The boys erupted into cheers, hooting and hollering. I wondered where Bartholomew had gotten the idea for that song. It was another catchy one.
After that, everyone retired to their tents. Mal and Lochlan both gave me hugs. Bastian nodded at me. He’d kept his distance, sensing the tension between me and Mal, and I appreciated it. But I also missed him. I watched until the last boy disappeared and the camp was silent and still.
Stars twinkled in the sky above, and shadows swirled like storm clouds under the cover of night. They paid me no mind, but I hated the cold that crept over the area with their presence, the feeling of darkness, like they were tugging at my own shadow to join them.
I wouldn’t be able to sleep, not with all the thoughts rolling through my head.
I made my way past all the tents and huts, past the little clearing and to a shimmering silver pool, moonlight reflecting off of it. I needed to bathe and I certainly couldn’t do so during the day with all these boys running rampant. Lochlan had given me clean clothes, ones that typically fit the older boys but just so happened to work for me as well. He’d given his and Mal’s extra clean clothes to some of the pirates to change into and had ordered boys to launder everyone’s clothes, something else he and Mal had implemented. Apparently the boys hadn’t worried too much about bathing or cleaning their clothes, and Mal and Lochlan had quickly changed that.
I looked behind me at the silent camp. No wonder the boys were so strict about being in their tents and huts at night. They didn’t want the shadows leering over them. Shadows bounced against the tents and huts, unable to figure out how to get in. It must’ve been hard to sleep through such a thing. Then again, I remembered when Mal and Lochlan were that young. They’dbeen able to sleep through anything, including storms and each other’s snoring.
The water was cool against my skin, enveloping me as I waded in and dipped under, hoping what Lochlan said was true and none of the boys would emerge from their little shelters.
I surfaced, water trickling down my face.
“Care for some company?”
Bastian stood at the edge of the pool, shirtless, that perfect muscled chest gleaming under the moonlight.
“I didn’t mean to wake you,” I said.
“I’m mad you didn’t wake me. You think I’d miss out on you naked in a pool?” He arched an eyebrow.
I pointed a finger at him. “If you’re going to join me, then you better behave yourself, pirate. In case you’ve forgotten, we’re in a camp full of young, impressionable boys.”
He smirked and undid the laces of his trousers, pulling them down, his cock bobbing and as glorious as ever. “I’ll do my best. Pirate’s honor.”
He stepped into the water, and I licked my lips as he lowered that massive body of his into the pool.
We hadn’t gotten a chance to talk in depth yet.
He swam toward me, a gleam in his eyes.
“I know that look,” I said. “Put that look away.”
His eyes danced. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I clenched my thighs together as desire prickled between them. “Stop it.” I splashed him in the face.
Water droplets clung to his thick dark eyelashes and the ends of his hair.
“Oh, you’re going to pay for that.”
He grabbed me and slammed me to his chest, pressing kisses down my jawline.
“I don’t think I’m paying for anything,” I said, breathless.
He slowly trailed a finger along my cheek, then brought his hand to the top of my head and shoved me under the water. I kicked at him, and when I surfaced, he was laughing.
“Truce?” I said. “I did come out here for a purpose, you know.”
“Let me help.” He swam to the edge of the pool, grabbing a bar of soap.
“Bastian,” I warned.
“I’m just going to wash your hair, love. Nothing else.”
I eyed him warily as he approached. He stopped in front of me and gently turned me in the water so my back was pressed to his. His hands threaded through my hair as he began to massage my scalp with the soap.
