Page 95 of A Flash of Golden Fire

“Won’t you?”

“That’ll be an extra five gold pieces.”

“For fuck’s sake.”

“Yes, exactly that.”

“Take him out back! Pummel the blackguard!” Esmaralda squawked.

“I’ll pay it! I’ll pay the fee,” Captain Martin said, eyeing the small black bird with distaste and fishing for more coin from his purse.

Meanwhile, my heart had warmed at the praise he’d given me.

“I appreciate what you said, Captain,” I said, as he placed five more coins in Domingo’s outstretched hand. “The feeling is…mutual.”

Well, I loved him, in fact. But I didn’t dare speak of my true feelings. I was supposed to be a heartless privateer officer and a witch, as well. If I spoke of love, what did that make me? Bad enough in the eyes of society that I was a sodomite, a pirate, and a witch. I could at least pretend that I didn’t have feelings that could be hurt, or a heart that could be broken. Maybe if I didn’t name it, the universe would let me keep it.

“Esmaralda. In your cage, darling,” Domingo said.

Immediately, the bird hopped across the desk and through the open door of her cage.

“Time for bed. Time for bed,” she sang.

“Yes, quite,” Domingo muttered, reaching behind him for a string that, once pulled, lowered an opaque black cloth over the bird’s cage. And all was quiet.

“Is that all it takes? To quiet her?”

“Generally. There’s food in there, and she won’t disturb us.” He smiled. “She’s quite used to hearing all sorts of sounds from this bed.”

Domingo licked his bottom lip as his fingers moved to the sash of his robe, playing with the knot until the belt came undone, and the edges of his robe fell away, revealing his completely naked body.

I gasped as the captain chuckled.

Domingo’s skin contained nary a trace of dark hair, a fact which surprised me greatly. From his name and the fact that the hair on his head grew so thick, I had expected a similar level of coverage on his chest and in his private area. There was nothing but a sheen of oil covering him.

“Mmm. I see you’re looking after yourself as well as always, Dom,” the captain murmured, his gaze roaming over the beautiful man and flaring in a way with which I was familiar.

Domingo inclined his chin with a graceful and silent acknowledgement of Captain Martin’s praise. He traced those long fingers along his throat and over his chest and then across his midriff, to where his cock lay half-hard and dark against his thigh, as he lifted his gaze to that of Dinesh.

“Take off your clothes, Rooster,” Captain Martin said, holding Domingo’s gaze, as he drew off his jacket and tossed it onto a chair.

The tension was thick in the room as I pulled off my jacket and started to unbutton my waistcoat. Domingo’s words brought a halt to my actions.

“Oh, please, Dinesh, may I do it? I want to undress your pretty Rooster.”

I glanced up to find both of them regarding me like they were ready to pounce. My cock had already swollen but got even bigger now, especially at the excited look in Captain Martin’s eyes.

“Of course,” Captain Martin said. “Slowly, whilst I watch.”

Domingo smiled and stood with a feminine grace. He slunk towards me, chartreuse robe dragging on the wood floor, sleeves falling to his elbows, as the garment did nothing to conceal his nakedness.

I swallowed, my fingers frozen on the buttons as Domingo approached. I risked a quick glance at Dinesh, and almost moaned at the expression on his face as he worked at the fastenings on his waistcoat and then his shirt.

The scent of cinnamon and evergreen came from Domingo. The nostalgic fragrance calmed me at the same time that it ignited my blood. He stood before me like some kind of vision of beauty created from my own imagination. He placed a delicate hand on my frozen fingers, nudging them aside as he smiled seductively.

“Put yourself at ease, Rooster,” he whispered. He raised his brows. “Do you mind if I call you that?”

I shook my head from side to side as quick breaths puffed from my mouth. I really didn’t mind. I liked the captain’s nickname for me.