Page 20 of A Reckless Indulgence
“There are a few parameters,” Heathen adds. “On this ship, safety is the top priority; I expect your venture to be the same. No harm should come to anyone.”
“Without consent.”
Heathen’s eyes narrow. “Without consent.”
“Are we limited to my cabin?”
Heathen’s mouth twists as they consider it, sinking down into their chair. “No. But you are limited to each other. No one else should take part except for you and Lyx.”
“Physically take part, you mean?”
Heathen settles back to take him in fully. Mischievously, Cav’s tail flicks. He knows he’s testing his luck, but if there’s one thing Heathen loves, it’s clarity.
“No physical contact with any third party,” Heathen confirms. “In fact, I’d prefer you stay ten feet away from anyone else during your…entanglements.”
“Can do.”
Heathen straightens somberly. “I also hope this experiment keeps you busy. Keeps you out of trouble.” She levels her gaze, and Cav resists the urge to flinch. It’s uncommon to get such direct eye contact from Heathen. It feels heavy and intentional. “I want you somewhere I can keep an eye on you. Where your risks are taken in a controlled environment and not on a high-class dining ship.”
He winces.
“This endeavor needs to work, Cav. Even if it doesn’t become a permanent fixture, you have to think it through. Be deliberate. Spontaneity is all fine and good, but not at the cost of well-being.” Heathen leans forward in their chair and picks up a roll of parchment. “If you aren’t vigilant about this, we’ll have a different conversation. One more like the kind you expected.”
Cav swallows. Careless as he’s been, losing his place on this ship is not the goal. He has to take this seriously. He will. It’s the most flexibility Heathen has given him, and he won’t squander it. Curtly, he nods.
Heathen jabs the roll of parchment toward him. “Don’t make me regret this.”
He backs toward the door, holding up his pinched fingers. “Only a little.”
He leaves before Heathen reconsiders. Lyx is waiting outside, her back to the windows of Heathen’s quarters.
“Eavesdropping?” Cav teases.
She doesn’t laugh, her gaze trained across the deck. “They certainly like to stare.”
By now, the crew of the Indulgence has come to life, finishing breakfast and preparing to set sail. Swabbies lug crates of food onboard as others untether ropes and lower the sails. Nearly all of them have their eyes trained on Lyx.
Cav plucks an orange from the nearest barrel and holds it out to her. “Until ten minutes ago, they thought you were a figment of my imagination.”
“Drop the act.”
His brows knit. He checks the orange for mold or some other offense before he rubs it clean on his vest. “What act?”
“This nicety shit. You got what you wanted; I’m stuck with you. You don’t have to play it up.”
He chuckles, but Lyx’s eyes are cold. He offers the orange again. “You know, most people would say, ‘Thank you, Cav, for helping me get a spot on this ship that I so desperately wanted.’”
She folds her arms.
He retracts the fruit. “You didn’t tell me someone was following you.”
Her ex. Why didn’t she mention it last night? Cav could have helped her. He certainly wouldn’t have left her on her own. Perhaps that’s exactly why she said nothing; she’d rather fend for herself than deal with Cav.
His face burns. The fact that she has an ex at all is surprising. He thought sirens didn’t form such intimate relationships — hell, Lyx told him as much in the grotto.
So what is Cav to her? A fling? A failed victim?
His fingers tighten around the orange. No matter how short their time together, no matter how waterlogged his mind was, there was something between them. There had to be something. Or was Cav imagining it all, prescribing some draw that she never felt?
