Chapter 18
He tightened his grip on the babe a moment, a fondness he knew he couldn’t feel. He felt an attachment he hadn’t had before. But that wasn’t the way.
They set sail earlier than Kaliyah expected, often they spent many days, if not a week at Osoway but they were off within thirty-six hours of arriving. Baron had a determined look in his eye as she glanced at him from the rigging. Once they were out to the wide ocean, she retired to his cabin… their cabin. She never went to her own cabin anymore. The crew knew she was Baron’s and he was hers.
She grabbed a small slither of boar before sitting down with her books. When there wasn’t work to do there wasn’t a great deal to keep her mind occupied, learning new spells, going over old. It all kept her busy and content.
Arms wrapped around her front, sliding the book she was perusing shut. “Enough study today.”
“Don’t you have a course to plot?”
“Not today. We are going to fish.”
Kaliyah frowned, “We just left port, we have plenty of supplies.”
“Fishing is not always a means to get food, what we catch we can salt. Alas, I wish to spend time with you, the fishing deck is perfect for that.”
“We are alone here.”
“The sea air is good for you, come.” He tugged her from her chair, escorting her from the dimmed cabin into the blaring sun. It was warmer today than it had for many weeks.
Baron retrieved the poles and buckets they would need, “Go down, I’ll lower down the bait.” Nodding, she climbed the rope ladder down onto the platform she’d been on when Baron ordered her to fish. This was different though. It felt different.
She readied the poles as Baron descended, taking one off her as soon as he was steady on the deck.
They settled side by side, thin lines woven by gnomes disappearing into the deep dark water. “What will we catch in these parts?”
“Bass, small shark maybe. Carp is popular in this water.”
“I’ll fill my barrel before you,” she announced, tugging her line a little to ensure the bait moved with the current.
“What do I get if I win?”
“Hmm.” She thought a moment. “I can follow your commands?”
“You know… you are much better following my orders, Pouco. I don’t think I need to wager with your obedience again.”
“I don’t follow your every order.”
“This is true. You follow enough for my satisfaction, I can never change you or dampen that fire.”
“While I am unsure if that was a compliment, I did so mean that I would follow your every order where you wish to order me the most.”
“Hmm, every order, aye?”
“Aye.”
“Whatever I wish?”
“Aye. Yet, if I win, I get to do the same to you.”
“I feel that fair. Deal. First to fill their barrel wins.”
“Deal.” She allowed a smirk to land firmly on her face, which solidified when her line tugged a moment later. She reeled in the foot-long fish, an excitement in her veins. The grey slimy fish had fins along the whole side of its body quickly went into her barrel.
While fish went into the barrel, the pair idly chatted. It felt neither were on the boat with crew and duties, it felt they were the only ones left sailing the ocean. Kaliyah barely remembered they were fishing as they discussed the differences they’d witnessed at each port, the ways different lords lorded over their land. Baron had certainly seen more of their world than Kaliyah had. She enjoyed listening to his stories, her barrel slowly filling with fish.
The afternoon sun was warm on their faces when the sound of a fat fish smacked against others. “I won,” he announced triumphantly.
She looked over at his barrel, “No! No, you didn’t!” she protested instantly, more out of outrage than anything else.
“Pouco, are you calling me a liar? My barrel is full, see?” He moved out of the way, gesturing to the, indeed full, barrel.
She looked again, a whine working in her throat, whilst her fish were not quite touching the top… his were. That wasn’t fair, she was supposed to win! She… she had wanted it so badly.
“Well?”
She sighed, a long drawn out affair. “I agree, you have won. What do I have to do?”
“I can think of something right now.” A smile ghosted on his lips, his eyes heating as he ran his gaze over her.
“Here?”
“Of course, no one can see, Pouco,” He gestured for her to stand. Obediently, she did. “Turn, and bend at the waist.”
“What?”
“Questioning me, was that the deal?”
She huffed, “Very well.” She did as she was told, turning before bending at the waist. A blush rising on her cheeks.
Baron let out a hum behind her before his large hand palmed her backside, kneading into the fabric. “Undo your belt.”
“Here?” She went to stand upright only for Baron’s hand on her back to stop her, a panic within her. Anyone could look over the taffrail and see!
“Undo. Your. Belt,” he growled, a tone of warning and dominance.
Dropping her head so her hair curtained around her, she did as she was told. Stupid fish not coming to her bait. She had the better bait, it wasn’t fair. Baron had cheated, she was sure. Thumbs slotted into her breaches, sliding them from her flesh. “I never want to go a day without seeing this backside. It’s perfect.”
“The things you say,” she mumbled in embarrassment.
“You do not like my compliment?” he murmured, his hand resting on her exposed backside, rubbing gently eliciting tingles from his touch.
“I would prefer the sea breeze not on my naked backside. It’s cold,” she retorted even as she relaxed into his touch.
“Is someone a sore loser?”
“No!”
“I think she is. I also think I have a remedy for a cool breeze.” His hand left her flesh before coming down in a sharp slap. She jumped. Not expecting it.
“Ouch!” she protested.
“Hmm… a few more I think.” He gripped her around the waist, his forearm the usual steel band before his hand crashed down again on her unprotected bottom. She jumped, wriggling from him. His hand came down again, and again. A warmth blossomed from his handprint to between her legs.
“Baron!” she whined, wiggling for a whole other reason.
“Yes?”
She groaned out, unable to say anything. His hand was doing things it surely shouldn’t. Not when it was spanking her. That should not bring a blushing throb to between her thighs. It was improper.
His hand came down again and she couldn’t help her moan.
“The phrase ‘dost protest too much’, comes to mind. Are you enjoying the warmth I’m giving?”
“No. No I’m not.”
“Full of lies. That just deserves a hotter bottom.”
“Baron! No! Anyone could hear!”
The stinging spank came down, a squeal leaving her lips. The warmth was turning into a burn.
“Stop, stop!” Her feet danced on the deck. His arm held her up for the most part, his blatant arousal pressing into her hip.
“Are you warm enough?” he purred.
She nodded with zeal, “Yes! No more.”
She heard his hand fumbling with metal, before a different warmth brushed against her heated backside. “Baron?”
“Shh.” His knee pushed her thighs further apart, “Are you ready for me?”
“Here?”
“You promised you would follow my every command. Is my prize not truth?”
“But… won’t people see? Hear?”
“Part of the thrill, hmm?” His heat brushed against her dampness, rubbing her natural lubricant around.
She stifled her moan, pressing her hand against her mouth. Shuffling herself into a slightly better position, purposefully rubbing herself against him.
He pressed his tip within her. Both their groans mingled in the salt air. “Baron,” she breathed, feeling herself stretch around him as he sheathed himself fully. Tingles of sheer pleasure engulfed her body.
Suddenly, she didn’t care they were outside, the sea to her back. Someone could begin climbing down the rope and she wouldn’t want Baron to stop, a low moan slipped from her lips as he filled her to the brim.
“Fuck,” he growled. “Gods you feel better every time I sink within you.”
“Well use me well, sunrise I will go against everything you tell me,” she sassed.
He let out a chuckle, pulling out before smashing back within her.
It had been an uneventful voyage, spending time with Baron had solidified her decision in her mind. She would join with him. It was the right decision. She rested her chin against the taffrail, the familiar surroundings warming… and bringing some worry to her. Home. She was home… knowing it wasn’t to be home for long. Baron had planted a seed in her mind that was steadily growing. The idea of moving her mother.
She had no idea if her mother would even move.
She would not move.
Kaliyah knew that fact. She could only lay the reasoning out. Give her the option and way. It was all she was able to do.
A warm body pressed against her back. “Worried, my love?”
“Peaceful,” she replied. “It is nice to clap eyes upon a horizon so familiar.”
“I can understand. Do you look forward to seeing your family?”
“Of course.”
“And the wedding?”
She chuckled, “Baron, I look forward to having you as a husband. Do you really feel we can make the arrangements in just a few short days?”
“Of course. Does the speed worry you?”
“No. Weddings are often within a few months of courtship.”
“We have not had a few months of courtship,” he countered.
“I knew I wanted you,” she mumbled.
“Since when?”
“First time I met you?” A blush rising on her cheeks.
He pressed a kiss to her heated cheek, “As have I, Pouco. The first moment I clapped eyes upon you, I knew I had to have you.”
She frowned, staring absentmindedly into the ocean. “Truly?”
“Truly.”
“But you never…”
“Showed my wish?”
“Yes.”
“I did not wish to scare you. Or force my wants. I had to know you had a want for me.” He nuzzled her hair, wrapping his arms around her.
“I am grateful. Grateful for everything.”
“That makes me happy, Pouco, very happy. Will you come to bed?”
“Soon, I just want to watch home a little longer before we make port.”
“Course.” He settled behind her, resting his chin on her head to watch as she was. A peace settled around them, Kaliyah knew this would be the last time on this boat as a Warren. As was custom she would take Baron’s name. While she wished to do so, it felt she was removing her father from herself. Taking his memory away.
The flickering lights of the port, of course made her think of him more so than usual. This was his playground. It was his work, his life, his love.
It was later than either of them probably should have turned in that night, Kaliyah’s gaze on the horizon had made them both lose track of time.
“We have not spoken about the union,” Baron announced as he pulled her closer on the cot.
“What do you mean?”
“Which union do you wish for? There are many,” he explained.
“Oh.” She hadn’t even thought about it. It was something she never truly believed would ever happen. His arm tightened further around her, reassuring her. “I don’t like the human ceremony,” she admitted.
“We can have an elven ceremony?” he suggested lightly.
She pursed her lips in thought, “We are both creatures of the sea. I like the shore… but from the perspective of the deck rather than land.” Her fingers weaved into his shirt, she didn’t much care… she just had a want for them to be joined. For their courting to be official.
“A ceremony of the sea. I agree, it sounds perfect.”
“Good.” She slid her leg over his.
“What’s the matter?”
“I’m well.”
“Tell me.”
She sighed, “I just worry about mother. I want to know she’s well, that’s all.”
“Understandable, we’ll be there by morning.”