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“Mmm, Stede, thank you for taking care of me, lover.”
“I’m Lucius, remember? Stede had to sleep for a while.”
“Yes, sleep, get in bed with me.” Edward’s hands groped out, trying to find Stede’s hands. His fever had finally broken, and Lucius had hustled Stede, who had barely slept for a day and a half, to the sofa and put a blanket over him. The things Captain Edward sounded different from when he was delirious, when he shouted like he was trying to sail his ship through a storm. The things he was saying now could’ve been said by anyone in the veil of not asleep / not awake. Lucius gave Ed one of his hands, hoping it would soothe him. Edward caressed it with both hands, and Lucius wondered if that had really been a wise choice.
“Love your hands, Stede. So soft, softer than anyone’s. Wanna kiss you. Come to bed.” Ed propped himself up on one elbow, and looped the other arm around Lucius’s neck, trying to pull him in for a kiss. Edward had plenty of strength and coordination even when half asleep, and Lucius had to fight to keep from falling onto the bed. This was one kiss that Lucius most definitely not want.
“I’ll just get a new cool rag for your forehead, okay? I’ll be right back.” Lucius took his time and didn’t hear anything from Ed, nor Stede. Rather than possibly waking Edward, he reclined the chaise lounge and opened the book he’d been reading, one of Captain Stede’s about the sea vessels off the Barbary Coast of northwest Africa. The book dealt with slavers, smugglers, Royal Naval vessels from assorted countries, primarily English and Spanish, privateers and bounty hunters, and of course, pirates. Much of it was similar to all that happened in the Caribbean, and Lucius was learning some useful things. Might as well learn to be more of a pirate since he was already here. As far as someone sitting with Captain Edward all day, with his fever broken, Lucius didn’t have to be right next to the bed. That was dangerous territory.