Page 100 of Of the Stars and Sea

A feeling I have never known settles deep in my soul as I run a hand over his heaving chest, right above his heart.

Grayson’s eyes flick back and forth between mine. Searching.

There’s so much I want to say to him. So many questions that I want to ask. But I can see the wild desperation on his face. Thelonging for me to put an end to the one question that reflects in his eyes.

Taking a step back, I unbuckle the belt at my waist and let it fall to the ground. And when I kneel, I keep my gaze trained on him as I unlace my boots and slide my feet out of them. Rising slowly, I stand before him and move my fingertips to the edge of my pants. When I move to pull them down, Grayson’s hands shoot out and grab mine, stopping me from moving them down any further.

“What are you doing?” he growls. “Any one of my men could come up from below deck and they’d see?—”

“As you said, they’re deep in the bottle. None of them are coming up for air anytime soon,” I whisper.

We stay still like that for a moment, hesitation sweeping across his face before he finally drops his hands away from mine.

Goosebumps rise along the skin of my legs when I bring my pants and undergarments down to my ankles and step away from the pooled fabric. Grayson’s eyes darken as his gaze dips down to my bare flesh. Extending his fingers out wide, I know he’s longing to touch me, but he stands there instead. Still and watching.

Another moment passes before I reach behind me and pull at the laces of my corset. Relief soars through my ribcage as the corset loosens, falling down to the ground. The edges of my lips quirk upward when Grayson sucks in a sharp breath the moment I lift my chemise over my head.

He trails me with his gaze as I step up to the railing. My long hair sweeps gently across my back when I look at him over my shoulder. “Come on. I want to show you something.”

Then I dive over the side of his ship into the murky depths below.

Warm water engulfs me like a welcoming blanket as I open my eyes to the surrounding darkness. Salt burns them just fora moment as I peer up at the shimmering rays of moonlight casting through the water. Bubbles rise with me as I swim toward the surface, and when my face crests, my lungs burn as I inhale deeply.

Grayson peers down at me from the ship and I notice his bandolier and shirt are already off. His golden brown skin is radiant in the moonlight and shades of silvery blue shine across the strands of his onyx hair.

“Magnificent,” I whisper to myself, feeling that ember of desire flare to life in my core. He’s the most beautiful male I’ve ever beheld.

Dangerous.

Cunning.

Powerful.

Mine.

Raising my hand from the water, I crook a finger and beckon him to jump in. His smile is a wicked display right before he dives in beside me.

Kicking my feet, I tread water and watch the expanding ripples, waiting for him to come up. One breath. Two. Three.

Nothing.

“Grayson?” A flurry of panic hits my chest as I scan the water, but it’s too dark to see anything below the surface.

“Hello, Little Pearl,” his rough voice sounds from behind me. I spin around and there he is. Long wet locks frame his face as he shoots that same mischievous smile at me. Silver ignites the flecks of stardust in his eyes, and despite the moonlight, they begin to glow just as they did in the caves at Emerald Cove. As I take him in, something cracks open in my chest. A swell of emotions swarms me like a tidal wave I never saw coming.

What he said on the ship above . . .

What he had implied . . .

Grayson has claimed me as I have claimed him. He’s mine, for now. What the future holds for us, only time will tell.

But could this be more? Could this strange sensation swirling about in my chest mean that what I feel for Grayson is?—

I can’t even allow myself to consider the word. Not when it carries such significant implications. Letting Grayson into my heart, admitting that my feelings for him are more than an unsatiable desire, is too much to consider. Bad things happen to the people I care about, and if anything were to happen to him?—

“What is it you wanted to show me?” he asks, swimming closer to me.

For all my inner turmoil, I’d forgotten why I had him follow me into the water in the first place. I stare at him for a moment, trying to ward away all the negative thoughts clouding my mind. Too much danger lies ahead for me to consider the feelings I have for him.