Page 25 of A Flash of Golden Fire

“There’s a proper stove in the galley, with safety modifications. Did you wonder how your food was cooked?”

“Now that you mention it, no.” I shrugged.

“Here,” Captain Martin said, tossing me a bar of soap. My hands went up instinctively, and I did catch the object; however, the thing slipped through my fingers and into the water with a splash.

“Blast,” I said.

“Simon White, is there anything you’re good at?”

I searched for the errant bar of soap, found the slippery thing, and brought it above the water’s surface with a triumphant smile.

“Answer my question.”

“Well, Captain, my tongue is a weapon I’m very proud of. And I’ve a practiced skill at cocksucking.”

“Mmm. I’ll put you to the test when you’re finished in there.”

Well, then.

“Are you good at following orders, I wonder?”

“Depends who’s giving them.”

“Stand up.”

I stared at him as he sat on the edge of his bed in his black breeches and boots and white shirt, like some kind of deposed king or prince. I didn’t want to defy him, but now that I was enveloped in cozy warmth, I didn’t want to leave that comfort.

“But, I only just—”

“So, no.”He rolled his eyes. “Stand up, Mr White. I want to see you.”

I stared at him for a moment, deliberating if I should do as he asked. Since I was in his rooms,and he’d been the one to treat me to the luxury of a soak, and since I did have a stake in seducing the man, I stood, clutching the bar of soap to my dripping chest. The water sluiced off me, as the cool air of the cabin brought bumps to the surface of my skin.

“You are absolutely filthy,” the captain murmured as if he were speaking words of endearment to a treasured concubine. “The sludge is literally running off of you.”

The intimate tone of his voice, and the reference to the state of both my body and my thoughts, frankly gave me a heady, lustful feeling.

I frowned. “But…I’ve been washing! Every day, even. I told you.”

“And while I commend you for doing so, I’m afraid a proper bath is needed to deal with months of bad habits.”

“Bad habits! I was clean when I came to Port Royal, I can tell you. Then I was robbed and almost killed at knifepoint. I was destitute for weeks. The last thing on my mind was a bloody bath.”

“Well. It’s a good thing you’re here, then.”

I couldn’t argue with that.

“Aye.”

“Now, my filthy fellow, I want you to rub that bar of soap all over yourself. And, I do meaneverywhere.”

A jolt of desire travelled throughout my entire body.

“Yes, Captain,” I said, and proceeded to do as he wished, slipping the soap under my arms, between my legs, and wherever I could reach. I held his gaze as I bent over and reached behind me, sliding the slippery bar between my arse cheeks. “Only, I can’t see if I’m getting my hole clean enough.”

My voice was hoarse and my breaths quick, as I dangled that little lure before him.

The captain was on his feet and coming over.