Page 65 of The Rake OR The Orca Who Met His Match in a Selkie Desiring Revenge

Chapter twenty-one

Elspeth

IN WHICH ORCAS ATTACK BOATS, ELVES CHUM THE WATERS, AND TREES ARE STOLEN

The next day anda half was a flurry of planning and savoring stolen moments with Aegir. Elspeth got the opportunity to see him in his element and get to know Jokith better. Part of the plan involved her and Jokith sabotaging some of the ships underwater while Aegir took out some of the larger ones.

"When you turn these cranks here, it’ll bore into the hull. I've found it's better to get it going at a good clip—really get it cranking—before you touch the ship. If you try to start it while it's touching, the friction'll fight you." Jokith's accent was much stronger than Aegir's, but he was such a sweetheart.

Elspeth was fitted with a harness that he'd ensured wouldn't cover the lowerhalf of her body. Twin cranks spun gears and cogs on the contraption, leading to a circular saw in front of her. She'd swim up to strategically chosen spots on the ship's hull, bore in to create leaks, and then Jokith would come behind, in his shark form, and destroy the regularity of the hole.

It all seemed a bit odd to Elspeth, but apparently they'd done it several times.

"I was skeptical at first, too," Aegir said from where he lounged at the side of the cargo hold. "But he's done it several times now, and it works."

The cursed man had chosen a very specific column to lean against and the smirk on his face told her he'd done it intentionally. Aegir raised his eyebrows at her and it wracked through her body, heating her core and sensitizing her pussy. Her blood raced and nerves fluttered through her. How could he possibly make her feel as if her entire being was vibrating?

"Ugh! Gross!" Jokith stepped back from where he'd stood next to her to show her how to use the borer, waving his hand in front of his face. "Aegir, get out of here, you're making her feel all squidgy!"

"Am I?" Aegir prowled over to her, his steps slow and steady, his eyes never leaving hers.

Elspeth shot a look at Jokith. How dare he embarrass her like that? If only the floor would open up and swallow her whole, perhaps she might escape this feeling. But no, of course she was Aegir's captive just as much as he was hers. He pressed his lips to hers, consuming her attention and sending her thoughts skittering. Borer? What borer? For a brief, glittering moment, all that existed were Aegir's tender lips and the beat of her heart.

Aegir pulled back and smiled at her. The space allowed her thoughts to coalesce. She pushed his chest with her shoulder. "Get out of here. Give me some space, this is important."

Twining his fingers through her hair, Aegir tipped her head up to look at him. "You learned everything you needed to, we're going to get him back." With a last kiss, and a wave to Jokith, Aegir left them.

"These ships," Jokith continued. "They won't be able to shoot you with cannons under the water. But they've got sidearms and if they figure out what is happening, they won't hesitate to shoot you. As much as you can, you should stay low, underneath the hull for as much time as you can. Get in, bore, dive low to get out of there. I'll come behind you with my packages.

"Once they start noticing, things are going to heat up," he smiles, rubbing his hands in glee. "Then, while they are panicking, I'll lead you to the ship we assume will hold your brother. You and Aegir will board and get him out. During that, I'll be taking out as many ships as I am able before we evacuate. Any questions?"

"Only about a million, but let's continue." Elspeth shook her body and arms out before replacing her hands on the cranks.

"Good, now, I've set up several thicknesses of woods that we've known the Empire to use for their boats, let's see how fast you can get through them..."

With sore arms, sheslumped back to Aegir's cabin that evening. When she arrived, he was leaned over his desk, poring over a set of blueprints with a pencil in his mouth. As she entered, he stood up, hands going to the small of his back, but smiling nonetheless.

"Are you an expert borer now?" He immediately walked closer, pulling her into him. Closing her eyes, Elspeth drank in his warmth.

"I am, thoseships will be so bored they won't know what to do with themselves."

"Isn't that how one gets bored in the first place?" he asked, punctuating his quip with a kiss.

"Ha, ha," she said, voice dry. "I'm exhausted."

"So am I. I would have gone to sleep hours ago if I hadn't been waiting for you." He yawned, ending it with a kiss on the top of her head. "Let's get some rest."

Desire from earlier percolated through her, but it was tempered by her exhaustion. Instead of the hot, insistent need she'd felt earlier, this was a liquid, permeating warmth that simmered through her veins.

"As much as I want you," Aegir said, running his hands through her hair, "I think we both need sleep more."

Elspeth sighed and untied her skirt. "I suppose you're right. Going and tying you up again does sound like a lot of work."

Aegir grabbed her, pulling her back to his front and growling in her ear. "Don't mistake my care for your health as a lack of desire. The second your brother is settled after all of this, I'll be sitting in front of that column waiting impatiently with rope."

He nuzzled his nose into her neck, pulling her to him so she could feel the swelling of his erection pressed againsther.

"I'll hold you to that." She turned and kissed him on the cheek.