust me," he said. He didn't seem mad about it but nor was he happy.

Rowan shook his head.

"Good." Yves couldn't seem to keep a smile off his face. He reached to take Rowan's hand in his. "I don't expect you to trust me. Who would? But you trusted your instinct thus far and those instincts brought us together. I promise no harm will come to you." He kissed the back of Rowan's fingers, maintaining eye contact. "Plus you said I could see you again."

Rowan couldn't help the shiver that rippled through him at the other man's touch. He tried to avert his eyes from Yves's handsome face so he could think clearly. But Yves's fingers tightened around his, and he looked back up.

How much was the word of a pirate worth? Most people would say they were all liars and thieves. The Deep Water Demon was the most infamous of them all, but he'd kept his word thus far, and his crew seemed as loyal as Rowan's was. One didn't inspire such loyalty with money and fear alone.

Rowan mulled it over. Docking in a legitimate port was always a risk for any pirate, especially while they were vulnerable and couldn't sail away at a moment's notice. If the Demon had some secret safe haven wouldn't it be worth the risk of trusting him?

Besides, he was the Ghost Hawk, he could disappear if it all went south, right?

The brush of Yves's thumb across his knuckles brought him back to the present moment, and he refocused on Yves's face.

"I'll come with you," he answered. "But the moment I sense danger, we're gone."