Page 27 of A Reckless Indulgence

“You’re lying.”

Lyx’s body bristles. The air is sweltering. Everyone who speaks to her is an asshole. She lost her first lead on this ship, and the gaping absence of her song has opened up again. How much more can she take?

When she turns back to Cypher, Lyx’s smile is sharp. “Nosy bitch, aren’t you?”

Cypher’s nostrils flare. The crow flaps in alarm, but Lyx isn’t deterred. She lunges, but then, two warm hands curl around her shoulders from behind.

“Just the person I was looking for.” Despite Cav’s breezy voice, he’s purposeful as he leads her away from the fight. Only once they’re out of Cypher’s line of sight does he stop moving Lyx along. “I see you’ve found the time to make enemies.”

Lyx pries away from him, snatching a drink from the nearest tray. “It’s not like I’m going to make friends.” She takes a long swig, but it lacks the burn of liquor. She scowls.

“One of Heathen’s recipes,” Cav confirms. “Strong enough to loosen inhibitions, but not enough to get you drunk. Important distinction for a pleasure house.”

Yet another way to stave off chaos. With a roll of her eyes, Lyx sets the drink on a barrel and moves toward the railing.

Cav picks up her abandoned drink. “You know, if you were trying to get drunk, you could have done it at the pub.”

“I didn’t need a drink until I got back here.”

He sidles up next to her. “Then what have you been doing since we made port?”

His words aren’t as hostile as Cypher’s, but it’s not an innocent question. Cav is looking for something. Lyx narrows her eyes. There’s no way he can suspect what she’s up to. She won’t incriminate herself. Let him throw out the allegation if he wants.

But when he speaks, it’s not an accusation. “If your ex is chasing you, you need to be careful. You shouldn’t go off on your own.”

So that’s what this is about. With a sigh, she leans her elbows back against the railing. “As much as you relish interfering in what I do, I only have to deal with you during the experiment. I can handle the rest of my time. Alone.”

“Is that how your dress got ripped?”

Only now does she recognize the breeze against her stomach. The hole from Tidus is bigger than she realized, uneven and jagged. Cav watches her expression closely. She’s missed her opportunity to pretend to be surprised, so instead, she flexes her fingers and looks out across the deck. “Must have caught on a loose nail.”

It’s obvious she’s lying. It’s pathetic attempt, but Cav doesn’t call her out. He lifts his hand to the damage, slipping past the fabric to brush the marks Tidus left on her skin.

Despite herself, she shivers.

Cav outlines the hole with the tip of his claw. “Doesn’t look like a snag.”

His voice is dangerously soft. She has to pull away, still tingling when bumps prickle along her arms. She needs to think about something else — anything else – so she scans the rest of the ship.

It’s clear the Indulgence is built for show, its sails and decor more opulent than any normal vessel. Along the taffrail, an assortment of carved creatures drape around closed clamshells. The atmosphere and dim lighting add an air of sensuality, but aside from the decor, the rest of the party is tame. Everyone chats and laughs, but there’s hardly any physical contact. Most of the crew remains standing, as if their flirtation is constrained to glances alone. It’s unlike any of the brothels Lyx has been to. Everyone seems comfortable, but they’re almost…hesitant.

“Why do customers come here?” she asks.

“What do you mean?”

“Why don’t they visit a pleasure house on the island? Surely the experience isn’t that different.”

“They can’t.” Cav finishes off the drink and sets it aside. “We visit ports that don’t have their own brothels. Either the government blocks them, or the population’s too small, or some other reason. That’s why people come to the Indulgence.”

Lyx tugs out a cord from her belt and gathers her curls atop her head. Finally, the night breeze begins to cool her neck. “Nothing about this looks very indulgent.”

Cav sighs and leans back against the railing. “You’re not wrong.” Then a mischievous smile flashes across his lips. “Maybe it’s time we spice things up.”

Heat coils in her gut. She hasn’t forgotten that time is ticking on this venture they agreed to. In truth, she’s been thinking about it since the morning she boarded. Remembering how close he was, how his body looked beneath his clothes…

How he refused to fuck her.

Not that she cares. Not that it matters, because he won’t be able to stick to it. Of the two of them, it’s Cav who’ll be begging to give her everything.