reached up and caught her waist, helping her down onto the deck.
“Thank you.” She let out a huge sigh and bent over.
“You did all the hard work, I just helped with the dismount.”
She straightened up. “I have a new respect for pirates.”
Greyson wondered if that respect might stretch to him as well, but he wasn’t getting his hopes up. His boots thumped beside her as he landed and turned her way. “Are you all right?”
She pushed her hair back from her face. “I’m sorry about that.”
Greyson shook his head. “My fault. I shouldn’t have let you make the climb down alone with the wind.”
Colton raised a brow as he looked over at Greyson. “You two are lucky I was still awake or you’d still be upside down up there.” He glanced at Aura. “Sure you’re not injured?”
She wiped her nose, shaking her head. “My pride is a little bruised. Otherwise I’m fine.”
“Pride heals.” Colton popped his knuckles and grinned. “I don’t get up on the lines of the Sea Dog as much as I used to, so I should be thanking you.”
Aura smiled, shaking her head. “How’d you come up with the name? I thought ships were usually named after beautiful women.”
“Not always.” Colton chuckled. He met Greyson’s eyes. Gods, they hadn’t talked about this in lifetimes.
Greyson looked at Aura. “We had to mutiny to gain control of the ship from Captain Rutger Morgan. Her name was the Jeweled Serpent back then.”
Aura’s brow arched. “Captain Morgan? Really?”
Greyson chuckled. “That bastard was nothing like the captain they put on those rum bottles.” He sobered. “Captain Flynn took a vote from the crew to rename the vessel. A sea dog is a seasoned sailor. It stuck.”
Colton added, “When we lost the ship, Drake helped me build this replica, and we kept the name.” He checked the time on his phone and stuffed it back in his pocket, shaking his head. “Enough of dredging up the past. I better be sure we’re still on course or Keegan will take the opportunity to bust my balls when he wakes up to take over the wheel.”
“Night, mate.” Greyson waited for Colton to get to the captain’s quarters before turning to Aura. He studied her face, trying to stoke his irritation with her, but all he could muster was relief that she was safe. He looked up at the crow’s nest and shook his head. “I’m sorry that I took things too far up there.”
“You didn’t.”
He focused on her again. “I thought it was all an act.”
“It was.” But her heart wasn’t in it. She shook her head slowly. “That’s not fair. I got carried away, too.” She wrapped her arms around her middle and lifted her eyes to his face. “I need this mission to go well. If I don’t bring the Tyrfing back, it could put our national security at risk, and…” She broke eye contact, staring at the dark horizon. “I could lose my job. It might not sound like much to you, but it’s all I have.”
His brain told him to run, but seeing the sadness lining her face, his fucking heart couldn’t turn away. He reached for her hand, unsure if she’d yank it away or slap him with it.
She didn’t do either.
He waited for her to look his way. When she finally did, he whispered, “I’m making you a promise. You’ll have that sword.”
Moonlight danced in her eyes, the only sign of the tears building there. “Don’t make me empty promises.” She pulled her hand free of his. “I never should have accepted this assignment. You’re a pirate. I can’t trust you any farther than I can throw you.”
Her words stung like a physical slap across the face. He pointed up to the crow’s nest, his sore arms aching with the effort. “I just saved your ass up there, and now you’re questioning whether you can trust me?” He was half tempted to toss her overboard.
“Oh, please. My ass is all you want.” Her gaze snapped back to his face. “I’m just another trinket for you to collect. You don’t give a shit if I keep my job.”
“You seem to think you know who I am.” He narrowed his eyes. “You dub me a pirate and that’s all you see. Well, fuck you.” He shook his head. “My word is all that matters. I’ve given you a promise when I should have told you to piss off.” He started to walk away and stopped, spinning around to face her. Again,