Page 21 of A Reckless Indulgence

And what is it about this other person that was enough for her to stay?

That thought gnaws a hole in Cav’s chest. He’d accepted that she didn’t want anyone close, that no one was good enough to disturb her solitude, but someone else was.

When Cav looks at her, she’s glaring, like his sappy emotions are poisoning the air. He pushes off the wall to rid himself of the thoughts. None of it matters; that’s not why they’re here.

He digs a claw into the orange and peels off the rind. “Shall we give you the tour?”

TEN

Lyx

“You’ve met Cypher.” Cav gestures to the tattooed woman standing above the captain’s quarters. “She’s serving double-duty right now, overseeing the crew and the ship.”

The ink on Cypher’s skin undulates as she watches them down her nose. Of all the looks Lyx has received today, only Cypher’s is openly hostile. It’s as if she has a sense about Lyx, like she knows the real reason Lyx is here.

Lyx’s scales prickle. There’s no way Cypher could know anything; she’s just suspicious of a siren. When Cypher keeps staring, Lyx lifts her brow in a challenge.

Cypher’s scowl deepens.

Cav places his hands on Lyx’s shoulders. “There’ll be plenty of time to make enemies later. Let’s not start with the second-in-command.”

As he turns her, his claws brush her collarbone. It sends her mind down a familiar path overgrown with memories that reach out and cling to her. It’s the same way Cav’s talons dug into her hips, scraping down her back and teasing her —

She shudders out of his grip, but it puts little space between them. The deck is crowded, filling her with a familiar unease when she’s forced to recognize that she’s surrounded by pirates.

A couple leans over the forecastle railing with devious grins. The woman hooks her arm over the man’s shoulder and whispers in his ear. Both of them keep their eyes on Lyx. It’s clear the two of them are some magical species; each of their skin is vibrant, but they have their own color schemes. Seeds and leaves and berries dot their bodies, as if they’re both descended from different fruits.

“There go all my customers,” the man murmurs. His voice is so sultry it’s like he’s speaking against Lyx’s skin.

Cav picks up a wicker bowl and tosses some salted pork inside. “Lyx isn’t serving customers. She’s working with me.” He reaches for a block of cheese and lowers his voice to Lyx. “He’s Lace, she’s Briar. Never see one without the other.”

“In that case…” Briar rests her chin in one hand. “Maybe she wants to be my customer.”

“Are the stories true?” Lace asks, eyes sparkling. “They say sex with a siren is like fucking a black widow.”

Cav scoffs. “That’s enough from the welcoming committee.”

Hunger gnaws at Lyx’s stomach. Briar and Lace are brimming with discord, their natural magnetism something Lyx hasn’t felt since she was snatched from the other sirens. The two of them are a tempting invitation for trouble, but Cav maneuvers her toward the hatchway.

Briar reaches down to tousle his hair. “If you get bored with Cavvy, we’re always close by.”

Cav grabs her hand to pull it away, but the touch reminds him of something. Soberly, he meets her eyes, and his voice softens. “Roderick’s gone.”

The mood shifts. Briar’s eyes widen. Lace’s face swarms with disgust, nose wrinkling at some nasty memory. Almost imperceptibly, Briar squeezes Cav’s hand before she sets a smirk back onto her face. “I knew you were good for something.”

When Cav releases her, she and Lace dive into animated conversation while Cav and Lyx descend below deck.

The stairs are steep, opening into a tight corridor lined with doors on either side. Crew members mill about in stages of undress, leaning into the hallway to converse or argue. Cav carries the bowl through the narrow gaps and chews a piece of cinnamon bark between his teeth.

The scent smacks Lyx in the face. “Straight cinnamon?”

He smiles around it. “I like spicy.”

Her eyes roll, until she realizes they aren’t passing any barracks. Everyone has their own rooms. When Cav offered his cabin, she’d thought he was exaggerating. On all the ships she’s boarded, she’s never seen so much space. Even in Tidus’s heyday, the crew slept in a shared room while he kept Lyx in his massive captain’s quarters.

“Heathen’s been working on it a long time.” Cav squeezes past her, hands ghosting over her hips. He holds a low-hanging rope out of the way. “Each room can only fit a bed. The walls are thin, but it’s better than nothing. At least, until we get a new convoy.”

“Isn’t that where you’re supposed to be?”