Chapter 9

The first time he met Black Thornwood, Aaron had broken out in a cold sweat.

If the devil had a face, it would surely have been his. A very attractive devil, by the way.

His metallic gaze had settled on him with the utmost indifference when he had introduced himself:

- And what is the completely useless younger brother of a duke doing in the maritime quarters of the Blacknight?

Aaron had not let himself be intimidated. He had taken a step forward, indicating his intention to work for him.

Black had raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

Most of the men stuttered and fled in the face of his frightening look while this little young man challenged him by advancing?

Interesting.

Aaron had then explained to him that he had studied for several years in order to join a shipping company and that his was the best.

He therefore hoped that he would give him a chance to prove himself.

-Very well, Mr. Hargrove. I am therefore taking you on a trial basis. We will see if his years of study have been fruitful or not.

Aaron had then started working for Black and he had quickly made himself indispensable.

His knowledge and love of shipbuilding brought a lot to the company.

After a few months, Black had offered him a share in Blacknight Maritime and he had happily accepted. His dream was finally coming true!

His love for this tough man had blossomed slowly over the months.

At first, he who was used to staying more than twelve hours with him, felt his heart tighten when he went away for several weeks at sea.

When he returned, he waited for him at the port, happy to finally be near him again.

He knew, however, that he should have no illusions.

How many times had he seen him leave on the arm of a pretty woman, while asking her to close the door behind him.

This man was handsome, rich and powerful.

He must have been lucky that he only trusted him, but that wasn't enough for him anymore.

He was suffering from an unrealizable love.

As soon as Black put his hand on his shoulder, he trembled with emotion, unable to help but imagine his burning lips on his.

He would then blush and lower his eyes, moving away from him as quickly as possible.

He knew that Black didn't have feelings of that kind for him and he felt humiliated to behave like a schoolgirl in front of him.

Maybe that's why he hadn't realized he was being spied on for days.

That day, preoccupied by his romantic troubles, he was closing the office door when he collapsed.

A knife was piercing his stomach.

It was past midnight and he knew no one would come to his aid.

Black! He would never see him again! He hadn't even been able to tell him he loved him!

He was dragged by two sailors who thought he was dead:

-It was an easy job! The boss will be happy and he might even give us an extra bonus when we've done the same to his brother!

Aaron couldn't help but groan in pain. They also wanted to kill Brennan.

They snickered and threw him into the water:

-The sharks will finish him off.

When he opened his eyes again, he was on the platform in Black's arms.

Was he dead? No, impossible. He was in too much pain.

Black was soaked and breathing hard:

-You better not die, you hear me? Why was he so furious?

As he fell into unconsciousness, he put his hand on Black's cheek.

He vaguely heard the one he loved scream:

-Aaron!!!

When he woke up, he found Black by his side. He was holding his hand but he

immediately let go. He looked around the room and realized he was in the

captain's cabin.

Black told him they were on their way to his uncle's island. He had been between life and death for five days.

As soon as the doctor had declared him out of danger, Black had taken him on his ship.

It was then that Aaron remembered everything that had happened:

-Black! My brother! He is in danger!

Someone also wants to kill him.

The metallic gaze had then settled on him:

-You were delirious for several days and I was able to reconstruct the pieces of the puzzle.

For now, everyone believes you are dead and your burial has already taken place.

-This is not possible! We have to warn Brennan!

Aaron suddenly fell silent as an excruciating pain took hold of his entire being.

Black then placed his hand on his forehead. A rough and gentle hand at the same time:

-Calm down. Justin came back from the South Seas yesterday and I informed him. He will protect your brother and find the culprit while you recover from your injuries.

-Aaron slowly caught his breath:

-But finally Black! Justin also risks his life!

The captain had a short, ironic laugh:

-Justin? Even the devil doesn't want him in his home! Everything is settled so rest and get well soon.

When he got out of the cabin, Black leaned against the door and took a deep breath. He had thought he was going to die a thousand

times during those five days.

That night, he had come back because he had forgotten some documents that he wanted to study quietly at home.

He wondered if Aaron was still working.

He watched him sometimes and a sudden tension rose in him.

An unconscious desire to want to keep him

close to him.

Since he had accepted him into the Blacknight, he was no longer himself. He had this increasingly pressing desire to stay by his side.

Even when he went to sea to board a few English ships, it was no longer enough for him.

This double life of a pirate no longer interested him.

It had amused him a lot during his younger years and then he followed in his uncle's footsteps to perfection.

But as he approached his thirties, he grew tired of it. He was rich and owned his own company. And above all there was Aaron.

The sweet Aaron who was waiting for him at the port with a shining gaze.

He had not remained indifferent for long to the Duke's brother's attachment to him.

Even his men made fun of him because when they returned from a long journey and saw dry land, he stamped his feet impatiently, ordering them to go faster.

"Hoist the sails! Full speed ahead!" the pirates shouted. "The captain's wife is waiting at the port!"

"Shut up, you bunch of idiots!"

They then began to laugh and sing bawdy songs.

He had done everything to keep him away from him.

He remained cold most of the time and had even gone out with women in front of him in order to keep a certain distance between them.

But every time he saw his sad smile, he himself suffered from causing him so much pain.

He should not encourage him in that voice.

He didn't have any such feelings for Aaron.

He just saw him as his little brother Justin.

He just wanted to stay close to him because he had become indispensable to the Blacknight and that's it.

So why had his heart stopped beating when he saw those two guys in the distance throwing a body into the sea?

Why had he run like crazy and dove in without knowing if it was Aaron or not?

When he pulled him up and checked that he was still alive, he almost cried with relief.

He had watched over him day and night, listening in spite of himself to his words of love, drinking in his passionate declarations.

Fortunately Aaron remembered nothing when he finally opened his eyes.

He himself felt incapable of looking him in the eye and only a strict coldness prevented him from responding to his feelings.

He felt flattered, that's all.

He didn't love him.

Then they had left England.

It was not easy to move Aaron without being noticed so they left Black's house at night.

-Captain, if you want, I can carry the little one, asked one of the pirates.

But his icy gaze then pierced the impudent one who had dared to utter such an aberration and he tightened his grip around Aaron.

No one would touch him except him!

Every day, several of his men would come and distract Aaron when he was at the helm of his ship and they would enjoy seeing him return to the cabin with murderous desires in his eyes.

His icy voice pierced them with fear but they always came back because he loved to taunt their captain.

-Leave Aaron alone. He needs to rest.

-But they don't bother me Black. Quite the opposite. I feel lonely when you're not here to read to me.

The captain then turned away and went back to clear his mind at the helm of his ship while he heard the mocking laughter of his men.

Him the great pirate Black the Black reading to a young man bedridden and jealous as soon as someone other than him took care of him and made him laugh! He sighed in discontent.

He absolutely had to pull himself together