by Lisa Kessler
“Don’t stop!”
“Not a chance.” He pounded into her, aching for release.
Her inner muscles clenched around him as she scratched the hell out of his back, her orgasm slamming into her. He surrendered, erupting deep inside of her. Every muscle tensed until he froze over her, trembling.
Her soft hands moved around his waist and explored his chest. He stared down into her eyes, unable to find words yet.
“That was incredible,” she whispered.
He managed a nod and slowly pulled back. He slid the condom free and dropped it off the bed. He’d find the damned thing in the morning. Skye rolled over onto his chest, her hand resting over his heart. He held her close, kissing her hair as he focused on the flickering lamp.
Gradually her breathing slowed, her body heavy against him, lost to sleep, leaving him alone with thoughts he had no business having.
How had his life changed so much in one day?
He tipped his head to see her face. She’d changed everything.
She’d said tonight was just sex, but he’d had that countless times over his long existence. Enough to know what they’d just shared was something new.
And he suspected he’d never get enough.
Skye woke up disoriented. Where the hell…then she noticed the beefy arm draped over her waist, the rough hand splayed over her belly.
Colton.
The fog of alcohol was gone, and the scent of sex was replaced by the musty morning mist from the river. Shit. She’d slept with him. She barely knew the guy.
Carefully, she shimmied out from under his arm without waking him. He shifted in the bed, his sculpted chest and strong arms tempting her to snuggle back in.
No. God, no. When would she ever learn?
At least she’d remember the condom. She turned around and collected all her clothes. Between Bob’s Drunken Pirate drinks, and Colton showing her around his pirate ship, she’d been lost in a lifelong fantasy. Reality was back in full force now.
And she needed to get a grip.
Once she was dressed, she slipped out of his room, praying the tourists weren’t out yet to witness her rumpled clothes and mussed hair. She was grateful she hadn’t found a mirror on board.
She didn’t want to know what she looked like.
Crossing the deck, she stared up at the crow’s nest. Holy shit. She’d been higher than she realized. No wonder her body ached all over.
But the best aches had nothing to do with climbing the ratlines. She smiled at the flashes of memory from the night before. Not like she had many to choose from; she could count her sex partners on one hand, but none of them even came close to the passion Colton kindled in her last night.
She rolled her eyes at herself. She did not need another man in her life. She hadn’t recovered her losses from the last one yet.
Thankfully, there were only a few folks on River Street, and no one gave her a second look. In the distance, Uga, the University of Georgia’s bulldog mascot, was already drawing attention on his morning walk through the park. He was probably the biggest celebrity in Savannah, which was just the way she liked it.
When she got back to the shop, she closed the door and locked it behind her. Time for a hot shower. She had to get her head on straight. Last night had been amazing—a memory to cherish—but today was Friday, and she needed a busy one.
Chapter 5
Colton stretched his arm out, moving it up and down the cool sheets before cracking his eyes open.
Skye was gone.
He slapped the mattress and sat up, scanning the room before flopping back onto the bed. “Damn it!”
Did she have regrets? Had he pissed her off? He had no fucking clue and no number to call her.
He glared at the clock on the wall. A tour was coming on board in an hour. No time to run to her shop now.
If she was even there.
Fuck.
He spent most of the day perched up on the mast, repairing the pulleys on one of the topsails. From that vantage point, he could almost see her shop. His phone buzzed, rescuing him from his obsession.
“Yeah?”
“It’s John. Eli’s getting worse. Some kind of infection now. They’re adding antibiotics to the concoction they’re feeding him.”
Colton sighed. “Did you tell the crew to be on the Sea Dog at midnight?”
“Aye.” John paused. “One-Eyed Bob mentioned bringing the cup.”
“No.” Colton opened his hand. While it was still red, the rope burn had healed. Not as fast as he was used to, but still quicker than he had before he drank from the cursed grail. “We’ll vote as a crew, and no one gives Eli a hit from that cup unless we know he wants it. Tell Bob to keep it stashed.”
“Fine.” John didn’t sound happy with Colton’s answer, but he respected Colton’s authority as Quartermaster. He’d obey his orders. “See you at midnight.”
“Thanks John.” Colton stuffed the phone back into his pocket.
One more tour. With any luck, he’d have time to check in on Skye before the crew came aboard tonight. He went back to tying off knots, welcoming the distraction from worry for his fallen friend and the woman with violet eyes.
Skye finished up with her last reading and turned off the neon palm in her window. It had been a good day so far, but her head throbbed. Keeping her mind open for messages without a break was like tossing a giant welcome mat out for migraines. Shit.
She massaged her temples, willing the pain to back off. No such luck. She stood up, grateful that the room didn’t spin. There wasn’t time to change clothes. She needed food and needed it now.
Grabbing her dark glasses, she shielded her eyes and headed for Bob’s. Hopefully hushpuppies and fried shrimp would ground her again.
It was too late for lunch and too early for dinner. Perfect timing. Bob’s was empty. He came out from the kitchen and frowned. “You look like hell.”
She chuckled and winced. “I haven’t eaten today. Time got away from me.” She took a stool at the counter. “I’m hoping hushpuppies might help me get rid of the jackhammer in my head.”
He disappeared into the kitchen and came out with a plate of the fried balls of dough. “You know better than that.” He put it in front of her, watching her pop one into her mouth. “Everything okay?”
Skye shook her head. “Safe to say I should’ve gone straight home after those drinks last night.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You and Colton hit it off?”
“I have a horrible track record with men, but apparently I still have a hard time swearing off them.” She sighed and ate another hushpuppy.
He disappeared into the kitchen and came back with shrimp cocktail and sweet tea. Placing them in front of her, he smiled. “I’ve known Colton a long time. He’s nothing like Curt.”
“Maybe not, but I’ve got no business getting involved with anyone right now. I need to get my own life in order before I go mixing it with someone else’s.”
He shrugged. “You’re the one always sayin’ that no one gets put in your path without a reason, right?”
“Way to throw my words back at me.” She rolled her eyes and munched on a shrimp. “Maybe Colton was dropped into my path to give me a great night of fun and remind me I’m alive. If so, then mission accomplished and we can both move on.”
“You’re so quick to toss him off?”
She pointed a shrimp in Bob’s direction. “Why are you so intent on matchmaking?”
“Colton’s been alone a long time. It can make a man tire of living.”
She toyed with her food, mulling over his words. Lifting her gaze, she sighed. “Colton shouldn’t be my rebound.”
“Nah,” he agreed, placing the hand towel on his shoulder. “He’s worth keepin’.”
“And she’ll be a lucky lady.” She chuckled. “Can I get a box?”
While Bob searched for a to-go container, she did her best not to notice the hot pit brewing in her stomach at the thought of another wom
an in Colton’s arms.
The food and some Advil beat back her headache, and she clicked the neon palm in her window back on. Within five minutes, the bell clanged on the door and she turned around to find Ian Flynn.
“You don’t look happy to see me.” He straightened his jacket.
She shrugged. “Sorry, headache.” She gestured to the chair. “Back for another reading so soon?”
“No.” He took the chair and opened a folder stuffed with paperwork. “I came to make you an offer you can’t refuse.”
She swiped the bandana from her head. “I already told you, the Magnolia Mystic’s not for sale.”
He pointed to an appraisal with photos of her shop. “This is an estimate of the building’s worth.” He pulled out another sheet with seven figures on it. “And this is what I’m willing to pay you to sell me this property.”
She tried not to choke on her tongue as she shook her head. Before she could find her voice, the door opened again.
“I’m sorry I’m with someone at the moment. There are chairs on the porch.”
“Flynn.”
Her gaze shot up at the sound of Colton’s voice.
Ian stood, a crease forming in his brow. “This is none of your concern, Quartermaster. Go back to your ship.”
Colton was a couple inches taller than Ian, his shoulders a little broader, but it didn’t seem to intimidate the real estate mogul in the slightest.
And why was he calling Colton the Quartermaster? She’d spent most of her girlhood reading about pirates. The Quartermaster was voted on by the crew to be the captain’s right hand, and the captain’s replacement if he was injured or killed.
But Colton owned his ship.
Unless that was all bullshit. Oh crap. She wanted to smack her forehead. Of course it was bullshit; that was how men operated.
Colton grabbed the lapels of Ian’s jacket and shoved him back against the door. “You don’t get to order me around anymore. I’m the only reason you’re still breathing. So pick up your papers and get the hell out of here. You can build anywhere in the country but Savannah.”
Skye popped out of her chair and grabbed Colton’s wrist. “Enough. Let him go.”
Colton’s nostrils flared as he wrenched his hands away from Ian’s coat. She went to the table, stuffed the papers back into the folder, and handed it to Ian. “Like I said, the shop’s not for sale. Unless you’d like another tarot reading, I suggest you go.”
She caught Colton’s arm, lowering her voice. “You’re not going anywhere.”
Ian’s bright blue eyes flicked from Colton to her, his lips curving into a cold smirk. “I didn’t take you for an easy lay. The Quartermaster always was good with the lasses.”
Colton landed a fist to Ian’s gut that made his knees give out. He bent down and hauled Ian to his feet again. “Get the fuck out.”
Ian was still heaving for breath as Colton shoved him out the door. Once it was closed he turned toward Skye, his expression tight. “He’s an ass.”
“He’s a man.” She crossed her arms.
He raised a brow. “You left without saying goodbye.”
She struggled to keep her head on straight even though her nerves were shot from all the testosterone swamping her tiny shop. She’d have to burn some sage later. “Yeah. I had to work.” He didn’t reply so she added, “Didn’t want to wake you.”
The intensity in his stare had her on edge as he came closer. “Where do we stand?”
“We?” She shook her head. “Last night was…amazing, but that’s all it was.”
“That’s not enough.”
“Tough.” She tightened her arms around herself. “Why did he call you the Quartermaster? I thought that’s your boat out there in the water.”
“It is. Why are you changing the subject?”
She sighed, crossing back to her table. Anything to put some distance between them. He was too much of a temptation. “Because I have a horrible track record with men.” She lifted her gaze to meet his. “They lie to me.”
He broke eye contact and her heart sank. It shouldn’t have surprised her, but something about him, probably the way he kept her from falling last night, and protected her a minute ago with Ian made her hope he might be different.
“I’m not lying to you. That is my ship. I’m the captain.” His gaze met hers again. “I told you I’ve sailed on ships most of my life. I’ve been elected Quartermaster more than once.”
She stared at him, time ticking away, and finally she picked up her cards to shuffle them. “I don’t know what you want from me.”
He took the other chair and rested his hand on hers, stopping her from mixing the cards. “I want a chance to know you. Last night was…I can’t remember a better time.”
“I had a good time, too, but I can’t afford to crash and burn again. We should leave it as a really good memory.”
He came around to her side of the table and got down on one knee beside her. “Sail with me.”
“What?”
He took her hand, his lips teasing her fingers. “I saw the joy on your face when you were climbing the ratlines, and we were still at port. Come out on the ocean with me.” He searched her eyes. “Please, Skye.”
In her wildest dreams, she never imagined a hunky sailor with pirate tendencies would be kneeling before her offering to take her out on his ship.
Laughter bubbled from her throat. “I don’t know how to sail, and that ship is too big for you to do it all by yourself.”
“I’ll get the crew together.” He pressed her hand to his chest. His skin was hot right through his shirt as his voice took on the tone that made her body warm all over. “Ye have the heart of a pirate, lass. Set her free, just this once.”
She would probably live to regret it, but she also couldn’t pass it up. “Fine. When?”
“Next week. Tours finish Tuesday. We’ll sail Wednesday at dawn.”
She smiled in spite of her certainty this was a bad idea. “Deal.”
He leaned in and claimed her traitorous lips. Damn, his kiss was quickly becoming her Kryptonite. He pulled back and stood up with a sparkle in his eyes. “I’ll be back for you.”
She shamelessly watched his ass as he turned to go. Once he vanished from view, she cut the deck and lifted the top card.
Two of cups.
What. The. Hell.
Maybe her gift really was fading. Or maybe Curt was never the partner she was meant for. That didn’t mean Colton was either…
But what if?
Chapter 6
Colton had the oil lamps glowing on the deck when the crew arrived. John was first aboard, followed by One-Eyed Bob.
John found a stool and pulled out his notebook and a pen. “I’ll be keeping minutes of the meeting tonight.”
“Fair enough,” Colton answered, frowning. Bob was pacing back and forth along the bow. He left John behind to greet the rest of the crew as they arrived, and Colton wandered after Bob. He cleared his throat and the old man nearly fell overboard.
Colton raised a brow. “What’s troubling you?”
The cook wrung his gnarled hands, and clasped one behind his neck. “It’s gone. I looked everywhere. Couldn’t have vanished.” He resumed pacing and mumbling. “It was hidden, but now the whole box is missing. Impossible. Can’t be.”
Colton pursued him, turning him around to meet his eyes. “What’s missing?”
“The cup.” Fear shined in his remaining eye. “I hid it just like you charged me to centuries ago. I check up on it every year. It’s always there.”
The air rushed from Colton’s lungs. He’d spent the better part of the past two hundred years cursing the damned thing, but even so, he wasn’t prepared to hear it was gone.
He lowered his voice as more pirates boarded. “Maybe you didn’t look hard enough.”
Bob shook his head furiously. “No. It’s gone, Colton.” He glanced at the others. “They’ll kill me.”
“They can’t kill you, reme
mber?”
Bob’s chin trembled. “Death is breathing down young Eli’s neck, Quartermaster. We won’t escape his fate much longer without it.”
“We don’t know that. We may not heal as fast now, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to show our true ages either.” Who was he trying to convince, the cook or himself?
A vision of Skye in his bed filled Colton’s head. He finally had a reason to live, just in time to die. Fate was a cruel mistress.
“Damn it, Bob.” He looked over his shoulder. The others were on board. He grasped the cook’s shoulders. “We have to let the crew know, and then we need to find it before someone else guzzles the living water inside. Understand?”
Bob nodded, tightening his jaw. “Aye.”
“Good.” Colton led Bob back to the others. Eli was still in a hospital bed, but everyone else was on board. Colton scanned the group. Although they were all dressed in clothes fitting this generation, only the Captain, their pilot, Keegan, One-Eyed Bob, and Colton kept their hair short. The others still wore it long and tied back from their faces.
John approached Colton and Bob, concern lining his dark eyes. “I told the crew about Eli’s condition. They’ve got questions.”
Colton glanced at the others, raising his voice. “Eli’s not healed from the car accident yet. Don’t know that I can tell you anything more than that, but you can ask.”
“Why are you denying him the cup, Quartermaster?” Greyson Till crossed his arms. He was their Master Gunner. He trained Eli and still kept watch over him. He wasn’t as tall as Colton, but his steely blue eyes could stare down any man.
“Is it so wrong to think the man should have a choice?” Colton looked at the others, noting the ones who wouldn’t make eye contact. His gut pulled into a tight knot. “And I couldn’t offer it to him even if I wanted to.”
