Page 3 of Freed by the First Mate (Pursued by Pirates #1)
“This is the crew quarter,” Hyuk continued, opening the door opposite the mess. “Everyone else sleeps in here. Simon, as the quartermaster, keeps charge and makes sure everyone stays disciplined.”
Kai was shocked to realize that most of the beds actually weren’t single bunks.
There were a few hammocks and single beds off to one side, but the rest were big double beds bolted to the ground with strange leather strips and ropes hanging from the sides.
The bed in the center stood out, with gauzy curtains hanging down around it and a luxurious velvet bedspread covered in embroidery draped over the fluffy mattress.
“That’s Simon’s,” Hyuk explained. “Technically everyone has an assigned bed, and the hammocks can be used freely by choice. However, anyone can petition Simon at dinner to share a bed with anyone else, and he can approve or deny the request as he deems appropriate. The only beds he doesn’t have a say over are Omar’s and mine. ”
“You’re kinda important, I guess,” Kai teased gently.
He couldn’t help being proud of his shy best friend who had survived the raid and made such a luxurious, comfortable life for himself within just a few years.
Kai could never have done that himself, but he was proud to see that Hyuk had. “What are the ropes and things?”
“They’re for bad weather,” Hyuk explained.
“The beds have the small, padded railings to prevent rolling out, but if the movement is too much we have ways to tie ourselves down. It’s not really advisable unless there’s someone to keep watch in an emergency, but sometimes if someone is injured we also use those to keep a limb stabilized.
Of course, they’re rather useful for fun, as well. ”
Kai blushed, jerking his head away as he imagined it. Being strapped down to the mattress in the center of the room where anyone could see, having Hyuk’s hands skimming freely over his bare body without any layers between them…
“Soon, baby,” Hyuk murmured. One of his hands slipped between Kai’s legs, shamelessly palming his bulge and fondling it. “Let’s show you your office, and the navigation room, and then we’ll get you settled in mine.”
Kai was half-hard just from Hyuk’s brief touch and the silky promise in his voice, but Hyuk just gave him one last squeeze and guided him back out into the hallway.
They stopped briefly in the kitchen to snag some fruit and stuffed breads from the platters set out there.
Hyuk ate one in three quick bites but insisted Kai enjoy his slowly and take double the portion.
“I can’t eat that much,” Kai protested. “You’re bigger than me.”
“Exactly,” Hyuk said. “By the time we’re done bulking you up you’ll be as big as me, just you wait.”
Kai eyed Hyuk’s bulging biceps and looked at his own skinny forearms, doubtful.
Still, he liked the feeling of Hyuk’s bossy protectiveness.
He felt so cozy and safe in Hyuk’s presence, enveloped by Hyuk’s arms and showered in comforting praise as he obediently tried to eat until he physically couldn’t anymore.
He managed three of the savory breads, stuffed with juicy meat and pickled vegetables, and nearly half of a sweet one sticky with honey.
He tentatively asked Hyuk more questions about the intervening years, answering Hyuk’s questions in return and trying not to cry in touched relief when Hyuk muttered darkly about what he would do to Mr. Kim when he next saw him.
No one had ever seemed to care about Kai’s fate before, and he had desperately missed the feeling of having someone on his side.
“Don’t cry, sweets,” Hyuk cooed. He dabbed at Kai’s tears with a handkerchief and took the remaining bread from his fingers, polishing it off in one bite.
One of his hands splayed over Kai’s aching, overfull stomach and rubbed in gentle circles while the other caught Kai’s hand in his.
Kai gasped as Hyuk brought it to his mouth, eyes smoldering and fixed on Kai’s as he slowly, deliberately, took each of Kai’s fingers into his mouth and curled his tongue around it to clean off the sticky traces of honey.
“Delicious,” Hyuk hummed, pulling off the last finger with a pop and licking his lips. “Perhaps I’ll have to request some extra honey from Ian sometime.”
Kai frowned in confusion.
“What for?”
“To lick off your body, of course,” Hyuk smirked. “A lazy morning in bed drizzling honey on your pretty cock and licking it off as you squirm sweetly and beg for more…well, what more could a guy want?”
Kai squeaked and weakly pushed at Hyuk, flustered and overwhelmed by the imagery.
His cock had softened as they ate but it was suddenly half hard again, thickening beneath his tattered clothes.
Thankfully his clothes were so loose that he didn’t think it was visible, but he couldn’t be sure.
Hyuk just laughed fondly and kissed his cheek, pouring Kai a drink and then gently urging him back into the hallway.
They poked their head into the navigation room and then continued to the room already labeled with Kai’s name.
His heart swelled at the reminder that Hyuk had crossed nearly the entire world with his crew to come back for Kai, intent on having him join the crew even after all the years they had been separated.
He stepped inside cautiously and gasped in awe, spinning around with a giddy laugh of shocked amazement.
The workshop was somehow even bigger than the shop he had grown up in, but the layout was exactly as it had been during his childhood when his parents owned it.
It was even already stocked, with a wall of luxury fabrics and embellishments the crew must have picked up before in addition to the items they had taken from Mr. Kim’s.
It felt just like home, a familiar comfort he thought he would never get again but would now have for the rest of his life.
“Hyuk,” he breathed, choked up and barely able to speak. He just turned and silently flung his arms around Hyuk’s neck, burying his face in Hyuk’s shoulder and sniffling as he hugged Hyuk tightly. “I don’t know how I can ever thank you.”
“You already have,” Hyuk said. He sounded just as emotional, suddenly, his voice tight as he squeezed Kai close. “Having you by my side is all I’ve ever wanted. Even before I was taken.”
“Me too,” Kai confessed in a whisper. “Can we- can we go to your bedroom, please?”
Hyuk lifted Kai effortlessly, supporting him with one arm under his thighs as Kai wrapped his legs around Hyuk’s waist, snuggling close.
“I thought you’d never ask."