Black Tides by Candace Osmond

Author:Candace Osmond
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy, fantasy series, fantasy romance, time travel romance, pirate romance
Publisher: Guardian Publishing

Chapter Ten

I groggily opened my eyes as something nudged my leg, the morning sun warming my skin. I was on the porch, my face inches from Ben’s. His giant hand hung heavily over the curve of my side, and I reached for his sleeping face to caress his beard–longer than he kept it in the future.

Someone cleared their throat, and I turned to find Kiri standing over us. She must have been the one to nudge my leg. Ben stirred and immediately pushed away as he sat up and straightened his thin linen shirt.

“We’re about to leave,” Kiri said, smiling between Ben and me. She wore a long, off-white sweater, clearly handknitted, and gestured to Ben. “Is it okay if I borrow this?”

Ben just nodded.

I stood, rolling my eyes as I shoved at her arm and walked down the long porch toward the horses. We stood in an open patch of dirt as they trotted in place, eager to leave just as much as I was.

I turned to Kiri, and she had a shit-ass grin. “Don’t,” I told her, pacing.

She shrugged. “You two were awfully…comfortable this morning.” Her sweet face was full of mischief. “And Benjamin was particularly comfortable.” She raised her brows, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Maybe that’s what nudged my leg.

We waited there for a while until the sound of clunky boots on the patio had us both spinning around. Lottie, Eric, Finn, and Ben stalked toward us, bags and gear in hand. A sword swung from his side, and his brown coat hung heavy with whatever weapons and tools he had inside it. He completely avoided eye contact with me as he addressed the group.

“I’ve only got one spare horse.” He threw a thumb over his shoulder. “My farm hand’s staying here to run things, but he needs my second horse.”

We all glanced around at the four horses we had brought. It was easy math; one of us had to ride with someone.

Kiri skipped toward the mare we rode in on. “That’s alright, I can ride. Ace, you hop on with Benjamin.”

I gave her a death stare, but she pretended not to notice. I spun slowly and only looked at him for half a second before swiftly swinging into the large saddle. Without a word, he climbed behind me and gripped the reins as I held onto the cantle.

We rode more than halfway back to Nassau without anyone saying a word. Ben fell to the back of the line as the horses slowed to a comfortable trot. I tried to focus on things; the blue sky, a passing bird, and my calculated breaths as I tried to ignore the fact that Ben’s massive, warm body was pressed against my back.

I felt bad for being unable to avoid him. I thought I could play it cool and just hang out in the background while I found my way home. But it took me all afternoon to cave into his presence and open the floodgate to how I felt about him.

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