Free The Merman and the Barbarian Pirate by Kay Berrisford Page B

fist in Stephen's shock of blond hair.
    "Get on with it," he growled. "This had better be good, or—" He gestured with his head to where a black-tongued whip hung on the wall.
    Raef gulped, glued to the hole in the timber, his brains in as much tumult as his heart. He felt like his eyes were bulging as he discerned the outline of Haverford's prick, straining against the fabric, swelling beneath Stephen's fumbling. Stephen was so lucky, so privileged, yet his hands trembled. Haverford yanked at his hair. "Hurry up, boy."
    Maybe Stephen liked Haverford to be rough and craved the gentle lick of that whip. After all, Raef himself dreamed of Haverford commanding and possessing him, body and soul.
    But it was no good. Now the initial onslaught of envy had passed, Raef couldn't subdue the doubts that dogged him. The scene before him left a brackish taste in his mouth, a world away from the honeyed swirl in his belly evoked by Kemp's nearness, let alone Kemp's passionate kiss. Haverford still looked like the perfect romantic hero, Raef's handsome prince… but maybe, just maybe, Lord Haverford was less beautiful within than his fair face suggested.
    The sound of clopping hooves caused everyone to startle. "Damnation." Lord Haverford shoved away Stephen, who caught himself on one hand, then echoed Haverford's angry grunt with one of pain. "Get out of here, you little shit." Haverford kicked in his direction, narrowly missing him as he scrambled backward, pulling his wrist in tight and cradling it. "See to these riders, and then fetch your doxy of a sister, to the blazes with your mother! I'll have you both later, or I'll have you spread-eagled and thrashed so thoroughly you'll not sit down 'til Michaelmas."
    Stephen dragged himself up and obeyed, still nursing his arm. He'd blanched a shade paler than before. Haverford laced himself in crossly before he strutted to the door. "Ah, Simpson. There you are. What news, man, what news?"
    "No sight of the Pirate Kemp," said Simpson, a stolid man of middle years who sported a three-cornered hat and carried a musket, which Raef knew to be a fearsome firearm. "But my chaps in the yeomanry cavalry are on their way here now, and a hundred royal dragoons will be arriving at Lilhaven at nightfall tomorrow. From there, we'll be positioning them in every port, inlet, and bay up the coast for fifty miles. The next time that blackguard makes land, he'll be done for."
    Raef felt sick. Haverford rubbed his hands and emitted a full-blooded chuckle. "Excellent. I'll travel up to Lilhaven to greet the troops myself. This is going to be fantastic sport. I'd like to be there at the start, then I'll enjoy it all the more when I see him hanged."
    No. You can't! Raef bit his tongue to stop himself protesting. He understood that these men must stop the kluggites from thieving, but Kemp didn't deserve to die.
     "Whatever happens," promised Simpson, "we'll make sure you're in at the kill, my lord."
    "Oh, I will be, you can trust in that." Haverford slapped Simpson's back. "Now, my dear Sheriff, this is hardly the place for us to discuss such niceties as executing pirates. Let us retreat to the billiards room and take a cup of Madeira, eh? Drink to our future laurels."
    "And to one soon-to-be-dead bandit and his crew," added Simpson. Haverford snuffed the candle, then strode from the stable, Simpson following at his heel like a pup.
    Raef fell away from his spyhole and dropped his face to his hands. His lord was beautiful still, but his heart no longer blossomed with affection. Doubt riddled him, and he felt no envy of the benighted Stephen. Raef had wished to feel the force of Haverford's strong body… but not in the cold fashion Stephen had suffered it. He was so confused again. He'd still got Haverford's knife, and surely presenting that would please him. Haverford might treat Raef differently to Stephen, if he understood the nature of Raef's devotion.
    Or perhaps not.
    And what about the pirates? If the Alice