Vampires of Noctra(18)

closed his eyes and slumped forward against the tub's edge. For the first time in his life he felt weary and blissful all at the same time.

* * * *

It was several hours later as the stars began to disappear from the sky that Captain Lucienne made his first appearance of the night on the lower

deck. Nathan sat on an overturned bucket in a circle of mates as they listened to a yarn spun by Onyx. They'd just finished making several toasts

to Gordon, and Skye was feeling particularly relaxed.

Most of the crew had dressed, at least in clean loose fitting, shortened slop breeches. Naked, muscular chests and bare feet seemed to be the

norm. Skye sat cross-legged on the deck in front of Nathan as the sailor braided Skye's hair, blending in some of the crimson and gold thread he

wore in his own braids.

The captain's presence was felt by all before any of them even realized he was on deck. It was the huge white tiger at his side that Skye saw first,

like a ghostly apparition. At first he thought it was because of all the rum he'd drank. And then he realized what he was seeing and he tensed as

curling anticipation tightened in his groin. Skye's attention went from the tiger to the man, so elegantly appointed in black satin breeches, goldembroidered waistcoat, and long black velvet frockcoat edged in cranberry and gold embroidery. He was a man who exuded dark authority. The

lethal stark white tiger, eyes of glowing red, seemed a fitting familiar for the predatory yet elegant vampire. Jupiter accompanied him, his gaze

taking in the state of the ship and the crew as the two men walked toward the gathering of the men.

Donté came to a halt and his focused, black gaze settled on Skye. For long moments there was complete silence as the two men dueled silently.

Donté's gaze seemed to take in the familiarity of Skye's position in front of Nathan. Skye felt Nathan's soothing presence as he stroked a hand over

Skye's braided locks, easing some of the tension twisting inside Skye.

Skye set his jaw and glared back at Donté, unwilling to give quarter to the dynamic captain. Skye's focus drifted downward to Donté's lips,

remembering their taste. Longing surged inside him like a knife twisted in his gut. It took all his self-control not to rise from his position on the deck

and join Donté, offering his blood, his body, or anything Donté wanted.

Stretched, tense moments passed and then Donté's gaze shifted away as he looked over the men seated in the circle. Skye felt like a puppet whose

strings had been cut, and he dropped forward. Donté turned aside and said something quietly to Jupiter and then spun around and walked away

without a word, quickly blending into the deep darkness of the night. A ghostly flicker of the white tiger was finally swallowed into the murky

shadows of the ship.

Jupiter tapped two sailors on the shoulder who sat across from Skye. They quickly rose to their feet, a look of pride and lusty hunger filling their

expressions as they followed Jupiter in the wake of the captain.

"Your pride will lose you the prize, Templeton, if you're not careful. Open your heart, boy, and see what's inside. Be true to yourself and don't cling

to the thirst for revenge. See the truth."

Skye wanted to deny Nathan's words, but something inside him refused to yield.

When the first mists of dawn broke over the water, those that weren't called to duty sought out sleep. Skye shucked his clothes and climbed into a

vacant hammock. It wasn't long before, for the first time, another sailor joined him. It was Liam, the master carpenter, who cuddled close, his long,

lean body stretched tightly against Skye. Silently, hands stroked and fondled, lips kissed and caressed, murmurs of pleasure reverberated

throughout the stifling, hot atmosphere of the sailors' sleeping quarters.

Skye tried to focus on the eager, willing man in his arms. But all he could see was the captain, defiant and magnetic. And all of his crew who were

intriguingly not dead because of a vampire's lust, but simply pleasured and strong, loyal and protective. And eager to please their vampire captain.

In his mind he saw the captain naked with cock primed for fucking. Fangs buried in a neck, feeding with lust and passion. And respect.

He pulled Liam's warm, human body closer, trying to blot out the cool, sleek, dangerous passion building higher and higher for the touch of an

undead vampirate. A hungry carnal desire he was afraid would completely corrupt his soul, and his mission, before much longer. He licked his lips,

remembered the taste of Donté's mouth from the night of the attack, and how it had lingered with him over the last few days and nights. Like water

raging against harsh stone the memory wore away his weakening resolve. He could not be falling in love with the very thing he'd been trained to