“Captain?” Hawk lowered the glass to find a crewman named Peters a few feet away, a frown on his lined face. “Anything amiss?”
“No.”
Peters nodded, still clearly dubious, and went back to the rigging. Hawk supposed it was uncommon for him to be up on deck so late. Usually he paced in the privacy of his cabin unless there was some problem.
It truly was time to go below. He needed sleep. Who knew what could appear on the horizon tomorrow? There was no reason to be hesitant.
What the fuck am I afraid of?
Striding to the bow, he took Nathaniel’s arm, pulling him to the ladder without explanation. Because Nathaniel was his prisoner, and Hawk was a pirate. No explanation was needed.
A lamp still burned low in the cabin, and after Hawk bolted the door and turned, the yellow light flickered over Nathaniel’s bare skin as he stripped off his clothes. Hawk should tell him to stop—tell him to go to the corner.
Yet he said no such thing as Nathaniel sank to his knees, tugging on the laces of Hawk’s trousers and freeing his cock, pressing eager, openmouthed kisses to it and muttering, “Finally.”
All the blood rushing from his head, Hawk thumped against the door, biting back a groan as Nathaniel swallowed him clumsily.
This. This is what I’m afraid of.
It shouldn’t have troubled him—being pleasured by his hostage, Nathaniel submissive and naked at his feet. Why shouldn’t he allow himself to enjoy it?
Why indeed.
Because his fingers threaded through Nathaniel’s hair, which had curled even more after the rain. Because he didn’t pull or plunder, only caressed as Nathaniel sucked him, slurping and breathing hard through his nose, lips stretched, the vibration of his moans shuddering through Hawk, making him painfully hard.
Because he loved the way he could see his prick pressing against the inside of Nathaniel’s cheek. Because he reached down to trace the bump of it, feeling unbearably tender.
Because a hook tugged in his chest, the urge to keep Nathaniel safe and happy, away from his cursed father and anyone who would make him feel lesser for his pure and honest desires, for his struggles with words on a page.
What devilry is this?
Nathaniel had eased back the foreskin, and now he sucked at the glistening head of Hawk’s shaft, hands sneaking into Hawk’s open trousers to caress bare flesh, eager and bold.
“Denied yourself this,” Hawk murmured. Nathaniel met his gaze, honey eyes big and dark in the flickering light. He went on, stroking Nathaniel’s head. “You love it—having a cock in your mouth. My cock.”
Nodding, Nathaniel sucked harder, one hand circling the base where his lips couldn’t quite reach without making him cough. He kept trying, seeming desperate to swallow Hawk whole.
Eyes watering, he gagged and had to pull off. Hawk petted his hair, then pulled down his own trousers so they pooled around his knees, the wooden door cool against his bare arse.
Quietly, he said, “Take your finger in your mouth. Yes, that’s it. Make it wet.” Hawk watched as Nathaniel obediently sucked on his index finger, spitting and letting saliva drip down onto his hand. Nathaniel looked up at him with his finger between his lips, waiting, his chest rising and falling unevenly. So trusting.
Hawk had to touch him, and he traced the shell of Nathaniel’s ear, then spread his legs as much as he could with his trousers at his knees. “Now suck me again, and push your finger inside me.”
Eyes wide, Nathaniel latched back onto Hawk’s prick, reaching his hand between Hawk’s legs to find his hole. He didn’t hesitate, invading boldly, and Hawk couldn’t hold in his moan, his bollocks tightening as he clamped down on Nathaniel’s questing finger.
It had been years since he’d been breached by a cock, and he’d never much enjoyed it. But he’d shoved his own finger in his arse on occasion, and the wet suction of that ravenous mouth combined with the welcome pressure had Hawk spurting without even being able to give warning, losing control as if he were a boy again. He held Nathaniel’s head as he emptied into him, Nathaniel swallowing convulsively.
When Nathaniel eased out his finger and sat back on his heels, a long, ropey strand of seed stretched between his swollen lips and Hawk’s prick. Hawk’s knees almost gave out, and he was unable to look away, sure it might be the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
Although the lamp was almost out, the colors of Nathaniel’s body and face seemed vivid, as if the sun had suddenly beamed through the stern windows.
Breath short, sweat prickling his skin, Hawk caught the strand on his finger and fed it to Nathaniel, who licked thoroughly. Nathaniel’s cock strained red and hard, and Hawk whispered, “Bring yourself off.”
Almost as if he’d forgotten about it, Nathaniel looked down and took hold of his shaft, moaning and tipping forward to rest his head against Hawk’s hip as he jerked himself, his hand a blur. Hawk stroked his hair, and it was no time at all until he spilled, soft cries escaping his red lips.