Kidnapped by the Pirate: Gay Romance by Keira Andrews

Author:Keira Andrews [Andrews, Keira]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: M/M, Fiction, thriller
ISBN: 9781988260242
Publisher: KA Books
Published: 2017-10-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

At the bow, Nathaniel stood by the forestay under an ink-blot sky. The swath of stars stretched out beyond him, and from Hawk’s perspective at the helm, it was as though Nathaniel was sailing right through them.

There was a looseness in Nathaniel’s posture, his feet bare on the wet deck. Hawk’s too-big shirt billowed around him, untucked from his breeches, the knee fastenings undone.

When the rain came, Hawk had brought Nathaniel up, ignoring the sidelong glances of the crew, who appeared surprised Nathaniel wasn’t beaten black and blue after vomiting on Hawk several days earlier.

Said boots were soaked now, the damp leather chafing his feet. The wind and rain had pelted them, but only for a short time, the clouds clearing as the watch changed.

Hawk had also ignored Snell’s pointed glares and attempts to engage him in conversation. It was late now, the deck quiet. Hawk had missed evening mess trying to avoid Snell but made sure Nathaniel ate before he brought him up to the main deck.

It was time to sleep, but he did another round of the ship, ensuring everything was in order. There was no reason it shouldn’t be—no sails spotted, the seas and wind calm now, no need to drop their sea anchor.

Although he should have been sleeping himself, Snell approached, trapping Hawk on the port side near the stern. The breeze lifted strands of Snell’s thinning hair from his head. “Captain. There’s been a vote.”

Hawk’s heart skipped, and he tensed from head to toes. He managed to keep his tone casual. “I wasn’t aware there was an issue.” If they voted him out as commander… He didn’t know what the fuck he would do, and what of Nathaniel? No. This was Hawk’s ship. He couldn’t let it happen. Wouldn’t.

“The issue is the prisoner.” Snell cut a glance toward Nathaniel, far out of hearing range at the bow. “O’Connell made his case, and the men think he should be allowed up on deck during the day. Too hot now, being shut down there. He saved one of us, so they reckon he should get a taste of freedom.” He grimaced. “Little do they know he’s already had a taste of quite a few things in that cabin.”

“It’s nothing,” Hawk insisted.

“Nothing? What do you call that scene I walked in on?”

He squared his shoulders. “I call it none of your damn business. Since when do you barge into my cabin like that?”

“Since you didn’t come up for the change of watch like you always do. The men get antsy when there’s an alteration in routine. Routine is what keeps us all alive and well and working in concert.” He lowered his voice, hissing, “And I had good reason to be concerned, given our prisoner had a fucking blade to your throat!”

Hawk gritted his teeth. “It was a lesson.”

“In what, exactly?”

“Knife skills. He should know how to defend himself.”

Snell blinked for a few moments, his eyebrows almost meeting the receding line of his thin hair. “You think our prisoner should know how to defend himself?”

“Not against us.

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