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Get yourself together, Scarlet. He saved you. Big deal. Sure, the entire time he tattooed me, I was explicitly aware of every brush of his fingers, and just how close he was to me. It doesn’t mean I need to jump his bones now.
“I thought you might want these.” His voice is like velvet, warm and inviting, and it sends shivers down my spine. I try to steady myself before looking at him out of the corner of my eye. He has books in his hands, their spines worn and well-loved.
I reach out to touch them, curiosity piqued. “You picked these out for me?”
“I did,” he replies, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“If you’re trying to swoon me, you’re on the right track.” I raise an eyebrow at him, my voice teasing.
He smirks. “Ask, and you shall receive, princess.”
My fingers brush across the spines, reading the titles. The textured surfaces are rough, grounding me, a reminder that this is real. I haven’t fallen asleep. This isn’t a dream. Sebastian is standing in front of me and for the first time since I’ve met him, there are no more secrets.
Everything is out in the air and accepted. I’m not sure how to breathe in these conditions, even if it is a nice change of pace. My hands wrap around the stack, ready to take them from his grasp, but he lifts them out of my reach.
A teasing glint sparkles in his eyes. Mischief if I’ve ever witnessed it. “These are yours, but only if you do something for me.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “And what would that be?”
“Promise me that you won’t leave this room alone,” he bargains, his gaze never leaving mine. “You’re not a prisoner anymore, but the crew— “
“Deal,” I cut him off, reaching for the books. The corners of his mouth twitch into a smirk as he lowers them into my hand.
“Aren’t you a good little lamb,” he murmurs, his tone warm and approving.
My cheeks flush at the unexpected praise, and I cradle the books against my chest.
The worn spines flex and Sebastian watches me, flipping through the pages of the one on top of the stack, like he’s tracking every move I make.
He chuckles, shaking his head. “Mental note, bribe her with books and she listens...” His comment seems more for his own amusement than anything else, but I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips.
“You’re learning,” I say, and his gaze sweeps over me, causing my cheeks to flame and my pulse to quicken. Yet, I don’t look away. “And you say I’m the one with stars in my eyes.”
“Excuse me?” he asks, cocking his head. “Would you prefer I make you see them instead?” he asks, the glint in his eyes challenging me to take him up on his offer.
My breath hitches, and I’m momentarily lost in the thoughts they provoke. He drags over one of the folding wooden chairs, sitting backward in it, facing me on the bed. There’s a knock on the door, and the tension dissipates.
“Come in,” Sebastian calls, not taking his eyes off of me.
Zephyr enters the room, quickly assessing the situation and ducking his head. “Just wanted to let you know dinner is ready whenever you’d like to join us below deck.”
“Thank you, Zephyr,” he says, his voice slightly breathless. “We’ll be there shortly.”
He nods, casting one last amused glance at Sebastian before slipping out of the room.
“Looks like we’ll have to put the star-seeing on hold.” He winks at me—winks at me—then stands from the chair. Who is this man and what has he done with my husband? You know, the one that's silently threatened to toss me overboard every chance he’s had? Did that guy just die on the deck? Did the coral kill him? If that’s the case, may he rest in peace. I swallow hard, taking a deep breath in a futile effort to regain my composure.
He bows theatrically, offering me a hand. “Shall we?”
As ironic as it is, he did the exact same thing when he asked me to dance in the great hall, before everything fell into chaos. It’s like his way of saying we’re starting over. We’ve come a long way since then. My outlook on life has changed, including the way I view my father and the kingdom. I doubt my corset will even fit right anymore.
Hesitantly, I place my hand in his and he stands to his full height, looking down at me. Sometimes I forget how tall he is. Usually, we’re sitting down or at a distance when we talk. It’s almost like a comfort thing he does just for me, as if coming down to my level is a way of implying that I’m of equal status, that he’s not some high lord barking orders from above. It’s weird to think of it that way, but he’d be much more intimidating if I had to crane my neck to talk to him all the time.
As we make our way to the mess hall, Sebastian intertwines our fingers, leading me across the deck. The man doesn’t miss a step, his spine unyielding, like he couldn’t care less about how the men are gawking at his not-so-subtle statement. It’s nerve-wracking yet leaves me weightless all at once.
“Wow, public displays of affection, huh?” I waggle my eyebrows as he opens the companionway door.
His lips tug up at the corner, his eyes looking everywhere but at me. “Don’t get used to it.”
