Page 58 of A Flash of Golden Fire

For some reason, that made me feel better, even though their actions had put us all in a vulnerable position.

“But how should I behave now that they know my secret?”

“Honestly? Just as normal would be best, I wager.” He grinned and chucked me under the chin. “Go back to being the saucy little wise-cracking brat that you are, and they’ll settle down and forget all the strangeness. These men are used to the changeable nature of the weather and the seas. Yes, they are superstitious, but they won’t look lightly on the fact that you’ve saved us from certain death. And,” he said, leaning in and kissing the tip of my nose. “Not to be incredibly vain, but they likemerather a lot. And you, somehow, protected me from…well—” He waved his hands around. “—from our bad luck. So I think you’ll find yourself in high esteem among the crew if you can settle their minds that you’re not about to bring a similar storm down on top of us.”

His words were indeed a comfort. Except for one small thing.

“But, Captain, there will be a storm at some point, won’t there?”

“Yes, I’m certain of it.” He didn’t look perturbed.

“Won’t they think I summoned my magic again?”

He gazed at me with the gentlest affection. “Simon, the tempest that demolished our enemy was not a regular storm. Trust me. They know that. These men are familiar with terrifying acts of nature, but they’ve not seen anything like what you created in that moment. I think you’re safe from being accused of anything else.”

“Good,” I said. “Only, I can’t promise that what happened up there won’t happen again. When someone I love is threatened, the force rises on its own and I have no control over my power.”

I soon realized what I’d said and cleared my throat.Step back, step back.

“What I mean to say is, someone Ilike a great deal.”

Distract.

“And I like you very much, Dinesh,” I finished.

“I like you very much too, Rooster. And I do owe you a great reward for saving our lives.”

“It don’t feel right to get a reward for what happened.” I said in barely audible tones.

He leaned in, and the scent of his expensive Castile soap that held so many memories just about undid me.

“Pardon?”

“I don’t know if I deserve a reward. I put all of your lives in danger.”

“I’m done arguing this point, Rooster. Would you simply let me show you how I feel about you?”

I gazed at him, lost to those authoritative and luminous gray eyes. They were the colour of storm clouds, and they could see into my tumultuous soul. I had a connection to storms, you see.

I didn’t know why my powers—or whatever they were—manifested that way, and I was rattled by what had happened. I could only hope that another ten years might pass before anything similar occurred, or that the magic would lie dormant in me forever.

But a privateer’s life was a risky one, and I had a sense that if Captain Martin’s life were endangered going forward, I would do whatever I had to do. I wasn’t looking forward to any of it.

For now, he was safe, and so was I. How could I possibly stop him from kissing my face and my neck, my chest, the edge of the original burn, and then swallowing my cock whilst he held my gaze and blinked softly, like a cat drinking milk.

And milk indeed resulted, which I gave up in no time at all, since the vulnerability of the act, the generally excited state of my mind and body, and the skill with which he handled me, took away all of my defences. He kept me in his mouth until I became a boneless bag of skin, the tension that had held me in its deathly grip gone in a gentle overpowering that had needed no violence or restraint. I drifted on soft clouds until someone knocked at the door.

Captain Martin let my cock slide from his mouth. He gave me a pretty smile before lifting his head and gazing toward the door.

“Busy! Come back later.”

He turned back with an impish smile that made him look like a troublemaking child.

“I’ve got a present for White!” said a voice that I recognized as Hillier’s. “From the crew.”

“Does he need the giftthis moment?” Captain Martin asked, sounding annoyed.

“I’ve been tasked with delivering it, Captain, and I don’t want to delay.”