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The last thing Henry remembered was grabbing his dog and ducking under the explosions of the attacking pirate ship. The impact knocked him unconscious, and when he woke up he was in the water, but by some miracle he still had his dog with him. Henry managed to hold on to David as he swam for a large beam. It was wide enough to shove David up on top of it, while he was forced to float in the water and cling to it.
He was still there hours later, hanging on for dear life, when a ship appeared on the horizon. It looked like another pirate ship, and Henry had no reason to trust them, but he wasn’t going to survive much longer in the cold.
So he let them haul him up on the ship, and he was surprised when he was quickly bundled into warm wool blankets. He was surrounded by pirates, at least that was his best guess by the look of them.
“My d-dog,” Henry chattered, looking towards the ship's rail. “P-please, save my dog!”
“He’s right, there is a dog!” It was a woman, dressed in trousers with a long dark braid down her back. “Haul him aboard.”
A man’s voice came from behind him. “Are you who I think you are?”
Henry looked up, and was momentarily stunned at the sight of the most beautiful man he’d ever seen in his life. Golden skin, black curls, and a jaw that looked like it was cut by the gods. He was wearing a black vest over a billowing white shirt, unbuttoned at the top and showing a generous peek of a well defined chest. He had rings on his long fingers, a gold necklace around his neck, and a utility belt complete with a gun and a scope.
Heny finally forced himself to speak. “Why are you asking?”
“Wondering if the royal navy will come after my ship for kidnapping a prince,” the man said, keeping his voice low.
“You’re the captain?” Henry asked.
“Captain Alexander Claremont-Diaz,” the man said, dropping into a squat next to where Henry was huddled on the deck. “But you can just call me Alex, pretty boy,” he said with a wink.
Henry flushed at the brazen flirting, which he had to assume was a horrible joke. “I’m Henry. Just Henry.”
“We got him!” the woman crowed.
There was a commotion near the rail and suddenly a small and very wet beagle ran over and threw himself on Henry’s lap.
Alex frowned down at the dog. “Oh, you’re here too. Nice to meet you…”
“David,” Henry said, feeling overwhelming relief to know his dog was okay. “His name is David.”
Alex made a face but patted the dog on the head. “Pleasure to meet you, David. And Henry.” He let out a troubled sigh. “So what shall we do with you? Drop you at the next port?”
Henry hesitated for a moment. “My ship sank. When the navy finds the ruins, do you suppose they’ll assume I’m dead?”
Alex gave him a funny look. “I most certainly do think they’ll believe that.”
Henry looked up at Alex with a tentative expression. “I might prefer they continue to assume that. I don’t suppose you’re in need of a fresh set of hands?”
“Are you asking me for a job?” Alex asked, smirking.
“Possibly,” Henry replied, nervous. He knew he was rather at this man’s mercy.
“You know this is a pirate ship, right kid?” Alex asked, raising a dubious eyebrow.
“Merchant ship!” The woman with the long braid corrected irritably.
“Except for when we’re looting other pirates,” Alex called back. He smiled at Henry. “And pirates are more impressive, regardless.”
“Stealing from thieves. Sounds noble,” Henry said, tentatively. “If you’d let me stay aboard, I promise I will be helpful.”
Alex studied him for a long moment. “I suppose we could give that a go. There’s got to be something around here that you can do,” he said with a smile. “But there’s just one condition.”
Henry frowned a little. “What is it?”
“If you stay on this ship, you’re no longer a prince,” Alex said, smirking playfully. “You’re just a boy working on a ship.”
Henry flushed. “I’m 21, I’m hardly a boy.”
“And yet you’ve never worked a day in your life,” Alex said pointedly. “Whereas I’m 25 and I’ve been working aboard ship since I was six years old. You’re basically just a kid, as far as I’m concerned.”
Henry could feel his cheeks burning, but he couldn’t come up with an argument. The captain was right, Henry had no work experience to go on.
“Alright,” Henry agreed reluctantly. “Not a prince. Just Henry.”
Alex grinned, taking Henry’s hand and helping him to his feet. “Welcome aboard, kid.” He turned to the woman with the long braid. “June, find Henry a job.” Alex winked at him. “Pretty boy here must be good at something.
At the moment, Henry was particularly good at blushing.
Henry was terrible at everything. It turned out, being raised a prince didn’t at all prepare him for life aboard a pirate ship.
He was seated in the mess hall, frowning down at his soup, shoulders hunched and dejected.
“You sure are lucky the captain likes you so much,” Nora said, clapping Henry on the shoulder as she passed him.
June smirked at him as she followed Nora. “What do they teach you in prince school, anyway?”
Henry flushed red, ignoring the irritated eyes of the cook from across the room. He really had tried his best to be helpful in the galley, but he’d been kicked out before the midday meal was halfway done. Apparently he was more annoying than useful.
“There’s my favorite pretty boy,” Alex teased as he walked into the mess, dropping a lingering hand on Henry’s shoulder.
“Captain.” Henry blushed and tried to offer a polite smile.
“Apparently ‘chef’ isn’t in your future, huh kid?” Alex said with a smile. “Don’t worry, I have a new idea, much more appropriate for your soft hands.”
Henry’s eyes widened. Surely the captain wasn’t making a pass at him?
“Meet me in my quarters after midday meal,” Alex said, before Henry could question him. He took his food and left.
Henry looked up to see June and Nora sitting down across from him, meals in hand, and Nora was smirking openly.
“Sounds like the captain has a special job in mind for you,” Nora teased, grinning wide.
“Ew, that’s my brother you’re talking about,” June complained.
Henry frowned. “Surely you can’t be suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?”
Nora shrugged. “He’s handsome, you’re handsome. What’s not to suggest?”
Henry frowned deeper. “But that’s illegal…”
Nora barked a laugh, turned to June, and pulled her in for a deep kiss. June rolled her eyes before letting herself sink into the embrace. Several other crewmen banged their tankards on the tables and crowed their approval.
Nora pulled out of the kiss with a smirk. “Those laws only apply on land.” She shrugged. “That’s the best part of living on the sea, we don’t get hung up on what ‘polite society’ would think of us.”
June smiled, and she gave him a surprisingly understanding look. “You should give it a try.”
Henry’s face was burning, and he knew he must be bright red. “Er, thanks,” he mumbled, and hunched back over his soup.
He spent the entire meal trying not to panic.
He’d only spent his entire young life trying to suppress his sinful desires. And now he was being told that they were not only okay here, but potentially welcomed by the most beautiful man he’d ever seen?
What did Alex have in mind? Was he going to turn Henry into some kind of bed warming servant? Henry might desire men, but he certainly had no idea how to go about pleasing one.
Would Alex kick him off the ship if Henry didn’t please him well enough?
Henry’s mind was swimming with anxiety when he opened the door to the captain’s quarters and tentatively stepped inside. He tried to hide how he was shaking.
Alex was standing over a large table, frowning down at several large maps spread across the surface. He looked at Henry and smiled warmly.
“Henry, come take a look at this,” he said, pulling back a chair.
Henry frowned, confused, but he stepped into the room and took the seat at the table. When he looked down, he found himself looking at a large nautical map with a logbook next to it. Both were in French.
“Please tell me princes learn French?” Alex asked, dropping a large hand on Henry’s shoulder.
“Yes, of course,” Henry said, looking up at Alex with a slightly confused expression. “I’m also fluent in German, Welsh, and Spanish. And I’m relatively well versed in Russian.”
“Wonderful!” Alex grinned, squeezing Henry’s shoulder before pulling his hand away. “I knew you were smart, kid. This is going to be your new job,” he said, pointing at the map. “I’ve got maps and logs from other ships, in all sorts of languages. You’re going to help me make sense of them.”
Henry couldn’t decide if he should be relieved or disappointed that Alex didn’t want his job to involve the other man’s bed. But he put on a polite smile. “Yes, Captain. I’d be happy to help.”
Alex grinned and rubbed a hand on the back of Henry’s neck. “That’s my favorite pretty boy. My pretty smart boy,” he added with a wink.
Henry blushed a deep shade of red, but turned his focus to the maps.
Over the following weeks, Henry spent most of his days squirreled away in the captain’s quarters. Henry and Alex poured over maps and logs together, with Henry translating the foreign languages while Alex transcribed it into English.
“Have you thought about asking someone else to do the English transcribing to give you a break?” Henry asked one day. He really wasn’t sure why the captain of the ship would be doing this work himself.
Alex gave Henry a funny look for a moment, then shook his head. “I don’t trust anyone else with this information, it’s tactical secrets.”
Henry hesitated. “But you trust me?”
“Of course I trust you,” Alex said, reaching over to run his hand through Henry’s hair, ruffling it playfully. “You’re my favorite.”
Henry smiled, ducking his head to hide his blush.
He didn’t really understand this… dynamic, he had with the captain. Alex seemed to enjoy flirting with him, but he never made a move to take it any further. Alex also had a bit of a possessive streak to him, in a strangely polite fashion. He cajoled Henry into spending all his time with him, including every meal, but rarely outright ordered him. He didn’t need to, Henry enjoyed spending all of his time at the captain’s side.
And people were absolutely talking about them, making assumptions about what happened behind closed doors. Henry had decided he didn’t care. If anything, he only wished there was more truth to the rumors.
There was a knock at the door, and Nora appeared with a tray of food for them both. “Somehow I knew you two wouldn’t make it to midday meal,” she said, setting the tray down on the table next to a large map labeled in Spanish.
“You would be correct,” Alex said, his lingering hand falling down to Henry’s shoulder. “My pretty boy here keeps me far too busy.”
Again. Possessive.
Henry didn’t mind it.
Henry actually rather liked it. It made his chest warm and his toes curl, the way Alex called him mine.
Nora smirked. “Well we all serve at the pleasure of our captain, don’t we Henry?” She grinned. “Good thing you have the skills to keep the Captain so busy in his bed chambers.”
Henry’s blush burned hotter, and he tried to think of a comeback, but Alex beat him to it.
“That’s quite enough, Nora,” Alex snapped. He stood, keeping one strong hand on Henry’s shoulder. “I know it’s quite my fault that you’ve gotten that impression, but Henry speaks more languages than every other person on this ship combined. So I won’t have you suggesting he’s worth no more than his skills in the bedroom.”
Nora had the decency to look bashful. “My apologies, Captain. And to you, Henry. I let my amusement get the better of me, I promise I think more highly of you than that.”
Henry was still blushing. “It’s quite alright.” Alex’s hand felt like a brand on his shoulder, possessive and hot.
Nora left the room, closing the door behind her, and Alex removed his hand from Henry’s shoulder.
“Henry, I’m sorry,” Alex said, eyes low and voice gentle. “I’ve been letting myself get carried away. Flirting with you is fun, you’re particularly pretty when you blush.” His voice got a little sad. “But it seems clear to me you’re not interested, so I’m going to let it go and stop teasing you.”
Henry gaped at Alex for a long moment. He had to get hold of all of his courage to find the right words. “I’m sorry Captain, you’ve got it all wrong.”
Alex frowned at him. “How so?”
Henry stood, and took a step closer to Alex. He peered at him, shy and nervous. “I like it,” he whispered.
Alex’s eyes went wide. “You do?”
Henry nodded. “Yes.” His eyes dropped to Alex’s hand, and he reached over to take it. “I especially like it when you call me yours.” His face bloomed a bright red.
A smile slowly spread across Alex’s face. “My pretty boy,” he murmured, his other hand coming to rest on Henry’s waist. “My smart, pretty, perfect boy. Mine, all mine.”
Henry shivered. “Yours, Captain.”
Alex pulled Henry flush against his chest and kissed him. It felt like a flame being lit by the captain’s lips and rapidly spreading through his body, all the way to his fingers and toes. Henry eagerly let his lips part, inviting the kiss deeper, delighting in the feeling of his tongue tangling with Alex’s.
The captain pulled away, desire in his eyes. “Call me Alex,” he murmured.
Henry smiled and wrapped his arms around the captain’s neck. “Kiss me again, Alex.”
He did.
Henry woke slowly, his mind trying to cling to sleep. He was warm and safe, wrapped in strong arms and snuggled on a soft mattress.
As he woke, he was absently aware that the captain’s bed was far more comfortable than the bunk where he’d been sleeping down in the crew quarters. That and Alex’s strong chest felt marvelous pressed up against his bare back, as did his strong arms, wrapped around him tight.
Henry had learned that a pirate’s life did wonderful things to a man’s physique.
“Can I tell the crew?” Alex asked in a soft murmur, pressing little kisses across the back of Henry’s neck. “I want everyone to know you’re mine, so they put a stop to their own plans to seduce you.”
Henry looked back over his shoulder at Alex. “Plans to seduce me?”
Alex grinned. “Why do you think I’ve been keeping you all to myself? Couldn’t let anyone beat me to it.”
Henry barked a laugh and rolled over so he could kiss Alex properly. When he pulled back he was smirking. “Tell them all,” he practically purred. “Tell them all that I belong to the captain, and they’re not to lay a finger on what’s yours.”
Alex let out a low groan and pulled Henry back in for a deep kiss.
Henry stood on the quarterdeck at the back of the ship, looking out at the endless expanse of blue water as it sparkled in the late afternoon sun. It was a hot day, and Henry wore a simple white top and dark trousers. Most of his wardrobe was inherited from Alex at this point, and he would admit to himself that he very much enjoyed wearing the other man’s clothes.
“Enjoying the view?” Alex asked, appearing alongside him. He slid a familiar hand under Henry’s shirt, seeking out the bare skin of his back.
“Always,” Henry replied, leaning into Alex’s strong shoulder.
The crew was all out on the deck working, and nobody batted an eye at the Captain and his right hand man.
Alex enjoyed flaunting his relationship with Henry in front of the crew, and Henry enjoyed being flaunted. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine a life where he could be so publicly involved with another man.
June came bounding up onto the quarterdeck. “Ready to set sail, Captain!”
Alex grinned and planted a smacking kiss on Henry’s cheek, then reluctantly let go and returned to his duties.
Henry was looking for a place to sit, out of the way of the crew, when he heard a call come down from the crow’s nest.
“Merchant vessel, dead ahead!”
Henry watched Alex walk to the bow of the ship and pull out his telescoping eyeglass. He studied the ship for a long moment before he turned to the crew.
“Bring us alongside, we’ll see if they’re willing to make trade,” Alex ordered. “But arm yourselves, and be wary.”
Alex stalked straight back to the quarterdeck, and right up to Henry. “Time to get you into your disguise, sweetheart,” he said, going for teasing but coming out protective.
“Yes, Captain,” Henry said, trying to match Alex’s playful tone.
Alex smirked and pulled his own three corner hat off and put it on Henry’s head, hiding his distinctive blond hair and tugging it down low over his brow. “Keep your head down, don’t make eye contact. I know I’d recognize those blue eyes anywhere, myself.”
“Aye aye,” Henry said with a playful smile.
Alex grinned and ducked under the brow of his own hat to press a kiss to Henry’s lips. “You look good in my hat, pretty boy, I should give it to you more often.”
Henry blushed and beamed.
Then Alex was gone again, directing his crew as they slowly pulled alongside the other ship. Henry nervously watched them work, fearful that this ‘merchant’ ship would turn out to be rival pirates under a false flag.
But the closer they got, the more legitimate the ship looked.
And actually, it started to appear rather familiar…
“Captain!” Henry called, hurrying over to where Alex stood on the bow.
Alex frowned. “What’s wrong, kid?”
“I know that ship,” Henry said quickly, breathlessly. “It belongs to a friend of mine, Captain Okonjo.”
“What do you suppose he’s doing out here?” Alex asked, still studying the approaching vessel.
Henry hesitated. “If I had to wager a guess? Looking for me.”
“That good of a friend, huh?” Alex frowned, reaching out to hook Henry’s neck with his hand. “Is he a rival for my affections?”
Henry smiled and flushed. “No, love,” he murmured. “You have no such rivals, on land or on sea.”
Alex appeared satisfied with that, and he grinned playfully. “Good. Because you’re mine, pretty boy.”
Henry felt himself flush with desire that he knew couldn’t be sated any time soon. “Yes, Captain.”
“Hang back, out of sight,” Alex said, squeezing Henry’s hand quickly before turning back to the approaching ship.
Henry found a spot he could sit on a barrel behind a large crate, trying to look casual while staying under cover. From there, he watched the two ships fall in line slowly. The seas were calm, allowing both vessels to come close enough to drop a single gang plank to connect them.
Henry watched his best friend confidently walk the narrow board, and Pez stepped down onto the deck of Alex’s ship.
“Captain.” Pez nodded respectfully. “I’m Captain Okonjo, I sail these waters in search of His Royal Highness Prince Henry’s lost vessel.”
Alex nodded. “I do not have good news for you,” he said, rather heavily. “We came across the wreckage of that ship.”
Pez’s face fell, but before he could speak, David barked and ran across the deck to greet him.
Pez sank to his knees and took the dog into his arms. “David! Good lad.”
“I’m afraid the dog was the only survivor,” Alex said, regretfully.
Pez hung his head, and clutched David closer.
Henry was suddenly concerned that Pez would demand to take his dog. Why would he agree to leave him with this ragtag band of sometimes pirates, without knowing Henry was there?
“No!”
Henry’s head snapped around, and his mouth fell open at the sight of his sister in a dark blue dress, storming across the narrow plank and leaping down onboard Alex’s ship.
“Henry cannot be dead, he simply cannot!” Bea demanded.
“Princess Beatrice,” Alex greeted, bowing deeply. “I’m terribly sorry for your loss. Please, will you both join me in my quarters? I can show you exactly where we found your brother’s ship.”
Pez stood and looked at Bea, and Henry ached for the sorrow he saw in their eyes. They were the only two people he regretted leaving behind for his new life aboard ship. He was frozen there, watching as they followed Alex below deck, hating the tears he could already see starting to streak his sister’s face.
He couldn’t do this to them. He would have to take his chances, tell them the truth and beg them to keep his secret.
Henry waited until things above deck were quiet, until the men on the other ship were bored and paying no attention. And then he slipped below to the quarters he’d shared with Alex for weeks now.
When he opened the door, he found Pez pouring over a map with Bea. Both of them had clearly been crying, but they seemed resolute in their mission to find his sunken ship.
Alex saw him first, and intercepted him with a wide eyed expression, pushing him back outside before either Pez or Bea could recognize him. He closed the door and rounded on him.
“What are you doing?” Alex demanded.
“I have to tell them the truth,” Henry begged, taking Alex’s hand in his. “They don’t deserve this! They’ll keep my secret, I’m sure of it.”
Alex appeared to be both worried and sympathetic. “Or they’ll take you from me, and put a bounty on my head for kidnapping you.”
“They won’t do that,” Henry said, certain. “They will see how happy I am here, they will understand why I want to stay.”
“How can you be sure?” Alex asked.
“Because they’re the only two people in the whole world who know my secret,” Henry said, reaching up to cup Alex’s face. “The only people who know how long I’ve longed for a man just like you.”
Alex’s face softened, though there was still clearly trepidation in his eyes. “Alright. Let’s get this over with.”
Alex stepped back into his quarters, and Henry kept himself momentarily tucked behind Alex, hat tipped low.
“I owe you both an apology,” Alex said, ruefully. “I wasn’t entirely honest with you. You see, David wasn’t the only survivor we found at the wreck. It’s just, the second survivor decided he didn’t want to be officially found.”
Henry stepped around Alex, and pulled his hat off.
“Henry!” Bea cried, and there were suddenly tears anew as she threw herself into his arms.
“Hazza!” Pez enthusiastically wrapped his arms around Bea and Henry both. “How the bloody hell did you survive?”
“Dumb luck,” Henry said, smiling inside the rather stifling hug. “And some help from the captain and his crew.” He frowned a little. “I’m sorry for faking my death and all.”
“Why ever did you do that?” Bea demanded, pulling out of the hug to stare at Henry. “Will you not let us bring you home?”
Henry gave her a sad smile. “This is my home now, Bea. I’m happy here.”
“With a bunch of bloody pirates?” Pez demanded, then rolled his eyes when Henry scowled. “Sorry, ‘merchants.’ Right.”
“It’s just that… I can be myself here.” Henry turned to Alex, and put out a hand for him.
Alex took Henry’s hand and tugged him close, draping an arm across Henry’s shoulders. “I promise, I’m taking excellent care of Henry. Only the best for the captain’s right hand man.”
Henry leaned back and pressed a tender kiss to Alex’s cheek, just to make sure there was no misunderstanding the nature of their relationship. He nervously looked back to his sister and his best friend, gauging their reaction.
Bea’s eyes softened immediately. “Oh Henry. Are you saying what I believe you’re saying.”
Pez just gaped, at a loss for words.
“I love him,” Henry said, lifting his chin defiantly. “I belong here, with him.”
Alex looked at Henry like treasure sparkled in his eyes. “I love your brother, Princess Beatrice. He is mine, and I am his.”
“We don’t have to hide,” Henry continued, gushing now. “The whole crew knows, and they don’t care. I never dreamed I could love a man openly as I do Alex. But I couldn’t possibly give that up now.”
Bea and Pez couldn’t argue in the face of Henry’s happiness. But they did make him promise to write when he could, agreeing that all correspondence would be under David’s name from then on.
As they prepared to board Pez’s ship, Bea looked over at June and Nora, and there was something like longing in her eyes. Henry wished she could stay aboard and live free with him, but she wasn’t ready to make the same leap Henry had done.
He hoped he would see her again in this lifetime.
Later Alex held Henry in his arms, Henry’s back to his chest, and they watched as the Okonjo ship disappeared on the horizon.
“I will miss them,” Henry murmured.
“Do you regret staying with me?” Alex asked, insecurity slipping through.
Henry turned in Alex’s arms and wrapped his arms tight around the captain’s shoulders. “I could never. I’m yours, my captain. Forever.”
Alex smiled, his usual self confident swagger returning in full force. “And I am yours, my pretty boy. Forever more.”
Forever sounded pretty good to Henry. They sealed it with a kiss.