Chapter 393: To The Sea They Went
The clothe also has a crimson sash was knotted around her waist, and small gold hoops glinted in her ears. Her flaming red hair had been tied back loosely, with wisps framing her face, giving her the look of a tempest caught mid-swoon,wild and commanding, soft yet lethal. A silver chain wrapped once around her neck, a charm in the shape of a compass resting at her collarbone.
Alaric whistled, slowly circling her like a man admiring forbidden art.
"You’re going to get me killed," he said with a slow grin. His tone was light, but his eyes devoured her.
"You like it?" she asked, lifting her brow coyly.
He stepped close, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I love you. But yes... this?" He smirked. "I like. This I’d follow into any storm."
She smiled, heart fluttering at how playful he was being,how warm. It was rare. And it was hers. She reached out and adjusted the collar of his dark tunic. "You look handsome, Captain."
He grinned and leaned in, placing a lingering kiss on her cheek. "Careful, First Mate. I might get used to this."
They were touchy, yes,hands grazing as they adjusted each other’s belts, giggling like they hadn’t faced death only days before. Salviana noticed the way his eyes softened when they landed on her now. The guarded edge in him had eased, replaced with curiosity, with want. She’d been the one mourning the slowing intimacy, fearing the distance, but perhaps... they’d just needed the right wind to bring them back.
She wouldn’t rush him. Not anymore. This attention,this tenderness,was more valuable than gold. She’d take it, piece by piece, and build something eternal from it.