Chapter 14: Welcome to Safehold

Thane Drogos "Land-Ho!" Jack called from the helm. I clipped my safety rope to the ladder on the center mast and climbed into the crow's nest, joining my lookout. Before we could close into the pier, I wanted to be sure there was no other ship on the horizon. Clear. In every direction. I used my spyglass to look toward the pier, where wives and kids were jumping up and down, awaiting us. A handful of retired sailors fished off the coast in a smaller vessel, waving us in. I gestured to the island, signaling Jack to take us beside the pier. Long voyages, but it was worth it. It made safehold possible. Safehold was our sanctuary. A little slice of paradise. The only place I could be sure the families of my crew would be safe. A private island, hidden among an archipelago. Difficult to maneuver the rocks and reefs unless you knew exactly where you were going. Other pirate colonies weren't safe. If anyone discovered my identity, they would turn us in for a bounty. My crew would be hung in the gallows. Their families would be killed or worse. Desmond would likely be tortured. Rio sold. Everyone I cared about would suffer simply for knowing me. Everything my mother did for me, to protect me and solidify my future, would be for nothing. My mother gave up so much. Her pride. Gold. Everything. Just to start over. So I could have a chance. So I could survive. I would pay it back. I would protect them until my last breath because this was the closest thing to home I could ever have. Our settlement took years to build and cultivate into what it had become. A completely self-sustaining community. We didn't need much in terms of trade. Perhaps livestock. Building materials. Entertainment. Some of my men would take a smaller vessel to a nearby colony if necessary. Or if they wanted to. I would never hold my crew against their will. They could stay for as long as they wanted. But I offered them more than a typical employer could. Take Jack, for example. A navigator from a merchant's vessel. Top of the line. Unbelievably talented. When we took a merchant ship, they killed our navigator, so we took theirs. Once we docked, I let him go. But Jack stayed simply because I paid him better. Eventually, he adapted to the lifestyle. Liked it more than working on a stuffy merchant ship with a greedy employer. Under my command, I offered everyone the same wage. My mother and I took a higher percentage, but the crew agreed. Everything we did was for the mutual benefit of everyone. Fairness was something I took seriously. I glanced down at the deck, watching my sailors stomp and clap. Wave wildly at their families waiting for them. Then I noticed a certain woman, hair tied back with a blue bandana, a few flyaway curls. I just knew Evelyn was watching us pull into the pier, eyes wide, absorbing everything she saw. From the ocean side cabanas to the big, open huts. The island was decorated with plowed fields for crops. Gated to keep the free-roaming pigs, goats, and chickens from eating the crop. A little further back was a horse stable and a cattle ranch. Dogs shepherding the large livestock. Not going to the cabin the other night was the best decision I made this entire voyage. Now that we were back at safehold, I still didn't know what to do with Evelyn. And if I had to watch her eyelashes flutter or hear another cute wheeze while she slept, I don't think I'd be able to stop myself from kissing her. Make the hard decision to trust another pirate to get her back home safely. Drop her back into the hands of her fiance, who definitely didn't deserve her. But I don't deserve her either. I climbed down the ladder back to the main deck as we drifted closer to the pier, Jack expertly guiding us into the perfect spot. The gangway dropped, the sound muted by the excited chatter of families reuniting. I had already designated who was unloading the ship, and they got to work fast. Husbands embraced their wives or kissed their partners. Desmond flew past me, scooping his wife, Bells, up into his arms. The small, full-figured woman squealed, laughing as she smothered his face with wet kisses. "I missed you! The kids missed you too!" Desmond beamed, leaning down and capturing Bells' lips. "I missed you too, my love." They would be there a while, reacquainting each other with the taste of the other's mouth. Bells had her hand tangled in Desmond's collar, and there was no doubt in my mind if they didn't have an audience, she would've stripped Des naked right then and there. Frankly, I didn't think Bells cared about that as much as Desmond did. It's a surprise they only have two kids. Evelyn watched wide-eyed, like usual, and I took a step toward her. It was quite endearing to see Evelyn's face light up as she averted her eyes, gazing over the beach. "Think of jumping overboard again?" I asked, startling her with my presence. "You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Evelyn retorted, crossing her arms. "You mean have a chance to collect on that kiss? I would," I replied. The words fell from my lips teasingly, but I meant them. But I shouldn't have said that. That brought me back to the other night, wondering what her face looked like when desire mottled her face. I shouldn't want to know what her lips tasted like. She glanced up at me, her soft pink lips parting like she wanted to bite back with something, but Desmond interrupted us before she could spit an adorable insult at me. "Oh, Bells, this is my friend, Evie. She's… uh… how do I say this?" Desmond started. "She's the Stanton princess. And Evie, this is my wife, Bells." Bells blinked, eyebrows coming together in a look of complete cynicism. "The Stanton princess? How did you end up here?" "Long story," Evelyn and I replied in tandem. Evelyn's cheeks flushed again, and she cleared her throat. "Nice to meet you, Bells." "So, how long do I get to keep my husband before you take him away again?" Bells asked, crossing her arms at me. The question was said in a friendly manner, but I knew she hated having Desmond away from home for so long. Des hated it too, even if he never said anything. "We will only be here about a week before leaving." The short, round woman frowned briefly before smiling at Evelyn, "You should join us for dinner tonight, then." She looked behind us. "Where's Rio?" "Handling inventory with my mother," I answered. "Why?" "Well, I know Sam wants to talk to you," Bells said. "Preferably alone." "Sam?" Evelyn asked out loud, even if she didn't mean to. "But, I know some kiddos excited to see their daddy," Bells continued, tugging on her husband's shoulder. "Bring her to my house later, okay, Thane?" Desmond brought Bells in for another kiss before scooping her up in his arms. "See you later, Eves." He took off, running down the gangway, his wife giggling happily in his arms. Most of the crew had dissipated, all that remained were the ones unloading the cargo and releasing the livestock. One of the big fat cats from the bilge climbed up to the top deck, rolling around happily in the sunlight. Like it knew it was back home. It jumped to its feet, rubbing its snout around my ankles. Weaving around and claiming me as its person. I chuckled, leaning down to scratch Chunky behind his ears. "Hey, Chunky," I murmured. "Someone is happy to be back." "Chunky?" Evelyn asked, kneeling next to me, mystified by the cat. "I had only seen the shadow of a cat earlier. I didn't realize it was friendly." "It's a big ship. They like to stay on the lower decks and hunt rats. He's Chunky, the fattest ship cat," I explained, using both hands to rub his little face. He purred against my hands, sounding like an earthquake. "An honorary title." Evelyn laughed before trying to cover it up by clearing her throat. "Can I?" she asked, reaching out to the cat. I looked down at Chunky. "I don't know. Chunky is pretty selective. Can she, big boy?" I asked the cat, igniting more purrs. I didn't like the warm way Evelyn looked at me when Chucky turned over to her, flopping on his back. She went to rub his inviting, fluffy tummy, but I stopped her. I snatched her wrist. She raised her eyebrows as if she wanted to ask me what was wrong. Clearly, this woman knew nothing about cats. "It's a trap. Only rub his ears or chin. Touch his belly, and you'll leave with lacerations." My eyes found her mouth again when she made a look of surprise. I released her wrist and she pet the cat's ears. Chunky looked disappointed as if he wanted to trick the naïve princess into being a scratching post. The cat accepted the scratches before jumping to its feet. Limber for something so fat. Chunky meowed once before trotting down the gangway. One of the men fishing on the pier tossed the cat a fish. He didn't even stop, snatching it up and disappearing into the bushes. The other cats would probably follow the livestock out, but Chunky liked to nuzzle my feet before he went about his normal cat business. A moment of silence passed, and I got back up to my feet. "Who's Sam?" Evelyn asked, her eyelashes fluttering in a shy way. My breath caught in my chest. I had to find it again before I answered. "A friend. Her name is Samara." "Oh…" the young woman trailed off, diverting her gaze from me. "What is it, princess?" I baited, tilting my head to the side. Her cheeks blossomed, the rosiness capturing her ears. "I should have assumed you had someone you would come home to." Before I could stop myself, I asked, "Does that bother you?" "No." She frowned, pulling her pouty lower lip between her teeth. Real convincing, Evelyn. "Are you sure? Your face begs to differ." She scoffed, taking a few steps back from me. "You're a little full of yourself, don't you think? Of course, it doesn't bother me you have someone at home." "Then you won't mind me dropping you off for dinner with Desmond and Bells to have my own variety of dinner?" "What do you mean?" Evelyn asked, her face still set in a frown, but her wide brown eyes seemed to get even wider with confusion. Oh my god, she didn't get it. I debated for a second about whether I should take it further. See how red her face could get. How much I could bait her. Nothing would please me more. "What I mean is that I'll get my dinner when she rides my face tonight." She audibly gasped, her face reddening further. Her bottom lip was swollen from how she chewed on it moments ago. I wonder how red her lips would look, sucking my cock. Instantly, my entire body tensed, blood rushing down to my pants at the image in my head. "No, it wouldn't bother me. Do whatever or whoever you want. It's none of my business. I shouldn't have asked," she spat out the words quickly before stepping around me and walking off the gangway. On the other side of the pier, I saw Samara. She noticed me and offered me a wave. Long blonde hair braided down the side of her shoulder. She was tall, leggy with broad shoulders. Built like a warrior. Someone I tangled with before once upon a time. "Sam!" I called out and stepped down the gangway. She sprinted up to me, throwing both arms around my neck. "You wanted to see me?" "Long time no see," she said from my shoulder, pecking me on the cheek and pulling completely away. "And yes, we have so much to talk about. Could you meet me in my cabana? Don't tell Rio." It was hard to mistake the seething glare radiating off of Evelyn as she looked at Sam. It bothered her. She could deny it all she wanted, but the idea of me being with someone bothered her. That satisfied me more than it should. I met Sam's Nordic blue eyes. "Of course. I just need to show Evelyn the way to Desmond's place." "Oh, yes! I have something for him. Remind me about it later." Sam turned to greet Evelyn, who could have evoked the nine circles of hell with her smoldering glower. "Hi, I'm—" "I know who you are," Evelyn interrupted, throwing Sam completely off guard. My friend turned her head to give me a "who is this bitch?" stare. I waved my hand as if to say "I'll tell you later." Evelyn practically huffed the entire way to dinner with Desmond and Bells. And damn it, if it wasn't the cutest thing to watch her nose wrinkle like that. Such a little brat. She was just asking to be spanked.