We dock at an island called Lagoon Heart, a quiet, remote spot known for its still waters and steep prices. We’re running low on everything after weeks at sea: food, fresh water, rum. Especially the rum. Which is the number one necessity on a pirate ship. Ahappy crew with rum running through their veins is a well-oiled crew.
As soon as we anchor, Mira and I make our way to the docks to track down whoever’s in charge of supply dealings. Prices are high. Not many merchants make it this far out, which means anyone who does can charge whatever they like. And when they see pirates? Prices double.
There’s this myth that pirates always have gold to burn, that every ship hides treasure below deck. It’s bullshit. Most of us are scraping by like everyone else.
He recognizes me the moment he seesThe Leviathan.He knows exactly who I am and takes full advantage. I give him extra, not because I’m fooled but because I respect confidence, even in a man stupid enough to try and scam me.
The crew scatters across the small island town once we secure supplies. It’s the kind of place where everyone looks like a pirate or a local, and no one cares who you’re running from. Safe from the royals. Safe from watchful eyes. Even though this island is just east of Coral Haven, maybe a two-day trip, there’s no real threat from them here.
Most of my men flock to the nearest pub, probably sniffing around for booze, brawls, or a warm bed. If there are any working girls on this rock, they’ll be there. Spending months at sea does a number on a man. So when we dock, I let the crew do whatever the hell they want, so long as someone’s watching the ship.
Mira and I have a few crewmembers help load the ship before I catch her hand, giving it a tug.
“Come on,” I say, motioning for her to follow. I’ve visited this island before. Lagoon Heart, a quiet place with stunning views and one of the most breathtaking waterfalls I’d ever seen. I figure she could use a moment away. We both could.
“Where are we going?” she asks, her green eyes catching the sun like sea-glass.
I give her a small side smile. “I thought we could use a break from everything. Do you not trust me, treasure?”
Her cheeks flush a soft pink. “I do. Always,” she says, voice warm, almost shy.
She doesn’t ask again, just slips her hand into mine and follows. We walk the shoreline, then enter the jungle. Tall palms shade us from the sun, and bursts of hibiscus bloom in rich pinks and fiery oranges. Exotic birds call out in sharp whistles, a song of their own.
“It’s beautiful here,” Mira murmurs, eyes wide with wonder.
“Yes,” I say simply, guiding her up a moss-covered trail. “Wait until you see this.” We turn the corner and there it is. The hidden lagoon.
The water is crystal clear, emerald-green foliage clinging to the rock ledges like it’s been painted there. Sunlight filters through the canopy above, catching just the center of the pool, where vibrant coral glows beneath the surface. Soft white sand hugs the edge of the water. The waterfall crashes down the rocks, silver and endless.
The air is thick with the scent of salt and jungle flowers. She lets go of my hand and takes a step closer, speechless. She doesn’t just fit into the landscape, she completes it. Two ethereal things in one place, both too beautiful to belong to this world.
I turn my attention to the scenery for just a moment, then I look back at Mira. She is already undressing. “Well? You were planning on getting in, right?” she laughs, stripping without hesitation. Completely bare. My gods.
Her body in the sunlight, she looks like a goddess. Glowing. A dream I don’t deserve to have brought to life.
I fumble with my clothes, suddenly desperate to be closer to her. I unsheathe the twin swords from the X on my back anddrop them into the sand, the sound dull against the rush in my ears.
Mira dives into the warm water with a splash, her head popping up moments later, hair soaked and clinging to her skin. She moves joyfully, weightless in the lagoon. Droplets shimmer on her as the sun kisses her freckled shoulders. Her wet hair falls across her chest, covering what I want to see, hiding them so perfectly it’s just enough to drive me mad.
I dive in after her, letting the saltwater wash over me, cleansing something deeper than skin. The water here feels alive and fresh. I swim toward her and drag her playfully beneath the waterfall. She shrieks and splashes at me, and I laugh before lifting her into my arms and holding her close, the water crashing down around us.
Her skin is warm. Soft. Every time I touch her, I feel like I’ve come home. Like there’s nowhere else in the world but this.
I toss her gently back into the water, grinning. She surfaces laughing, breathless and bright. Gods, that laugh, that smile. It’s the most intoxicating sound I’ve ever heard. Her joy hits me like sunlight, piercing, blinding, and real. And for a moment, I’m nothing but happy.
She swims over to me, slow and hypnotic, eyes locked on mine like she already knows what’s about to happen. When she reaches me, I cup her face in both hands and kiss her, soft at first, then deeper, her body pressing into mine, bare and weightless in the water.
My arms wrap around her waist, drawing her closer until there’s no space left between us. Her skin is slick and warm, and I can feel every breath she gives me, every inch of her against me. My fingers trace the curve of her back, teasing her chest until I feel her gasp into my mouth.
She reaches down, and when her hand wraps around me, I nearly lose control right then. But not yet. Not like that. I shift usbeneath the waterfall, guiding her gently as I step onto a smooth ledge of stone just beyond the water’s edge. The world narrows to her, just her, and the way she looks at me, half-wild and glowing in the mist.
She straddles me, her legs wrapping around my waist, and I press her gently against the mossy wall behind us. Water rushes around us, but all I can hear is her breath, ragged and wanting, and her heart beating out of her chest.
I let my fingers find her, slowly, learning the rhythm of her body. She’s already aching for me. “Do it,” she whispers, voice trembling against my ear. Her words send a shiver down my spine.
“Do what, treasure?” I murmur, brushing my lips against her jaw, her neck, teasing her with everything but what she wants. She arches back, fighting the urge to beg. My hand slides behind her head, cradling it so she doesn’t hit the rock. My other hand keeps her pinned just where I want her—desperate and beautiful and mine.
I lay her down on the flattest stone I can find, water glistening across her bare skin. She doesn’t care about the rough edges. Neither do I.
