Cash Remington and the Rum Run (Sexy Dreadfuls Book 2) by Celia Aaron Page A

sigh. “Let’s think of how to solve this.”
    “She has to go back and return the stone.” Shade tilts her chin up, her wet brown hair sticking to her chest, highlighting the swell of her tits.
    “No! I won’t go back.” Nere finally finds a spine and stands straighter.
    Shade steps toward her. “You’d rather let the Kraken kill us and sink this ship? What a selfish little cock gobbler you are!”
    “Ladies, please.” I hold a hand up. “First, she hasn’t gobbled my cock…yet. Second, we just need to figure out how best to use the stone to bargain for her freedom.”
    “There is no fucking bargaining. She needs to go. I vote we dump her and the stone overboard.”
    “No.”
    “But, Cash, she’s going to get us all kill—”
    I reach across Nere and wrap my hand around Shade’s throat. “This isn’t a democracy, Shade. I’m the Captain of this ship. I decide what we do.” I lower my voice so Shade knows I’m not fucking around. “And you will address me as Captain. Got it?”
    Shade grips my wrist, but I don’t release her. Not until she understands who’s in charge.
    I shake her, and she struggles to breathe. “I asked you if you understand. Do you?”
    She meets my gaze. “Aye, Captain,” she croaks.
    “Good.” I let her go.
    She stumbles backward and takes a deep breath.
    I grab Nere’s chin and pull her face around to mine. “Now, where can we find Poseidon?”
    She glances to the pouch around my neck. “He’ll find us.”
    “How?”
    “When the stone touches the water, he can sense it.”
    So many things click in my mind that I fear I’m having a stroke. My amusement at stealing the sea god’s cherry turns to rage.
    “The fuck?” I want to shake her. Maybe I should have let Shade smack her around some more. “You’ve known that this entire time?”
    She drops her gaze.
    The stone touched the water when I rescued her. Then the Kraken appeared. It touched the water again when I dove in to swim. And then again, after we made landfall at Port Royal.
    “And you know he’ll do anything to get the stone back? The whirlpool, the six-headed beast, the fucking Kraken—all because of you!” My voice rises, and I have to stay my hand, the desire to strike her almost overwhelming.
    “Look who finally gets it.” Shade sits on the rail and gives me a cross stare.
    “Shut the fuck up, Shade.”
    Nere’s lip trembles, and I have to get away before I attack her. Shade still smirks, taunting me.
    “You know what? Both of you shut the fuck up.” I stalk down to the main deck and into the captain’s cabin. It’s far more luxurious than anything I’ve ever had—real glass in the windows, a large bed, an actual closet, and two wide map tables.
    I collapse onto the bed and stare at the timbers above me. What a fucking mess. I bounce my head on the mattress and try to think of a way out of this clusterfuck. I need a plan, and soon. The next time the stone touches water, there’s no telling what will rise from the deep to claim it. And Nere. But the thought gives me an idea. One neither woman will like.
    I smirk as I think back to Nere’s tight cunt. At least I got to sample Poseidon’s bride before he did. My smirk turns into a laugh as a plan forms in my mind.
     

 
     
     
    CHAPTER NINE
     
     
     
     
    “ A RE YOU READY FOR this, Captain ?” Shade’s emphasis on my title is going to get her ass spanked sooner rather than later, but we have more pressing matters to attend to.
    “Splash about some, Nere. Really enjoy that water.” I peer down as Nere swims effortlessly through the sparkling blue, my tether securely fastened around her waist and the satchel with the gem hanging around her neck.
    “Please don’t do this.” Her hair has come loose from the topknot and glistens in the sun.
    “It’s already done. Poseidon must feel the pull of the gem. Maybe he’s drawn to you, too. I don’t know. Either way, men, lift her up.”
    The deckhands pull Nere from the water and